Stream of Reading (Prepare to be Forwarded) – An Archive of What I'm Reading
In 2008, Barack Obama held up change as a beacon, attaching to it another word, a word that channeled everything his young and diverse coalition saw in his rise and their newfound political power: hope. An America that would elect a black man president was an America in which a future was being written that…
‘What? You just said you have never shopped for a fucking mattress?!’ —Jonathan Van Ness, Queer Eye, Season 1 Such an effort If he only knew of my plan In just seven days I can make you a man —Dr. Frank-N-Furter, The Rocky Horror Picture Show Some things are just too pure for this weird…
This story was presented by the author at Printers Row Lit Fest this June, during a session of Between Bites, the Chicago-based storytelling group. Ashley T. handed me a pink cloud wrapped in a wrinkly, silver piece of paper. On top, a shower of red and white hearts. The thing smelled suspiciously sweet, almost sickly…
A few months ago, while dining at Veggie Grill (one of the new breed of Chipotle-class fast-casual restaurants), a phrase popped unbidden into my head: premium mediocre. The food, I opined to my wife, was premium mediocre. She instantly got what I meant, though she didn’t quite agree that Veggie Grill qualified. In the weeks that…
Thanks to a childhood spent watching romantic comedies with forceful male leads, I thought love was persistent and never gave up—until my ex stalked me after our breakup. Illustration by Calum Heath Every year, women in the UK are murdered by stalkers and domestic abusers—despite previously reporting them to the police. Unfollow Me is a…
This week Refinery29, a lifestyle website for women, came crashing into the public consciousness via an unpleasant installment of its “Money Diaries” column. In it, a 21-year-old HR intern making $25 per hour gives us a blow-by-blow account of her financial life. She pays $2,100 a month for her share of an apartment in the…
An estimated 5,000 women a year died in the US before abortion was legalized. Source: The Political Future is Female – by Stats
Record numbers of women are running for office…and now they’re winning primaries. Source: The Political Future is Female – by Stats
The explosiveness of the migration issue in Italy is perhaps best seen in Macerata, a medieval town near the Adriatic Coast.CreditDmitry Kostyukov for The New York Times MACERATA, Italy — At the end of his shooting rampage as the police closed in, Luca Traini climbed the steps of a Fascist-era monument, wrapped himself in an…
Wanna Thompson, 26, has long considered herself a Nicki Minaj fan. As a freelance writer living in Toronto, Ms. Thompson also counts herself as a cultural critic with a focus on hip-hop, and with her insights, she has built an audience via her personal website and social media feeds. So when she posted a tweet…