This week — while the right wing in the U.S. worked on making abortion harder to obtain — Ireland went the other way. A large majority voted to repeal the Eighth Amendment to the Irish Constitution, which was one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the developed world. Embed from Getty Images The 1983…
health
Resist the Gag Rule
The failed businessman currently occupying the White House is back to attacking women this week. In a move worthy of a George Orwell novel, he announced an abortion-related gag rule for health clinics that he says isn’t really a gag rule because he says it’s not a gag rule. The rule applies to clinics that…
Recommended Reading for Women’s Health Week
Mother’s Day marked the start of National Women’s Health Week, duly accompanied by a statement full of lies from the Pussy Grabber in Chief. The connection of National Women’s Health Week to Mother’s Day rubs me the wrong way, because what does it mean? Only mothers are women? Or is it that women’s health should…
Fewer Right-Hand Rings for Me
My right-hand ring-wearing capacity has been temporarily reduced because of an operation on my right pinkie. I randomly developed arthritis in that finger five years ago (the problem didn’t originate in a fall or other injury). Getting this finger operated on this morning ? No #pinkyring for me for a while #pinkie A photo posted…
Things I’ve Read: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Several recent articles have grabbed my attention for various reasons — sometimes, unpleasant reasons. Starting out on the bright side, I enjoyed the Wall Street Journal’s story about how Janis Joplin came to write the acapella song, “Mercedes Benz.” CLICK HERE TO READ THE WSJ STORY ABOUT JANIS JOPLIN. As a designer, I’m always interested…
Angelina Jolie’s Decision
Actress Angelina Jolie Pitt wrote an essay that was published on the New York Times op-ed page today about her decision to have her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ESSAY. This comes two years after an essay in which she described her preventative double mastectomy. Jolie Pitt is not removing…
Hal Finney, Privacy, and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
As I’ve mentioned before, I like to read the obituaries in the print edition of the New York Times — the physical act of turning the pages draws my attention to stories that I wouldn’t necessarily click online. Monday, I read an obituary for cryptographer Hal Finney, who died last week at age 58 from…
RIP, L’Wren Scott
I’ve been so troubled by the suicide of designer L’Wren Scott that I’ve been tongue-tied for days. Also, I didn’t know her; I don’t even know anyone who knew her; and I don’t want to presume to know anything about her state of mind. However, other people have no such qualms and some general misconceptions…
Hip Hip Hooray!
Those of you who follow me on Twitter or Facebook might already know that MrB had hip-replacement surgery this week at the excellent Hospital for Special Surgery. He’s doing very well and will be home soon. I’ve been passing along your good wishes to him. Thanks!
Valentine’s Day Countdown, Day 5: Super Bowl Ring
I hear there’s some big sporting event today that involves jewelry, guys in tight pants … and Madonna. Ha! I’ve always thought that football had homoerotic undertones. Clearly, everyone’s about to come out of the closet en masse, as I first anticipated in October. I’m going to celebrate this happy occasion by offering a serious…