ThePrettiestOne

Some good news: A Florida judge has announced that he will invalidate 21,000 arrest orders for people whose crime was being in debt. The Orlando Sentinel reports:

"Orange-Osceola Chief Judge Frederick Lauten announced Wednesday that he will quash more than 21,000 arrest orders for people who failed to appear at collections court, ending the long-standing practice of jailing the defendants when they are located.

[…] he said judges would no longer issue what's known as a "writ of bodily attachment" for people who don't appear at the debt-collection hearings and have missed their monthly payments."

Modern day debtors' prisons have gotten a lot of attention lately. The fact that they are finally ending in some places is a relief for millions of poor Americans who were unable to pay debts, then levied with fines, and finally illegally threatened and punished with jail time.

"The net that was cast by the use of these writs was a wide one, and today the clerk and I have concluded that at times that net was too wide," said the judge. "It resulted at times in low-values arrests of indigent defendants who had no means to pay."

This collections court was the only one in Florida who still issued these writs, so this effectively ends the practice across the state.

Thoughts? Discuss below.

stephendann:

jordynslefteyebrow:

it’s….. it’s right there…..right where you didn’t highlight….

BUT IT WILL COST MONEY DOLLARS TO RAISE TAXES, THEREFORE SOMETHINGH SOMETHING HOW TO PAY UNFUNDED PROMISE STEAL OUR GUN’S JOBS SOMETHING 

Months ago, David Stojcevski received a minor ticket for careless driving. Like millions of Americans, he was simply unable to pay it. His minor traffic ticket turned into an obstruction of justice charge, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Soon, he was arrested and given a harsh 30-day jail sentence—which likely cost Macomb County way more than the original unpaid ticket.

He didn't live for 30 days. Just 17 days after entering the Macomb County Jail outside of Detroit, David Stojcevski died in police custody. This time, though, almost every moment he spent in the jail was filmed. A powerful, sobering summary video is posted below and must be seen to be believed.

It's cruel, but we can no longer say it's unusual in America because thousands of our most vulnerable women and men are dying in police custody.

When Stojcevski entered the jail, he was on three prescribed medications. The jail knew this, but refused him any substantive medical care during his entire stay.

During the first 17 days of his sentence, Stojcevski somehow lost an astounding 50 pounds while in custody.

When Stojcevski began hallucinating -- a symptom of benzodiazepine withdrawal -- he told officers he felt “all his organs" had been removed and his "arms [had been] shredded," leaving "10 percent of his heart." Instead of receiving medical care, the suit claims he was placed on suicide watch, where he was stripped naked for his own safety, and officers looked on via a 24-hour-a-day camera.

There, the suit says, "defendants … monitored, watched and observed David spend the final ten days of his life suffering excruciating benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms.”

On the 17th day, while being filmed for the staff to see, Stojcevski died on the floor of his cell. In effect, he was given the death penalty for a traffic ticket. It's absurd that this man, who anyone could tell was in significant distress, was not rushed to a hospital at any point during the 17 days. The entire staff should be charged with criminal neglect.

Please watch the video below. It's very well-done local news coverage on someone dying in police custody.

excessunrated:

n3rdgirl:

congalineofdurin:

dear god, let it be enough

i took a vow to reblog this each and every time i see it

I AM WHEEZING

when everything goes so fast you hardly ever have any idea what is happening, or what other people are doing and saying, or what you are doing and saying

“This teacher, this brave first responder, then had Ahmed taken out of class. Note that the teacher didn’t immediately call for a lockdown and evacuate the class. The teacher didn’t actually think that it was a bomb and the teacher at no point believed that there was any danger. The teacher was (to use the accurate terminology) a fucking asshole racist bigoted xenophobe who had found the perfect excuse to toss the local Muslim kid to the wolves. But the fun didn’t stop with Ahmed’s English teacher.
Upon being escorted to the office, highly not dangerous clock in tow, the police were called. Someone in the office called the police on a 13-year-old with a clock. They did not call the police and say HOLY FUCK THERE IS A BOMB HERE SEND HELP, because a few officers showed up in orderly fashion, not the entire bomb squad. Helicopters did not circle. Students were not evacuated. CNN was not on scene in minutes. No one at any time actually thought this was a bomb.”

