tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35090531562806554792011-12-29T12:08:39.884-05:00habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.comBlogger5971100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-85162376396771352092010-12-22T13:38:00.003-05:002010-12-22T13:54:47.967-05:00

I will be the first to admit that there is a part of me that has been a bit disillusioned with President Obama. Sometimes I feel as if my hope was misplaced.Today however...with a stroke of many pens, President Obama kept one of his promises. Don't Ask Don't Tell is no more.There was a conversation I had maybe a year ago while at a pub sitting next to an elderly military man. He tried to

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-4452243743721187642010-06-28T20:53:00.003-04:002010-06-28T21:05:26.009-04:00

This past weekend was PrideFest in Knoxville, Tennessee. Prior plans meant we did not attend the festivities downtown. In order to make up for it, I went to all news avenues in the area to read about the success of the event. We went last year and while it is no San Fran or DC pride, it was at least our local version of it and we were proud. At the very least I expected some sort of coverage

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-25312633248287391092010-06-05T22:16:00.004-04:002010-06-05T22:37:24.895-04:00

Today I have seen two new articles that bring Haiti back to the forefront of my mind. So much of me has been trying to deal, from afar, with the devastation that is happening in the Gulf from the oil spill. It has indeed caused me to forget other parts of the world. It's funny how life will conspire to make you come back to the realization that much effects many at any given time.Story One:I

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-64397955373123890792010-05-30T19:09:00.003-04:002010-05-30T19:18:04.261-04:00

There is not enough woo in the world!The fake feminism of Sarah Palin Today, however, Palin is happily adopting the feminist label. She's throwing support behind "mama grizzly" candidates, describing the large number of women in the "tea party" as evidence of a "mom awakening" and preaching girl power on her Facebook page. It's not a realization of the importance of women's rights that's

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-48529725004467336472010-05-06T10:47:00.002-04:002010-05-06T10:54:13.770-04:00

When silence is not golden.Keeping Score: University of Virginia tragedy could have been prevented"People can't close their eyes anymore," Kaplan said. "They can't pretend it's not happening. I hope there will be more support on a state level and more specifically on each campus for mandatory, thorough education on gender-based violence."In the meantime, if students have friends who are

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-34471341155909190632010-02-15T10:32:00.003-05:002010-02-15T10:53:39.983-05:00

One Man’s Journey to Change the World, One Child At A Time By Greg Mortenson & David Oliver RelinI just finished reading this book and find myself still in awe of it. If you've not read the book, it is a must read. Check out some information here. Greg Mortenson established the Central Asia Institute whose mission is described as follows:Central Asia Institute’s mission is to promote and

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-18231716315537347882010-01-09T18:51:00.005-05:002010-01-21T14:08:05.421-05:00

Check out the Women's eNews link about the May 6, 2010 Gala Benefit Dinner Honoring 21 Leaders for 21st Century 2010. Seriously...go check it out!With seven individuals in three categories: Seven Who Invent a Better Future, Seven Who Rewrite the Rules, and Seven Who Seize Autonomy, I cannot think of a more inspiring way to open the 2010 season of The Feminist Underground. True, posts have been

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-70734955439999980442009-10-09T21:24:00.004-04:002009-10-09T21:28:17.109-04:00

Lest we ever forget that for all the struggles we move through each and every day, there have been many before us who have forged the path, endured, and challenged us to fight the very thing that wishes to tear us down.Fanny Burney Pioneered Breast Cancer AwarenessHere's to those brave women we have known who continue on in the legacy we choose to honor them with and to those brave women we know

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-16680218686560167842009-10-09T18:08:00.004-04:002009-10-09T21:31:42.929-04:00

Let me see how many people I can annoy with this post. If there isn't a one, then I guess Habladora might have a leg to stand on as far as this blog not reaching the people who need to be challenged. However, I believe I can annoy someone. I've managed to do it before on topics that I fully anticipated to be innocuous. So, come on people, don't let me down now. Read the following article by

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-22697175567641718462009-10-08T14:49:00.003-04:002009-10-08T15:05:29.557-04:00

I've written posts and responses in the past that have landed me in some hot water. I've been in trouble for trying to explain the backlog that exists in forensic science, especially when it comes to sexual assault cases. I've been in trouble because my job as an unbiased scientist who has to testify in court is bound by the notion that it is not my place to label the sexual assault a rape. Oh

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-20726270795970652202009-09-12T23:35:00.006-04:002009-09-13T00:15:27.624-04:00

Once upon a time (long ago) I used to post regularly - daily - here on The F.U. And then I got a full-time job. A job that pays in dollars rather than hits and links. A job that has nothing to do with either writing or feminism. And this life, my blogging life, faded away - making way for the life that pays the bills.But the need to pay the bills wasn't the only reason I stopped writing. I

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-48195659657441408722009-09-03T14:31:00.001-04:002009-09-03T14:33:11.474-04:00

Ah...The Onion...such a bright spot in my day.

