The Intrepid Explorer Returns, plus links about The Apology

As you may have noticed I have posted very little in the past few weeks. This is because I have been away exploring touristing the far reaches of the world Europe. Regular blog posting to resume shortly.

The big story today is the federal government's apology for the residential schools, and of course the disgusting remarks of Pierre Poilievre. This has been well covered both in the mainstream press and the blogosphere and I have nothing new to add, so I'll just list some good links.

The Toronto Star's coverage has been really good, with about 15 articles, plus videos. For instance: Why the apology matters to us all, Apology 'is not going to fix what happened', Native apology doesn't address grim reality, Apology alone cannot close a gaping wound.

Also check out Dawg's Blawg on the apology, TGB's It wasn't me! It wasn't me! and Stageleft's Apology Day. And don't miss the biting commentaries from Harper Valley (including her trademark graphics).

And on Pierre Poilievre, here's just a few select comments from Canadian Cynic, Scott Tribe, Liberal Catnip, and Just Another Willy Loman

Make Me a Reading List - Open Thread

I've been so busy lately I've been unable to do the rounds and visit all of my favourite blogs. So I invite you to help me prioritize.

Leave a comment with one of your most important recent blog posts with a short description, and, time permitting, I will visit it. Hooray for free links!

Thanks everyone!

In return, here are a couple of comics relating to Bush's veto of the children's health insurance bill:

Reloaded: Older Posts Worth Reading

Spent the last true day of summer over on Toronto Island. Now I'm sitting here, slightly sunburned, drinking a glass of raspberry wine (yum) and catching up on my reading. Definitely to check out... Reloaded: a carnival of older posts collected over at One Tenacious Baby Mama. I always like to find new bloggers to read, so this was a real treat.

Reloaded
Sunday 2, 2007

In addition to my post "The Good Life and The Economy" check out:

Mommy On The Floor's "The City On The Hill"

Second Waver's "The Male Gaze, postscript"

Universal Plume's "It's Blog For Loving Yourself Day"

Seminalson's "I'm A Fragile Being: Touch In My Men's Group"

Risa's "You Want Cream In That?"

All About My Vagina's "Please call it 'Sex Safety'"

Darkdaughta's "Race, Class and Everyday Shite", "Western Civilization...A History of Emotional Dysfunction", "My Daughter Wants A Barbie", "Mission Not Accomplished...Sort of"and "Does He Wipe His Track Makin' Ass With Moist Towelettes?"
Reloaded will be happening every Sunday and if you have an old post you'd like to see recirculated, contact Dark Daughta.

I'm Now Officially a Thinking Blogger

Thanks to Politics Plus for the Thinking Blogger award.

Here are the rules:

1. If, and only if you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
   
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
   
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (there is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).
   

Now the hard part. I have to choose 5 from the long list of amazing blogs I read. So, I've taken my daily read list, removed any that (as far as I could tell) had already been awarded this, and also very large and popular blogs. Here's my five, in no particular order:

Marginal Notes is one of my favourite feminist blogs. She takes no shit and I admire her for it.

A Canadian Lefty in Occupied Land for his long, well-reasoned, and thought-provoking posts.

Sand Gets in my Eyes, an American ex-pat in Saudi Arabia. From her I get a very different and valuable perspective on many issues.

Shmohawk's Shmorg helps me stay up to date on many underreported issues, especially pertaining to Aboriginals in Canada.

Thought, Interrupted by Typos not only has one of the best blog names out there, but has clear concise writing and a diverse set of topics.

There's many, many more. My blogroll is in need of an update.

Link Love

On account of Capitalist Propaganda 101 (uh, the Economics class I have to take before September), which I've recently added on top of my already stressful full time job, my posts have been short and sporadic. I just don't have time to craft many long and well-thought out posts. So, bear with me for the next month or so. Meanwhile, here's some good readin':

Thinking Girl's Feminism Friday - domestic goddess series, part 1: Nobody Likes a Blatant Simulacrum: Betty Crocker as a Marketing Technique, Guest Blogged by Shannon

My New Crush about Nassim Taleb and the perils of prediction. It doesn't seem to be loading right now, so you might need to try Google's Cache.

The Corporate Climate Coup by David Noble, and the accompanying controversy. How exactly does science fit into progressive politics and activism?

"Liberal" Types and Official Enemies via Thought, Interrupted by Typos.

