Month: October 2016

Dear Men: We Need to Talk About How Y’all Talk About Women

Dana Hunter, , , , 5 Comments
And we definitely need to talk about how you’re talking to men.

Ah-ah-ah – I see you sidling towards the door, thinking that you don’t need to read this because you’d never talk about women like whatever I’m about to say. Stay put, Mister. Because I do mean you.

Yes, you. Yes, Mr. I-Respect-Women. Mr. I-Would-Never-Say-Harmful-Shit. Mr. I-Would-Never-Ever-Be-Like-Trump. I’m not just talking to the men who say misogynistic shit today. I’m talking to you. Take a seat. We’ve got some hard things to discuss.

Content note for: Sexual assault, misogyny, sexism, denial, rape culture

First off, let’s address this I-would-never thing you’ve got going on. Because chances are, you would. Chances are, you do. It may be hard to hear, but listen to what happened to Erin Branscombe not too long ago. Continue reading “Dear Men: We Need to Talk About How Y’all Talk About Women” →

Dear Men: We Need to Talk About How Y’all Talk About Women
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Supernatural Summary S1 E15: “The Benders”

Dana Hunter, , , ,

Our adventure starts in Hibbing, Montana. Ja, you betcha. Note the town: this will become important in later seasons.

There’s an adorable little boy watching scary teevee in his bed. Something catches his attention, and he ends up at his window, which overlooks a seedy parking lot outside of a tavern. There’s a dude taking out the trash, all very calm and normal. At least, until the dude gets yanked under a car by an invisible something.

Death by Monstrosity: 1

The scene changes to Mom standing with the kid, talking to two dudes in state trooper’s uniforms. She’s complaining about her kiddo being questioned again – the more often he tells the story, the more he believes it. The deputies remove their hats, and we discover dundunDUN it’s Sam and Dean. Obvs.

Screenshot shows Sam and Dean's faces clearly revealed. They are wearing brown state trooper uniforms.
The kid tells them he thought he heard a monster whilst watching Godzilla vs. Mothra, which delights Dean and leads to him and the kid having a lively exchange, until Sam gets them back on track. He tells them the monster made a “whining growl” as it left after snatching Mr. Jenkins.

Turns out the boys are in the area because their dad marked it as the possible hunting grounds of a phantom attacker. Otherwise, they would’ve just written this off as normal disappearance stuff. They discuss it a bit while Dean plays darts in the tavern. Then Sam gets attacked by a cat under a car while Dean’s in the bathroom. Psych! But when Dean comes out to the parking lot to join his bro, there’s no bro. Oh, dear. Continue reading “Supernatural Summary S1 E15: “The Benders”” →

Supernatural Summary S1 E15: “The Benders”

(Repost) “Another Body Added to the Scrap Heap” – Escape Chapter 18: Tammy’s Failed Rebellion

Dana Hunter, , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Merril just keeps getting worse. We’re about to see how he punishes rebellion in a wife, and I have to warn you, although there’s no physical violence, his verbal and emotional abuse is utterly horrible. There’s also medical neglect of a newborn. If you don’t have an abundance of spoons right now, you may want to wait until you do. And get everything out of reach that you don’t want to break, because you may be throwing things and screaming before this is over.

Content note: emotional and verbal abuse, medical neglect, childbirth, birth complications, infant illness, adult sexual abuse and manipulation

After six years of trying, Tammy finally gets pregnant. She is rather subdued about it at first, but when the time comes to deliver, she wants it to be a huge event. She invites all of her current sister wives, and all of her ex-sister wives from her marriage to Uncle Roy. Not everyone can make it – Carolyn’s so sick with her fourth pregnancy that she misses the birth, but a dozen or more people show up.

Now, remember that the women in the FLDS don’t give birth in hospitals, but in the little community clinic with a midwife. And they’re not prepared for the big emergencies. Unfortunately, Tammy’s baby gets stuck in the birth canal. And the only way the clinic has to deal with such an emergency is to move Tammy into various positions to try to free him. Continue reading “(Repost) “Another Body Added to the Scrap Heap” – Escape Chapter 18: Tammy’s Failed Rebellion” →

(Repost) “Another Body Added to the Scrap Heap” – Escape Chapter 18: Tammy’s Failed Rebellion

A Selection of Delicious Mount Rainier Photos for Your Viewing Pleasure

Dana Hunter4 Comments

My dear delights, I’m sure you’ve been waiting with breathless anticipation for the results of our adventures of last week. I took our own Lousy Canuck over the mountains and through the woods, because when you get a sun break in some very stormy October weather while a Canadian is visiting, you damned well show them all the volcanoes you can reach.

