We're having another heat wave here in the NYC area, at least through Thursday, so be careful out there, folks! And please don't forget to stay as hydrated as possible, even if you're lucky enough, like me, to have air conditioning. Remember, AC is designed to dry the surrounding air as well as cool it, so drink, drink, drink! Here's some reading to whet your whistle:
• Kameron Hurley is, as far as I'm concerned, a hero for helping that women on the train. Her tale reminded me of 9-11 and the blackout and the other times that I've seen New Yorkers immediately reach out to their neighbors. I still smile when I think of all the people sitting on the overcrowded express bus during the blackout who offered to switch with me after I'd been standing for way too long (in return I was letting lots of folks use my cell phone if they needed to), and the way we used to applaud firefighters right after 9-11. I don't take kindnesses (both big and small) for granted. Meanwhile, Roxanne has some public service advice for commuter train passengers in the DC area.
• As for current blackouts, the Truffle has that covered - she's just suffered through one inWoodside Astoria, so she's keeping track of its aftermath, both practical and political. After what she's been through I'm glad she was able to get away for the weekend.
• Pam Noles has a pretty comprehensive analysis of what I've come to call The Brother Panel at San Diego. As is my habit, since I wasn't there, nor do I know any of the people involved, I'm not going to opine for either "side" on the specifics of this incident. I will say a few general things, though - I thought Pam's observation about the panelists' non-familiarity with Big Two (okay, DC-produced) comics outside of the superhero genre was very telling, as was her description of how the audience reacted to the panelists' seeming dismissal of the woman's question (and subsequent character assassination!) not moments after they'd given a thumbs-up to a guy's suggestion:
• Speaking of black speakers whose dismissals are frustrating, Patrick Nielsen Hayden has had it with Barack Obama and his anti-secular pronouncements. As someone who can identify a great deal with the Dobrich family (although in my day it wasn't fundamentalists, just mostly plain old Catholics who egged our house and such), I'm inclined to agree with Patrick. I thought Senator Obama acquitted himself marvelously at the '04 Democon, but lately, not so much.
• Ken Jennings likens Kellogg's versus General Mills iconic characters to DC versus Marvel. I think this analogy actually works in most places, it's a lot of fun to read (as is most of Ken's witty writing).
• Wow, it's Pam Spaulding's second blogiversary! And Barry's coming to NYC tomorrow and I'm majorly psyched to see him again and meet fellow Alas aficionados! Can I possibly use more exclamation points?!?!?!
• Barbara's found scientific backup for her Elective Ignorance theory. I think it's just more proof that nobody enjoys having his or her worldview shaken, we're human and our egos are fragile. I hate going through the "being proven wrong" stage, even if in retrospect I'm usually grateful for having been set right.
• Speaking of fragile egos, I happen to think Susie's a wonderful and kind person, even if she doesn't always. Send her some extra good mojo today, won't you?
• Glenn Greenwald deconstructs the latest presidential radio address:
I'll keep adding to this throughout the day as I find more stuff I like...
• Kameron Hurley is, as far as I'm concerned, a hero for helping that women on the train. Her tale reminded me of 9-11 and the blackout and the other times that I've seen New Yorkers immediately reach out to their neighbors. I still smile when I think of all the people sitting on the overcrowded express bus during the blackout who offered to switch with me after I'd been standing for way too long (in return I was letting lots of folks use my cell phone if they needed to), and the way we used to applaud firefighters right after 9-11. I don't take kindnesses (both big and small) for granted. Meanwhile, Roxanne has some public service advice for commuter train passengers in the DC area.
• As for current blackouts, the Truffle has that covered - she's just suffered through one in
• Pam Noles has a pretty comprehensive analysis of what I've come to call The Brother Panel at San Diego. As is my habit, since I wasn't there, nor do I know any of the people involved, I'm not going to opine for either "side" on the specifics of this incident. I will say a few general things, though - I thought Pam's observation about the panelists' non-familiarity with Big Two (okay, DC-produced) comics outside of the superhero genre was very telling, as was her description of how the audience reacted to the panelists' seeming dismissal of the woman's question (and subsequent character assassination!) not moments after they'd given a thumbs-up to a guy's suggestion:
The women were told they have to wait for their representation, but guys? Totally all over the kung-fu movie thing! A man can get up at a panel about black comic BOOKS and ramble about black kung-fu MOVIES and be taken seriously enough for a handshake deal to go down. That man is not considered nutcase, nor is he denigrated for his size as a way of dismissing his input...Also, I wish to heck that Pam would get a comments section at least, because she doesn't put her contact information anywhere on her blog and she's precisely the kind of writer who could really engender a great discussion community if she wanted to.
• Speaking of black speakers whose dismissals are frustrating, Patrick Nielsen Hayden has had it with Barack Obama and his anti-secular pronouncements. As someone who can identify a great deal with the Dobrich family (although in my day it wasn't fundamentalists, just mostly plain old Catholics who egged our house and such), I'm inclined to agree with Patrick. I thought Senator Obama acquitted himself marvelously at the '04 Democon, but lately, not so much.
• Ken Jennings likens Kellogg's versus General Mills iconic characters to DC versus Marvel. I think this analogy actually works in most places, it's a lot of fun to read (as is most of Ken's witty writing).
• Wow, it's Pam Spaulding's second blogiversary! And Barry's coming to NYC tomorrow and I'm majorly psyched to see him again and meet fellow Alas aficionados! Can I possibly use more exclamation points?!?!?!
• Barbara's found scientific backup for her Elective Ignorance theory. I think it's just more proof that nobody enjoys having his or her worldview shaken, we're human and our egos are fragile. I hate going through the "being proven wrong" stage, even if in retrospect I'm usually grateful for having been set right.
• Speaking of fragile egos, I happen to think Susie's a wonderful and kind person, even if she doesn't always. Send her some extra good mojo today, won't you?
• Glenn Greenwald deconstructs the latest presidential radio address:
Stability is our enemy because it breeds hatred and war. Only instability and war will breed a "lasting peace." Thus, the more instability and war in the Middle East, the better. That is the central neoconservative warmongering tenet and it is what is coming out of the President's mouth as he discusses his views of the new war in the Middle East.It's not even like they're using Orwell's 1984 as a playbook any more; it's like they're trying to write a nonfiction sequel to top the original...
I'll keep adding to this throughout the day as I find more stuff I like...
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