Definitions by Lorelili
molestation defense
An updated version of the twinkie defense.
When the suspect in a criminal case uses the accusation that a close friend or relative violated them or fondled them as part of their defense, typically as a way to avoid taking responsibility for what they did. Most notably used in the Casey Anthony and Diane Downs cases, in which young mothers who killed their children accused their fathers of touching them inappropriately (even though this was irrelevant to the cases at hand and most likely completely false, as both women are pathological liars).
When the suspect in a criminal case uses the accusation that a close friend or relative violated them or fondled them as part of their defense, typically as a way to avoid taking responsibility for what they did. Most notably used in the Casey Anthony and Diane Downs cases, in which young mothers who killed their children accused their fathers of touching them inappropriately (even though this was irrelevant to the cases at hand and most likely completely false, as both women are pathological liars).
The intent of the molestation defense is to pander to the sympathy of jurors and media, to distract from the point of the case, and to escape taking responsibility.
Most of the time, the molestation defense is a cheap defense and a way for the suspect to excuse their crime; most victims of rape or incest do not kill, rape, steal, or commit other crimes, which should make anybody following a serious criminal case very wary about such accusations.
Casey Anthony, for one, has proven herself a sociopath by how willing that she is to accuse her father of a serious offense to save her own arse; this from the same woman who partied and whored it up in the month before her daughter was found.
Most of the time, the molestation defense is a cheap defense and a way for the suspect to excuse their crime; most victims of rape or incest do not kill, rape, steal, or commit other crimes, which should make anybody following a serious criminal case very wary about such accusations.
Casey Anthony, for one, has proven herself a sociopath by how willing that she is to accuse her father of a serious offense to save her own arse; this from the same woman who partied and whored it up in the month before her daughter was found.
molestation defense by Lorelili August 3, 2011
Diane Downs
A prototype for Susan Smith and Casey Anthony.
A bed hopper and unfit mother who shot her three small children (Christie, 8, Cheryl, 7, and Danny, 3) on May 19, 1983, killing Cheryl and paralyzing Christie and Danny in an effort to continue an affair with a married former colleague who did not want children in his life. She tried to pin the crime on a "bushy-haired stranger" who attacked them on a country road.
Downs could not keep her story straight, however, and her calm (even giddy) behavior in all of the media circus raised suspicion.
Although often described as "beautiful" and "dangerously seductive", Diane Downs looks more like John Lithgow on a bad day and even sported a mullet early in the case. Despite this, she cunningly bedded a man during the investigation to become pregnant as a means of gaining sympathy.
A bed hopper and unfit mother who shot her three small children (Christie, 8, Cheryl, 7, and Danny, 3) on May 19, 1983, killing Cheryl and paralyzing Christie and Danny in an effort to continue an affair with a married former colleague who did not want children in his life. She tried to pin the crime on a "bushy-haired stranger" who attacked them on a country road.
Downs could not keep her story straight, however, and her calm (even giddy) behavior in all of the media circus raised suspicion.
Although often described as "beautiful" and "dangerously seductive", Diane Downs looks more like John Lithgow on a bad day and even sported a mullet early in the case. Despite this, she cunningly bedded a man during the investigation to become pregnant as a means of gaining sympathy.
Downs also used the molestation defense at her trial, claiming that her father had fondled her; he denied it and by 1989 she had recanted her accusation.
Despite suffering a stroke and losing much use in her arm, Christie Downs, at nine years of age, tearfully confirmed at her mother's trial that her mother was the one had shot her and Cheryl and Danny.
Diagnosed by psychologists as a narcissistic, histrionic antisocial personality and thus diagnosed as a sociopath, Diane Downs was sentenced to life in prison and to this day maintains her innocence, despite overwhelming evidence and her constantly changing story.
In 1989, "Small Sacrifices", a tv movie based on the case was released, starring Farrah Fawcett as Diane Downs, although the Downs is hardly attractive with her creepy Joker smile and masculine face.
Despite suffering a stroke and losing much use in her arm, Christie Downs, at nine years of age, tearfully confirmed at her mother's trial that her mother was the one had shot her and Cheryl and Danny.
