This post is unlocked. Feel free to link to it.

~*~

HAITI EARTHQUAKE - How you can help
Haitian contacts, relief efforts
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 | 1:46 PM ET

Port-au-Prince, the impoverished Haitian capital, was hit with a devastating earthquake Tuesday that caused the collapse of several buildings and an unknown number of fatalities. The 7.0 magnitude quake had its highest intensity in an area where at least 1.8 million people live.

A list of ways to get involved in relief efforts and stay connected with those still Haiti is provided below.

Contacting family members, friends

Canadians attempting to contact family members or friends in Haiti can call the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade emergency operation centre at 1-800-387-3124, or inquire by email at sos@international.gc.ca.

DFAIT is also advising Canadians who need assistance in Haiti to travel to the Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince on Delmas Road, between Delmas 75 and 71. Canadians can also contact embassy officials by calling 613-996-8885.

Support

The Canadian Red Cross is accepting donations to support Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. Donations can be earmarked to the Haiti earthquake fund. Canadians who wish to give may donate online by clicking here. Donations can also be made by calling 1-800-418-111 or by visiting any Red Cross office.

The Canadian Red Cross sent $200,000 immediately to support emergency relief efforts on the ground and is on standby to provide additional emergency assistance. The Red Cross response includes evacuation support, search and rescue efforts and providing shelter and first aid. Local Red Cross volunteers continue to work around the clock to help the many people affected by this disaster.

UNICEF Canada is taking donations for the earthquake in Haiti. An income tax receipt will be issued for all donations $25 or more. For donations less than $25, receipts will be issued upon request. Please email secretary@unicef.ca or call 1-800-567-4483.

The Salvation Army in Canada is sending $100,000 US in aid and has started a fundraising campaign.

World Vision is preparing to distribute emergency supplies to those affected by the earthquake. World Vision has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, helping an estimated 300,000 Haitians each year to overcome poverty through providing access to education, clean water and nutrition, as well as helping families with medical care.

Partners in Health reports its Port-au-Prince clinical director, Louise Ivers, has appealed for assistance: "Port-au-Prince is devastated, lot of deaths. SOS. SOS... Temporary field hospital by us at UNDP needs supplies, pain meds and bandages." Follow link to help by donating.

Direct Relief is committing up to $1 million in aid for the response and is co-ordinating with its other in-country partners and colleague organizations. Their partners in Haiti include Partners in Health, St. Damien Children's Hospital, and the Visitation Hospital, which are particularly active in emergency response. Donate to Direct Relief online.

The Humanitarian Coalition — Care/Oxfam Canada/Oxfam Quebec/Save the Children. In collaboration with a number of organizations, The Humanitarian Coalition is taking donations for relief for those devastated by the earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday.

Artists for Peace and Justice, which was established after director/producer/writer Paul Haggis met Rick Frechette, an American doctor and community organizer working in the slums of Haiti for 22 years, is accepting donations. Call 310-319-1394 for further assistance.

International Medical Corps. a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonprofit organization, is deploying an emergency response team to Haiti.

Adventist Development and Relief Agency is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief. ADRA is asking for any donation possible to support its emergency response fund.

Yele Haiti was established by musician Wyclef Jean to inspire change through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment. Yele Haiti is accepting donations to help make a difference in Haiti via its website. Because of high traffic to the website, Yele is accepting donations through mobile phones, with people able to text the word "YELE" to 501501 to make a $5 contribution. Yele Haiti can also be followed on Twitter.

Plan Canada has been operating in Haiti for nearly 40 years. Donations can be made by calling 1-800-387-1418.

~*~

Evaluating a charity
Before making a donation, consumers should take precautions to evaluate a charity. Here are some tips:

Check the database of registered charities on the Canada Revenue Agency's website. Registered charities are authorized to issue donation receipts for income tax purposes. Contact the charity to confirm that they do provide official donation receipts to donors. Cheques should be made out to an organization, not an individual.
Call the charity or look on their website to see how your donation will be used.
Ask for supporting literature on the charity's past missions to learn more about the charity.

~*~

From the comments:

~ www.msf.ca

A post on the culture of rape and society's expectations on (and enforcement of the expected) behaviour of women, from a few people on my f-list.


