So here’s a song:

As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day
a million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill-lofts grey
are blessed with all the radiance that the sudden sun discloses
for the people hear us singing, bread and roses, bread and roses.

As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men
for they are women’s children, and ( Read more... )

A big chunk of my life was taken up recently with

a) feeling hurt because of some of the effects of gender segregation in my beloved only-team-sport of Underwater Hockey;
b) venting about that hurt on FB, which to my shock angered some powerful players and resulted in my being told I wasn't welcome to play anymore;
c) becoming the ( Read more... )

Humor hits a home run again - is it sick or wrong that in our (my) present society, the most insightful commentary is coming from places like The Daily Show and Cracked.com?

Maybe.  Today I don't care, because I like laughing and crying the way some people like sugar on their pickles, or cayenne in sweet tea.  I'm also a gamer - at one time ( Read more... )

Women who fear being forced to marry abroad told to hide spoon in underwear | World news | The Guardian.

Estimates are around 1,500 women in Britain alone, per YEAR are forced to marry, with around 1/3 of those being UNDER SIXTEEN years old.

The idea sounds funny, but it isn't:  If you're being forced to travel so that you can meet up with ( Read more... )

I'm so grateful to my father for teaching me to not only be polite, but to get more polite when confronted with rudeness.

(Note:  I do this much more consistently in person than in writing.  When writing I love to inject color and a little lightning where I can; it's like enjoying spicy food I guess.  Personally and professionally, though, I' ( Read more... )

I loved a graphic I found recently which showed a pink and a blue version of kids' toys, and had text something like this:

"Do you work it with your genitals? Y/N
If Y, it is not for kids.
If N, it does not need a gender."

I think this is a ridiculously good point that doesn't get nearly enough attention:  You know when it's ok to ( Read more... )

Here is the best argument, maybe the only one needed, to support the birth of every possible child, wanted or not, no matter how horribly conceived or damaged or unprivileged:  Every single one of those human lives could turn out to be awesome.  A bad start doesn't mean shit when it comes to whether or not you can love and be loved, succeed at ( Read more... )

Luke McKinney's new article - a follow-up to his infamous piece on "straight white male" being sexuality's lowest difficulty setting (you may remember John Scalzi's still-famous article expanding that idea) - on 5 Gamer Comments That Give Straight White Guys a Bad Name had me screaming and clapping while simultaneously laughing coffee out my nose ( Read more... )

In short?  Forced pregnancy.  To wit, infographic:


( Read more... )

Only 14, Bangladeshi girl charged with adultery was lashed to death »

And the only reason we hear about this case is that the autopsy report which pronounced her death after 70 lashes a "suicide" caused some public outrage.

This is not rare.

Also, fuck all of them; I was fourteen.  This makes me want a gun (or ten) and a plane-ticket.

( Read more... )