Happy weekend! Here’s some stuff to read. Let us know what you’ve been reading, and share links to things you’ve written, in the comments!
- Awesome: these badass scientists defeated a superbug! Not as awesome: we don’t even get two paragraphs in before hearing about the women’s husbands and children.
- Reminder: the result of your actions is more important than your intent.
- A great takedown of Richard Fisher’s concern that Ellen Yellen’s appointment as next chairman of the Fed would be “driven by gender” – BONUS: best photo caption of the week.
- The Daily Fail wrote a review of Amanda Palmer’s tour appearance that had nothing to do with her songs, the band, the performance… it was just about her boob. AFP’s response is absolutely fantastic:
One of our editors pointed out that one of Palmer’s past projects was disrespectful to people with disabilities, “so she only gets the 90% nod of approval from me.” - Two great articles by Amanda Marcotte: radical feminism doesn’t exist, and you should feed the trolls.
- What you really mean when you call me a bitch: identity-based insults are busted, y’all.
- The Texas legislature is really sexist– not just in their laws, but in their interactions with female colleagues.
- Russia is a dangerous place for gay people, and the government is threatening to arrest gay athletes at the Sochi Winter Olympics. So, should we boycott, or should is there a better response?
- Things that look like feminism but aren’t– a takedown of certain responses to the latest Anthony Weiner scandal.
I liked this piece on redemption narratives and how Hugo Schwyzer is, and always has been, a massive jackass: http://diannaeanderson.net/blog/2013/8/hugo-schwyzer-and-the-consumption-of-redemption
I mean seriously who says “I shouldn’t have cheated on my wife because it’s off-brand???”
I am so angry that Larry Summers is going to get picked as the next Fed chief. We’re talking about somebody who’s been horrible at every job he’s ever had (and is a sexist asshole) instead of a well-qualified woman, and is running a campaign for the seat that basically boils down to “Yellen is a woman so she doesn’t have the presence to be Fed chair.” Even his supporters can’t think of rational arguments for him and instead do stuff like this: http://echidneofthesnakes.blogspot.com/2013/08/i-lack-gravitas-so-does-janet-yellen.html
And for those of you who have no idea of his background, here’s a good piece on why Larry Summers sucks: http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/beat-the-press/larry-summers-and-financial-crises-is-he-being-graded-on-attendance
Also this piece: http://pandodaily.com/2013/08/04/olivia-nuzzi-wont-defend-herself-against-the-latest-lies-so-allow-me/
Go read that.