moominmuppet

My Sluthood, Myself -- Although my more serious involvements are poly, not monogamous, there's a lot I find to resonate about this post. And frankly, casual sluttiness is often as much up for judgment from poly folk as from monogamous people (sometimes extra defensively, out of fear of making all poly folk "look bad"), so there may be little difference in our experiences there.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: contemplative

Small structural differences in the brains of men and women may mean nothing; or they may have significance. For the most part, we just don't know. What's important is that women don't cede to men the ability to reason, organize and lead, thanks to our "different" brains. If we do, we'll be marching backwards into history. That's why I'm alarmed to see Dr. Louann Brizendine, a California psychiatrist, come back with more dollops of myth and pseudoscience in her new book, "The Male Brain."

Well this is unusual; a lackluster and flawed article, and lots of coherency and sense in the comments (*checks* Am I still on the Internet? *hits a few craptastic comments in a row* Ah, yup. Thanks for confirming, "Nick")
This is an article from the Science-Based Medicine blog, which is normally a really good source. It's titled "The case for neonatal circumcision". Obviously, I have such strong opinions about the relative merits of making unnecessary modifications to other people's bodies without their consent that I'm quite biased on the topic. And realistically, there are two different issues going on here, as there often are in debates where science and daily life intersect (see just about every element of research that touches on sexuality at all for examples). There's the factual side -- how good are the studies, how does the data really compare, what may have been confounding, what benefits have been confirmed, have the studies been successfully replicated, how do studies in African countries generalize to radically different situations and cultures, etc -- and there's the opinion side, which is entirely value judgments about the relative merits of culture, religion, autonomy, parental rights, individual variance in acceptance of risk levels, etc. The latter can't be argued with facts alone, but the factual information can strengthen or weaken the cases somewhat, and I do think it's essential we have the right facts when we get into territory that's already this fraught. And it's not uncommon at all to see the latter form of argument disguised as the former, which has happened frequently in the history of debate about circumcision.
In this particular case, I think the comment section actually does a good job of representing a number of intelligent people with varying opinions and views about the topic, and is mostly well worth reading if you'd like a perspective on different views/beliefs about the value of circumcision.

Huh; that all relates a bit to where I consider my primary form of activism to be. I was talking to someone about this recently; that my big investment is in trying to disseminate accurate information. When it comes to differences that are truly opinion and worldview based, I don't generally get into it. I'll clarify why I place the relative values I do, but I'm not very evangelical in trying to convince others. I accept peoples' right to come to different conclusions from the same facts. There's nothing illogical about that. I just want to make as sure as possible that everyone's working from the actual facts in forming their opinions.

Primary prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to pose an important
challenge in the United States. Recent clinical trials conducted in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda
have demonstrated considerable benefit of male circumcision in reducing HIV seroincidence in
males. These results have ignited debate over the appropriateness of implementing routine provision
of neonatal circumcision in the United States for HIV prevention. This paper discusses major
contextual differences between the United States and the three African countries where the clinical
trials were conducted, and cautions that the applicability of the scientific data from Africa to this
country must be carefully considered before rational policy recommendations regarding routine
neonatal circumcision can be made as a strategy to prevent the spread of HIV in the U.S.

And now for something completely different:
British warship Somerset resurfaces off Cape Cod
Officials order 3-D rendering of sunken boat

Current Mood: grumpy

Sex Writers, Drooling Horndogs, and the Suspectability of Male Sexuality

As I said when I originally posted it:

Greta for the win, yet again. She writes like she's inside my brain, only coherent and eloquent. It's absolutely something I wish I found more often, a perspective I'd love to hear more frequently.

Three particularly good bits:

