In The News

[Content note: Homophobia, transphobia]Wednesdays and the like:An Illinois marriage equality bill removed a Democratic-brought committee and today moves fully House.A Colorado school has barred a transgendered first-grader by using the girls' bathroom.Is that this the earth's most adorable frog. Most likely.I can not tell if this sounds like a hoax or otherwise: The Titanic II will sail in 2016.A federal judge will settle if or otherwise Ray Craig incorrectly spent campaign funds to protect his airport terminal bathroom buttsex arrest. Parallel world Wolverine is gay. Federal transportation authorities have declared Fung Wah Bus an imminent hazard and shut lower the operation. The Pope is completely likely to steal the staple remover off his desk as he leaves today."If more males were homosexual, there'd be no wars." — Morrissey. The Helps Health care Foundation is joining track of condition assemblyman Isadore Hall to prohibit bareback sex filming in California.

Question of the Day

Recommended by Mustang Bobby: "Exactly what do you want probably the most about where you reside?Inch

Two-Minute Nostalgia Sublime

Low Stars: "L.A. Forever"

The Virtual Pub Is Open

[Explanations: lol your body fat. pathetic anger bread. hey your gay.]TFIF, Shakers!Belly as much as the bar,and title your poison!Thank you to Imani (follow @AngryBlackLady) for inspiring the title of the week's pub!

Language Matters: Oscar Pistorius Coverage Edition

[Content Note: Domestic violence guns.]Yesterday, within the thread about Oscar Pistorius getting allegedly killed Reeva Steenkamp, Shaker ellen chose to make this excellent observation about coverage from the crime, that we am discussing around the primary page together with her permission:I am very troubled by what is happening using the word "domestic" during these reviews. Law enforcement stated that there was "accusations of the domestic character." No. "Domesticity" means eating foods, doing dishes, getting the garbage baking snacks, hanging curtains, taking a stroll. Assault, aggression, terror, and murder aren't a part of what "domestic" means. Stating that there was previous accusations "of the domestic character" is asking us to grow our meaning of "domestic" to incorporate repeated violent assault.In order to pretty up reality, law enforcement have edited the term "violence" from the phrase "domestic violence," expecting us to know that whenever they are saying "domestic," they mean "domestic violence." They are asking us to agree that being threatened and attacked are simply another component of being domestic. When police and media speak by doing this, they assist the assault to create wide ripples of linguistic and cognitive violence.Being precise by what really happened within this situation is going to be progressively important, as Pistorius continues to be formally billed with killing Reeva Steenkamp, and prosecutors accept is as true was premeditated murder. Steenkamp was apparently found behind your bathroom door and police have been "known as towards the house two hrs prior to the shooting after neighbors reported a noisy argument."Relatedly, I'd this exchange on Twitter yesterday mid-day:@mcmorag Indeed. Within my publish, I purposely named her &lifier didn't define her as his g/f, but because "Reeva Steenkamp, who had been dating Pistorius."&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) Feb 14, 2013Oscar Pistorius wiped out his girlfriend inside a domestic dispute.Oscar Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp, who had been dating Pistorius, within an act of domestic violence.Same information. One does not aim to mitigate the heinous character from the crime, nor vanishes the victim, nor goodies Steenkamp like Pistorius' property, nor regards, in ellen's words, "being threatened and attacked [as] yet another component of being domestic."