Note: Comments will be moderated.

If you're reading this and are a man, I ask you this. It's not a favor I'm asking for. Keep this in mind. It's not a challenge. Some of you will say you know this. But this goes further than just knowing. it's not just about saying "Oh, I know this!". It's about DOING. It's about lifestyle. It's about every day words and actions. It's about changing the world we live in, one word at a time, one action at a time. Over and over and over again, until it sticks.

So. Here I am, asking you this. I'm asking you to do this because it's the right thing to do. I'm asking you this when I shouldn't have to ask you this because there should be no need for it. And yet, here we are. There is need.

And so I ask: Step up.

The next time you see a situation where a male co-worker(s)/friend(s)/stranger(s) is/are making a female colleague(s)/friend(s)/stranger(s) feel uncomfortable, or belittled. Step up.

Even if she's putting up a good front or acting like its normal and okay because that's what a woman is conditioned to do, to be polite, to not raise a fuss, to pretend it's okay to be treated like something less than human, to not get in trouble because she's out-numbered or won't be listened to or will just be laughed at for speaking up for herself. Because she's afraid she'll get in trouble if she speaks up for herself. Because she doubts her right to do so. Because she's afraid to do so. Because she knows - not believes - but knows no one will listen. Because she thinks even if she speaks up, everyone will believe him. Step up.

The next time you see a (possibly incapacitated) woman being taken advantage of at a party/club/friend's house, if you see a woman being verbally abused or physically intimidated at night or in broad daylight with onlookers not intervening. Step up.

The next time you hear a guy make jokes about rapes, jokes that cheapen woman and enable a culture of rape, encourage his friends to treat a woman like a thing, like dirt. Like she's there for his convenience. STEP UP.

It's not enough to just think you'd do it. Be aware. Be pro-active. Don't walk around with the blinders of privilege, unable to see what's going on right beside you.

Because it's not okay. IT'S NOT OKAY. So step up. Say something. Tell your buddies what they're doing isn't okay. Tell the guy over there that what he's saying is wrong. That was he's doing is wrong. Call for help. Call the police. Do something.

It's not just the big things. It's the small everyday things too, that aren't so small and are soul crushing nonetheless. It's everything. Everywhere.

So. Be That Guy.

Be That Guy because it's how things should be. Not because you're some kind of hero, or because you'd deserve kudos for it, or because you're a knight-in-shining-armor - but because in everyday life, that's how things should be. Because a woman shouldn't have to be confronted with behavior that belittles her, or diminishes her, or makes her feel unworthy or unsafe. Because our society needs to change. Because the culture of rape needs to be exposed for what it is and it needs to be confronted and shown as wrong, one small bit at a time.

Be That Guy because those guys? Odds are pretty damn high they won't listen to a woman telling them this. Actually, it's pretty much certain. A guy listening to a woman in this kind of situation, particularly with other guys around? Exception to the rule. Cold hard fact.

But they might listen to you. They might listen to another guy.

It doesn't matter if it's at work, or in the streets. Or at home with your friends and family.

BE THAT GUY.

And if you get thanked for it? Remind yourself of this.

It's not about you.

This is not something a woman should need to thank you for in the first place.

~*~

Stepping up isn't just for guys. This was proven to me today, and this is why I'm extending this post. This is shorter, but when you factor in a culture where women are told to shut up, to be polite, to not rock the boat, to not raise a fuss... this is bigger. This is hard. And it's always going to be hard. And terrifying.

It will also be worth it.

If you're reading this and you're a woman and you've been/are being harassed, speak up. I know it's not a question of if, but of when. That's how things are. So. Talk to Human Resources. Talk to your superior, the one in charge of keeping your work environment safe. Talk to a trusted person. Hopefully, someone in that chain won't let you down. Hopefully the people who are supposed to be there for you, will be there for you.

The ones who prey on women, the ones who make sexist jokes and crass remarks? They don't do that just to you. They do it to other women too.

It's not just about you

And this is just one situation of many. One potential scenario. It's the one I bring here as an example, because it's close to home on many levels, in many instances. Because today, it's the one that made me cry. For myself, and for someone else.