Diagnosed by psychologists as a narcissistic, histrionic antisocial personality and thus diagnosed as a sociopath, Diane Downs was sentenced to life in prison and to this day maintains her innocence, despite overwhelming evidence and her constantly changing story.
In 1989, "Small Sacrifices", a tv movie based on the case was released, starring Farrah Fawcett as Diane Downs, although the Downs is hardly attractive with her creepy Joker smile and masculine face.
Diane Downs by Lorelili August 2, 2011
Tituba
An Arawak slave woman who featured prominently in the Salem Witch Trials.
Her true origins are unknown, but she was brought to Barbados as a slave by adolescence and she was eventually purchased by businessman turned minister, Samuel Parris, and would later be brought to Salem Village, Massachusetts, and serve the Parris family, including caring for the children.
In early 1692, Elizabeth "Betty" Parris, age 9, and her cousin, 11-year-old Abigail Williams, began acting strangely, and several other girls in the community soon displayed the same symptoms. Convinced that it was witchcraft, the fanatical Parris grilled his daughter and niece until they named Tituba as the witch who afflicted them; as an Arawak slave woman in a Puritan community, she was very obvious and an easy target.
After the testimonies of Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne, who both denied harming anybody, Tituba's testimony (probably to avoid any more trouble) confirmed the fears of the village: she had been coaxed by a mysterious man in black to sign her name in his book, offering her magical powers in exchange for her soul. Tituba claimed that her name and those of Osborne and Good were among a list of six other names that she could not see; this confession was like Pandora's box had opened.
Her true origins are unknown, but she was brought to Barbados as a slave by adolescence and she was eventually purchased by businessman turned minister, Samuel Parris, and would later be brought to Salem Village, Massachusetts, and serve the Parris family, including caring for the children.
In early 1692, Elizabeth "Betty" Parris, age 9, and her cousin, 11-year-old Abigail Williams, began acting strangely, and several other girls in the community soon displayed the same symptoms. Convinced that it was witchcraft, the fanatical Parris grilled his daughter and niece until they named Tituba as the witch who afflicted them; as an Arawak slave woman in a Puritan community, she was very obvious and an easy target.
After the testimonies of Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne, who both denied harming anybody, Tituba's testimony (probably to avoid any more trouble) confirmed the fears of the village: she had been coaxed by a mysterious man in black to sign her name in his book, offering her magical powers in exchange for her soul. Tituba claimed that her name and those of Osborne and Good were among a list of six other names that she could not see; this confession was like Pandora's box had opened.
Although portrayed as an African slave in many dramatizations, the historical Tituba was actually a First Nations slave, most likely Arawak.
While there is little contemporary evidence, the legend is that Tituba entertained her young wards with tales of her life in Barbados, tales involving magic. As the winter continued, Tituba grew bolder and began demonstrating magic tricks for the girls, including a divination method in which an egg white was suspended in a glass of water and the shapes that it made were interpreted.
By this time, other girls and young women from the village were coming to these secret meetings. Their excitement was mixed with guilt, for they knew that this was forbidden; during one divination, the egg settled into what looked like the shape of a coffin, an image that snapped their nerves.
While there is little contemporary evidence, the legend is that Tituba entertained her young wards with tales of her life in Barbados, tales involving magic. As the winter continued, Tituba grew bolder and began demonstrating magic tricks for the girls, including a divination method in which an egg white was suspended in a glass of water and the shapes that it made were interpreted.
By this time, other girls and young women from the village were coming to these secret meetings. Their excitement was mixed with guilt, for they knew that this was forbidden; during one divination, the egg settled into what looked like the shape of a coffin, an image that snapped their nerves.
Bonfire of the Vanities
An old tradition of burning of any objects that are regarded as sinful or immoral, as if a bonfire fueled by the condemned objects would erase the social problems associated with them.