- Terrorists Strike on American Soil | Slàinte Mhath (via sociolab)

as-an-expression-of-love:

khiravaggio:

“how come the jews got compensation for the holocaust but…”

1. there is no dollar amount in the world that can ever make up for genocide

2. $24 billion/6 million jewish people murdered = $4000 per victim

3. so even if there were an amount that could make up for it that sure as fuck isn’t it

4. compensation programs are based in europe which has shit to do with the usa’s slothfulness in compensating black americans

5. the us government knew the holocaust was happening but had no intentions of getting involved until pearl harbor

6. why do you hate jewish people so much

Also just to reinforce the “no dollar amount can make up for a genocide” point:

• there are gentiles in france living in the stolen houses of my relatives
  
  
• there are literal fucking toilets built out of jewish gravestones in poland
  
  
• we did not get our land back
  
• we did not get our homes back
• we did not get our lives back
  
  
• and we didnt get our fucking paltry senses of security (IF we had any to begin with) back either so you can get off your fucking goyische high horse.

No dollar amount can make up for a genocide. and in dollar amounts the reparations some jews received were incredibly meager.

• why do you hate jewish people so much
  

gethenian:

kristenwiiggle:

micdotcom:

Watch: Pope Francis urges the U.S. to embrace immigrants in impassioned plea to Congress 

@ donald trump, whats good?

@MostOfThePopulationOfTheUSA So, y’all…

deducecanoe:

High quality news reporting.

MORE OF THIS *slaps table* 

Universal

(Buy a print of this comic)

brakehage:

today in Almost Getting The Point But Missing It

Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi gave a stinging assessment of the state of the Republican Party that forced John Boehner to abruptly resign both his leadership post and his congressional seat altogether. Here's a bit of what she told reporters Friday morning:

"Public awareness is the strongest, strongest opportunity we have for keeping government open. [...] Shutting down government is drastic. In our caucus this morning, we had read to us by our ranking member Nita Lowey all the things that will happen if they shut down government—who are affected in terms of our veterans, who are affected in terms of children and nutrition. It is a stunning array. One of the things that people have said is, if we only let government shut down for one day but really did not mitigate for the damage, then the American people would really know how bad this is. [...]

"[When the 2013 shutdown came] we lost at that time 25 billion dollars in our economy, it curtailed the growth of our GDP, it put people out of work—at least 30 percent of the federal workforce are veterans—are veterans—and we all profess to worship at the shrine of our veterans. And yet, they will very casually shut down government, having various degrees of impact on our federal workers.

"This all comes down to the fact that the Republicans in Congress, if you take some of the issues we talked about, are anti-governance—not government. [...] The degree of government has been the debate in our country for a couple hundred years. How much government? How much federal, how much local and state? So that's a legitimate place of where you are on the spectrum. But anti-governance—shut it down and celebrate—that is unacceptable. And President Washington, as he was leaving office, cautioned against political parties of which were at war with their own government. And that's really what we're seeing evidence of now—a political party at war with its own government."

raisingwildlings:

raisingwildlings:

The thing about the rich of this country is that billionaires have more money than is humanly possible to spend. So like, I really do not give any amount of a shit if increasing their taxes is “faaair” because I care more about no one starving to death or going without medical care in fucking 2015 than I do about the great grandson of the guy who invented some crappy toy being able to buy his 17th yacht. We can fucking print out organs and we have people dying of the flu because they are too poor to go to the er. Like??? Tax the shit outta the rich. Take half their money. Idgaf.

And like conservatives are so quick to say its not fair to tax the fuck out of the rich, but then they say to people struggling that “life isn’t fair” like??? If anyone is getting screwed here I want it to be the guy who owns four mc mansions not the family of four living out of their car.

