The Blogaround

Ana Mardoll posted:

Twilight: Heads He Wins, Tails She Loses

If there is a redeeming spot to be found in Twilight, it is perhaps that in the end Bella will transcend the gendered expectations of a sexist society and will transform into something god-like and untouchable. The road there is a poor one, and frequently seems less like a rejection of societal rules and more a perfect completion-and-reward system of the same, but the end is a good one, and – if you squint at it just right – it almost does seem a little feminist. This weekposted:If there is a redeeming spot to be found in Twilight, it is perhaps that in the end Bella will transcend the gendered expectations of a sexist society and will transform into something god-like and untouchable. The road there is a poor one, and frequently seems less like a rejection of societal rules and more a perfect completion-and-reward system of the same, but the end is a good one, and – if you squint at it just right – it almost does seem a little feminist.

Ana Mardoll posted:

Deconstruction: The Best Day Of My Life

All this time I’ve been criticizing Twilight for the “falling” female lead, for the abelism associated with “cute” falling, and for the unfortunate implications of a heroine whose defining fault is clumsiness. Now, thanks to Cracked and a YouTube montage, I’ve had to realize that this “falling flaw” is actually everywhere... and I just never noticed. This weekposted:All this time I’ve been criticizing Twilight for the “falling” female lead, for the abelism associated with “cute” falling, and for the unfortunate implications of a heroine whose defining fault is clumsiness. Now, thanks to Cracked and a YouTube montage, I’ve had to realize that this “falling flaw” is actually everywhere... and I just never noticed.

Ana Mardoll posted:

Narnia: Good Kings, Bad Laws (and why Lawful Stupid isn't a valid alignment)

TRIGGER WARNING: Violence

Now we come to the chapter where an innocent character is tied up by the Bad Guys, placed on a brutal forced march, and threatened with whippings and death. No, it’s not Tolkien’s Merry and Pippin in the clutches of the orcs; rather, it’s Lewis’ Edmund in the custody of the White Witch. What’s telling is that if you’re going to feel sorry for Edmund here, it’s sort of on your own time – the less Edmund is humanized and sympathized with in text, the less jarring it will be when Aslan fiercely reaffirms the Witch’s absolute right to kill the boy a few chapters from now. This weekposted:Now we come to the chapter where an innocent character is tied up by the Bad Guys, placed on a brutal forced march, and threatened with whippings and death. No, it’s not Tolkien’s Merry and Pippin in the clutches of the orcs; rather, it’s Lewis’ Edmund in the custody of the White Witch. What’s telling is that if you’re going to feel sorry for Edmund here, it’s sort of on your own time – the less Edmund is humanized and sympathized with in text, the less jarring it will be when Aslan fiercely reaffirms the Witch’s absolute right to kill the boy a few chapters from now.

Kit Whitfield makes the most of her limited free time and begins a series of deconstructions of really short texts - famous novels, first sentences only. This week: makes the most of her limited free time and begins a series of deconstructions of really short texts - famous novels, first sentences only. This week: Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

Ruby reports: This week in Soon, Paul travels to Sin City to investigate a cult in reports: This week in Soon, Paul travels to Sin City to investigate a cult in Chapters 21-22: Vegas, Baby! and Chapter 22: Thyatira's

Literata wrote a pastiche on Wilfred Owen about how it feels to be On Veterans' Day,wrote a pastiche on Wilfred Owen about how it feels to be in the trenches of the war on women.

storiteller wrote this week about options for keeping produce on hand all winter long - With the fall quickly coming to a close,wrote this week about options for keeping produce on hand all winter long - Be Like the Squirrel - Food Storage Options for the Winter

Ian needs a nickname reports: I have a



Occupy Vancouver has done a remarkable job of seeking consensus among its adherents, and a remarkably poor job of seeking consensus in the city as a whole. Use of the



Due to purportedly nonviolent protesting gone wrong, I've felt the need to disassociate myself from Occupy Vancouver. I have a long post coming on what caused a Nov. 7 scrap with police. In short, OV caused a bad situation and failed to police its own members. I don't want to be part of an organization that inflicts "human bites" on police officers, especially since they were doing their job correctly. reports: I have a post on tent cities which might be of interest. Due to foreclosures, they've been springing up on the fringes of American cities. I think they can work, and I argue that under current circumstances tent cities have the right to exist.Occupy Vancouver has done a remarkable job of seeking consensus among its adherents, and a remarkably poor job of seeking consensus in the city as a whole. Use of the MIC CHECK! technique to disrupt municipal mayoral debates is a good example of what's gone wrong.Due to purportedly nonviolent protesting gone wrong, I've felt the need to disassociate myself from Occupy Vancouver. I have a long post coming on what caused a Nov. 7 scrap with police. In short, OV caused a bad situation and failed to police its own members. I don't want to be part of an organization that inflicts "human bites" on police officers, especially since they were doing their job correctly. I'm out , but I'll keep watching.