The 39th Carnival of Feminism

Finally, More Interesting Stuff to Read from my feedreader - updated daily

That should keep you busy for a while. :)

Blog Against Sexism Day

Whew there have been a LOT of people Blogging Against Sexism Today.

Just a few notable posts:

• Kate Sheppardreminds us how women's issues are deeply connected with environmental issues
  
• Kuri has some interesting observations about power/authority/hyper-masculinity
  
• A Liberal in DC notes Canada still has a long way to go in terms of gender parity in politics
  
• All About Pamusement has an excellent post on the hypocrisy of the Harper government towards women
  
• Sand Gets in my Eyes on women's struggles in Saudi Arabia (where she is currently living)
  
• Brit Bravo blogs about CodePink - women against the war
  
• tigtog offers up examples of some of the more insidious forms of sexism
  
• The Road to Surfdom shows us a particularly nauseating example of sexism
  
• Thinking Girl offers a thoughtful (and sad... and true...) post about the challenges facing women.
  
• Polly Jones gives us the answer to all our childcare problems
  

Men blogging against sexism today:

• BlogTHIS and The Dominion blog about women's health in Haiti
  
• Canada's Debate reports on women's murders in Guatamala
  
• Porcupine Blog remembers 4 great women freedom fighters
  
• Latino Politico on the importance of las mujeres and how equality often begins in our own homes
  
• Terry Glavin gives us a brief overview of the history of IWD and where we are today
  
• Buckdog blogs to end violence against women
  

And since we are blogging against sexism, I thought it appropriate to list some Women Bloggers I like, in no particular order:

• Verbena-19
  
• An Arab Woman Blues - Reflections in a sealed bottle...
  
• Women of Color Blog
  
• Marginal Notes
  
• Moons of Saturn
  
• Skdadl at Peace, Order, and Good Government, Eh?
  
• Politics'N'Poetry
  
• Sketchy Thoughts
  
• Thinking Girl
• April Reign
  
• Hope and Onions
  
• Feminist Toronto
  
• Liberal Catnip
  
• Idealist Pragmatist
  
• Diva Rachel
  
• Thought, Interrupted by Typos
  

Recently discovered blogs with women authors:

• Freedom for Egyptians
  
• Mshairi - "life, love, poetry, africa, gender activism"
  
• Redneck Mother is raising children, lettuce, and hell in Texas
  
• Saudi Stepford Wife
  

(There's lots, and many are indeed Canadian, despite Kinsella's "memo to Canada: WE NEED MORE SMART FEMALE BLOGGERS NOW!")

Lastly, don't forget to read The 33rd Carnival of Feminists

p.s. if I got anyone's gender wrong, please let me know in the comments. After all it is notoriously difficult to be sure about anything on the Internet
UPDATE:

• April Reign covers the death of Doris Anderson
  
• Idealist Pragmatist offers up a video of Stephen Lewis on women's rights
  
• Inside the Box: women of inspiration
  
• An Arab Woman Blues brings us a message from "liberated Iraq"
  
• Afghan Lord marks International Women’s Day by describing the suffering of Afghanistan’s women.
  
• The Cylinder blogs about IWD in Palestine
  
• Hope and Onions has an amazing "30 stories from 30 places, in order to demonstrate the breadth of women's experiences around the world". This will take some time to read, but is well worth it.
  

V-Day Link Roundup

On a normal day, my blogging is enhanced with coffee, that low-grade cocaine substitute that makes me irritable and therefore prolific. (I think it could be scientifically proven that the number of words written is in direct proportion to the degree of ill temper.) Today, however, my chocolate-induced dopamine overload is leaving me rather uninspired.

So, here's a roundup of Valentine links you'll love.

• Darwin Dating helps attractive people find other attractive people with whom they can breed. Try the quiz if you're not sure about your evolutionary status (Via The Skwib)
  
• Code Pink's message to open our hearts and Make Love, Stop War. They say "On this day of love, let's work to stop war. What could be a more loving act?" Also, see Socialism is love
  
• How to be green today - For one thing, send an ecard to your favourite climate change skeptic
  
• Your brain uses copious amounts of glucose, so candy should make you smarter right? Exercise that noggin with the Candy Hearts match-up from Mental Floss
  

And finally, watch ZeFrank's hilarious Valentine's Message

Ok, one more: Monogamy, Polyamory, and Beyond by Jorge N. Ferrer on sympathetic joy, love, jealousy, and infidelity. This essay speculates for example that we may be socially monogamous, but that is really a mask for biological tendency to polyamory. Interesting read.