Carly Fiorina, competing to win the forced-birther award for zealotry, campaigned at a crisis pregnancy center Thursday, one of those fake clinics that sell themselves as healthcare providers, and doubled-down on the lies that started with her CNN debate appearance and continued with her campaign's faked video. In her campaign stop she insisted that "anyone who challenges her on the point as part of the 'liberal media.'"

"Interestingly, no one has denied that babies are being butchered for their body parts at Planned Parenthood clinics and elsewhere," she said as supporters clapped. "They're trying to have a conversation about a technicality about a video tape. The character of this nation cannot be about butchery of babies for body parts." [...]

Inside the Carolina Pregnancy Center, however, Fiorina continued to fire away at "liberal hypocrisy."

"They are perfectly prepared to destroy other people's jobs and livelihoods and communities in order to protect fish and frogs and flies," she said. "But they do not think a 17-week-old, a 20-week old, a 24-week old is worth saving. This, ladies and gentlemen, is hypocrisy," she said, referring to the stage of a fetus' development, not the age of a born child.

Nice deflection there, Fiorina. The issue isn't about the existence of abortion at Planned Parenthood or anywhere else. The issue is that she's a pathological liar about it.

Good news, everyone!

The never-before-published, long-awaited fifth book in the Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians middle-grade series from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Brandon Sanderson will finally see release from Tor/Starscape! Get ready to read The Dark Talent, starting June 2016!

Check out the full cover and wraparound art by Scott Brundage below!

Alcatraz Smedry has successfully defeated the army of Evil Librarians and saved the kingdom of Mokia. Too bad he managed to break the Smedry Talents in the process. Even worse, his father is trying to enact a scheme that could ruin the world, and his friend, Bastille, is in a coma. To revive her, Alcatraz must infiltrate the Highbrary–known as The Library of Congress to Hushlanders–the seat of Evil Librarian power. Without his Talent to draw upon, can Alcatraz figure out a way to save Bastille and defeat the Evil Librarians once and for all?

And the full, wraparound illustration:

 

 

Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians Book #5: The Dark Talent comes out from Tor/Starscape in June of 2016.

“From the beginning, Boehner may have been ill-suited to the historical moment. He was an old-school pol, the kind who favored hashing out deals over cigars and whiskey, but he was elevated to the speakership in a revolution fueled by anger, resentment, and distrust of party leaders. He spent his time as speaker trying constantly to mollify a group of unreasonable members for whom any compromise was betrayal, and the idea of strategically avoiding a confrontation today to put yourself in a better position tomorrow was just too sophisticated for them to wrap their heads around. They’re a group of bomb-throwers and lectern-pounders, who (like their mentor Ted Cruz) think that “standing up to Obama” is a substantive accomplishment in and of itself to be proud of.”

-

Was John Boehner a victim of circumstance or an incompetent bumbler?

I think the answer is “Yes”.

brakehage:

do u ever start typing out a long opinion post and feel very heated and then halfway through realize nothing matters and time is a flat circle and whatever i’m tired

brakehage:

there’s this weird dichotomy that some pro choice people have created which is that the only way to get rid of the stigma of abortion is to talk about how amazing abortion is and to get women to talk about how proud they are of abortions and as someone who is staunchly pro choice that just seems so weird like….

first of all it erases the many different experiences that women have had with abortion i know women who have had abortions and it was difficult for them. my mom is very pro choice but her second abortion was tough for her and not because any pro life person told her she’s a murderer but because my mom felt that way and her feelings are valid

and being like “ABORTIONS RULE” is silly because what abortion is is a medical procedure and we don’t treat other medical procedures like they’re awesome. we recognize them for what they are: necessary, sometimes life saving, safe, etc

northstarfan:

I am sitting on my couch watching my youngest cat have a literal tantrum because I’d rather type on the computer than cuddle him for the fourth time in twenty minutes.

We domesticated these things why?

He’s asking himself the same question.

