Women know your limits!

"I'm a man who discovered the wheel and built the Eiffel Tower out of metal and brawn. That's what kind of man I am. You're just a woman with a small brain. With a brain a third the size of us. It's science." Ron Burguny, Anchorman

Are YOU a Feminist?

oh heaven forbid!

Independent media in a time of war

an excellent presentation by Amy Goodman of DemocracyNow.org (independent media organization- tv, radio and internet) and accompanying videos and photos. Please watch this.

Dancers

hmmm, we should all be dancing far more!

Five Ring Circus trailer

I saw this film tonight in Vancouver. It's more than you thought you know about the olympic farce that's taken over Vancouver. If you have a chance to see the whole film then get out there!!

I want to fuck you in the ass

crackbook

Hmmmm, facebook is like crack. Now that I'm on facebook, I'm neglecting this blog.

I've been told that the feds (US that is) are watching me now that I've signed my soul to facebook. Oh no! Now they know that most of us are liberals!?! Oh and atheists. And that lots of people don't call themselves hetero or homosexual. Geez, they might sell this info to some defense company that nike and aldo subcontract for and the two will join forces to produce a non- gender specific shoe which they'll market to us by analyzing our personal interest sections and make millions and millions in sales.... that is, if we buy the shoe.

Okay, so there is something creepy about defense departments monitoring our online info. I admit I don't like the idea, but at the same time, there seems to be this obsession in so-called liberal worlds with top down control of big business and and government without any attention to the ways in which we are all imbricated in the production, maintenance and reproduction of these worlds... the ways in which we are all complicit in the (re)production of business and government. Yes, there is reason for concern about collusion between government and corporate in terms of political neutrality and I recognize this... but what about all the other players in society, economy, politics. As a reaction to neoconservatism the liberal speakers have waged a massive blame game....so the conservatives blame the liberals and in reaction the liberals blame the conservatives and vise versa. Things don't change. Actions are reactionary, not revolutionary or subversive.

Instead of only focusing on the government and the businesses that "control us", why not ALSO look at the ways in which we are complicit in this '"controlling"-- the ways in which we are all imbricated in processes of governmentality. Wikipedia is just a starting place... for more info google "foucault and governmentality" or better yet, get ye to a library.


So why isn't there some other non-defense related, non-governmental copycat to facebook which we can all transfer over to? Would the world then be a happy place. We could build a global village and sing kumbya. Yes, yes, I am being cyclical here.

Humanity Lobotomy - Second Draft

Dick Fiction

I believe we need copyright reform. The academic world is mired in copyright bullshit, as are the music, film and news media worlds. Anyway, it's something I want to learn more about-- the various alternatives to using and sharing each other's ideas. I'm always please to find a large amount of video and music remixing online. I don't see this as stealing other people's life work, but of creatively reworking and representing them, keeping them alive, making them applicable to ever changing climates. I love this 'Dick Fiction' video. EXCELLENT!

P-r-e-t-t-y- C-o-o-o-o-o-l

Dancing is fun! It's always a good idea. It's pretty much my favourite animal... er... thing to do.





That's a photo of Elke above. She's hula hooping and dancing and being silly.

For some more stylin' grooves check out this great little video clip.

Purity balls' and fundamentalisms in the United States

Photo: an artist's parody of the famous photo taken by Eddie Adams on Feb 5th, 1968 of a South Vietnamese officer summarily executing a Viet Cong prisoner. Here the artist (unknown) has the officer shooting George W. Bush. I found this artwork in Subeez Cafe in downtown Vancouver. It is approximately 9x9ft


BELOW: An article by Rochelle Jones from the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID)


In the United States (US) a phenomenon is increasing in popularity. Dubbed 'purity balls' these gala events are formal rites of passage for young women and girls where they pledge to their fathers, abstinence until marriage. A bigger agenda to examine is the global flow-on effects of fundamentalisms for women and girls. AWID considers some of the issues.

By Rochelle Jones

'Purity balls' are ceremonies where girls, some as young as 10 years of age, promise their fathers to remain virgins until they wed. Fathers sign a covenant vowing to 'protect' their daughter's chastity until they marry, and the daughter promises to lead a life of 'integrity and purity' under her father's watchful gaze. A journalist for a popular young women's magazine who attended a purity ball in the US described the ceremony:

"When it's time for dads and daughters to take the pledge (some informally exchange rings as well), the men stand over their seated daughters and read aloud from parchment imprinted with the covenant... the men inscribe their names and their daughters sign as witnesses..."

