some more reflection on the financial aid announcement

this victory is huge:

Last year if you'd told Levin he'd be making this reform, he'd have spat in your face. the UOC's win demonstrates that the Yale Administration can be beaten, that we can the move mountain out of our way, or tunnel straight through it if it refuses to move, to borrow some Scott Marksian metaphors. This is a huge victory not only for folks on financial aid, but for student organizing and for every undergraduate at that school, -- even the pretentious fascists.

Second, what's amazing is the ways in which the UOC was able to hold Levin to an accountable timetable. This even to the point where Levin actually announces the changes two years to the day after all four unions walked out on march 3, 2003 staying on strike for a week, forging powerful new connections with the community and with undergrads and creating a pivotal moment in the history of the university. How's that for symbolism?

We (meaning alumnae/i) need to keep watching what happens - Excomm penalties are clearly unnaceptable, and we need to do our part to ensure that the administration doesn't shirk away from reforming student contributions, but everyone should be congratulating those UOC folks tonight.

weird songs about pandas by very weird bands

Deerhoof: "Panda Panda Panda"
Xiu Xiu: "Little Panda McElroy"
Dungen: "Panda"

and then there's that Panda Bear dude from Animal Collective...

It's enough to make one paranoid of all these Manchurian Candidate indie rockers and their paymasters in Beijing!

a victory

A year ago, the only people seriously talking about financial aid reform at Yale were the ones sitting in UOC meetings and trying to build a platform for the committee to organize around. Today, Richard Levin announces some serious changes to the parent contribution structure. It isn't nearly enough, but the folks behind last week's sit-in know that, and i'm betting they also know that this is one victory on the road to larger ones, so conbgratulations, folks. You guys kick ass.

indefensible michelle malkin

but this is friggin hilarious

You Could Call Them "Whitey-Whackers"

Were fate more propitious, i'd be at the mercury lounge rocking out to the choice cuts from Sleater-Kinney's new album, and their last six too. Since i was too much of a dumbass to buy tickets early enough, instead i've been taking my Ipod on long walks and listening to some of my favorites. All Hands and Dig Me Out are down, but i want to listen to One Beat, Call The Doctor and Hot Rock too. And i'll just have to eagerly await May 24 and the release of The Woods, which, i'm sure, is going to kick ass.

Smallville really is the worst show ever. I need help.

who googled me and what the fuck do you want?

i was about to post something substantive, but then i decided i would rather quote the pixies:

In this land of strangers
There are dangers
There are sorrows
I can't see this lady
It is shady
I am leaving
Tomorrow

Even there's a reason
It's silver
It's gone.