The Parks and Rec Open Thread

"Stuff lasts forever!"(Spoilers are trying to find chairs herein. Content Note: Body fat prejudice.)Okay, let us just get to the sad part: Once more, this episode was peppered with body fat hate. There is the return of Paunch Hamburger, obviously, and there is a dreadful moment by which Leslie told Tom she was happy he'd considered to request Paunch Burger's rivals to cater the fundraiser gala because "our more ample people" love junk food. Again, I must observe that it's especially wealthy to possess a character who eats waffles like they are heading out of fashion make comments about how exactly only body fat people like junk food. After which there is the body fat French chef, due to course all chefs are body fat, and Jerry not really having the ability to run without falling, due to course all body fat individuals are uncoordinated. Seriously, PARKS AND Entertainment, That You Can Do Much Better Than THIS.It is really disappointing that the show with two major supporting figures who're fat—and not "Hollywood body fat," but really fat—insists on making jokes at body fat individuals expense.Let's hope since the Paunch Hamburger versus. Park fight continues to be won, the authors will slowly move the fuck on out of this shit. Since it soured that which was otherwise a really fun episode that ended having a great cliffhanger.The great stuff: "Allow the record show there is a standing ovation." "No, there wasn't." "History will decide." "I do not have here we are at food puns at this time.Inch "First we all do the written exam, therefore we perform the personality evaluation. That We seem like I am gonna nail, 'cuz people always say, 'Buuut, he has got an excellent personality.'" "Wait, maybe this can be a nightmare! …Nope, can't fly away. This really is real existence." "Acquire some chairs from somewhere." "Great leadership. Inspiring." "I'm able to speak entirely sentences and that i will not cry." "A couple of several weeks ago, the idea of a contagious disease, even hypothetical, might have sent me careening towards bummerville. However, I'm infected will a killer virus—and Personally i think fine. [thumbs up] Therapy!" "Wrong with Joan?" "She's a poor hangover, which she's pretending is allergic reactions." "It's having a heavy heart that I only say: We've been Jammed." "Not again! Pawnee continues to be hit with…a TORNADOQUAKE!" "Oh, well, jokes on you—I do not have anybody I worry about!Inch "It was bad. Fort Wayne bad." "Ghost-Jammed!" "He's certainly something of the genius. We're able to use his brains around the pressure." "Let me thank my community, my buddies. It is a lesson which i have discovered again and again again, however it bears repeating: Nobody accomplishes anything alone."Discuss!

In The News

[Content note: Misogyny, homophobia]Happy Valentime's Day!Moments ago, the Democratic-brought Senate passed legislation the very first time that will allow same-sex marriage in Illinois. The wedding equality measure now would go to the home. Yes!FreedomWorks produced a relevant video which includes a scene where a female intern putting on a panda suit models carrying out dental sex on Hillary Clinton. Ummmm .... whut?Republican (duh) Congressman Tim Huselskamp stated that Obama's presenting gay marriage to eliminate the household. Neat!Rhianna has canceled the rest of her U.S. tour after being identified with Synovitis along with a labral tear from the right stylish.Chubby Checker has filed a suit over a computer program named The Chubby Checker which estimations how big your penis according to his shoe size.Footwear for that Satan worshipper inside your existence. m/37 U.S. senators are contacting Leader Obama to sign a professional order barring federal companies from discriminating against LGBT employees.Watch Johnny Marr play "Paradise Knows I am Miserable Now" the very first time in twenty five years.

Photo of the Day

[Click to embiggen.]Chipsticks in the Obama Diary: "Brooks Kraft has won 'Political Photo from the Year' in the The Whitened House News Photography enthusiasts Association with this picture of Leader Obama speaking within the flowing rain throughout an offer rally in Glen Allen, Veterans administration."I published an execllent photo from that event last This summer.

We're Paying

Last evening, following the Condition from the Union, I believed about negligence the address by which Leader Obama stated we have "removed away the boulders of crisis," adopted shortly after that through the observation that we have had greater than a decade of wage stagnation, and that i started to think about all of the ways that nondiscretionary individual investing has elevated while wages have flattened, and just how which has produced a continuing crisis.Mike the Mad Biologist will get at a number of that here, observing: "For a lot of people–and not only the poor–once you element in greater housing prices, more rent extraction (all individuals damn costs), growing insurance costs, along with the twenty-first century accoutrements that help you stay competitive within the employment market (access to the internet, mobile phone), many people are not [in a position to save]."Cell phones and residential access to the internet truly are things lots of people have to compete appropriately, not just since they're key tools to find employment, but additionally since they're needs of keeping many jobs. Plenty of companies require employees to keep a mobile phone and also have off-site access to the internet, despite the fact that the companies aren't having to pay for individuals things.An internet-based access is just one of numerous things that we are having to pay now (individuals people who are able to, despite the fact that many/the majority of us need them) that were not a part of a family group budget 20 or 3 decades ago. A house PC or laptop is another dependence on many companies, who're frequently not inclined to cover individuals, either. Cable/satellite tv is no more an extravagance occasionally: They are the only method to get TV, and, especially if one does not have internet/mobile access, TV remains the primary strategies by which you can get information in problems, follow important local news tales, and discover simple, fundamental shit like whether one should carry an umbrella on a day.You will find a multitude of locations in america where water filters (expensive) aren't an indulgence, but essential due to deregulation which has left plain tap water with harmful amounts of undrinkable stuff. I still remember a publish my pal Lance Mannion authored fully a century ago by which he observed: "Activating the faucet to obtain a drink water is really a political act if perhaps since the water flows and it is relatively clean due to choices produced by political figures who owe their jobs to political choices produced by us."Etc.We are having to pay for wage stagnation. And having to pay. And having to pay. In the event that is not itself residing in crisis, then it is residing in the boulders.

