I’ve read somewhere that it’s actually the people who seemed to “have it together” who are often the most successful suicides—people don’t see the warning signs and get them help. My uncle took his own life last summer and it was the same sort of situation; no one saw it coming—he had a successful career and had a…

This may depend on country. Places in central Europe where I’ve lived (Germany and the Czech Republic) tend to have plus sizes. Given the heavy food and probably some genetics, I noticed there were a lot of heavyset people in both countries. Clothes shopping in France and Italy was hard for me and I’m probably on…

I think it’s fair that academic terminology distinguishes between racial prejudice and racism. Racial prejudice is in part biologically informed, in that humans developed prejudice as an instinct to protect themselves against a perceived Other that might harm them. Black people can feel prejudice against white…

Yeah I can’t imagine, really. I’m gay myself and feel really lucky to have grown up in a time and place where it’s much more accepted. I’ve dated a woman from another culture where gay rights are about how they were here pre-stonewall and it was very, very difficult for her. Thanks to those of you who paved the way…

Dusty Springfield was also gay, although apparently she was much more conflicted about it, saying at one point she would change her orientation if she could.

Agreed with you on all points except Bannon being Rasputin. Rasputin was apparently quite the ladies’ man (rumors abounded that he was sleeping with the tsarina). Bannon on the other hand...I can’t imagine anyone wanting his bloated gangrenous member anywhere near them...

I know I’ve arrived in crazy land when the CIA is the one branch of the executive branch i actually trust. please, CIA, please save us!

yeah i’m supposed to be finishing my master’s degree at the end of the spring, which involves studying for a set of pretty intense exams, and I cannot focus at all. i have essentially been having to choose between knowing what is going on in the world and being upset about it, and actually learning the material I…

Kate is a great choice to inherit Ms. Frizzle’s role. Fierce lesbian comedians represent! (an aside—given the sapphic casting tendencies, I have decided that Ms. Frizzle is officially a queer character in my mind. love her!)

I deleted Uber the moment I learned that they are so anti-worker that drivers are required to REFUSE TIPS. That’s right. I offered a cash tip a few times since the app has no option to tip and the drivers were required to REFUSE. With a little light encouragement I got them to take the money, but what a fucked up…

Cal grad student here. I was on the fence and convinced of your argument until very recently. Because this is exactly what the college Republicans and milo wanted. However, Milo has a history of actually finding students at said schools, almost always belonging to a marginalized group, and exposing them, mocking them,…

I’m honestly convinced that Bannon is pulling the strings. Trump has an ego and no attention span. So stroke the ego and make him mad enough to sign anything against the people who don’t like him...check. This is what terrifies me. Bannon is not a friend to democracy.

Right, that’s just what America needs! Let us entertain you with caricatures and stereotypes of gay men (probably white) as we take away their rights. Be careful to watch closely so you don’t see us take away yours as well!

seems like the counts have frozen on other ones. I signed the one about taxes and the count doesn’t appear to have gone up at all in the last few hours, which can’t be right...

Read this, y’all! A scholar basically understands the ways in which propaganda psychologically impacts people; even those who attempt to resist it can accidentally play into it. I found it incredibly useful to think about in those terms. Another tactic that some regimes use has been via romanticized reality, i.e.…

Exactly. I think this march opened a dialogue and got certain privileged white women, like my 80 year old grandmother, who are either afraid of protests or else let them slip by their radar, suddenly realizing how important it is. Is it crappy that they weren’t at BLM and other protests? Of course . But they came and…

I have heard people say they felt the same fear we do now when obama took office. I don’t get it at all. Some people just absolutely loathed him and the only reason I can come up with is racism. His platform was fairly moderate and certainly his governing style focused (perhaps too much) on compromise.

As a teenager I read a young adult humorous novel called “No More Dead Dogs” that was basically based on this premise that whenever there are dogs in movies or books, they are tragically killed off. For whatever reason companies keep marketing this. I don’t remember much else about the book, but always smile and think…

What should those of us with all Democrat representatives do? Call other districts? I’m in California and want to do as much as I can, but it often feels as if I’m living in an echo chamber. It’s lovely when I need support, but I do feel helpless creating change for the country.

Slightly off topic, but yesterday I saw conservative op eds dissing the women’s Marchers for leaving their signs in front of Trump tower and the White House because we littered. Pretty rich coming from people who literally want to kill the environment. This is the universe of alternative facts. ..