A local law firm has begun running television ads that have kind of left me with my jaw hanging down. Their shtick is that they're a men only firm, that practices exclusively family law and represent only men. They do have a token female paralegal, but that's it.

I'm kind of boggled, really. The commercials seem so... belligerent.

There are some men who believe that family law is biased against men. That women are awarded custody far more often than men. I've hard that send part might be true, but only because men are far less likely to ask for/contest custody than women.

eta: The "men's rights" movement is largely focused on family law.

That is a tricky area. Seeing things like the commercials Barb mentioned just make me want to roll my eyes and start muttering about male privilege. On the other hand, there is/was something called the "tender years doctrine", which is the presumption under the law that generally young children are better off with their mothers, so the burden was on the father to show otherwise. It's not nearly as in favor as it used to be, but I would be willing to bet that it still plays a part in a lot of custody decisions, and that just doesn't seem right either.

I think there has bee, in fairly recent decade, and probably is to this day in places, a default assumption that "kids go to the mom". Not that it never goes the other way, but that that's the "natural order of things". I know when I was growing up--not all that long ago--that there were some excellent fathers who lost custody to substantially more questionable mothers.

eta: or what Perkins said with learning and stuff

What got me was not so much the idea behind the firm, but the tone of the commercial itself. Like I said, it was so utterly belligerent that even Lewis was gaping at the screen. I'd think that there would be a better way to get the point across. The tone of the commercial just seemed terribly misogynistic.

The commercials seem so... belligerent.

The ones I've seen around here that are strange are focussed on divorce and alimony (the ads, I mean, what kid of cases they actually take on day to day I have no idea) - one was along the lines of "go ahead and cheat, we've got you covered".

one was along the lines of "go ahead and cheat, we've got you covered".

Oh, yeah, I'd totally want those guys to get the kids. They'd set such a great example. @_@

That is definite fail.

Apparently Tuesday is election day here in Dallas. Apparently with ELEVEN TX constiutional amendments. I have heard ZERO information on any of them. No sample ballot with pro/con arguements/websites. CA elections are so much better.

Also, tried a Super Target for groceries. Prices seemed better. Selection was ok. The "shopping experience" was much worse. And my knee gave out in aisle 14, resulting in me falling back. So my wrist, ankle, and tailbone all ache a bit. Nothing bad, but still frustrating.

I love cleaning with vinegar and baking soda...often in scrubbing bubbles combination. The lack of residue trumps even the greenest commercial alternative.

Converting friends to the idea was easy when I made each a batch of 'soft scrub' with their own favorite scent. (1/4 cup baking soda, enough dish washing liquid to create the 'soft' consistency and 10 drops of essential oil. My favorite is cinnamon, but tea tree, vertivert, verbena, white pine and lavender are favorites.) Now they make their own.