The real Angela Shelton…

…is you.

Angela Shelton of Los Angeles took a trip across the country to meet other Angela Sheltons who would talk to her.

She found 40 — 24 of whom had been abused — just like the filmmaker.

You can watch the documentary, “Searching for Angela Shelton,” here. I highly recommend it. It is not a light-hearted film. You might cry. If you lived through abuse, you probably will. But watch it, if you can. If you buy the DVD, you can skip the commercial interruptions.

What has the recession taken from you?

Emily Bazelon asked the question earlier, and sometimes, the answers surprised her.

There were the luxury items — one guy bemoaned the loss of his cologne — but then there were the heartbreakers — like time with the family. Or starting a family.

I was driving back to work from lunch today and there at my exit was a guy with a sign “Homeless: Please Help,” and a battered bag. I reached out with some money – after inanely calling out for him to be careful as he stepped onto the exit ramp to take the money, like he needs me to be his mommy – told him to take care of himself, and then drove off. I got to work and looked down at the styrofoam container of two pieces of pizza I had on the other seat, my leftovers, and I wondered why I didn’t hand that to him, too. I almost drove back and gave it to him, but figured that would be weird.

And I’m all about not being weird.

I don’t know this guy, don’t know his name, most likely will never see him again, but I wonder how this economic downturn has affected him, or was he so low before the wave hit that not much changed for him.

We’ve talked about this before, a bit, but: Is there something you’ve given up because you no longer can afford it?

A Michigan appeals court says you can quote scripture out of context!

Phew. What a relief.

An appeals court overturned an earlier decision that sent a minister to jail for raining Biblical curses down on a lower-court judge.

According to a careful reading of the scripture in question, the minister forgot “mildew.” And then, there are always locusts. And blood. And stuff.

Earlier, the minister had been on probation for voter fraud.

Do you think Ohio State Rep. Adams reads this blog?

Because we’ve already discussed whether a man should have a say in an abortion, and now Ohio state Rep. John Adams has re-introduced a bill that would prevent a woman from getting an abortion until she has the written consent of the man.

Don’t know the man responsible? Then the woman must present a list of contenders.

Needless to say, this bill raises more questions than it answers. In essence, should the man have the final say, as this bill would dictate?

I so wanna party with these people.

I believe this particular entrance was the only thing my son’s wedding didn’t have. My question is, though: What kept the audience in their seats? Glue? Because we would have so been up dancing, too.

OMG! Brad Pitt’s a heathen!

He says in a BILD interview that he’s about “20 percent atheist” and “80 percent agnostic.”

Here’s the difference. Should we start the prayer circle?

Write your own caption!

One stop sacrament shopping!

The Church of England is offering a dual marriage/baptism ceremony, for unmarried parents.

It’s a way of making, according to this, the church more relevant.

Did you see “Persepolis?”

Oh! You must! Here’s a description. And here’s a little more on the creator, Marjane Satrapi.

And here’s a continuation of the theme, a graphic novel to explain the post-presidential-election turmoil in Iran. (The idea was borrowed from “Persepolis,” though it is not the work of Satrapi.)

And thanks, Daily Beast, for the link.

If Craigslist is too naughty for you…

…there’s always CHRISTools.

More here. I appreciate that some of the notoriety Craigslist has gained of late is troubling, but it’s equally troubling — to me, anyway — when believers separate themselves from the mainstream. I know we all make our own choices, but, but, but…and I know we’re to be in the world but not of it, but, but, but…

And thanks, Right Wing Watch, for the head’s up.