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  • Big Brother Friday Fauxpology: Mo’s been in the headmaster’s office before, hasn’t he?

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    Just thought I’d revisit Big Brother UK with a little “Oh no he didn’t!” post.

    As clip one begins, Mikey, the blind cross-dressing Scotsman radio dude, has just had his hair shaved off as part of a task. The task involved the housemates cutting or clipping their hair such that the combined hair filled a flask to the top.

    [Transcripts/summaries of clips are at the bottom of the post.]

    I’m guessing Mo would justify this action, outside the house, as being just him, paragon of equalism, treating everyone equally badly. You can sure tell that he’s been in that hot chair before, and knows exactly the script to follow, though he still stumbles over it. It grates.

  • The HuffPo is off my reading list

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    That’s it, I guess. I’ve had the impression the Huffington Post was going downhill for a good long time now, and it’s now confirmed. This, on the front page?

    underagegymnast

    Is not funny or clever. It’s just downright creepy and exploitative.

  • Thursday Cheezburger

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    moosecheez

    I’ve a runner-up, but it does contain spoilers for the end of Doctor Who (New) season four, so it’s just a link – be warned.

  • Women still the sex class in international elite sports

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    brasilvolleyball

    This photo is what passes for sports journalism at the Sydney Morning Herald nowadays. I did not crop this photo; the Herald did.

  • From the reading pile: Barrayar (contains spoilers)

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    I’m enjoying “Barrayar” right now, from Lois McMaster Bujold, and I thought I’d share an excerpt. Bujold is a keen observer of human interactions, and readers with complicated medical problems might relate to some of this.

    Commander Cordelia Naismith (also known as Lady Vorkosigan), a former Betan military commander, is in a doctor’s office on Barrayar. She is being checked out after a series of traumatic experiences.

  • Canine femininity on Etsy: the “Sassy Wench Corseted Dog Dress”

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    When you’ve had enough of dressing your newborn in leopard-print high-heeled shoes for shits and giggles, what’s next?

    Well, why not start on your dog? If it’s a boy dog, of course, you’ve already got your Neuticles Ultra Plus (now with Epididymis!). But if it’s a girl dog, the Etsy Pampered Pooch Boutique has just the thing for those moments when you’re mortified by blundersome passersby asking “Is it a boy dog or a girl dog?” Avoid those gender-neutral faux-pas and announce your pooch’s vulva-possession to the whole world. Just because she’s spayed doesn’t mean she can’t be feminine.

  • Otterday!

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    seaotter

    Today’s sea otter is from Jim M. Goldstein.

    There’s a bukkit caption here waiting to happen, I think

  • Twitter

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    I’ve just made my twitter feed public. Username lauredhel.

    There’s nothing particularly exciting there – I’ll probably mostly be dropping in URLs I’ve encountered that I’d like to share. You’re welcome to join me. If you’re planning a Follow, please drop a note in this thread with your username.

    Update: I protected my Twitter feed again a while back. Hoydenizens are welcome to drop me a follow request. Please don’t re-tweet

  • Olympics Special: Forced Abortion in China

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    say no to violence against women Olympic Rings logo

    The Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony is about to start.

    In all the protests about Tibet and about internet censorship (important issues both), there is an enormous humanitarian crisis in China at risk of getting pushed into the background. That crisis is the systematised, legalised, horrific violence against women and girls.

    Through Olympics time, I’m planning to post roundups and linkdumps on a series of these topics. Be warned – they’re all likely to contain triggers.

    First up: forced abortion.

  • Amandaw is kicking arse and taking names when it comes to able-bodied privilege

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    Amandaw has been writing an absolutely white-hot series of guest posts at Feministe about invisible disability and her illness experience. I intensely, wholeheartedly urge you to make an effort to set the time aside to read them all. Start at the bottom, read the comments, and work your way up.

    If you had to pick just four, though, try