It’s a bit fraught at this time of year, with some visitors centers closing unexpectedly and roads shut down. We didn’t get to see as much of Rainier as I would have liked. But we got a bit in. The volcano was even somewhat visible! Continue reading “A Selection of Delicious Mount Rainier Photos for Your Viewing Pleasure” →

A Selection of Delicious Mount Rainier Photos for Your Viewing Pleasure

(Repost) Adventures in Christianist Earth Science Education IV-d: Wherein there is a Climate of Sneer

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If you’re one of those wacky people who thinks the opinion of 97% of scientists counts for something, you may want to grab a stick, wrap it in leather or a leather equivalent, and place it between your teeth. One of those mouth guards for people who grind their teeth in their sleep would also work. A stress ball would help avoid damage caused by clenching hands. If you’re prone to pounding surfaces when frustrated to the point of apoplexy, please acquire a pillow or punching bag before continuing. Continue reading “(Repost) Adventures in Christianist Earth Science Education IV-d: Wherein there is a Climate of Sneer” →

(Repost) Adventures in Christianist Earth Science Education IV-d: Wherein there is a Climate of Sneer

(Tier 1) Adventures in ACE XXVII: Stormy With a 0% Chance of Science

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We start a brand new ACE PACE today, kids! 1089 is all about meteorology. Since the ACE writers firmly believe God is completely in control of the weather, this should be pretty much like a non-stop train wreck. We are also going “To learn to do right and show a sense of what is proper before the Lord and others – to be honest.” Because apparently we 8th grade level learners haven’t been taught those things yet. I begin anew to suspect that the ACE writers think their audience consists entirely of children below the age of accountability, and that they probably repeat the same set of lessons through every single series of PACEs. I’ll have to get my hands on a complete set of K-12 PACEs and test that hypothesis someday. It’ll be more science than we ever actually get inside of these things, anyway.

Our verse to memorize for this PACE is II Corinthians 8:21. Of course it has nothing to do with the weather. Don’t be silly.

The full-page cartoon begins with a stereotypical old lady, complete with gray bun, cane, and shawl, looking out the windows and talking gleefully about how she just knew a storm was coming, and gosh, look at that red sky this morning! She then goes out on her porch so she can be all cranky at Ace and Miss Mary for wanting to hang a plant when it’s obviously going to storm. Miss Mary shuts that shit right down: Continue reading “(Tier 1) Adventures in ACE XXVII: Stormy With a 0% Chance of Science” →

(Tier 1) Adventures in ACE XXVII: Stormy With a 0% Chance of Science

(Repost) “The List of Ugly Realities” – Escape Chapter 17: Marrying into the Jeffs’ Family

Dana Hunter, , , , , , , , , , ,

This is a short chapter, but it gives us quite a bit of insight into Merril’s thirst for power, Warren Jeffs’ creepy early years, and FLDS hypocrisy and dysfunction.

Content note for forced marriage, child abuse, and spousal abuse.

Merril wants more power and prestige within the FLDS, and of course, the way to get it is by bartering your young daughters into sexual slavery. He’s already forced one to marry ancient prophet Rulon Jeffs. Now he sacrifices pretty Paula. As she’s married off to a man 60 years her senior, “Her still smile barely [hides] her despair.” All Carolyn can think about is how she and Paula had joked in school about “having to marry an old man who was a rest-home patient.” This is Paula’s nightmare: her new husband is so old and weak he has to sit throughout the ceremony. It’s one thing to marry someone older for love: it’s quite another to be sold off, with no choice in the matter, and no chance he’ll give you the children who are your only worth in your society. Continue reading “(Repost) “The List of Ugly Realities” – Escape Chapter 17: Marrying into the Jeffs’ Family” →

(Repost) “The List of Ugly Realities” – Escape Chapter 17: Marrying into the Jeffs’ Family

Questions for You, My Darlings!

Dana Hunter8 Comments

Bags are packed, batteries charged, hotel and rental car booked – going adventuring! I’ve got a friend and colleague visiting, and he’s kindly provided the funds necessary to take us to not one, but two volcanoes. We’re starting with Mount Rainier, and then spending all day Tuesday at Mount St. Helens. I should have very many delicious photos for you soon, my loves.

Whilst I’m away, I figured I’d ask you a few good questions: Continue reading “Questions for You, My Darlings!” →

Questions for You, My Darlings!