The very fact that sex is seen as a primarily male experience makes male sex writers, paradoxically, seem less serious. Our society sees sex as being about maleness: male desires, male insecurities, male satisfaction. Our culture is sexually obsessed with women, of course; but it’s sexually obsessed with women as — and I’m turning into a ’70s lesbian feminist as I write this — the objects of desire, rather than the subjects of it. Sex is seen as a male topic. But therefore, we all too often assume that we know what men think about sex, and how they feel about it. Male sexual desire is assumed to be simple: an animal urge to put a dick in a wet hole. With, occasionally, some variations in the way of orientation and paraphilias. And I think this makes it harder for male sex writers to be taken seriously. Anything they have to say on the subject is likely to be seen as suspect.
....
I, selfishly, want to read more of what men have to say about sex. I want to read more about the varieties of male sexuality, from people who are living it from the inside. I want to read more about the varieties of female sexuality, from people who are seeing it from the outside. I want to read more about how men feel about this “animal urge horndog” label they’ve gotten stuck with: to what extent they think it’s true, to what extent they think it isn’t, how the reality and the unreality of it weave together in their experience of their sexuality. Sex is too interesting and too important a topic to limit most of the serious thought about it to one gender. And in addition to hearing what men, qua men, think about sex, I want to hear what individual men think about it: what Dan and David and Marty and Charlie and so on have to say. Sex is too interesting and too important a topic to limit the voices who can talk about it seriously to the voices that are attached to vaginas.
....
I’ve lived my whole life dealing with the various and sundry ways that female sexuality gets demeaned, by being ignored or trivialized or assumed to not exist.

Thinking about this topic is making me realize the various and sundry ways that male sexuality gets demeaned . . . by the mirror image of that process. It’s making me realize that the amplification of male sexuality — the funhouse mirror that takes the image of a man and distorts it into a drooling tongue and a hard dick — has the effect of demeaning it as well.

And that sucks for all of us.

Current Mood: contemplative

Yoga Stretches Terrain for Sex-Trauma Therapy

In and around the Rwandan capital of Kigali, Deirdre Summerbell teaches an athletic and vigorous form of yoga to about 250 to 300 girls and women; most have survived assault or abuse. Many contracted HIV during the genocide.

Current Mood: hopeful

Gobekli Tepe: The World’s First Temple?
Predating Stonehenge by 6,000 years, Turkey's stunning Gobekli Tepe upends the conventional view of the rise of civilization

International Condom Day in India

Aside from the thyroid worry, life is good. Yesterday and today we had the neighbor's dog Coco again; I'm really pleased with how it's going. She's still a weirdly serious little dog, but she settles down much faster now, and she really adores Becca, especially. Tarma and Leroy continue to make me proud with how gentle and careful they're being around her.

Also, chatroulette with me, Bec, and G is deeply bizarre and highly entertaining. We confused a bunch of people, amused several more (including a sweet Tunisian guy who blew us smoke rings ...and put on a santa hat), and laughed a lot. Mission accomplished.

This is what I was talking about in regards to "chatroulette" If you have a high tolerance for random penises and random dicks (not the same thing), there's much amusement to be had once you find the folks who are actually looking for chat rather than camsex.

And on the ice dancing:
oh, russia, no. jaw-dropping. flabbergasted. speechless. That was the _less_ offensive version?!? The mugging, the drag-by-the-hair... where does the "holy fuck!" even start?

It felt like some horrible combination of minstrel performance and "me Tarzan, you Jane". We spent a while talking about why I found it so much more problematic than any of the other performances; certainly it's always risky to perform another culture's dances without serious consideration. The difference, for me, between "occasionally clueless and silly" and "shockingly offensive" was the mugging stereotype of "primitive culture" that felt practically subhuman; the hair-dragging especially seemed pseudo-neanderthalish in intent.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978062148&grpId=3659174697259360

I'm at work, so I can't find video of it, but I expect it's available on nbc's site if you want to take a look.

This whole "being above freezing" thing isn't really working for me. We've had fog and rain and high humidity, and I'm definitely feeling it. Ouch.

Current Mood: shocked

A whole run of interesting and infuriating articles on feministing and feministe recently, especially as relates to clinic escorting, and to murderous fuckwad Roeder.

On "voluntary manslaughter" and the encouragement of future murderous fuckwads -- I cannot begin to express the extent of my rage over Dr. Tiller's assassination, or over the fact that we're suddenly happy to surrender civil liberties left and right, endorse torture, and profile people with the "wrong" religion or skin color, but we still don't take the homegrown terrorists seriously enough to apply the actual legitimate laws to them.