So.

Step up.

Speak out.

Be That Woman.

~*~


If any of you wish to link to this, do so. If any of you wish to repost any of the two sections above on your own journal, blog, whathaveyou - go ahead. Copy paste and do so. No credit needed nor even wanted. Just... please, repost this request.

Step up, you know.

~*~

And, finally, a personal note. Because I think it needs to be said, out here, for everyone to read. But most importantly, for her to read.

I know someone who was That Woman today.

I respect her tremendously and am endlessly proud to call her friend.

~*~

And, because I'm already seeing some responses to some people who posted links to this, here is link to Derailing for Dummies. Bear it mind - the one you link this to has to want to learn to even come close to being able to appreciate this.

I'll find the one about tone when I can, unless someone has the kindness to link it here first.

And, a good post on tone and why it's the last type of argument to bring to this kind of discussion.

A post on the culture of rape. Yes, this means your society, your culture - it's not just that anonymous one "over there". Yes, this is for men to read - not "just" women.

Read the comments. It's all there, in the comments.

~*~

By cetera.

"There is a point in discussions of rape, when the discussion turns from the particular to the systemic, when the idea that, for example, many cultures have a value system that makes men believe they are fundamentally entitled to women's bodies (or time or attention, but mostly bodies), when the exceptionism starts to come out. Say it with me, now: not all men are like that.

And of course, they're not. But you know what? Too damn many of you are, and too damn many of you can be in the right circumstances. And I'm not going to apologize for saying that."

~*~

Further reading:

~ Don't be that guy, by synecdochic
~ Perusing Penises in the Park (no, seriously) and some street harassment stories, by khalinche
~ who teaches women to fear?, by hammercock
~ Deep thoughts on a Saturday night, by owlmoose
~ Oh today, by celestineangel
~ The Not Rape Epidemic @ Racialicious
~ untitled post by rachelmanija (This post made me cry. If you have to ask why, you won't understand any explanation I have to offer to you.)
~ Are you That Guy?, by xenacryst

Written by Synthesis, at http://primarysources.newsvine.com/.

~*~

Her name was Neda.

I am crying as I write this.

It is rapidly becoming the most galvanizing image in a week of drama and tragedy - perhaps the most image-saturated week in the history of the internet. I am talking about the unbelievable and heartbreaking events in Iran, a week of human drama captured in TwitPics, Flikr photos, YouTube videos, cellphone camera pics and blogs and hi-def video and...

Despite the billions upon billions of megapixels of imagery that have been captured to characterize this clash -- seas of greens, motorcyle thugs, clouds of tear gas, masked protesters -- one image is starting to make an impression above all the others, even in the short-attention-span universe of Twitter.

Early today, a beautiful young woman was demonstrating in Tehran, along with her father. When friction between the Basiji - the brutal packs of militia that patrol the streets of Tehran, beating women and children and students -- and the demonstrators broke out, it was her ill-fortune to become one of the first victims of Basiji homicide, though she was doing nothing more than standing by innocently, watching.

It is said that a Basij sniper shot her through the heart, simply to see her die.

The final moments of her tender young life leaked into the pavement of Karegeh Street today, captured by cell phone cameras. And not long after, took on new life, flickering across computer screens around the world on YouTube, and even CNN.

The words of her fellow students, her fellow Iranians are already burning an indelible message into cyberspace. Within minutes of her name being identified, it became the fastest-rising 'trending topic' on Twitter.

Her name was Neda, an innocent bystander shot dead just for watching.

We are Neda and all those who fell with her.

Neda is one Iranian. Neda is all Iranians.

RT May God cradle #NEDA in Peace and wake her soul to show her that she was not lost for nothing, her blood rained freedom

The World cries seeing your last breath, you didn't die in vain. We remember you.

I have added two Twitter accounts to my real name account: @TehranBureau and @IranRiggedEffect. If you pride yourself on being up to date on political events, you may want to investigate Twitter accounts in order to get updates on the Iran elections. As it turns out, Twitter has been a prime source of information for this particular topic.

Andrew Sullivan @ The Daily Dish is trying to keep up with the updates, as well. Keep in mind that he's updating with information readers and bloggers are sending him ~ these updates aren't all his own writing.

