Links to Here and There

I’m off to Florida to visit my parents. I’ll probably be blogging again once I’m over the jet lag, but in the meanwhile I’d better clear some links off my desktop…

The US May Be Backing Down on Dalfur
The Debate Link points out recent moves that suggest we’re preparing to live and let live with genocide.

Being Gay In Nambia
Obsidian Wings quotes extensively from a great Washington Post article about being Gay in Nambia.

Gallagher and Blankenhorn Respond
Maggie Gallagher and David Blankenhorn have separately responded to a post of mine about the (in my opinion) changing positions of anti-SSM folks over the years. I will respond sometime in the next several days.

Sometimes I Can’t Fucking Stand White People.
Occasional “Alas” poster Sydney lets off some steam.

McMarten Revisited
Twenty years ago, children who attended McMarten preschool were abused by police, prosecutors, parents, media, and psychologists, who collectively bullied the children into making up horrific accounts of sexual abuse by satanic cultists, leading to many ruined lives and unjust criminal prosecutions. Unfortunately, some feminists – including some prominent ones – were on the wrong side, as anti-feminist Cathy Young points out.

And I Am Not Lying, For Real
I’ve really been enjoying the stories told on And I Am Not Lying. Particular favorites: Movies and TV Led Me Astray Once Again, about trying not to be an asshole in a world that seems full of assholery, and The Night Was Fierce and Fabulous, about attending a (mostly) drag queen party. Nice photos, too.

Bat Boy: The Musical
(Currently listening to.)

While there is no right not to be looked at, that doesn’t mean it’s always right to look.
Hugo discusses questions of feminism, ethics, objectification, and checking out good looking people on the street.

Xander Patterson For Multnomah County Commission
My favorite local water commissioner – and one of my favorite local politicians – has his eye on a slightly higher rung of the ladder. Go, Xander, go!

Creating a Fair Voting System in Ohio
Daniel Tokaji discusses the subtle issues of making voting more convenient while still trying to achieve fairness and honesty.

The End Change of Gay Culture
Warren has a thoughtful post about the mainstreaming of gay culture.

They Hate Queers! They Really, Really, Really Do!
The Log Cabin Republicans provide an impressive list of queer-bashing quotes from conservatives. Hat tip: PurpleScarf.

Icelandic Women Strike For Equality
Women began the working week by abandoning their offices, classrooms and kitchens to join a remarkable strike for equal wages. Marching through Reykjavik and other Icelandic towns, they banged pots and pans and shouted, “Women, let’s be loud!” and “Equality now!”

The Case Against Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
What puzzles me is that, in the past, I’ve heard HSAs described as “donut-shaped” – that is, the first thousand or so is covered by the HSA, the next thousand or two is paid by the consumer, and after that it’s paid for by HSA. That’s a much better design than what’s described in this critique, because it wouldn’t discourage preventative care – although, of course, a lot of the critiques would apply to the donut-shaped accounts.

The Conservative Case for Same Sex Marriage
Dale Carpenter, guest-blogging at the Volokh conspiracy, makes the right-wing case for marriage equality. The above link takes you to all of Dales’ Volokh posts; so far, he’s doing an excellent job.