Always fascinating: What antis say about their time spent harassing women outside clinics -- I like listening to them introduce new members to the fold by telling them about us, and who we are, and what we're like. In our case, as at most clinics with escorts, there's a strict no interaction policy on our side (not on theirs). The only things we can say to them involve informing them if they're breaking a law. Everything else, they extrapolate from what they can overhear of our conversations. And in terms of dealing with the insults and threats, nothing prepared me better for clinic escorting than getting bullied in middle and high school. A reaction is what a bully wants, more than anything else. If you can't make me react, you have no power over me. And if I do react, I'm damned well going to be laughing at you.

stories from clinic escorts "Your job is to make sure the situation doesn't escalate, and you're trained to make it happen. In the rest of my life, I have no problem yelling at people like this. But when I'm at the clinic, I have different priorities." -- Yes. This.

And this is so stupid, and offensive, and idiotic in every possible way: Carrying condoms could get you arrested. More than three equals possible charge of prostitution (much like the stupid texas law about how many sex toys -- 6, I believe -- meant you obviously intended to sell them). I can't think of a time in my life when my idea of a sensible number of condoms to carry, especially if traveling, was 3 or less. Polled the household got unanimous agreement on the point from everyone present. (and don't get me started on targeting of prostitutes, and our stupid laws, and anti-harm-reduction practices like scaring women _out_ of carrying protection! *headdesk*) Correction: Here's a closer look at what's actually going on

A little-discussed provision of the Senate bill allows insurers to penalize subscribers by hundreds -- and even thousands -- of dollars for not meeting certain "wellness targets." : I will be _pissed_ if this makes it through, especially given the amount of biological variation that's genetic. They're already doing it here at my job, so I'm fucked either way.

And because everyone needs something cheery after all this crap, have a chlorophyll-containing slug -- I love this planet!

Current Mood: sleepy

Why Do Women Have to Go to Clinics for Abortions?

Current Mood: impressed

But someone else's post reminded me that I'd meant to.

I can't even express how hysterical (hmm, interesting choice of word, there) I find it that there are researchers currently trying to argue the g-spot is basically mythical. Wowza. I did, in fact, burst out laughing when I first ran across Body Impolitic's take on the whole ridiculous mess. I especially giggle over the disqualification of queer women, because our tendency toward "digital stimulation" might bias results (*ahem* disqualifying the type of stimulation most likely to "hit the spot" might throw your results just a touch, donchathink?).

It's worth reading their take on it, even if you've already seen the original study rightfully shredded for its scientific failures. They make very good points about the commodification of the g-spot, and the one-true-wayism that is now shifting for the third or fourth time this century between clit and g-spot (well, not like Freud had a clue about the g-spot, but y'all know the history of the vaginal orgasm debates, right?) Embrace the power of AND, people! And don't let honest sexual exploration get sidetracked by external pressures about what your body "should" or "shouldn't" do. Research is all well and good, but when it comes right down to it, when it's your body, and your orgasm, the only thing that matters is that you're happy. As an activist around sexuality and women's health issues, I really struggle between joy at seeing sexuality becoming a more acceptable topic, and anger at how it immediately gets twisted into just another form of pressure. I love that we now know just what a complex structure the clitoris truly is (enough so that I'm considering a tattoo of the glans and crux clitoris). I hate seeing every women's magazine full of one-size-fits-all bullshit about what makes good sex.

*sigh* Of course Betty Dodson's blocked at a medical institution that even has it's own damned sexual function clinic *headdesk* Don't get me started on censorware and sexual education. I can't see what that article says, but I'd bet it's worth reading. I'll check it out later. (edit to add: Well, damn. She's moved her site, and this link is dead. The new one's blocked too, but hopefully I'll be able to find the new link once I get home)

Women’s Sexuality and G Spot Research By John M Grohol PsyD

A particularly good and sensible article: Where Have All the G-Spots Gone?

And since I'm now officially tired of being grumpy about being told my personal favorite bit of my anatomy doesn't exist, have a fun little article reviewing feminist sex toy stores!

And as long as I'm all linkety, a quick article about the first Presidential appointment of a transgender person -- it's another step forward, and a nice bit of cheer for the new year.

Current Mood: annoyed

Greta Christina's alternate 10 Myths and Truths About Atheism (triggered by Sam Harris's piece). I feel particularly strongly about points 2, 3, and 9.

In November, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first ever U.S. study of Ecstasy as helpful medicine. -- Excellent news!

Handwriting Is History -- I haven't decided entirely how I feel about this one yet, but in general I'm in favor of making it a less central part of the lesson plan.

Must remember to finish the data cabling in the house this weekend. Note to self.

Forecasts for the weekend call for moderate trippiness, so hoorah for that!

