Oh No She Didn't

I was just reading some of Bryce's many recent (good!) posts and thinking about how both of us have sort of drifted into the same section of the blogosphere. For example, we are both big Andrew/Matthew/Ezra/Josh fans (too lazy to link, figure that one out fo yoself). As a result I often find myself reading something on a blog, thinking about commenting on it/linking to it/freaking out about it, and then...not doing any thing at all. Why? Many times I am thinking to myself that Bryce will probably end up doing it. Which is sort of one part laziness and one part competitiveness. Weird, I know.

I have also been thinking about needing to clean up the old blog roll as well, since I don't visit some of the stuff I have listed, while at the same time religiously visiting things that I don't even have linked. I'll do that later. More laziness.

These two thoughts sort of coalesced in my mind last night as I caught thirty seconds of Glenn Beck during a commercial break for the totally fantastic "Sex and the City" (funny "Sex and the City" story: when I first saw it many, many years ago with Maile in a hotel room I believed it to be a disturbing HBO show about high priced prostitutes). But I digress. My thought, as I watched Glenn in all his awkward "small business owner" glory, was "thank God for the internet." Because on the internet, unlike on my couch, there are many other people who find Glenn heinous and feel like discussing it at length. Usually while listening to good music! Watching Bryce evolve as a blogger and reflecting on how much I love blogs made me very thankful that I ever discovered blogs in the first place.

Like many of my best discoveries, the discovery of blogs was actually the result of my complex, intense, and sometimes sleazy relationship with radical feminism. In celebration of feminism, the internet, and feminist blogs, I give you my favorites:

1. Pandagon. Amanda is probably best known for her work with, and eventual dismissal from, the John Edwards campaign. What can I say, she has been known to swear like a sailor. And take on the Christian church. In an endearing sort of way. It's a shame that this is what made her (semi)famous. The truth is, she's probably the best at what she does. I haven't seen any stats, but I'd be surprised if this wasn't the largest feminist blog on the web. And rightfully so. Even when you disagree with her, Amanda always dishes out some of the best feminism has to offer: intellectual curiosity, a bs detector you can set your watch too, and a willingness to take on the hard stuff. Friend crush? You bet.

2. I Blame The Patriarchy. You just have too love Twisty. If Feministing is building a big tent, Twisty is undoubtedly the much more entertaining and dangerous sideshow. Twisty is feminism at its sharpest and most difficult. This stuff will change your life, unless it totally turns you off of the movement and you end up hating feminism forever. She scares me in a good way.

3. Feministing. Jessica and crew get points for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is her appearance on Stephen Colbert. Feministing, like Pandagon, is a big player. IMHO it has done a really good job of being both a mainstream feminist site and a multinational feminist site, which can be a tough line to walk. A good read.

4. Faux Real Tho. Lauren is possibly the mother of feminist blogging. Since leaving Feministe she has set up house over at Faux Real Tho. In feminism, the politcal is always personal. Unless the personal is political. Actually, we'll have to fight about that and get back to you. Lauren, better than any other person, weaves feminism into the narrative of her life. Blogging is much more an art than a science. It is part essay writing, part journalism, part diary, and part comics page. Like a good album, a blog must be balanced and engaging. Too much depth and it becomes inpenetrable, too much fluff and it's wasting your time. Lauren walks the line better than anyone else. And like many other young feminists, Lauren helped me to find my voice.

5. Feministe. It's just not the same since Lauren left. But Jill, Zuzu and company do a good job holding the place down. They have, without a doubt, one of the best graphics ever as their header. A little girl with a shotgun? I'm pretty sure that's how the define feminism in the Oxford. I'd like to see someone with a little more time step in over there, but it's still worth the read. Jill is going to make a great lawyer.

So there you have it. Let me know if you find something that makes you mad or catches your interest. And remember: play nice.

Feist- 1234. It's everywhere, I know. But it's proof that women can sell music without selling sex. And it's fantastic. And it makes me smile.
RIYL- Stars, Broken Social Scene, dream pop