Assorted randomness and politics

While watching daytime talkshows, to the Zodling's mild displeasure (I can't watch PBS 8+ hours a day, every day. I just can't. I did read him stories while watching, though.) I was subjected to a maxi pad commercial in which, I kid you not, they referred to the product's "uber absorbtion" qualities.

::face-palm::

I was unsurprised to discover this was made by the people who exort women to "have a happy period!".

***

Mild fist-shaking at the corporate masters of Sears, who, having bought my ex-employers KMart, are now selling "My First Kenmore" toy appliances in KMart's ads.

Much as I think this is a crass way to establish brand loyalty at a ridiculously tender age, that's not why I am shaking a feminist fist.

Sunday's ad featured two little kids using a toy ironing board (with really ugly toy Kenmore iron) and a double-stacked front load washer and dryer combo.

Guess what gender both happy little housework-performing tykes were?

Go on, guess.

::face-palm with one hand, fist-shake with the other::

May I point out that, davner is the only one in our house who irons? I actively avoid purchasing clothes that require ironing, because I hate it with a burning passion, and don't wish to stick him with ironing my stuff. I suspect if it weren't for his uniforms, he'd do the same. We split the laundry detail more or less evenly.

Dear Sears: Men iron too.

***

Mild trauma, coming from stoney321: Apparently, George Lucas planned Han Solo as a furry. http://io9.com/5095275/meet-the-wife-that-han-solo-never-had#viewcomments

::head-desk::

So his bad taste and borderline lunacy significantly predate the lousy prequels... I guess that rules out any theories that he had a stroke sometime between declaring the novels canon, and getting all huffy that people liked Timothy Zahn's work so much.

***

Why defending free speech sometimes means defending speech one personally finds icky.
Linked to from a lot of places:
http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/11/is-nothing-sacred.html

http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/11/24/neil-gaiman-on-the-obscenity-of-manga-collector-christopher-handleys-trial/

http://syndicated.livejournal.com/officialgaiman/495775.html

Quote from here: http://www.cbldf.org/pr/archives/000372.shtml

"Mr. Handley's case began in May 2006 when he received an express mail package from Japan that contained seven Japanese comic books. That package was intercepted by the Postal Inspector, who applied for a search warrant after determining that the package contained cartoon images of objectionable content. Unaware that his materials were searched, Handley drove away from the post office and was followed by various law enforcement officers, who pulled him over and followed him to his home. Once there, agents from the Postal Inspector's office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, Special Agents from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and officers from the Glenwood Police Department seized Handley's collection of over 1,200 manga books or publications; and hundreds of DVDs, VHS tapes, laser disks; seven computers, and other documents. Though Handley's collection was comprised of hundreds of comics covering a wide spectrum of manga, the government is prosecuting images appearing in a small handful. "

I don't like smut manga, but I hardly think a postal inspector has any place doing any such thing, regardless of the content.

***

Going to rant about the so-called "Planned Parenthood is giving out gift certificates for abortions! ZOMG!" nonsense, but I need to grab a shower and then reassure Jack that no, Mommy putting him in the playpen doesn't mean Mommy has ceased to love him.