wandering stars

Plane Tree and Sky by x1klima on Flickr.

[Photo: A plane tree against a blue sky with scattered clouds. The light is clear and somewhat harsh.]

Abstract environmentalism, the kind that doesn’t require any meaningful sacrifice, is very popular in California. The situation in Berkeley really embodies that; people are more than happy to do things that don’t undermine their own quality of life, and to lecture people on what they should be doing to save the planet, but when it comes to promoting more efficient and sustainable urban development, they’re suddenly silent. Or they’re actively arguing the other side.

s.e. smith, ‘The Contradictions of ‘Environmentally Conscious’ NIMBYs,’ this ain’t livin’

She was just a terrified 18-year-old rape victim emerging out of the foster system and into the adult world, and she got a sharp and horrible lesson about how “adults” treat each other, and how rape victims are handled in the “justice system.” I hope D.M. gets the justice she deserves, and more than that, I hope her case sends a signal that enough is enough: it’s time to stop intimidating young women brave enough to step forward and report, and we’re going to keep talking about rape until it stops happening.

In which I tackle the case of a rape victim forced to recant her accusations by the police, and considered a liar until three years later, when the serial rapist who had attacked her was arrested in a different state. Content note for rape on this piece.

There’s no wrong or right way to do gender; gender just is, and people live it and experience it in different ways. That’s totally a-okay for everyone, as long as people don’t feel the need to go around telling other people how to do it.

I wrote on xoJane today about the principal who told a 14-year-old boy to take his makeup off at a Florida school.

[Photo: Three Chinese astronauts sandwiched together, surrounded by equipment. One of them holds up a sign (in Chinese) reading ‘Happy Dragon Boat Festival.’]

womeninspace:

On wednesday the 12th, the crew of Shenzhou 10 send a greeting to all people participating in the dragon boat festival. The sign reads “Happy Dragon Boat Festival.”

Dragon Boat Festival in SPAAAAAAAAAACE!

↵ Reblogged from womeninspace

No, no, he is the real deal. He is one of us. He is a Native person I would love for my son to emulate. He “gets it.” We need to support him as he supports our communities. He’s starred, for free, in tons of small-time productions for independent Native filmmakers. Whether it’s helping out at ceremonies or speaking to Native youth or helping small-time filmmakers, he’s constantly available for our communities.

Gyasi Ross on Tatanka Means in Tiger Eyes, which I would have gone to see anyway because, HELLO, Judy Blume.

Who are these people? What are they doing? Why do we care? Is it commercial break yet?

My review of Mistresses, in four sentences.

[Photograph: A statue of a metallic and highly reflective silver octopus grappling with an oversized black rook from a chess set on a city sidewalk.]

Octopus playing chess. Created by Leigh Dyer

(Source: steampunktendencies)

↵ Originally from steampunktendencies

↵ Reblogged from cypheroftyr

You could say this is the NSA’s world and we’re just living in it, or you could say that as long as we’re still cracking jokes, no one can take the sky from us.

s.e. smith, ‘The Dystopia is Now, and So are the Parody Twitter Accounts,’ xoJane

There is, of course, much talk of women ‘having it all’ in an era when a very small and very privileged group of women is in a position to have a debate about whether it’s possible to ‘have it all.’ Few women are faced with the option of ascending the corporate ladder and promoting a capitalist system versus having a family. They shouldn’t necessarily be applauded for this achievement as though it’s a remarkable victory; inasmuch as capitalism is friendly to women, female CEOs are not necessarily going to represent better working conditions not just for their personnel, but for the scores of low-wage labourers who support the operations of their companies.

s.e. smith, ‘Having A Female CEO Doesn’t Make A Company ‘Woman-Friendly’,’ this ain’t livin’