[FYI 1; FYI 2; FYI 3; FYI 4; FYI 5; FYI 6; FYI 7; FYI 8; FYI 9; FYI 10; FYI 11; FYI 12; FYI 13; FYI 14; FYI 15; FYI 16; FYI 17; FYI 18; FYI 19; FYI 20; FYI 21. Hint: They're better if you click 'em! Lyrics here.]
FYI
[FYI 1; FYI 2; FYI 3; FYI 4; FYI 5; FYI 6; FYI 7; FYI 8; FYI 9; FYI 10; FYI 11; FYI 12; FYI 13; FYI 14; FYI 15; FYI 16; FYI 17; FYI 18; FYI 19; FYI 20; FYI 21. Hint: They're better if you click 'em! Lyrics here.]
Photo of the Day
If you can't view the image, it's a picture of 25-year-old evangelist street preacher Jesse Morrell, who has been preaching about the "evils of sin" on Yale's campus, wearing a sandwich-board reading: "REPENT: Fornicators, Homosexuals, Liars, Thieves, Masturbators, Obama Voters, Buddhists, Dirty Dancers, Hindus, Gangster Rappers, Muslims, Drunkards, Feminists, Immodest Women, Democrats, Liberals, Evolutionists, Atheists, Potheads, Sodomites. HELL AWAITS YOU!" Two men kiss in a passionate embrace in front of him. [Photo by Daniel Carvalho.]
Dirty dancers? Seriously? LOL.
[Via Andy.]
Monday Blogaround
This blogaround brought to you by Shaxco, makers of Spudsy's Supercool Scooter Helmets. "Safety first!"
Recommended Reading:
Natalie: The Face of Reform
Latoya: Youth of Color Think Stupak is the Pitts Too!
Lisa: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Renee: Only in Alberta Could Hate Speech Against the LGBT Community Constitute a Victory
Angry Asian Man: Die, Mr. Wong, Dammit
Skud: Motorola Droid: Why Don't You Want My Business?
Melissa: Sexism Watch: Race Poster (If Cait hadn't already done the Quote of the Day, I'd make it "God, I hate David Mamet," lol. Because: God, I hate David Mamet.)
Leave your links in comments...
Huh?
Another inexplicable bit of internet detritus I found. Anyone who can explain it to me wins a prize.
[Cross-posted.]
Guttmacher: 70% Reduction in Maternal Deaths Within Reach
We received a press release from the Guttmacher Institute on Friday, showing that investment in family planning and pregnancy-related care could bring a reduction of seventy per cent in maternal deaths, and as much as a fifty percent reduction in neonatal deaths.
LONDON – Maternal deaths in developing countries could be slashed by 70% and newborn deaths cut nearly in half if the world doubled investment in family planning and pregnancy-related care, shows a new report by the Guttmacher Institute and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. Currently, more than half a million maternal deaths and 3.5 million newborn deaths, many of them easily preventable, occur each year, in developing countries.Good thing the wealthiest countries in the world are so dedicated to bringing this investment to the rest of the world, right? Right? I mean, it's not like some small group of religious anti-science fanatics could hold us back from that, right?
The new report, Adding It Up: The Costs and Benefits of Investing in Family Planning and Maternal and Newborn Health, also found that investments in family planning boost the overall effectiveness of every dollar spent on the provision of pregnancy-related and newborn health care. Simultaneously investing in both family planning and maternal and newborn services can achieve the same dramatic outcomes for $1.5 billion less than investing in maternal and newborn health services alone.
“Investing in a handful of basic health services, like family planning and routine delivery care, can save millions of women and babies,” says Dr. Sharon Camp, President of the Guttmacher Institute. “It’s not rocket science. These are mostly simple services that can be provided inexpensively at the local level, supplemented by provision of urgent care when needed.”
LOLsob? LOLsob.
Discussion Thread: Personal Evaluation and Social Justice
Shaker Koach sends this Newsweek piece (which is almost a year old now, but is just intended as the starting point for the discussion) about a British researcher who found that women tend to underestimate their own intelligence and men tend to overestimate their own intelligence.
I don't particularly find that someone's (allegedly objectively quantifiable, ahem) "intelligence" is of any interest or use to me: Everyone I call a friend is clever as hell, but I'm sure some of them wouldn't score off the charts on an IQ test, and IQ tests measure neither common sense nor empathy nor creativity, which are all intelligences of their own.
And that doesn't even get us into the idea that treating a certain kind of intelligence, specifically expressed, is ablist in its frequent exclusion of the neuro-atypical.
