Brandi tells it like it is

Mar 27

“Gay people are born into and belong to every society in the world. They are all ages, all races, all faiths. They are doctors and teachers, farmers and bankers, soldiers and athletes. And whether we know it, or whether we acknowledge it, they are our family, our friends, and our neighbors. Being gay is not a western invention. It is a human reality.”

Part of Hillary Clinton’s speech to the UN on LGBT rights (gay.org.uk)

(via chelseatwentysomething)

Mar 14

(via chelseatwentysomething)

“Although most boys figure out how to bring themselves to orgasm by age thirteen, half of girls don’t have their first orgasms until their late teens, twenties, or beyond. Teenage girls widely agree that they get the message loud and clear that masturbation is something boys do, but girls don’t, can’t, or shouldn’t. The cultural focus on intercourse tells young women to expect they’ll begin to experience sexual pleasure once they have sex with a man (whether or not they’re even interested in sex with men). Nearly all teen boys, on the other hand, experience sexual pleasure long before they get their hands—or other body parts—into a partner’s pants. Despite the massive advances in women’s equality, young women’s sexuality is stuck in a surprising paradox. Young women are sold provocative clothes but aren’t taught where to find their own clitoris. Many girls give their boyfriends oral sex, but are too uncomfortable with their own bodies to allow the guys to return the favor. It’s still a radical act to say that women need and deserve access to information about their own sexual pleasure—not just about the risks and negative consequences of sex.”

Dorian Solot, I Love Female Orgasm: An Extraordinary Orgasm Guide. (via feministhistorian)

(via kellywebb)

(via chelseatwentysomething)

Mar 1

theclearlydope:

Boom Roasted!

Just sayin.

Feb 28

meet my husband. his name is common.

Feb 26

wretchedrenee:

Holy shit Tina… Holy shit.

(via chelseatwentysomething)

Feb 21

“No.”

Actress Julianne Moore, when asked if she gained a newfound respect for Sarah Palin after delving deeper into Palin’s life to portray her in the upcoming film “Game Change.” (via mamaatheist

)

(via chelseatwentysomething)

Jan 23

“What’s the worst thing you can call a woman? Don’t hold back, now. You’re probably thinking of words like slut, whore, bitch, cunt (I told you not to hold back!), skank. Okay, now, what are the worst things you can call a guy? Fag, girl, bitch, pussy. I’ve even heard the term ‘mangina.’ Notice anything? The worst thing you can call a girl is a girl. The worst thing you can call a guy is a girl. Being a woman is the ultimate insult. Now tell me that’s not royally fucked up.”

Full frontal feminism: a young women’s guide to why feminism matters

By Jessica Valenti

(via sauriaids)

(via chelseatwentysomething)

Dec 24

happy endings.

I could choose to view my friends as naggy and annoying because they keep telling me I need to update my blog.

OR,

I could decide that my friends just love me SO much that they are not content to hear me bitch and moan in person, but desperately need to hear me bitch and moan via tumblr as well.

So let’s jump back on this bandwagon, shall we?

Last week, with the assistance of adderall coupled with my above average bullshitting skills, I finished my finals. And now I’m on winter break. Which means I have a shit ton of time to do absolutely nothing.

It also means I’m at my parents’ house. And they have cable. Score one team me.

I’m really into the show happy endings right now.

In addition to being HILARIOUS, it features a black guy that actually acts like most black guys and a gay guy that actually acts like most gay guys.

And by that I mean they just act like actual normal human beings.

Why on TV is EVERY gay guy a super flamboyant queen. And why is every black guy doing a drive by?

I mean, lesbehonest. I know a queen or two. But really, gay guys are just guys. who just so happen to like other guys. big deal.

And I don’t know any black guys who do drive bys, so I’m at a complete loss for that one.

I just don’t know why the media is so intent on perpetuating stereotypes.

I for one think it’s really important to depict diverse members of our society for what they are: People.

So, if you live in like Minnesota or somewhere where there’s no gay or black people, and you want to know what gay and black people are really like, watch Happy Endings. Or just think of other people you know. They’re probably a lot like them.

