August 2008
Mark Found Someone He Really Likes by Rachel S., at Alas, a blog 11:12 pm / 31 August 2008
One of the neat things about having infants is that they reach developmental milestones almost daily. My little Mark is really good with his eyes. He loves to follow things, and last week he found someone he really likes….
Yes, he found himself. He doesn’t know that baby in the mirror is Mark, but he sure likes to look at that baby. Actually, he likes to look at the baby until the baby frowns then he gets mad and starts crying.
Date number ten… by Dark Daughta, at one tenacious baby mama 11:03 pm / 31 August 2008
I'm there. He's here. Words flying back and forth. Images, thoughts, questions, giggles, loving energy...
But I can't stay tonight. The owner is kicking me out early. Probably for the best. I wasn't going to stop myself or him. Poor impulse control where chatting is concerned, obviously. :)
if what you're reading here grips you, holds you, fascinates you, provokes you, emboldens you, pushes you, galvanizes you, discomfits you, tickles you, enrages you so much that you find yourself returning again and again...then link me.
But I can't stay tonight. The owner is kicking me out early. Probably for the best. I wasn't going to stop myself or him. Poor impulse control where chatting is concerned, obviously. :)
Touch of Gray by Lauren, at Feministe 10:57 pm / 31 August 2008
I’ve gotta say, I think gray hair is attractive on men and women alike. Zuzu wrote about embracing gray hair awhile back and the consensus was clear: Gray hair is hott.
Now the Beauty Machine eats at men, men with gray hair, and it deems them old and unattractive. And unfortunately it gives them the worst fear-of-aging ad campaign on a website I think I’ve ever seen, pathetic even compared to women’s anti-wrinkle beauty advertising shit.
I WAS AT WOODSTOCK. I SWORE I WOULD NEVER LIVE PAST THE AGE OF THIRTY. NOW I CAN HAVE ALL THE HOT LADIES AND A TOUCH OF GRAY.
HOT LADIES. HEH. PEACE.
Ambush… by Dark Daughta, at one tenacious baby mama 10:00 pm / 31 August 2008
Papi bought me a digital camera so I could stop doing blurry cellcam photos. Of course now I'm taking photos with the cellcam and with the digital cam. Next we're getting a professional quality digital camera for me with tripod and other bits and bytes. In the meantime, the camera also does video.
Now you need to realize that Papi and I differ about how best to create art. He likes things posed, well framed, (I say) over produced. :) I like things spontaneous, not at all well framed...unless it's by accident and messy, messy, messy.
When he takes photos of me or video for that matter he likes to direct. When I do stuff of him I like to get him chatting and see what happens to his face and his demeanor. It really pisses him off. But I like my results. :)
if what you're reading here grips you, holds you, fascinates you, provokes you, emboldens you, pushes you, galvanizes you, discomfits you, tickles you, enrages you so much that you find yourself returning again and again...then link me.
Now you need to realize that Papi and I differ about how best to create art. He likes things posed, well framed, (I say) over produced. :) I like things spontaneous, not at all well framed...unless it's by accident and messy, messy, messy.
When he takes photos of me or video for that matter he likes to direct. When I do stuff of him I like to get him chatting and see what happens to his face and his demeanor. It really pisses him off. But I like my results. :)
Five women buried alive in “honor” killings; Pakistani lawmaker unsure what the big deal is by Violet, at Reclusive Leftist 9:55 pm / 31 August 2008
Women buried alive in ‘honour’ killings
Aug 30, 2008 09:37 AM
ROBIN McDOWELL
The Associated Press
ISLAMABAD–A Pakistani lawmaker defended a decision by southwestern tribesmen to bury five women alive because they wanted to choose their own husbands, telling stunned members of Parliament this week to spare him their outrage.
“These are centuries-old traditions and I will continue to defend them,” Israr Ullah Zehri, who represents Baluchistan province, said Saturday. “Only those who indulge in immoral acts should be afraid.'’
The women, three of whom were teenagers, were first shot and then thrown into a ditch.
They were still breathing as their bodies were covered with rocks and mud, according media reports and human rights activists, who said their only “crime” was that they wished to marry men of their own choosing.
Zehri told a packed and flabbergasted Parliament on Friday that Baluch tribal traditions helped stop obscenity and then asked fellow lawmakers not to make a big fuss about it.
Many stood up in protest, saying the executions were “barbaric” and demanding that discussions continue Monday. But a handful said it was an internal matter of the deeply conservative province.
