You forgot the hunky, shirtless guys feeding you grapes.

Movie critic Ty Burr on the clown scares:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater/dance/2016/10/05/serious-clowning/ZQbGT7OyfDmNnKvhnBGH1J/story.html

Excerpts:

"...It’s probably useful here to talk about the “uncanny valley” effect, defined by Japanese robotics professor Masahiro Mori in 1970 and entering the English-speaking world by translation in a 1978 book. The uncanny valley is the point at which a human face or figure is altered to where it’s realistic enough to be disturbing but not lifelike enough to be pleasant. This is why mannequins are creepy, and ventriloquists’ dummies, and all those cyborgs on TV. Clowns generally got a pass for centuries. And then they didn’t.

"The 1980s saw the convention burrow further into the popular culture, a jokey/creepy Id to the Reagan Era’s smiley-face Superego. Stephen King’s “It,” with its demonic Pennywise, was published in 1986; the 1990 TV miniseries starred Tim Curry under the white pancake. (A new film version will be coming out a year from now.) The deathless B-movie horror farce “Killer Klowns From Outer Space” was released in 1988. The hip-hop horrorcore duo Insane Clown Posse, with its whiteface fan base of “Juggalos,” formed in 1989..."

"...(Grandma the Clown)Lubin says that, for some reason, clown-fear is an American phenomenon: “In Europe, with the same exact makeup, almost never does a child have a response like that.” But he also knows from the uncanny valley effect and that it doesn’t just apply to humans. “There’s a thing we clowns learned when I was with Ringling, which is Don’t make eye contact with the chimpanzees. Because of the makeup, they take it as a challenge and they may attack..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-undeniable-rape-culture-of-donald-trump_us_57ee5879e4b0c2407cdd4c92

(Even if you think we need to come up with a different term, there's plenty to think about, here.)

Rosie O'Donnell can't handle mean words

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/10/07/rosie-odonnell-couldnt-leave-her-house-for-days-after-trumps-debate-attacks/

Tim Kaine, corrupt politico or mild-mannered nitwit?

I would never let someone else take care of my dog. You monster.

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14519749_1720440341613982_988761794931197185_n.jpg?oh=0f7fd9aa2c97888c563817b590bf5de8&oe=587257CC

As Johnson/Weld refuse to go away, friends on social media continue to post unfunny memes stating that libertarians are selfish and awful. They know I'm a libertarian.

Some of these people have collected thousands of dollars from me over the years for their GoFundMe efforts (usually due to terrible decision making on their part), loans they'll never repay, fundraisers for their kids and charities, and support of their businesses, especially MLMs, that I'd never buy from if I weren't supporting my friends.

What do I say to these people? Anything?

IP,
Feel your pain.

I've temporarily unfriended those on FB (do not use any other social media) and will probably reduce contact later on.

I do not mind others having a different opinion but will not accept being belittled or made fun of for my opinion.

As the song goes, "You don't own me ...".

@IP,

In the end, it's up to you. There's always the unfriend/block option, and Facebook also has the option to just keep them as friends but muted.

Also, evidence is always on your side. If you know the history of your party, show them which Democrats who became disillusioned (and why) with their party and left for the Libertarian party.

They're muted for now. It's a confrontation I'm contemplating. Like, seriously, I gave you $200 for your cat's surgery because you have a cat even though you can't afford to own a pet. I find reasons to buy your Stella and Dot jewelry. I repost all your damned promotions. I buy everything your kid sells for school.

I'm hateful and selfish? You know I can read this...

I doubt a confrontation will get through IP. I sorrow for your situation but there is little helpful advice to give.

Some of these people have collected thousands of dollars from me...if I weren't supporting my friends.

What do I say to these people? Anything?

Not now. Next time they come to you, hat in hand and ask for money, that's the time to say something.

No.

If they're smart, they'll leave it there. But I don't see an actual perceptiveness on their part, and they'll whine and try to play on your sympathies.

No.
But, but, but...
Remember when you made fun of libertarians with your stupid facebook memes? knowing that I'm a libertarian? this is what karma looks like.

This will probably burn bridges with them. That's a choice you'll have to come to grips with. That said, I doubt seriously that they'll change their ways.

It is difficult for the leopard to change his spots. The time to insist people treat you the way you want to be treated is the first time they cross the line, not the 20th.

Also, Do not rub it one their faces that you supported them economically because that screams I give you money, I demand you to be nice to me and I hope that is not the base of the relationship you are in with whoever is the problem with.

Keep in mind that politics, sports, and religion (or the lack of it) tends to bring out the worst in people; and news outlets/social media fan the flames for the sake of ad profit.

Interesting link, Lenora.

I have to wonder what Eve Ensler, the author of the piece in HuffPo and noted feminist, thinks of a candidate for president who trashes women who have made serious accusations of rape, sexual assault and other impropriety against her husband? as well as his close association with Jeffrey Epstein?