The most infamous of such bonfires took place on February 7, 1497. The extremist Catholic priest Girolamo Savonarola organized a great public burning in Florence, a burning of what he saw as the frivolities of the Medici reign, and in particular that of Lorenzo de' Medici, whom Savonarola blamed for decadence and immorality (which the zealous priest defined as any art that did not portray Jesus or anything Biblical; nudity and paganism in contemporary art irked his one-track mindset).
While prostitutes were beaten and gay men were burned alive on his orders, Savonarola's campaign centered on the burning of books, paintings, sculptures, cosmetics, wigs, fancy clothing, mirrors, jewelry, masks, playing cards, scripts of secular songs, musical instruments, anything that Savonarola deemed extravagant.
A "bonfire of the vanities" can be as a metaphor to refer to the censorship or ban on "controversial" materials.
The most infamous of such bonfires took place on February 7, 1497. The extremist Catholic priest Girolamo Savonarola organized a great public burning in Florence, a burning of what he saw as the frivolities of the Medici reign, and in particular that of Lorenzo de' Medici, whom Savonarola blamed for decadence and immorality (which the zealous priest defined as any art that did not portray Jesus or anything Biblical; nudity and paganism in contemporary art irked his one-track mindset).
While prostitutes were beaten and gay men were burned alive on his orders, Savonarola's campaign centered on the burning of books, paintings, sculptures, cosmetics, wigs, fancy clothing, mirrors, jewelry, masks, playing cards, scripts of secular songs, musical instruments, anything that Savonarola deemed extravagant.
A "bonfire of the vanities" can be as a metaphor to refer to the censorship or ban on "controversial" materials.
The Bonfire of the Vanities was the result of a moral panic provoked by an extremist monk who was horrified by the nudity and pagan/secular images that were appearing in art as well as the perceived extravagance of the Medici, the family who ruled Florence and who was leading this artistic Renaissance and who Savonarola blamed for the economic and social problems that were beginning to plague the city. Any art or literature that he deemed "immoral" had to go.
Eventually, Savonarola's campaign turned against him and he was executed, but his example of censorship is one to be remembered as that matter is discussed.
Eventually, Savonarola's campaign turned against him and he was executed, but his example of censorship is one to be remembered as that matter is discussed.
Bonfire of the Vanities by Lorelili August 1, 2011
loyal
Faithful to a person or a cause; firmly in alliance to somebody or something. Always there for somebody when they need you.
"Ladies, it's not fair to compare men to dogs. Men are not dogs; dogs are loyal. They never leave you, they're always there for you, and they can lick their own balls."
-Wanda Sykes on comparing men to dogs.
Abbie and Sam did not always agree as siblings, but Abbie's move from home to Yale and Sam's assistance reaffirmed the family's loyal bond.
-Wanda Sykes on comparing men to dogs.
Abbie and Sam did not always agree as siblings, but Abbie's move from home to Yale and Sam's assistance reaffirmed the family's loyal bond.
indignant
Displeased about something. Offended, insulted, or resentful, especially when you feel that you have been wronged, snubbed, or screwed over.
Silda Spitzer indignantly stood by her philandering husband, glaring at him as he rattled off an apology.
Allen and Jose, in all of the worry that Jose could be deported and all of the marital rights and security that were denied to them, grew indignant as Rush Limbaugh slammed same-sex marriage; as a serial monogamist with an overindulgent lifestyle and a drug addiction, *HE* was one to talk!
Allen and Jose, in all of the worry that Jose could be deported and all of the marital rights and security that were denied to them, grew indignant as Rush Limbaugh slammed same-sex marriage; as a serial monogamist with an overindulgent lifestyle and a drug addiction, *HE* was one to talk!
stable
Noun: a building where animals, especially horses, are housed.
Adjective: relatively permanent or unchanging, firmly fixed or established; unlikely to be unbalanced, changed, destroyed or altered. Consistent, dependable, and moderate.
Adjective: relatively permanent or unchanging, firmly fixed or established; unlikely to be unbalanced, changed, destroyed or altered. Consistent, dependable, and moderate.
The stable rang with the sounds of a young mare in labor; the yelps of the other horses brought the farmer running. He and his wife remained calm and stable as they helped the mare give birth to her first foal, a beautiful chestnut filly.