Republicans, Women, Rape and a Room

So what do you get when 30 Republican senators are in the same room? Legislation drafted and passed to protect the American people, the consumer?  Changes to our educational system?  Environment protection?  Hell no!

What you get is 30 Republican senators voting against protection for women.  Yep, you have heard it.

On October 6, 2009, Senator Al Franken (D-MI) introduced an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Bill preserving the right of rape victims to sue their employer in court.

As noted by The Political Animal, the subject amendment was inspired by Jamie Leigh Jones, an employee of a defense contractor Kellogg, Brown & Root.  Jamie claims she was gang-raped by co-workers while assigned to Iraq.

The amendment passed the Senate 68-30.  All 30 who voted against it are Republican senators more concerned about the safety and security of the business sector than women’s rights.

Do Republicans support the rape of women?  No.  But their actions support status quo in which, as Nathan Havey says, rape and sexual violence flourish and live on.

So, my female friends.  If you are an employee of a company with a US government contract and are raped (God forbid) while on the job, please refrain from contacting a Republican senator.  He does not and will not care.

For your enjoyment or anger or frustration, here is the list (click here) of all those individuals who voted against the protection and safety of women.

By the way, all these senators are white, male and from the South (except for Ensign– yeah that one– of Nevada).  Kid you not!

Surprised?

Anything Wrong?

Thursday night and here I am sitting at home alone watching TV and posting an entry on my blog.  It is pathetic, I know.  I feel so alone and lonely.  Is it possible to feel that way?  I guess it is.

I have gone out with a few women but have not felt that “spark” that tells me that she is the “one”.

What is wrong?  I wish I knew but don’t.

As I have gotten older, I have become pickier when it comes to dating.  Is that holding me back from finding and meeting that special person?

I want to meet a woman whose kisses will send chills down my back.  I want to meet a woman I want to kiss and make love with all night long, while looking into her eyes and with whom I can spoon and hold afterwards.

Is this even remotely possible?

My Daughter, Her Trip and My Discomfort

My little girl has been out of town on trips for the holidays.  And it is happening again.

She isleaving tonight (1:45 am) for Guatemala on vacation with her mother.  I feel so restless, nervous and uncomfortable, even though I trust my ex, her mother, to take care of our little girl.

I guess what bothers me is the fact that she will be far from me in an environment over which I have no control.  It is an environment which makes it almost impossible for me to have first-hand knowledge of what is going on.

I have no idea how to deal with these emotions.  All I can do is hope and pray she will return safely.

In love? It’s Not Enough to Keep a Marriage

In love? It’s not enough to keep a marriage, study finds – Yahoo! News

I guess this article dampens all those assumptions or dreams about “living happily ever after.”  It does, however, bring into perspective what actually takes to maintain one’s marriage (or a relationship, for that matter), alive, well and going.

The article touches upon matters and issues that sometime couples take for granted and they do not realize how those matters are hurting and helping their relationship.

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Body Work (AKA Tattos)

So tonight I was visiting (actually browsing) some of those famous dating websites.  As I clicked and read profiles that caught my eye, I noticed an interesting pattern (for the lack of better term): tattoos or body work, if you will.

Some of the ladies in the profiles proudly showed off their arms and upper chest (from the breast area up) covered totally with ink.  A few of the ladies were school teachers and other, say, high profile careers.  But that kind of turned me off.  Why was that?

Believe me when I say that I am not old-fashioned in any way, shape or form.  I love a tattoo strategically placed on a woman’s body: back, waist, near her butt, ankle, thighs and other areas you can imagine.

But a whole body covered with ink?  What is your take?

Have Sex or Make Love?

In these days and times, it is easy to blur the line between sex and making love. Society has made us to do so. We find ourselves not being able to distinguish the difference between the two.

To me, sex is the mere physical act of just finding pleasure for the sake of pleasure. It is done because it feels good. It brings us a certain level of satisfaction. Making love, well, is a different story.

