RSS
Jezebel
Tyra(nt)
In a seminal study that probably surprises few people, a study of both male-to-female and female-to-male transgender people shows that men who become women make less money afterwards and women who become men make more. This is especially unsurprisingly to Stamford scientist Ben Barres, who made waves when pointed out that he does better and is more respected as a male scientist than he was as a woman. [Time, Science Daily]
news roundup
McCain's Lies and Lobbyists Piss Him Off (And Us, Too)
- John McCain has decided that since everyone is annoyed at him for lying and being a dick when he's called out on it, he's going to say Obama is lying and being a dick when he's called out on it. That's still lying, John, you're missing the point here. [Gawker]
- He was then promptly called out for lying again, not that he cares. [Swampland]
- And for being all for anti-abortion terrorists and their rights to harass and commit acts of violence against women and reproductive health care providers. Even better? Nancy
PfotenhauerPfuckingsucks set him up for it by mistake. [Think Progress] - He's probably still wondering why Obama is ahead in the national polls, though. [CNN]
An artist has created illustrations to use as desktop wallpaper inspired by scenes from Mad Men. They're really great, and we hadn't realized just how iconic some of the scenes and set design have already become. Like this scene from the first season of Peggy getting a gyno exam while her doctor is smoking, or the shelving behind Jimmy Barret in his Utz commercial, or that cat/giraffe artwork in Pete Campbell's house.[Flickr]
With great privilege
Elizabeth Edwards: "I Think We Have The Capacity With Great Leadership To Change Things"
This weekend, I attended Elizabeth Edwards' discussion on health care with author and surgeon Atul Gawande as part of the New Yorker Festival. Edwards came to talk about the problems with (and some possible solutions for) the health care system in this country and — like me — isn't exactly a fan of John McCain's so-called reform ideas. One would think that 90 minutes to talk about health care wouldn't leave Gawande and the audience with enough time to talk about much else. One would be wrong. More »
Loose Lips
David Duchovny is out of sex rehab and was spotted attending a Czech festival in New York with wife Tea Leoni. And they don't look miserable! • Not quite as adorable as Obama holding a baby, but this photo of Minnie Driver and her newborn Henry is pretty fricken cute. • Clay Aiken on his recent leap out of the closet: "I am not defined by my sexuality. It is, simply, a small facet of the same person I have always been. Nothing has changed." [ONTD, Perez, People]
Leftovers
US Halts Funding Condoms For African Clinics • Common Herpes Virus Linked To Brain Cancer
• The US government has cut off USAID funding of contraceptives to clinics run by Marie Stopes International because the government alleges the organization supports forced abortions and the national family planning program in China, which MSI denies. • A survey of 20 men and 20 women found that people prefer cars with masculine "power" traits, i.e. those that sit lower and wider and have angled headlights. • The Georgia Supreme Court ruled in favor of transgendered politician Michelle Bruce today after two political opponents filed a lawsuit against her claiming she mislead voters about her gender in the 2003 and 2007 elections for Riverdale City Council. • More »
Alex Witchel wrote an extremely thorough profile of Queen Latifah for the New York Times Magazine, in which we discover that the woman who is a Grammy-award winning singer, Oscar-nominated actress, management-and-production company mogul, CoverGirl developer and model as well as spokesperson for Jenny Craig is also unfailingly polite and amazingly down to earth. The piece does touch on her sexuality, and The Queen says: I don’t have a problem discussing the topic of somebody being gay, but I do have a problem discussing my personal life… I don’t care if people think I’m gay or not. Assume whatever you want. You do it anyway." [NY Times]
Wins and losses
It's One Step Forward, Two Steps Back For Women In Afghanistan
In Bamian, a "peaceful corner" of Afghanistan, women are driving cars, working in public offices and police stations. There is even a female governor, the first and only one in Afghanistan. But according to the New York Times, this province is unique. Even though the Taliban fell more than six years ago, women in Afghanistan have huge hurdles: More than 80% are illiterate, and the life expectancy for women is only 45 years — lower than for men — due to high rates of death during pregnancy. Still, the women of Bamian are making strides. Under Taliban rule, women were not allowed to work or leave the home unaccompanied by a male relative. Nahida Rezai, 25, is the first woman to join the police force. "I came right into the police station," she says, adding that when she first started, "I received some threats by telephone." More »
Most Popular Stories
- Elisabeth Hasselbeck Keeps Pissing Off Barbara Walters (16,133 views, 170 comments)
- "A Jealousy That Is Not Warranted": The Pros And Cons Of Polyamory (7,562 views, 266 comments)
- 6 Reasons Mustaches Are Not Sexy (6,462 views, 256 comments)
- "Fat Acceptance" Philosophies Hit The Mainstream (181 comments, 4,527 views)
- If The Cliché Fits! Are We Actually 'Obsessed' With Shoes? (148 comments, 2,311 views)
Samantha Bee and Colbert Report producer Allison Silverman were awesome as per ush on a panel about Political Humor at the New Yorker Festival on Saturday. An audience member asked them a question about whether it is difficult to be a woman in comedy, and Allison responded, "Reading that Christopher Hitchens piece [about how women aren't funny], I didn't get upset at all. It was just an old man yelling at cars from his yard." Later, when asked if she worried that satire made people apathetic about politics, Samantha said she didn't really worry about it. "My potty mouth, my dirty mind, that's what informs me. I only worry about being funny and original." [New Yorker Festival]
Maude's Minions
Getting Knocked Up "Accidentally On Purpose" Is All The Rage In London
The Times of London has an article about women in their thirties who get pregnant "accidentally on purpose," meaning they have unprotected sex with someone they think is "good father material" without the dude knowing their intentions. The paper talks to a woman named Katya who kept the baby that resulted from a 2 week fling; she is making no demands on the father. "I’m not expecting him to be involved. I’m financially independent, so I know I can give this baby an amazing life," she says. "I will be able to offer a more stable life than some of my girlfriends, who gave up their jobs a decade ago to have children, and who are now in failing marriages and have no independent income.” More »
Reader Roundup
Best Comment of the Day, in response to Art History: "Mary Mary quite contrary. How do your genitals grow?" We say: with silver bells and COCKle shells. Duh. • Worst, in response to Kate Bosworth Poses Day & Night: "EAT. SOMETHING." We say: NOT. PRODUCTIVE.
MORE » 
The company you keep
