Get to Know a Contributor

Listed here are 5 Things You Should Know about Melissa McEwanz:1. She creates poetry. Plenty of poetry. Like, mountain tops from it. Should you could measure her poetry, it might weigh greater than a T. Rex. Almost all the details are about her first crush: Gil Gerard.2. She's a tattoo of Falkor on her behalf shoulder.3. She once stated "This is actually the finest fanny back ever invented!" I'd explain that, but it is type of complicated.4. Her favourite Garbage Pail Kids card is Rappin' Ron.5. Her go-to soundtrack album for sexy-occasions doing the work is Monster Ballads:

Daily Dose of Cute

Zelda, just sitting alongside me around the couch like she's people.Of course, please feel welcome and urged to talk about pix from the fuzzy, feathered, or scaly people of ones own in comments.

Get to Know a Contributor

Listed here are 5 Stuff You Certainly Did not Learn about Melissa McEwanz:1. She collects quality recipes. Particularly egg salad quality recipes. She keeps these questions journal entitled Egg Salad Dreams and Reminiscences.2. She's suuuper into pan flute music.3. She's seen SpaceCamp (starring Kate Capshaw, Ray B. Scott, and Jum Thompson) as many as 39 occasions: Six occasions in theaters, 27 occasions on VHS, four occasions on laser disc and two times on Betamax.4. She loves chalk sketches. 5. She's a whole group of Aaron Carter dolls on her behalf desk:TruFact™: Before I had been over I attempted to experience together with her Aaron Carter dolls and she or he got sooooooooooo mad! "They are MIB, jerk! Don't muss them up!" she yelled. Dang!

Lucky Dogs

My because of Shaker catvoncat for notifying me for this important bit of news: My Best friend Zooey Deschanel has saved two dogs in the Bill Foundation, a La nonprofit save group. Deschanel tweeted this adorable picture of her two rescues:They're named Us dot and Zelda. You realize, I occur to believe that Zelda is really a terrific reputation for your dog.Great job to Zooey Deschanel, and her lovely and lucky puppies!

Daily Dose of Cute

Sophie, the littlest wee titchy cat in most of catdom.Of course, please feel welcome and urged to talk about pix from the fuzzy, feathered, or scaly people of ones own in comments.

Reproductive Rights Updates: North Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Washington

