Birth or not DOT COM

from cakewrecks.blogspot.com

So Gawker.com  brought this story to my attention and it has really got me reeling.  The basic gist is that a couple in MN have created a website where people can vote on whether or not they keep their baby.  The vote on the website will "heavily influence" their decision.  It's unclear whether their motivations are personal or political, but they are most certainly, to quote South Park (the greatest show of our time)... DUMbDUMbDUMbDUMbDUMb!

I think this website devalues everyone's position on reproductive choices.  Voting for this couple to keep or abort their child as a way for people to voice their pro-life or pro-choice sentiments is illogical.  I think most pro-choice advocates are not sitting around waiting for the chance to counsel every pregnant woman that comes their way to ABORT ABORT ABORT. I also think most pro-lifers are not hoping people like these will give them the option to "save life" via a like/unlike poll button that then allows them to be parents without looking at other options such as adoption. These people obviously have another agenda going and I really hope that it's a stunt and this woman is not really pregnant...b/c I agree with gawker's assessment: THESE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE PARENTS or on the internet...ew gross...can we vote them off the internet?!?!

http://www.birthornot.com/

Drag Kings in Afghanistan

Interesting article.  I am intrigued looking at how different cultures use cross-dressing, especially when it is to fulfill a societal advantage (i.e. sonless families need son to raise social status) and not in connection with one's sexuality (as we are trained to react in the US). I remember someone telling me that in some part of the world it's not unusual for families without daughters to pick a son to dress up as a girl and help his mother out around the house...but I cannot remember where this happened.  I'm pretty sure Kate was the one telling me this story so she should post an article about that!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/world/asia/21gender.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&emc=eta1

Bringing home Baby

So Clare and I were preparing to babysit Rixie-Jo (our youngest FBC member) this weekend and trying to decide what can we possibly do to entertain a 3 month old while also entertaining ourselves.  I think that after reading this post Melissa will be quite glad that plans fell through: 

clerrrr: oh so did we get final word on babysitting?

me: yeah I told you didn't I

  Sunday afternoon

  she's dropping her off at my place

  I'll set up a time with her tomorrow

clerrrr: what should we do with her? 

me: make anne geddes photos (reference here http://www.annegeddes.com/Modules/Anne/Galleries/index.aspx)

clerrrr: omg YES

  i'll bring the flowerpot

clerrrr:  can we put makeup on a baby?

me: ummm...yeah

is that even a real question?

  once you leave the womb beauty and being attractive to men is the number one priority

  duh clare

clerrrr: maybe even some false eyelashes?

 me: and dentures

  since she doesn't have teeth yet

clerrrr: aren't they called flippers?

me: why yes of course...flippers!

 clerrrr: perfect

me: this is what I'm thinking