Current Mood: cheerful

I haven't been posting much, as I've been reminded occasionally. Life has settled into winter hibernation mode, which mostly just means I'm going through a lot of jigsaw puzzles again, and continuing to be antisocial, only without getting as much done on the house. Have met some cool folks in the neighborhood, though. Makes me regret that I'm so totally uninterested in dating and romantic life at the moment (told new person that I was already having to make enough apologies to people in my life, and I'm only looking for friendships right now).

I'm stressing lots about finances, and making it through 'til the tax rebate, but otherwise life is going really well and calmly, and I just don't have much to complain about. I'm hoping to get back to linkety-linkety posts soon, since it bothers me when information flow in my life gets too unidirectional. Makes me feel like I'm doing all taking, no giving. Along those lines, I really need to figure out what I'm doing about clinic escorting and patient-instructing. Second shift really is a much better fit for me, but it's really gnawing at me to have given those up, especially since I haven't yet found anything to replace them. And really, I don't want to find something new. I want to be doing _those_ things. Need to do some serious thinking, see how the CPAP affects my energy levels (just got it delivered today, so we'll see), see what I can work out with my boss, etc. It's feeling like this year has been largely defined by medical stuff and house stuff. I hate that every time we try to readjust things with the fibro/etc, it eats my life so badly for so long. I'm really tired of doctors' appts. Note to self, time to send in new FMLA paperwork. Joy.

OK, just one link:

The Placebo Effect: Studies Reveal How Fake Medicine Actually Reduces Pain This is a big ol' "Duh!" but I'm posting it mostly for my brother's amusement. Having fibro means having to listen to more woo-woo crap than most people, always with the "but it worked for me/my cousin's hairdresser/etc, so it doesn't matter that the studies have shown it to be bunk!" I've been making exactly this argument for years. Nice to have a shiny new study to link people to.

Current Mood: good

Finishing up clearing out email now that I'm home:

Canon and Sheep Shit: Why We Fight.
I hate the Doctor Who canon like Dawkins hates God.

Like him, I'm convinced the target of my animus doesn't exist, but that doesn't stop me spending half my life writing about how dreadful it is. (from

marnanel)

Road Kill: It's Fresh, It's Organic, It's Free -- Honestly, perfectly sensible. I'd have to get over some of my cultural food limitations, and it'd be important to know how fresh the animal was, and what communicable diseases could be an issue, but I would have to get over the "ick factor" for one of my other favorite protein production ideas too -- developing an american taste for bugs and grubs. I like lobster, and they're basically giant sea bugs. I bet I'd dig roasted insects of various sorts, too. (and in response to someone's comment about cannibalism in the original post: If I die, and you're starving, eat me with my blessings. Please save and tan the tats; my friends have plans for them.)

Will Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap Continue to Defy Selling Out to Corporate Culture? -- I hope so!!

Teen pregnancy and disease rates rose sharply during Bush years, agency finds

Mainstream Media Reinforces Unexamined Arguments Against Public Funding for Abortion

Open Thread: When Art and Ideals Collide -- an issue I struggle with a lot.

Yes. This. Dawkins, get off of my team!

On the importance of midwives

I mean, there is a lot of (IMHO) woman hating in the following group of words. The topic, porn, the statement: “Do I want to look at some plastic-surgery enhanced woman who doesn’t even look human being porked”, the subject, how women who perform in porn (or are in the sex industry at large) suffer from Stockholm Syndrome.

Now see, that just chaps my ass in all the wrong ways. I mean, a huge thing that you see coming from anti porn feminists is that they hate the porn because it dehumanizes and degrades the women in it. But see, I am not sure how someone saying those very women do not even look like human beings is anything but dehumanizing and degrading? -- Amen.

Zombiechocolate has important stuff to say about that state of the economy in Ohio, and what that's meaning to people on a day-to-day basis. I'm so incredibly lucky to be in one of the safest job positions I possibly could be. My housemates and friends are being hit right and left. I'm still being hit directly by the public service cuts, especially RTA. A big factor in our move location was not only "is this on a bus line?" but "is this on a bus line we can be sure won't be cut?"

The Complex Sexualities of Young Women -- I haven't finished this one yet, adding partially for my own reference.