A great deal happening within the anti-autonomy front, a lot of it earlier this Friday.North Dakota made large news over the past weekend using what happened Friday--three from four anti-abortion bills passed. Certainly one of individuals as being a resolution to create "personhood" to ND voters.Senate Concurrent Resolution 4009, passed and will also be around the 2014 general election ballot.Underneath the resolution, North Dakota voters will decide if the condition metabolic rate ought to be amended to safeguard an individual at each stage of existence, which some say often means at conception.[...]Senate Bill 2368, which defines existence as beginning at conception and would stop abortions after 20 days of being pregnant, undergone the home with a 60-32 election. It had been backed by Sen. Joe Burns, R-Park River.The balance would not increase confirming needs for abortions and stop a public greater education institution from contracting by having an entity that works or counsels in support of abortions.It will exempt an abortion within the situation of the medical emergency.[...]Senate Bill 2305, which may need a physician carrying out an abortion to possess acknowledging rights in a hospital within 30 miles from the abortion facility, passed 58-34 in the home.The TRAP legislation is especially dangerous: there's just one clinic in North Dakota and, as noted within the article, a physician will have to admit ten patients each year to retain rights. The clinic only has needed to admit one individual previously decade.The only defeated legislation last Friday was one which was more "personhood"-esque nonsense which may have defined an individual as “as a person person in the species homo sapiens at each stage of development.” It just lost by six votes.***Kansas, going to 't be surpassed by North Dakota, moved on more legislation on Friday, too.TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Senate committee approved legislation on Friday to bar regulations for abortion companies and bar public schools by using sex education instruction from abortion companies.[...]The measure bars groups supplying abortions from receiving tax exemptions or credits which go with other nonprofit groups or healthcare companies. It might also stop ladies who claim tax breaks for medical expenses from including the price of abortion services.[...]The Kansas bill includes policy claims that every human existence starts "at fertilization" which "unborn children have interests in existence, health insurance and well-being that needs to be protected."Another abortion bill removed the home Federal and Condition Matters Committee on Friday that will turn it into a crime for doctors to do abortions exclusively just because a lady or her family does not desire a baby of the certain gender.Now after i find out about this, I possibly could swear the entire "no tax credits for companies" part seemed familiar--and lo and behold, they'd incorporated that within the ginormous omnibus bill this past year. ***In Iowa, an invoice made to help inmates receive humane treatment throughout pregnancy and birth has been tanked because of a republican legislator affixing an anti-abortion amendment into it:A legislative proposal to limit the shackling of pregnant inmates is “basically dead” within the Iowa Senate, states Sen. Jesse Petersen, the bill’s floor manager.Petersen, a Des Moines Democrat, states she won’t proceed with Senate File 399 due to an amendment suggested by Sen. Kent Sorenson, a Milo Republican. Sorenson really wants to stop using condition money to “perform or facilitate” inmate abortions.[...]The balance reducing using handcuffs along with other vices for pregnant inmates continues to be approved with a Senate committee and it is qualified for debate around the Senate floor. Advocates say shackling pregnant inmates is unnecessary and brutal, and they would like to limit the practice in condition prisons and county jails. A companion bill delayed in the home after condition prison authorities assured congress these were addressing the problem.Sorenson stated Friday that whenever congress discuss maternal healthcare for criminals, they should also think about the existence from the inmate’s unborn baby. He suggests most Iowans accept him, and stated he's no aim of obstructing Petersen’s legislation.Twenty-four Senate Republicans and Sen. Joe Seng, a Davenport Democrat, are co-sponsoring the anti-abortion amendment. Sorenson suggested another Democratic lawmaker will even endorse the measure, which may assure the amendment could win approval.“I believe it is sad that Jesse is accusing me for killing the balance. I'm just a minority member with a group of values, also it searches for certain 24 other people accept me,” Sorenson stated. “This is one thing that should be worked with, which is a legitimate conversation that people must have.”"I'm just a minority member with a group of values"--isn't that probably the most disingenuous bullshit EVER? Also, authorities in the Iowa Condition Sheriffs’ & Deputies Association and also the Iowa Department of Corrections are not aware associated with a inmate getting an abortion And they're already not permitted to make use of any public money to help an inmate from getting an abortion unless of course the individual's existence is threatened. ***In Texas, they have taken the TRAP position and made the decision to operate completely by using it:An invoice evolving with the Texas Legislature could drastically decrease the amount of legal abortion facilities within the condition. [...]The balance [SB 537] would require abortions, including individuals caused by drugs, to become carried out in so-known as ambulatory surgical centers. The rules for such facilities include specific dimensions for rooms and entrance doors, and extra infrastructure like pipelines for general anesthesia and enormous sterilization equipment.The Senate Committee on Health insurance and Human Services approved the balance on Tuesday, delivering it fully Senate for approval.[...]Thirty-seven abortion treatment centers in Texas wouldn't be in compliance underneath the new rules. From the 416 ambulatory surgical centers in Texas, five perform abortions.Abortion privileges advocates say Texas women will have to seek harmful and illegal abortions simply because they will no more have ready accessibility procedure.Ambulatory surgical centers are more expensive to construct and operate than abortion treatment centers, which boosts the price of abortions for patients. Whole Woman’s Health, for instance, states it stays $40,000 more every month to function its surgical center of computer does to have an abortion clinic. Its patients pay $1,277 to have an abortion in the surgical center in comparison with $540 in a clinic.Individuals who need care will need to travel from condition or, oftentimes because of insufficient funds and transportation and time, have to continue getting pregnant. That is, obviously, the aim of these legislators (not too they would like to expand and fund a functional social back-up, either).***Finally, a little of excellent news! In the condition of Washington, legislators are seriously thinking about mandating that insurance providers be forced to pay for abortion services just because they are needed to cover maternity services:The Reproductive Parity Act, as supporters refer to it as, would require insurance companies in Washington condition who cover maternity care — which all insurance companies should do — also to purchase abortions.The balance passed the condition House earlier this year with a election of 53-43, although it faces an uncertain future within the Senate. [...]“It’s not growing abortion coverage,” stated Democratic Repetition. Eileen Cody of West Dallas, the bill’s primary sponsor. “It’s making certain the privileges of ladies to obtain what they’re having to pay for the time being and also to continue their freedom of preference.”The bill is scheduled for any public hearing within the Public Healthcare Committee on April first.