Aggressive

Actual Politico Headline: Leader Obama's Condition from the Union: Aggressive.Not bold. Not uncompromising. Not forward, that was his campaign slogan. Not audacious, which may have recommended his famous book.Aggressive. Because that he's less inclined to try and build bipartisan bridges only to achieve the Republican Party set fire for them.Which, you realize, does not strike me a lot as aggressive as reasonable. And lengthy past due.Now, partially this really is problematic since it plays into stories from the Angry Black Leader, that are gross since they're false and additional because even when Leader Obama were a demonstrably angry guy, well, fucking right he has got lots of shit about which to become angry, beginning using the reflexively obstructionist roadblock to advance or perhaps fundamental functional government that's the Republican Party, and anger is really a human emotion that our Leader is titled, regardless of racist stories that aim to deny African People in america access fully spectrum of emotional expression within the most fundamental types of rank dehumanization.Righteous anger isn't necessarily aggressive anger.Next, this really is problematic since it is representational from the double-standard the media routinely utilizes in the management of Republican and Democratic Presidents. Former Leader George W. Rose bush, who belligerently disgorged fairly aggressive pronouncements focused on being "around or against us" along with other tribalistic, anti-diplomatic frames, was positively referred to through the press (for many of his presidency) like a bold visionary or equivalent garbage, and rarely referred to as "aggressive," despite managing a hostile foreign policy, a hostile growth of executive forces, a hostile disregard for that rule of law, aggressive Congressional investing, along with other assorted aggressive jackassery.So perhaps awesome it using the "aggressive" about Obama's forthcoming Condition from the Union speech, Politico. Is exactly what I am saying.