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-87163466955407769602009-07-26T05:51:00.003-04:002009-07-26T05:57:59.742-04:00

This is another post I have up on Jump off the Bridge for the Blogathon. I've been blogging for almost 24 hours now to raise money for READ Foundation.I have to admit that I had zero interest in watching 16 & Pregnant when I learned about it. MTV is all about reality tv nowadays, and a lot of it is crap, so I just assumed this would be too. But people were posting about the show all over the

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-985340692204303352009-07-25T19:07:00.004-04:002009-07-25T19:17:26.743-04:00

I'm currently participating in Blogathon 2009 over at Jump off the Bridge. I'm posting every 30 minutes for 24 hours in order to raise money for READ Foundation by getting great people like you to sponsor me. I've decided to re-post some of the posts here at TheFU, but you can take a look at all of my Blogathon posts here, and sponsor me if you can to encourage me to make it all the way

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-55927473614598353732009-07-14T10:15:00.002-04:002009-07-14T10:15:00.307-04:00

For those of you who don't already know, the confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor started yesterday. You can get a rundown of some of the highlights (and lowlights... is that not a word?) here, here and here.I haven't actually gotten a chance to see the videos from yesterday, but I did check Twitter from time to time to see what people's reactions were. I want to hold my tongue until

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-15275474050601396102009-06-20T07:35:00.003-04:002009-06-20T07:43:12.966-04:00

I'm currently at the NOW conference in Indianapolis, learning from and engaging with other super feminists. Keep up with the coverage on Twitter with the #now09 hashtag.Right now I'm prepping for the feminist blogging workshop I'm on the panel for. WOOT! Stop by if you're here (it's at 11:15 in the Plaza Ballroom), but don't worry if you're not because I'll be posting a recap here afterwards.

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-41854169317631319952009-06-19T20:28:00.003-04:002009-06-19T20:44:43.315-04:00

Every so often I come across a bit of news that takes me back to what I know I need to do. As a feminist lesbian scientist I run across some closed minds. It doesn’t happen often. I generally think it is because there is a certain sense of fear. People who disapprove of who I am are reluctant to say so. Honestly, I would prefer to hear what they have to say so I can respond. Society as a

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-32272301895363994002009-06-05T19:58:00.002-04:002009-06-05T20:03:44.940-04:00

I realize this post does not generally fall into The Feminist Underground themes, but I'm going with it anyway because it is on my mind. And sometimes a girl just has to speak her mind.The 65th anniversary of D-Day is tomorrow. There has been all the uproar with the Queen not receiving an invitation until the last minute; so last minute that she can't pull together the security detail to get

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-12765271162973885962009-05-31T14:58:00.004-04:002009-05-31T15:07:51.203-04:00

Those who don't believe in abortion find the appropriate course of action to be to kill those who provide it? Is that supposed to be some sort of Biblical justice? Sigh.

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-25607190775086234032009-05-26T20:37:00.003-04:002009-05-26T20:47:24.492-04:00

It's not as if I expected the California Supreme Court to overturn Prop8. How does the Court override the voice of the people? Well, it doesn't, as was the fear.My dear friends now find themselves once again struggling with their love being negated by a mass of people who shouldn't have anything to do with it. Not separate rights...simply equal rights. Their love, my friends love, my love

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-30831284383372133652009-05-26T11:45:00.000-04:002009-05-26T11:47:22.295-04:00

It's official! President Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayer for Supreme Court Justice. As most articles are noting, she is the first person of Latino heritage to be nominated for the Supreme Court.I have to admit that I don't know very much about her, only the little that I've been able to keep up with over the past few weeks of speculation. But she seems a good pick! What do you all think?

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-47945867930174208182009-05-14T19:48:00.000-04:002009-05-14T19:48:01.620-04:00

Just got this emailed to me: New Yorkers for Safe Transit PresentsTaking Back Public Transit: Ending Violence On BoardMonday, June 8th, 7:00 pm, Brecht Forum, 451 West St. (btwn. Bank & Bethune)You shouldn’t have to compromise your safety and well-being to simply get across town. Unfortunately, many New Yorkers do. Harassment — and even violent attacks — are happening on subways and at station

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-43507268411154459612009-04-23T13:41:00.001-04:002009-04-23T13:41:00.917-04:00

Last month, I posted for Back Up Your Birth Control Day and mentioned that the courts wanted the FDA to consider lowering the age of prescription-less access to emergency contraception from 18 to 17. The FDA considered it, and they have agreed.On last month's BC/EC post, Mächtige Maus and I started a discussion in the comments about how young is too young to have access to emergency contraception

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-22854065866711376552009-04-22T18:36:00.003-04:002009-04-22T18:53:03.752-04:00

It is true that I have often thought I should have been born into a European culture. There are many things that appeal to me: an awesome mass transit system, vacation time that encourages something beyond work, a deep sense of culture/family, and the immediate access to fruits of the earth. The latter really is more at the top of the list. I appreciate the ability to walk out the door and

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-35565991661663379342009-04-16T11:07:00.004-04:002009-04-16T11:17:59.617-04:00

Since we here at The Feminist Underground are fond of talking roller derby (see posts here and here), I thought it my duty to bring this to the attention of our readers. Oh the things that will bring about a lawsuit: Frito-Lay suing roller derby skater over use of 'Crackerjack'Colleen Bell says no one's ever confused her with a snack.Her roller derby name, Crackerjack, is too similar to the name