In The News

[Content note: Gun violence, homophobia]There's Water at the end from the Sea:The Senate has soundly declined a financial budget plan written by irresponsible douchebag Paul Ryan.A Marine wiped out two co-workers at Quantico last evening before shooting themself.The Osmonds are hosting an anti-gay rally in Salt Lake City.Chinua Achebe, Nigerian author from the 1958 best-seller Things Break Apart, a sobering tale about Nigeria in the beginning of independence, has died.LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!! LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!! LOLOLOLOLOL!! LOLOL!!! LOLOLOL!!!!!!! LOLOL!!Yeah, I chosen for Dengar.

One More Thought

What everybody is actually mad about is the fact that @adriarichards did not allow the Gatekeepers filter her resided experience through their validity prism.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 22, 2013

One More Thought

What everybody is actually mad about is the fact that @adriarichards did not allow the Gatekeepers filter her resided experience through their validity prism.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 22, 2013

Wednesday Blogaround

This blogaround introduced for you by cows.Suggested Reading through:Soulamami: Let us Discuss NamesHayes: Report: CIA Losing Armed Drones Program to Pentagoncrunkadelic: On Kimani Gray—Or To Become Youthful, Guilty, and Black [Content Note: Gun violence police malfeasance racism.]Sesali: A Narrow Your Search of the way Whitened People Could Be Less Oppressive [Content Note: Racism privilege.]Living ~400lbs: Typing "Body fat Individuals AreInch into Google [Content Note: Body fat prejudice.]Jim: Steubenville's Promising Youthful Rapists [Content Note: Rape rape apologia victim-accusing.]Fannie: WBC Will get New Neighbors [Content Note: Homophobia.]Trudy: Around the Word "Womanist" Being "ComposedInch [Content Note: Whitened supremacy.]18MR: And also the Hipster Racism Award Would go to...Gavin McInnes! [Content Note: Racism.]Jill: She-Ra Rides Again...because he-Man's EnemyAnd last and surely most famously: Jay Smooth is joining the Colorlines team! How excited shall we be held about this?! SO EXCITED! I really like Jay Smooth! I really like Colorlines! Yay! &heartsLeave your links and proposals in comments...

Daily Dose of Cute

"Urgle burgle!"I must say i have no clue wtf face she was making after i required this picture, however it helped me laugh for tens of millions of years. She's the goofiest cat which has ever resided.Of course, please feel welcome and urged to talk about pix from the fuzzy, feathered, or scaly people of ones own in comments.

In The News

[Content note: Homophobia, transphobia, terrorism, violence, murder, war]Monday Morning 5:19:Former Secretary of Condition Hillary Rodham Clinton introduced her support for gay marriage today.Five transgender people win a court situation in Seoul to obtain gender formally recognized without SRS.A federal district court judge in Bay Area has ruled that National Security Letter provisions in federal law violate the Metabolic rate. The Republican National Committee is beginning to determine nobody likes them.Brett Ratner won a GLAAD award while he visited sensitivity training? That's what is needed? "The Iraq War would be a mistake." — EveryoneRepublican Governor Scott Master concedes that conservatives have forfeit the fight against marriage equality. Police in the College of Orlando are looking into the dying of the student, his body found with guns along with a bag of tanks. Uhh, what?

