Went digging for a couple of pictures of the only cat who lives in this flat.
CaitieCat at 29, with the kids at the playground.
CaitieCat at 41, in the playground, no kids for an excuse.
Daily Kitteh
Blog Note
Just a quick note: I just spoke to Liss this morning and I thought I'd let you all know she's planning to take a few more personal days.
Open Thread
Hosted by an Owl Sculpture.
*This week's open threads have been brought to you by Owls.
Owls, symbolizing bespectacled wisdom since 1700.
RIP Art Clokey
Art Clokey, creator of The Gumby Show and Davey and Goliath, died Friday. He was 88.
Open Thread
Hosted by Space Cowboy and a friend of the African Spotted variety.
(Whoops, just looked at SC's original email to me, and this is an African Spotted Eagle Owl. What a gorgeous owl, eh?)
The Virtual Pub Is Open
Over the teeth, behind the gums, look out stomach, here it comes!
Belly up to the bar, Shakers, and name your poison. Free fried spuds on the Spud tonight.
Quote of the Day
"We had no domestic attacks under Bush. We've had one under Obama." — Rudy Giuliani, discussing terrorism in the U.S., and somehow forgetting September 11, 2001.
Daily Puppeh & Kitteh
Friday Blogaround
Brought to you by Shaxco, makers of FilthTech brand Shit-in-a-can: Spray it all over the thread of your choice, and watch the fun begin! Hours of trolly entertainment in every tin!*
Quixotess: It's not a diet, it's lifestyle activism.
Tiger Beatdown: Acts of Contrition: Feminism, Privilege, and the Legacy of Mary Daly (a typically thorough and self-searching response to the passing of seriously problematic feminist Mary Daly)
Sociological Images: On Avatar, the Movie (spoiler warning; also has links to other interesting critique of the movie)
The Sexist: Explain the Hillary Clinton Nutcracker Joke
Mongoose Chronicles: Nobody Does Racist Like KFC
WitchWords: The Bizarro World of Anti-Gay Activists
Womanist Musings: Being Transgender in Prison Should Not Equal Torture
BC Holmes: Viktim (post about her most recent trip to Ayiti with an NGO)
Small Strokes Fell Big Oaks: Teaching Feminism: What Are Commercials Really Selling?
Motivated Grammar: Pronouncing 2010
The Pursuit of Harpyness: Women of the World, Put Out or Die in a Terrorist Attack
Feminazery: I’m Wearing a Silky Leopard-print Pushup Number with Apricot Lace Trim and Peepholes
Leave your links in comments...
* Also available in portable, airplane-friendly one-ounce squeeze tube, and The MegaBucket, a five-gallon drum with sprayer attachment. Not suitable for persons with empathy, compassion, or other reasons for anti-troll prejudice.
Taking Your Mace* And Going Home?
An open letter to the white cisgender hetero man** who is Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper:
Dear Sir,
It has come to my attention, as a voting Canadian, that you have once again suspended my democratic rights, by proroguing Parliament to avoid having to answer questions you didn't want to answer. I voted in the last election to have a voice in Ottawa, not to pay politicians for not working. I see no urgent need for the abrogation of my right to political expression, save that you don't want to lose power. Allow me please to say, "boo-hoo, wah-wah." If you can't keep a minority government running, then you don't have the confidence of Parliament, and should step down and call an election.
Yes, I understand that you would like to avoid being grilled over the role our troops have played in Afghanistan, and the horrid allegations of abuse and misprision in our name in that troubled country. My children also liked very much to try and avoid facing the responsibilities they had, but had to learn that when you take on a responsibility, it is yours until you are relieved of it.
No one has relieved you of responsibility for governing our country, sir. It is your responsibility - your solemn sworn duty - to have a government in place, working on new or amending old legislation, not to go swanning off to Florida or Cuba for a few months while the rest of us sweat to pay your salary.
Your behaviour is irresponsible and selfish, and grasping at power this way (don't think we don't know about the Senators you plan to appoint, free of review because Parliament isn't sitting, how convenient for you!) will only lead to a more thunderous defeat in the next election.
I suggest you consult with one Kim Campbell, left holding the bag for the historically impressively hated Conservatives by Brian Mulroney, and winning only two, yes TWO, seats in Parliament, down from a sitting majority. If you annoy us, you could be left looking for work as "former Prime Minister".
Or if my luck turns. Either way.
In the end, sir, let me put it succinctly:
Get your wooden ass back in your Parliamentary seat, and face your responsibilities. Are you an adult, or a child? Children evade their unpleasant tasks. We grown-ups know we have to do the unpleasant stuff too.
Which are you, sir? Which?
With contempt and abjuration,
CaitieCat
* The "mace" in the subject line refers to the ceremonial one, held by the Sergeant-at-arms in the House, and which is only brought into the House when it (the ouse) is sitting (i.e., in session).
** I have decided that all of my blog posts, from now on, will mention this kind of information about everyone I write about, not least to point out the absurdly othering and odious practice of only identifying people who vary from the "norm", Norm being a short-cut to saying "white cisgender hetero man". Let's see how it goes. I think it'll be eye-opening.
ETA: Shaker Vetiver dropped a couple of good links in comments:
How to find your MP
A Facebook group for anti-prorogation rallies across the country
Feel the Homomentum!
Portugal's parliament has passed a bill legalising same-sex marriage. When ratified, Portugal will become the sixth European country to make same-sex marriage legal.
More info here.
Radio Shakesville Call For Submissions
[I'm bumping this back up to the top for those who may have missed it yesterday. Keep those submissions coming!]
A while back I wrote a couple posts asking if any of you would be willing to contribute to a podcast made up solely of submissions from our community. The response, as a whole, was pretty positive.
Okay, so here's your chance. Send your original songs, karaoke recordings, audio collages, poems, rants, free jazz bass solos, whatever, to me via radioshakesville_at_yahoo_dot_com.
(Note, covers are cool too. Your work needn't be an original composition.)
Just FYI, I will only accept submission at the above email address. So if you've a link to your work, please send it to me (as opposed to just dropping it in comments.)
Also note, by submitting something to me, you're affirming it is your work. Don't send me some Mötley Crüe bootleg and tell me it's your band from high school. I mean, unless you're actually Nikki Sixx. In which case that would be okay, but I probably wouldn't include anyway. So don't bother, Nikki. Sorry.
And again, I'll listen to just about anything. I don't care if it's country or jazz or oboe sonatas or mash-ups or karaoke. (If you've listened to the show, you know it's all over the map, musically speaking.) Just submit something.
Question of the Day
What is your favorite piece of classical music?
This is on my mind, because I downloaded the Vienna Orchestra's 2010 New Year's Day concert last night and listened to it all night and on the way to work this morning. It has three of my favorite compositions: The Overture for "Die Fledermaus," "Radetzky March, Op. 228," and "An Der Schönen Blauen Donau." Prost!
It's A Fact!
Top five bounty hunters in the Star Wars universe (in descending order):
1. Bossk
2. IG-88
3. Greedo
4. Boba Fett
5. 4-LOM
(See also here, here, here and here.)
[Cross-posted.]