10 Things You Need to Know to Live on the Streets

Why I'm not watching Dance Your Ass Off

A really good piece on finding a gyn provider after sexual abuse

Gay and straight: parallel poly worlds

Tuning into Crisis Pregnancy Websites

Obama says not funding abortions is "tradition"

Condom ads from the UK

Whew. All done. Bed now.

Current Mood: sleepy

Yup, more. (also, as a note, after this I will be following only my nearest and dearest for the next five days at least, and probably longer -- I'll really only have access via b'berry until Sunday night, though)

Bart described it as a "piece of shit racist gem" -- I couldn't agree more. Way to make your side look like moronic assholes without any semblance of an actual argument. I wish I were surprised. At all. And a particularly relevant piece about Obama, race, and that press conference

BradHicks has a great post about the self-induced doctor shortage in the US, and its relevance to the health care debate (I have as many issues with the AMA as I do with the Insurance and Pharmaceutical lobbies)

Dr. Tiller's Accused Murderer in Court Tomorrow

British Army Magazine Features Openly Gay Soldier on Cover Next to Word 'Pride'

Bill Maher: When Did Making a Profit Become the Only Reason to Do Anything? Amen.

On the whitewashing of book covers

William Shatner does Sarah Palin's farewell speech! (from

klwalton)

Setting aside all of the other meta-discussions on race and class that surround this issue, the thing about all of this that creeps me out the most is that so many people are willing to defend this officer who, assuming the most charitable possible interpretation, arrested a guy because he didn't like his attitude. That is what [Mike Barnicle] is defending. That is what the execrable Mika Brzenski is defending. That is what I have read numerous commenters on a multitude of sites from the entire political spectrum defend. -- Yes. This.

Not at all surprising, sadly, but utterly enraging: A woman in New Jersey refused a c-section during labor. She gave birth vaginally, and the child was healthy. But the baby was taken away and placed in a foster home, because the woman allegedly “abused and neglected her child” by refusing the c-section. She was also accused of behaving “erratically” — to which I can only point out that she was in labor. I hear that hurts a lot.

Bi The Way will air on the Logo Network at 8 pm on August 1st (THIS SATURDAY)! (and is now also available for advance DVD purchase) Must remember to set the DVR for this.

Sex Work and Marriage

Well, out of time. Still have about 160 emails (which includes LJ notifications I've set) to get through. Oy.

I don't really know how close we are to being all done and complete and finished with closing on the house. All day has been about faxing one last bit of paperwork after another. I think we're pretty much done, and it is happening now, but I'm rather confused at this point. And exhausted. And headachey. So glad I'm going home now.

Incidentally, I've been keeping a sleep diary in prep for my sleep study next month. I know I sleep weirdly, but wow. Five days so far, and no single sleep period longer than 3-4 hours.

Current Mood: exhausted

I need a specific icon for these posts. I should ponder that.

Anyway, trying to wade through my inbox, and I've got entirely too much tagged as "to read/post", so here it comes:

Some impressively hideous racism on a local radio channel, link from

meganj28

PolyMedia has some astute things to say about poly media coverage, and how it happens (and a bit more about poly coverage is Australia)

This is concerning on a number of levels: Hamas dress code aims to make Gaza more Islamic from

jajy1979

Clit talk, with Mary Roach -- I haven't gotten a chance to watch it yet, but I think it's something different than her TED talk, and knowing her writing and speaking in general, I bet it's good.

Doctors help tame wild myths, medical misconceptions with a dose of reality

Notes from a bitch...pondering the privilege of anger... -- a good piece about why it's so infuriating that there's so much focus on Professor Gates' anger. Also,

bradhicks has a great post about it.

What's so funny about rape? Damned good question. And a lot of good points about pretending to be all edgy when there's nothing the least bit subversive about supporting the dominant paradigm with your humor. That specifically speaks to my distaste for shock jocks, especially. It's possible to be thoroughly lewd, crude, and shocking, and amuse the hell out of me by actually using that humor to look at social issues from a new perspective. It's also possible, and a lot more common, to simply use those tactics to reinforce disgusting and damaging stereotypes.

Oh, yay! Audacia Ray is guestblogging for Feministe! (has lots of links to cool things she's involved in)

Also, I don't think I've mentioned it recently, but

zodarzone does regular comic reviews. If comics are your thing, you might want to wander over to his journal and check it out.

