My name is Nancy, and I am a fan. Being a fan can mean many things- you can be a fan of an idea, or an action. You can be a fan of a person, or an event, or a sports team, or a band, or whatever. Everyone is a fan of lots of things, … Continue reading Sometimes It’s Sad To Be A Fan
Essay
War on Women
So there's been a lot in the news lately about the "War on Women"- if you're not aware of what I'm talking about, read this, this, this, or this. Or just google the phrase. It's everywhere, and yet not everywhere enough. But here's the thing that is really getting under my skin- in all of … Continue reading War on Women
F*#k Valentine’s Day
No, really. Pull the large piece of chocolate away from your face, and listen for a second. Hear that? That's the sound of thousands of candy-hyped grade school kids learning what it feels like when you don't get as many valentines as the kid next to you. (And don't give me that "well, if we … Continue reading F*#k Valentine’s Day
Hibernation; or Why I Haven’t Been Blogging About Occupy
Occupy Wall Street, and its offspring in my locale, Occupy Oakland, have not gone away. And though it is winter, and activity has died down a bit, we still have major actions frequently, like just this week when the Oakland Police Department arrested 400 protesters in broad daylight. So why haven't I been talking about … Continue reading Hibernation; or Why I Haven’t Been Blogging About Occupy
As I Write This, OccupyWallStreet Is Being Raided.
...the punchline, kids, is "and my husband is recording the live police radio on Audacity for @AnonyOps". No, really. So, I've been watching the protest feeds avidly- mainly @OakFoSho's livestream- and reading all kinds of articles about all the various movements. I've got a more coherent post in the works about our experiences at OccupySF and … Continue reading As I Write This, OccupyWallStreet Is Being Raided.
Remember, remember, the 5th of November…
Last Saturday my husband and I went down to our local Bank of America branch, stood in line, and closed our checking account. It was something we'd thought about for a while- we've been dissatisfied with them for some time, really, but we were entrenched. His paycheck was direct deposit, and we had automatic bill-pay … Continue reading Remember, remember, the 5th of November…
It’s 11:30 pm on a Tuesday- do you know where your police are?
Mine, apparently, are in Oakland, assisting in a violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations. See, I live in Berkeley, that lovely little liberal enclave just north of scary, ghettoized, minority-filled Oakland*. For those of you who don't live here, believe me when I say that, in many ways, Oakland and Berkeley are completely different entities- including … Continue reading It’s 11:30 pm on a Tuesday- do you know where your police are?
Show Me What Democracy Looks Like
I am not a political activist. Let's get that clear from the start. I never have been, I doubt I ever will be. I am a good citizen- I vote in every election, I read enough literature beforehand to make sure that I at least can nominally support the persons for whom I'm voting. I … Continue reading Show Me What Democracy Looks Like
On the Death of a Terrorist
It is May 1, 2011, and Osama bin Laden is dead. I’ll say it again, mostly for myself. Osama bin Laden is dead. The rip of bullets through human flesh, so often fatal. Our particular construction of tissue and bone was never designed to survive such an assault. When it does, it’s through sheer luck, … Continue reading On the Death of a Terrorist
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