If you read a single paragraph on how to read history, read this one by Howard Zinn. It is the nuance missing from so much analysis of history -- mainstream, radical and otherwise.

"The use of the phrase 'all men are created equal' was probably not a deliberate attempt to make a statement about women. It was just that women were beyond consideration ( Read more... )

It is very rare that I recommend a romance story. It is also rare that I recommend anyone pay extra attention to the feelings, needs and desires of men. But it does happen. Such as right now.

I have just watched James McAvoy's performance in Atonement, which I would describe as overwhelmingly subtle, passionate, intelligent and compelling. ( Read more... )

Anyone got a good reason why Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize? Because Democracy Now, Obama himself and even the Nobel Committee do not.

First person to answer with something other than "using basic diplomatic rhetoric" gets an ice cream cone. If you can come up with something he's actually done that actually ended some form -- any form! -- of ( Read more... )

Might I not recommend reading Ian Fleming's James Bond novels at work, particularly if you work as a nanny. Now all I want to do is ride around in Bentleys with classy broads in low cut dresses and smoke cigarettes and drink dry, dry martinis and shoot gangsters.

And then the baby wakes up from his nap.

Time to go smash up bananas for lunch!

____

( Read more... )

An abbreviated list of things I need to do in my life - for dignity and survival - which are simply not profitable:

take real care of my health
take good care of my family
challenge authority
continually question and debunk my white, middle class American privilege
give money to people who need it even if I don't know them
write poetry
help take care of ( Read more... )

On Monday there's a meeting organized by the ISO to talk about getting people to the National Equality March in Washington, D.C. on October 10th. They say it will be organized from the grass roots but I'm suspicious. Reading the blog posts, they seem to think that means individual citizens from diverse communities rallying around the mainstream, ( Read more... )

So called because it ain't a fucking Manhattan, that's for damn sure.

pour over ice and shake:

• 1 oz. light rum
• 1 oz. gin
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• dash of bitters

During a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots local police raided a gay bar in Ft. Worth, TX, arresting and beating up at least 7 people for such charges as "public intoxication."

I repeat: Public intoxication. In a fucking bar.

Let us remember that the attacks on police officers during Stonewall were in self defense against ( Read more... )

Can anyone with computer/internet expertise explain this situation to me?

• No one's Gmail account will load on the wireless in my apartment, even in basic html form -- neither on my computer OR my housemate's computer
• Gmail runs fine on my computer using the wireless at work and I can access my Gmail account on other computers there
• All over webpages ( Read more... )

Linked through Pandagon, The Reality Check blog has some really excellent responses to the assassination of Dr. Tiller in Kansas last weekend. I particularly appreciate the author shooting down the idea that the protesters outside abortion clinics are peacefully exercising their first ammendment rights just like everybody else.

And just for kicks, ( Read more... )