Quick Hit: Houston Mayor proclaims first Transgender Day

Can't see this from work either, so listing it here partially for my own reference: Wordweaverlynn points to some Craigslist poetry in response to penis-pic personals

Mama_hogswatch is smack on target with this column about poly dating (and Leora's comment is particularly true and relevant, too)

mama_hogswatch also posted a bibliography of poly-helpful books (not the usual contenders -- this is wider-ranging, and covers general communication/shared households/etc)

Serena Williams rockin' the body acceptance!

As many as 87% of employer-based insurance programs cover abortion. I mention this because, although it's such a political hot-potato that I don't think there's any chance any governmental plan will be allowed to cover it (much like the Hyde Amendment screws women on Medicaid), people need to understand it's not an unusual thing to have covered, and this will have a big impact on women who end up on any governmental plan that's likely to come into existence. More on this

This year at Comic Con, EA encouraged attendees to grope its "booth babes" -- promising attendees dinner with the "babes" if they took and published a photo of themselves sexually harassing the women.

On a lighter note, awesome old school Willy Wonka icons

(My Vagina is) Eight Miles Wide. Worth watching. Probably not at work. Especially not with the sound turned up.

My brother Jajy1979 recommends the Bill Moyers this week on Healthcare, and on Rage on the Airwaves

What's wrong with the new pro-lifers: The progressive anti-abortion movement still doesn't truly value the life and identity of the mother

NATIONAL POLITICS & POLICY | Surgeon General Nominee Backs Obama's Positions on Reproductive Health, White House Says -- Reassuring to hear, although I'm already a big fan.

Some more examination of the Withdrawal as Contraception study that created so many waves

OK, it's break time. That's all for now, although I'm only partially through my mailbox.

My recent surge in keeping up with LJ and with posting a lot of links has to do with a new email organization plan I'm using. Now that I get all a hundred or so post notifications a day from LJ (I've set tracking on a lot of people), it's much easier to tag a particular notification as something I want to go back and link to. The sudden influx of extra mail can be a bit overwhelming, but overall, it's working for me.

Fla. town fires manager married to porn star They were probably within their legal rights, but it still makes me angry to see this kind of discrimination. (from

jajy1979)

Rachel Maddow: 87% Of U.S. Counties Have No Access To Abortion Clinic -- Good grief, could I love this woman any more?

Greatest Movie Twists
Spoilers and
Surprise Endings -- some quality time-wasting from

theferrett

Fact Check: Are Gay-Friendly Churches in Decline? A good clarification and examination of some recent survey data.

Dolphins Name Themselves With Whistles, Study Says (from

shadesong)

Why I don't support hate crime legislation -- the article makes some interesting points I hadn't considered before. Thought-provoking, although I'm not sure I've changed my mind on my view of this. Although I'm generally against hate speech legislation, I've historically been for hate crime legislation, largely because it correctly identifies this type of crime as being a terrorist act aimed at an entire community.

A Stranger in Mine Own House: Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and the Police in "Post-Racial" America

Too Fat to Be a Surgeon General? -- because gee, it's not like we don't already have plenty of data on clearcut bias against hiring of fat people. *grrrrr*

Oakland Voters Pass Landmark Pot Tax To Boost City Coffers

On just how stunningly unfunny rape jokes are (thanks to

kalmn for the link)

OK, I think that's all for now.

Current Mood: tired

Home with a damned migraine _again_. My paycheck is going to blow. I've got an appt set up for an eye exam so I can get myself some prescription sunglasses, though, which I'm hoping will make it a lot easier to continue to function with commuting and work when I've got a moderate migraine. I wish my glasses weren't so damned expensive; my last pair ran about $500 after insurance (I have stunningly bad vision - 20/1200, and have to get the absolutely highest-end lenses in order for my glasses not to be unreasonably heavy and thick).

I did teach last night for the first time in a month or so, though. Three really great residents, all of whom had a clue, and only needed some basic fine-tuning on their technique. So that was excellent.

I've been reading False Impressions: The Hunt for Big-Time Art Fakes. Plenty of it is pretty over my head, since I have no art background beyond what I've picked up from artist friends, but it's fascinating, and a fun look into the brain of someone with a very unusual speciality.