Well, That's Me Told

[Content Note: Homophobia.]Will Saletan is annoyed that "lefty writers" are under compassionate about Senator Take advantage of Portman's (personal) reversal on same-sex marriage after his boy revealed that he's gay. He links to my piece, among others—and, naturally, I recieve the typical scold for getting used "expletives"—and informs us to "try looking in the mirror" and accuses us of lacking the knowledge of "Portman, conservatives, empathy, or how people change."Mr. Saletan, I realize empathy and it is crucial role in how people change.Empathy is exactly what occurs when racist whitened parents uncover their child's closest friend in school is black, and they start to revisit their prejudices. Empathy is exactly what occurs when a homophobic lady discovers that male colliege she really loves is gay, and she or he starts to reconsider all individuals biases she's held for such a long time. Empathy is exactly what occurs when real existence, real people, prove clearly, demonstrably wrong all individuals conservative bed time tales about gays and immigrants and castrating feminazis which go bump within the evening.Empathy is exactly what occurs when good conservatives, who've lengthy mistaken patronizing pity for empathy, all of a sudden understand that being whitened, or male, or straight, or cisgender, or Christian, or wealthy, or thin, or able-bodied, or USian, or educated, or perhaps in every other way not Other, does not make sure they are better people it basically means they are fortunate people.Empathy is exactly what turns people into progressives.Please me the favor of not lecturing me on empathy.However I also understand privilege—a word that seems nowhere in Saletan's piece—and how it operates. I realize systemic and private segregation, and just how fortunate populations will go all of their lives never meaningfully getting together with people from marginalized populations, nor becoming thoroughly acquainted with the resided experience and conversant within the culture of marginalized people.I understand when Senator Take advantage of Portman, or other fortunate straight person, continues to be in a position to live towards the ripe senior years of 57 without ever being personally moved by seeing and hearing and feeling lower for your bones the way the institutional oppression of queer USians renders them second-class people and affects their lives in large and small ways every single day of the lives, that's no accident.That's a existence of detached privilege by design.You will find people, yes, who watch for possibilities for empathy to decrease to their laps, who extend empathy only in obligation. But you will find also individuals who positively look for possibilities for empathy, who purposely attempt to move past the rights that afford them easy lives of willful lack of knowledge.Insufficient empathy for marginalized populations is really a luxury the individuals individuals populations do not have, and I won't regret feeling contempt for anybody, particularly not an individual who seeks a existence in public places office where he's assigned with representing an assorted constituency, who basks for the reason that luxury until closeness obliges him to rehearse empathy.One does not need to have a gay in accordance with have empathy for gay people. And let's not pretend that each parent of the gay kid like magic becomes gay-positive, either. Empathy is really a decision, an option. Also it can be produced anytime.

Friday Blogaround

This blogaround introduced for you by buttons.Suggested Reading through:Jorge: Kimani Gray's Mother Talks: "He Was Slaughtered" [Content Note: Gun violence racism. Also observe that a relevant video starts to experience instantly following a delay in the link.]Mychal, Darnell, Kiese, and Kai: Black Males Conntacting Live: Brothers' Letters [Content Note: Disablism mentions of self-harm abuse racism.]Libby Anne: "You should have only disdain." [Content Note: Hostility to agency harassment.]Trudy: Race, Gender and Hooking up along with other AtheistsBecky: Why the Fearful Hero Is really a Positive Thing for Video GamesSamantha: No Excuses: It's The Perfect Time for additional Female ProtagonistsRagen: Weight Reduction So-Known as Success [Content Note: Body fat prejudice diet talk medical malfeasance.]Algernon: Infrastructure Opportunities and Latino and Black Job CreationFMF News: McCaskill Responds to Military Sexual Assault HearingsLeave your links and proposals in comments...

Candice Glover Is Everything

1. I really like garbage television. There are heard me confess this before on any kind of millions of occasions, Spudsy—who exclaims at me at least one time per month "It's surprising the shit you watch!" (making me laugh and laugh)—or Deeks—to whom I suggested Ghost Mine last night—or other people you never know me will gladly read the details. I'm an incorrigible aficionado of garbage television.2. Perhaps, the garbagiest of garbage television is The American Idol Show, for thus a lot of reasons. Each season, it will get much more unfathomably gargbagey compared to season before. This year, the typical mess of kyriarchal codswallop has been accompanied with a heaping dose of body regulating from new judge Nicki Minaj, who's so excellent when she's not congratulating someone on their own weight reduction or telling a lady contestant to exhibit her legs more.3. However I can't stop watching this year, because CANDICE GLOVER IS EVERYTHING.Video Description: Idol contestant Candice Glover, a youthful Black lady, works "I Who've Nothing," made famous by Ben E. King, Shirley Bassey, and Tom Johnson.Ben E. King's form of this song (that we love, despite it's Nice Guy/Girl-ant lyrics) is among my personal favorite tracks ever. True Fact: I had been just hearing King's version on the loop Monday mid-day, coincidentally. And Candice is my personal favorite contestant this year because OMG HER VOICE, and so i was essentially in paradise last evening. Is exactly what I am saying.