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-73721360407641950782009-04-15T13:25:00.003-04:002009-04-15T13:52:29.779-04:00

Honestly, this could be a series if I wanted to make it one. "The Joy of Tennessee - A Study of Repression and Fear" or some such title. Currently the ACLU is demanding that Tennessee schools stop blocking student access to valid LGBT resources.Knox County Schools and Metro Nashville Public School use web filtering software that blocks student access to the websites of many well-known national

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-20981342959813515122009-04-06T18:49:00.004-04:002009-04-06T18:59:22.425-04:00

I have tried to come up with something to write in conjunction with the following paragraph from New York Contributor David Samuels, but I am failing because I honestly cannot come up with a reasonable explanation behind it.There are clear limits to Michelle’s ambition. She went to excellent schools, got decent grades, stayed away from too much intellectual heavy lifting, and held a series of

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-10759539153946473852009-04-03T10:00:00.001-04:002009-04-03T11:44:45.292-04:00

This past weekend, I attended the Women, Action & the Media Conference (WAM!) in Boston. It was a great weekend that offered over forty workshops and panels, a film series, two keynote talks, and a "genius bar" allowing conference-goers to sign up for time with media experts throughout the conference.I started on Friday with the session PR: Getting Your Work Out There. It definitely set the tone

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-1097414415962789622009-03-27T10:24:00.004-04:002009-03-27T12:59:28.299-04:00

The following article in The New York Times about how mistrials are on the rise due to jury misconduct disturbs me.It might be called a Google mistrial. The use of BlackBerrys and iPhones by jurors gathering and sending out information about cases is wreaking havoc on trials around the country, upending deliberations and infuriating judges. The justice system already finds itself up against the "

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-48857253309915550952009-03-25T10:33:00.001-04:002009-03-25T10:35:10.887-04:00

Today is the Back Up Your Birth Control Day of Action!The Back Up Your Birth Control campaign focuses on increasing awareness of and accessibility to emergency contraception (EC). It's important to get the right information out there about EC. It is NOT the abortion pill. It is NOT dangerous. It is NOT 100% effective (no form of contraception is).It always amazes me how little some women know

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-1137381022355358382009-03-21T09:33:00.000-04:002009-03-21T09:33:05.677-04:00

Time for a little shameless self-promotion here at TheFU.Have you gotten a chance to check out the Legendary Latinas series over on Jump off the Bridge? In it, I've been highlighting the lives and work of Latinas who have been an inspiration to me in celebration of Women's History Month. Here's a peak at the profiles:Frida KahloWhat I really want to do is show why it was so easy for me to love a

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-12869639160624988052009-03-17T07:17:00.004-04:002009-03-17T09:27:58.692-04:00

I think ABC News has been following my comments around the blogosphere, because they're reporting on what I've been saying for months now: When Mom Becomes the Breadwinner: Recession's Economic Toll Is Causing Some Couples Marital IssuesI learned in my Women's Studies courses that, like most things in this world, unemployment and economic issues are gendered, and that the personal effects of

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-22598709373216677942009-03-09T16:13:00.005-04:002009-03-11T16:06:23.759-04:00

What is this crazy gender equality talk going on across the pond?Has Margot Wallstrom been reading our blog?I am lucky to come from a country - Sweden - where gender equality is practically taken for granted.In order to create a level playing field there must at least be decent childcare systems in place. Let me be very clear: I am not arguing that women are better than men. What I am arguing is

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-65142252466808927432009-03-08T03:14:00.003-04:002009-03-08T15:31:22.953-04:00

It's International Women's Day! Celebrated every year on March 8th, it's a time to reflect on the accomplishments and advancements made to women's rights around the world. It is obviously also a great time to think about how to move forward - there's never time for a day off when there's social justice to think about.In terms of accomplishments, there are many to look at. Going back to the

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-38293623566420804912009-03-06T15:21:00.003-05:002009-03-06T15:27:51.575-05:00

My only hope is that the word on the street is wrong when it comes to Prop8 being upheld in California. The quote that pissed me off the most is this:"Proposition 8 does not erode any of the bundle of rights that this state has very generously provided" to same-sex couples. - Kenneth Starr, lawyer for Protect Marriage, the sponsor of Prop.Oh really? Well how frickin' nice to be allowed to

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-20575989087693660282009-03-04T20:19:00.003-05:002009-03-04T20:21:36.594-05:00

I am just now watching a re-run of The Daily Show with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and all I can think is that she is not supposed to be sitting there on The Daily Show...she is supposed to still be sitting on the Supreme Court.It's true...that is all I've got.