Intelligent Design's Latest Sneaky Assault on Science

I Don't Believe in Marriage -- Here's Why I Grudgingly Got Married Anyway

Is America on the Verge of a Geriatric Crime Wave? -- Damned elders. Gotta watch out for 'em. ;P

TheFerrett has some interesting thoughts on the word 'cissexual/cisgender', jumping off from DGlenn's excellent essay

Cow-nosed rays in migration -- stunningly beautiful

BuyMyTronics looks rather handy for clearing out backlogs of old electronics. Anyone have any experience with them? (from

zombiechocolate)

Current Mood: blah

Call for Submissions- Double Edge: The Intersection of Transgender and BDSM

Thanks, abstinence-only education!

Thanks to a decade of misinformation masquerading as sex education, teens are having the same amount of sex, using contraception less, and getting pregnant more.

Cute and funny Rachel Maddow gifs

Bisexual Relationships Examiner on Margaret Cho (with some great pics of Margaret, too)

Raindrops burst in mid-fall

I'm not normally all that into pranks. I'll make an exception for this fabulously evil Who-themed one

Doctor Who and Torchwood icons (for my own reference)

The Bad Astronomy blog looks like fun

Moon-landing-related debunking. I was horrified and boggled to learn I'm actually related to one such conspiracy theorist. *headdesk*

I think

porcinea nails it on the head by calling ittotal societal FAIL! (on the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr.)

"Are Bisexuals the Glue that Holds Poly Together?"

I still think Dan Savage is entirely too dumb about entirely too much, but he's right on here: Dan Savage on Dumb Therapists

Poly casting call for "major cable network" -- I loathe this kind of reality TV, and I anticipate the televised dramallamas with dread, but fwiw, and just so you know...

Rachel knows how to annihilate the bullshit

Pushing Joe Arpaio to the margins

California Sprouts 'Green Rush' From Marijuana

It’s Not Sarah’s Fault…Just Ask Her (on Sarah Palin)

Palin’s Resignation: The Edited Version
If you watched Sarah Palin’s resignation speech, you know one thing: her high-priced speechwriters moved back to the Beltway long ago. Just how poorly constructed was the governor’s holiday-weekend address? We asked V.F.’s red-pencil-wielding executive literary editor, Wayne Lawson, together with representatives from the Research and Copy departments, to whip it into publishable shape. Here is the colorful result.

Nudism: Stick It to Your Puritan Forebears By Stripping Down

Current Mood: cheerful

Cleaning out my inbox, trying to catch up on life:

Listening to the Heart of a Woman (I may already have posted this)

New York Times discovers that some women don't diet!

How are your orgasms, Mom?

Blurb.com -- make your own book -- haven't looked at it all that closely yet, but want to hang onto the link.

Hidden Passageways for your house -- from

kitminx, just to make me drool...

On media and drug-use in psychotherapy

DNA Evidence Is No Panacea for Solving Crimes: Huge Backlogs, Inept Testing and Corruption Stand in the Way -- haven't finished reading this one yet, either.

Feministe has put up a Google map called "Strong Geography" where they are inviting people to add little stories of where and how they felt most strong. It's fascinating to read. -- from

marnanel

Quote of the day: Shocking! Teens like Teh Sex

Are you a condom worshipper? (Or, When the purity pushers lose their damn minds)

Virtual Feynman -- from

yendi

Common pet-poisonous plants

Your Co-Worker could be a Space Alien!

Ask Professor Foxy: How Does A Feminist Mom Teach About Sex?

Skeptical Journey Through the Universe Including many amusing links like Have you ever wondered when you should resume sex safely after ghost hunting? How can you exorcise a ghost that has possessed your womb? Or how can you remove a ghost from your rectum? (After you’ve finished with it, presumably.)

Oh, I do love Jimmy Carter: The Words of God do not Justify Cruelty to Women.

And the ever-fabulous Target Women -- have I mentioned recently how much I adore the Current Channel?

Poly in the Media

Homeworld Improvement, Part 2: They're Super, Thanks for Asking

Tree Pr0n -- from

musicalchaos

Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video

Exploring the Moon, Discovering the Earth -- from

wolfieboy

Lessons from the Dead

Current Mood: tired

And a brief life update -- nothing much has happened in the past two days; I've been down with a migraine, and accomplished exactly nothing. Also, I'm worried about Morph. He's acting weird and lethargic. A vet visit may be in the near future.

And now for the links:

Creative Coffins (and eco-friendly, too!) -- from