Debbie says:

I’m always excited when someone has the ingenuity to take something tired and familiar and turn it into something new and fresh. That’s what Shayne Austen has done, just by directing these tips at assaulters. There are ten tips in all, but here are a couple of my favorites:

When you see someone walking by themselves, leave them alone!
NEVER open an unlocked door or window uninvited.
Remember, people go to laundry to do their laundry, do not attempt to molest someone who is alone in a laundry room.
Carry a whistle! If you are worried you might assault someone “on accident” you can hand it to the person you are with, so they can blow it if you do.

And, ALWAYS REMEMBER: if you didn’t ask permission and then respect the answer the first time, you are commiting a crime- no matter how “into it” others appear to be.

The New York Times gives serious thought to a problem facing the contemporary Islamic woman:

Many pious Muslim women in the United States, like Ms. Shearson, wear hijab in public, loose garments that cover their hair and body, which can hinder movement and add to discomfort during exercise. Women may show their hair, arms and legs up to the knees in front of other women.

But how to mix one’s physical and spiritual needs with practicality? Some Muslim-Americans go to women-only gyms … And some gyms and Y.M.C.A.’s offer gender-segregated areas, hours or days.

Other women, like Umm Sahir Ameer, a 27-year-old student in Shaker Heights, Ohio, take matters into their own hands. Last year, Ms. Ameer started the Muslimah Strive Running-Walking Group so she and 12 of her friends could exercise together.

So much that’s written about Muslim women and covering is either patronizing or snide; it’s heartening to see a thoughtful and comprehensive article on an interesting issue. One side point that the writer makes is that “covering” can minimize body image issues, which makes perfect sense.

Fat and in a good relationship? Have a fat partner? Tell Lesley about it:

I am looking for photos/stories of happy couples in which one OR both people are fat. Email for info: lesley at fatshionista.com.

If you have been following any of the complex internet discussions about race, cultural appropriation, science fiction fandom, and related topics, this is an absolutely crucial reference work: a roundtable through the Organization for Transformative Works, featuring several of the smartest people who are thinking and writing in this area, talking about what they believe and what they’ve learned. I’m having a terrible time pulling out quotations to bring you in, so I’ll just say: this is 100% worth reading.

Several people I read linked to the assault piece. Jonquil pointed to the Muslim women article. Lynn Kendall found the call for happy fat stories. And Betsy blogged the roundtable.