“I was shocked,” said lawmaker Nilofar Bakhtiar, who pushed for legislation calling for perpetrators of so-called honour killings to be punished when she served as minister of women’s affairs under the last government.
“I feel that we’ve gone back to the starting point again,” she said. “It’s really sad for me.'’
The incident allegedly occurred one month ago in Baba Kot, a remote village in Jafferabad district, after the women decided to defy tribal elders and arrange marriages in a civil court, according to the Asian Human Rights Commission.
They were said to have been abducted at gunpoint by six men, forced into a vehicle and taken to a remote field, where they were beaten, shot and then buried alive, it said, accusing local authorities of trying to hush up the killings.
One of perpetrators was allegedly related to a top provincial official, it said.
I’m much too depressed by this to muster up the usual feminist analysis; besides, you all know the spiel anyway.
I am wondering this, though: is there any country on earth where the murder of men is legal? Any country where it’s legal for a bunch of regular Joes to murder some other regular Joes ’cause they don’t like how they dress or who their friends are?
Feminism in Marvel Comics, circa 1971 by Ampersand, at Alas, a blog 9:19 pm / 31 August 2008
It’s awesome, I tells ya.
You can see the full cover image — as well as read most of the story (which is just as written with a sledgehammer as the cover implies) — at scans daily.
Pen-Elayne on the Web (31 August 2008 8:12 pm) by Elayne, at Pen-Elayne on the Web 8:12 pm / 31 August 2008
New Shoes Blogaround, Part 2
Not that I'm giving up Payless entirely, mind you. After all, Aravon shoes only seem to come in black, and I'm desperate for a pair of 9.5W brown flats that won't fall off when I put my orthotics in them. I wonder if these are too casual for the office...
• My favorite blog post about the Denver Democratic convention is probably from local gal Anne Zook. And I loved Bryant's observation that If Democrats will only Jump Thru these Hoops, Republicans will Provide More Hoops.
• If it's Sarah Palin vs. a polyp, I'm not sure which I'd choose. Seriously, while Digby notes that she has a good home-based rep, I don't agree with any of her stated opinions. Republicans should have been clued into the fact that we didn't all vote with our lady parts even in the primaries. On the other hand, Avedon collects a series of quotes from bloggers who remind us we shouldn't "misunderestimate" the results of this seemingly bizarre decision by McCain. It's sexism versus racism, 21st century style! Just like the primaries! Only this time the media pundit "kewl kids" will be calling critics on sexism instead of joining them. Oh, and Tigh/Roslin '08 is currently down, but here's the site's key photo, care of Newsarama, io9 (where I first saw it) and other places:
I don't watch Battlestar Galactica, but all you need to know is that the Roslin character usually wears glasses and looks a lot more like Sarah Palin than either Tina Fey or That Cinemax Librarian Character. Digby's worth following on Palin, of course, and Lance also has some good thoughts about this piece of stunt casting. Also, if you haven't yet read it, Lance has a nice post about religion and the public sphere which we may want to bear in mind given that even the Daily Show noted how many God-mentions there were at the Demo con.
• Dorothy Snarker's tribute to Rachel Maddow made me smile. I just hope Maddow hasn't already become too corrupted by the self-absorbed Beltway Village punditry that runs amok at MSNBC (and which claimed its latest would-be progressive victim, Keith Olbermann, sometime around the beginning of 2008), but I'm crossing my fingers and DVR'ing her show right alongside -- and after -- Countdown starting this coming Friday.
• As I alluded to on Friday, of major interest to liberal political bloggers is that Kevin Drum has moved from the Washington Monthly's Political Animal blog over toCalpundit Mother Jones. Steve Benen and Obsidian Wings' Hilary "Hilzoy" Bok (also an occasional Pen-Elayne commenter) have taken over. I'm delighted about this; I haven't read Steve before but I've already bookmarked two of his posts, on the faux-feminism of cynical Republicans and the actual feminism and courage of Hillary Clinton responding to McCain's ads quoting her out of context to smear Obama. I still can't comment on Political Animal, and Kevin never did figure out why, but I can always make comments to Hilzoy on ObWi and, fortunately, the Mother Jones blog has no such commenting problem -- and provides a full site feed to boot!
• Also, just a reminder that Roy Edroso is also blogging at the Village Voice, where he brings, us among other things, The Harrowing Adventures of President Obama; and that Melissa "Shakespeare's Sister" McEwan continues to shine at the Guardian -- two recent posts of hers that I liked speculated about how the upcoming GOP con is the beginning of the end for the nutbar wing of the party, and how suddenly magnanimous the press was to Hillary Clinton for a brief moment before business as usual slunk in again. (Eric Boehlert has some good thoughts about this as well.)
