Copied from many people:

A lot has been said about how to prevent rape.

Women should learn self-defence. Women should lock themselves in their houses after dark. Women shouldn't have long hair and women shouldn't wear short skirts. Women shouldn't leave drinks unattended. They shouldn't dare to get drunk at all.

instead of that, how about:

if a woman is drunk, don't rape her.
if a woman is walking alone at night, don't rape her.
if a women is drugged and unconscious, don't rape her.
if a woman is wearing a short skirt, don't rape her.
if a woman is jogging in a park at 5 am, don't rape her.
if a woman looks like your ex-girlfriend you're still hung up on, don't rape her.
if a woman is asleep in her bed, don't rape her.
if a woman is asleep in your bed, don't rape her.
if a woman is doing her laundry, don't rape her.
if a woman is in a coma, don't rape her.
if a woman changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don't rape her.
if a woman has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don't rape her.

if a woman is not yet a woman, but a child, don't rape her.
if your girlfriend or wife is not in the mood, don't rape her.
if your step-daughter is watching tv, don't rape her.
if you break into a house and find a woman there, don't rape her.
if your friend thinks it's okay to rape someone, tell him it's not, and that he's not your friend.

if your "friend" tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.
if your frat-brother or another guy at the party tells you there's an unconscious woman upstairs and it's your turn, don't rape her, call the police and tell the guy he's a rapist.

tell your sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends it's not okay to rape someone.

don't tell your women friends how to be safe and avoid rape.
don't imply that she could have avoided it if she'd only done/not done x.
don't imply that it's in any way her fault.
don't let silence imply agreement when someone tells you he "got some" with the drunk girl.
don't perpetuate a culture that tells you that you have no control over or responsibility for your actions. You can, too, help yourself.


If you agree, repost it. It's that important

"In almost all of the above, inserting the words "have sex with" instead of rape apply. Because so damn many people don't realize having sex with someone who is unable to give legal consent or legally not allowed to do is rape." - uisceboo

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone's day was wonderful. I have so much to be thankful for.

L_squaredd posted a list of what she's thankful for so I thought I'd do the same (in no particular order). Last year's list is here.

- my family
- my friends
- my health and the health & happiness of my family
- the clothes in my closet
- the roof over my head
- the food on my table and in my fridge
- that I have a job
- my books
- my boss who lets me take time off to go on silly trips and to help my sis at her daycare
- my cat Tigger who, despite his age, still acts like a cuddly, playful kitten at times
- that I live in an area of the U.S. where the seasons change
- my iBook
- moments I get to spend with my family
- the ability to walk, to see, to hear, to speak, to write, to breathe
- my camera and my camcorder
- chocolate
- the people in my life who make me smile
- a working sink
- my safety
- my life

Today, I feel blessed.

Procrastination Update

A few posts back, I wrote a bit about my procrastination woes of late. I've since ticked a few items off that list.

- I got my hair cut on Friday. It's now skimming the tops of my shoulders. So, it's still long enough for the cold weeks ahead, but it's short enough to feel weightless, which is nice. =) Since I had around two years of growth being chopped off (hehe), I donated my hair to Locks of Love. They make wigs out of donated hair for children who have lost theirs (for example, cancer patients).

- I finished all my con book entries before the deadlines. Yay!

- I burned my music vids on DVD before the Creation Farscape video contest deadline for this year's Burbank convention. I hadn't heard anything though, so I assumed that none of mine were chosen. After all, why would they be when there are so many talented vidders out there already with so many beautiful vids to their names? Creation announced at the con that they received 60 entries and chose 20 of them to show at the convention. Jo notified me over the weekend that one of my vids actually played at the convention! Herdthinner was at the con, saw the vid, and called Jo who then emailed me. :D

Although I'm still trying to figure out why they did pick mine and why that particular one out of the two I submitted, I can't help but be excited and pleased. Anyway, if you want to watch my video, it's online here: Happy Happy Joy Joy.

There's a lot wrong with it and that needs to be redone, but I think it gets the point across regardless, and I hope it's entertaining. Comments and criticism (if it's constructive) are welcome because that's how I learn what to keep, what to do differently, etc., for the next time. ; )

I feel semi-accomplished. *g*

Welcome, Baby Liam!

Congratulations to M. and B. who welcomed a precious new life into the world on November 14. May health, happiness and a good night's sleep be yours. ; )