The Walking Thread

"Something something rousing speech! You need to certainly pay attention to me since i have excellent judgment! Just take a look at my style of males, that is virtually PERFECT!"(Spoilers are lurching around undeadly herein. CN: Violence.)The Walking Dead came back last evening, and that i hope everybody loved this phenomenal episode which was certainly as much as the typical standards of the great show which, contrary, is nearly TOO GOOD.We acquired exactly where we left off, with Daryl and Merle facing off against one another—brother to fucking brother, y'all!—in Unpleasantville: Beyond Thunderdome! It had been awesome the way i already understood that Daryl would be okay, due to the large spoiler that revealed he'd be okay. Where did I observe that stupid huge spoiler again...? OH RIGHT In The Finish From The LAST EPISODE.Anyway. Daryl and Merle have the ability to save themselves using the cunning utilization of flailing, by having an assist using their pals in Grimes Gang 1.. All of them try to escape, and also the sun increases instantly, and Merle can't STFU, despite the fact that literally everybody informs him to STFU. Inside a rare moment of excellent decision-making, Grimes pistolwhips him, and that we obtain a moment of peace in the constant stream of garbage that flows out Merle's mouth hole.Daryl uses that moment to share with Grimes Gang 1. that he will elope in to the forest with Merle, compelling Grimes to state probably the most sensible factor he's ever stated: "How about Carol?" Daryl responds that she'll understand, because sure, Carol only has lost each and every person vital that you her, so she's as an Old Hands at understanding things.Things immediately return to normal, as Grimes immediately begins being shitty to Michonne, whose ability to murder the fuck from all things in sight together with her katana is disabled each time she's near Grimes. He's like Kryptonite. Except wayyyyyyy more annoying.Glenn removes some aggression on the zombie skull (which appears like "zombie skunk" within my handwritten notes, and just how awesome would that be?), and begins searching at Maggie like she's damaged garbage because she was sexually attacked by Governor Niam Leeson Cyclops. DON'T Cause Me To Feel HATE YOU, TOO, GLENN!Meanwhile, in Unpleasantville, there's UNREST! An Unpleasantvillager is bitten with a master, and everybody stands around wondering how to proceed. Governor Cyclops strides from his lair and shoots the dude within the mind, then strides to his lair. And That I LOL FOREVER. This show is really a comedy, right? This show is certainly a comedy.Andrea follows Governor Cyclops to his lair and demands accountability, speaking to him like he may well be a reasonable individual rather than a absurd garbage monster, because Andrea is easily the most nonsensical character ever written for any major tv series. And I am literally including every character on Dexter for the reason that assessment, so.Back at Grimes Jail, Carl the Hat is reigning having a small, imperious fist. His hat has fused to his mind and it is strangling his brain. He keeps Tyreese and Sasha and 2 Whitened Dudes secured, departing their fate towards the Solomon-like knowledge of his father. By Solomon-like, clearly I am talking about he will most likely propose cutting his baby in two sooner or later.Talking about which, Traveling Grimes Gang 1. finally returns to Grimes Jail, and they're reunited with Carl the Hat, Pegleg Pershel, Carol, Teenage Blond Girl, and also the baby, who begins screaming instantly upon being put into Grimes' arms. PERFECT ASSESSMENT, BABY! They ought to make her their new leader immediately.Meanwhile, in Unpleasantville, Andrea provides a shitty peptalk towards the townies. And they're all very stupid, so that they are super impressed.Back at Grimes Jail, Hershel gives shitty peptalks to Glenn and Maggie. Shut up, Hershel. Your soft, pleading voice is making me wish to throw myself lower a spook well! JUST SHUT UP!Grimes Gang includes a confab about how exactly they are a black guy lower, so Grimes decides to interview Tyreese for that position. The job interview is, however, interrupted by Lori's ghost, who seems to become putting on a Vera Wang wedding dress. Grimes is clearly losing what little of his fucking mind there's left to get rid of, that ought to most likely suggest towards the Grimes Gang that ongoing to follow along with this screwball is probably NOT The Very Best IDEA, but rather they'll most likely determine that he's a wizard and follow him EVEN HARDER.The Ricktatorship is itself just like a zombie. It'll never die unless of course you smash its mind into oblivion having a shovel. By "its mind," I am talking about Grimes. By "smash it into oblivion having a shovel," I am talking about smash him into oblivion having a shovel.And elect that baby!Discuss.

The Virtual Pub Is Open

[Explanations: lol your body fat. pathetic anger bread. hey your gay.]TFIF, Shakers!Belly as much as the bar,and title your poison!

In The News

Your family In News Reports correspondent, Deeky W. Gashlycrumb, MD., is off as they provides a Butt Seminar in the Stethoscope Institute.[Content Note: Drones violence homophobia body fat hate.]John Brennan defends the Obama administration's drone strike guidelines throughout the Senate hearing on his nomination to mind the CIA.Meanwhile, the FAA has launched a drone authorization list, showing 81 public organizations which have applied, through October of this past year, for FAA drone authorizations, with regards to surveillance. So That They SAY!Looking continues in California for ex-LA cop Christopher Dorner who's suspected of killing three people.Some Rose bush family emails happen to be compromised and private information published. This really is terrible, because hacking private email options may be the fucking worst as well as since i needed to discover the Rose bush family.Six health classes of scholars in Maryland got an eyeful of "ex-gay therapy" garbage prior to the video was drawn. Gross!Paul Krugman reminds us that austerity is really a terrible, no-good, horrible idea.Meanwhile, austerity measures already are affecting education, food safety, WIC programs, housing, social security, day care funding, aviation safety, and community investment. Whoooooooooops!Viola Davis is fed up with playing a maid. She is the greatest.Rex Reed, who's a terrible jerkbag, lobs vicious anti-body fat bigotry in the amazing Melissa McCarthy in the overview of her new film, Identity Crook.Most dogs visit paradise in England should be microchipped by April 6, 2016.Would you like to take a look at several things fitting perfectly into other activities? Welp, here ya go!

Daily Dose of Cute

Sophie: Snuggly little cuddle-bunny.

