Non-Depressing Linky Goodness

BRAVE: What To Expect When You're Aborting. Want to know what it's like? Unapologetic, real, and an eye-opener. Go see if you haven't yet. And yes. Yes, this adorable illustration is exactly what it's like.

AWESOME: Bitch magazine has been saved! I'm a bitch, you're a bitch, etc. This is definitely good news.

QUEER PSA: The best "Vote No on 8" ad I've seen. I want them to air this on TV. It has been noted that it's kinda lacking in POC's, but other than that it's awesome.
h/t Alas, a blog

FEMINIST PSA: It's pretty good. Disappointing that we need one, but something to point your coworkers/friends to if they need something illustrative.
h/t The Feminist Underground

BEST RANT OF THE WEEK: Essin' Em lets loose on guys who get in our personal space. This is a big thing of mine, so it's nice to see it addressed! That kinda made my day, and I had to include it at the last minute.

BLOG ENDORSEMENT OF THE WEEK: Natalia Antonova, a blog that deals with feminism, Eastern European and Middle-Eastern politics, and occasionally, stuff. Her What About The Menz? post was pointed and nasty- which of course I love.

OLD-SCHOOL: The Politics of Housework, an essay written in 1970 that still applies today. Which is, um, pretty sad. If you haven't read this, it's highly recommended reading.

FEMME-TASTIC: I can't be all serious, can I? Go to AfterEllen.com and see the 15 Hottest Butches of all time.

So that's it for now. An interesting mix, I hope?
Feel free to leave links in the comments.

A Brave Little Toaster

So when Ferret and I moved, we brought our respective fuzzies with us: my kitty Haven, and her ferret Loki. It was a hell of an adventure- and I think without kitty sedatives we'd have gone insane with the constant affronted, squeaking meows. (She woke up once during the drive before we could give her snooze-pills again. Once was enough.) Thank goddess ferrets, at least, don't make many sounds.

So we've been here a few weeks and we're staying downstairs. The kitty too has been staying downstairs because of the two large furry noisy scary things upstairs, also known as dogs. They can't come down the stairs, and the one time early on that she ventured up, they wanted to play. Apparently it was traumatic. She's also kind of a diva, so I don't put it past her to exaggerate the whole thing's drama factor. Honestly, it was just a little drool. But she's insistent that they're barbarians.

 So, stalemate.

But now the kitty, who's been lurking in the basement like, well, Basement Cat, is finally starting to unwind. She'll come up the stairs now, and sit near the top, plaintively calling for attention. She'll dash to the bottom as soon as I head down, of course, because she hopes to play the "sit on the bed and be petted" game. She'll come to the stairs when I call, because she knows she'll get a treat if she comes up a few steps. I've been hoping to gradually coax her upward.

But we had a triumphal moment when she came up the stairs, out the door, and wandered cautiously around the kitchen, sniffing. Haven made it out of the stairwell!

...And then she heard a noise and zoomed downstairs again.

Oh well, she'll learn.

An Everyday Frustration

This is my response to the semi-joking statement that was made to me the other night: Not all feminists "hate men".  The conversation involved my possibly applying for a job wherein I would work with groups of young girls (incredible in itself, as I don't like kids that much). The other speaker said jokingly, "But you know you can't be teaching 'em that man-hating stuff."

At the time all I could do was splutter something about how I don't hate men, dammit! 

And I know she was joking, and I know that if I'd had the prescence of mind to explain how feminism works, she'd dismiss it. But it's fucking disheartening, because a lot of the time the things people say in jest are what they really believe. Too many people- too many women believe that "feminists just don't like men" or something similar. Too many people I know. 

Too many people who roll their eyes at the mere word, too many people who use terms like "ugly" and "lesbian" and "bra-burning" whenever the subject's brought up.

Too many women who don't understand what feminism has done for them, and that those rights aren't irrevocable, aren't set in stone, and aren't complete. We aren't past feminism- there's still a need, dear Hecate there's still such a fucking need. 

How can any woman not understand this? This is less and more than basic history, empathy, sociology. It should be in our blood, our bones- this weight of injustice, the need to keep fighting until it's lifted. Why has this not been passed on, from mother to daughter, from sister to friend, to every woman? Why shouldn't I be teaching girls this message? It's not about hate, but justice, fairness, and the need to end the inequality that's been the norm for generations.

Even though I try like hell not to speak for all feminists, let me say this (and hope it's true for most of us) to all non-fems, especially men, out there : We do not hate any man that doesn't hate us. We don't hate you because you're men. We hate the men that hate us, but we have hope that it's not all of you. I know what you think about feminists, but try to think a little differently, please. 

Seriously. This is stuff you should know.

Happy Bi Pride Day!

I almost missed it! ...but I'm happy I didn't. As a bisexual, I catch a lot of shit from both gays and straights because, well, all sorts of things. But I love being bi, and I'm happy with who I am. If you're bi, I hope you are too.

So those of you who consider yourselves attracted to both men and women, either simultaneously or one-at-a-time, be proud today!

I don't know if there's a pansexual pride day, but if there isn't, I invite pansexuals to join in with us today-inclusiveness for all! 

Happy Bisexual Pride Day, y'all!

H/T to Queers United