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-80807168035188938462009-03-03T14:22:00.003-05:002009-03-03T14:28:50.001-05:00

Here I am, an immigrant who struggled to perfect my English so that I'd be accepted. I'm a woman who has trouble taking orders from anybody, but especially men. I have more debt than I feel comfortable admitting to. I did not grow up wealthy (AT ALL). I know what gunshots sound like in real life. The only thing I've ever (co)owned is the car my guy and I bought from his father for $1,000 that was

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-46404945301696633272009-02-27T13:56:00.002-05:002009-02-27T14:02:46.293-05:00

Alright folks, good news for this Friday: Word on the street is that Obama will be repealing Bush’s last-minute anti-choice “conscience” rule. I wrote about the rule a few months ago, and my pro-choice wish for the new administration was for them to take repro rights seriously, so I'm thrilled to hear that he's taking action. NARAL is asking everyone to send Obama thank you notes for taking a

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-89504086529542381102009-02-22T15:35:00.003-05:002009-02-22T15:45:21.234-05:00

North Dakota, as you've probably heard, has passed a bill that states “any organism with the genome of homo sapiens” is a person deserving of full civil rights. Can you name three disturbing implications of this new definition of ''human"? Kris-Stella of Coffee Shop Philosophy can, and if you haven't read her post you should do so here.

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-18445821195095518762009-02-21T18:25:00.009-05:002009-02-21T20:28:06.349-05:00

I don't like bullfighting. Sure, I've read The Sun Also Rises and watched Hable con ella - but watching an actual bullfight made my tummy so queasy that I had to leave early (just because the guidebook tells you that bullfights in Arles are "no-kill" doesn't make it true). So I was surprised to find myself feeling... inspired while reading about the life of Conchita Cintrón, the bullfighter

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-63883245984533688502009-02-20T17:01:00.005-05:002009-02-25T10:34:57.973-05:00

I realize that it seems like every week is a bad week for me, but damn I guess it's been a bad month. So because this is not a Beatles blog, I will spare you all countless Beatles videos (though ummm, you can watch one here) and instead share the latest from Sarah Haskins, Target Women: Skin Care.(Click here if you can't see the video.)

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-71286284381427453552009-02-19T17:49:00.005-05:002009-02-19T18:10:45.242-05:00

In case you haven't noticed, there's some conversation rumbling around the feminist blogosphere.Earlier this week on my post about the feminist label, Mandy Van Deven linked to the guest post she co-wrote with Brittany Shoot over at Professor, What If...: What if the feminist blogosphere is a form of digital colonialism? In it, they make some great points, some not-so-great points, and some great

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-86266659759299603752009-02-16T10:48:00.001-05:002009-02-16T12:35:54.812-05:00

I think it's finally happened... my brain simply can't wrap its head around the conflicting ideals within the feminist "movements."*I've been thinking a lot lately about the label "feminism." After the Fem2.0 Conference, there was a lot of talk in the blogosphere about what is considered a feminist blog (see here and here, for example). One of the first things that came to my mind when I saw

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-40195294108064202782009-02-08T13:48:00.002-05:002009-02-08T13:50:30.943-05:00

Coming out the Feminism 2.0 conference I had a bit of an epiphany. The bloggers/activists panel attended by Tedra Osell of Bitch Ph.d , Liza Sabater of Culture Kitchen, and Kim Gandy, former president of NOW, was probably one of the most useful conference panels I’ve attended since I’ve been attending conferences.Feminist organizations, cannot treat the major feminist bloggers (or the major women

NewsCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049304894327723728noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-72864042566298067912009-02-06T22:40:00.005-05:002009-02-25T10:35:20.158-05:00

I'm going to go ahead and be honest here -- I've had a long week at work and could not wait to get home. I could've used some yummy chocolate at that point, but it's more fun (and less calories) to laugh at Sarah Haskins talking about chocolate instead. So drop that brownie or chocolate bar you're eating, and tune in:Want more funny? Check out the Target Women: Super Special over at Jump off the

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-48276311581972877552009-01-30T13:55:00.005-05:002009-02-01T15:16:03.734-05:00

Okay...I am sneaking this post in at work in between DNA extractions and a pile of post-move paperwork because I am simply dying to know. What are some of the opinions floating around out there about the octuplets?Outrage? (Scientifically speaking) Joy? (The miracle of birth) Astonishment? (What was wrong with six) None of society's damn business? (This one speaks for itself).Addendum:I

Mächtige Mausnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-49796038068732975242009-01-29T15:16:00.001-05:002009-01-29T15:18:22.269-05:00

So happy!

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-11719942627505481672009-01-27T22:21:00.005-05:002009-01-27T22:53:09.995-05:00

Some notes on the new job. Basically, I really like it. Yet, I couldn't help but notice:1. The expectations of dress are dramatically different for men and women. Male professors often teach their classes in jeans, female in full suits or skirts and heels. I haven't yet figured out how much of this is due to the personalities of the professors and staff, and how much is due to different

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-63242387280979604592009-01-27T15:40:00.004-05:002009-01-27T15:42:20.387-05:00

I love hot women as much as the next person, but what is up with this Chickipedia website?!According to its About page, this website is "the first female-only encyclopedia of the people, by the people, and for the people," whatever the heck that means. While I think it's great to have a space to celebrate women's achievements and have no problem admiring their hotness at the same time, this is

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-7206928112143698752009-01-22T14:58:00.003-05:002009-01-22T15:02:08.868-05:00

I'm breaking the silence here for Blog for Choice Day!The theme is "What is your top pro-choice hope for President Obama and/or the new Congress?"I'll keep this really simple -- My hope is that everything is done to ensure that Roe v. Wade is not overturned. I want Obama to select Supreme Court Justices that will actually take women's rights, especially women's choice, seriously.It is the 36th

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-5922708190951896632009-01-19T14:46:00.003-05:002009-01-19T14:52:10.991-05:00

This just because I'm feeling happy about saying goodbye to President Bush tomorrow:I hope you're all celebrating in your own ways!

