Social Security Assistance for Low-Income Former Spouses

Worries about finances typically go hand in hand when one begins the divorce process.  Most couples experience serious financial concerns when looking at maintaining two separate residences with the income that once only supported a single marital household.  During the divorce process, the “we” becomes “only me” and everything from retirement assets to the kitchen pots and pans are divvied up during the settlement process.  Typically, this means a much leaner financial lifestyle for the spouse that wasn’t the earner, at least for a transitional period.  Financial concerns are especially immediate for those who divorce later in life and who haven’t regularly earned income during the marriage.However, the Social Security...

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Posted in: divorce,Social Security Administration,spousal benefit,SSA

Kent County Prosecutor Challenges Grand Rapids Pot Ordinance

Modeling their voter initiative on the ordinance that has been on the books in Ann Arbor for the past 35-years, Grand Rapids took a stab at de-criminalizing marijuana use and possession.  "Not so fast ...", said the Kent County Prosecutor, William Forsyth, and the GRPD.Pot lobbyists were successful in Grand Rapids last November getting a pot de-criminalization initiative passed.  Promulgation of the city ordinance, however, has been complicated and now, litigated.The Kent County Prosecutor claims that the ordinance cannot interfere with a state law, and has requested an injunction from a Kent County Circuit Judge.  The prosecutor's argument is that Grand Rapids cannot turn a state law into a civil infraction.The Grand Rapids...

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Posted in: Decriminalize GR,Grand Rapids,Kent County Circuit Court,marijuana,Michigan Court of Appeals,ordinance,William Forsyth

Yes, Iowa Still Prosecutes Consenting Adults

We now have an update of a criminal case out of Iowa involving adults. The previous coverage is here. As I suspected, this is a matter of sex between consenting adults and charging them with a crime for that is absurd. Randy M. Cauthron at spenderdailyreporter.com writes...A preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for today, has been cancelled according to Clay County Attorney Mike Houchins after trial information, in an alleged incest case involving an uncle and a niece, was filed by District Court Judge Charles Borth Tuesday. Felony incest charges were filed against Elizabeth Ann Welch, 18, and Jerrold Marble, 35, Jan. 7, following an investigation initiated by the Department of Human Services and Spencer Police Department just prior to Thanksgiving. Houchins summed up the basic...

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Posted in: breaking up homes,consanguineous,courts,incest,Iowa,lack of equality harms,law,prosecution,uncle-niece

Yes, Iowa Still Prosecutes Consenting Adults

We now have an update of a criminal case out of Iowa involving adults. The previous coverage is here. As I suspected, this is a matter of sex between consenting adults and charging them with a crime for that is absurd. Randy M. Cauthron at spenderdailyreporter.com writes...A preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for today, has been cancelled according to Clay County Attorney Mike Houchins after trial information, in an alleged incest case involving an uncle and a niece, was filed by District Court Judge Charles Borth Tuesday. Felony incest charges were filed against Elizabeth Ann Welch, 18, and Jerrold Marble, 35, Jan. 7, following an investigation initiated by the Department of Human Services and Spencer Police Department just prior to Thanksgiving. Houchins summed up the basic...

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Posted in: breaking up homes,consanguineous,courts,incest,Iowa,lack of equality harms,law,prosecution,uncle-niece

Sandra Cano Give Short Mention of GSA Situation

This short video clip sounds a lot like she's talking about her children having a Genetic Sexual Attraction situation....

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Posted in: brother-sister,consanguineous,family reaction,GSA,reunion,siblings

They Can't Seem to Provide Me Any Good Answers

And that's ironic.As promised, here’s what happened (so far) regarding a certain Big Internet Portal “question and answer” forum.I had been participating there for years, helping people, clearing away the cobwebs of ignorance, making friends, and often getting “thumbs up” and Best Answer in the process, along with private positive feedback. Sometimes I linked to the service here on this blog, promoting them free of charge.I had provided many, many, many answers and had asked a grand total of two questions. But I may never be allowed to participate there anymore, due to being suspended. (If you are still active there, feel free to copy & paste anything from this blog, including from the FAQs and Discredited Arguments page, to answer questions...

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Posted in: lack of equality harms,media,persecution,prejudice

They Can't Seem to Provide Me Any Good Answers

And that's ironic.As promised, here’s what happened (so far) regarding a certain Big Internet Portal “question and answer” forum.I had been participating there for years, helping people, clearing away the cobwebs of ignorance, making friends, and often getting “thumbs up” and Best Answer in the process, along with private positive feedback. Sometimes I linked to the service here on this blog, promoting them free of charge.I had provided many, many, many answers and had asked a grand total of two questions. But I may never be allowed to participate there anymore, due to being suspended. (If you are still active there, feel free to copy & paste anything from this blog, including from the FAQs and Discredited Arguments page, to answer questions...

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Posted in: lack of equality harms,media,persecution,prejudice

Still No Good Reason to Keep Polygamy Ban

Over at omgchronicles.vickilarson.com, a good question was asked: "Why is polygamy illegal in America?"Although 92 percent of Americans say adultery is morally unacceptable, there are no legal sanctions against those who indulge anyway. But if two (or more) women are happily simultaneously married to a man or a man is happily simultaneously married to two (or more) women, not only will they likely be ostracized, but they also can face criminal charges in many places in the United States and Canada.It's convoluted, to be sure. But I was curious why polygamy — which is legally practiced and accepted in some 850 societies across the globe, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands — is illegal here.The short answer...

