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Montgomerie and colleagues have lobbied senior Tories to give organised help to aspiring MPs with limited incomes, but have so far been unsuccessful. "We did an analysis of how much it costs to be a candidate," he said, "and it came it at something like £40,000. So there's a huge financial hurdle for people to get over if they're considering being a Conservative candidate. We put all that to the party – that it was something they needed to think about. They said they were looking at it. It's a hard thing to address, but I don't think they ever have."
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So I get hit by ableism in the asexual community and asexophobia in the disability community. Why, hello there, intersectionality, I hadn’t seen you for a while.
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personally I think half the 'not good pets' ones are also damn cute.
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To make a point no one should have to make: earlier this year, a deranged Army sergeant named John Russell opened fire near a combat stress clinic — sound familiar? — at Baghdad’s Camp Liberty and killed five of his fellow soldiers. No one speculated about any religious motivations. No one suggested he was part of an enemy “infiltration,” or suggested that U.S. troops have been “brainwashed.” Everyone understood that Russell was a deranged lunatic, not an advance scout for a conspiracy to subvert the military internally. It’s funny how double standards work.
links for 2009-11-07
November 7, 2009
links for 2009-11-06
November 6, 2009-
“It is a reign of terror,” says Phil Gordon, the mayor of Phoenix and Mr Arpaio’s most outspoken enemy. Mr Arpaio “goes into Hispanic neighbourhoods and rounds up people” while neglecting many ordinary criminals, he charges. Mr Gordon believes that there are more dangerous elements in the area than dishwashers and that Mr Arpaio’s excessive zeal is giving Phoenix, Arizona’s capital and largest city, a bad name.
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The popular mashup series blending Jane Austen books with monsters is another terrific example of hipster ableism (among other hipster -isms). It’s kind of a fun idea, and I liked the concept initially, but the way the books have chosen to alter the plot is really reprehensible. They’ve added in things like racism and ableism because it’s “edgy” and “funny,” except that they don’t seem to recognize that readers have internalized the values supposedly being mocked, so actually the books just reinforce social norms.
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KITTY
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Maine should be the death of the claim that people don’t hate gays, they just hate being told what to do by the Courts. The folks who oppose equality have never cared about that, except as a pretext, so they could oppose equality while pretending not to be bigots.
The folks in Maine did everything the way they’re “supposed” to. They were polite, they were organized. They spent years building up support with face-to-face contacts. They went through the legislature, not the courts.
None of that makes any difference to the people who oppose equality. None of it ever did.
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I am sorry for you; I am sorry that you have to saffronise and exoticise and patronise me, I am sorry that you cannot imagine me beyond the rustle of exotic silk and the scent of the incense that stretches my lungs taut and terrible, beyond the filth of the streets in a city that is not mine filmed by a Scottish director. I am sorry that you can still write about my people as though they mean nothing compared to yours. I am sorry that your words cannot tread lightly, and that the bones of my people protest. I am sorry that you were raised in captivity.
links for 2009-11-06
November 6, 2009-
“It is a reign of terror,” says Phil Gordon, the mayor of Phoenix and Mr Arpaio’s most outspoken enemy. Mr Arpaio “goes into Hispanic neighbourhoods and rounds up people” while neglecting many ordinary criminals, he charges. Mr Gordon believes that there are more dangerous elements in the area than dishwashers and that Mr Arpaio’s excessive zeal is giving Phoenix, Arizona’s capital and largest city, a bad name.
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The popular mashup series blending Jane Austen books with monsters is another terrific example of hipster ableism (among other hipster -isms). It’s kind of a fun idea, and I liked the concept initially, but the way the books have chosen to alter the plot is really reprehensible. They’ve added in things like racism and ableism because it’s “edgy” and “funny,” except that they don’t seem to recognize that readers have internalized the values supposedly being mocked, so actually the books just reinforce social norms.
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KITTY
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Maine should be the death of the claim that people don’t hate gays, they just hate being told what to do by the Courts. The folks who oppose equality have never cared about that, except as a pretext, so they could oppose equality while pretending not to be bigots.