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-62671826224182840122009-01-18T15:50:00.009-05:002009-01-18T16:36:50.453-05:00

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday for those of us living in the U.S. of A., and many of us will have the day off. We're not supposed to just sit around and watch Bewitched reruns though, MLK Day is a national day of service. That's right, as Isaac Newton Farris, Jr. - Martin Luther King's nephew - recently explained on my local NPR station, Martin Luther King Day was

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-5644209852220676052009-01-14T11:02:00.003-05:002009-01-14T11:15:09.033-05:00

If you are a regular reader of news, you probably read all about Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearing yesterday. You may have heard that it went swimmingly, or that there were questions about conflict of interest, or that a lot of it was about policy with countries like Iran. What seems to be getting left out of these stories is a lovely exchange between Clinton and Senator Barbara Boxer.

Jessicanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-59379848844333922142009-01-13T21:08:00.003-05:002009-01-13T21:14:22.630-05:00

For those looking for some interesting feminist blogs to read, here's a "top 100" list that managed to introduce me to some new sites. Take a look and, yes, you'll see us included in the excellent company. Yeah!

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-51815346882669872672009-01-11T18:22:00.003-05:002009-01-11T18:48:47.568-05:00

If you get as bored with the internet on Sunday as I do, here's a couple little things to peruse until everything gets going again tomorrow morning.I don't know if you're as sick of whiny relationship memoirs as I am, but even I couldn't stop reading this one posted on Salon. Something about it just brought the whole thing to a new low. The very simple story? Freelance writer of

Jessicanoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-69166222744735231702009-01-07T11:07:00.003-05:002009-01-07T11:15:59.331-05:00

I am a complete bookworm, and I'm at my most annoying at the end of the year when I like to compile lists of my favorite books and bug people to read them. While I was putting my 2008 list together, I thought I'd keep an eye out for any good books for feminists and those who love them, and was surprised by my results. There was only one book you'd find in your regular fiction section that I can

Jessicanoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-57530057592942752872009-01-05T21:51:00.004-05:002009-01-05T22:19:26.935-05:00

Today was supposed to be the day when everything returned to normal here at The Feminist Underground - we're back from travel and our visiting friends have all returned to their homes; but... I've accepted a job! No, not with these doods. Instead I'm teaching at a local college, and doing some T.A. training and supervising too.Great news for my bank account, but I'm feeling a little melancholy.

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-73151171603225740872009-01-02T13:26:00.007-05:002009-01-03T00:46:06.103-05:00

Note to readers: Today we are honored to have as a guest-blogger Jake Aryeh Marcus, a public interest lawyer who works to defend the rights of those who face discrimination due to their gender or sexual orientation. She is the founder and director of Survivors as Mothers, a non-profit advocacy group for mothers who were themselves abused as children, and writes for Mothering magazine. These are

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-31279071168896287992008-12-31T00:00:00.000-05:002008-12-31T00:00:01.177-05:00

During my short time here at The Feminist Underground, I've been quite impressed at the sheer awesomeness of this blog. I thought a great way to look back at the year and to celebrate the blog is to highlight some of the posts that have started the most conversation here.I based this list on the number of comments, but took out some of the posts that weren't so much a discussion as they were a

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-10605805337777185812008-12-24T14:41:00.003-05:002008-12-24T14:50:14.909-05:00

Our lovely blogmistress Habladora is traveling at the moment and it is the week of mayhem, so posting will be light for the next week or so. Hope you enjoy your: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Festivus, secular days off, days working miserably when everyone else is off, etc. =)Let's laugh along with our best friend, Sarah Haskins, in celebration of 2008. CHEERS!

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-19356284575736780832008-12-22T19:43:00.002-05:002008-12-22T19:46:26.628-05:00

This week I got the chance to watch two movies that I've wanted to see for a while now: Teeth and Itty Bitty Titty Committee. They were both awesome!Teeth was absolutely hilarious. It's about a girl who has made a pledge to remain abstinent until marriage, until a few complications arise. Her hormones start to kick in and pushed to overdrive because of a dreamy guy she meets. As she's dealing

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-68210586182451985242008-12-18T22:28:00.004-05:002008-12-18T22:32:52.404-05:00

Bush seems determined to make some of his worst decisions in the final days of his presidency. He's just upped the ante by issuing the "conscience" rule, which gives health providers (including pharmacists) the right to refuse performing procedures or giving treatments that are against their religious or moral beliefs.Here are a few scenarios in which this rule can be applied:1) Somebody goes to

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-47854739052535906772008-12-18T01:38:00.001-05:002008-12-18T01:39:43.926-05:00

Economic crisis or no, most of us will still be doing some gift-giving this December. That's right, your mom needs presents, so you've got shopping to do. If you're still looking for good feminist gifts for Mom - or anyone else - here are some of our best ideas:1. Women in Science points us to several good present ideas for the nrrrd grrrls on the list. My favorite is a "this is what a