Coleslaw writes: This week, when a simple tag on a pair of sunglasses proved hard to remove, (Huge Trigger Warnings: Child Rape) writes: This week, when a simple tag on a pair of sunglasses proved hard to remove, I Bought a Knife Part 3 of my history with foreign exchange students is now up. Most of the goals I've achieved in life I got to by baby steps, but the sad situation at Penn State reminds me, sometimes truly bad decisions are reached by Baby Steps as well.

Ross reports: As the 25th anniversary DVD release approaches, I continue my series of Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future reviews with reports: As the 25th anniversary DVD release approaches, I continue my series of Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future reviews with Episode 3: "The Abyss" , in which the prospect of what it does to a soldier's psyche to be trapped in a seemingly hopeless, endless war for over a decade is a concept that seems far more poignant today than it likely did in 1987.

Ana Mardoll posted:

Twilight: Emotional Abuse Workshop

It’s one thing to say that Edward can’t stay away from Bella because the power of love compels him. But if Edward really loves Bella, and this isn’t just a relationship born of blood-lust and sex-lust, then where is the ‘love’ in his interactions with her? He abuses her emotionally and verbally, and never misses a chance to convey contempt via his words and facial expressions. Bonus in the comments: a Twilight abuse bingo card for readers to follow along. Last weekposted:It’s one thing to say that Edward can’t stay away from Bella because the power of love compels him. But if Edward really loves Bella, and this isn’t just a relationship born of blood-lust and sex-lust, then where is the ‘love’ in his interactions with her? He abuses her emotionally and verbally, and never misses a chance to convey contempt via his words and facial expressions. Bonus in the comments: a Twilight abuse bingo card for readers to follow along.

Ana Mardoll posted:

Deconstruction: Trigger Jokes

It’s never too late to resurrect internet drama. With this weigh-in on the Penny Arcade comic, we look at how trigger warnings affect jokes and why it might be prudent to pick a new punchline rather than risk triggering your audience for a quick laugh. Side discussion on tone arguments in the comments. Last weekposted:It’s never too late to resurrect internet drama. With this weigh-in on the Penny Arcade comic, we look at how trigger warnings affect jokes and why it might be prudent to pick a new punchline rather than risk triggering your audience for a quick laugh. Side discussion on tone arguments in the comments.

In case you missed this

Leum writes: ProfMTH, a gay rights activist and Constitutional (I think) law professor, argues that the Michigan bill that has been widely condemned as giving students and teachers a license to bully does not do so. The first half of writes: ProfMTH, a gay rights activist and Constitutional (I think) law professor, argues that the Michigan bill that has been widely condemned as giving students and teachers a license to bully does not do so. The first half of the video is about whether the bill violates the establishment clause, the second half (starts around 3:20) is on whether the bill is a license to bully.

Things you can do

(Trigger Warning: Rape)

(Trigger Warning: Rape culture)



MercuryBlue summarizes this argument as follows: So because rape culture is a part of our culture, we have to put up with it on Facebook, even though rape-culture-supporting pages are not merely 'outrageous' and 'offensive' but actually violate the bits of the Facebook Terms of Service that go as follows: You will not bully, intimidate, or harass any user. You will not post content that: is hateful, threatening, or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence. From the BBC article Facebook rape joke pages taken down from social network : Groups or pages that express an opinion on a state, institution, or set of beliefs - even if that opinion is outrageous or offensive to some - do not by themselves violate our policies. These online discussions are a reflection of those happening offline, where conversations happen freely.summarizes this argument as follows: So because rape culture is a part of our culture, we have to put up with it on Facebook, even though rape-culture-supporting pages are not merely 'outrageous' and 'offensive' but actually violate the bits of the Facebook Terms of Service that go as follows:

Raj reminds readers of The Slacktiverse of (Trigger Warning: Description of Children being endangered, injured and killed) : reminds readers of The Slacktiverse of the petition to save our children from cluster bombs

As concerned citizens we call on you to do all in your power to stop cluster bombs being used. Over 100 governments have agreed to ban these indiscriminate weapons. The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons that will be negotiated in the coming days must align with this ban, ensuring cluster munitions are comprehensively outlawed and innocent children protected.

MercuryBlue sends in a link to MercuryBlue adds the following comment: My personal suspicion is that the White House does take the petitions seriously and is of the honest opinion that nothing good will come from changing the national motto from 'in God we trust' or taking 'under God' out of the Pledge of Allegiance, but it can't hurt to sign the petition. sends in a link to a petition the White House to take petitions seriously adds the following comment: My personal suspicion is that the White House does take the petitions seriously and is of the honest opinion that nothing good will come from changing the national motto from 'in God we trust' or taking 'under God' out of the Pledge of Allegiance, but it can't hurt to sign the petition.