Actually ~ a good post to take a look at for read worthy links on the subject (those I have been using come from there) is at ontd_political here. Thank you for that link, ajremix.

I will say this. When I first checked out Twitter, I was skeptical about the whole thing.

Today, Twitter is showing exactly how strong a medium for communication it can be. Particularly for those whom are seeing all their sources of communication being shut down or taken away from them, one at a time.

Murder at the Holocaust Museum

A post by lisasmall about today's shooting at the Holocaust Museum, how it ties into the Dr George Tiller murder, the subsequent closing of his clinic and the overall big picture of the past years in terms of how racial progress may be inspiring some bigots to strike out for fear they are losing their "war".

Tiller Family: Clinic will close.
Slain Abortion Doctor's Clinic to Close

Because Dr Tiller's murder apparently wasn't enough, one Jill Stanek feels obliged to enable more.

By doing no less than painting great big targets on the faces of two of the remaining late-term-abortion providers in the United States.

Operation Rescue, Jill Stanek: Only Too Happy to Aid and Abet
Accessories to a __________
Jill Stanek posts photos, addresses of the two remaining late-term-abortion providers

I'm still adding links to my original post. I will likely continue to do so over time, in order to keep the links all in one, easy to find location.

I thought this one was particularly relevant – and moving – however, and wanted to add it to a new post.

The Compassion of Dr. Tiller, by Michelle Goldberg.

( Article archived under the cut-tag. Bolding my own. )

Link via mouseferatu

~*~

( NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists. )

It is possible that I am feeling a mite snarky and all fang-like today.

Just sayin', ya know?

Icon set of 4, two with the same quote but differing backgrounds. Feel free to snag, share, give to friends. No credit needed, though it can always be useful if someone would like to make a request directly from me for another quote.

I've run the gamut of emotions since yesterday and have settled, it seems, on angry.

I had one hella angry, bitch-slapping sort of post all written up in response to some comments I've seen from men patting themselves on the back while thinking what they were saying was in any way all right to say. That they were being supportive. Instead, I'm going to go with this.

To the men who self-righteously state that they don't approve of women getting late-term abortions, unless it's for health reasons... educate yourselves. No really. Your patronizing, condescending comments reflect badly upon only you, that you would even consider to imply that women frivolously choose to undergo such a procedure in the first place. And it only highlights your unacknowledged misogyny that you would even hint that not only women would pursue such a course for unnecessary reasons, but that they also need to be "controlled" by law in the making of such decisions.

~*~

When I told my husband that I was posting this, he looked worried. And asked me to be careful about what I posed in public forums, because of all the "insane people" out there.

What does that tell you?

~*~

Edit :: What a Late Term Abortion actually entails, by a2zmom.

~*~

From the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada website.

Position Paper #22

Late Term Abortions (after 20 weeks)
This paper describes the incidence of late term abortions, explains the reasons why they are performed, and argues that any effort to ban late term abortions in Canada would necessarily infringe on women’s constitutional rights.

Incidence of Late Term Abortions
The Canadian Medical Association's abortion policy defines abortion as the active termination of a pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation (Canadian Medical Association, Policy on Induced Abortion, 1988). 90% of abortions in Canada are performed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and just over 9% of abortions take place between 12 and 20 weeks of gestation. A mere 0.4% of abortions take place after 20 weeks of gestation. These are considered late term abortions.

Why Late Term Abortions are Necessary
A very small number of abortions occur after 20 weeks of gestation primarily because the fetus is gravely or fatally impaired, or the woman's life or physical health is at risk, or both (Statistics Canada, Therapeutic Abortions, 1995). Many impairments or health risks are not detectable until after the 24th week of gestation. In 1998 an American Doctor, George Tiller, opposed efforts to ban late term abortions in Kansas, using “statistics and photos of catastrophic pregnancies he had aborted.” The images showed fetuses with missing skulls or spinal cords, and in one case twins fused into a single body (Dave Ranney, “Tiller: Abortion Bill an Insult to Women,” Wichita Eagle, April 11, 1998, and Colleen McCain and Dave Ranney, “Five Kansas Families share Deeply Personal Stories,” Wichita Eagle, April 19, 1998).

