Apparently, Opposition parties are boycotting the 20th anniversary of the Polytechnique massacre because “Conservative policies have ‘rolled back the fight for women’s equality and safety.'”

Citing the elimination of the court challenges program and the move to abolish the gun registry as reasons that the Conservatives have endangered women, Bloc MP Nicole Demers said the ceremony remembering the victims was a “hypocritical gesture”. And Liberal MP Anita Neville said: “I find it difficult to stand beside a minister who chooses not to advocate for women, who chooses to follow the party line, who chooses to endorse the elimination of the long-gun registry.”

Voting has begun at the Canadian Blog Awards. ProWomanProLife is in the “political” category.

Thanks to a reader, my attention was drawn to this Onion sketch.

But let’s face it: The real victims are the vegetables. No one ever asked them if they chose to be thrown on women’s bodies like that.

Anyhoo: buy a t-shirt?

What a sad, sad way to go:

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina–A 38-year-old former Miss Argentina has died from complications after undergoing cosmetic surgery on her buttocks.

Solange Magnano, a mother of twins who won the crown in 1994, died of a pulmonary embolism Sunday after three days in critical condition following a gluteoplasty in Buenos Aires.

Gluteoplasty involves placing implants in the buttocks to make them appear rounder.

I wish women would stop going under the knife to “fix” minor imperfections. I wish women would try to improve their appearance by eating well, sleeping enough, and exercising. I wish women would just stop obsessing over their bodies so much because you know what? The good guys out there don’t care exactly how perfectly round your butt appears to be. They’re dating a person, not a body part. Sure, they prefer a girl who looks good over one who doesn’t appear to spend more than 42 seconds a week looking after herself. But come on. Is non-medically-necessary cosmetic surgery really worth it?

I am not a fan of David Cameron. I find him way too squishy for my taste. But he’s right on this one:

“I think marriage is a good institution. I don’t need an opinion poll to tell me whether it is or is isn’t. That’s just what I think.”

[…]

He told the Daily Mail: “Evidence shows marriage is a good institution which helps people stay together, and commit to each other.

“A society that values marriage is a good and strong society, that’s why we will recognise marriage in the tax system.”

No, that doesn’t mean everyone should get married. And yes, there are plenty of unmarried couples who are more committed to each other than many a married couple. But that’s a comment on people, not on institutions. Marriage is not the same as just living with someone (I know; I tried both). And it’s a good thing for a society when marriage is seen as an ideal to achieve through commitment and hard work, not just a boring piece of paper.

Exiting the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum in the “legacy” section:

Many ideas found in the Dead Sea Scrolls are still relevant today.”

If you don’t find that at least a tiny bit funny, then just move along to the next post (and/or civilization).

A longish post on how to deal with your in-laws.

Turns out those were the good old days.

A popular role-playing combat video game featuring graphic homosexual sex between a man and an elf has hit store shelves just in time for Christmas.

“Dragon Age: Origins,” released Nov. 3 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, depicts two men in various sex positions in a secret scene of homosexual seduction.

The game is by BioWare, makers of “Mass Effect,” “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” and “Baldur’s Gate.” It has a “Mature” rating.

Why, did they run out of “Depraved” ratings?

[h/t]