YR VERY OWN POLICE FORCE

ITEM: A Stockton, CA man wants to put a militia on the streets if police layoffs happen. He says he's got 270 people signed on to help.

"They're going to have rifles, shotguns, pistols – whatever they get their hands on," said 66-year-old Alan Pettet. "We're not going to go out looking for trouble, but the first person who fires on us, will get a lot of return fire going is way."

The Stockton Police Department is nervous.

"What our officers do, is go through extensive training," police spokesperson Roseann Clark said. "They have 800 hours of academy time before hitting the streets."

Recipe for disaster in 3, 2, 1...

Open fire,

This is dF

HEY KIDS! THINK YR GAY? WE CAN FIX THAT!

ITEM: Public schools in Tennessee are filtering access to online websites discussing LGBT issues.

Unless the "issue" is how to cure gayness. In which case students have unfiltered access to sites like National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, People Can Change, The Americans For Truth Against Homosexuality and the Traditional Values Coalition.

The schools say that their internet and filtering service, Education Networks of America (ENA), is responsible for deciding what sites to block. ENA says they only block what the schools tell them to block.

Calm and rational discussions ensues.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Just kidding.

Hide it all away,

This is dF

SLUTS VS LOSERS

I’ve never really had any stake – or indeed any interest – in the so called Sex Wars. There may be something to the whole Men Are From Uranus/Women Are From The 8th Dimension dichotomy that forms the basic template for sitcoms and daytime TV, but I’ve never really experienced it. Maybe it’s because I never did the singles bar scene (not successfully, anyway). Or it’s because I’m not big on sports. I don’t know.

However, The Daily Beast has this interesting he said/she said piece that tackles one of the most important questions facing humanity today:

Who’s got it tougher in terms of societal pressure: the woman who’s called a slut for having too much casual sex? Or the guy who’s branded a loser for not having enough?

Making the case for the gals: Susannah Breslin of the Reverse Cowgirl blog.

And for the blokes: Grant Stoddard, author of Working Stiff: The Misadventures of an Accidental Sexpert.

Personally, I think both sides have valid points, although I’m not sure they’re arguing about the same thing. And both of them ignore a ton of factors like cultural background and age. For example, women are under far more pressure in conservative societies like, say, Hong Kong than they are in, say, France. And guys are more likely to get crap about not getting laid during high school and college than they are later in life (unless they join the military, maybe).

That said, I'm inclined to believe that overall, women have a tougher time with the "slut" label than guys do with the "loser" label. And I was assigned the "loser" label for most of my adult life before I was married, so take it from me.

I could be wrong, of course. I usually am on matters like this. But maybe it doesn't matter which side has it tougher – maybe it's like the Four Yorkshiremen arguing over who had the tougher upbringing. As Bus Uncle once said, we all have our problems. And when it comes to sex, it’s all relative.

Mostly.

Born to lose,

This is dF

GIRL. WITH PIANO. ON FIRE.

Burn the flames,

This is dF