Those opposed to abortion rights have portrayed women as having late term abortions out of "selfish convenience" or because they "suddenly can't get into a bathing suit." This
misrepresentation of women’s decision making with regard to abortion is always inaccurate, but especially so in cases of late term abortion. Most women who terminate their pregnancies after 20 weeks wanted to have a child, and were forced to consider abortion for medical reasons. Other women may be in desperate social circumstances, such as an abusive relationship, or they may be very young teenagers who have delayed abortion care because they were in denial about the pregnancy.

Who Performs Late Term Abortions
Hospitals and some clinics in Canada perform abortions on request up to about 20 weeks, and a few centres do abortions up to 22 or 23 weeks. However, most of the very small number of abortions performed over 20 weeks gestation in Canada are done to protect the woman’s physical health, or because of serious fetal abnormalities. Such problems cannot be discovered until an amniocentesis test is done on the fetus later in pregnancy. Rare abortions after 22 or 23 weeks gestation are also done in Canada for some cases of lethal fetal abnormalities, where the fetus cannot survive after birth.

Since abortion services after 20 weeks are not always readily accessible in all parts of Canada, women are sometimes referred to clinics in the United States (Kansas, Washington State, and Colorado). Such procedures and associated expenses may be funded in full or part by some provincial governments.

Why Late Term Abortions Should not be Banned or Regulated
Late term abortions have been inappropriately labeled "partial-birth” abortions by those opposed to abortion rights (see Position Paper #5a). These lobbyists are most likely referring to a specific procedure called D&X (dilation and extraction), which is often, though not always, used in later term abortions in the United States. The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act was signed into U.S. law by President George W. Bush in 2003. Yet this legislation has already been successfully overturned because it fails to leave an exception for the life and health of the mother.

Anti-abortion activists in Canada typically mimic the efforts of their American counterparts. Some have suggested that “partial-birth” and late term abortions should be banned in Canada. The point is moot because the D&X abortion technique is rarely if ever used in Canada. Late- term abortions done in Canada are generally performed via induction of labour. In any case, such a ban would infringe on women’s constitutional right to the security of the person. At the same time, it would award politicians more rights than either pregnant women or their doctors – making medical advice secondary to political legislation. All medical care, including abortion care, should be based on clinical standards with the goal of meeting patients' needs and minimizing risk to patients. Physicians should not face criminal prosecution or imprisonment for providing clinically appropriate care for their patients.

Canada is one of only three countries in the world with no laws restricting abortion. Because of that, Canada serves as a respected role model for abortion care internationally. Abortion is a health procedure and as such, can be left up to the discretion of the doctor and patient. It requires no extra regulation, in the same way that childbirth or heart surgery require no extra regulation. It would be reactionary and counter-productive to pass any restriction against abortion, because that would endanger women’s health and lives, and infringe on women's equality rights: only women get pregnant, so abortion restrictions amount to discrimination against women. It would also give the anti-abortion movement something to build on, and agitate from. Abortion opponents target rare cases of late term abortion, describing it in horrific detail, to evoke an emotional response in listeners. Their ultimate goal is to restrict all abortion rights. What these lobbyists strategically fail to mention, however, is that banning late term abortions would force women pregnant with dying fetuses to give birth at great risk to their own health, undermining both the rights of women and the medical authority of doctors.

65-6703. Abortion prohibited when fetus viable, exceptions; determination of age of fetus; determination of viability; reports; retention of medical records; viable, defined; criminal penalties. (a) No person shall perform or induce an abortion when the fetus is viable unless such person is a physician and has a documented referral from another physician not legally or financially affiliated with the physician performing or inducing the abortion and both physicians determine that: (1) The abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman; or (2) a continuation of the pregnancy will cause a substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.

Read the rest of the Statute here.

This post is unlocked for a reason.

Doctor George Tiller was murdered today.

He was murdered in the lobby of his church as he served as an usher during service, in front of his wife and his fellow parishioners.

Doctor George Tiller was murdered today because he performed abortions.

My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.