My Advice to Atheist Men

[Content Note: Misogyny.]Yesterday, I authored an item on as being a female atheist who was simply alienated from movement atheism by systemic misogyny. (And, naturally, we needed to close the thread since it got inundated with dudes keen to prove the purpose. See also: My mailbox.) It got a little of attention, including from PZ Myers, who wondered: "So what can I actually do better?"On Twitter today, I shared my advice to atheist males who truly want an response to that question...Atheist males wondering the things they can perform to alter this dynamic: Begin with not participating in misogyny her. Ex: bit.ly/16xrGQ8&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013[Note: PZ did apologize for that publish talked about in the above link and removed the look in reaction to critique.]A secure space for ladies does not mean you're able to be nasty in clearly misogynist methods to ladies who aren't "in your team."&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Also: Institute a zero-tolerance insurance policy for misogyny inside your comments. No slurs, no misogynist stories, no questioning women's agency.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Simply not needing to encounter not known as a cunt inside your comments sections is not adequate. My humanity is not a debatable problem.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Read this on why discussing "women's issues" being an abstract being active is some rank bullshit: bit.ly/16xsCUC&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013And look at this regarding how to effectively and securely contact women about women's issues: bit.ly/Ygajwt&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't play devil's advocate.Allow me to reiterate that.DON'T PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.That's not suitable for a secure space for a lot of women.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't appropriate or ignore women's resided encounters. Let women function as the experts by ourselves lives.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't treat women just like a monolith. Or any subset of ladies. Not every atheist women think exactly the same way about any problem.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't only pay attention to the ladies whose opinions support your point of view. If there's disagreement among atheist women, give consideration.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Recognize that you will find fortunate women within the atheist movement who may collude to marginalize non-fortunate women (and males).&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Extend possibilities to women inside your space -- as contributing factors, as other staff, as guest posters. Support female atheists with links.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013CHALLENGE OTHER ATHEIST Males On Their Own MISOGYNY. Silence is not adequate enough. It is not neutral: It signals tacit support.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013When you permit female atheists perform the lion's share of challenging misogyny, you are reinforcing the narrative women really are a "special interest."&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't accuse women of overreacting if we are basically responding. Don't accuse us to be oversensitive you may be not sensitive enough.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't suppose as being a guy enables you to "objective" on sexism. It basically provides you with another perspective, not greater objectivity.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Listen. Listen listen listen listen listen. Listen.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013And if you are reluctant to help make the effort to create movement atheism more inclusive, don't pretend that you're. Be considered a real ally, or don't.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013

Morning in America 2.0

Reuters—U.S. to allow spy agencies scour Americans' finances:The Federal government is creating intends to give all U.S. spy agencies full use of an enormous database that consists of financial data on American people yet others who bank in the united states, based on a Treasury Department document seen by Reuters.The suggested plan signifies a significant step by U.S. intelligence agencies to place and find terrorist systems and crime syndicates by getting together financial databanks, criminal history records and military intelligence. The program, which legal experts have to say is allowable under U.S. law, is nevertheless prone to trigger intense critique from privacy advocates.' ' ya think?! "Privacy schivacy!"—The Rose bush Federal Government.Monetary institutions that be employed in the U . s . States are needed legally to file for reviews of "suspicious customer activity," for example large money transfers or abnormally structured accounts, to Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).The Fbi already has full accessibility database. However, intelligence agencies, like the Central Intelligence Agency and also the National Security Agency, presently need to make situation-by-situation demands for information to FinCEN.How bothersome on their behalf! We ought to certainly sacrifice everyone's privacy to ensure that they may better avoid oversight and accountability. What is a little use of everyone's financial records between warantless wiretapping buddies?National security experts also maintain that the robust system for discussing criminal, financial and intelligence data among agencies will enhance their capability to identify individuals who plan attacks around the U . s . States.Ohhhhhhh I see. Therefore it is an essential sacrifice of privacy because Fight Against TERROR! Gee, where have I heard that before? *cough* Patriot Act *cough* Jesus fucking Johnson.

