It’s Olympics time and again, we learn the names of athletes who we never hear of at other times. As a nation we’re obsessed with swimmers and runners and ball sports, but our equestrians kick serious butt. We see horse… Read More ›
Culture
The milieu through which we swim
Raising daughters to have high self-esteem and the problem with that
So much good analysis in this piece from Jessica Valenti in The Nation – “The Upside of Ugly”: But this is the problem with teaching young women that the key to happiness and success is self-esteem. If our end goal… Read More ›
The Drawbacks Of A Healthy Eating Internet Education
I know you. We have a lot in common. You have been doing some reading and now you are pretty sure everything in the grocery store and your kitchen cupboards is going to kill you.
Whovian Squee: trailer for upcoming season
Beware casting spoilers, if those bother you.
De Botton on sex – even odder than you might have expected
Apparently Alain de Botton knows exactly how everybody feels about sex (just like he does! how convenient!) while being blithely unaware of the sheer TMI factor. This review of his latest book How To Think More About Sex at sexandthe405.com is long, comprehensive and unfavourable.
Media Circus: the plot sickens
As usual, please use this thread to throw your brickbats at egregious spin tactics and churnalism, but don’t forget to throw the odd bouquet when it’s deserved as well.
Is Whimsy Just for Wednesdays?
This is for Megpie, because I just went over to your blog for the first time, saw your gif in the top left corner, and thought you would enjoy it. (Others may too.) Professor Elemental – “Cup of Brown Joy”… Read More ›
Pushback Awesome: another community having the anti-harassment policy debate
This time it’s the science fiction writing community undergoing Deep Rifts over a disputed implementation of an existing anti-harassment policy at Readercon following a verified harassment incident, complete with yet another round of but-we-don’t-need-no-stinkin-policy-anyway backlash. [nb: updates 1 & 2]
Disability funding: shirking the NDIS is a disgrace
Eleanor Gibbs has a cracker of an article in New Matilda on the national disgrace that is the continuing roadblocks to the National Disability Insurance Scheme:
That Reddit rapist thread
[Content note: rape culture, sexual violence] Liss put up a counter-thread at Shakesville for rape-survivors and allies to talk about their reactions in a safe-space.
Take-home message: beware micro-manipulations as part of a flirt routine – if warning bells are ringing, trust the jangling of our spidey-senses.
Hoyden About Town 