On November 14, 1889, Nellie Bly began her 80-day trek around the world (inspired by the fictional book, of course). She was a pioneering journalist who was also known for infiltrating a women’s asylum in order to expose the barbaric methods inside.
- Venice Under Water – Beautiful photos of a flooded Venice. Also horrifying, because people should not be swimming in that muck.
- 22 fictional characters whose names you don’t know – Did this list leave off one of your favorite characters?
- In writing about death, all life is there – The experience of an Obituaries Page editor.
- Woman ‘denied a termination’ dies in hospital – A woman died because a hospital (in Ireland) refused to terminate her pregnancy. She was neither Irish nor Catholic, but the beating heart of her fetus was more important than her own, according to the medical “professionals” who treated her. From Bug.
- Anemone toxin may aid cancer fight – Don’t get too excited yet, though, because this hasn’t even been tested on animals yet. From Jack99.
- On Seeing a Sex Surrogate – A man confined to an iron lung explores his sexuality. (This is the same man who is behind the recent movie The Sessions.)
- What happens to women denied abortions? This is the first scientific study to find out. – Not shocking to those of us in the pro-choice movement. From Amy.
- The Full ‘Haunted Toaster’ Segment is Too Incredible to Be Believed – You need to see this for yourself. Satan Lives!
It should be noted that John Reid’s great-nephew was Britt Reid, better known as The Green Hornet.
I’m torn between shock and rage at the needless, agonizing death of Savita Halappanavar.
I felt the same, this must be so difficult for her family.
Elizabeth Cochrane (aka “Nellie Bly”) was a great American reporter, whose exposé on insane asylums saved thousands of women unjustly incarcerated, and ensured that those who did belong there were treated humanely. She beat Phileas Fogg by circumnavigating the globe in only 72 days. Then at only 31 years old, she ran a major steel manufacturing plant, developing the now-standard 55-gallon drum, and inventing such items as a stackable garbage can. Later in life, she went back to journalism, covering women’s suffrage, World War I, and tirelessly championing reform of social organizations like adoption agencies. She died of pneumonia at only 57 years old. I’ve always found her life story to be amazing, part of the spirit of hope that came out of that time against great social intertia.
Mary,
I actually really enjoyed that story about “the Sun” and the haunted toaster. People will literally believe the strangest things.
Re the “amemones”
That’s my alma mater! You can tell it was built in the mid seventies by the vivid colour scheme.
Yes, they screen for promising compounds using cell cultures and there is a long way to go yet. Still, it’s a pretty video – hope it works OK for y’all?
On a side note, our old prof made his name from his successful technique for liver cell culture. We take such things for granted today, but that was a real breakthrough back then.
yeah… I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be swimming in Venice. Granted, it’s been about 15 years since I was there, but when I went on the requisite gondola ride, I’m reasonably certain that I saw a human turd float past..
I can’t hold back: the women who died from being denied a termination really pisses me the fuck off.
And for what reason, appearently?
“…and they were told, “this is a Catholic country”.”
This is why I also get mad when I hear people say the United States is a “christian nation”.
Because I fear with such mentality, stories like the one from Ireland could happen here in the States, if they haven’t already.
I have similar thoughts on the study on women that are denied abortions.
I think, though, that it should have also stated the use of contraceptives as well.
With all those issues, it really pisses me off to hear the christian right want to deny the right to abortions, contraceptives, as well as reduce social programs that help such women.
What the fuck is their problem?