The 47% Videographer

On November 9, 2012, I authored instructions of thanks to the anonymous videographer from the infamous Mitt Romney 47% video. It stated, simply:I'm not sure what you are... [Y]our title is not vital that you me. Your courage, however, is.It had been a brave—and straight-up punk rock—thing to complete to shoot that film of Mitt Romney yukking up together with his wealthy funders about how exactly awesome it might be if he were Latino and just how gross it's that individuals think they are titled to food. Throughout the final presidential election, there is a variety of laughably ironic talk of "mavericks," however it was this presidential election by which a real maverick turned up, camcorder (or phone) in hands.It had not been just your work you risked by taking your video and which makes it public. You risked your individual safety, when your identity have (or ever) become broadly known. You risked being prosecuted, losing your privacy, getting your title and status inextricably associated with that video for that relaxation of the existence.These aren't tiny problems.I wish to acknowledge the potential risks you required, and I wish to state that In my opinion you'd a huge effect about this election. . ...Your video was, for a lot of voters, the very first glimpse they saw from the real Mitt Romney, and the real base.And I wish to express gratitude.This evening, that individual, who is proven because the bartenders in the event, will disclose themself throughout a job interview with Erectile dysfunction Schultz on MSNBC's The Erectile dysfunction Show."How large a choice maybe it was that you should release the tape and to undergo all this?Inch Erectile dysfunction requested the videographer, whose identity is going to be revealed on-air Wednesday."It had been tough," he stated. "And That I debated for a while, but ultimately I truly felt it needed to be placed out. I felt I owed it to folks who could not manage to exist themselves to listen to what he really thought."He continued to state:InchI merely wanted [Romney's] words to visit out. And everyone might make a judgment according to his words and the words alone. The man was running for that presidency which were his core values. And i believe everyone can judge whether that's appropriate or otherwise or whether or not they believe exactly the same way he is doing. I felt a duty to reveal the items he was saying.""Has there been whenever in which you feared for the existence?" Erectile dysfunction requested."I had been facing probably the most effective, the wealthiest people in the united states and also the stakes were pretty high and who knows what might happen,Inch stated the guy who shot the 47% video. "There [are harmful people] available. You simply have no idea. I have certainly had risks."I'm not a praying person, but Hopefully he remains safe, which he's appropriately appreciated for any in the past important bit of citizen journalism.For individuals who get access to MSNBC, the job interview will air tonight at 8pm ET.

In The News

[Content note: Homophobia, police brutality, violence]Tuesday: Each Day For People in america:The papal conclave is meeting in the Faraday cage, obstructing wi-fi signals interior and exterior their conference room in the Vatican City Best Western. This is actually the most high-tech factor the Vatican has completed in six centuries. Neat!Iranian media say government bodies are intending to sue Hollywood within the Oscar-winning Argo due to the movie's allegedly impractical portrayal of the nation. Okay!The brand new David Bowie album, The Following Day, has gone out today.100s staged a hug in in the mall in which a gay couple was started out for kissing.Citizens from the Falkland Islands have chosen extremely to stay an english Overseas Territory. Hail Britannia!Cannot get enough? Depeche Mode announces U.S. tour dates! Neat!The 2 newspaper delivery ladies who were shot throughout the manhunt for Christopher Dorner won't be obtaining a new alternative truck as guaranteed through the LAPD. Continue the great work, LAPD!New research discloses that sexual orientation could be predicted almost 90 % of times simply by simply searching at exactly what a user Likes on Facebook. (Just FYI, I loved pink inflatible donuts on Facebook.)

Heroes and Terrorists, Again

[Content Note: Racism rape culture terrorism.]Last evening, via Josh Marshall, I just read that Zerlina Maxwell, whose work seems at Feministing, among other areas, tried a segment on Fox News with Sean Hannity by which she recognized herself like a survivor of sexual violence making the eminently reasonable point, in reaction towards the assertion that ladies should carry guns for rape prevention:I believe the entire conversation is wrong. I'm not going anybody to become telling women anything. I'm not going males to become saying things to put on and just how to do something, to not drink. And That I don't, honestly, would like you to inform me which i needed a gun to be able to prevent my rape. Within my situation, don't let me know if I'd only were built with a gun, I would not happen to be raped. Don't use it me to avoid the rape.What adopted was an onslaught of racist tweets and comments wishing Zerlina could be raped and/or wiped out. Josh has good examples supplied by Zerlina in the link.I'm not sure things i can tell relating to this contemptible garbage which i haven't already stated millions of occasions, but here are a handful of findings:1. Zerlina Maxwell is really a brave and efficient anti-rape advocate. I'm a survivor, and she or he spoke for me personally within this segment. I stand it solidarity together with her.2. I've, since first reading through concerning the attacks on her behalf, seen some shock/surprise in the vitriolic reaction to fundamental anti-rape advocacy. To become shocked/surprised at this type of response, be it racism fond of a lady of color doing public advocacy and/or violent risks fond of an anti-rape advocate, is really a luxury of privilege. This occurs constantly. This can be a regular a part of my job. I certainly don't want to talk for Zerlina, however i imagine this isn't the very first time she's been in the receiving finish of the metric fuckton of hateful shit only for sitting on that line among children and rapists. People need to keep yourself informed that this can be a factor that occurs constantly, since it is a silencing strategy that's accustomed to safeguard the rape culture.3. This is not "precisely how the web is." We all know that's not the situation. Better spaces could be built. We realize that the web isn't outside of but an expression of culture, and also to suppose racism does not occur to women of color and/or violent risks don't occur to anti-rape advocates offline is another luxury of privilege.4. The folks bothering Zerlina aren't carrying this out because they are "crazy." They're maliciously indecent individuals who purposely decide to terrorize someone like a reaction to her getting stated something they do not like.5. I personally don't like using the fiery passion of 10000 suns that Zerlina, or anybody, is ever exposed towards the violent disgorgements of those human bad dreams. I can not even convey the depth of my gratitude to anybody who stands with that line, knowing this can be a likelihood.If you'd like to tweet your support at Zerlina, she's on Twitter at @ZerlinaMaxwell.