Me: *wants to do several things at once*
Me: well i guess i better do Nothing At All

Jeb! Bush channeled Mitt Romney Thursday night in response to a question about how he plans to "include" black voters and "get them to vote for you." He could do it, he said (check out the video below the fold), because of his sterling record on school privatization and because:

"Our message is one of hope and aspiration," he said at the East Cooper Republican Women’s Club annual Shrimp Dinner. "It isn't one of division and get in line and we'll take care of you with free stuff. Our message is one that is uplifting -- that says you can achieve earned success."

Yeah ... I'm pretty sure that's a message that will work better with white Republicans than with African-American members of any party. Not because black voters want to be promised "free stuff," but because the implication is so insulting. Because the "free stuff" Bush is so dismissive of is the most basic duty of a society toward its struggling members. Because Republicans like Bush keep incomes low and then make low-income people pay in shame for the help they need. Because there's a little history here:

Jeb Bush plans win black votes by not offering us "free stuff" — you mean like the 246 years of uncompensated labor we gave you all?

— jelani cobb (@jelani9) September 25, 2015

Or by "free" were you referring to the federal housing subsidies that this country gave to whites for decades while excluding us entirely?

— jelani cobb (@jelani9) September 25, 2015

Back in 2012, Mitt Romney used the exact same words, saying "But I hope people understand this, your friends who like Obamacare, you remind them of this, if they want more stuff from government tell them to go vote for the other guy—more free stuff." And both times, it was about posturing for rich white people who want their racism comfortably veiled, pretending to have a message of uplift while really having a message of keeping people down not with policies that don't look discriminatory on the face but are discriminatory in effect.

tanku:

nelfears:

‘the average woman owns 16 bras’ well shit i didnt know the average woman was made of money

“average woman owns 16 bras" factoid actualy just statistical error. average woman buys 0 bras per year. Titys Georgina, who lives in cave & wears over 10,000 each day, is an outlier adn should not have been counted

Music can put a skip in your step and turn your frown upside down. It can also drown out distractions and make you more productive . What are your favorite songs for zoning in and reaching maximum productivity?

Read more...

cythereancutie:

CELEBRATE FEMININE NON BINARY PEOPLE. LEGITIMIZE THEM. MASCULINITY ISNT THE ONLY OPTION. YOURE ALLOWED TO LIKE YOUR FEMININITY AND BE NON BINARY.

camigigilola:

collared-lilgirl:

lovelymess3:

submissivefeminist:

1. Condoms are only 98% effective when used correctly.
2. Sugar can cause infections in the vagina. This means things like chocolate sauce, honey, and lubricants with glycerin can be harmful.
3. Having sex with an intoxicated person is legally rape in most US states, even if the person verbally consents. In the eyes of the law, drugs and alcohol impair your ability to consent to sex.
4. Unprotected anal sex is the most dangerous sex act when it comes to spreading STIs.
5. Not everyone can climax from oral sex or even likes oral sex. Don’t assume—ask your partner what they want!
6. Condoms expire! Check the date on the wrapper. Also, storing them in wallets is not a good idea (see #8)
7. If someone with a vagina has unprotected anal sex, semen can drip down into the vagina and pose a (slight, but still real) risk for pregnancy.
8. Do not keep condoms in your wallet. The friction and heat exposure of keeping them there can make them ineffective. Keep them somewhere cool, dry, and out of sunlight.
9. You should be tested for STIs with each new partner you have. Annual appointments are not enough protection if you have multiple partners in that time.
10. Having anal sex does not lead to a gaping asshole unless your partner is literally an elephant.
11. Sex with elephants is illegal. Don’t do that.
12. Masturbating while wearing a condom can help people with penises get used to wearing them before sex.
13. Penis size does not define your worth. It is not the be-all, end-all factor for most people.
14. In fact, lots of people with large penises have trouble having sex without hurting their partner since the average vagina size is 6”-8” when aroused (it’s only 3”-4” when not aroused!).
15. Your first time will almost definitely not be your best time. That’s okay, I promise.
16. Herpes and pubic lice can still infect you if a condom is used if testicles come in contact with a vuvla.
17. Only one out of three people can orgasm from receiving vaginal penetration alone. You’re not broken.
18. People with penises can orgasm without ejaculating.
19. The muscles in a vagina can be abnormally tense and cause intense pain when penetrated with a toy, penis, or tampon. This is called vaginismus and treatment for this includes relaxation therapy and using medical rods to help the muscles relax.
20. The number of sexual partners you have does not define you. This rule applies to all genders.
21. A diet of lots of dairy and meat can cause ejaculate to taste bad. Fruits that are very sweet (like pineapple) help combat this for some people. However, due to body chemistry, medications, and other factors, it might not always do the trick.
22. Dental dams make oral sex with someone with a vulva safer. They are thin sheets of latex and can be home-made by cutting the ends off a condom and slitting it lengthwise to make a alternative option if you don’t have access to dental dams.
23. The clitoris has 8,000 nerve endings in it. That’s twice that of a penis! So, go gently until encouraged to do otherwise.
24. Sex does not have to stop when someone ejaculates. Remove any condoms or clean up any mess, and keep going until everyone is satisfied!
25. Communication is the number one factor to a better, healthier sex life.
26. The hymen is not a bone, and does not break. It is a membrane layer that stretches. It can tear, which can lead to pain and bleeding. However, sex for the first time (or ever!) should never hurt. Go slower and focus on foreplay to increase natural lubrication.
27. Sexuality is fluid for a lot of people. Don’t worry about labels until you’re sure in your sexual and romantic interests. Explore freely and worry about terms later.
28. Orgasms release hormones that are natural pain-killers. This is why some menstruating people masturbate when they have cramps, because the body naturally reduces pain after an orgasm.
29. The hormones released also account for why some people cry or get very emotional after an intense orgasm. It’s totally normal.
30. There are limitless kinks in the world and so long as they are safe and consensual, there is nothing wrong with them.
31. Medications and mental health disorders can mess with your sex drive. Talk to your doctor if your sex drive has suddenly increased or decreased after starting a medication—there may be alternatives.
32. There is nothing “un-manly” or “gay” about enjoying anal play. Most men who try anal enjoy a little sensation in that area. People with penises also have a p-spot (prostate) and can have intense orgasms through anal penetration.
33. Always use lubrication generously to avoid vaginal or anal tearing.
34. Urinating after sex can reduce the risk of a UTI in people with vaginas.
35. Enjoying casual sex does not make you a bad person if you are up-front with your intentions and don’t maliciously seek to hurt others.
36. Condoms come in multiple sizes! It should never be loose or painfully tight.
37. Being sex-positive does not mean that everyone needs to enjoy sex. It simply promotes the happiness and sexual exploration (or non-exploration) of others.
38. Porn is not an educational guide to sex.
39. Certain positions feel better than others. Switch it up and find out what works for you and your partner(s).
40. Condoms are more likely to break if you don’t leave a reservoir tip for ejaculate.
41. Labia are often asymmetrical. Your long/uneven/poofy/dark labia are beautiful and there is nothing wrong with your body.
42. Up to 80% of people with a vagina can squirt with either g-spot or clitoral stimulation.
43. Drug store pregnancy tests are just as effective as brand name ones. In some cases, they’re even MORE effective.
44. Elevating your butt with pillows can make missionary sex easier for those of us with a big tummy or thick thighs.
45. Plan B does not work on people over a certain weight (160-175lbs).
46. There are safe alternatives to condoms or oral contraceptives. Talk to your doctor about your options.
47. Sex toys can open up a whole new world to folks willing to explore.
48. Orgasms can be highly psychological. Most people can’t climax when they’re upset or distracted.
49. Birth control can cause people to miss periods or spot in between periods.
50. Sex doesn’t have to be gentle if you don’t want it to be. There are healthy ways to explore rough sex or BDSM.

xx SF

thank god this exists bc I just learned a shit-ton

Thank you for this gender friendly post.