I make love because I care for and about someone. She is a special person in my life. I do not make love for the sake of physical satisfaction. I make love because I feel close to that someone. She makes me feel good as a man, as a person. We connect on diferent levels.

But we need to keep in mind one thing: we should not make love to someone. We should make love with someone.

Chemistry and Relationships

Chemistry and relationships– a topic that haunts us those seeking to find, build, develop and maintain a meaningful and deep relationship with the One. But do we know the true meaning of chemistry?

I recently came across an article written by Toni Coleman, LCSW, in which she points out that we, human beings, tend to confuse romantic love with great sex. Yeah, that sex that makes our body sweaty, tingle with excitement, our toes curl and explode in a great orgasm (actually, my interpretation… but you get the point) We confuse the two because we are missing spiritual affinity.

Toni tells us that spiritual affinity is “ the hidden element of chemistry. It’s when two beings meet and connect on a deeper level. It can only be felt in the heart and soul. It’s about friendship, respect, humor and the feelings of warmth and contentment that come when you are in his/her presence.’”

Let us not fool ourselves into believing that spiritual affinity, as Toni says, is immediate. It happens over time as more contacts between the interested parties happen. It eventually leads to develop relationships based on trust, commitment, comfort and friendship.

Good Ole Scammers

Is there a market for those notorious or infamous Nigerian/West African/Benin (feel free to add any other) scammers?  You bet there is.  Why? Because there are naive people who still believe in those “you have won $15 million and your swift ATM card is waiting for you but send your $100 security fee” e-mails.

But you know what?  Forget all those e-mails supposedly from the FBI (I guess Director Mueller is not busy enough), Interpol (guess the Jackal is imprissoned but more work is needed), Microsoft (screw Windows Vista.  It will fix itself), UPS, FedEx, Nigeria Central Bank (who can forget Dr. Soludo?) and Pepsi– just to name a few.

I recently received two (2) e-mails claiming to be from the Barack ObamaFoundation and the Heritage Foundation. And I am willing to bet that gullible people will fall for that correspondence as soon as it hits their mailboxes.

Scam e-mails would be a bit more credible if they were addressed to the person receiving and grammar/syntax/spelling were correct.

However, I believe that as technology becomes more accessible to people and people become more technologically savvy, the number of individuals scammed will drop considerably.

Well, at least, one can only hope.

World Cup Construction Workers Strike in South Africa

World Cup construction workers strike in S. Africa

It has been reported today by various media outlets that the 2010 World Cup (WC) in South Africa could be derailed by the strike of workers handling the construction of stadiums to be used during the WC.

From the time the Cup was awarded by FIFA to South Africa, there has been a series of concerns pertaining to the country and its ability to host the tournament: crime, infrastructure.

The issue at stake right now as we speak is whether or not the strike will end soon enough to complete all infrastructure on time.

One thing is clear and undeniable: this strike only furthers the concerns of those who have been critical of holding the WC in South Africa.

This also begs the question: Is South Africa truly ready to host the WC?

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U.S. Defender Onyewu Joins AC Milan

U.S. defender Onyewu joins AC Milan

This is great news for soccer fans in the United States and for the sport itself.  Signing Oguchi Onyewu sends a message that US players are now being taken as serious professionals and their skills clearly and closely examined.

If a team such as AC Milan has decided to sign a US player, it tells us that soccer/football is developing and reaching certain heights not seen before.  Teams in other leagues are paying attention to the development of the sport in this country and its players.

While visiting the different soccer specific websites and general sports ones as well, there is general sentiment of both excitement and caution. The cautious approach taken by fans is quite understandable.

Fans are afraid that Onyewu will not much playing time but rather ride the pine, thus his form taking a hit and not being ready for the 2010 World Cup.

Can one truly blame the fans? No. But it is important to keep in mind that AC Milan’s backline is not all that together. It is opinion that Gooch will have PT in the 2009-2010 Season.

His signing also opens the doors for other US players. The one player in people’s mind is Landon Donovan. When will he join a team in Europe?  Fair question.

My sense is that soon he will.

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