The folks in Maine did everything the way they’re “supposed” to. They were polite, they were organized. They spent years building up support with face-to-face contacts. They went through the legislature, not the courts.
None of that makes any difference to the people who oppose equality. None of it ever did.
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I am sorry for you; I am sorry that you have to saffronise and exoticise and patronise me, I am sorry that you cannot imagine me beyond the rustle of exotic silk and the scent of the incense that stretches my lungs taut and terrible, beyond the filth of the streets in a city that is not mine filmed by a Scottish director. I am sorry that you can still write about my people as though they mean nothing compared to yours. I am sorry that your words cannot tread lightly, and that the bones of my people protest. I am sorry that you were raised in captivity.
links for 2009-11-05
November 5, 2009-
There comes a time in a performer’s career when he outgrows his earlier, weaker material, but such is the canon of Griffin’s work that even if he would like to forget it, the audience are only too happy to remind him of it. Some of it is quite breathtakingly bad, but then he has shared a platform with some of the most odious orators in the industry, and he's obviously picked up some bad habits along the way.
However, an off the cuff line about ‘an almost entirely non violent branch of the Ku Klux Klan’ raises hopes that some genuine comedy may be forthcoming, but it's a fleeting and ultimately forlorn hope.
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After all, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen plenty of exciting, edgy television in the past which hasn't been centred on jibes about the facial appendages of swimmers from Mansfield. What the response to Boyle does offer us, however, is a glimpse at a much bigger problem with comedy at the moment of which Mock The Week is an obvious symptom and which, terrifyingly, those stupid new BBC guidelines that it's comedy shows can't be ‘unduly intimidatory, humiliating, intrusive, aggressive or derogatory’ may well be the only appropriate cure.
When Boyle states about his Adlington jokes that they ‘weren't that risqué anyway. There was no malice in them’ he’s unwittingly hitting the nail on the head. If comedy is going to go on the offensive it has to have a reason why, a point. The comic has to believe that who or what he is after deserves it. They have to care. They have to want to kill.
Otherwise they might as well just preface every comment with ‘Yo’ mama…’ and play gigs at youth clubs. -
For 27 months, Ian Fisher, his parents and friends, and the U.S. Army allowed Denver Post reporters and a photographer to watch and chronicle his recruitment, induction, training, deployment, and, finally, his return from combat. A selection of photos from Ian’s journey are posted below.
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4. Queen Vishpla (somewhere between 3500 and 1800 BC)
The ancient sacred text of India, Rig-Veda, includes the story of this queen who led her troops into battle and lost a leg. She had an iron leg fitted and returned to war. The first person known to have a prosthesis.
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[w/gallery] The mating habits of these bizarrely beautiful creatures are fascinating – they are the only species in which males truly become pregnant. We reveal the secrets of the sea bed, plus how to keep seahorses as pets
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Most people think that dementia is the main mental health problem affecting older people but it only accounts for 20-25% of the conditions they suffer.
Depression is three times more common, and the risk of older people suffering from psychosis is much higher than it is for younger people.
The proportion of deaths by suicide of older people has also not declined as it has for younger adults. -
"I refuse to be a part of your campaign," says Maikey. "Stop speaking in my name and using me for a cause you never supported in the first place. If you want to do me a favour, then stop bombing my friends, end your occupation, and leave me to rebuild my community. I'm aware that my society has a long way to go in terms of human rights and social issues, but it's my responsibility, not yours."
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We did this to prove that we care–that we are capable of resisting violence in a multitude of ways.
We take care of ourselves and heal in whatever way feels best for us—whether society approves of it or not.
This research study honors all of the ways we fight back (resistance) and our healing (resilience) methods.
We proved that we do face violence but we are not purely victims. We are survivors. We can take care of ourselves and we know what we need.
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I don’t think blackface is particularly fun. But it points out to me how segregated we are as a society. If you had any notion that a black person might show up at your halloween party, would you dress as Michael Vick? (Several years ago I had the entertaining experience of going to an all-white-except-me Halloween party and running into someone who was dressed as my race. Worse yet for that person to find I was the date of their boss. It was very clear that the unspoken expectation had been that the party would be completely white.)
