2004 December Archive

Local NYC women take back the streets

Two women in Brooklyn have started an awesome service to prevent sexual assault in their neighborhood—free rides home. Simple, but damn effective.
Using their own money, Consuelo Ruybal and Oraia Reid started RightRides after a number of women were raped in Williamsburg and Greenpoint (neighborhoods in Brooklyn). Their motto is: “Because getting home safe should not be a luxury.” Word.
They operate from midnight to 4am on Sundays and also offer rides to women coming home from the Lower East Side and the East Village in Manhattan.
Another service for the Williamsburg area is NYC RapeMap (I know, creepy name) which is creating “a multi-lingual information-sharing resource that is free ...

By Jessica • 19 years ago

Peterson case coverage gets real

Finally.
A Portland Press Herald editorial has pointed out the pervasiveness of pregnant women being killed by their partners.
In the midst of all the sensationalist coverage of Scott Peterson’s trial, seeing this piece is slightly comforting. Slightly.

By Jessica • 19 years ago

More on Engagement Rings…

Jeez…we’re like relationship central today.
In any case, given the controversial Enragement Ring post recently, I just wanted to throw a couple of related links out there:
Firstly, the always amazing Mouse Words on an advice column taking on relationship vs. engagement etiquette when it comes to marriage invitations.
And check out this slightly disturbing (on a number of levels) article from the NY Post on women buying fake engagement rings to deter sexual advances and harassment. The picture kind of freaked me out as well…

By Jessica • 19 years ago

If you liked the last post…

Then you might want to check out this book: Against Love by Laura Kipnis.
A polemic that doesn’t hold back (even a little), Against Love takes on monogamy as a capitalist tool and makes the case that adultery may be inevitable for all of us.
For some reason whenever I’m slightly inebriated this is the book I pull out and start raving about to friends. (Much to the chagrin of the boyfriend, but what can you do.)
So check it out. Or chastise me for being an anti-family whore, whichever you prefer.

Then you might want to check out this book: Against Love by Laura Kipnis.
A polemic that doesn’t hold back (even a little), Against Love takes on monogamy as a capitalist tool and ...

By Jessica • 19 years ago

Marriage Findings: Dubious Tool of Compulsory Heterosexuality?

You be the judge. Check out this, uh, thought-provoking article on CareerBuilder.com, entitled “Are Married People More Successful?”
An examination of myths and realities relating to marital status and career success, the piece sums up “the case for marriage” thus: “On balance, research indicates that marriage has a strong positive effect on career success and life fulfillment — especially for men. It also shows that women no longer need to sacrifice their education and career aspirations to improve their chances of getting married.”
It seems wedded individuals are paid more, less likely to use drugs and alcohol, viewed as being more stable and reliable, and generally live longer than single people. Apparently smug marrieds ...

By Vanessa • 19 years ago

Shocker of the Week: Bush Nominates Anti-Choicer

On Monday, George W. Bush nominated Republican Mike Leavitt to replace Tommy Thompson as Secretary of Health and Human Services, reports Ms. Magazine. Leavitt is former governor of Utah and presently the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Oh, and he also wants to abolish women’s reproductive rights.
Throughout the course of time that Leavitt has been governor, he’s signed various bills prohibiting women’s right to choose. He’s signed legislations that required a 24-hour waiting period before a women can obtain an abortion, forced women to seek counseling (that included biased materials) before getting an abortion, and incorporated the term “unborn children” as included under the state’s homicide statute. Leavitt’s administration defended a 1991 law in court that ...

By Vanessa • 19 years ago

Biker Bitches

It looks like Harley-Davidson has created a new section of their website specifically designed for female bikers.
The section, titled “Women and Motorcycling,” includes riding stories from various women as well as a history of women bikers. I won’t lie, I’m not a huge fan of motorcycles, but ‘tis very interesting stuff.
According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, women accounted for close to 10 percent of all motorcycle owners nationwide last year. That was an increase of 8.2 percent from the previous year.
Ride on, ladies!

By Jessica • 19 years ago

Daddy dearest

Ok, I know we usually don’t post on celeb gossip, but I just found this really disturbing and felt the need to share (From NY Post):
Joe Simpson, the former Baptist minister turned manager of daughters Jessica and Ashlee, doesn’t shy way from talking about his offspring’s physical assets. “Jessica never tries to be sexy,” Simpson tells GQ. “She just is sexy. If you put her in a T-shirt or you put her in a bustier, she’s sexy in both. She’s got double D’s! You can’t cover those suckers up!”

Ok, I know we usually don’t post on celeb gossip, but I just found this really disturbing and felt the need to share (From NY Post):
Joe Simpson, the former Baptist minister turned manager of ...