I used to put up with racist relatives for the sake of family harmony. I used to socialize with people who seemed like practiced what Elon James White has termed "gray racism" —no racial jokes or slurs, but for instance not believing white privilege exists, resenting affirmative action, etc. I told myself these…

Sexual orientation cannot be changed by conversion therapy. However, it is quite common for people to convert their religion. Perhaps LGBTQ folks and allies should start distributing brochures outside of homophobic churches encouraging members to seek help in discarding their "lifestyle" of hatred.

The fact that a woman who is both pro-choice and an out lesbian is mayor of Houston is amazing. I haven't been to that city in more than a decade but when I briefly lived there, the thick atmosphere of conservatism felt stifling.

Sorry, didn't mean to be repetitious. I guess I missed your earlier post. You're probably right about Walmart's potential treatment of cats. But I like your image of cats somehow quelling corporate evil. That would make a great animated flick—the 1% finally overthrown not by the 99% (too much in-fighting, too many…

I might actually start shopping at Walmart if every store adopted a bunch of cats which could hang out in the non-food areas where customers could pet them. I tend to give more patronage to bookstores and other businesses which have installed an onsite feline deity to worship while browsing.

Just read on Twitter that donations to Mike Brown's family can be sent care of their attorney:

For a devastating commentary on this, look at #IfTheyGunnedMeDown on Twitter. Black people posting two photos of themselves and pointing out the one the media would use if they were victimized as Mike Brown and so many others have been.

"If they are indeed factual"—there's the problem. Multiple eye witness reports differ dramatically from the police version. Public officials engaged in a covering up a murder by a cop is what is happening.

Context=structural racism over the course of 400 years; white supremacist culture; fear and hatred of black people; lack of police accountability.

Congratulations on your patience in dealing with all the homophobes, "devil's advocate" types and all-purpose haters who show up in the comments for this and other ROYGBIV pieces.

I completely disagree with you but I"m not going to argue. Obviously, you have a worldview which rejects compassion and complexity. If you're interested in learning why you're so narrow-minded and judgmental, read this: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/…

Problem is, I can imagine the targets of this enjoying the skit.

But people are less likely to police and question the parenting of white mothers/fathers. Most people assume white adult = responsible until proven otherwise

Racist and classist bullshit. Have to wonder whether anyone would have reported this to Public Safety if the little girl was white. Not to mention the fact that the mother obviously can't afford childcare on McDonald's wages (and most people would laugh at the very notion that McD's provide any form of daycare for the…

Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. Beautiful natural area for hiking, camping, kayaking. The park service limits the number of camping permits so it is never crowded.

Are you Thicke? His publicist/social media person? If not, you should be—you have a real knack as an apologist for asshole behavior.

Seriously? Go read the #AskThicke thread on Twitter for some very articulate explanations of why he deserves contempt.

What's ridiculous is that a) he probably thinks he complimented her by saying this and b) he would never write the same sentence about an attractive man no matter how perfect the ass

The "science" behind the whole notion of cats as villainous murders of huge numbers of birds is actually based on fuzzy math:

Are they making a male version—maybe pants which become transparent over the ass?