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What if this Halloween, I dressed up to be a white person?
Not a celebrity, politician, or anyone with a name.
Not a police officer, a cowboy, a doctor or a profession or role.A white person.
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I think we need to get away from the simplistic question of whether to appropriate, and get back to the nuances of when and how to appropriate correctly. Because it can be done. We’re doing it already. We just need to do it better.
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One of the cornerstones of the modern size acceptance movement is the repetition of the idea that being fat does not mean that you are unhealthy. That’s actually something I believe in. I want to divorce the idea of fat and unhealthy. The flip side of this, though, is that people who are fat and unhealthy are marginalized by the fat acceptance movement. And this is where the intersection with disability rights activism occurs.
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What happened to turn me from a dead fetus photo-distributing anti-choicer to pro-choice feminist? The same thing that, I suspect, happens to a lot of women:
I had a pregnancy scare. It was with my college boyfriend–the sweetheart guy I'd exchanged virginities with–and I didn't even have a good reason to freak out. But, knowing so little about the mechanics of sex, I couldn't get past the possibility that, even after birth control and condoms, I could get pregnant. And then I would have to have the baby, wouldn't I? Because I was already a sinner for having sex–which was incredibly fun and, as a result, completely confusing to this alternately guilty and thrilled girl struggling with religious issues–having an abortion would be a one-way ticket to hell.
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mostly guatemala and mexico, also white house celebrations, also cute kids!
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my favourite is 9 A woman dances as she takes part in a parade in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
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The unusually small man, who has refused to identify himself or give a reason for his presence in the vagina, was extremely disoriented throughout the incident, and, according to eyewitnesses, was "nude and covered in blood and gore." Though the man strenuously resisted rescue attempts, screaming and kicking wildly at medical personnel, he has not yet been charged with any crime.
links for 2009-11-03
November 3, 2009-
Loanne Hizo Ostlie, Tabloach Productions – customised racially diverse Barbies.
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[from 2004] "More than half of America's citizens—a large portion of them women—made a valiant attempt to choose their own leader, even though there was no guarantee their votes would be counted. It was truly inspirational."
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As with just about any topic in feminism, when stripped to the bone, reclamation is about power. The kyriarchal position is that people with power get to set the agenda, control the discourse, define people in pejorative terms, and decide what is or isn’t offensive – not only to themselves, but to others. They place themselves firmly in the subject position, and unilaterally assume the role of making decisions for less powerful people – the objects.
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Following our earlier post, here is a recap on just some of the claims made since becoming leader of the ECR which have fallen apart.
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At the same time, imaginary weapons can be just as powerful as real ones. If a potential adversary claims to have its hands on advanced military toys, you can't afford to ignore them. At the very least you will expend considerable amounts of time and money finding out if the claims are true. You may also try to build one yourself. Meanwhile, the effect of these dream weapons on civilian and military morale can be devastating.
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The following statement was adopted by the Executive Board of the American Anthropological Association, acting on a draft prepared by a committee of representative American anthropologists. It does not reflect a consensus of all members of the AAA, as individuals vary in their approaches to the study of "race." We believe that it represents generally the contemporary thinking and scholarly positions of a majority of anthropologists.
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This sounds questionable from a health effects/animal welfare pov, but they are admittedly very cute.
links for 2009-11-02
November 2, 2009-
Anyone would think the Mail is trying to imply Britain is over-run by criminal, benefit-scrounging immigrants and violent, would-be terrorist Muslims.
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Julie Bindel is a feminist who has written some neat feminist stuff. Julie Bindel is also a transphobe. Sadly, the two are not mutually exclusive. My first exposure to her writing was this lovely bit of trans hatred, which ended with, "I don't have a problem with men disposing of their genitals, but it does not make them women, in the same way that shoving a bit of vacuum hose down your 501s does not make you a man."
…yeah. I love how anti-trans people will say stuff like this, and then turn around and say that we're the "essentialists" who "reify gender".
