Strollerderby : Phoenix

Stay out of my room or I'll pee on your tree

Brett Singer — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

I've tried to write a summary of this story but I haven't been able to come up with a better intro than this one (from the New York Times):

When the men of the Phoenix Country Club saw their feeding ways in peril, they did not tarry. Some sent nasty e-mail messages, hectored players on the fairway and, for good measure, urinated on a fellow club member’s pecan tree.

As you can probably guess, it was that last one – the whole "urinating on a tree" thing – that grabbed my attention. What caused otherwise civilized men to make pee-pee on the pecan tree? Why, it was the women! They want to eat in the same dining room as the men! Well, if some chick wants to do that, I'm going to take a leak on her tree! That'll show those nosy broads.

The specifics are as follows: the Phoenix Country Club in Arizona does not allow women to eat in the men's grill room. According to the New York Times, this grill room is where high-level business deals are conducted, not to mention more pedestrian activities such as lunch. Well can't these persnickety hens go somewhere else? Actually, no. The "ladies' grill" has "a hot plate, some card tables and no bar." That's right. A hot plate.

Now, Arizona, Arizona… who's from Arizona? Oh! John McCain! Well, he's not a member. His son Andrew is, and so is Alice Cooper. (Kids, Alice Cooper is this rock star-type guy who used to really upset people because his act featured images of death and stuff. Yeah, we were pretty silly back then. Check out his Muppet Show episode, it's a lot of fun. And for those of you who remember Alice Cooper, yes. He's now a member of a country club that doesn't let women eat with men.)

This issue came to a head when Barbara Van Sittert and her husband Logan "appealed to the board of the club" to change the rules so they could have breakfast together. When they were told to stuff it, they went to the Attorney General's office, which recently issued an "advisory legal opinion that the club needed to comply with the state's antidiscrimination laws." That doesn't mean anything yet; the club has 30 days to try and settle the matter before the AG gets all legal on them.

So remember guys. If women want to do something you don't want them to do, whip it out and pee on their lawn. That'll show 'em.

image: progressivemajoritywisconsin.org

Dick Cheney whispering hush: Goodnight Bush

Political Nanny: White Talk, Blackface ... Barf

McCain Finds Humor in Domestic Violence

Political Nanny: Cindy McCain Says Husband Doesn't Have a Temper

Madeline Holler — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:09:00 GMT

Posted by Political Nanny

Cindy McCain played co-host on ABC's The View this morning where she told the ladies -- including a silent and reverend Elisabeth Hasselbeck -- that John McCain doesn't have a temper. And he's never unleashed that non-temper temper on her (so the c-word was a term of endearment ... now we get it.)

Oh, Cindy, come now. Political Nanny has watched your Johnny enough to know that his nickname "McNasty" isn't irony.

She also says the biggest misconception about her is that she doesn't like her role as campaigning spouse. She loves it. Then goes on to say, kind of aw-shucks-y, who could imagine a girl from Phoenix ... growing up ... being in her position.

Lady, you're a beer distributor magnate's daughter. You're rich. On behalf of all able-minded people, Political Nanny would like to say WE could have imagined it. It's actually very imagineable.

Still, it's fun to hear her talk. She hasn't been terribly vocal, like the other spouses. So it's nice to put a voice/speaking style with the face.

Political Nanny will search for the video and post it, and also try to uncover what Whoopi was so anxious to ask. Go here to watch the video.

Dogs Bring Joy to Abused Kids

Amy Kuras — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:30:00 GMT

Most people cannot resist a cute, friendly dog. When we hit the streets with our sweet-if-irritating shelter mutt, it just amazes me how many people want to come up, pet her and ask questions about her. Our cute, friendly kid garners nowhere near as much attention (of course, I'd karate chop anyone who attempted to rub her belly).

So this story struck me as extra sweet. A non-profit called Gabriel's Angels, started by Pam Graber and her nine-year-old Weimaraner, Gabriel, brings pet therapy to kids at crisis shelters in Phoenix and Tuscon.
From its beginnings eight years ago, the nonprofit has now grown to 100 dog-owner therapy teams and has reached more than10,000 kids.

Graber was volunteering at Crisis Nursery, a children's agency in Phoenix, when she brought Gabriel with her on a whim. The kids really responded to him, so the idea to bring pet therapy to kids in crisis was planted.
For many of these kids, they've experienced only mistrust and disappointment from their human relationships, so the unconditional affection from the dogs and reliability of their owners teach them about trust and kindness. Some kids who don't bond with any human immediately form relationships with their canine visitors.

Interestingly, Graber doesn't take any real pleasure in the ongoing need for her group.

She told The Arizona Republic newspaper "In my best dream, Gabriel's Angels wouldn't exist because child abuse wouldn't exist. But for now, anywhere there's an abused child we want to help. We're intervening in the cycle of violence. The animals are the bridge for behaviors like trust, love, empathy, compassion."

Photo: Arizona Republic

Schools on Lockdown Due to Batman Sighting

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:42:00 GMT

No really, you read the title right. Three schools in Cave Creek (a Phoenix suburb) were put on lockdown for 45 minutes on Valentine's Day due to a Batman sighting. Yes, that Batman. The Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight. Seriously. A middle schooler "reported seeing a person dressed as Batman run across campus, jump a fence and disappear into the desert".

This particular Batman was about 6' 3" and most likely male. (Heh. Either that or Phoenix Mercury forward Kayte Christensen wearing a mask.)

Police officers and school officials couldn't locate any batmen (batmen is funny and you all know it) out in the desert, but they say they didn't want to take any chances. Chances for what, you ask? Search me.