From Change.org’s Women’s Rights:
Woman Jailed for Getting Pregnant Dies From Medical Neglect
“Thrown in jail for getting pregnant? That seems like a particularly absurd violation of women’s reproductive rights. But it’s actually an established policy in Allegheny County, PA. Cara reports at the Curvature that, for Amy Lynn Gillespie, becoming pregnant meant violating the terms of her work release under probation, and getting thrown in jail. Yet this story comes to an even more tragic ending, because Gillespie died while in custody from advanced pneumonia.
Gillespie’s grieving mother has decided not to let the people who caused her daughter’s death off the hook: she has a lawsuit against the Allegheny County jail warden, Allegheny Correctional Health Services Inc., the county itself, and a few other implicated individuals charging that medical neglect caused Gillespie’s death. Though the young woman spent weeks complaining to guards of trouble breathing and mucus in her lungs, they refused to send her to access medical care until it was too late. The hospital, which is not charged in the lawsuit, says that Gillespie was beyond saving due to the long delay in getting her treatment.”
Wait what? This is so messed up I hope this news story gets a lot of attention. Mr. Radical sent me this with the commentary “If the state can jail women for getting pregnant will they jail them for not getting pregnant too?” Scary point.
—
From Star Tribune:
Armed lawmaker stopped by police in Highland Park
“A state representative said it was a misunderstanding when he parked his car in the Planned Parenthood lot in Highland Park and was later stopped by St. Paul police because of the revolver he was carrying near his waistband.
(snip)
Hackbarth, R-Cedar, is in his eighth term representing District 48A. He represents Elk River, Oak Grove and East Bethel and is considered a strong advocate of conservation issues and an opponent of abortion rights.
He said Tuesday that he is not familiar with the Highland Park area and didn’t know he was at Planned Parenthood when he pulled into the empty lot so that he could look for a woman he had met online.”
If Hackbarth wasn’t an elected official certainly he would have been charged with something.
—
From the Advocate:
Mormon Church: Same-Sex Attraction Not a Sin
“Same-sex attraction is not inherently sinful, according to a new policy change by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In a new edition of its leadership guidelines, the Mormon Church removed previous language calling for gays to repent of their “homosexual thoughts or feelings.”
But LGBT Mormons must remain celibate in order to participate in temple rituals and receive church assignments known as “callings.” Acting on same-sex attractions or marrying a same-sex partner remains against church policy.”
Religious progress is so achingly slow sometimes. Yes this is good news but it’s still frustrating. Telling someone they have to be celibate because of their orientation is ridiculous.
—
Let’s end on some happy news:
From CNN:
Winning $129 million lottery ticket bought at Detroit-area porn store
“A group of friends got lucky when they bought a winning Powerball ticket at a Detroit-area porn shop.
Mike Greer claimed the $128.6 million prize on Friday, on behalf of a group of southeastern Michigan residents that he dubbed “Team Victory Club.” At a press conference in Lansing, Michigan, Greer wouldn’t answer questions as to who purchased the ticket at Uptown Book Store in Highland Park, or why they were at the store in the first place.
“Nobody cares,” said Greer.”
I love how the group says “nobody cares”. Yes adults go to adult stores and it’s no big deal. Plus it’s nice to see a news story about a porn store that’s not something about the city trying to shut them down.
Posted by Vixen as News at 10:39 PM CST
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Today is Buy Nothing Day! (the US version, tomorrow is the International One) It’s one of my favorite holidays. Today I got a very good coupon for one of my favorite online yarn stores. I hit delete-but oh sweet temptation!
From Ad Busters:
Buy Nothing Day/Carnivalesque Rebellion Week
“We are a network of activists organizing a Carnivalesque Rebellion that will shut down consumer capitalism for a week.
The climax of our efforts is Buy Nothing Day, a 24-hour moratorium on consumer spending, celebrated November 26th in North America and 27th Internationally.
(snip)
A few people start breaking their old patterns, embracing what they love (and in the process discovering what they hate), daydreaming, questioning, rebelling. What happens naturally then, according to the revolutionary past, is a groundswell of support for this new way of being, with more and more people empowered to perform new gestures unencumbered by history.
Think of it as an adventure, as therapy – a week of pieing and pranks, of talking back at your profs and speaking truth to power. Some of us will put up posters in our schools and neighborhoods and just break our daily routines for a week. Others will chant, spark mayhem in big box stores and provoke mass cognitive dissonance. Others still will engage in the most visceral kind of civil disobedience. And on November 26 from sunrise to sunset we will abstain en masse – not only from holiday shopping, but from all the temptations of our five-planet lifestyles.”
