feminist blogs

The current episode of PodCastle features “Run Of The Fiery Horse,” by Hilary Moon Murphy, read aloud by our own Mandolin. Plus, the intro is by science fiction and fantasy writer K. Tempest Bradford, who is probably better known to “Alas” readers for her blog “The Angry Black Woman.”

Check it out!

Pseudopod, the biggest podcast of horror fiction, is currently featuring “Heartstrung,” a short story by Rachel Swirsky — who “Alas” readers know better as Mandolin. (Mandolin’s fiction appears regularly in professional venues, but this is the first time one of her stories has been podcasted.)

If you had asked me, I would have said that “Heartstrung” was fantasy, not horror — but I can see why a horror magazine bought it. It’s not traditional horror, but it is pretty horrifying. It’s also really good, and (in my opinion, at least) contains strong feminist themes. And it’s free! Give it a listen.

P.S. Mandolin is also editing a new podcast of fantasy fiction. More about that next week.

P.P.S. You can read a review of some of Mandolin’s other fiction here.

If you’re a fan of Rumi, this new anthology, on the poetry sections of which I collaborated with primary author John Moyne, is one you will want to get. A Bird In The Garden Of Angels is also a wonderful introduction to Rumi for those new to his work, or those who may know of him but don’t know much about him. Containing essays by Moyne on both Rumi’s life and Sufism, A Bird In The Garden Of Angels is further divided into five sections, one for each of the genres of poetry and prose that Rumi worked in. Some parts of each section have been translated into English for the first time; some of the poems were originally translated by John Moyne and Coleman Barks, but appear in this volume in new versions. You can order the book from Mazda Publishers’ website or any online bookstore. (It’s also on sale at the Metropolitan Museum of Art!) If you want to read some samples from the book, visit my website.

Hey y’all,

I thought I’d post some recommended reading as my science fiction writing class and I work our way through it. This semester I’m only assigning work that can be found online so y’all can follow along, if you like.

This week, I assigned stories that are basal to their genres — meaning that they work within genre expectations to tell a good story.

I think some of these stories are better than others. In this group, “Flat Diane” is the standout in my opinion, and “Two Hearts” is not really to my taste. However, all the stories are worth reading.

Science fiction — “Sergeant Chip by Bradley Denton

Fantasy - “Two Hearts” by Peter Beagle

Horror - “Flat Diane” by Daniel Abraham (audio only)

Amanda of Pandagon will be the featured guest on Men’s Rights Activist Glenn Sacks’ radio show tonight from 5PM PST / 8PM EST.

This is how Sacks frames this particular show:

The American Coalition for Fathers and Children and a myriad of Michigan fatherhood organizations are sponsoring the Families and Fathers Conference 2005: Healing Our Families–A Time for Change. Speakers include: ACFC President Stephen Baskerville; family law attorney Jeffrey Leving; Dr. Ned Holstein of Fathers and Families of Massachusetts; Dr. Steven Walker of Families in Transition; and others. Many conference attendees and supporters see the fatherhood movement as the civil rights movement of our era.

Feminist writer Amanda Marcotte disagrees. She believes that both the Conference and the fathers’ movement as a whole seek to “reverse feminist gains in divorce and custody laws,” and help men “use children as a tool” in order to “regain control of their ex-wives’ lives.” Marcotte labels Parental Alienation Syndrome a “fake syndrome” and says “the underlying issue for a lot of fathers’ rights activists is paying child support.”

Fair enough. But the “civil rights movement of our era?” I think there are more pressing civil rights movements in the world than reframing divorce laws. While you’re listening, be sure to check out the ads during the show. Your head might fall off of your neck.

Click here to listen live. This page also includes instructions on how to call the show. Amanda would appreciate live, active feminist support.

Just wow.

Roxanne wowed me with an ignorant reaction (of someone else’s) to the Koran “urine splashing” story that was confirmed tonight by the Pentagon.

Newsweek ought to have its apology.

Educe Me: You Don’t Know Me
On anonymity and teaching blogs.

Aldahlia: Teens, Purity, and Money
On teen pregnancy, punishment for lack of “purity,” and the reality of becoming pregnant when you yourself are a child.

Culture Kitchen: Lawrence Lessig : from molested choirboy to American hero
An interesting story on the god of the Creative Commons copyright, and his life as an activist against the Catholic Church’s child abuse scandals.

Quodlibets: Is ChickLit Feminist Lit?
I don’t know, but I have a few guilty pleasures.

Half-Changed World: The Privilege of Choice
How economic status adds choices to the life of an individual.

No Taming This Shrew: The Quest to be a Funny Liberal
Liberal humor isn’t always lame, but we do like the puns.

Archaeopteryx: Einstein vs. Darwin?
Dissection of a religiously-motivated attack on the Sanctity of Science.

DED Space: If you want to insult a man, the best way to do it is to call him a woman, and in the meantime insult every female creature on the planet.

Echidne of the Snakes: Saturday Sermon
Jesus never said that those wealthy in earthly and material goods would inherit the earth, but fuck it.

Blog Alice: Swimming With Sharks in South Africa
And there are even pictures.

SMRT-TV: The Apprentice and Sexism
This one was written by a former Feministe guest blogger named Erin. You can find her at the fshk blog.

To Be Determined: On Danica Patrick
Chuck writes more on the stink raised by Bobby Gordon against Danica Patrick.

The Alley Notebooks: I am just a marketing campaign for my vagina. Which is malformed, and that’s why I’m a scholar.
We need an award for best titles. This would be my nomination. And the content is good, too.

I find it funny just how much I enjoy science blogs, especially since I can’t grasp the basic rules of science. Nonetheless, this is one reason why the sciences appeal to me so much: Becoming Orgasmic — A Chat With the Director of the Kinsey Institute, Dr. Julia R. Heiman.

It is surprising that the same kinds of arguments are made even though they don’t hold water. The same kinds of accusations are made about what is good and bad about sex research even though we need to know more for everybody’s sexual health to have a society that works well in this area. We’re not very good in that in the United States. We have a very high teen pregnancy rate. We’ve got a relatively high STD rate even though it has dropped a lot. These things shouldn’t be happening in an industrialized country that has good information available to it. That those messages that would protect people don’t have an easy forum can be frustrating

Read the rest for an engaging discussion on sexuality and sexual behavior wordwide.

via Becky

Remember that conversation we had last month about the socially requisite wedding ice?

This is what I was talking about.

via Chaos Theory

Before I take my break, I have to point you to a witness of quintessential FIPness.

And now you know why I’m so hung up on the entwining issues of parenthood, entitlement, wealth and divine birthright.