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-78531894093097831392008-12-17T09:12:00.000-05:002008-12-17T12:36:04.653-05:00

Watch ladies from the 80's explain how we women go about our man-hunting all wrong (!), then let me know if you think dating advice has really changed much since the shoulder-pad era:(h/t Guanabee)

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-92075686065586638592008-12-16T19:20:00.000-05:002008-12-16T19:50:46.128-05:00

Professor, What If...? has a post I'm filing under 'things I wish I'd written' which discusses the racism and sexism frequently seen over at PostSecret. Here's a small taste:...many postcards don’t indicate “dealing” with issues so much as offloading them so they don’t have to be dealt with. Using an “airing dirty laundry” schema, the site allows “secrets” to be purged, making it “ok” to be

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-77818293071878449252008-12-15T17:05:00.023-05:002008-12-16T20:40:12.749-05:00

As much as I love freelancing, I am also searching for a full-time position. Yes, I know it is foolish to trade working in my pajamas and setting my own schedule for a guaranteed income, but what can I say - I'm crazy that way. So, this means I'm interviewing - and I recently had one interview that, well, posed a question: what do you do if you're asked an illegal question during an interview?

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-80546721862563724672008-12-12T14:03:00.006-05:002008-12-12T14:24:42.731-05:00

Let's all celebrate the fact that I no longer have a fever, and that I'm back to posting on TheFU... by laughing with Sarah Haskins! I've never been a big fan of expensive jewelry (though I love cool, handmade jewelry like FeministGal's), so jewelry commercials have always made me scratch my head in confusion. People really spend all that money on these things?! On a regular basis?! Oh my.

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-195589189550398492008-12-11T20:43:00.000-05:002008-12-11T20:50:13.326-05:00

Google Book Search has recently added a massive collection of vintage Popular Science magazines dating back to the 1800's and, throughout the decades, most issues spend a considerable number of pages dedicated to the controversial questions of Lady Brains and The Woman Question. Here are some classics:From May 1872 (p. 87): "...excellent suggestions are frequently made by those who are not

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-10529804908397960792008-12-11T20:38:00.002-05:002008-12-11T21:19:27.503-05:00

I couldn't not post this as soon as I saw it because it's just too disgusting:Ambulance Attendants Accused of Molesting PatientsWhat kind of country/world do we live in where this is even a possibility?! You'd think that in a situation where a person is most defenseless -- in an ambulance, presumably en route to the hospital because of an emergency -- that would be the safest place to be. The

sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01054413520223145494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-86764813245760904462008-12-10T10:10:00.003-05:002008-12-10T10:22:19.465-05:00

You're at home in your jammies now, right? No!?? Damn it, people - you were supposed to call in sick today, with a bad case of the gays. Because, if we're going to treat gay as a disease, then we should get sick leave for it. But the point won't sink in unless we all do this at once, and today is the day. So, go find your boss and tell her that you've got to go home - you feel a case of the

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-52838745934469174892008-12-09T15:32:00.003-05:002008-12-09T16:20:46.225-05:00

You remember that little kid who wrote an advice book that warned all males to steer clear of 'pretty girls' - girls who "have big earrings, fancy dresses and all the jewelry but are like cars that need a lot of oil"? Remember how Harper Collins gave this little dood a book deal (and, yet, they still won't return my calls)? Well, now he's sold the film rights to Fox. Classic.Seriously, you

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-63277712081431606002008-12-08T23:23:00.004-05:002008-12-08T23:36:46.064-05:00

Over at Daily Kos, SusanG has noticed something about President-Elect Obama's most recent weekly address:Aside from the commitment to what sounds like a great progressive stimulus plan, one sentence struck me: Will your job or your husband’s job or your daughter’s job be the next one cut?. Read that closely. In a speech about universal fears and hardship, he is addressing his primary listeners as

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-24985674413975256632008-12-04T21:35:00.007-05:002008-12-04T22:22:32.795-05:00

The right to wed is not the only civil right under attack for lesbian and gay couples in these United States. While all eyes have been turned towards California, the right of lesbian and gay couples to parent adopted or foster children has suffered a major setback:Arkansas residents recently voted to ban people who are "cohabitating outside of a valid marriage," as Shelley and Ross do, from

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-72183508513282288762008-12-03T21:43:00.006-05:002008-12-03T22:13:42.518-05:00

Kids, I'm not saying you should try this at home, but I have to admit I'm impressed: ...when a San Diego dad who preferred not to be named found himself hogtied by house burglars, his teen-aged daughter--a tae kwon do black belt--fought them off until he was able to free himself and run for help. Father and daughter both survived the ordeal in fine health.You can read more over at San Diego's

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-75087876821036479702008-12-03T13:16:00.000-05:002008-12-03T13:17:34.930-05:00

I apologize for my complete lack of posting. I haven't been feeling well, which is one excuse. But the real one is that sometimes it's just hard to find a good idea that sticks and is post-able. When they do come, it can be from strange places. Like last night, when the fluff-mystery novel I was reading happened to have a little side-plot on female genital mutilation and for some reason this

Jessicanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-56633089070139609192008-12-03T09:05:00.004-05:002008-12-03T11:12:24.890-05:00

First, a word about Nice Guys™:“Nice Guys™”: The “™” marks the difference between men who are genuinely nice people and men with entitlement issues who wail “but I’m a nice guy!”. There are two types, which often overlap in one individual:a guy who believes that the simple act of being decent means that the universe owes him a girlfriend.[defn from Mickle][more from Jeff Fecke at Shakesville]men

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-10094249284716460212008-12-02T21:04:00.002-05:002008-12-02T21:07:32.317-05:00

Damn... it looks like the good guy lost.