All of which is to say that this discussion isn't really about the sort of limited definition of intelligence as defined by IQ test fetishists. It's really more a discussion about intelligence as defined by one's subjective and individual capabilities and potential—the evaluation thereof and its relationship to involvement in social justice work.
Because, going back to the article linked at the top of this post, I have an idea what might account for the disparity...
Do you find that your self-evaluation evolved after you came in contact with feminism/womanism, or anti-racism civil rights theory, or LGBTQI pride narratives, or disability blogs, etc.? (i.e. "I'm know I'm a fuckin' genius. Thanks, feminism!")
What about your evaluation of other people belonging to un-privileged groups of which you're not a member?
Discuss.
In Case You Were Wondering...
Pink Floyd, in fact, still rules the Billboard 200 charts:
With the revamping of the Billboard 200 last week to again include both current and catalog titles, one of the chart's landmark records is updated this week. At No. 189, Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" re-enters the chart for the first time since Oct. 8, 1988, logging a record-extending 742nd week on the survey.[H/T to Brain Damage]
The collection, which debuted on the tally on March 17, 1973, and spent a week at No. 1 on the April 28, 1973, chart, leads the album with the second-longest stay on the chart by 252 weeks (or 4.8 years). Here is a list, as of this week, of the releases with the longest chart lives on the 53-year-old Billboard 200 (with debut years in parentheses):
742 weeks, "Dark Side of the Moon," Pink Floyd (1973)
490 weeks, "Johnny's Greatest Hits," Johnny Mathis (1958)
480 weeks, "My Fair Lady," Original Cast (1956)
331 weeks, "Highlights From the Phantom of the Opera," Original Cast (1990)
302 weeks, "Tapestry," Carole King (1971)
The Pain. The Pain.
[Trigger warning.]
As you may recall, the inaugural post in the "This is a real thing in the world" series was a trailer for A&E's new reality series, Steven Seagal: Lawman.
Okay, so Iain and I watched the first two episodes this weekend, and it's more horrendous than you can even imagine.
First of all, the police force of which Seagal's a part is in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and his unit—comprised exclusively of middle-aged white men—patrol an area that is extremely impoverished with a population that appears to be mostly black. And they spend the first two episodes basically acting out every negative narrative about white cops in black neighborhoods: Treating two black men sitting in a car as "suspicious activity," overzealous (I'm putting that nicely) use of the taser, arresting white men who started some shit and the black men (and woman) with whom they started it, being generally fascist and officious assholes in every way.
There's also an incredibly disturbing scene in which the cops are called to a bar in which the owner has called about a patron who's drunk off his ass and bothering the other customers, and refusing to leave. Despite the fact the way he's "bothering" the other customers is that he's been "touching the women inappropriately," he's sent on his way to "sleep it off." Har har—boys will be boys, amirite?
And yet, none of that is even what made the show unbearably painful to watch. What made it excruciating is that Steven Seagal is a wanker of mythic proportions. And he doesn't even know it.
Steven Seagal: Lawman is the adult story of the martial arts-obsessed weirdo kid in your middle school—not the one who was fun and witty and was totes okay with being seen as a bit of a dork by a less enlightened lot, but the one who generally believed he was cool and would stand off to one side doing karate kicks by himself after he got knocked out in dodgeball and who actually thought a good way to impress girls was by getting them in a headlock. It's that kid, all growed up, and saying things like "Don't think of me as Steven Seagal, movie star—think of me as Steven Seagal, the guy who could save your life" with a straight fucking face.
Seagal has no sense of humor about himself—none. And when you're a joke, not having a sense of humor about yourself makes you a colossal wanker.
It also makes the show incredibly difficult to watch.
The guys in Seagal's immediate unit aren't Jefferson Parish's finest. They seem like cops who are a bit past it—I don't mean old; my grandfather was NYPD and was fit and nimble and agile-minded and driven until the day he retired. I mean that these guys seem complacent, resigned. They look like the guys who were never good enough to make detective, basically—guys who are expendable while they fuck around with Steven Seagal and a camera crew. One, maybe two, seem in awe of him. The others seem like they're trying not to roll their eyes when Seagal says "the zen way" for the thousandth time in ten minutes, or mentions, yet again, that he's got 40 years of martial arts experience.
They all look miserable and embarrassed when subjected to Seagal teaching them aikido "moves" to dispossess a suspect of a weapon. He twists their arms and bends their fingers until they wince and beg for release. "It took me 40 years," he tells them, "but I've got to teach you in a day to save your lives."
