Melissa McEwan is the founder and editor of the award-winning political and cultural group blog Shakesville, a founding member of the Big Brass Blog, and a contributor to The Guardian's Comment is Free and AlterNet. Melissa graduated from Loyola University Chicago with degrees in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology, with an emphasis on the political marginalization of gender-based groups. An active feminist and LGBTQ advocate, she has worked as a concept development and brand consultant and now writes full-time.

She lives just outside Chicago with two cats and a Scotsman, with whom she shares a love of all things geekdom, from Lord of the Rings to Lost. When she's not blogging, she can usually be found at her piano or dancing like no one is watching to a Smiths' tune. Email Liss.


Arkades is a gay, married, heavyset, eclectic, eccentric Midwesterner. He jots the odd rant now and then, and is otherwise content to add pithy and sometimes snarky observations to discussions-in-progress. Topics of interest include gender and gender roles, sexuality, media, pop culture, politics, and (of course) beards and bears. Email Arkades.


Kenny Blogginz's bio coming soon! Email KBlogz.





Deeky was born and raised in Los Angeles. He now lives in Missouri.

When he's not gracing Shakesville with his estimable, you can find him reviewing movies at Surfin' Dead or waxing deektastic at El Deeky de los Muertos. Email Deeky.


Jeff Fecke is a freelance writer who lives in Eagan, Minnesota. He is currently a Fellow with the Center for Independent Media, and writes for Minnesota Monitor. In addition to his own blog, Blog of the Moderate Left, he also contributes to Shakesville and RH Reality Check. Fecke has appeared as a guest on the "Today" show, the Alan Colmes radio show, and the Mark Heaney Show. Fecke is divorced, and the father of one really terrific daughter. Email Jeff.


Kate Harding's bio coming soon! Email Kate.





The Heretik's bio coming soon! Email the Heretik.





Misty is a tea-guzzling, latté-sipping, book-obsessed progressive living in the PNW with her husband, four offspring, black lab, and torbie kitty overlord. When not chasing toddlers around, you might find her in the kitchen baking yet another loaf of french bread while listening to NPR. Or re-reading a book for the zillionth time. Or perhaps watching "As Time Goes By" or that deep, thought-provoking show, "So You Think You Can Dance?" Then again, she might just be out driving to the store in her rockin' minivan with the windows rolled down and the Lord of the Rings soundtrack turned up. Because she is just.that.awesome. Email Misty.


Mustang Bobby is a writer and blogger who looks at the world with dry bemusement and tries to get through life without bumping into the furniture. In addition to Shakesville, his work can be read at his own blogs, Bark Bark Woof Woof and Bobby Cramer, and at the literary group blog The Practical Press. Email Mustang Bobby.


Nightshift is a middle-aged, middle-class Southerner who would be in a coma if not for the miracle of coffee. He eagerly awaits the birth of his first grandchild while wondering if the child will need SPF 1000 sunblock by then. He firmly believes that laughter is the best medicine, but wonders sometimes if he hasn't overdosed himself. Email Nightshift.


Paul the Spud's bio coming soon! Email Spudsy.





Petulant is a pissy lad with a chip on his shoulder because _______. Fill in the blank and it will probably be true. He is allergic to shellfish, hates pedestrians, and the aches and pains of this reality find him reaching for the nearest bottle. (If a representative of Big Pharma is reading this, email him for where to send your samples.) He is the proprietor of Petulant Rumblings and spends more time on his ass than necessary for one human. He likes to call himself a confirmed cynic, but might actually see some hope in the world if there is sufficient Champagne. Email Petulant.


Teh Portly Dyke is 51 years, 5 ft. (in shoes), 155 lbs. Pretty handy with a thesaurus, says "fuck" a lot. A founding Member of the Lesbian Grand Council and licensed distributor for Titty-Wrap Hugs, Inc.[twh]., her super-power is Occasional Fits of Pique and her aliases include Chatty Cathy, Troll-Bane, Ms. Deity, and The Right Reverend. She can also be found at her own blog, Teh Portly Dyke. Email Portly Dyke.


Quixote has been messing about for far too long getting a degree in naturopathic medicine, a doctorate in biology, and teaching college to make a living (in a purely academic sense). Q will probably never figure out "what I want to be when I grow up," but is having heaps of fun writing science fiction and ranting here at Shakesville, at Acid Test, and in comments all over blogland. Email Quixote.


Chet Scoville was born and raised in the swamps of New Jersey, and now teaches English in the rockier terrain of the University of Toronto. He is a well-camouflaged, nocturnal creature who prefers to avoid situations of conflict; why he blogs is therefore something of a mystery to biologists. When he's not at Shakesville, he can either be found grousing about life at his own blog, The Vanity Press, listening to old Kirsty MacColl tunes, or muttering darkly that hot pepper sauce should have been his invention. Email Chet.


Mr. Shakes' bio coming soon! Email Mr. Shakes.





Shark Fu, a.k.a. AngryBlackBitch, Mistress of Correction, High Priestess of the United Church of Bitchitude and Latter Day Drunks, and the Supreme Empress of Keeping it Real. Proudly practicing the fine art of bitchitude since 1973! When she's not blinking it up at Shakesville, she can be found at her own blog, AngryBlackBitch. Email Shark Fu.


Space Cowboy is also known as Volcanus Eruptus, which references the simmering cauldron of rage that exists just below his deceptively pleasant exterior. Either way, he's a happily married dork living in New Jersey. By day, he's a mild-mannered software developer who blows off work to write posts. By evening, he's a gamer, part-time drummer, and human slave to one wife and two felines. Email Space Cowboy.


Jon Swift is a reasonable conservative who likes to write about politics and culture. Since the media is biased he gets all his news from Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and Jay Leno monologues. You can also find him serving up his Swiftian Swiftiness at his own blog, the aptly-named Jon Swift. Email Jon Swift.


Tart is known IRL as Joanna Mang, but you can just call her Jo. She is a graduate of San Diego State University with a bachelor's in English. She works as a nanny for several adorable children, and spends most of her day discussing bowel movements, reading the same book 47 times, and administering so very many hugs. In her spare time she can be found cooking and fiendishly devouring literature, especially Thomas Hardy, that feminist demon. She's also applying for graduate school...wish her luck. Email Her Tartness.


Todd's bio coming soon! Email Todd.





William K. Wolfum, who would like you to please call him Bill, is a freelance writer based in Minas Gerais, Brazil. He has been published in the Boston Globe, Dallas Morning-News, and many other newspapers, Web sites and magazines. He and his wife Emilia are proud parents to Max, Jack, Duchess and Afonso. Email Bill.


Zuzu's bio coming soon! Email Zuzu.





Guest Blogger: Shakesville regularly features guest posts by a variety of bloggers. If you're interested in guest blogging at Shakesville, please email Liss with your request.