If I understand this correctly, you can go PCR BRCA1, and you can sequence it all you want, but unless you grab Angelina Jolie and some other women who tested positive for the mutation, you won't know the mutation sequence. And if you were to find the mutation sequence, and create a test for it, that would be illegal.…

The more I read the attached links, the more it seems to be about Pope Benedict. If that's what you meant, sorry, I found him problematic on numerous levels.

I totally understand how you feel. I understand rage at the backwardsness of the institution. But the way this is framed, even tough I know she says that not all Catholics are bad, makes it feel like "the pope is horrible, you are following a terrible man, but you might not be so bad yourself," which isn't…

I'm a little confused. I followed some of the links, and from what I can tell, it wasn't the new pope who did those things, it was previous popes. I'm not in any way saying that they were horrible atrocious things to do (preventing condoms in areas with an AIDS epidemic? my mind can't take it in), but I don't think…

Getting implants to..."improve" (enlarge) the breasts you already have, and chopping out tissue to replace it with something so that you don't look "unfeminine" and can keep your job (because she wouldn't find much work if she looked drastically different) are different things. It would be more accurate to say "she…

I think by mentioning the cost of the test, she's trying to steer people in that direction. Don't forget, she also has to write something that people will want to publish. I think she's tried to open the door by saying that she has had an opportunity that not everyone has. Maybe (hopefully) she will say more about it…

I know I'm incredibly late to comment on this. But I'm really hoping you'll see this anyhow. False accusations should 100% be prosecuted, because they make people less likely to believe real ones. I don't think anyone believes that false accusations are okay. The real problem is the pervasive belief that false…

Well, for what it's worth, I think you're brave. And that that's terrifying. I think just going to the doctor is scary, nevermind willingly having surgery. Something that could affect whether or not you can have kids? Sure, you deserve a round of applause!

But I think boobs, by being visible, are yes fetishized, and…

So I was just scrolling randomly through cyanideandhappiness, and ran into this http://www.explosm.net/comics/101/...and got all kinds of ragey and my brain started screaming "RAPE CULTURE!!!" Then I came on Jez to share with you guys

I love the use of "wearer" here. You sound like you put your breasts on in the morning after a lovely night sleeping *comfortably* on your stomach. I am jealous. Teach me your secrets?

Don't do it because everyone else is doing it, or because you're afraid of not finding what you want. It won't make you feel any better if you don't want it. And maybe give yourself a little time to heal? I'm not really that much older than you, but I felt a lot differently about situations where I knew that the guy…

Sorry, I meant relatively rare in/near cities. I'm in CT - I've been on the shoreline and inland, and they seem less frequent near the shoreline/in our less farm-like town. I've certainly never seen them to be as populous as squirrels. But maybe I'm not out at dusk enough? I did help one cross the street once, it was…

Maybe we just don't see as many in Connecticut? I'll agree to front/backyards apparently being enough, we had some in our yard a few years ago.

Thank you for this. It made my night, and I was having a pretty rough evening. Falafel makes it seem like it may all be okay.

We have them on the east coast, but they are pretty rare. And you almost never see them in cities. In more rural areas, they aren't too uncommon, but still not nearly as prevalent as squirrels.

Yeah...I mean, I think people should be given the benefit of the doubt, but between the fact that he would not have been alone in the 2005 trial, and that by telling the truth (if he's telling the truth now) would have helped that boy? Not okay.

I can understand that for the companies, it's all about trying to find ways to cut corners to be able to make more money. I can understand that for politicians funded by companies, it's about trying not to "make things hard" for the companies (aka helping them make profits without too many regulations). But isn't this…

I don't see where you said anyone should prevent people from wearing makeup. I *do* see where you said that women's concerns are less important - how many products for men have this level of heavy metals in them? Formaldehyde like in some nail polish? Why isn't the FDA regulating this? We're constantly being told to…

Hahaha! I almost fell out of the chair reading that one

I think I had a pair of these once...