someone with such devotion

You know, lots of people would say that the very fact I post here, interacting on a daily (oh, how I wish) basis with non-Jewish people, let alone watching shows like "Buffy", means that I'm not that devoted, by far. I wouldn't agree with them (obviously, being here), but still.

Prior to this, everything I've learned about Judaism came from epsiodes of Northern Exposure.

Do you have any idea how much I learned from posting on b.org? About stuff that the only other way for me to be exposed to was tv?

when I do, I'll send it to you for further fact-checking.

That will be my pleasure.

I've been making Tim a pop-up book for his bday (i know, i can't stop talking about it)

See, I'm such a skipppppppppppppmpppppper, that it's the first time I've read about it, so it's for the best. It sounds like such a fun project, too! Now I wish I could see how it ends up looking like.

There's some general amnesia about American history between 1900-1925, esp. the years right around the end of WWI (1918-1922).

Which tells you a little something about just how bad those years were, since American history of the 20th century seems to start with the Great Depression and Prohibition, with occasional noises about there having been flappers in the '20's. Like that's the least scary part of 20th century history we can think to start with.

There's some general amnesia about American history between 1900-1925, esp. the years right around the end of WWI (1918-1922). The US had several major race riots during this period, as well as a pandemic, a president nearly die in office, and the xenophobia surrounding the League of Nations.

You're probably referring to Wilson, but Warren Harding did die.

Nilly, Sheryl, Allyson, none of you have done anything to offend me this year.

And on the same note, if I have done anything to offend or wrong anyone here, please let me know. (Nilly said all of this so much better than I can.)

Huh. I feel like I know at least as much about the 1918 Flu than any other plague. But then, I don't know much that's not modern American history, and mostly urban at that.

Not at all, Hil, nor any of the rest of you. And likewise, if I've caused any offense to any of you, let me know.

I feel like I know at least as much about the 1918 Flu than any other plague. But then, I don't know much that's not modern American history, and mostly urban at that.

Well, I speaking in some pretty broad generalizations. There's always going to be exceptions.

Anyone see Mirrormask yet this weekend? I saw Serenity again last night and am probably going to see Corpse Bride in a couple hours, but I'm worried about Mirrormask not getting much of an audience -- then again, I've seen no publicity whatsoever, so there's that.

Nilly, your annual Yom Kippur post means so much to me. Thank you.

And Nilly, Sheryl, Allyson, Hil, amych -- nothing you've said or done has offended me.

In the US, for instance, religious groups are gearing up to oppose vaccination, despite a survey showing 80 per cent of parents favour vaccinating their daughters. "Abstinence is the best way to prevent HPV," says Bridget Maher of the Family Research Council, a leading Christian lobby group that has made much of the fact that, because it can spread by skin contact, condoms are not as effective against HPV as they are against other viruses such as HIV.

"Giving the HPV vaccine to young women could be potentially harmful, because they may see it as a licence to engage in premarital sex," Maher claims, though it is arguable how many young women have even heard of the virus.

That's so completely ignorant. Or perhaps that goes without saying.

I have a friend from high school who I always had the HIV testing argument with. He intended to not have sex until he got married (it had nothing to do with religious beliefs, actually, and, AFAIK, he achieved said goal), and therefore *he* wouldn't need to be tested for HIV. I said, well, what if you marry someone who *has* had sex before? Or are you only going to consider virgins as your future wife?

He said no, that was unrealistic (you think?), but that his future wife wouldn't need to be tested for HIV, because he would *never* marry someone who had put herself in a situation where she could have been exposed to HIV.

I think I didn't talk to him for at least a month after that, if not longer. And we agreed to never discuss it again, because it was clear that his mind was made up on this matter. IGNORANT.

(I remember when everyone was home for Xmas a few years ago -- so, keep in mind, we were in our 30s -- and I was bantering with my best friend, saying "How long has it been since you've had sex?" She said about a year, and I said "Ha! Six months for me! I win!"

And this same guy looked at me, and asked, disapproval dripping from his voice, "Why does that make you *win*?" )

At least he applies the same jackass standard to men as to women, so I feel equally oppressed. Woot.

Sheryl, Allyson, Hil, and amych, none of you have offended me this year.