The crop of great posts has been really good this week, which is why I’m posting it a day early. Otherwise it will grow to an even more humongous size. Sorry if it’s too huge. I just didn’t want to deprive people of some really good sources. If enough readers tell me that they want to see a shorter Link Encyclopedia, I’ll try to control myself in the future.
A really great article on why teenagers spend so much time online. (If you have no time to read the article: because that’s the only place where they can be away from the gaze of the helicoptering parents.)
An absolutely brilliant article on the parents who concealed their son’s gender for five years. “She is afraid to break society’s rules. That’s why she got someone else to be transgressive for her. She wants to be (thought of as) a progressive, to (appear to) challenge society’s rules, but being a coward she instead forces her kid to bear all of the negative consequences of this challenge.” That’s what I’ve been saying from the start.
“French Children Don’t Throw Food.” And their poop surely smells of roses.
I’ve read many fantastic posts during the Blog for Choice Day, but this one really stands out.
Adjuncting and Stockholm Syndrome. Casualization of academic work force is a tragedy for educators and students alike.
A great post and great comments on the nature of privilege.
Some well-known facts about abortion that the anti-choice crowd somehow manages to disregard.
Zizek on the revolt of the salaried bourgeoisie.
An anti-bullying campaign. Visit, link, spread the word! Bullying is never acceptable.
The creepiest pictures of mothers holding children that you will ever see.
Arranged marriage explained in depth by somebody who knows what they are talking about. Great post!
I recently found this fascinating blog of a Dutchman in Missouri. Highly recommended.
Finally, somebody writes a post dispelling the pernicious mythology surrounding the physiology of the hymen: “It usually doesn’t bleed. Any blood with first penetration is more likely due to general vaginal tearing from lack of lubrication.” Got it, ignoramuses? This is what I’ve been saying for years, but people never wanted to listen.
A woman kidnaps and sexually assaults two 11-year-old boys and gets only two years in jail for that. Completely egregious.
The hypocrisy of Rand Paul. I know you know this but this particular instance is seriously funny. In a very disturbing sort of way, of course. just like everything he does.
If you are or planning to look for a job in academia, here is a fascinating account of what factors influence the hiring decisions. This rings very true to me, people. This is exactly how things are, and you need to be prepared. Don’t believe anybody’s slogans. Listen to what this anonymous poster tells you.
Another important piece of advice for PhD students: “Start cultivating a third or fourth recommendation letter writer who is not from your Ph.D. granting institution. This may come as a surprise to some of you, but having all of your letters come from faculty from your Ph.D. institution/committee is a sure-fire sign of a job candidate “Not Ready For Prime Time.”
If there is one thing I absolutely detest, it’s animal print. It’s so incredibly vulgar that I can’t stand even to look at it. It seems that it’s coming back into fashion, so poor me.
Male victims of sexual assault.
Why is it that everything one ever reads about Israel is so supremely stupid. See this, for example: “If the occupation is destroying Israel’s fundamental character, dismantling the state, and corrupting the people, as Gorenberg contends, then Zionists above all should want to end it, as swiftly and comprehensively as possible, and not try to hold out for the most favorable terms.” I thought we had moved away from discussing the “fundamental character” of nations. How can anybody write books about nation-building without learning even the basic facts of how this process works? Jeez, people, when will this endless stream of “they just need to stop building new settlements and recognize Palestine because it would help them restore their fundamental national character” finally end? How is it possible not to see that such pronouncements are right at the level of “let them eat cake”?
“2013 will be ugly. If Obama wins he will stop pandering to progressives and liberals. Since he never has to be reelected again, he will be even worse than he was 2009-2011. If you want anything from Obama, anything, get it before the election, do not believe promises, do not accept promises, accept cash only. If Romney or Gingrich wins, well, it’s not going to be any better. SOPA and PIPA will be back in 2013 in some form.” Does anybody doubt these predictions? If so, please be so kind as to explain your reasoning to me in the comments and I promise not to argue or even object. I so want to believe.
“If at first the jerks try to stop you, try again.” (This could have been written by me but it wasn’t.) A brave kid defies stupid bureaucrats and helicoptering adults and fulfills her dream. I wish I had more of such feel-good stories to share with you.