~*~

This is how you lose Hearts and Minds: One Murder at a time, by liz_marcs.

If you read anything regarding Dr. Tiller's murder (even if you skip the rest of my post), please. Go read this.

~*~

The suspect was arrested. He has, unsurprisingly, ties to "Operation Rescue".

~*~

I'm crying right now. A lot of old fears have just resurfaced ~ I didn't think they would, after all this time. But here I am. Crying and unable to sleep.

Why does this affect me so much?

My father is a doctor. Specifically, he's an ob-gyn. My father isn't just a good doctor – he's damn good. His patients worship him. The nursing staff working with him have sung his praises for as long as I can remember. He was the head of his department at a top university hospital exclusively dedicated to mother, child and adolescent health for as long as it was legally allowed and they even considered extending his tenure as an exception.

Because he is that good a doctor.

He also performed abortions there. He would do abortions once a month, for a whole day. I remember - as a child - when he would come back from the days when the abortions were scheduled. He was always pale and tired. And always so very, very heart-broken.

He wouldn't talk to me about why he was so sad on those days for the longest time. In my late teenage years, he finally broached the subject with me. He used to call them "the days of the small angels". He cried while telling me about this. He didn't like doing abortions. Why would he? He did them because he thought it was necessary. He did them because they were medically mandated and he wanted to save his patients. He did them because he believed that women have a right to choice – because women have the right to decide what happens to their own body.

He could never tell me about the patients, not specifically – confidentiality forbids so, of course.

But he told me about a ten-year-old girl whose mother didn't believe her when she told her that her boyfriend had sexually assaulted her. He told me about the teenager who was a victim of incest and had ended up pregnant as a result. He told me he saw cases like that too often – more often than anyone would believe. He told me about the woman who was raped and conceived and couldn't bear to carry to term, didn't want to live with that kind of reminder to what had happened to her. He told me about a teenager who was date-raped and whose parents were ashamed of her. He was angry while telling me about such cases. So angry. He told me about the woman who cried and cried when he had to abort her baby, but had no choice because she would die otherwise. She'd nearly died twice already. He told me about the woman whose fetus was so deformed it might not carry to term and even it if did, how the baby would die mere moments after it was born – abortion was the only recourse in that case too. And he told me about the cases where it was simply the mother's choice and that because it was the mother's right to have that choice, he did those abortions too. He also told me that he didn't see many of those cases.

My father performed abortions because they were necessary. Because they saved the lives of his patients. Women – and girls alike. And also, my father did abortions because he believed in his patients' rights.

He works in a small hospital today, in semi-retirement. I don't know if he still does regular abortions there once a month, like he did when he worked in the big hospital. I remember that back then, each time I would hear in the news about an abortion clinic being vandalized, or a doctor who performed abortions being attacked or killed, I'd wonder if my father was safe. If the same thing might not happen to him. If he might not be murdered, killed by some nutjob thinking he was doing God's work. I'd come home as quickly as I could on those days and wait for him to come back from work. I'd sigh in relief when he did, knowing he was safe. Knowing he was still alive.

It's a scary thought to have as a teenager. It's terrifying.

I never told him this. It never even occurred to me to do so.

But I think, the next time I see him, I'll tell him I'm very proud of him for having had the courage to follow his convictions as he did.

My father is a damn good doctor. And I'm proud of him for that.

~*~

Other reactions & testimonials:
~ The Washington Monthly – testimonials
~ A Kind of Terrorism that Works, by Matthew Yglesias
~ Abortion provider Dr George Tiller murdered, by Ann Friedman
~ Abortion prodiver Dr Tiller shot dead at Wichita Church, by Cara Kulwicki
~ Statement by Dr Tiller's family
~ In His Church, by purtek
~ "Culture of Life, "Family Values", "Terror", by belledame222
~ Dr. George Tiller assassinated, by mattbastard
~ Homegrown Terrorism, America at War on Women, by amilyn
~ This is what Domestic Terrorism looks like, by pecunium
~ Donate to Planned Parenthood for Dr. Tiller, Jonathan Globo
~ , by Lise Small
~ He risked his life for the sake of others; he died for no reason at all, by innerbrat
~ Why I am an abortion doctor, Garson Romalis
~ My late-term abortion, by Gretchen Voss
~ Unspeakably sad, by julietma
~ Piecing Together the Murder of Dr. George Tiller: Right-Wing Violence Rears Its Head, @ AlterNet
~ Why Clinic Violence is Obama's Problem, by Ann Friedman
~ Dr. Tiller In His Own Words
~ I hate everything right now, by apocalypsos
~ The compassion of Dr Tiller, by Michelle Goldberg

