vintage
A look back at gender politics throughout history including vintage feminism, misconceptions about women, the evolution of women's rights and more.
Thrift Store Therapy. Top Story - August 2026.
I have always loved thrift stores. Everything, including furniture, clothes and decor, is way cheaper. I recently lost my Father, and my job, within a three week span. My father died at the age of 90 from what appears to be a heart attack. He was 90, and had Dementia. It was not completely unexpected, but devastating nevertheless. My full time job let me go a few weeks later. I feel it was a wrongful termination, but I was not surprised. The management had always treated me badly. The job paid well, but was toxic. I just felt numb, and old. I am 57 years old now. I need to work for a few more years before I can retire.
By Kathleen Anderson 2 months ago in Viva
Coding Less, Thinking More. AI-Generated.
For many software engineers, career progression is initially measured by technical output. Writing more code, fixing difficult bugs, delivering features, and mastering new technologies provide clear evidence of growth. Junior and mid-level engineers often equate productivity with the amount of code they contribute, and organizations frequently reward visible technical execution. As careers advance, however, senior engineers discover that their greatest value often comes from writing less code rather than more.
By Gustavo Woltmann3 months ago in Viva
Hard Rock Goddesses
Introduction I made the title singular just because it sounds better than what the plural would be. It seems that rock groups and rock and roll bands have been the domain of men throughout a lot of my life, but that is not the reality in music, give a girl a guitar and she can riff as well as any man.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 4 months ago in Viva
How Class Shapes Access to Elite Sports. AI-Generated.
Elite sports are often portrayed as meritocratic arenas where talent, discipline, and hard work determine success. The dominant narrative suggests that anyone with sufficient dedication can rise to the highest levels of competition. In reality, however, access to elite sports is strongly influenced by socioeconomic class. Financial resources, social networks, institutional access, and geographic location all shape who is able to train, compete, and remain in high-performance pathways. Talent is necessary, but opportunity is unevenly distributed. As a result, class functions as a structural filter that determines which athletes can realistically pursue elite competition.
By Gus Woltmann6 months ago in Viva
The Vulture's Runway
High fashion doesn't discover culture; it bleaches it until the only thing left is the price tag and the name of a man who has never stepped foot in the dust where the pattern was born. ​"The clock has struck three, the coffee is cold, and the shadows are beginning to speak. Welcome back to the desk of The Night Writer. Tonight, we’re looking at a heist that didn't happen in a vault, but on the runway, and the loot isn't diamonds—it’s the soul of a continent." ​You see it on the cover of the glossies. You see it strutting down the carpet at the Met Gala. A "groundbreaking" spring collection from a fabled Parisian house, featuring vibrant, interlocking geometric shapes, bold concentric circles, and the recognizable rhythm of African textiles. The critics rave about the "fresh," "global" perspective. The price tag on a simple wrap skirt is $18,000. ​You are not looking at innovation. You are looking at a masterclass in elegant burglary.
By The Night Writer 🌙 7 months ago in Viva
Why the Emerald Cut Engagement Ring is the Only Choice for the Truly Sophisticated
There is a specific kind of confidence required to wear an emerald cut engagement ring. Unlike the round brilliant cut, which uses a hundred tiny facets to hide imperfections and shout for attention, the emerald cut is unapologetically honest. It is a "step-cut" diamond, featuring long, linear facets that create a "hall of mirrors" effect. It doesn't sparkle in the traditional sense; it glows.
By Mohd Kaish7 months ago in Viva
The Way of Being Grateful
Virtues are just as strong as vices. I ask myself if I'm a virtuous woman. I ask myself "Am I patient? Am I honest? Am I compassionate? Justified? Prudent? Faithful? Virtues are not easy. Vices are easy. I can easily say I can be too proud sometimes and I've known wrath. I can easily admit that envy, lust, and gluttony have caused much grief in my life. Roman philospher Cicero claimed that "Gratitude is a parent of the other virtues" although in many books written about virtues or vices, gratitude is not mentioned. Maybe that's because in November many of us celebrate the official holiday called "Thanksgiving Day" which was made an official holiday in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln. "The holiday was permanently fixed to the fourth Thursday of November by a law signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941." (per google, 11/1/25)
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman11 months ago in Viva
Lessons I Wish I Had Learned
Yesterday I had a melt down. I just flipped out all by myself because I couldn't find my favorite dress. I threw all the clothes in my closet and dresser looking for it. Then I realized it was in the dryer and I was so relieved even if I had a lot of clothes to pick up off the floor and put away again. It's a silly dress by fashionista standards. I paid about $20 for it at one of those hard-to-get-to unique stores. It's like that dress that Charlotte was wearing in Vegas when her best gal pals (a scene from Sex and the City) were making fun of her. They said it wasn't classy, kinda cheap looking, kinda "sluttyish"... Charlotte just shrugged. She liked the dress and the way she looked in it. That's exactly how I feel in my favorite dress. It's size XL and stretchy polyester material. It's lightweight and cool and comfortable. It's a simple pattern style design and it accentuates the curvy body. It's perfect for my body. Do you know how hard it is for an inverse triangle body to find a dress that looks good on? Almost impossible. The dresses that they sell at the big name brand department store that go for $50 or more and have the sizes that cater to the above size chart, don't care about my body or the bodies of plus-sized women or the bodies of curvy women who defy that size chart. They never have. And we have driven ourselves crazy trying to keep up with the Jones's and the Kardashians with all the reindeer games of "What are you wearing?" and "Where did you get that thing?" instead of just finding what really looked good on us. Who cares what other's think? How do you feel in it? Do you feel fabulous? Then you found the right dress.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman11 months ago in Viva
Old lady grumbling about work
Happy October! May the leaves change colors in glorious autumn fashion and may you enjoy a tasty pumpkin spiced latte or donut this morning. I am here at my desk with a Maxwell House coffee brewed out of the cheapest coffee maker on the Walmart shelf. I like it. One button and will brew the cheapest coffee on the shelf. Good. I'm broke and I'm cheap just like my coffee maker.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman12 months ago in Viva











