Rose's Place

This post is going to be about my son but it will be interesting and relevant to feminist parenting, I swear.That's him on his first birthday back in October. Isn't he cute? ANYWAY.I don't remember exactly when it started, but at one point he became very fascinated with things that spin. I have a friend who has a pipe coming out of her floor with a washer on it; when we went to visit her, he would sit on the floor spinning the washer. He would turn the umbrella stroller over so he could spin the wheels. He has discovered other things now, but he still likes to sit quietly and play with objects … [Read more...]

For all you animal lovers out there — Dog vs. Deer: AWWWWWWWWW!!!! (via Andrew Sullivan) … [Read more...]

For all you animal lovers out there — Dog vs. Deer: AWWWWWWWWW!!!! P.S.  With that I should add that blogging will be extremely light for the next little while… (via Andrew Sullivan) … [Read more...]

"Quebecers can look forward to paying a new 'health contribution' and a 15-per-cent sales tax in 2012 under the budget Finance Minister Raymond Bachand brought down yesterday. [...] Parti Québécois leader Pauline Marois pointed out that in the 2008 election campaign, Premier Jean Charest gave no hint of higher taxes, fees and hydro rates to come.'The government is going to pick the pocket of Quebecers,' she said."The budget includes:-four annual fuel-tax increases (Montreal and Quebec City are also authorized to add a fuel-tax increase)-a new "health contribution" ($25 per doctor visit this July … [Read more...]

I recently reread Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Those of you who have read the book probably remember Jane's arrival at Lowood School when she was a child. You probably remember how she described the inedible food, the drafty building, the long walks to church in the winter while wearing inadequate uniforms and shoes, Miss Scatcherd's mistreatment of Jane's friend Helen Burns, and how Helen died.I was fascinated to learn that Lowood School was actually based on The Clergy Daughter's School at Cowan Bridge, which Charlotte attended with three of her sisters. The character Helen Burns was modeled … [Read more...]

Especially owners of the kind of dog whose tails curl upward, exposing their little bung-holes for all to admire.  There’s a New Product that might be just the thing to give your pet a little privacy… “Rear Gear” Butt Covers!: No, really: They’re sold out right now, so this looks to be what the well-dressed pet will be wearing this spring. (via the slog) … [Read more...]

It’s only fitting that Sarah Palin’s new TV show, “Real American Stories”, should debut on April Fool’s Day: Sarah Palin begins her role as a TV host with “Real American Stories,” which debuts at 10 p.m. Thursday on Fox News Channel. “On the Record With Greta Van Susteren” will be preempted that night. The first “Real American Stories,” which is a series of specials, will repeat at 9 p.m. Sunday. I wonder what is meant by “real American”…ya think? … [Read more...]

-written by R&D board member Marco Navarro-Genie, on the same day we are hearing from the three fired members of Rights and Democracy at the Foreign Affairs committee (see below).And what a gong show stinker editorial it is too : Marco Navarro-Genie: The Rights & Democracy gong show arrives in OttawaAccording to Navarro-Genie, the Foreign Affairs committee is involved in "a kangaroo court" orchestrated by "the coalition-government- wanabees (Bloc-Liberal-NDP)" to "try and then convict good Canadian citizens whose only crime is to do their duty to look out for Canadian taxpayers" :"They … [Read more...]

Last week, I declared GOP minority whip Eric Cantor “Swine of the Week” for his lame attempt to blame the Democrats for the threats they’ve been receiving from teabagger-conservatives outraged over Big Health Insurance’s loss of the right to fuck them over.  Cantor’s claim that he, too, has received threats — which he nonetheless refused to make public — was met with hoots of derision and ultimately, my Swine of the Week award. Then it was discovered that Cantor had indeed been threatened — on Youtube, no less — by some bathrobe-clad offside … [Read more...]