I just love revolutionary rhetoric! Are you celebrating?
Posted by Vixen as Activism at 12:59 PM CST
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I was on a call with a regular client. He’s an easy one that likes to do most of the talking. I’ll call him Easy Guy because his calls are pleasant and relaxed. While on the call I was working on a knitting project. The knitting part was done and I was weaving in the ends.
For non-knitters this means I had a darning sewing needle and was sewing in the yarn ends into the knit fabric. Some knitting projects only have a few ends but this one had a ton. In my mind this was a perfect project for a phone call.
The call was going along fine when EG paused and asked me “are you eating something?” This surprised me because I wasn’t. If I were I would have taken steps to hide it-see my post about eating food on calls here.
I told EG that I wasn’t. He said that he was hearing a weird noise. I had no clue what he was talking about so we started up the fantasy again. Then he stopped and said- “There! Did you hear that?”
Uh oh, is he hearing me lick my finger, I wondered. EG asked me if I was eating hard candy. My finger was on my tongue when he asked. To weave in my ends I would lick a finger, rub the yarn end between the wet finger and another to make it pointy enough to go through the needle. I was doing that with each yarn end. In my mind my licking noises were quiet but he picked up on them.
I told him no and went back to the fantasy. But I did stop weaving in my yarn ends. Oops on my part.
Posted by Vixen as PSO Confessions at 9:39 PM CST
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Fly With Dignity
“You may be wondering who we are, so let us explain.
In mid November, 2010, an admin at Reddit.com, Raldi, suggested the beginning of a site-based initiative to inform the public of the injustices and discrimination from the Transportation Security Administration & Department of Homeland Security, in order to get the public involved and to promote a way to end the usage of the Full Body Scanners and pat downs.
A Few of the users on the site stepped up to take charge, and with help from thousands of other Reddit.com users, Operation “Grab Ass” on Reddit became “Fly With Dignity.” We all put together this website, donating our time, effort, and skills to create it. We have planned various ad copies to run and pamphlets to hand out. The organization is quickly becoming an initiative to bring change nationally, and we hope we can do this for the good of our generation, and our future generations.
We originally began with a plan to run advertising through major media outlets to gain attention, we now plan this along with other ways to get the public involved and to support our goal of a moratorium on the Backscatter X-Ray machines, as well as the end to pat-downs at the airport, both of which invade our privacy, and are degrading as a human being and American citizen. If you agree with these ideas, we urge you to sign our petition and get involved in our various methods. Anything from a simple phone call or email to opting out at the airports will cause a reaction that will bring us one step closer to our goal.
We are not a politically motivated organization, nor have affiliation with any charities or other groups. We are a literal form of grass-roots, and intend to not make this a matter of politics or special interests. What matters here is the preservation of our civil liberties and protection of our rights when visiting public establishments.
If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
If you are a reporter and wish to write about us, or publish us to help us spread the word, click here.
Our Thanks to People such as Rick @ Signazon for helping us with our protest.”
—
So if you don’t fly that much you may be wondering what all this outrage is about. Fly With Dignity has compiled lots of disturbing stories from fliers that will illustrate why the “enhanced pat downs” are such a problem. You can read those here.
I know personally know several people with medical issues that can’t go through the new scanners. They should not have to be sexually molested because of it. Nobody should be groped this way because of opting out. This shit is ridiculous!
Oh and anyone else notice how the news just got a lot scarier right before National Opt Out Day? Pumping up the fear so average Joes won’t resist the police state perhaps? Call me paranoid but I think so.
More resources:
National Opt-Out Day
National Opt-Out Day’s Twitter
Thousands Standing Around
We Won’t Fly
Posted by Vixen as Activism at 7:38 PM CST
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Babeland sent me a Foxy Bombshell Panty to review.
The box is super cute and looks like a pre-packaged gift. When you open the box it feels like a present. That’s fun.
The panty comes in size small and large. I wear size 6 panties so I picked the small. They fit me fine.
The fabric is soft but I find the bow in back is distracting under a pair of jeans. These are more lingerie panties than everyday wear panties.
My pictures turned out blurry so here’s an official Babeland pic.
These are cute panties. Would I go to Babeland just to buy them? Not likely. I can see someone buying them as part of a package gift. You know-a dildo, a harness and these panties could make a fun present.