• Marisa Acocella Marchetto, the Cancer Vixen herself, has a great deal of empathy for Elizabeth Edwards' situation, and recounts the story of what happened when her husband was propositioned shortly after she was diagnosed.
• PZ Myers articulates his opinion on the "tribal custom" excuse for barbarism quite nicely indeed.
• RJ Eskow is collecting "McCain's Houses" jokes. So's Mark Kleiman.
• Congratulations and big hugs to Elaine at starting the newest phase of her life. And a very belated mazel tov to Rachel!
• This is very cool indeed; the NY Times profiled Noz' house. At least I think it's Noz' house, he could be joshing.
• Dover Bitch at Hullabaloo reminds us how, once again, Republicans are changing the meaning of words. C'est nes pas un blog post, she says!
• Susie Madrak's blog never fails to inspire me. She finds such great stories, and they're all worth reading! Check out her link posts about solar parking lots, the Heaven's Angels biker group that does pet rescue, Kids for Coltrane and the Wine Spectator hoax.
• Bryan provides us with YouTube links to some good ol' rabble-rousing protest music.
• Whew! Jenna Fischer is finally out of Rainn Wilson's car trunk!
Uh-oh, looks like there's going to be a Part 3 of this blogaround, I haven't quite finished reading News+Views Groups... Ah well, on to September!
• My favorite blog post about the Denver Democratic convention is probably from local gal Anne Zook. And I loved Bryant's observation that If Democrats will only Jump Thru these Hoops, Republicans will Provide More Hoops.
• If it's Sarah Palin vs. a polyp, I'm not sure which I'd choose. Seriously, while Digby notes that she has a good home-based rep, I don't agree with any of her stated opinions. Republicans should have been clued into the fact that we didn't all vote with our lady parts even in the primaries. On the other hand, Avedon collects a series of quotes from bloggers who remind us we shouldn't "misunderestimate" the results of this seemingly bizarre decision by McCain. It's sexism versus racism, 21st century style! Just like the primaries! Only this time the media pundit "kewl kids" will be calling critics on sexism instead of joining them. Oh, and Tigh/Roslin '08 is currently down, but here's the site's key photo, care of Newsarama, io9 (where I first saw it) and other places:
I don't watch Battlestar Galactica, but all you need to know is that the Roslin character usually wears glasses and looks a lot more like Sarah Palin than either Tina Fey or That Cinemax Librarian Character. Digby's worth following on Palin, of course, and Lance also has some good thoughts about this piece of stunt casting. Also, if you haven't yet read it, Lance has a nice post about religion and the public sphere which we may want to bear in mind given that even the Daily Show noted how many God-mentions there were at the Demo con.
• Dorothy Snarker's tribute to Rachel Maddow made me smile. I just hope Maddow hasn't already become too corrupted by the self-absorbed Beltway Village punditry that runs amok at MSNBC (and which claimed its latest would-be progressive victim, Keith Olbermann, sometime around the beginning of 2008), but I'm crossing my fingers and DVR'ing her show right alongside -- and after -- Countdown starting this coming Friday.
• As I alluded to on Friday, of major interest to liberal political bloggers is that Kevin Drum has moved from the Washington Monthly's Political Animal blog over to
• Also, just a reminder that Roy Edroso is also blogging at the Village Voice, where he brings, us among other things, The Harrowing Adventures of President Obama; and that Melissa "Shakespeare's Sister" McEwan continues to shine at the Guardian -- two recent posts of hers that I liked speculated about how the upcoming GOP con is the beginning of the end for the nutbar wing of the party, and how suddenly magnanimous the press was to Hillary Clinton for a brief moment before business as usual slunk in again. (Eric Boehlert has some good thoughts about this as well.)
• Marisa Acocella Marchetto, the Cancer Vixen herself, has a great deal of empathy for Elizabeth Edwards' situation, and recounts the story of what happened when her husband was propositioned shortly after she was diagnosed.
• PZ Myers articulates his opinion on the "tribal custom" excuse for barbarism quite nicely indeed.
• RJ Eskow is collecting "McCain's Houses" jokes. So's Mark Kleiman.
• Congratulations and big hugs to Elaine at starting the newest phase of her life. And a very belated mazel tov to Rachel!