#45 seems pretty serious. Everthing else I knew, but #45 is a bit concerning.

Yuuuuup! Plan B and Ella (which is more consistently effective in its window and for 5 days instead of 3…Plan B you wanna take *very early* within those 3 days) both have huge efficacy drop-offs above 175lbs aka: for people over 175lbs there’s a high risk of Plan B and Ella not working.

If you’re concerned about pregnancy, the most effective form of emergency birth control available right now is actually the copper IUD, regardless of weight. It’s not painless like a pill, but it’s 99% effective within 5 days, and you can have it removed as soon as 10 days later. Way more invasive, I know, but that’s the info I got.

vialacteas:

spock: this is against starfleet regulations
jim: stop kink shaming me 

leupagus:

So I’m really going to be unhelpful here, but does anybody remember a children’s book that I think might have been illustrated by Gorey? And for all I know was written by Joan Aiken, but there was a girl sent to live at a boarding school run by two sisters, and one was super nasty but at first the girl thought the other one was nice (spoiler alert: she wasn’t) and there was some sort of plot with a hollow book in a… church? A library? And there might have been a cursed jewel or something? There was definitely a secret like crime ring or something that the evil sisters were part of. 

I’ve been trying to remember the name of the book for YEARS, and when I saw Wolves of Willoughby Chase I was like, “I think I read that book literally right after I read this book,” which makes me think maybe it’s one of Aikens’s books but maybe it isn’t? Anyway, librarian/book people who follow me, PLEASE HELP ME IT’S DRIVING ME BAZOO.

anyone?

tikkunolamorgtfo:

About ten days ago, I wrote a series of posts regarding the difficulties Jews and people of other minority faiths encounter in western society when it comes to having our holidays respected and recognized. I got a lot of feedback from Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, etc. echoing my sentiments (some of which was absolutely heartbreaking), and I have additionally seen a variety of other posts on the matter that underline my point. When reading all of the notes and comments relevant to these posts, I noticed a very similar theme reappearing time after time:

“I didn’t take off for X holiday because I’m not that religious, but the scheduling was very inconvenient for my more observant friend or family member.” 

Indeed, I had previously quoted former MLB player Gabe Kapler, who once made the justification to play baseball on Yom Kippur by saying: 

“I am not really a practicing Jew. It would be selfish to be a practicing Jew on only one day.”

It would seem that many people have been led to believe that observing a Jewish or Muslim or Hindu holiday is cheating unless you are sincerely devout. 

Well, I have an important message for those people: 

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO NON-CHRISTIAN SECULAR OBSERVANCES

This is important, so I’m going to say it again: 

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO NON-CHRISTIAN SECULAR OBSERVANCE

Think of all the times you have been chided by secular Christian friends for not celebrating Christmas.

“It’s not really even a religious holiday anymore,” people will tell you. “It’s just a nice time for families to get together and celebrate.” 

Well, guess what? So is Rosh Hashanah. So is Eid. So is Diwali. 

A secular Jew might not want to go to synagogue on Rosh Hashanah, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to fly home for Rosh Hashanah dinner to be with their family. 

A non-practicing Muslim may have lost interest in regular religious practices, but that doesn’t mean they don’t still look forward to Eid celebrations.

A lapsed Hindu can still have fond memories of celebrating Diwali as a youth, and want to continue on with their family traditions. 

There is no written rule that says only people from Christian backgrounds can be non-religious and still celebrate their cultural holidays. There is no law that says only Christmas and Easter can be boiled down to family dinners and fun festivities. 

BEING A SECULAR PERSON FROM A MINORITY FAITH DOES NOT INVALIDATE YOUR RIGHT TO YOUR OWN CULTURAL BACKGROUND. 

It doesn’t matter if you haven’t prayed in years or don’t believe in God. If you want a day off for your holiday, take it. No matter what, it’s still yours. 

liberalsarecool:

Let’s keep this straight. #immigration