Google is going to start tracking what its users do online even more aggressively than before. If you use more than one Google service (say, the email, the Google Calendars, and YouTube), you need to be aware of this and maybe take some action.
Paulo Coelho on SOPA: “Pirates of the world, unite and pirate everything I’ve ever written!”
A post where I get blamed. But this is the kind of blame I am more than willing to accept.
Bloomberg Businessweek thinks that placing a photo of a bloodied and beaten face of Mitt Romney on its cover is funny and appropriate. I find it completely disgusting that violence should be treated in such a cavalier way.
30 top reasons why women don’t get pay raises. Very funny.
If you are a progressive who is sick and tired of voting for the Democrats in the “lesser evil” principle, I think you will find that this post has perfectly articulated your feelings on the subject of American politics. I know it did that for me. A very good post from a talented blogger.
A brilliant strategy to bring thousands of visitors to your blog overnight. I wish I had thought of it. But at least I can be proud that my dear colleague did.
How memes are crated and spread around. Very insightful.
Spain’s unemployment rises to 22.9%. This is tragic, people. Me duele España.
And the award for the most brilliant post of the week, or maybe even the month, goes to: “No woman should need to announce her womanhood, her personhood, either by having a kid or by asserting her “choice” in not having a kid. At the end of the day, a woman’s personhood shouldn’t have a thing in the world to do with her reproductive organs. That, for me, should be the point of reproductive choice.” It’s nice to know that such brilliant people exist.
Clarissa's Blog 
Many thanks, Clarissa. I had written about a year ago of her frustrated attempts to do it and was extraordinarily proud of her when she managed to “follow her bliss” and succeeded. An experienced sailor, she knew the risks and had confidence in her ability to deal with them. She was right.
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Thank you for linking me!
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Thanks for the linking, and thanks for that article on teen internet habits, it was such a breath of fresh air compared to the usual hand-wringing “O tempora O mores!” musings you see on teens and the internet in mainstream publications.
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Not only do I not object to a long link list, but I will also shamelessly add to it by self-promoting!
The Anti-Choice Desert, my own contribution to this year’s Blog for Choice Day.
I also finished Unwisely (finally!) and laughed at a quote likening potatoes to second-class citizens.
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“2013 will be ugly. If Obama wins he will stop pandering to progressives and liberals.”
Reality check here. Obama pandering to liberals? He ran as a centrist, his books describe a centrist ideology and his speeches were smack right the middle. As president he has gone way out of his way to court bipartisan solutions.
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If Obama wins, he may be a little More Progressive or not. If Ruth Bader Ginsberg or another justice of the Supreme Court retires, there may be some hope that the Court will Not move further to the Right and faintly, faintly possibly get more to the Middle. It is possible, though not clear that Obama may push for one or more progressive things as a lame duck president. If Obama wins, he will try to marginally at least improve the economy.
If Romney or Gingrich win, any Supreme Court vacancy will lead to replacements comparable to Justice Roberts (or worse) and issues such as abortion rights may be in jeopardy. While “conservatives” will no doubt be disappointed at the slowness of change, efforts will be made to repeal (or at least gut) the greatly compromised healthcare reform bill Obama got passed. Economic recovery in the short-term will be unlikely.
Obviously, we face a “least bad” situation in some important ways, however Republican leadership now seems Much Scarier to me!
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These are all very good observations. Thank you, Geo!
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Interesting article about Mass Incarceration and Criminal Justice in America
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2012/01/30/120130crat_atlarge_gopnik?currentPage=all
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Great list. Thanks for these pointers. Some good reading there for a quiet Sunday in!
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You are welcome. 🙂
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I really like some animal prints. Do you think they are too busy, or???
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I think it’s cultural. I associate it with those people who go to places where millionaires hang out and try to pick up a rich sponsor.
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Thanks so much for mentioning me! I feel flattered 🙂
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Thanks for linking me. This morning I was a butt messing around with my blog controls and long story short my blog name has changed. The three of you who read it can now find it here:
http://thecornpoppy.wordpress.com/
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Cool! We don’t want to lose access to your great blog.
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A belated thank you for two links to my blog. I updated the French Children dont throw food post with a ten minute video interview of the author which was on the Wall Street Journal lately.
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