Some of you might notice that the blog has a new look; this is because I’ve moved over to WPMU and am using the new default WordPress theme. Still busy with school, still no time to blog, though. Sorry!

PS. For the first time in the blog’s history I’ve enabled user registration, so if you’re interested go ahead and sign up. This installation of WPMU uses BuddyPress, so registered users can have access to a few fun social networking style features. Right now not much is set up, but if anyone wants to me add profile fields or whatever, leave a comment here or MSG me and I’ll see what I can do.

So. My life is super busy, I rarely have time to update, moderation has become a chore that I take care of only once a few weeks, and I really don’t have the time and the energy to deal with the abusive comments that I get on a regular basis.

I’m thinking that it might be a good idea to close comments and retire the blog for the foreseeable future. I got a review copy of All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear that I need to read and review, but in all likelihood that’s going to be my last post.

The only other workable option I can see happening is if someone wants to take over posting and moderating so I could take a breather without the blog having to. If you have the time and drive to blog here (or even just moderate comments), comment on this post or drop me a line via Shrub’s contact form.

Just wanted to take a moment out of my busy schedule to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!

Bitch might now have enough money to publish last month, so they’re seeking donations. If they don’t raise $40,000 by October 15. If it sounds like a lot of money, it is. But it takes a lot of money to run a print magazine.

I’ve signed up for a year’s subscription and donated $30. What are you going to do to help ensure that we don’t lose such a major voice in the field of feminist critiques of popular culture?

Hat tip: Racialicious.

ETA: Bitch lives! But don’t let that stop you from donating; we don’t want them to have to do this again next month. 🙂

I just wanted to make a note that I am aware of the problem with the theme and intend to correct it. Truth be told, I’ve been aware of this flaw in my design since a reader wrote in to inform me about it……. more than 6 months ago. Unfortunately because of computer problems, then moving, and now school I haven’t had time to fix it. I still don’t, but I promise that this weekend I’ll do something better than the temporary fix I’ve implemented for the moment.

Sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

So, as I’m sure you all have noticed the sidebar has gotten even uglier and harder to read than when I updated to WP 2.2. This is because whatever changes were made to the database, the hack that I was using to get the sidebar to display as I wanted it to ceased working. Thanks, WordPress!

In anycase, there are a few other problems with the layout, so please bear with me while I rework the theme into a newer, better model.

This post marks the end of the “My Voodoo” series. Why? Because, after less than two years, my laptop is dead. And not just in the “died peacefully in its sleep” way, oh no, in the “I’m going to screw Andrea over as much as possible before I go” way. I haven’t been happy with this laptop (except for its awesome pink-ness) since the beginning, so in some ways I’m glad that the saga is finally over. But, then I think about how much money I blew on this piece of crap that didn’t even make it to half the current lifespan of my (still working!) Toshiba Portege and I just get angry again. Continue reading

Or, more accurately, I’ll blog the day before and set it to automatically post on July 19 in the Pacific Timezone. So, yeah, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. I am now old enough to legally rent a car in all of North America.

Apparently I make people think, as I have been tagged by no less than three sites for the Thinking Blogger Awards. Thanks Jenn, Revena, and Mighty Ponygirl for forcing me to participate in this meme honoring me with a spot in your list of blogs that make you think.

Here’s how it works:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,

2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,

3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.

So, who makes me think?

5 Geeky Feminist Bloggers

New Game Plus, which always seems to have some great insights on games and gaming culture.

One Hundred Little Dolls, which (among other things) has done some great critiques of games that have made me sit back and go, “Hmm.”

Feminist SF – The Blog! is where I go for thought-provoking critiques of SF.

Sara Speaking, who often pops out with refreshing insight into topics I take for granted.

Written World, which (in between fannish rantings and ravings about Green Lantern) is a pretty steady source for thought-provoking critique of comics and the industry.

5 Anti-Racist Bloggers

The Angry Black Woman always has some food for thought on oppression and its many intersections.

Ally Work has been a staple resource in my own journey to becoming an anti-racist ally, and is something that every white person should read if they are ready for their white privilege to be challenged.

The Silence of Our Friends is a blog I don’t visit as often as I should, but when I do I always find something that makes me think about issues I haven’t given much thought to before.

Token Minorities, which brings together two of my favourite subjects to think about: games and anti-oppression work.

Rachel’s Tavern is chalk full of thought-provoking posts on racism in politics and culture.

3 Blogs on Sexuality

let them eat pro-sm feminist safe spaces is a relatively new blog with a great collection of blog posts that challenge preconceived notions about seuxality and gender.

Laurelin in the Rain, which challenges on a regular basis the notion that a little objectification isn’t a bad thing.

Being Amber Rhea may be on the other side of the spectrum from Laurelin, but her approach to sex and sexuality is every bit as challenging to harmful ideas of what sexuality is.

If you didn’t make it in, it’s not because you don’t make me think. It’s because I’m too lazy to go through all of the blogs I read and properly categorize and link them. I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank all of the bloggers on my blogroll — throughout the two years this site has been up and running, all of you have challenged and delighted me, introduced me to a whole range of topics I would otherwise not be exposed to, broadened my way of thinking, and helped me to become a better anti-oppression activist.

And, also, thank you to all the commenters who have given their time and effort to creating discussions about the posts here. Your thoughts are always read and appreciated, even if I don’t have the time to respond.

I only hope that this blog will continue to inspire others to think critically for years to come.

The July 2007 issue is out! The theme is “Inclusive Game Design”, and we have some great articles that look at what can be done to make games more inclusive.

We’re currently looking for submissions for our August issue. Here’s the call for submissions:

Submission deadline: July 20, 2007
Theme: The Social Gamer

Women gamers are often dismissed as “casual” or “just social” gamers, regardless of the hours they put into play or the attitude with which they approach their games. Of course, the reality is that the vast majority of games are social, in one way or another. Many require social interaction of some kind in order to be played at all, and even games which are designed exclusively for single players have their social components ? bragging about high scores, anyone?

What are some of the social communities and structures that surround games, both online and off, and how do they intersect and interact? What role do they play in the gaming experience? Is it important to have membership in more than one community? Are “special interest” communities necessary? How does one go about finding or creating a community for oneself? And where does the media specter of the “antisocial,” dangerous gamer fit in? If you’re fascinated by these questions, and others pertaining to the social aspects of games, this is the issue you’ve been waiting for.