You forgot the hunky, shirtless guys feeding you grapes.

Normally I'm all booked up, but for our beloved goddess I will gladly clear up some time.

And here is the original Billy Bush Tape article, for those of you who just crawled out from under a rock:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-recorded-having-extremely-lewd-conversation-about-women-in-2005/2016/10/07/3b9ce776-8cb4-11e6-bf8a-3d26847eeed4_story.html

. . . which provides an interesting counterpoint to this:

https://heartiste.wordpress.com/2016/10/07/twatter-does-the-unthinkable-and-censors-donald-trumps-tweets/

Let's hope this does not get out of control.

http://freedomoutpost.com/do-these-8-alarming-signs-indicate-war-with-russia-could-be-imminent/

I have to wonder what Eve Ensler, the author of the piece in HuffPo and noted feminist, thinks of a candidate for president
______________________________________

I would guess that she thinks that making Trump president would be a shot in the arm to millions of Neanderthal types who LIKE all the vicious things he's said about women (including his unwillingness to back up his own daughter Ivanka if SHE should be harassed at work), whereas Clinton supporters are voting for her despite her faults in that area, not because of them. Misogynist types who like Trump are not likely to enjoy having Hillary - or any woman - for president.

BTW, here are "12 Reasons to Vote for Hillary That Have Nothing to Do With Trump."

https://www.thenation.com/article/12-reasons-to-vote-for-hillary-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-trump/

I'm not saying I agree or disagree with any of them - just that many people chose these reasons to support Hillary long before anyone seriously thought Trump would even be the Republican nominee.

As it happens, some leftist types don't agree with the author, as you'll see in the comments.

The main problem, I think, with the term "rape culture" is that it has an unwitting, over-the-top punch to it that, say, "racist culture" does not. That is, "rape" is both a noun and an adjective, and racism, per se, is not a crime, even as racist crimes exist. (And it's too easy to imagine Trump being pretty consistent in any policy, as president, regarding women; Republican women are starting to turn away from him.)

Therefore, it is easy enough to say that parents must teach their kids to speak out, every single time, against racist jokes made by their friends, and it's easy enough for kids and teens to do so. It is not nearly so easy, unfortunately, for parents or teen boys to do the same thing when it comes to jokes about rape - or jokes about "sluts." This is because boys who protest such jokes are often automatically attacked as unmanly. This does not happen in the former case, clearly - partly because it's often about boys defending boys.

While "rape culture" may not be the best term to use, we have to start somewhere, since it can be much harder to deal with in young people than casual racism. Maybe it should be "anti-woman" culture?

After all, while many people bristle at the term "racist culture," it would be ludicrous and childish to argue that violent racism - or basic discrimination - exists only within white supremacist organizations. It's everywhere. In the same vein, it wasn't so many decades ago that a woman raped by an acquaintance couldn't really hope for a conviction if she was neither a virgin or married. (Yes, even divorcees were considered morally suspect, not so long ago.) Just because it's always been considered horribly wrong to rape women from the first two categories doesn't mean that other women haven't been considered fair game, unofficially, for centuries - and in many communities, they still are. Even virgins can be suspected when the attacker has a well-hidden Jekyll-Hyde personality.

Bottom line: No one said it's easy to spot and reform potential young criminals, serial drunk drivers, or cold-blooded psychopaths (who are often Jekyll-Hydes). If you don't want the job, don't become a parent or teacher.

While "rape culture" may not be the best term to use, we have to start somewhere, since it can be much harder to deal with in young people than casual racism. Maybe it should be "anti-woman" culture?

Tell yo what, lets start with gold digging whore culture first

Fun piece about Hillary Lenona. Incidentally those are twelve reasons I'm voting against her.

Apples and oranges, luj.

Reminds me of all the MRAs you'll find online who think Vasalgel will bring back the patriarchy and terrify feminists. They can't seem to grasp that the only distinct group of women who will be truly unhappy about not being able to trick unwilling men into fatherhood are groupies - and even THEY don't always want babies. (Also, married women typically manage to find partners who agree on having or not having children - they don't WANT unwilling men to father their children.) Not to mention that any unmarried man who refuses to use condoms is not going to jump at the chance to use something that involves a needle. So things are unlikely to change very much for either men or women. Men who want to avoid making a groupie pregnant already have condoms and know how to prevent sabotage, so I don't really see the problem with "gold-diggers."

it would be ludicrous and childish to argue that violent racism - or basic discrimination - exists only within white supremacist organizations.
______________________________________________

Forgot to say, if you're wondering just how widespread racist organizations are, here's a map from last year:

https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map

Somewhat oddly, two of the smallest numbers are anti-immigrant organizations and Holocaust denial organizations.