By Chloe Angyal • 12 years ago

Q: What’s making you happy today? A: Women pop singers with giant, real voices

The title for this post, which I hope will become something of a series, is lovingly ripped off from NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. PCHH, which is beyond-fantastic listening – intelligent, funny, informed pop culture commentary done by a group of people who clearly enjoy each other’s company – runs a segment on every show called “What’s Making You Happy This Week?”

This is the new track from Florence + the Machine. Florence Welch, who fronts the band, was discovered singing to herself one night in the bathroom of a club. Now she’s an international pop star, and you know why? Because she has a giant fucking voice that needs almost no digital assistance to sound this good.

http://youtu.be/wSLdptE5aFw

And ...

The title for this post, which I hope will become something of a series, is lovingly ripped off from NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. PCHH, which is beyond-fantastic listening – intelligent, funny, informed pop ...
By Lori Adelman • 12 years ago

With great passion comes deep ambivalence: Saturday’s SlutWalk and me

This Saturday October 1st, SlutWalk hits New York City.

I’ve been following the SlutWalk movement for awhile now. Back in April I had the opportunity to interview the original SlutWalk Toronto founders. I’ve also written previously about my involvement with some of the SlutWalk NYC organizing efforts, and my disappointment in the media coverage around SlutWalk, and hosted a rich guest post by Harsha Walia outlining some of the incredibly valid critiques of SlutWalk and describing the thought process behind her decision to march. Other members of the Feministing family have written on the topic in great detail, including much of the crew in this group chat with Rebecca Traister, and Jessica Valenti ...

This Saturday October 1st, SlutWalk hits New York City.

I’ve been following the SlutWalk movement for awhile now. Back in April I had the opportunity to interview the original SlutWalk Toronto founders. I’ve also ...
By Chloe Angyal • 12 years ago

Theatre festival highlights women playwrights of colour

Now in its twelfth year, the River Crosses Rivers II festival is one of the only events in America that highlights the works of women playwrights of colour.

“The goal, simply put, is to give these women the kind of exposure that is provided by Ensemble Studio Theater, whose goal is to nurture individual theatre artists and to develop new American plays,” the festival website says. “The River Crosses Rivers II is a stellar lineup of playwrights whose voices add richness and texture to the American Canon.” The American Canon has not traditionally made a whole lot of space for women playwrights, and it’s made even less room for women playwrights of colour. The River Crosses River festival is one way ...

Now in its twelfth year, the River Crosses Rivers II festival is one of the only events in America that highlights the works of women playwrights of colour.

“The goal, simply put, is to give these women the ...
By Vanessa • 12 years ago

What We Missed

New reports are saying President Obama told a group of reporters that he tried to save Troy Davis’ life. Scratch that.

A great NYT oped from the weekend on just how severe the state attacks on abortion restrictions have been.

In case you didn’t see it on the community blog yesterday, a Republican group at UC Berkley is having a ridiculously offensive “diversity bake sale” in response to a Senate bill that would allow affirmative action policies in college admissions in the state. They wouldn’t be the first.

The New York Post on how women’s sluttiness is bringing the “price” of sex to a “record low.” Worst. Article. ...

New reports are saying President Obama told a group of reporters that he tried to save Troy Davis’ life. Scratch that.

A great NYT oped from the weekend on just how ...
By Maya Dusenbery • 12 years ago

The Wednesday Weigh-In: Your favorite memory

Here’s a video of a man with a camera asking 50 people on the street in Chicago what their favorite memory is. The results are predictably wonderful for a sap like me.

I think this is an impossible question, but, damn, it’s so sweet to see people try to think of their very favorite one on the spot. What’s your favorite memory?

Via The Hairpin. Transcript after the jump.

Here’s a video of a man with a camera asking 50 people on the street in Chicago what their favorite memory is. The results are predictably wonderful for a sap like me.

I think this is an impossible ...
By zerlina • 12 years ago

Alabama tells offenders to pick between jail and Jesus

The small town Bay Minette, Alabama is giving non-violent offenders a choice: Either go to prison for your crime, or go to church every Sunday!

Church programs being used for paroles is not out of the ordinary. In the past, I’ve attended a church which doubles as a rehabilitation center and operates state licensed programs for recent paroles. There is nothing wrong with that. The paroles are not required to attend the church service-only meetings that are held on Saturdays, which are not religious.

Alabama, on the other hand, is requiring offenders an alternative to prison or paying a fine — attend church every week for a year and you can have your case dismissed. And ...

The small town Bay Minette, Alabama is giving non-violent offenders a choice: Either go to prison for your crime, or go to church every Sunday!

Church programs being used for paroles is not out of ...
By zerlina • 12 years ago

Lady Gaga meets POTUS to push administration on anti-gay bullying

Oh to be a fly on the wall this past weekend when pop star Lady Gaga met President Obama. On Sunday night, at a fundraiser in Atherton, CA at the home of Facebook’s COO, the White House press pool released what will go down as the most awesomest pool report evah:

At 8:03 pm Lady Gaga entered… delicately walking on sky-high heels (she towered over everyone, a good 2 feet taller than POTUS). She was wearing a floor-length sleeveless lacey black dress, her blonde hair was gathered in a bouffant up-do adorned with a black hair piece with a black veil down the back, which she swept to the side and in front of her left ...

Oh to be a fly on the wall this past weekend when pop star Lady Gaga met President Obama. On Sunday night, at a fundraiser in Atherton, CA at the home of Facebook’s ...
By Vanessa • 12 years ago

Quick Hit: The 1 in 3 campaign

1in3Campaign.org: Alex from Advocates for Youth on Vimeo.

This is great. Advocates for Youth, Choica USA and SYRF collaborated to create the 1 in 3 campaign where people tell their abortion stories. It’s a fantastic way not only to remind the public about just how common abortion is, but also to humanize the act and put a face behind the number.

Transcript after the jump.

1in3Campaign.org: Alex from Advocates for Youth on Vimeo.

This is great. Advocates for Youth, Choica USA and SYRF collaborated to create the 1 in 3 campaign where people tell their abortion stories. It’s ...

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