may thirty-first

once again i am really behind on news (i have been living under a rock ever since college), but dr. george tiller, one of the very few doctors who were willing to perform late-term abortions, was shot to death a couple of weeks ago, in wichita, kansas. quite ironic, considering that pro-life advocates use the "every life is a precious gift from god" premise as the primary basis for so much of their argument. and as if the irony was not scathing enough as is, tiller was shot while attending church! where would the world be without those silly religious zealots?

gulabi gang

just read in the june/july issue of bust magazine: the gulabi gang is a vigilante organization in banda, an impoverished region in northern india. impatient with the lack of progress from pre-existing organizations, the gang took it upon itself to actively fight (literally, with bamboo sticks) against wife-beaters, rapists, and corrupt law enforcement. since its inception three years ago, thousands of women - many of which were victims of domestic abuse - have picked up the gulabi (pink) sari as a symbol of resistance and emancipation. as stated by their BAMF commander sampat pal, "we function in a man's world, where men make all the rules. our fight is against injustice."

jesusita fires

santa barbara is (quite literally) on fire at the moment. thankfully our campus is next to the ocean and away from the mountains... from the eighth floor at night, however, you can see a glowing red outline of the mountains. so many little pieces of ash stuck in my screen window. third fire this year - crazy stuff!

let the struggle begin

i am probably two weeks late on posting about this, but i came across a website this morning, bluntly named godhatesfags.com. a great specimen of the intolerant, no-brain spectrum of religious conservative thought.

"WBC engages in daily peaceful sidewalk demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth. We display large, colorful signs containing Bible words and sentiments, including: GOD HATES FAGS, FAGS HATE GOD, AIDS CURES FAGS, THANK GOD FOR AIDS, FAGS BURN IN HELL, GOD IS NOT MOCKED, FAGS ARE NATURE FREAKS, GOD GAVE FAGS UP, NO SPECIAL LAWS FOR FAGS, FAGS DOOM NATIONS, THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS, FAG TROOPS, GOD BLEW UP THE TROOPS, GOD HATES AMERICA, AMERICA IS DOOMED, THE WORLD IS DOOMED, etc."

i know it's horrible but i kind of laughed halfway through. completely ludicrous. i can't imagine actually believing this shit.