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OK, this is where things get seriously scary. For a major newspaper to pick up a spat between users of an ultimately insignificant glorified chatroom is absolutely mind-boggling. To make a national (and international) story of it is beyond silliness. I really would have thought that there were far more important things in news generally, and the tech sector in particular, to talk about?
links for 2009-10-31
October 31, 2009-
The group also protested the casting of a hearing actor in a deaf role in the upcoming production of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, and their concerns raise the question of whether Hollywood and Broadway should be trying harder to include actors with disabilities. It's an issue that comes up often in films with intellectually disabled characters — historically, nondisabled actors have played these roles. I found it somewhat distasteful to watch Sean Penn impersonating an intellectually disabled person in I Am Sam, and I would have preferred to see someone who actually lived with those disabilities in the film. People with intellectual disabilities do act — famously in the movie The Ringer, but also on television — and although producers do bear an extra responsibility for not exploiting them, there's no reason for them not to be in mainstream films.
Except money, of course.
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# There are many Native American tribes, which have their own distinct language, culture, and very importantly traditional attire (NOTE: I did not say costume). There are more than 500 Native American tribes in the US, and NONE of them traditional wear a skimpy faux suede fringey number with plastic neon beads, feathers, and a cheap geometric ribbon headband.
links for 2009-10-30
October 30, 2009-
Britain is unusual in Europe for applying a near-blanket ban on prisoners voting. According to the Prison Reform Trust, a charity which wants this reversed, the policy is shared by only six other EU countries, mainly eastern European ones. The rest either allow prisoners full voting rights or restrict the franchise only partially. This usually involves taking into account the length of the prisoner’s sentence (as also happens in Australia and New Zealand) or giving judges the discretion to impose a ban as an extra penalty. America, exceptional as ever in penal policy, bans inmates from voting in most states and even bans former inmates in a few.
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For three months of evidence-gathering before the Nuremberg trials began, Mr Sonnenfeldt’s official label was chief interpreter. Less officially, but with permission, his job was to startle, harry and trick the accused into admitting what they had done.
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These findings show that, contrary to popular belief, tannins are not responsible for the difficulty in pairing red wines with seafood. Instead, monitoring the iron content of wine is the key (unfortunately, there is as yet no way to guess in advance from grape variety or soil which red wines will be iron-free). The data also hint that highly acidic white wines pair well with particularly fishy-tasting seafood because the acids act as chelating agents, reducing the amount of iron in the whole combination, regardless of its source.
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Rana seems unfazed by their glances, though she says she knows what their looks imply. "People think you are oppressed, that you aren't from here and that you are forced to wear it," she said.
Rana confounds those assumptions. She was born in Toronto, attended a local public high school, studies at the University of Toronto and, two years ago, chose to wear the niqab despite the wishes of her family.
links for 2009-10-28
October 28, 2009-
a little story to tell you what the vid's about: We started making this vid over eight months ago. We got to talking about how Yuletide is a wonderful change from the usual fandom process – where most fandoms are like a marriage, a long-term relationship in which you have your ups and your downs and your loyalty, Yuletide offers us the chance of a hot steamy one-night stand: a way to experiment with a fandom that you would normally never write, or that doesn't sustain your long-term fannish interest. I think I said that someone should vid Yuletide the way that lithiumdoll vidded all the cancelled shows, and I think that eruthros said, wow, that vid should be set to Angel of the Morning. A song about happy, sometimes poignant, unrepentant casual sex.
In the end we looked at over 230 sources. Or possibly more, we can't even remember. There are 191 sources (all Yuletide fandoms) included in the vid.
links for 2009-10-27
October 27, 2009-
You do not have to be a person with disabilities to care about disability issues. You do not have to be a person with disabilities to think, specifically, that disability is a feminist issue. You do not have to be perfect in respect to the use of ableist language in your own life and the recognition and study of disability issues in your own life to recognize that a major feminist website should not be tolerating ableist dialogue. We are all works in progress, and none of us are perfect, but that lack of perfection does not mean that we cannot call others out on inappropriate behaviour.
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— From this comment by Wildly Parenthetical, which was graciously left on the FAIL thread from hell. Remember, these are only the issues that she thought of off the top of her head.
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It's 20 years since the Berlin Wall was breached and few people then thought of saving any of it for posterity. Jon Henley goes in search of the last remnants
