This waiting-for-my-residency thing is a little nerve-wracking. I was reading this article on mail-order brides today (more on that in a minute) and was surprised to see that only 191 Australian spouse visas were granted to Russian women last year. That places them fifth on the country list and the US is ranked even lower. I know I don’t really have to worry but I was surprised to learn how uncommon my situation is. I figured the number would be in the thousands.

On a related note, The Age has a story today on green card marriages of convenience. Last year almost 10% of applicants got rejected for lack of evidence. We haven’t had to go through the interview process they describe but I know all about trying to prove your relationship is “genuine.” It’s hard enough for legitimate couples; I can’t imagine trying to fake all the necessary documents.

Going back to the Russian bride article… It made my blood boil, all that crap about how Western women have been somehow “ruined” for marriage by feminism. WHATEVER. If our desire to be treated with respect and equality by society and our partners precludes the Neanderthals of the world from proposing to us, LUCKY US. Finding a wife shouldn’t be about choosing a mother-substitute to cook your food and iron your shirts. I just feel sorry for the women in bad circumstances – economic, political, whatever – who are so desperate that they feel the possibility of domestic and sexual violence at the hands of a man they hardly know is a gamble worth taking.

Drink Pepsi? Want to maximise the number of free iTunes songs you win? Check this out. It’s hardly a novel concept, but I probably wouldn’t have thought of it. (Not that it matters, given that we still can’t even buy iTunes songs in Australia, much less win free ones with our sugar water.)

The Herald has a nice interview with Ani Difranco (though it includes a not-too-favourable review of her latest album). She’s in town for a couple concerts. I’ve seen her in London and the US and I wouldn’t mind seeing her here, but I can’t find anybody who wants to go with me! (The Snook jokingly said he’d go only if I found him a “Cover me in honey and throw me to the lesbians” T-shirt to wear.)

The Onion A.V. Club is currently running an interview with Arthur C. Clarke, author of Max’s favorite movie.

I was happy to read this article from The Age about new birth control options for women that lessen or stop menstruation. Finally scientists are starting to realize that most women would be happier not having a period. I’ve been on Depo Provera for over two years now and it’s the Best. Thing. Ever. It’s like being a guy! And for those who are worried about being “unnatural”, it turns out that monthly bleeding isn’t exactly a natural state of events either:

And although it may initially seem unnatural, prolonged amenorrhoea is actually nothing new. An article in the Medical Bulletin of the International Planned Parenthood Federation last summer said, “regular menstruation is not natural: before modern contraception, women spent much of their reproductive lives amenorrhoeic as a consequence of either pregnancy or breastfeeding”.

Plus it’s fun to say and it’s got that cheery little “Amen!” in there. AMEN-ORRHOEA!

Somehow the “political compass” test came up in conversation with the Snook last night, and he revealed that he was pretty firmly in the leftist-libertarian camp. I couldn’t remember taking it before so I just did it myself… and I got leftist-libertarian. I should’ve expected that.

I think I just found the Snook’s birthday present for this year… HA! (Link courtesy of PCJM.)