Two-Minute Nostalgia Sublime

The Fleshtones: "The Lady From Baltimore"

Quote of the Day

Don McPherson. Image via.[Content Note: References to violence.]"So what can males do? Males don't simply have to stop being violent. The huge most of males aren't violent. But males need to stop being quiet. Calling violence against women, whether street harassment or sexual harassment or rape or murder, a 'women's issue' enables males to disregard it as though we've no responsibility for this or stake in ending it. Everyone has grandmas, moms, siblings, kids and feminine buddies and co-workers. Our way of life are inextricably intertwined women's questions of safety and equality have an effect on our way of life as males. Beyond that, women are humans, with similar privileges to safety and freedom as males. Therefore, it is our moral responsibility not to remain quiet or passively around the sidelines, but to become positively involved in facing this issue in each and every corner of houses, towns, and communities."—Former National football league quarterback and current feminist Don McPherson, within an op-erectile dysfunction at CNN inviting males to participate in anti-violence advocacy. I encourage you to definitely browse the whole factor.This piece means a lot in my experience. The brevity of this statement doesn't befit the enormity from the emotion behind it. I'm so grateful to Don McPherson for penning this piece, for using his platform to talk strongly and passionately towards the problem of violence against women, as well as for being my ally. Thanks thanks thanks.[Related Reading through: Woman's Work The Very Best Factor You'll Read All Day Long My Liberation like a Guy Is Associated with Your Liberation like a Lady.]

Happy International Women's Day

March 8 is Worldwide Women's Day. I imagine you will find as a number of ways to discuss Worldwide Women's Day as you will find women on the planet. The UN's theme for IWD 2013 is "A promise is really a promise: Here we are at action to finish violence against women." The Worldwide Women's Day 2013 theme is "The Gender Agenda: Attaining Momentum." I talk about gendered violence every single day, and I haven't got much to state, truthfully, about attaining momentum, with the exception that it feels sometimes like we're and often like we are sliding backwards. So goes progress, I guess.So I will mark Worldwide Women's Day 2013 with something which Personally i think is central to any or all progress for ladies, such as the finish to gendered violence, which is really a challenge to all of us all to like, respect, and trust women.This past year about this day, I authored: Today is really a day after i am angry, but, also as with other days, it's a day which I'm happy to become a lady among women.I don't lengthy to become the Exceptional Lady. After I find myself inside a space by which I'm the only real lady, I don't feel satisfied, nor will i feel insecure: Personally i think contemptuous there aren't more women there. I don't want to contend with other women in ways that indicates there's only room for just one people. I wish to pick up other women, and become lifted up by them, and blaze trails hoping that lots of more follows behind.I respect women, and that i love them. So when I size up all of the issues disproportionately affecting women around the world, things i see is insufficient respect and passion for women so pervasive and profound that to basically assert to respect and love women yet remains a radical act.To respect and love women yet remains a radical act. And thus does having faith in women to help make the best options on their own, to think that ladies are their very own captains who don't need to get their options legislated nor pushed through public judgment. I really like women. I respect women. I trust women. Not in certain distant method in which goodies these phrases as self-apparent findings that any decent person would agree, but because a romantic proactive approach rooted within the recognition when everybody really did accept individuals findings, we wouldn't require an Worldwide Women's Day.I really like women. I respect women. I trust women. Not included in some abstract, theoretical feminism but included in an applied, practical feminism that urges me to like by nonjudgment, respect by listening, trust by supporting individual options. I really like women. I respect women. I trust women. Including myself. And That I request the people around me love, respect, and believe me, too.I really like women. I respect women. I trust women. And i'm angry these remain radical practices. But it's in the intersection of my anger in the mistreatment of ladies and my love, respect, and trust on their behalf which i find my motivation every single day.About this day and each day, let's be radical.