In The News

Your family In News Reports correspondent, Deeky W. Gashlycrumb, MD., is off as they attends a Butt Convention in the Stethoscope Institute.[Content Note: Misogyny hostility to consent and reproductive agency.]Some dipshit introduces legislation in Idaho that will require "every Idaho senior high school student to see Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged and pass an evaluation onto it to finish senior high school.Inch That's this type of perfect idea, it's almost TOO perfect.Fox News jackasses joke about Hillary Clinton's "facelift."SHOCKING NOOZ! Giving teens use of birth control decreases teen pregnancy rates. Who woulda thunk it?!Michigan becomes the most recent condition to think about legislation mandating transvaginal ultrasounds like a requirement to gain access to abortion. Gross.The United kingdom House of Commons advances marriage equality inside a bill that further features a provision which enables "transgender people to become legally acknowledged as their preferred gender without risking their unions."Disgraced Illinois politico Jesse Jackson, Junior. is prolly likely to jail.Outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood states the united states is "one large pothole at this time,Inch due to our insufficient infrastructure investing.Nj Governor Chris Christie informs a physician who may never have examined him but is nevertheless certain concerning the condition of his health due to his weight to STFU.Along with a new new prime number has been seen as! It's 17 million numbers lengthy! YOWZA! That's lots of numbers!

Reproductive Rights Updates: Arkansas, Utah, Tennessee, and Missouri

In Arkansas, Jason Rapert (R-Idiculous) had suggested "heartbeat" legislation that will prohibit abortions if cardiac activity is detected. That legislation was tabled Tuesday. Rapert, however, is undeterred (obviously he's!).Republican Sen. Jason Rapert of Conway told reporters Tuesday he's improving his "heartbeat" bill to deal with concerns elevated by congress. The legislation initially known as for banning abortions if your fetal heartbeat is detected, a move that will stop them as soon as six days right into a pregnancy.Competitors have stated the only method to identify a heartbeat that early is as simple as vaginal probe. Rapert stated restricting the exam for an abdominal ultrasound would prohibit abortions as soon as ten to twelve days right into a pregnancy.Again, Rapert, you're missing the truth that a heartbeat doesn't a practical fetus make. ***In Utah, a Republican senator has made the decision to change her legislation that will have banned "gender-based abortions" and it has elected to have an entirely new tactic:On Tuesday [Sen. Margaret Dayton] launched a brand new bill instead of her gender selection bill that will require Utah's Department of Health to organize a yearly report for that Legislature which includes the amount of abortions carried out within the condition and also at what stage from the pregnancy the abortions happened."I'd demands from the 3 legislators that people get all of the data and it in condition therefore we will address other conditions,Inch Dayton described.Dayton stated the information is collected on the federal level but you will find concerns the reviews won't make the amounts Utah needs. She continued to describe this bill allows the condition to collect the amounts to assist policymakers when designing abortion legislation.It's SB60 and, in searching in internet marketing, it does not appear to want any patient determining information. Interesting to notice though the section the alterations modify is known as this: "This bill modifies Title 76, Chapter Seven, Offenses From the Family." ***In Tennessee, Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Eprehensible) has suggested mandatory ultrasound and waiting period legislation.Senate Bill 632, which Tracy filed Thursday, would require an ultrasound specialist to show a picture from the fetus, also it would require ultrasound machines to create any heartbeat audible towards the lady. If your lady rejected to see the ultrasound image, the specialist could be needed to explain any appendages and organs visible.Women would then have revisit the provider within 72 hrs to visit forward by having an abortion.Additionally, it requires a minimum of a round-the-clock waiting period after an ultrasound before an abortion might happen. Tennessee includes a privacy clause within the condition metabolic rate which has avoided such legislation previously, which means this likely will not go anywhere. That does not bother Tracy, though, since this is almost assuredly a "political maneuver" to boost challenging for that Congressional chair in 2014 election. Yes, you heard right. This invasive, autonomy-attacking legislation isn't intended to be a lot more than political game-playing to help Tracy's career.***In Missouri, Repetition. John McCaherty (R-Eally?!) features this quixotic little bit of legislation: "Abortion Prohibit for Sex Selection and Genetic Irregularities Act of 2013". Here's what he needs to say about this:InchWe can not legally...stop her from aborting a young child,Inch McCaherty informs Daily RFT. "But we are able to restrict what doctors do." [...]"It truly does not affect a ladies decision. Clearly, that's guaranteed through the federal courts," he informs us. "It will restrict doctors from selling abortions to patients.... That is what a number of them do.... There has been increasingly more the sales hype: 'If this is not what you truly want, abort and check out again.'" There has been that, shall we be? CITATION PLEASE. The legislation states such things as:1. Nobody shall deliberately perform or make an effort to perform an abortion using the understanding the pregnant lady needs the abortion exclusively due to the sex from the unborn baby.188.287. 1. Nobody shall deliberately perform or make an effort to perform an abortion with understanding the pregnant lady needs the abortion exclusively since the unborn baby continues to be identified with whether genetic abnormality or perhaps a possibility of an inherited abnormality.Anybody who preforms an abortion under such conditions could face criminal charges. AND (emphasis mine):4. A contributing factor to action for injunctive relief against any physician or any other individual who had knowingly violated sections 188.275 to 188.299 might be maintained through the lady upon whom the abortion was carried out or tried to be carried out in breach of sections 188.275 to 188.299 anyone who's the spouse, parent, protector, conservator, or perhaps a current or former licensed healthcare provider from the lady upon whom an abortion continues to be carried out or tried to be carried out in breach of sections 188.275 to 188.299 through the Missouri attorney general's office or with a defending attorney with appropriate jurisdiction. The injunction shall avoid the physician or person from carrying out further abortions in breach of sections 188.275 to 188.299.Yes, you heard right: the spouse, parent, protector, or FORMER Physician of the patient could pursue law suit. To McCaherty, further explaining his reasoning:"Clearly, I am professional-existence and my intent is always to limit the amount of abortions happening. Would this bill do this? I'm not sure.... However the decision needs to be from a mother along with a father without outdoors influence from doctors or Planned Being a parent or whomever could be in the industry of promoting abortions."Yes, doctors certainly don't have to be counseling patients about health problems. Well thought available! I'm not sure about selling abortions however i think someone must sell a clue, Repetition. McCaherty.

