A Spanish translation of Maria Bucur’s and my Op-Ed, “Así cambiaría la sociedad de EE. UU. si se sigue prohibiendo el aborto”
Summer reading: Feminism for the 99%
“The division between profit-making and people-making points to a deep-seated tension at the heart of capitalist society. While capital strives systemically to increase profits, working-class people strive, conversely, to lead decent and meaningful lives as social beings. These are fundamentally irreconcilable goals, for capital’s share of accumulation can only increase at the expense of our share in the life of society. Social practices that nourish our lives at home, and social services that nurture our lives outside of it, constantly threaten to cut into profits. Thus, a financial drive to reduce those costs and an ideological drive to undermine such labors are endemic to the system as a whole”
- Arruzza, Bhattacharya, and Fraser, Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto, page 71
Spotted in the wild!
So happy to be next to Princess Leia, and in the company of Rebecca Solnit and Blair Imani.
Op-Ed for Project Syndicate with Maria Bucur →
In response to today’s news out of Alabama, Project Syndicate published an op-ed co-written by me and my Indiana University colleague, Maria Bucur. Yes, things in Romania really were that bad!
Interview in GQ! →
Thanks so much to Sophia Benoit for asking such great questions.
Writing on the deck
The sun was shining and the words felt like they were going to flow…
The weather is warming up, and that means it's time to travel to Spain, France, and California
Well, at least to pretend that I am traveling to Spain, France, and California through an assortment of rosé wines from my local state-owned and operated Fine Wines & Good Spirits. Indeed, all of the stores selling wine and spirits in the state of Pennsylvania are owned by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Given that 50% of the profits in the alcohol industry are generated through retail sales, opponents of the state control of retail alcohol profits have been trying to force Pennsylvania to privatize the state-run wine and liquor stores for years. They have consistently failed.
it’s nice to know that every time I drink a glass of rosé, I am supporting the state budget of Pennsylvania!
So intrigued by this article in the Boston Review →
http://bostonreview.net/gender-sexuality/samuel-clowes-huneke-gay-liberation-behind-iron-curtain
This was exactly 15 years ago today.
My first really big public lecture. I was so nervous I vomited before I took the podium.
My review of Sunkara's The Socialist Manifesto →
Love
I was walking across campus today and somehow this sculpture just spoke to me. Spring is in full bloom in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly (and Sisterly) Love!
Finished reading "Make Way for Winged Eros"
For those of you interested in the works of Alexandra Kollontai and her views on sexuality, I finally finished reading the final part of her 1923 essay, "Make Way for Winged Eros: A Letter to Working Youth" for my A.K. 47 podcast. I’ll be discussing it in depth during my next episode, but make sure you listen to the whole essay before you listen to the discussion.
Talk today in Amherst!
Midlife: A Philosophical Guide
I was browsing through the new non-fiction section of my local public library yesterday, and I stumbled upon this short book. Since I am about 10 days away from my 49th birthday, the title sort of spoke to me (for obvious reasons). I also loved the very simple cover image; I definitely judged this book by its cover! I took it home and just sat down and read it cover to cover. I wasn’t expecting to find anything that I didn’t already know, and in the end, I think the book just reminded me of my own various thoughts about the malaise of the middle years. But there was something deeply satisfying in having a philosophical take on all of it. I especially liked the passages about telic versus atelic goals, and the problem that most academics face when they wake up and realize that they have become finely-tuned goal-achieving machines. Setiya’s diagnosis of the problem was spot on for me, and his suggestions for how to refocus meaning and purpose away from the telic to the atelic made intuitive sense. A powerful little book written with honesty and compassion.
Spotted in Tate Modern's Bookshop!
One of my colleagues in the UK snapped this photo in the bookshop of Tate Modern. So happy to be so close to the words of Naomi Klein.
Special candle for writer's block
I love sarcastic gifts for writers. And I wonder what “regurgitated ideas” might smell like.
I love this meme (for all you socialist introverts out there!)
The Cherry Blossoms are coming
Walking to work this morning, I could feel the spring in the air. One thing about living in Maine for so long is that I had forgotten what spring felt like. In Maine, we had mud season, and not the vibrant burst of life you get in the mid Atlantic. Gorgeous!
Springtime is almost here
Well, it is still windy and a bit chilly, but the daffodils think it’s spring. Picked these from the yard.
A Review of Second World, Second Sex in Norwegian
I’m actually rather surprised that an academic book would be reviewed in a more mainstream media outlet, but nevertheless very happy for the positive words. Thank goodness for Google Translate!
