Takes a lot of gall to accuse other feminist bloggers of "hyperbolizing", Tracy. That's something you do practically every day.

I'd have more sympathy for those who champion the veil if it were actually part of Islam. It isn't. It's a cultural artifact, not a religious one, imposed to prop up local traditions. Much like the way fundamentalist Christians insist that their narrow focus on a very few cultural issues, such as abortion and homosexuality, is really about their religion, when in fact the Bible says next to nothing about them. The veil is no more a religious issue than those miniskirts are. It's all about reinforcing cultural standards, not about anything any god ever said.

the wingnuts yammered about, claiming he's "just a comedian" and "not serious enough" to be a senator. The "fool" and "clown" from Saturday Night Live turns out to be one of the most rational, intelligent, and informed officials in Congress. Compare him to Loony Bachmann from his own state.

I guess irony can be pretty ironic.

So who exactly is it that's "arguing" these things, Kate? Looks to me like YOU are the one doing that. That is a cheap trick, used by shady journalists to make themselves look like they're "only" reporting controversy, not stirring it up themselves.

It's also the same kind of invented controversy that right-wing pundits go screaming about whenever there's a film planned whose concept goes against their narrow little bounds of acceptability. It reminds me of the OMGWTFBBQ!!! that happened when Spielberg decided to adapt The Color Purple. Remember that? Oh, I forgot - you're probably way too young to remember that silly schtuss. That film went on to win awards and is now a classic film, having launched Whoopi Goldberg's acting career. And he was a WHITE guy!

I wonder what you have to say about the kind of right-wing protesting and wringing of hands that goes on about films that, as Colbert puts it, "are destroying America". Do you snicker at their silliness? Do your eyes roll at their hyper-sensitivity about things they HAVEN'T ACTUALLY SEEN YET? Well, you're acting just like them right now. How about you just wait 'til the film is released and then ACTUALLY SEE IT before you pass judgment, eh? Instead of acting like you're psychic, and you know how Perry is going to handle material he didn't write himself. Because as strange as it may seem to you, directors often do change their tone when handling other people's material.

Oh, and one more thing. If you're so concerned about Perry's crazy comedies and their influence on black people, how come you're not regularly up in arms up movies that portray the coolness of gun violence, the misogyny that's regularly portrayed EVERY WEEK in action movies, and all those pimp-and-ho' movies that pretend to champion such lives while showing such utter contempt for the ability of black people to be decent human beings? Why isn't THAT under your byline more often?

and I never will. I don't give a shit how cheap their cheap crap is. I will never give a single cent of my money to a corporation that treats its workers like slaves, and then forces them to pay for the privilege. No way, no how.

As to Verizon - well, since I don't have a fucking cell phone and do not plan on ever getting one, I guess that's another ripoff I won't be subject to. Besides, I still don't understand how someone can be handed free money like that and FORGET to spend it. Huh? I can only think that Andrew must have money coming out his ears. Me, I'd be in the store buying groceries the same day I got the card.

But what can you expect? This culture grows more and more dependent on little plastic cards the more we find ourselves unable to get out from under them. It's a vicious cycle, and now the government has gotten on this stupid bandwagon. What a great choice - either hand over your personal banking information to the government, or be forced to give up some of your benefits in "fees" to these sharks.

Moving overseas looks better every day.

Parents that disagree with this lunatic stance should simply keep their kids home that day. Is the address going to be shown on TV or online? Have the kids stay home specifically to watch it, and tell the school that since they refuse to do their patriotic duty and broadcast the President's address, that the parents will step in, teaching their children that citizenship is a responsibility for all, not just those who hypocritically wrap themselves in the flag while pissing on this country.

So say YOU. I print stuff out in Verdana all the time, and I find it a very good font, interestingly constructed and easy to read. So maybe your taste is...yours? And not universal?

Besides, WHO GIVES A CRAP? You can read it, right? Then what the hell are you complaining about??

AHAHAHA! With all the shit there is to get pissed off about these days, THIS is what's got these people in an uproar?

*makes popcorn*

Anybody want some?

ELEVEN PAGES of spam and counting. That must be some kind of record!