• This is very cool indeed; the NY Times profiled Noz' house. At least I think it's Noz' house, he could be joshing.
• Dover Bitch at Hullabaloo reminds us how, once again, Republicans are changing the meaning of words. C'est nes pas un blog post, she says!
• Susie Madrak's blog never fails to inspire me. She finds such great stories, and they're all worth reading! Check out her link posts about solar parking lots, the Heaven's Angels biker group that does pet rescue, Kids for Coltrane and the Wine Spectator hoax.
• Bryan provides us with YouTube links to some good ol' rabble-rousing protest music.
• Whew! Jenna Fischer is finally out of Rainn Wilson's car trunk!
Uh-oh, looks like there's going to be a Part 3 of this blogaround, I haven't quite finished reading News+Views Groups... Ah well, on to September!
On being transgender by Jack Stephens, at Alas, a blog 7:07 pm / 31 August 2008
Mia, at Black Looks, blogs:
My name is Mia Nikasimo. As a volunteer for Changing Attitudes at the Lambeth Conference I found myself in an opportune position to reflect from a translesbian (i.e. a transsexual woman who identifies as a lesbian not to be confused with above or beyond “lesbians,” or a transgender man) standpoint on the Anglican Communion and attempts to exclude the LGBTI.
I have purposely mentioned my trans status here because “transgender” as an umbrella term (for transsexual female, male, sister, brother, mothers, fathers any of the following might choose to cross dress, are intersexed, queer, kings, drag queens and more) can easily loose ones identity in the mix and because I can only share this reflection as a translesbian in the full awareness that some, like my LGBTI African brothers, sisters cannot. As the founder of an online support group call Transafro I aim to give voice to our various narratives Anglicans or otherwise, to promote, empower and raise consciousness in Africa, the Diaspora and allies.
INCITE! Needs Your Help by Cara, at Feministe 5:01 pm / 31 August 2008
A whole bunch of other feminist blogs have posted this, so chances are that you’ve already seen it. But just in case . . .
Dear INCITE! friends and supporters,
On the eve of the 3 year anniversary of the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and subsequent government criminal negligence and assaults on the low income people of color on the Gulf Coast, our sisters from INCITE! projects in New Orleans (including the local chapter, the Women’s Health and Justice Initiative, and the New Orleans Women’s Health Clinic) are bracing for the potential landfall of Hurricane Gustav, which is currently projected to hit the Louisiana coast on Monday or Tuesday at a category 4 or 5. Voluntary evacuation of New Orleans has already begun, and mandatory evacuation could be declared as early as today. INCITE! organizers in New Orleans have made over 700 phone calls to women of color and their families that make up the constituency of the New Orleans Women’s Health Clinic, working to prepare and implement evacuation and safety plans.
Your assistance is urgently needed to help the low-income women of color and their families evacuate safely if need be, stay safe for the duration of the evacuation, and return to the city as soon as possible so as not to fall prey to the pushout that has kept so many folks from being able to return to New Orleans since Katrina. Local organizers are using whatever resources and funds at their disposal to help women and their families evacuate, bond people being held in Orleans Parish Prison out, and support those who make the choice to stay in whatever way they can.
Your support is urgently needed: financial donations of any size are needed and would be greatly appreciated.
Donations online are preferred because we can more quickly send the funds to our folks in New Orleans .
You can send your donation to INCITE online by going to this website:
http://incite-national.org/index.php?s=137
Click the Donation button
Put New Orleans in the “Purpose” lineOr you can write a check directly to WHJI and send it to:
PO Box 51325
New Orleans , LA 70151This money will go directly to supporting the hundreds of low income women of color that are the constituency of the New Orleans Women’s Health Clinic.
Once again, the particular vulnerability of low-income women of color and single female-headed households (including folks with disabilities, seniors, undocumented immigrant women, and incarcerated women) has been erased in the face of disaster and overlooked in the days leading up to the storm. With few resources, facing challenges and concerns for their families of their own, INCITE! New Orleans and WHJI have stepped in to fill the gap. Please send all your support, solidarity, sisterhood and strength their way, and join us in hoping for the safety and well-bein g of the people who are already suffering from Gustav in Cuba , Jamaica , and Haiti , and willing the storm to subside or veer off safely before it strikes the Gulf Coast .
We will keep you posted as things develop.
peace,
INCITE!
Good luck to INCITE!, and to everyone who is or knows someone in the path of Gustav. My thoughts will definitely be with you, and I’m hoping for the best.