Posted by Vixen as Reviews at 8:48 PM CST
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“My marriage is really dedicated.”
-regular client
he said this while recounting his latest glory hole adventure
Posted by Vixen as Quote Book at 8:19 PM CST
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From this gallery. I love how happy they look.
Posted by Vixen as Sexy Sensations at 9:48 PM CST
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One of the highlights of my NYC trip was seeing Green Day’s American Idiot. My friend M suggested I see a musical while there and I knew it had to be American Idiot.
The show was fucking amazing. I totally fan girled out and cried through the whole thing. That doesn’t mean it’s sad-I was just so happy I couldn’t help it. My fingers were tingly too. As corny as it sounds if felt like a spiritual experience it was so damn good.
From the Amercan Idiot Musical site:
“The smash-hit, Tony Award®-winning AMERICAN IDIOT is Broadway’s most exciting new musical. The New York Times calls it, “thrilling and emotionally charged, as moving as anything on Broadway!” Based on Green Day’s Grammy® Award-winning multi-platinum album and featuring the smash hits “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, “Holiday” and “21 Guns”, AMERICAN IDIOT is the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Their search for meaning in a post 9-11 world leads them on the most exhilarating journey of the Broadway season.”
The stage was so punked out and the themes were so raw the whole thing felt radical and revolutionary. But it got even better. I was fortunate to see the musical when Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong played the role of St. Jimmy. He only did it for a week and I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. When he first appeared on stage the audience Screeeeeamed. It was awesome. Seriously, getting to see this sex god up close?
Goddess that man is yummy. It was beyond spectacular to see Billie Joe play St. Jimmy. He played the role with a wicked prankster tone which I think rocked. The experience felt like part rock concert/part musical/part political activism/part performance art. I was high on fangirl excitement for days and days.
I can’t recommend this musical highly enough. It was awesome, radical, revolutationary, mind blowing, damn enjoyable and worth every penny. I’d see it again if I was in NYC in a heartbeat.
Posted by Vixen as Musings at 10:48 PM CST
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From Pennies In Protest:
Turn Hatred into Kindness
“In March 2010, a hate group came to our hometown of Richmond, Virginia to protest local Jewish and LGBT organizations. Instead of combating this hate with more anger, we came together as a group of four friends, and used the visit as an opportunity to spread kindness through the community. In less than a week, we raised over $14,000 and gave it directly to the targeted organizations. You can do it, too.
Feel free to use this site as a template for your town or cause. Together, with a pure heart, we can turn hatred into kindness, and make the world a better place for all of us.”
Another brilliant activism idea! I heard an interview with a couple of the founders on a public radio program recently. What a smart idea-to respond to hate with such creative, positive energy. If a hate group is coming to your town check out their site. They have some good resources.
Posted by Vixen as Activism at 2:01 PM CST
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010 is NATIONAL OPT-OUT DAY!
“OptOutDay.com is an educational outreach campaign, designed to get people to better understand what they are now consenting to when they purchase a plane ticket. Many people only fly around the holidays and may not be aware of the security changes, which is why November 24 was chosen. There is no intent or desire to delay passengers en route to friends and family over Thanksgiving. Once people are made aware of what is happening, they may have reservations about the new virtual strip searches and enhanced pat downs - especially for their children or spouse or other loved one.
Before people fly, they should learn more about the new security measures, and when they are given the choice by TSA, they should opt-out of the scan and get the enhanced pat down. This is their right, given to them by the TSA. If they do not like the current procedures when they go through it, they should voice their opinion to the airlines and their Members of Congress, in addition to filing a complaint with the TSA and outside groups, if necessary. Opting out doesn’t have to be done only on Nov. 24. As the TSA says, every day you fly is opt-out day if you choose. It is not irresponsible to take up the TSA on their offer to opt-out of the body scanners.
This country needs security measures in place that not only keep us safe but also do not grossly violate privacy or constitute an unreasonable search, like the current protocol. In their “Aircraft Passenger Whole-Body Imaging Limitations Act of 2009” the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that said: “Whole-body imaging technology may not be used as the sole or primary method of screening a passenger under this section. Whole-body imaging technology may not be used to screen a passenger … unless another method of screening, such as metal detection, demonstrates cause for preventing such passenger from boarding an aircraft.” Agreed. Unfortunately, the Senate did not act on the legislation. Hopefully the current outcry over these scanners and the enhanced pat downs from the pilots, the flight attendants, and now the flying public, will instigate a change to effective security measures that keep the privacy of U.S. citizens in-tact.”