When Seagal is put in front of a wide group of Jefferson Parish's finest to teach them some defensive maneuvers, there are officers who can barely stifle the laughter. It's absurd—spending an hour being taught random crap by Steven Seagal, STEVEN FUCKING SEAGAL, who gives no indication he understands how patently absurd it is.
At best, they're wondering who the fuck this dude thinks he is. And the thing is, he thinks he's their hero.
Grimace.
Yes, it's a real thing in the world. But I don't recommend watching it.
Quote of the Day
(Trigger warning: lethal violence)
"At the time, I thought to be a feminist meant you had to be militant." (...) "I realized many years later that in my life and actions, of course I was a feminist. I was a woman studying engineering and I held my head up."- Nathalie Provost (one of the four women who survived the Montreal Massacre after being wounded), in the Toronto Star
Tip of the CaitieCap to BC, a friend, and a fierce ally to Haitian activists for peace and justice in that country.
Healthcare Open Thread
The Hill—Obama meets Dems without addressing divisive issues; negotiations continue: "President Barack Obama gave Senate Democrats a 'pep talk' on healthcare Sunday, telling them they stood to make history if they passed a bill expanding healthcare coverage to millions of Americans. ... Obama didn't take questions from the senators or mention the two issues now dividing Senate Democrats and preventing passage of the bill: a government-run insurance plan and restrictions on federal funds for abortion."
Steve: "When the president emphasizes the 'sweep of history,' he's not focusing any attention on the granular details. That means, Obama spoke to the larger significance of the effort, and still wants lawmakers to resolve specific disputes—abortion, public option, immigration, cost controls, mandates, Medicare commission, etc.—on their own."
Echidne: "Here's what I just read: '...Thorny unresolved issues include the proposal for a government-run insurance plan; insurance coverage for abortion; cost-control measures, including the powers of an independent commission to rein in Medicare spending; and requirements for employers to provide health benefits to workers or pay a penalty.' That last sentence has so much material in it that it would take ten books to spell it all out, by the way. But nobody tries to spell any of it out. In particular, nobody spells out what happens if those 'thorns' are pruned out."
Raw Story—Public option likely to be removed from healthcare overhaul: "Chances that a so-called 'public option'—under which the government would set up competitors to private health insurers—appear to be dimming. ... Under the Democrats' new plan, the government would create a national health insurance plan similar to those offered federal employees. ... A Democratic aide quoted by Politico suggested that the new proposal could be used to sway progressives, who might be 'tricked' into believing that a government plan run by private companies was a public option."
Meanwhile...Stupak is accusing pro-choicers of deliberately misconstruing his amendment. As opposed to, y'know, what we've actually been doing, which is quite reasonably discussing its potential precedent-setting scope (e.g. not allowing women to use their own money to buy plans that cover abortion, when that plan is government-subsidized), instead of pretending, as he is, that it's merely "maintaining current law."
What the Hell?
Shaker Quixotess (right) and sister Mozi.
Is it just me, or does Mozi look a little bit frightened? Way to go, big sis!
[See also: Deeky, Liss, evilsciencechick, katecontinued, ClumsyKisses, Mistress Sparkletoes, Liiiz, Reedme, Mama Shakes, Mustang Bobby, RedSonja, MomTFH, Portly Dyke, SteffaB, Icca, Christina, Orangelion03, Car, Siobhan, InfamousQBert, Maud, Rikibeth, MishaRN, CLD, Cheezwiz, MamaCarrie, Temeraire, somebodyoranother, goldengirl, Liss (again), summerwing, yeomanpip, Susan811, bbl, Deeky (Part II), A Daily Shakesville Fan, Sami_J, liberalandproud, Temeraire: Redux, Mama Shakes II, Bonus Deeky, OuyangDan, J.Goff, Iain, Talonas, The Great Indoors, gogo, kiwi_a, em_and_ink, Tik_bev, phdintraining, Deeky Freakhands, busydani, Jenny Anne, rowmyboat, DesertRose, Steve/Pido, Anne Onymous, phredrika, The Last of the Famous International Deekys, Iain, Another Mustang Bobby, mkp-hearts-nyc, Arvan, Norbizness, Electrasteph, SteffaB, molliecat, Aestas, catvoncat, Filthy Grandeur, Shelly, Mighty Doll, IraeNicole, sevenhelz, the Shaker Halloween Special, Mistress Sparkletoes, Neilleast, NapalmNacey, Rowan_Bristol, ChelseaWantsOut, Phyllis, PlusSizedFeminist, Carleigh, and SaltyKipper.]
It Was Twenty Years Ago Today...
...and goddess, but I wish I could finish that sentence with "Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play", but in reality it's a much more grim anniversary.
