Pandagon is concerned about high dropout rates. I think that if we addressed the root causes of these dropout rates, we'd see a lot of poor minorities suddenly being 'good people'. And my high school's tracking system was racist to the core, more later.

also, I hate everybody, but twisty is a good writer. although, transmen are men, though. but then again, society are assholes.

Westward 2 is out already! I'm so far behind!

Why are people so good at life?

Also, thank you for saying insulting things about PoC in front of me, as if you think I need to be graced with your opinions. I really needed the ulcer.

I'm jealous of people who can work long hours.

I blog a fuckton, but don't worry- I won't die! I do this by not worrying if old news is old. Also, that reminds me. I was reading the book Work to Live, and while it had some promising ideas about not working a zillion hours per day, and some shocking horror stories about people who worked 100 hour weeks at Rite Aid and got paid only 30k per year, but I have to admit that I am skeptical about the overseas vacation bits. I'm not quite sure that if the Rite Aid guy only worked 40 hour weeks and got decent vacation, he'd be off in the Bahamas. I could believe 'and you'll be able to go and see the natural wonders of your state' because that seems doable or for grad students 'and you'll be able to see the tourist attractions of your city'.

I think this section of history will be the bubble years.

On TV, I learned that Katie Couric will tell us all about the oh noes Mexicans, and how they are stealing our money by getting preggers. Next report will be on how Mexicans are stealing our money by getting sick and the last report will be on how Mexicans are stealing our money by existing too much.

Yay, race wank!

Housing issues.

A satisfying round of mockery.

Obama- moral high ground my butt. We need folks on the other side to take some personal responsibility. They can't keep waiting for every single black person to be perfect before working against racism and inequality. Remember! It's your responsibility not to put down people of other races, to listen and have empathy, to avoid advocating for the deaths of others, and to educate yourself. You can't wait for me not to be mad when you fly confederate flags before you drop your opposition to the anti segregation laws in schools, and start supporting investing in everyone's children. Stop judging poor people for eating hot chips, and help invest in healthy eating and food. Stop complaining that black teens have bad fashion sense with their sagging pants, and start investing in their futures. Stop complaining about how black parents are allowing kids to have toy guns, and start working for a world in which black parents can allow their kids to go outside without fear of criminals OR the police.

why all the bubbles? tech bubble, housing bubble, now on day to day, this mandell guy says this is a consumer spending bubble!

...uh...that's horrible.

Mugabe sucks. Note racist comments.

It's sad to see mothers with such a lack of inner life that they can't think of any activity to do with their daughters besides getting the kids a Brazilian. I mean, why not go to the zoo, or go to a park? Really moms, your 9 year old's hoo ha is just fine. Hair growing is a perfectly normal sign of puberty. It doesn't need to be waxed.

*is crying* WKNO was on national NPR today. Sadly, because WKNO has made the mostly classical music stream the only one you can listen to on regular radio, I had to hear it from MPB. I hear today the sanitation workers are marching along with many other people to the civil rights museum. Many people are recommitting themselves to civil rights. I'd like to say that Dr. King didn't mean that we should sweep the real enduring problems under the rug. I don't think he meant that my dad saying that white people are likely to dress their children up as cheerleaders and send them to school is the same as the savage inequalities of today.

The thing that people forget when misquoting King is community effects. Often the solution that people come up with is that black folks should keep their heads down and just be better than everyone else. But that is too oversimplified. For example, in the 1800s, only a few women were doctors, but now we are approaching parity. Did women suddenly become smarter and better people over the years? Or was it societal changes that lead the way? I think it's societal changes. We can hope for miracles and tear down those who don't measure up, but the truth is that people don't live in a vacuum. Put 100 kids in a crappy school and maybe 10 will do well, but let's say 25 drop out- which lessens the amount of skilled workers in the community, and the rest scrape by barely- some of them choosing to become low skilled workers, others turning to a life of crime. The whole community and its fabric is weakened by not investing in people.

People in jail are absent from families, people struggling with two jobs can not give as much support to children and the community, and the cycle continues. Let's not sweep race under the rug for another forty years. Let's do something about inequality.

Some Seal Press lady makes some dumb excuses. Let's point and laugh.

Also, video games are recession proof because they are great value for money. I buy a game for $20 and I can be entertained for several months. Used games are especially a good value- many people like me don't need to get a game new-it's worth our while to wait and get it cheaper.

I'll be going to play age of empires on the ds now.

I wonder what is the overlap between being offended that people from other countries sell fur on the internet and not caring if people have racially offensive items?

TCQ- some drama today.

Alert reader Aunt B of Tiny Cat Pants shows this funny story of a guy spanking an idiot.

What an amazing article linking the stupid war on drugs, the exploding prison rate and the damage done to communities.

Irritable shannon was jealous because other people can attend conferences and I am too irritable to be out in public, but it seems that nobody likes seal press, so yay.

I was reading this article, and thinking about how a lot of the time, we try to be punitive without thinking about how the fabric of communities will be affected. We say 'well, the people in foreclosure just bought too much house' without thinking of the problem of empty houses[which can bred crime] and displaced families[not very good for the education of kids]. Putting folks in jail and locking up the key is also not good for a community. The disruptions in the lives of families can cause stresses that aren't very good for anyone.

How will the ban on castration affect thailand's lady boys? Is this a protective measure or a law abridging the rights of transpeople*?


*I think the concept translates,right?

This deserves a lot of mockery. I have to be perfect and amazing every second, and they are the ones crying? Hey, why don't you hold yourselves to the same standards? suck it up.

Really, black twelve year old shot? well, he shouldn't have been outside. white guy gets a nasty look? the world has ended.

stupid crisis pregnancy centers!

stupid rapists!

Poor classroom management.