:-( That’s awful. I really wish women could understand they’re awesome and special. I think being in America makes things a little extra hard, for a first-world nation at least. There’s way too much misogyny and judging. You have to be strong to not let it get to you.

He’s kicking off his re-election bid. That’s big, utterly terrifying news.

I would say there’s been some regression since those days, which makes it even more important to step up by example and advice and batteries. Yes indeed. :) From designer vaginas to female empowerment, not a bad trip to take.

Say you’re a buffoonish, impulse-control challenged man with an enormous bully pulpit (if very small hands), and you publicly attack journalists add the enemy, essentially signaling to your riled up followers, who are already conditioned to hate the press, that journos are traitors. What could possibly go wrong?

Oh wow, thanks for this post.

I think we’re generational cohorts. :) (I’m 55, sadly it took me a long time to work some things out, though; & of course, we’re still all works in progress, you know?)

No argument here. You know what this stuff reminds me of, tangentially? Those anatomically correct dolls, made to order. Just... no.

After seeing The Piano Teacher, I’d be too terrified to approach her in any circumstance.

It’s not a bad thing to look after yourself, it just means you have more to offer others as the need arises, because you’ll be in a better place emotionally. That’s something I also try to talk “my kids”into believing. When I was younger, I didn’t believe any of that, and I really wish I’d had someone to give me good…

More excellent wisdom in your words. I’m always counseling my younger women relatives that no relationship is much better than a bad one, it’s okay to be “picky.” 

Completely agree.

I admire your bravery. :)

That’s exactly what this is, of course. Christie is known as a bully, so the “strong, dominant” Cheetolini has to pee in a circle around him, put him in his place.

Typo alert: should be “ruin” not “run.”

Anybody else have tightly crossed legs while reading this?

Disturbing post, Anna. Thank you.

Interesting, thanks for writing that. I’m old and remember quite well when things seemed to change. It was during the vastly overrated Reagan years. We seemed to go from a nation slowly getting back to doing decent things (after Vietnam & domestic unrest & Nixon) to really embracing the Greed is Good ethos. It was…

We’re definitely in a bad way in the USA right now. The longer this goes on, the more the rest of the world will assume we cannot be trusted in a leadership role. But as long as the repubs can continue to bankrupt the country while enriching themselves, it’s all okay. I just wish there was a way to get through to the…

Oh yes. My mistake in the NYC figure (I was multitasking& overtired). It will add up very quickly, in any case. I thought I’d read each weekend in Florida costs $10 million? But more upsetting to me is that small businesses in the area are being hurt by all the restrictions. They’ll blow right past the last…

I don’t know what’s going on wth Texas schooling, but it wouldn’t surprise me if creationism is on the agenda.