(Trigger warning: extreme violence, suicide)
Twenty years ago today, a savage misogynist threw himself into L'école polytechnique de Montréal with a rifle, chose out the women among classes of engineering students, and shot fourteen of them to death. He also wounded fourteen others, ten women and four men, before killing himself. Twelve of the dead were engineering students, one a nursing student, the other an administrator.
While he was doing this, he shouted about how he was fighting back against feminism, saving society, and getting revenge for how women had mistreated him.
The long-range effects were also grim: several of the survivors have since taken their own lives, unable to cope with the events of the day, according to notes.
I'm not using his name because I don't believe in giving remembrance to mass murderers. Let his name rot along with him. Please don't use it in comments either, I request most strongly.
His victims:
* Geneviève Bergeron (born 1968), civil engineering student
* Hélène Colgan (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
* Nathalie Croteau (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
* Barbara Daigneault (born 1967), mechanical engineering student
* Anne-Marie Edward (born 1968), chemical engineering student
* Maud Haviernick (born 1960), materials engineering student
* Maryse Laganière (born 1964), budget clerk in the École Polytechnique's finance department
* Maryse Leclair (born 1966), materials engineering student
* Anne-Marie Lemay (born 1967), mechanical engineering student
* Sonia Pelletier (born 1961), mechanical engineering student
* Michèle Richard (born 1968), materials engineering student
* Annie St-Arneault (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
* Annie Turcotte (born 1969), materials engineering student
* Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz (born 1958), nursing student
Je me souviens.
Submitted Without Comment
Correction: "A Nov. 26 article in the District edition of Local Living incorrectly said a Public Enemy song declared 9/11 a joke. The song refers to 911, the emergency phone number." — The Washington Post.
Quote of the Day
"If he works for the government, he'll get the same [healthcare] I have."—Senator Judd Gregg (R-Elentlesslydouchy), offering some hot advice to uninsured Americans. I guess bigger government is the new Republican platform…?
Dr. Nancy: —losing their healthcare. So what do you say to the average American who's played by all the rules, who can't have the same healthcare that you have, and you're one of our elected officials?Missing the Point Award.
Gregg:Well, uh, you know, if he, if he joins [laughs]—if he works for the government, he'll get the same I have. I mean, I have the same healthcare as a person who works for the Secret Service, works for the FBI, or works down at the local federal building. I mean, I don't have anything different than what an average federal [employee has].
Blub
[Trigger warning.]
107 slave laborers freed in Mexico City:
Mexican authorities have freed 107 indigenous people who officials say were being held as slave laborers in a Mexico City factory disguised as a drug rehabilitation center.There is much, much more at the link.
Twenty-three suspects were arrested in Thursday's raid, said Miguel Angel Mancera, Mexico City's attorney general. Two more were arrested Friday morning, officials said.
The victims ranged from 14 to 70 years old, and some were tortured, Mancera told CNN affiliate TV Azteca. Some victims also suffered sexual abuse, he said.
"They were beaten," he said. "Several have wounds, serious wounds. We even have some of the victims with fractures."
All of the victims were suffering from severe dehydration and malnutrition, he said. Some were taken to a hospital.
The captives, some of whom speak only indigenous languages and no Spanish, were locked in the building, which had bars on the windows and a fence outside, he said.
They made handbags and clothespins and were not paid. Their only daily meal consisted of chicken legs and rotten vegetables, Mancera said.
"The vast majority of the food we found was spoiled," he said.
Video of the inside of the building showed filthy and crowded living conditions.
The men and women worked 8 a.m. to midnight and were given only a half-hour food break. They were not allowed to go to the bathroom, and many soiled themselves, officials said.
The attorney general labeled it "cruel and inhuman treatment." The victims, he said, were abused mentally and physically, "with all sorts of pressure."
Most of the victims were nabbed off the street by some of the suspects under the guise of giving them treatment for alcoholism or drug addiction, the attorney general said.
"They take them by force, and they take them with the argument that they need to be rehabilitated, that they are addicts," Mancera said.
A few of the victims were brought there by family members who thought their loved ones would receive addiction treatment.
The facility has a sign in front identifying it as Hospital Santo Tomas, Los Eligidos de Dios, which means "St. Thomas Hospital, Those Chosen by God."
I don't know what to say, besides this: Human trafficking and slavery is an issue all over the planet, in every country, and in our backyards, wherever we are. There are some great organizations working to end human trafficking and slavery, and we can help by supporting them. Please feel free to leave links to organizations you support in comments. I will recommend donating to the Polaris Project.
Every teaspoon counts.
