Letters posted here are associated with the following Salon Premium Member:

Al Bania

Published Letters: 59
Editor's Choice: 2

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 08:20 AM

"Everything is men's studies"

I’ve always hated the idea that because textbooks have a small section on women, the other sections must therefore be about men. It simply isn’t the case.

Take for example, a chemistry textbook. The main section is about the people that made those discoveries. Not the men that made them. The primary consideration is the work they did. But the women’s section is just that. About the women. The primary consideration is their gender.

Women’s studies start with “This is what women did”. Other studies start with “This is what people did.” Isn’t the latter more of the equality that feminists are looking for?

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 02:49 PM
Original article: Hooking ain't easy

Not to make this a "men too" post, but...

As a man that patronizes prostitutes, I can tell that the men also feel a contradiction as to the activity. It’s sexual excitement, it’s self loathing for having to pay for it, it’s enjoying the connection with another person, it’s hating the connection with another person.

I of course can’t know, but I think it is tougher on the women. Men can be pretty cavalier about it. But I think fewer women can be.

Friday, August 22, 2008 06:55 AM
Original article: WayLay

Meh

I'd say snoozeville, re-print or not.

Friday, August 22, 2008 06:59 AM

Somehow familiar

Hmm, America was supposed to own easily, but instead got beaten by a small and plucky team that simply worked harder. Maybe there’s a lesson here?

Friday, August 22, 2008 07:10 AM

Newsflash!

Right wingers like Limbaugh, Colter et al are sometimes ideologically inconsistent! Sometimes they even use insults against those they don’t like when those exact same insults could apply to their guy.

OK, enough sarcasm. The simple explanation for why commentators like the above do so well is because they are willing to be ideologically inconsistent. While the left busy trying to find truth, busy trying to see the nuance of each situation, the right is simply attacking.

Pointing out hypocrisy is a time honored tactic, and one that simply doesn’t work. Sure McCain is as guilty as Kerry. Doesn’t matter. The left seems to have this idea that “Truth” will somehow win hearts and minds. That all we have to do is show people facts and their eyes will open. Doesn’t happen. Hasn’t happened in the past, won’t happen in the future for the next 500 years or so.

Rush and his ilk understand that the only thing is to win. Lies, smears, hypocrisy are just a way to get there. And showing them their hypocrisy will be met by shrugs. It’s their antidote to leftist truth, and it works every time.

So thanks Glenn for this piece, but surely you didn’t think you would change anyone’s mind, did you?

Friday, August 22, 2008 07:31 AM
Original article: "Death Race"

Memories

I’ll always associate the first movie, Death Race 2000, with sex. In a bad way.

When Death Race 2000 came out on video, my parents did something really unusual. They hooked up the VCR to the downstairs TV. Bought me candy and soda and popcorn and told me I could watch a bunch of videos, by myself. My teenage sister was at the mall, and they’d be upstairs. I had the whole living room to myself!

It wasn’t until years later I realized it. They were occupying the kids so they could do uh…parent stuff. To think I was enjoying onscreen explosions while they were uh, also enjoying “explosions”.

So lets just say movies with a car motif has been somewhat tainted for me. I mean, it took me years to even be able to watch The French Connection.

I won’t be seeing this movie.

Saturday, August 23, 2008 07:32 AM
Original article: "The House Bunny"

"adorably gangly nerd-girl"

Is that when they take a very good looking actress, mess up her hair, and put her in thick glasses?

Monday, August 25, 2008 08:01 AM

Times change

The 10 of your youth is not the 10 of today's youth. Girls are getting their period younger than ever. And all the accompanying things that go with it. Including getting pretty to attract boys.

And lets face it, they are interested in learning it. A good looking woman has the world as her oyster. All those chemical peels and avocado masks are darn useful. 10 years from now those little princesses are going to be hot geeks or hot coeds or the hot girl at Starbucks or the hot temp, etc. They’ll be able to do whatever they choose.

This camp is a leg up better than any I can imagine. I was a boy scout. And while that training will allow me to do well if society collapses, this camp will do them well if society continues as it has. What’s more likely? They are using the assets that god gave them. And even though they are 10, they realize they have those assets.

I know it’s not the childhood we grew up in. But it’s the childhood they are growing up in.

Monday, August 25, 2008 08:13 AM

Volt? Ugh

Please don't get excited about they Chevy Volt. It is vaporware. It is nothing more than Chevy trying to sound like they are actually doing something, without actually doing something.

Best guess is that the Volt won’t exist at all. If it does, it will be right around Prius specs, or a little worse. Which means that in two years, Chevy may introduce a vehicle that is not only no better than current technology, but actually a bit worse.

The only reason the Volt gets mentioned is because we are so starved for alternatives and there are so few out there. The Volt truly is the cream of the crap. In a field of F- students, it gets a D. And so we are “anxiously awaiting it”. Pathetic. Looks like the invisible hand is going to be pouring oil for a very long time.

Monday, August 25, 2008 11:35 AM

Figures

Tons of hot girls and they're all married. Typical.

Most Active Letters Threads

675

Obama's exceedingly familiar justifications for escalation

The "new" approach to Afghanistan touted by White House officials seems quite old
543

The crazy, irrational beliefs of Muslims

Tom Friedman explains the real problem: stupid Muslims think the U.S. is about war and aggression.
439

The face of rotted Washington

Evan Bayh demands more debt-financed war - fought by others - while boasting that he's a stern "deficit hawk."
216

Yes, it's Obama's war now

An uninspiring speech sells a dubious policy, but progressives who feel betrayed have only themselves to blame
209

Bigotry wins in Switzerland

By voting to ban the construction of minarets, Switzerland apes the most extreme intolerance in the Muslim world

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon