Although the writer Colette denied she was a feminist, she was one. "You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm," Colette advised, and she lived her life that way.
Currently, a film based on Colette's novels "Chéri" and "The Last of Chéri" is playing at the Little Theatre. It's about a romance between a young man and an older woman, something you don't see everyday at the movies. Here's the trailer:
Scott Roeder, the nutjob who shot Dr. George Tiller to death because Tiller performed abortions, is in a jail cell in Wichita, Kansas, but he's still hard at work, doing his dirty work. According to the NY Times, Roeder has been communicating by mail with like-minded individuals, justifying such killings. Earlier, Roeder suggested others might be planning similar attacks.
Roeder has also been sending out anti-abortion pamphlets lauding Paul Hill, who was convicted of murdering abortion providers and was later executed.
Heaven help us.
My co-writer, Linda Stephens, had another one of her witty and provocative letters-to-the-editor published in today's Rochester Democrat and Chronicle paper:
"A June 29 letter writer ... thinks she has hit upon the solution to curtail abortions: Elect 'godly' people to government.
"Frankly, I shudder to think of what would happen should we switch over to a theocracy. That's why I think we need to start thinking out of the box about how we can cut down on abortions. Let's brainstorm, shall we? I'll start.
"Let's make men have to pass a test on how to use a condom, ticket men caught not carring condoms, plow more money into research on male birth control, give away free vasectomies, outlaw erectile dysfunction meds, ban male enhancement products, design a male chastity belt ... .
"I know if we all put our heads together, we can turn this thing around."
As many as one in four women in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence. President Obama and VP Biden both take this issue seriously. As a Senator, Biden played a key role in enacting the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. Obama has just named Lynn Rosenthal, a former executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, as White House adviser on violence against women.
Below is a 20-minute video about this important appointment:
Exciting news!
The powers that be in Venice, Italy, have decided to let a woman be a gondolier. Previously that job went to men only. And how long did it take for a woman to enter this profession?
Nine centuries is all.
When she was 13-years old, Savana Redding was strip-searched by school officials, who wanted to know if she was hiding prescription-strength ibuprofen on her person. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court. This week the whole court ruled in Savana's favor, with the exception of Clarence Thomas. Read more here.
Hear Savana talk about the ordeal:
Nicolas Sarkozy has had it with burqas. In an address to Parliament on Monday, the French President called the garments that some Muslim women wear to hide their bodies and faces, an unacceptable symbol of "enslavement."
"The issue of the burqa is not a religious issue. It is a question of freedom and of women's dignity," Mr. Sarkozy said. "The burqa ... is a sign of the subjugation, of the submission, of women." Sarkozy went on to say that burqas "will not be welcome on our territory." Read more here.
Sarkozy's wife, as you will recall, is the former fashion model Carla Bruni. No baggy burqas for Carla. The French first lady favors skimpier fashions. See more of Carla here:
Continue reading "French Fashions Do Not Include Burqas. So Says Sarkozy." »
Remember Title IX, the landmark legislation enacted in 1972 that prohibits discrimination in education? Title IX's biggest impact was on girl's and women's participation in sports.
Well, U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, thinks Title IX needs tweaking. The reason? Because so many fewer girls in NY State participate in school sports than boys. In the 776 high schools, not counting those in New York City, 328,973 boys participate in sports compared to 254,617 girls. That's over 74,000 fewer girls.