Photo of the Day

[Click to embiggen.]In the Telegraph's Pictures during the day for 31 The month of january 2013: A nearly full-circle rainbow at Victoria Falls taken by Nicole Cambre around the Zambian side from the falls. [Nicole Cambre / Rex Features]Lovely.

Daily Dose of Cute

Livs.

The Virtual Pub Is Open

[Explanations: lol your body fat. pathetic anger bread. hey your gay.](See things i did there?)TFIF, Shakers!Belly as much as the bar,and title your poison!You should also tip your bartenders!

In The News

Your family In News Reports correspondent, Deeky W. Gashlycrumb, MD., is off as they moves into his new evil lair apartment.[Content Note: Terrorism hostility to agency misogynistic violence.]Chuck Hagel wasn't super throughout his confirmation hearing. I suppose individuals are surprised at this? Has nobody met Chuck Hagel before?Two dead yet others wounded, some seriously, following a suicide bomber hits the united states embassy in Ankara, Poultry.Congress, probably the most ill-outfitted group in the united states to deal with technology issues, will fight over internet privacy in 2013. I am sure they'll make best wishes choices!The Department of Health insurance and Human Services is anticipated to announce today that religiously affiliated companies "will have the ability to opt from supplying their employees with insurance policy for birth control methods" within an exception towards the birth control mandate. Talking about good choices!Within an actual good decision, Congress passed a brand new law being an amendment towards the National Defense Authorization Act which "imposes an excellent along with a prison sentence as high as 5 years on individuals in prison for delivering women younger than 18 overseasInch for female genital cutting.Hawaii legislators, in the request of Aerosmith the almighty Steven Tyler, have suggested legislation "to safeguard celebs from paparazzi, giving famous faces energy to file a lawsuit over undesirable beach photos along with other pictures around the islands." It's strange in my experience that we should have laws and regulations to safeguard anybody from the undesirable photography! How come people so terrible?! Do not take pictures without permission, you knuckleheads!It is really an actual headline on the planet: Hillary Clinton Requires a Relaxation, How Strange Is The Fact That?Japoneses researchers have recorded the very first real-time video of ideas developing within the brain. Neat!Want. Wanty-want-want!

Speaking of...

Apropos of what I was saying earlier about social justice being a work in progress, Dave Weigel observes that, with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's appointment of Mo Cowan to fill John Kerry's vacated US Senate seat, this will be the first time ever that "the Senate will include more than one black member at the same time—Cowan and South Carolina's Tim Scott."It takes a special sort of unicorn-scented ignorance to argue we live in a post-racial society when the US Senate has two whole black members serving at the same time! in the year of our lord Jesus Jones two thousand and thirteen.