That’s all the wisdom I have for now.

good day.

Nov 6

We are the 99%

So I wrote an Op-ed piece for my school’s newspaper. I figured it would be apropro to share it here too, so here it is:

As the president of the newly founded Democracy Matters chapter at SSU, I am moved and impassioned by the emergence of the Occupy Movement. The wave of civic engagement that has taken the country by storm is an inspiring call to action for each of the 99%, especially young people.

What is uninspiring is the failure of SSU students to respond to that call. Campuses everywhere are hosting walk outs and demonstrations, frustrated not only by the greed and unethical practices of corporations; but by the political buyout of votes and elections that sway the priorities of our lawmakers against us and in favor of the extremely wealthy. We, as students of a public university, have experienced firsthand what this deprioritization of the needs of the people can mean. Increased tuition, lack of funding for loans and grants, and budget cuts that make graduating in four years a herculean task are all symptoms of a system that puts money before people. This alone should be enough to get us off of facebook and onto the picket line.

Not to mention the other injustices of our corporatized government: lack of adequate healthcare, education, and social services for the poor; corporate tax cuts that rightfully belong to the middle class; and the ever diminishing role of the public voice in the political process.

There are those at SSU who do not really understand what Occupy is all about. Even more common are those students who understand why Occupy protestors are mad, but cannot see what can be done to alleviate the issues. This is due in part to the failure of the mainstream media to address the issues fueling the movement. But in an age where information is so readily available, this can no longer be an excuse. Young people must begin actively seeking out sources of news and information that fall outside the corporate mainstream in order to ensure that they are accurately informed. New sources such as Media Freedom International, Daily Censored, and Project Censored all include stories or issues not covered by the corporate media.

In Peter Phillips’ Political Sociology class, we are encouraged to do just that. During last week’s class we utilized the information we have been reading in non-corporate media sources as well as topics discussed in class to collectively compile a list of the top ten actions that we feel would most effectively address the issues that inspired the Occupy Movement. We decided that these ten actions were the most important and/or effective methods to implement change:

1. Tax the rich: Those who make more should be taxed at a higher percentage rate, in order to subsidize the needs of the community such as schools, roads, and other public services.

2. Protect Social Security and Education: We feel that these suffering institutions are too integral to the health and welfare of the American people to be under prioritized for the sake of funding corporate bailouts and wars in the Middle East.

3. Keep U.S. Jobs local: Regulate corporations so that they may not outsource cheap labor in less developed countries. It is unethical because foreign workers are being paid far less than they need to survive while CEO’s pocket the dividends. It is also impractical because we desperately need jobs here in the U.S.

4. Socialize healthcare: Healthcare should be regarded as a basic human right, not a luxury exclusively for the rich. The U.S. is the only developed nation that does not recognize basic health care (emergency as well as preventative) as such.

5. Ensure affordable higher education: In a world where a college education is becoming a necessity to sustain a basic standard of living, we need to ensure that higher education is affordable for everyone.

6. End our dependence on oil: Our dependence on oil makes lawmakers defenseless to the wills of big oil companies, whose lobbyists aggressively shutdown any efforts toward green initiatives or funding for alternative energy sources.

7. No private military money: Private financiers are striking it rich by investing in the military-industrial complex. Their lobbyists influence lawmakers as well, making it even harder to get out of a pointless war that is costing taxpayers billions.

8. Full transparency of government spending: Americans have a right to know where their tax dollars are being spent.

9. Human rights should be a top priority for the government as well as corporations: The government should regulate corporations to ensure that CEOs aren’t making a fortune at the expense of their workers.

10. End corporate funding of campaigns: The corporate funding of election campaigns creates a system in which corporations hold more sway than the public in influencing lawmakers’ decisions.

As we were making this list a student behind me skeptically remarked, “None of this will ever happen”. And he’s right. None of this can ever happen if we don’t stand up and make it happen. Believe it or not, your voice matters. As a campus we can play an integral part in enacting these changes locally as well as nationally. So let’s stand up and fight. We are the 99%.

Brandi tells it like it is

The difference between my opinion and yours is that, well, mine is right.

happy endings.

We are the 99%