Guys--I did not figure out until JUST NOW that the conservative speechwriter Mark Halperin is not the same as the novelist (and author of one of my favorite books) Mark Helprin, who is also a conservative. I fail at politics.

I know, I know. I'm just so tired of seeing yet another story. It depresses the fuck out of me how much women have to put up with on a daily basis.

Oh, not directed at any of you. Just more "dang, this makes me uncomfortable and I need to process why and try to figure out if I'm a horrible person". I've known people who are suuuuuper serious about consent--even things that in our society are considered normal (i.e., tap on the shoulder to get someone's attention) they would be upset about. And I can see their point (especially if it's someone you don't want touching you at all, be that a coworker or a creepy stranger). On the other hand...there is so much that we do that is sort of...assumed to be consent? And maybe that means as an individual and as a society we should rethink that (instead of tapping on shoulder, saying "hey hey you"? waving a hand in their face?). I know that while I wouldn't, say, touch someone's hair, I have gotten rebuked once for complimenting a piece of clothing and reaching out to touch it! And she was right, I shouldn't have. So it's the whole 'acknowledging I"m part of the problem even as I recoil against feeling like some people are too picky about this, but wait that's what dudes who think groping a boob in an elevator is NBD so definitely I'm part of the problem and need to fix myself" etc etc etc.

I totally thought those two were the same guy!

Yeah, meara, that's hard.I'm a pretty touchy-feely person and with some people that's fine and with other's it isn't and I think I usually distinguish correctly, but maybe not?

I totally had a "do we hug or are we too manly" moment with the Senior Director of my old department on Tuesday - [spoiler alert, we hugged], that's always kind of hard to navigate with coworkers. She did not pat my behind, though, that would have been startling.

I'm sort of heartened by the idea that maybe as a culture we are moving away from thinking "dirty old man" is a cute thing?

Because I totally get the GHWB thing (he's in a wheelchair, other people are standing for a posed photo, that's where his hand goes), and would probably have laughed it off myself, and that is NOT RIGHT.

Wait, this was a recent thing? I assumed the accounts about Bush Sr. were coming from back when such things were more accepted. (I mean, he's been an adult since WWII era.)

I'm sort of heartened by the idea that maybe as a culture we are moving away from thinking "dirty old man" is a cute thing?

That's a good point.

Wait, this was a recent thing? I assumed the accounts about Bush Sr. were coming from back when such things were more accepted.

Nope! Since he's been in the wheelchair. His full statement was something like, oh, since that's where his arm falls, he makes a joke to put people at ease, but of course he's SO SORRY if anyone was offended.

Whereas I'm still side-eyeing the news that Marilyn Manson ousted the long-time bassist for the band over Jessicka Addams (from the band Jack off Jill) talking about the rape and abuse she underwent. On the one hand, good that Manson is standing up for Jessicka's statements. On the other hand, DUDE. Manson, own up to and apologize for your own actions, which aren't even secret since you openly talk about them in your autobiography!

Wait, this was a recent thing? I assumed the accounts about Bush Sr. were coming from back when such things were more accepted.

Ha.