Yes, yes and YES! This idea is brilliant. I opted out the last time I flew and am glad I did. I recounted my airport experience here.
Like I’ve said before if they’re going to fuck with you then fuck back. Want to ramp it up a notch? Then wear a kilt.
From Raw Story:
Blog calls for men to wear kilts, sans underpants, to protest TSA screenings
“You want to feel up my junk, mister air security worker? Let me help you with that.
(snip)
The “superfantastic” twist to “National Opt-Out Day”: If you feel the screenings are humiliating, let the government share your embarrassment (pun intended) by wearing a kilt. And if you’re, ahem, ballsy enough, join the protest wearing it like a true Scotsman, sans underpants.”
And besides men look damn sexy in kilts. Wear them anyway gentleman!
If you participate in National Opt-Out Day write me and let me know of your experience. If you don’t have a blog I will gladly post about your experience here. Email radicalvixenatgmaildotcom
And in the words of Doug Stanhope-”Never submit to airport body scanners. Make em pat you down instead and try to have a boner.”
Posted by Vixen as Activism at 7:22 PM CST
1 Comment »
Babeland sent me the Tenga Egg to review. There’s several different styles. I got the silky version. When it came in the mail I told Mr. Radical-”I have to give you a handjob with a Japanese sex toy in the name of science.” He agreed. ; )
To open the egg you peel off the wrapper and pop open the plastic egg.
The egg itself is made of a silicone material.
It’s super stretchy!
There’s a lube packet and plastic funnel inside. Mr. Radical has chemical sensitives so we didn’t use the Tenga lube. The little funnel works well though.
Click here to see a video ad for the egg.
The Tenga Egg works really well. You slip it over the cock head and just hold your hand over it and do typical handjob motions. Mr. Radical said the texture felt great. But he didn’t like the “squeaky” noise that it made. As the egg expanded and contracted it made a sort of squeak. MR said that the noise wasn’t too bad with two people but if it was just him and the egg he would find it distracting.
The egg is a built in cum receptacle. Clean up is super easy. As I pulled the egg off of MR I said-”Hey look it’s an egg cup of cum. Perfect for drinking it up afterward.” That’s not MR’s kink but the look he gave me made me laugh.
This gave me an idea. For those that cum drinking is a kink the Tenga Egg would be perfect for them. An edible lubricant would have to be used though. I think it would be great to use with clients.
But the big big downside to the Tenga Egg is that it’s disposable. I’m a granola hippie chick and that just irks me. A one time only use toy? Bleh. I don’t like that at all. Babeland sells them for $8.50 which isn’t bad for a unique experience but for every time you jerk off? That’s not cool either.
I would recommend the Tenga Egg for a once in a while toy. Want to try something different? Or want to get a sexy gift for your partner? Then buy one. But for your normal masturbation habit I’d go with something else.
Posted by Vixen as Sex Toys, Reviews at 11:38 PM CST
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At the Sex Blogger Calendar release party I got a free copy of Whore Magazine in the awesome gift bag.
From Whore Magazine:
“Whore! magazine is a quarterly print publication dedicated to celebrating the current and historical qualities of women who have defined a role for themselves outside the status quo. Through written word, art, design, fashion, and music, Whore! magazine creates dialogue about what women are as opposed to what traditional society has dictated they should be. Whore! delves into issues largely untouched by mass media while reclaiming a derogatory word that has long been used to censure those who would desire, express, resist, or simply take a different path. By recognizing those women, both modern and historical, who strive for experience rather than conventional “goodness,” and continue to fight an age-old battle against expectation, Whore! explores important facets of culture, sexuality, ascendancy, shame, history, and the right to be.”
At the calendar party I got to meet Ginger, Irene and Jonathan from the magazine. This is a great magazine. I just filled out my subscription card tonight. Despite the name this is not a replacement to $pread Magazine. But they are sex worker friendly. Highlights from the first issue include articles on Victoria Claflin Woodhull and the history of vibrators.
I recommend Whore Magazine! You can subscribe here.
Posted by Vixen as Activism at 9:59 PM CST
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“Hallowe’en really is sissies night out — it’s the one night we can show a part of ourselves to the public and get away with it.”
-Sarah Nanette
Posted by Vixen as Quote Book at 12:24 PM CST
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A belated Halloween costume from this gallery.
Posted by Vixen as Sexy Sensations at 11:04 PM CST
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