Later in the evening, Pastors "stand at the cross with heavy rapiers raised and announce that they are prepared to "bear swords and war for the hearts of our daughters". [1] Abstinence for who? Situated at the extreme end of the abstinence movement, 'purity balls' were the brainchild of Randy Wilson from the 'Generations of Light' ministry in Colorado Springs. The idea, he claimed, was to "create an event that celebrates the bonds between father and daughter" [2].

Since then, the phenomenon has expanded, mainly throughout the Southern states, with around 1400 purity balls taking place in 2006 alone [2]. Not unlike some interpretations of Islam where 'honour' allegedly resides in the bodies of women to be regulated by men, purity balls are an opportunity for fathers to reinforce in their daughters that their sexuality is something that should be controlled by men - first by their fathers, and then through the contract of marriage (to a man of course - heterosexuality is a base assumption).

The covenant reads: "I, (daughter's name)'s father, choose before God to cover my daughter as her authority and protection in the area of purity. I will be pure in my own life as a man, husband and father. I will be a man of integrity and accountability as I lead, guide and pray over my daughter and my family as the high priest in my home. This covering will be used by God to influence generations to come." [3]

Read more...

global warming facts

I hope people aren't getting sick of hearing about global warming. I feel like everyone is convinced... "yeah, yeah, I know, I saw 'An Inconvenient Truth'"... but, I'm just not sure that we're doing much about it. The website Global Warming Facts provides a useful Top 50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming and it's amazing how easy and feasible they all all.

But the site doesn't list the Top 50 Things We Need To Do To Change Law, Policy and Governance in order to save our system. There are tons of website out there with online petitions. I recently signed one produced by AVAAZ.org who took 100,000 signatures to the G8 Environment Ministers and in part helped get the environment and climate change at the top of their agenda (Duh!).

But what about local activism. I guess the word 'activist' is loaded and many people shy away, but I would like to encourage everyone to write to their representatives telling them that they are concerned about climate change, water privatization, offshore drilling and whatever else is worrying you. Ask them to promote public transport, change public education or whatever else you want. Many people think that letters are useless but these are our representatives and they will have to listen to us if they want our vote. Some may be on the same page, but don't know their constituents feel the same way! Many of them do write back to me personally or at least answer my questions. And if they don't, then send another letter and ask your friends to do the same. You can also call, fax, or email but I prefer hard copy mail. Remember that snail mail to any MP is FREE... just write 'free to MP' in place of a stamp!

For great tips on letter writing check out The Wheels of Justice.

Here's a full list of member's of parliament including their contact info.

If you don't know who your MP is you can search by postal code here.

In BC you can also find and contact your MLA here. For other provinces, just google "legislative assembly".

'Call of Life' Facing the Mass Extinction Trailer

This is a trailer for a documentary about our threatened ecosystem. What I like about it is the focus on ideas, culture and psychology.

podcasting

Check out these two great radio talks available via podcast:

1 Taking the Pulse of the Planet: David Suzuki and Stephen Lewis in conversation with Eleanor Wachtel, host of Writers and Company, on the politics of the environment and Canadian values. A personal, passionate and wide-ranging evening with two of Canada's foremost activists. Download the podcast on CBC radio's 'Ideas'.

2. An extended interview with David Susuki conducted by Simran Sethi. The two delve into the essence of the world economy, the importance of seasonal food, and what happens when you eat too many cherries. Download the podcast at Tree Hugger Radio.

Stop the Clash of Civilizations

Hey, I made the mistake of burying this link in an email a few days ago. I'm reposting it to make sure you all watch the super-short, super-effective animated video and check out the AVAAZ.ORG website.

Avaaz means "Voice" or "Song" in several languages including Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, Nepalese, Dari, Turkish, and Bosnian. Peace!

heroes

Photo: a kitchen where there was none before! (Prince George, march 2007)

Thank you to Carmen for sending me the write up below. In a world of magazine covers, sensationalized headliners, endless award shows and so-called first places, this is a nice, grounding exercise.

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.


How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners .

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with .


Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care .


Cool eh? While I don't want to dismiss people's great achievements and think that it is wonderful to honour people for them, I think the message might be that we should try and acknowledge those who truly are our heroes.

Jill Scott at Dave Chapelle's Block Party

What a woman! What a smile! What a voice!

