Rotundus.com

I am a men's liberationist (or "masculist") when men's liberation is defined as equal opportunity and responsibility for both sexes. I am a feminist when feminism favors equal opportunities and responsibilities for both sexes. I oppose both movements when either says our sex is the oppressed sex, therefore "we deserve rights." That's not gender liberation but gender entitlement.

- Warren Farrell, The Myth of Male Power, p. 19

The above statement seems to make a fair bit of sense. However, I still wonder as to how he defines opportunity and responsibility. It seems to mean that, e.g., he'd have men and women meet a common set of fitness standards for certain jobs - although that in and of itself would reduce opportunity for women.

He also in many cases seems to assume that men and women should think and act in the same way in all situations - the no-difference-but-plumbing approach - which doesn't quite seem to match reality.

Women Earn More PhDs Than Men for First Time

This is US data: "Women claimed 50.4 percent of PhDs awarded in the 2008-2009 academic year"

Shift of Earth's magnetic north pole affects Tampa airport

I'm amused to see that this sort of thing would force an airport's main runway to shut down for several days.

'The Social Network' has a woman problem

The article's author talks about how poorly women in this movie were portrayed. She does notes that "there aren’t a heck of a lot of female computer science majors, period — women make up about 15 percent of top university classes in the subject, according to some estimates — and I know that regardless of percentages, it’s a fact that no women were involved in founding Facebook." For the remainder she argues that "the way the women who do exist in the film are depicted is horrendous, like, ’50s-level sexist" - yet it seems to me more the direction the culture is headed these days than those of the 1950s.

Europe’s Young Grow Agitated Over Future Prospects

40% youth unemployment in Spain, 28% in Italy. Some of this seems related to demographic shifts, some to immigrations, and some possibly to over-education.

A National Geographic clip reflecting on the global population which is expected to hit 7 billion in 2011.

European nations begin seizing private pensions

"Hungary, Poland, and three other nations take over citizens' pension money to make up government budget shortfalls." ... what can you trust the government for in the longer term? Similarly, the New York Times reports that a Alabama town's pension fund has run out, and they stopped sending out checks to retirees.

Charity Brawl: Nonprofits Aren't So Generous When a Name's at Stake

"As the leading breast-cancer charity, Susan G. Komen For the Cure helped make "for the cure" a staple of the fund-raising vernacular. ... it's launching a not-so-friendly legal battle against kite fliers, kayakers and dozens of other themed fund-raisers that it contends are poaching its name. And it's sternly warning charities against dabbling with pink, its signature hue."

Israeli organ donors to get transplant priority

I'm not a registered organ donor but this seems to make sense to me.

Runaway Grooms: Indian brides abandoned by expat husbands

Exploitation of the poor through the dowry system - how to react without going overboard?