The most recent 20 comments posted to Making Light by MacAllister:

Thank you so much for the updates, Teresa. Even those of us who don't know Scraps and Velma know how much they mean to so very many people. Still thinking good thoughts for everyone.

Hear, hear.

I had a small piece of the wall sitting on my desk for years. Absolutely one of the most remarkable events of our time.

There are over 500 people repeatedly refreshing the link for AW's forums. I'm very glad you love us.

Please stop hitting refresh, though. *g* It slows stuff down even more.

It's going to be an hour or so, while we fix databases.

Heh.

Meanwhile, if you guys didn't know about Making Light, now ya do - and your lives will be richer for it. *g*

The good news is, we've made regular database backups (something AW was not doing, the last time we had a significant outtage) so even if worst comes to worst, we can be back up on a different server with a minimum of data loss.

hah. Dawno beat me to it - was just coming here, upon being advised that ML had mentioned the outage.

So, err, what Dawno said.

Thanks for your patience, everyone. :)

@Jo Walton #212

Montana has a popular Dem governor - and Baucus won again, tonight - so it's actually possible. It's my home state, and they're increasingly interested in environmental and green issues.

Obama didn't win because he's brown, McCain - he won because he's the better man, and the better candidate.

(listening to the concession speech gnashing my teeth.)

With a nod to Dawno:

http://www.isobamapresidentyet.com

Here we go . . .

Terkel's ability to preserve cultural and historical moments not as propaganda but in the voices of real people puts his books permanently on my shelves.

This is sad news.

Merry Christmas! I'm very grateful for this place, and all of you. Teresa, you've my thanks and my admiration.

I've got one a friend sent me:

"Be nice, or we'll bring democracy to your country, next."

Rebecca @ 94 -

*applause*
Well said.

#38 - little light, I'm think I'm somewhere between your two examples. I use the word--and the other lesbians I know do too--usually in a wry, self-referential manner, or when we intend to shock someone outside the intimate circle. We don't use it as a pejorative, because we've all had it used against us that way.

I find myself taken aback hearing it from a stranger, and waiting for more context with which to shape my interpretation of this instance.

#34--Sean, exactly. That's why I mentioned that Anthony's community might well be fine with the casual use of the word. After visiting his blog, I suspect that's so.

In my own circles, it's a word that lesbians and people close to them use--but not a word dropped casually or in general conversation between strangers--unless, well, you are one.

I'm not sure if that's dictated by generational, geographical, or other factors--and YMMV.

I'm intrigued by Anthony's careful use of the word "dyke"--strategically placed as the last word in the last line.

Unless things are very different in Anthony's community, it's a word that carries pejorative connotations for all but a very few and specific contexts.

Anthony #28 said: She isn't even a v. good dyke.

Well don't keep us in suspense, for heaven's sake. Please do explain precisely what it is a good dyke does--you know, for the benefit of us dykes who are now utterly terrified lest you think we're doing it wrong, too.

I love good fruitcake.

My mother was a traditionalist who lovingly candied various things, liberally added dates and dried fruits and various nuts, then wrapped the cakes in cheesecloth and soaked em in whatever strong spirits she had in the pantry.

I, alas, am never that organized far enough ahead of time. I definitely miss good fruitcake, though.

#31, Serge, I get my news from the internet, too--and I try remind myself to add a pinch of salt, when the occasion seems to call for it.

The problem, of course, is that the last six years have been such a study in lunacy that it's hard to actually assimilate that these weird and horrible things are real.

Luthe, #29 - It's awfully easy for me to be all, "gee whiz, the internet is so cool!" and forget that there are some drawbacks built into the rampant disorganization. I just don't know as consolidation and organization are really the answer. I'm not thrilled that Google bought YouTube--every time something like that happens, it reduces the marvelous diversity available. Also, I worry that it ultimately reduces our choices as end-users, both in terms of what's available, and in terms of what technology will be explored first/fastest/at all.

And I'm not all that sure something like BloggerNews is any answer, either.

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