If you wish to donate:
~ George Tiller Memorial Fund
~ Medical Students for Choice
~ Planned Parenthood of Kansan and Mid-Missouri
~ NARAL
~ Iowa Medical Aid Fund

This post is unlocked.

From "Gray Matter: Guild Exclusions are a Sign of Poor Leadership".

"From a sex perspective, I do think the presence of women in guild opens the doors additional risks that would be less common in an all male guild. For one, some men insist on acting like idiots around women. Not their fault but something that has to be dealt with."

Wrong. Absolutely, thoroughly and unequivocally WRONG.

If people insist on acting like idiots, it is, entirely and without a doubt, THEIR FAULT FOR ACTING LIKE IDIOTS.

It's called being responsible for one's actions.

Seriously. The propensity male players have for insisting on absolving themselves or their fellow male players of blame for dismissing any sense of decorum or manners and choosing to act like brain-addled morons when a female player is around has got the be the most unfortunate, idiotic logic ever. Unfortunately, it only reflects much of the perspective of today's society and today's gaming society on the matter. And yet. That does not make it right.

At least this blogger DOES get better later on in his post.

"A good guild leader would deal with the issue/person instead of making a preemptive ban. If a male member is acting like an idiot, deal with him and not the girl even if he is the main tank."

Well, thank you for that.

But I still take severe exception to the damning habit many players (and people in general) display: insisting it's not a guy's fault if he de-evolves into a drooling baboon the second a girl shows up. :p

Holding people responsible for their behaviour. A novel, shocking concept. I know.

Okay, so I saw Star Trek again today (at IMAX!). More glee, that's all I got. XD

( More bullet point type observations! )

There will be many, many spoilers in this post. You've been warned. Click the cut-tag at your own risk. (Also? Really long post ahead. You've been warned.) I'm making this post public, fyi.

That said? I'd love to discuss this more with people, so if you've any comments or thoughts, by all means. Go for it.

( Star Trek thoughts… )

[Filter :: Public]

It's not complicated really - you can subscribe to this account if you want, but just so you know many if not mostly of my entries will remain accessible by permission only (just like my LJ remains f-locked).  I may or may not grand you access - I kinda reserve the right to decide there. I will most certainly go over to your Dreamwidth and read up on your. If your account is without posts, it's pretty much a sure thing I won't grant access.

It works the same the other way 'round, though. If I subscribe to your Dreamwidth, you are by no means obligated to grant me access if you'd rather not. Fair's fair and all!

~*~

That said... I'm very glad to meet new people here on Dreamwidth. Many of my livejournal "friends" have been hopping on here and subscribing to this journal (if I haven't subscribed to theirs first) and that's nifty and shiny. But I've been on livejournal for a while now and things are kinda... quiet, in a not really meeting new people kind of way. Which is fine. My livejournal (a permanent account) will always remain active - I plan to cross-post nearly everything from LJ to DW and vice-versa, save for perhaps very specific-to-one-blog type of stuff. When it's possible to buy accounts, I'll probably do the same with my writing journal.

But Dreamwidth is new and shiny, and also more importantly, is shiny in ways that have nothing to do with it being new, and I'm excited to be here. I'm looking forward to seeing how things will be in this environment, and whom I may meet while everything is so lively and motivated.

<3

[Access List :: Public]

The GDC rant sessions: where typically high profile designers and developers in the game industry get to rant about whatever topic they choose. The keyword here is "rant". It's not meant to be nice. It's not meant to pat someone's ego. It's a rant. And those appearing at the GDC to rant are encouraged to be over the top and outrageous about their comments, with the acknowledgement that their rant invariably contains a kernel of simple, hard truth.

Anyway. Rant. Right? Right.

