Female genital mutilation in Kenya is protected by a wall of silence which makes it appear a festive occasion.

Any medical complications are blamed irrationally on the victim.

In Egypt, a few families reject the social pressure.

There is a campaign to boycott the movie, 50 Shades of Grey, and give money to women's shelters instead.

Women's shelters are a worthy cause, but it is simply erroneous to confuse BDSM with domestic violence — like confusing a play presenting a murder with real murder.

Does anyone actually spend fifty dollars to see a movie? I have not gone to a theater in a while, but I never spent anywhere as much on their expensive snacks as the ticket cost. If people really do that, they either have money to burn or they don't understand the meaning of thrift.

US citizens: phone your congresscritter to oppose the bill to block the FCC from establishing network neutrality. Also send email through this campaign.

The Capitol Switchboard numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641 and 888-355-3588.

US citizens: call on the USDA to reject genetically modified cotton that is designed to be used with a dangerous herbicide.

The UK's cutbacks now hit people too damaged to live on their own, and relatives that can't both work and care for them.