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Posted in: allies,boundaries,law,persecution,polygamy,USA

Still No Good Reason to Keep Polygamy Ban

Over at omgchronicles.vickilarson.com, a good question was asked: "Why is polygamy illegal in America?"Although 92 percent of Americans say adultery is morally unacceptable, there are no legal sanctions against those who indulge anyway. But if two (or more) women are happily simultaneously married to a man or a man is happily simultaneously married to two (or more) women, not only will they likely be ostracized, but they also can face criminal charges in many places in the United States and Canada.It's convoluted, to be sure. But I was curious why polygamy — which is legally practiced and accepted in some 850 societies across the globe, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands — is illegal here.The short answer...

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Posted in: allies,boundaries,law,persecution,polygamy,USA

Latest Consanguinamory Poll at SodaHead

I enjoyed contributing to a certain question-and-answer forum. Unfortunately, I'm not able to right now (perhaps I will go into detail about that in another entry), but fortunately, there are other places for questions and answers. A recent poll at sodahead.com asked, "Incest is it wrong?" I found the wording of the question and the pre-listed answer choices to be a bit awkward, but I was happy to see someone raising the issue again, even if it did attract some ridiculous (and what some would find offensive) responses.John said it is wrong, writing...Kind of sick IMO. There is no shortage of willing partners outside the home why would you stoop so low?And we call those Discredited Arguments #1 and 21. Drebi is an ally...Regardless of my personal stance on the matter, I believe that competent,...

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Posted in: allies,consanguineous,incest,myths,prejudice

Latest Consanguinamory Poll at SodaHead

I enjoyed contributing to a certain question-and-answer forum. Unfortunately, I'm not able to right now (perhaps I will go into detail about that in another entry), but fortunately, there are other places for questions and answers. A recent poll at sodahead.com asked, "Incest is it wrong?" I found the wording of the question and the pre-listed answer choices to be a bit awkward, but I was happy to see someone raising the issue again, even if it did attract some ridiculous (and what some would find offensive) responses.John said it is wrong, writing...Kind of sick IMO. There is no shortage of willing partners outside the home why would you stoop so low?And we call those Discredited Arguments #1 and 21. Drebi is an ally...Regardless of my personal stance on the matter, I believe that competent,...

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Posted in: allies,consanguineous,incest,myths,prejudice

Vacancy Tarnishes Michigan Supreme Court

Diane Hathaway with President ObamaLast Friday, the US Attorney filed federal criminal charges [bank fraud] against the now-former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Diane Hathaway; her last official day was Monday, although she has been absent from the bench for weeks.  This is yet another case that gives the public pause, and erodes the confidence we place in our publicly elected officials; especially jurists; especially those elected to the Michigan Supreme Court.By now, this story is well-known.  Ms. Hathaway and her husband are alleged to have concealed an intra-family transfer of a parcel of Florida real estate in order to get a short-sale approved which resulted in a mortgage loan forgiveness of more than $600,000. The feds assert...

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Posted in: bank fraud,Justice Clifford Taylor,Justice Diane Hathaway,Michigan Supreme Court,Oakland Circuit Judge Colleen O'Brien,Oakland County Circuit Court,United States Attorney

Michigan Civil Service Extends Healthcare Benefits

It is safe to say that healthcare and the availability of benefits are important to all working people in Michigan.  Nothing wreaks havoc on our day-to-day life more than an unexpected illness, especially when we lack the healthcare benefits necessary to secure the proper treatment.  A recent decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals held that the Michigan Civil Service Commission (MCSC) could expand the eligibility of health care benefits for state employees to their co-residents, if those persons are at least 18 years old, NOT relatives, and have resided within the same household as the state employee for at least 12-months (but not as a renter or tenant).  This potential coverage expansion applies to employees who...

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Posted in: Attorney General,civil service,health care,Michigan Civil Service Commission,Michigan Court of Appeals

Speaking of Advice Columns

Dear Abby recently published a letter from Girl Left Behind in California... "Myles" and I have known each other for five years, but have grown really close over the past three. We tell each other everything, and I have fallen in love with him.A few months ago, Myles sent me a text saying he needed to tell me a "secret." He went on to say the guy he had told me was his brother, "Jeff," is really his lover. Needless to say, that bombshell floored me.We have discussed it in person, and I have never told him how I feel. I visit them a couple of times a month and always go home feeling hurt. I want Myles for myself, even though I know I can't have him. I don't want to lose him as my friend, but it hurts seeing him and Jeff together. How do I resolve this?Abby's response doesn't address the fact...

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Posted in: brother-brother,consanguineous,LGBT,same-sex,siblings

They Finally Found Love But Are Denied Their Rights

The couple featured in the interview below are a good-looking couple living in the US. Although if you met them you might notice there is an age difference between them, you'd never think, if you passed them on the street, that they would not only be denied the right to marry, but that their relationship would still be illegal in most states. They were generous enough with her time and privacy to be interviewed.*****FULL MARRIAGE EQUALITY: Describe your background.Anonymous Woman:  I am a forty-four year old adult adoptee and mother of two in a loving relationship with my seventy year old genetic father. My childhood was anything but happy. I had a cruel, abusive adoptive father. I got married very young and the marriage only lasted a...

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Posted in: consanguineous,family reaction,father-daughter,GSA,love,reunion