YOU GOT ME

If you haven't yet seen "Dave Chapelle's Block Party", a brilliant street concert that brought together some of the best grassroots hip hop I know, then you are missing out. Check out these two videos with Jill Scott and Erykah Badu.

good news

Photo: A rescued fruit bat (or flying fox as they're called in Australia) at the Bat House in Cape Tribulation- all run by volunteers of course! (July 2004).

While I tend to lean towards cynicism and brooding, I have to say that the more I look around the more I see people doing good things to make the world 'a better place,' or I should say, how I want the world to be! Just when I start to worry about the greenwashing being done by Inc-this and Inc-that, I read a story about local school kids in the Fraser Valley starting a Random Acts of Kindness club. In fact, they convinced our provincial government to declare February 12-19 as Random Acts of Kindness Week! Cool.

Then, just when I'm convinced organic food is being co-oped by the few big businesses that already control the production and distribution of all our food (and tobacco, toothpaste, soap, chemicals, pharmaceuticals etc. etc. etc.), I begin to see the farmers markets and local collectives more and more present in the neightbourhood. If you want to watch a great documentary, head to your local library and take out the Future of Food dvd. While it's terrible to hear about what many farmers have had to endure in the face of Monsanto and Cargill, there's hope in the end! We can have the world we want.

For a pleasant and humbling read, pick up David Suzuki and Holly Dressel's lovely book called "Good News for a Change: How Everyday People are Helping the Planet". It's a 2003 book, so I bet you'll find it at a second hand book store.

And the latest thing I NEED to share with you- something that gave me that 'another world is possible' kick in the ass that I needed- has been put out by AVAAZ.org. Head to their website and watch their short animated video on the post-9/11 US against THEM, West against East, West against Islam dichotomy that is produced through endless, repetitive fear mongering images and terror-words. Thank you to those who put the video together. I think these short viral videos may be the most effective means of spreading news in our hyperspeed, too-many-images-too-much-noise, don't believe the news machine world.

advice to follow

Always tell yourself the truth.

words of wisdom from Millie in Edgewood.

cell phones

So where do all the poor, old cell phones go? Chris Jordan's photography highlights the waste associated with our trendy cell phone craze in the photos below. You can view more of Chris' photography, which focus on consumption levels and consumer and industrial wastes, here.

"Cell phones #2", Atlanta 2005, 44 x 90", by Chris Jordan (click photo to enlarge)

"Cell phone chargers", Atlanta 2004, 44 x 66", by Chris Jordan
(click photo to enlarge)

Very soothing

I think this is absolutely lovely! Thank you to whomever sat down and put this stuff together!

The horse quartet.

Where the Hell is Matt?

This is just awesome! What a great idea! I love it! Watch Matt dance around the world. His website is Wherethehellismatt.com
He's got another, older video posted there you can watch.

Invasion geography USA

jesus fucking christ the ignorance is maddening! Yes, yes, I'm in geography and I love maps and I can't expect everyone to be a political map expert, naming all the countries in the world, but mistaking Australia for Korea and Iran?? Saying 'bomb Iran because there's going to be a revolution' and 'invade France because they weren't America's alleys vis-a-vis Iraq'. Disgusting. No wonder the world's a fucking mess.

global warming getting worse

My bike in Australia (2004)










UN scientists declare that human induced global climate change may be insurmountable. We've gone to far and done too little. They call for increased climate volatility such as stronger cyclones and hurricanes and rising sea levels.

In response, the American Enterprise Institutes has offered $10,000 USD to economists and scientists for writing articles undermining the UN climate change report. Yes, the AEI is heavily supported by Exxon Mobile.

How do these people sleep at night?

I'm illin' over here

This video is care of my great friend, Carmen, who is aways full of wisdom and humour:

Take a Pill! ( short and amusing)

Yes we are always treating the symptoms not the deep rooted causes of illness (not to mention social inequality, terror/war, and so on!)!!

Photo: the best dog EVER!













Geez, its a new year! Habeas corpus has been revoked in the US and stephen harper and his beedy little eyes still officially represent Canada. Scary stuff. But I don't want to write about this. I want to ask why people are so fucking obsessed with pure breed dogs!! It's called eugenics and it has fueled racist research and beliefs, and in the case of Hitler, genocide!! People who talk about people the way they talk about their pure breed dogs are called racist, classist assholes.

Enough with the "oh, he's a pure breed" crap when I meet you in the dog park. My dog is mutt and he'll kick your dog's ass!