This year, game journalists were invited to rant, rather than industry developers.  It was entitled "Burned by Friendly Fire: Game Critics Rant". Heather Chaplin's rant in particular (rant people! RANT!) has drawn an up swell of self-righteously offended responses from the sensitive, delicate (oh, and privileged) male portion of this industry. These responses have ranged from "I'm sensitive and gentle and you're a whiny bitch (only I won't put it quite that way)" to "it's only games, lulz" to "omg, if you're not happy go do something else". They have, invariably, stated that that clearly videogames are just fine and if "the woman" isn't happy, the problem is clearly with her. I won't go into the drivel with which some of the game industry's target audience has responded with.

(But. Remind you of anything that's been going on in the blogsphere, lately? Or how about the Jade Raymond controversy that occurred shortly before Assassin's Creed was released? Yeah.)

I cannot, for the life of me (granted while at work and with a few other priorities) find a full transcript of Heather's rant. However, finding everything from blog posts to Youtube videos refuting her rant and setting her in her place? Those are all over the place. All you need to do is type " Heather Chaplin rant" in google and you're set.

In short. The entire visible, general online reaction - from men - in the industry, pros specifically, has been one of five year old boys with their lollipop taken from them.

At the suggestion of  a colleague, I add the following question: Why is this such a sore point with you, gentlemen? Ring a little too close to the truth, perhaps?

:: snorts ::

Good show, game industry. Way to be you.

In spite of all this display of flustered egos, the questions and challenge she posed remains. Are there good and story laden games out there? Yes, yes there are. Are there some that (not the focus of Heather's rant, but something I want to highlight) treat the female characters as something else than visual candy or the hero's potential mattress? Yes indeed, there are some there. A few. Every year. Thank the stars for that. Okami. Mirror's Edge. Fallout (as a series). Portal. Bioshock. Patapon (if you haven't heard of this one yet, good god, go look it up now.) LittleBigPlanet. Half-Life 2 (Episode 1). Braid. Mass Effect. The list goes on. We have gems in this industry. We really do.

AND THEY ARE TOO FEW.

We need to challenge ourselves more, as creators, gamers and as an industry as a whole, instead of staying in a rut because of outdated marketing, because of dated focus groups, because it's the easy thing to do. We need to get off our collective asses and we need to grow the hell up.

Because we need more of these games. Good, innovative and yes, intelligent games. Which even - yes - a zombie game could be if given the chance. Are these good games the trademark of the industry? Please, don't make me laugh. How many generic, marketing-driven knock offs do we see every year? How about the "rescue the helpless female" quest which is still the default mode of the majority of the game designers I work with, and for whom it is <b>normal</b> to suggest that plotline as far as they're concerned. NORMAL. New and innovative? How many of those do we really get in a year? Novel approaches to storytelling? (Heck, storytelling at all?) Novel and original gameplay?

So. I leave you with this.

"It’s not that the medium is in its adolescence, it's that you're a bunch of fucking adolescents."
   - Heather Chaplin

Ranty McPants, sure, but I salute her nonetheless. And after more than ten years in the industry, dealing with this shit day after day within all levels of the production team and other related fields and with marketing holding its full share of the fail as well?

Word. Fucking word.

~*~

Related links of interest:
:: To: Heather Chaplin, From: Game Devs, Re: Please return our testes
:: Why Game Designers Have no Legitimate Reason to Complain about Heather Chaplin’s GDC Rant and How Much Farther Games Still Have to Evolve to Achieve Something Truly Memorable.

~*~

An Important Note: Do I believe all men are insensitive man-ape things? Of course not. I know some pretty amazing, open-minded, self-aware and critical men. Do I believe that many men are blinded by their privilege and consequently by the inherent male privilege driven society of today? I don't believe it - I know it. I live it. I experience it every single damn day.

A More Important Note: Some of my fellow game designers - of which are some I work with today and who happen to be male - agree with this. That we need more innovation, that we need more storytelling, that we need less lip service to the "fanboys" and more strong, capable female MAIN characters. And secondary characters. And they are likely the sole reason I'm still in the game industry today. And to them I say "It's a pleasure to work with you, gentlemen."