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-9161218101175234762008-12-01T19:41:00.006-05:002008-12-01T20:33:13.926-05:00

Alright, Georgia - it's time for us to vote again. The runoff election between Jim Martin and incumbent Saxby Chambliss is TOMORROW, December 2nd. You can check your polling place here.Why am I supporting Martin, you ask? It's true, he's not quite as progressive as most of us would like, but he's the pro-choice candidate and would help build a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. And, as

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-28226774229228818922008-11-25T18:27:00.005-05:002008-11-25T19:20:59.026-05:00

Don't think of it as being ignored. We're not ignoring you. We not only hear you clamoring for new posts, we're listening.That being said... we're on holiday! Posting will be light until we return from all of our Thanksgiving travels. If you find yourself missing the wit and feminist insight you usually find here, visit Free Rice and play some quiz games to pass the time as you pine for

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-15180329805114593722008-11-23T22:59:00.001-05:002008-11-23T23:42:45.463-05:00

1. The military is pushing for a repeal of the 'don't ask don't tell' policy.2. In England and Wales, laws regulating prostitution are about to be changed. "Anyone who knowingly pays illegally trafficked women for sex could face rape charges, while kerb crawlers could face prosecution for a first offence."3. Brazil is 'cracking down' on women who've received illegal abortions, investigating and

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-79626714868799762582008-11-21T12:07:00.004-05:002009-02-25T10:35:20.160-05:00

Yeah, I know the election is over, but since it turns out we're all a bunch of huge Sarah Vowell fans here, I couldn't help but post her interview with David Letterman. Also, this will give you an idea of what I want for Christmas:That's right, I want to hang out with Sarah Vowell. You all can set that up for me, right?For the day's final Sarah, we bring you the latest in Sarah Haskin's Target

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-32004498865429176742008-11-20T18:48:00.000-05:002008-11-21T00:20:57.320-05:00

Today has been designated as a day to mourn those who we have lost, people taken from us through violence and acts of hate. Mourning is important, and so is fighting. And the fight to end the hatred cannot be regulated to only one day. We must remember those who've been abused or killed and let that memory embolden us to oppose bigotry whenever and wherever we see it. Lindsay gives us one way

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-65093564358612643662008-11-19T21:06:00.010-05:002008-11-19T23:19:12.038-05:00

As a local Charlottesville newspaper, The Hook, reports:Four years after the college safety nonprofit Security on Campus filed a complaint against UVA for its mishandling of sexual assault cases, the Department of Education has ruled that the university has, in fact, violated federal law by threatening victims of sexual assault with punishment if they spoke about their cases. The ruling has major

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-28231514336945831122008-11-19T12:56:00.014-05:002008-11-19T14:41:51.462-05:00

So, I went on this date once - obviously, this was awhile ago - with a fellow grad student (he was in the English Department, I was in the Spanish Department). The conversation turned to our favorite books and authors, and I listed a few I was excited about at the time. I'd just discovered Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, so that made the top of the list. Sarah Vowell is one of my favorite

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-62370777912636840512008-11-18T22:15:00.005-05:002008-11-18T23:12:05.878-05:00

As Ms. reports, the plan by the HHS to give medical workers the right to refuse services to patients on moral grounds might have yet another scary consequence for women:The Bush administration is planning an 11th-hour rule change that could open a new spigot of government money to “crisis pregnancy centers”—fake, anti-choice clinics whose mission is to convince pregnant women not to have

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-58257297485911743272008-11-17T22:28:00.006-05:002008-11-17T23:09:45.279-05:00

If The Guardian is to be believed, it's pretty much a done deal:Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned.Obama's advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton's foundation, which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with development,

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-27696948712084411882008-11-17T21:31:00.008-05:002008-11-17T22:02:28.421-05:00

A 16-year-old girl has been chosen to play on a Japanese men's baseball team, and is set to become the first woman to play professional baseball in Japan:High school student Eri Yoshida was drafted by the Kobe 9 Cruise, a professional team in a new independent Japanese league that will start its first season in April. "I always dreamed of becoming a professional," Yoshida, who is 5-feet (152-

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-58584351783464790902008-11-17T20:42:00.006-05:002008-11-17T23:11:48.083-05:00

Yes, it has been shown that women and men actually speak the same number of words each day, but that doesn't mean that we have to give up super-clever jokes like this one:Get it? It's funny because girl-people are so different and incomprehensible and other. Sure, it might not be 'scientifically true' that women talk more than men, but it just feels so true - probably because we've been exposed

