laws – commonplacebook.com

Todd Akins triggers some good writing, at least

Post author:HFM
Post published:August 22, 2012
Post category:Feminism & Women's Issues

You’ve heard about Todd Akins, the Republican nominee for Senate in Missouri, right? The guy who actually said:

“First of all, from what I understand from doctors [pregnancy from rape] is really rare,” Akin told KTVI-TV. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Obviously there’s been a big reaction to that douchebaggery all over the internet, and dude has since tried to walk back his comments, so I don’t need to go into that noise.

Here’s some cool writing that has come out of this “discussion” about rape, though.

Eve Ensler: Dear Mr. Akin, I Want You to Imagine…

Jessica Valenti: The Seven Stages of Feminist Grief (Todd Akin edition)

Mallory Ortberg at The Awl: Other Things Missouri Representative Todd Akin Believes To Be True About The Uterus, Besides Its Ability To “Shut Down” A Legitimate Rape

Anne Gerhart, Washington Post: Rep. Akin’s comments just the latest attempt to define rape — and women

Mary Elizabeth Williams, Salon.com: A guide to “legitimate” rape — This is a nice spelling out of what rape laws around the country are for the uninformed.

Time-Honored Truths and Universal Laws

Post author:HFM
Post published:February 26, 2006
Post category:Funny Lists One-Liners

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a work station…

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory

A closed mouth gathers no foot.

A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking

A day without sunshine is like, night.

A fool and his money are soon partying.

Indiana Lobbying Reform Bill dies

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 30, 2006
Post category:Indiana Politics

Gary at Advance Indiana has an excellent post on the lobbying reform bill that just died in Indiana’s legislature.
Indiana has a serious loophole in it’s lobbying laws that allow what amounts to corruption on the part of many lobbyists, including right-wing homophobe Eric Miller. Check out Gary’s article to get up to speed on the problem.

Mitch Daniels Year in Review

Post author:HFM
Post published:December 29, 2005
Post category:Indiana

Taking Down Words takes a long and interesting look at Mitch Daniel’s performance in his first year as Indiana Governor.

Cat Property Laws

Post author:HFM
Post published:June 5, 2002
Post category:Funny Lists

1. If I like it, it’s mine.

2. If I saw it first, it’s mine.

3. If it’s in my paw, it’s mine.

4. If it looks like mine, it’s mine.

5. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.

6. If I can take it away from you, it’s mine.

7. If there’s more than one, ALL of them are mine.

8. If you have something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.

9. If it’s mine, it must NEVER appear to be yours in any way.

10. If it’s boring or doesn’t taste good, IT’S YOURS!!

Silly State Laws

Post author:HFM
Post published:February 11, 2000
Post category:Funny Lists True Stories

NOTE: I’m not sure how many of these are actually true – this came to me in an email forward in 2000 and I posted it here.

Arkansas:
–A man can legally beat his wife, but no more than once a month.

California:
–In, LA, a man may legally beat his wife with a leather strap, as long as it is less than 2 inches wide, or she gives him permission to use a wider strap.
–It is a misdemeanor to shoot any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale.