Caveat Lector

There's no easy way to say this, so I'm going to come right out:

Yesterday, there was a fire in my house.

Before you all start fretting: Yes, I am okay. We are all okay.

Yes, there was damage to the house. Fairly major damage, but everything of actual importance is safe, and everything else of value is salvageable.

I just wanted those of you that already knew to hear from me that we're all fine (because I know I like to hear from the source whenever possible). Thank you for everyone who's been texting/tweeting/emailing me making sure I was okay.

Thank you, everyone.

*hugs and kisses and lots of love*

-- Gracie

1) This from thefannishwaldo. There's a website that compiles data from various places (including social networking sites like LJ and phone book websites) and puts it on the web. The short of it? Someone can put in your name, your phone number, or your email and get crazy info on you. There's an opt out -- do a search on YOU, copy the URL at the top of the page. Then go to the privacy link in gray at the bottom right hand corner of the page, put in that URL and your email.

It'll restrict how many people you can opt out -- two per email, four per day.

Your public service announcement of the day.



2) Here's the short version:

I don't know if everyone on my f-list has heard, but there's this girl in Mississippi who just wanted to wear a tux and take her girlfriend to prom. The school board said hell no, and furthermore, you have to go with a guy.

So she sued because it's a violation of her first amendment rights.

And the school canceled prom.

BUT WAIT, IT GETS BETTER.

A judge in Mississippi said that yes, it was discrimination, but the school could hold a private event that the girl and her girlfriend were invited to attend.

Turns out it was a fake prom. The girl, her girlfriend, and five other people were the only ones who went, while everyone else went to a parent-sponsored prom. That she wasn't invited to.

That's pretty fucking shitty, mates. And you've just added fuel to the fire. Especially when, according to the girl, "Two students with learning difficulties were among the seven people at the [fake prom]."

You're entitled to your own opinion about the ACLU and its various undertakings, but there's a petition on the ACLU website for something called the Student Non-Discrimination Act. It it an act "which would prohibit discrimination against any public school student on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. In addition, the SNDA prevents discrimination against any public school student because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of a person with whom that the student associates or has associated." The full text of the bill is here.

It takes three minutes. If you live in the States, fill it out and send it to your representatives.

Since I have been slacking on the comments/fic lately.

Probably NSFW video.