Full Cellulose Jacket

A brilliant piece of political theatre was enacted yesterday at the Texas legislature which is trying yet again to control the uteri of the state. I'm sure the pro-choice forces would have paid handsomely to demonstrate graphically and ironically how ReThuglicans view women in Texas.

But they didn't have to.

State troopers are confiscating tampons, maxi pads and other potential projectiles from those who are entering the Texas capitol to watch the debate and vote on a controversial anti-abortion bill. Guns, however, which are typically permitted in the state capitol, are still being allowed.

Because, you know, tampons are dangerous.

Of course Twitter exploded. #FamousTamponQuotes is still going strong this morning.

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then they take your tampons. #FamousTamponQuotes #TamponGate

— Anomaly (@Anomaly100) July 13, 2013

"You should never bring a tampon to a gunfight" #FamousTamponQuotes

— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) July 13, 2013

I found this and wonder what the state troopers would have thought of it.



It's a real instructional thingy, with video and all.

I liked this instruction:

Do not use tampons that have been worn. This is unhygienic and the expanded tampons will clog the gun barrel.

The bill passed as expected.



h/t to commenter Pseudz for the title

From the Department of Duh

The US National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy has released an earth-shattering survey.

Three-quarters (75%) of adults think policymakers who are opposed to abortion should be strong supporters of birth control, according to a new survey commissioned by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

Regarding sex education, more than 6 in 10 adults (65%) believe federally funded programs designed to prevent teen pregnancy should provide teens with information about both postponing sex and using birth control rather than either/or.In addition, most adults believe that taxpayer supported programs should focus on results rather than ideology -- 72% say that federal funds should primarily support those programs that have been proven to change behavior related to teen pregnancy. Nearly 7 in 10 (68%) adults surveyed believe their community needs more efforts to prevent teen pregnancy.

In other words, three-quarters of USians think the Rapepublicans, now featuring VP candidate, Paul ('Rape is a Method of Conception') Ryan, are totally out to fucking lunch.

And how do we here in the lawless north compare?

American teenagers are still getting pregnant at a higher rate than in other developed countries, including Canada. While the U.S. celebrates the decline to 67.8 pregnancies per 1,000 girls 15 to 19 years old in 2008, the latest Canadian statistic shows that in 2005, only 24.6 out of 1,000 girls aged 14 to 19 became pregnant.

A country with no abortion law, widespread comprehensive sex education, and a saner attitude towards sex in general has fewer than half the teen pregnancies of our christotaliban neighbour?

Huh.

Teen pregnancy rate map source.