Two excellent AVfM YouTube Video's

For some reason, these two video's from AVfM really struck me as excellent.



and



and then this article.

Pink Ribbon "haircut"

Now it is October we are facing the usual assault of Pink Ribbon fundraising events.    I must admit that it has long bothered me that these "Pink Ribbon" campaigns make no absolutely contribution to Men's Cancers like  Prostate - but I have just tried to remind anyone who approached me of that fact.

But recently there seems to some Pink Ribbon "fatigue" but - it is based on poor management rather than disappointment in the purpose of funds raised.  Only 8c of every $1.00  actually makes it back to Anti-Cancer Research!

PDF

Another Canadian Feminist plot?

Following last weeks outrage by feminists about the gendered phrase "In all our son's command" in our national anthem - apparently Margaret Atwood is behind yet another crazy campaign - the supposed lack of "equal gender" representation on our new plastic currency.   You can't make this stuff up!



Sun commentator David Menzies gives this all the attention this issue deserves.

Camille Paglia destroys Feminism

I just read this very interesting, recent debate by Camille Paglia.

She nailed it.

.... a volatility in gender roles is usually symptomatic of tensions and anxieties about larger issues. That is, sexual identity becomes a primary focus only when other forms of identification and affiliation—religious, national, tribal, familial—break down.

 I consider it completely irresponsible that public schools offer sex education but no systematic guidance to adolescent girls, who should be thinking about how they want to  structure their future lives: do they want children, and if so, when that should be scheduled, with the advantages and disadvantages of each option laid out. Because of the stubborn biologic burden of pregnancy and childbirth, these are issues that will always affect women more profoundly than men.

Similarly, our present system of primary and secondary education should be stringently reviewed for its confinement of boys to a prison-like setting that curtails their energy and
requires ideological renunciation of male traits.

But the majority of earthlings do seem to find clear gender roles helpful compass points in the often conflicted formation of identity.

I close with this question: is a nation whose elite education is increasingly predicated on the neutralization of gender prepared to defend itself against that growing challenge?

Chris Christie finesses NJ Govenors Debate

Commentary from NJ.com Blog

In the end, the governor who earned his fame as a gladiator won Tuesday night’s gubernatorial debate with a chivalrous kiss on the cheek.
State Sen. Barbara Buono went first, and all she could muster was a sideways compliment that was grudging and quick: "He’s good on late-night TV," she snapped.
Then came Gov. Chris Christie’s turn. And he layered on the sweet tones as if Buono were an old friend who needed some cheering up.
"She’s obviously a good and caring mother and someone who cares deeply about public service," he said, turning toward her. "I would never denigrate her service."

Update:  Oct 17 - Cory Booker is new Senator from New Jersey. :[

1st Anniversary of Amanda Todd's death

I saw this interview with Carol Todd - mother of BC teen Amanda Todd who took her life 1 year ago.

She has marked Oct 10 as Light up the World for Amanda Day - and she has many participants on her tribute website to her daughter.

But this U.S study indicates that teaching kids NOT to bully may actually INCREASE the level of bullying as they learn new tools/skills to torture their victims.

Sorry, it's Official

US adults are dumber than the average human

American adults scored below the international average on a global test, according to results released Tuesday.

Adults in Japan, Canada, Australia, Finland and multiple other countries scored significantly higher than the United States in all three areas on the test -  math, reading and problem-solving using technology – all skills considered critical for global competitiveness and economic strength.

Beyond basic reading and math, respondents were tested on activities such as calculating mileage reimbursement due to a salesman, sorting email and comparing food expiration dates on grocery store tags.

This might  be a contributing factor.

Oh yes - Canada is not much better at 15th and 16th respectively.

Positive contributions of dads

I have seen a host of interesting articles in the last few days - so I just thought I would list them here.

1) National Father Initiative: Why Do People Continue to Believe Children Don’t Need Fathers?

Includes references to a number of dismissive of not critical articles like this one.  Which I am sure prompted Brad Wilcox to pen this reply.

These Wilcox stats remind me of poster I came across a few years ago that trumpeted much the same list of "social deficits" of "Fatherlessness".

Here is a PDF of this same image.

The problem is most people blame Men for dropping out of their children's lives - whereas it seems equally as likely that women drive their husbands out of their children's lives in order to exact revenge and/or establish a new step-father.


2) Disgraced UW on-campus Feminist Megan Lanker-Simons has plead "no contest" to charges she fabricated the online comments she claimed were made targeting her for rape.  The hoax has laid bare the empty rhetoric of feminist Anti-Rape Campaigns the University.  Of course she has been a leading member of the campus Anti-Rape Campaigns until she graduated in the spring so she could enroll at another western university's Law faculty.


3) New, expanded definition of "Family Violence" in B.C Family Law Act effective April 1, 2013 that was used against a mother by a judge in M.W.B v. A.R.B who felt her actions had been the cause of much strife.

"... the mother consistently thwarted the father’s attempts to sell the property for a realistic price, resulting in a string of legal actions."

 "The father also had to argue for the right to see his 12-year-old son and teenage daughter one-on-one, after the mother ignored a court access order."

 "The “needless litigation” led the claimant to receive counselling for stress, precipitated a “very painful medical condition that has needed surgical procedures,” and hindered his capacity to spend time with the children, according to Brown."

 "I find the [mother’s] litigation conduct, related both to the selling of the commercial property and to parenting arrangements, considered in their totality, is a form of emotional abuse and harassment that constitute a form of family violence.”

Canlii link

Another bit of common-sense

h/t VladTepes

D*ck Maintenance

This one is a keeper.