From the Mailbag

Shaker InfamousQBert forwards a story in the Economist titled "Michelle Obama's America," which is fine, but is subtitled "Is Barack Obama's wife his rock or his bitter half?" Oh, my aching sides. Get it? His bitter half—because the term "better half" isn't stupid enough. IQB also rightly wonders, regarding the accompanying image "what the hay-ell is up with the index finger on her right hand in that picture??"

Shaker JMonkey passes on an item from the ACLU: Terrorist Watch List Hits One Million Names. Now, we all know that's a load of horseshit—there's no way every single of those one million people on that list is a terrorist. But if the Bush administration is going to argue they are, how can they simultaneously argue that the "war on terror" is anything resembling a success, when the list of "terrorists" keeps growing exponentially?

Shaker Juliemania sends this interesting story about an Atlanta police officer sharing her story of being intersex, as well as this heartbreaking story about "women in countries where abortion is restricted … using the internet to buy medication enabling them to abort a pregnancy at home."

Shaker Dan forwards another one out of Atlanta, where "Men at Work" signs are being replaced with "Workers Ahead" signs, to recognize the contributions of women on road crews. Nice.

Shaker Anne passes on this story with the note: "An abortion clinic owner in San Diego impersonated a physician and performed abortions, some of which had dangerous complications. The news outlets are calling them 'illegal abortions,' a phrase which grates against my ears. The advertisements for these clinics targeted Hispanic women. Just another example of how abortion is safe and legal in this country as long as you're white and wealthy."

Shaker Jim writes: "Another Woman in Victory Lane: Yet another woman in auto racing has visited victory lane this season. [On July 12], Ana Beatriz of Brazil captured the 'Sunbelt Rentals 100' at Nashville (TN) Superspeedway in the Firestone Indy Lights series. Indy Lights is the feeder circuit to the Indy Racing League's Indy Car World Series with numerous Lights graduates now competing in IRL." Cool.

And Shaker Emily sends a link to this post announcing Sony Online Entertainment's first ever Gamers In Real Life (G.I.R.L.) design contest scholarship winner. Emily notes: "Check out the comments from the men whining that they can't get this scholarship and how easy it is to be a woman." Oy.