Rape: Power vs. Sex

"Claiming rape is primarily less about power and more about sex is like claiming that Roman crucifixion was less about power and more about decorating."

-- Dexeron

1790s Washington's Administration

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Everything about Washington’s administration assumed heightened importance, since he was setting precedents and establishing the tone of government. No sooner was he sworn in than questions of protocol provoked hairsplitting debates. How should a president be addressed? Should he receive visitors? Since many antifederalists were convinced that Hamilton and his circle meditated a monarchy, they followed such debates avidly for signs of incipient treachery. Though Hamilton opposed noble titles, he wondered what would substitute for courtly forms to inspire reverence for law. Other founders labored under a similar apprehension. In May 1789, Ben Franklin told Benjamin Rush, “We have been guarding against an evil that old states are most liable to, excess of power in the rulers. But our present danger seems to be defect of obedience in the subjects.”

-- Ron Chernow, “Alexander Hamilton”

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Weather

The way the sun is peeping out strong now, I could be tempted to let the cats out. However, I am betting with the weather forecast, that it is going to be a long, rainy night. I just also feel that this bet is going to go bust, and I am going to regret not letting the cats go.

wind chimes

More noise, always more noise. Now Pop is into wind chimes. I suspect this is Ms. Walker's influence, though this may be unfair to her. Pop is capable of having silly ideas on his own.

I'm wondering if this is going to add to my routine of removing clocks and phones, just so that I can have a chance at enjoying a little quiet. These chimes would be more trouble, since they are outside.

Sometimes it really does feel like fate is fucking with me, and I am just being too damn stubborn to accept the obvious answer to all my woes, and that is to silence myself, once and forever.

"Oh, for crying out loud! It's fucking wind chimes, not waterboarding. You get so worked up over the stupidest things. Just chill out and let life happen. Cripes, you should have the suicide hotline on speed-dial."

Hey, it keeps things interesting.

probably too dark

That's probably too dark to be included in my big Saturday night post. Though, it would be interesting to see if it might move someone to, like, you know, actually respond.

the rain

At least the rain is coming through for us tonight. Maybe it will cool things again. Though, we're getting late enough into spring that we may be fast reaching the point where rain only means more insufferable humidity. In all fairness, we have enjoyed a cooler spring than we can reasonably hope to expect. But people are greedy by nature, and I only want some more of that cool air, with an invigorating nip of chill. Oh, yeah, let it feel like March again!