Before you read this blog entry, I suggest that you click on "Info for Montreal parents" at the top of this page; all the info from this page is there as well, and I update it when I find new information. I've noticed that I get hits on this blog when people are trying to find information about giving birth in Montreal on google. I don't know how useful the information here is, since I've only given birth at one hospital and I've only shared my experience there. I've decided to do an information post about this and other things that might be helpful.CLSCMy local CLSC was a wonderful source of support … [Read more...]

Well, hello there. I haven't updated this blog in over year. I think that it's pretty hilarious that the majority of the posts on my feminist parenting blog were made while I was still pregnant and not actually parenting yet. I had a lot more time when I wasn't actually taking care of a child, I guess.So, to sum up, sorry for my long absence; I've been up to my elbows in fecal matter and getting accustomed to the whole mothering thing. I'm back now, though, because I've been reading some things lately that have prompted me to come back to this blog. There were three pieces in particular that brought … [Read more...]

Just over a year ago, I wrote of the passing of Estelle Bennett, one of the great Ronettes, and how much I love the Girl Group sound of the 50s and 60s -- and I'm not talking just Motown. As I noted, most of those ladies never really did get the rock'n'roll respect they deserved. Today, via Buzzfeed, I stumbled on this video: Now I understand why it all seemed so familiar. … [Read more...]

…could think that an online “virtual march” makes any other statement than “I’m a lazy-ass moran who can’t pull myself away from the deep-fried twinkies long enough to exert myself to actually, um, march”. Go Team Wheezing Manatees!  Take “your” country “back”, one outraged mouse-click at a time!  Click! Clickclickclick!!! … [Read more...]

“Hear No Evil” Edition: Top Vatican officials — including the future Pope Benedict XVI — did not defrock a priest who molested as many as 200 deaf boys, even though several American bishops repeatedly warned them that failure to act on the matter could embarrass the church, according to church files newly unearthed as part of a lawsuit.  [...] The Wisconsin case involved an American priest, the Rev. Lawrence C. Murphy, who worked at a renowned school for deaf children from 1950 to 1974. But it is only one of thousands of cases forwarded over decades by bishops to the Vatican … [Read more...]

...but to my knowledge, none has ever proven to be a threat," said Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who became the senior American and NATO commander in Afghanistan last year. His comments came during a recent videoconference to answer questions from troops in the field about civilian casualties."~ New York Times, Friday, March 26, 2010Here is how the NATO ISAF webpage continues to report one such incident :Joint Force Operating in Gardez Makes Gruesome DiscoveryKABUL, Afghanistan (Feb. 12) - An Afghan-international security force found the bound and gagged bodies of three women during an operation … [Read more...]

From last night’s show, Bill has some excellent advice for the Democrats: UPDATE: Meanwhile, last night Poor Dumb Sarah was still screeching bumper sticker slogans about “teleprompters” (as she read from a prepared speech…), “professors of law at the lectern” (…from a lectern), and “How’s that hopey-changey thing workin’ out for ya”.   She seems blissfully unaware of the fact that her side just suffered its worst legislative defeat in decades, with her “help”. “Shut the fuck up while I slap your face for making … [Read more...]

Between 8:30 and 9:30pm anyway, for Earth Hour: About one billion people in 121 countries were expected to take part in Earth Hour, a time set aside on Saturday to turn off unnecessary lights for one hour to raise awareness about energy conservation. People in New Zealand, Australia, Beijing and Shanghai have already had their hour of reduced electricity use between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. local time. The goal is to draw attention to the need to save power as part of the worldwide battle against climate change. Some consider Earth Hour to be a pointless exercise, but it does the trick of raising … [Read more...]

It’s hard out there for a professional ex-fetus: Tebow reportedly requested the room bow their heads in prayer before the Wonderlic. Another player reportedly told him to “shut the fuck up.” Abomination!  Certainly the other players rushed to Tebow’s defense? Other players in the room then laughed. Cue the bitching and whining about religious persecution in 3…2…1… (h/t tbogg) … [Read more...]

An open letter. They’ll leave a light on for you. (via Dr. Dawg, CC and DDBG) … [Read more...]