And Now For Some Unabashed Jingoism!...

Readers, today is Canada Day, celebrating the enactment of our first Constitution in 1867. In about a month, I’ll be moving back home after five years in, as we say, “the States.” (That’s part of why I’ve been so quiet lately; preparations to de-exile oneself take a lot...

Pretentious Sunday Musings...

The hardest part of acknowledging privilege, it seems to me, is to overcome your impulse to claim authority, to know things in an absolute way. We are taught that knowledge is power, and it is, but not always in the literal terms in which we conceive that phrase. Because knowledge was not handed down...

It’s Juneteenth....

Juneteenth honours the end of slavery, and celebrated each year on June 19th, which is the day in 1865 that the slaves of Texas became free when Union soldiers occupied Galveston. The legacy of slavery in the United States continues to cut deep even in this “post-racial” (heh) age, and I...

On Women and Chutzpah...

I had an experience the other day in which a dude called upon me to prop up his ego. I’d love to tell you the particulars, but I feel like I’d like this post to survive into perpetuity, and I don’t want this person, who is, after all, a friend, to feel any more targeted than he has...

In Which I Think Aloud About Sarah Palin...

s.e. smith at This Ain’t Livin’ has an interesting post up about the latest spate of Palin-related mania in progressive circles, this time over her adoption of the word “feminist”: Liberal feminists are asking why Sarah Palin, a conservative feminist, should be allowed to call...

Eez Sloths. Look....

Although I got back from a short jaunt up to the Catskills last night (fun, but I tripped while hiking and my shin looks like hell) I quickly got all tense again from two impending deadlines today. I mentioned this to an internet friend, and she obliged me with the below which, since then, I have been...

Sure, It Matters: More on Elena Kagan...

A whole lot of blogs have been asking the question: does it matter if Elena Kagan’s gay?  It’s perhaps not going to be a popular answer, but I think it is, inevitably, yes. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not trying to “out” her.  To the extent Kagan herself finds the question...

Initial Thoughts on Elena Kagan and What...

So, its official. President Obama has named former Harvard Law Dean and now-Solicitor-General Elena Kagan as his nominee to the Supreme Court.  So let’s recap.  She will be one of the youngest Justices, at just 50 years old – which means she’ll potentially be on the Court a very...

Brontë Forever!...

Thanks to reader Carole for sending this in:

Feminist Food For Thought: bell hooks...

This recurring feature, curated by Pilgrim Soul, directs Harpy readers to important feminist thoughts and concepts as spoken by some of her favourite feminists on and off the web. The appraisal of the value of these snippets is, of course, entirely Pilgrim Soul’s, and does not necessarily reflect the...

For Your Viewing Pleasure...

I am just out of things to say lately, about the world or anything else.  And my parents are visiting, and we’re all tired and run down around here.  So!  A roundup of cool YouTube videos I’ve had linked for awhile! Nuala Cabral – Walking Home – a great piece on street harassment,...

Regarding Arizona’s Unfuckingbelie...

By now, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Arizona’s racist new immigration law.  President Obama has asked the Justice Department to analyze the constitutionality of the law, and some legal challenges have already been filed and others will undoubtedly follow. Here’s the best copy of...