Question of the Day

Recommended by Shaker koach: "What technologies have designed a significant impact inside your existence (technology lately adopted, possibly, or tech that you simply thought you do not need but have, etc.)?"My existence has not been exactly the same since Al Gore invented the web.

Two Observations

[Content Note: Homophobia.]So, I am reading through this story in regards to a gay couple who have been requested to depart a mall in California (GREAT LIBERTINE Demon Condition!) once they were kissing and holding hands, because around in our the almighty Jesus Johnson two 1000 and 13, two males showing one another affection in public places continues to be fucking questionable.A couple of things:1. This talks to the stage (which I wasn't the foremost and won't be the final to create) that marriage equality isn't the finish-all, be-all LGB equality. And That I feel obliged to suggest that out, again, since it is essential for allies to become vigilant about and aware of the numerous manifestations of oppression.2. Within the story, among the males, Daniel Chesmore, is cited as saying: "Inside a perfect world, there'd be no improvement in treatment between straight couples and gay couples." Inside a perfect world. He's simply using a typical turn of phrase there, that we use myself, however it helped me consider how fundamental equalities don't really necessitate an ideal world they simply need a more decent one. Even though perfection is not possible, decency isn't.

Seen

[Content Note: Violent body fat hate.]Seen: This decal around the vehicle parked beside us in the supermarket a few days ago:Yet another little bit of detritus thrown throughout my every single day telling me that numerous thin people think the idea of my being strongly slaughtered is really a totes amusing punchline.Also? I understand lots of body fat runners who scoff within this decal's general direction.

Healthy Living

[Content Note: Body fat prejudice bullying.]I simply clicked on to CNN, and was welcomed using the following image imprinted over the primary page:A week ago, I authored concerning the actual character of the "conversation," that is, actually, deeply hostile to body fat people. Paul Campos has additionally acutely observed the Let us Move! campaign is "an especially invidious type of bullying."This is the way profoundly dysfunctional our national conversation about health insurance and body fat is: That the bullying, eliminationist, Othering campaign could be known as a discussion about "a healthier lifestyle,Inch with no trace of irony.There's a discussion available about use of a number of affordable fresh meals, about safe outside spaces, about food insecurity and food subsidies and why a salad costs greater than a Large Mac. But that's a discussion that may be—and is, routinely—had inside a Health at each Size paradigm that honors body diversity, and additional recognizes how institutional body fat hate is really a strong disincentive against public exercise for a lot of body fat people.It's a conversation that's essentially dishonest without acknowledging the interconnectedness of mental and health.What First Lady Michelle Obama doesn't, or won't, seem to comprehend is that the conversation which invites me to hate my body system, and informs me that my body system could be transformed if perhaps Sometimes harder at altering it, isn't a conversation about "healthy living." It's a adequately unhealthy conversation, and that i want simply no some of it.

Open Thread

Located with a dormouse.

Another Observation

Earlier today, I authored a factor about how exactly feminism has generated an area that i can have keeping relationships along with other women.I should also realize that feminism has generated an area that i can have better relationships with males, too.My nearest male buddies view me his or her equal, plus they don't treat me being an Exceptional Woman—not like individuals other women—and they do not oblige me to tolerate misogyny as the price of our friendship. (And whooooooops when they fuck up, naturally we all do, I'm able to speak with them about this plus they listen and that we can move ahead.) That's since they're feminists, too.And since I'm a feminist, I'm empowered with the authority to believe I'm titled to relationships with males by which I'm not reduced or exceptionalized.Including my most significant friendship of, with my hubby, whom I really like and that i like.

Question of the Day

Recommended by Shaker StarGlory: "What's the best factor you have ever become within the mail?"I am sure everybody already knows my response to that one.