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-62118635290938800632008-11-16T17:37:00.006-05:002008-11-17T12:28:21.470-05:00

These are a few of the stories that got us talking this week:1. Antonin Scalia sounded like a complete ass on Monday as the Supreme Court heard arguments on a federal gun ban that bars those convicted of domestic violence from owning guns.2. What should Obama do about sex ed?3. A Texas pastor attempts to 'take back sex for married couples' by challenging the legally wed members of his

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-89348565649845863762008-11-14T15:22:00.002-05:002008-11-14T15:38:29.756-05:00

Sociological Images has some sharp observations regarding the wage gap between men and women and how it relates to a phenomenon called 'job segregation.' As Lisa explains:Men and women are sorted into different jobs and jobs associated with women are paid less. Below is a list of occupations and their average wages for 2007 from The Bureau of Labor Statistics. I picked out occupations that were

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-50542868357070079842008-11-13T14:12:00.003-05:002008-11-13T14:42:07.660-05:00

In response to a brief post discussing circumcision, several comments suggested that male circumcision was the moral equivalent of female circumcision, or female genital mutilation (FGM). This comment is pretty representative:In countries where FGM occurs it is usually the women who perpetuated it onto their daughters, they often don't feel it was a violation. Heck in Indonesia it's done on

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-5263052987352296122008-11-13T13:58:00.000-05:002008-11-13T16:19:58.246-05:00

'Love In Action' is a Christian program that aims to turn gay men into straight men. The sad part of this interview with Scott Tucker and David Christie, two former participants of the program who are now openly gay, is listening to them review what has happened to some of their friends from the program - suicide, failed marriages, and more pretending. You can listen to their stories and see

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-40579518498524216082008-11-13T08:05:00.001-05:002008-11-13T09:57:23.202-05:00

The BBC reports on the arrest of a group operating in the UK and Thailand that was responsible for the trafficking, abuse, and enslavement of dozens of women. The trafficked women were forced to work as prostitutes, their services advertised via 'online brothels':Nine people from Thailand have been jailed for up to two-and-a-half-years for their part in exploiting women who were advertised in "

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-41039141354975813582008-11-12T13:08:00.004-05:002008-11-12T13:26:39.725-05:00

It's a happy day in the nutmeg state! As the New York Times reports:Bunches of white balloons and giant sprays of long-stemmed red roses festooned City Hall here Wednesday morning, as one of the eight couples who successfully sued the state to allow same-sex marriage became the first to obtain a marriage license as the law took effect...The official start of gay marriages came a month after

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-39322092041895755392008-11-11T17:26:00.003-05:002008-11-11T17:49:50.228-05:00

California NOW alerts us to the fact that Veterans' Day -that's right, November 11th - has increasingly become a day of anti-choice protests and violence over the last decade:Over the years, four doctors who provide abortion service have been shot around this date, and one, Dr. Bernard Slepian, was killed.If you do not already participate in a clinic escort program, you can contact your local NOW

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-16403015166049528642008-11-11T13:54:00.006-05:002008-11-11T14:42:17.969-05:00

My grandmother adores one of her doctors, who she insists on calling her lady-doctor. It doesn't matter how many times the doctor's name comes up in conversation, or that I've actually met her, when referring to this woman my grandmother always says something along the lines of "Doctor So-and-So, my lady-doctor, says..." Frankly, my grandmother is too cute for this to irk me, but I do find it

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-39620333940604425592008-11-10T22:17:00.005-05:002008-11-11T10:32:19.281-05:00

From NPR's Morning Edition, the story of Meyung Robson:Robson's road from pageants to FBI special agent began on April 29, 1975, when her father retired as a three-star general and the Communists were closing in on Saigon."When we saw a helicopter falling off the rooftop of a condominium a block from our house, my mother said, 'That's it, we have to leave,'" Robson says. "So we just rushed out of

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-26867174040523720992008-11-10T16:19:00.010-05:002008-11-10T17:26:22.910-05:00

When Kendra LaDuca and Amy Maurer Creel noticed that they never wore jewelry after having given birth to their daughters (because babies love nothing more than grabbing and slobbering on mom's baubles), they saw a business opportunity. Why not make fashionable jewelry out of chewable materials? That way, if Baby wants to use your pendant as a teething ring for awhile, no problem:The two formed

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-23484024908231200002008-11-09T17:10:00.002-05:002008-11-09T17:19:08.749-05:00

As MSNBC reports:Transition advisers to President-elect Barack Obama have compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone to reverse White House policies on climate change, stem cell research, reproductive rights and other issues, according to congressional Democrats, campaign aides and experts working with the transition team...The new

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3509053156280655479.post-37196072445722571012008-11-07T14:28:00.008-05:002008-11-07T14:59:34.655-05:00

The whole album is up on flickr, but here are some of my favorites...The first kids earn a puppy by sitting through super-boring returns:Michelle and Barack look calmer than I did at this point in the evening - and more sober:Presidential paddycake:That's right, keep him headed in the right direction, Michelle:"OMG, Dads are so embarrassing!":(h/t Guanabee)

habladorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01730183259272125337noreply@blogger.com2