Sunday, May 29, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Inner beauty, outer beauty
"Read, write, read, read. If the president were here--one of his greatest strengths is reading. That's one of the reasons why he's a good communicator, why he's such a good writer. He's a voracious reader. So we're trying to get our girls, no matter what, to just be--to love reading and to challenge themselves with what they read, and not just read the gossip books but to push themselves beyond and do things that maybe they wouldn't do.
"So I would encourage you all to read, read, read. Just keep reading. And writing is another skill. It's practice. It's practice. The more you write, the better you get. Drafts--our kids are learning the first draft means nothing. You're going to do seven, 10 drafts. That's writing, it's not failure, it's not the teacher not liking you because it's all marked up in red. When you get to be a good writer, you mark your own stuff in red, and you rewrite, and you rewrite, and you rewrite. That's what writing is."
—Michelle Obama
"So I would encourage you all to read, read, read. Just keep reading. And writing is another skill. It's practice. It's practice. The more you write, the better you get. Drafts--our kids are learning the first draft means nothing. You're going to do seven, 10 drafts. That's writing, it's not failure, it's not the teacher not liking you because it's all marked up in red. When you get to be a good writer, you mark your own stuff in red, and you rewrite, and you rewrite, and you rewrite. That's what writing is."
—Michelle Obama
Friday, May 20, 2011
Do this thing
my bro was the closing keynote speaker at the Scrum Global Gathering in seattle this week. check it, yo.
introduction
part 1 of talk
part 2 of talk and Q&A session
introduction
part 1 of talk
part 2 of talk and Q&A session
Friday, May 13, 2011
"A tyranny of hierarchies"
When Gay Men Insult Women
from http://jezebel.com/5798258/when-gay-men-insult-women
Julian Forth — It makes me cringe when I hear a straight guy embark on a long tirade about how he could never possibly have sex or be intimate with another guy. I sigh and think to myself, "Not this again. What an asshole. You don't like dick. I get it!"
It's understandable that a straight guy doesn't want to have sex with another guy. The problem for me is the drawn out and debasing lecture in which he frames his dislike. It's the soapbox diatribes about the awful, repugnant, I'd-rather-die-than-yada-yada-yada aspects of male-to-male intimacy that rub me the wrong way. It's the subtle and innocuous way that heterosexism keeps homosexuality on the margins while reasserting its own dominance that I resist. Intentions aside, this rhetoric by straight guys regarding homosexuality only serves to devalue homosexuality — posing it as a distortion, an inferior derivative of heterosexuality.
Even though I'm fresh out of the closet, I've noticed that gay guys have countered this dominance by imitating and flipping this rhetoric on its head — "I could never have sex with a girl. Pussy is so nasty!" In order to affirm their own validity and push heterosexism off its pedestal, gay guys adopt this same technique — that is, to speak casually about heterosexuality as a perverted, strange, and repulsive orientation. However, it usually goes along the lines of expressing disgust for the female body in another demeaning soapbox tirade. If someone is not attracted to women, fine; but these exaggerated discourses are unnecessary and harmful.
This is where the misogyny of gay rhetoric surfaces.
I find this misogynist tone in everyday speech uncomfortable and problematic. Uncomfortable, because it leaves little room for those of us who are situated somewhere between/outside the gay/straight terms to express our desires honestly. It has become taboo for a queer guy to admit that a girl is appealing (sexually or otherwise). The dynamic created by this misogyny mirrors the fear that makes straight guys shout "No homo!" if their hand brushes against another's. Moreover, this speech is problematic because it tramples on many aspects of feminist struggles. Throughout our history, women have been marked economically, socially, and essentially inferior to men based solely upon anatomy — submitting them to lack of credibility in public life, to objects for men [to conquer or to romanticize], and to insecurity.
To express such overwhelming disgust for the female bodies only reinforces this oppressive tradition — male dominance and misogynist rhetoric. If gay guys are not attracted to women, fair enough; but the drawn out or exaggerated monologues are not necessary.
Historically and currently marginalized, LGBTQ must tirelessly fight for identity, voice, and validity on all fronts. However, I'm concerned when the struggle to find identity by one group is based on antagonism toward another; when one oppressed demographic finds a way to stand by stepping on another. Employing misogyny to combat heterosexism is hypocritical and simply unjust. It polarizes identities and weakens movements for liberation by advancing the oppression of others.
Even though our histories are different, women and gay men suffer under similar forces which try to confine gender roles and control sexuality. However, if we are secure enough in our own identities, we won't need to degrade others in order to find a voice; we won't have to push others aside in order to stand. In fact, we can resist heterosexism more effectively if we refuse to perpetuate oppressive rhetoric and become allies for others in their struggles. Such solidarity leaves little room for the tyranny of hierarchies. Rather than imitating heterosexism, solidarity will enable us to stand with, rather than on, others and it will give us new strength in our fight for liberation.
from http://jezebel.com/5798258/when-gay-men-insult-women
Julian Forth — It makes me cringe when I hear a straight guy embark on a long tirade about how he could never possibly have sex or be intimate with another guy. I sigh and think to myself, "Not this again. What an asshole. You don't like dick. I get it!"
It's understandable that a straight guy doesn't want to have sex with another guy. The problem for me is the drawn out and debasing lecture in which he frames his dislike. It's the soapbox diatribes about the awful, repugnant, I'd-rather-die-than-yada-yada-yada aspects of male-to-male intimacy that rub me the wrong way. It's the subtle and innocuous way that heterosexism keeps homosexuality on the margins while reasserting its own dominance that I resist. Intentions aside, this rhetoric by straight guys regarding homosexuality only serves to devalue homosexuality — posing it as a distortion, an inferior derivative of heterosexuality.
Even though I'm fresh out of the closet, I've noticed that gay guys have countered this dominance by imitating and flipping this rhetoric on its head — "I could never have sex with a girl. Pussy is so nasty!" In order to affirm their own validity and push heterosexism off its pedestal, gay guys adopt this same technique — that is, to speak casually about heterosexuality as a perverted, strange, and repulsive orientation. However, it usually goes along the lines of expressing disgust for the female body in another demeaning soapbox tirade. If someone is not attracted to women, fine; but these exaggerated discourses are unnecessary and harmful.
This is where the misogyny of gay rhetoric surfaces.
I find this misogynist tone in everyday speech uncomfortable and problematic. Uncomfortable, because it leaves little room for those of us who are situated somewhere between/outside the gay/straight terms to express our desires honestly. It has become taboo for a queer guy to admit that a girl is appealing (sexually or otherwise). The dynamic created by this misogyny mirrors the fear that makes straight guys shout "No homo!" if their hand brushes against another's. Moreover, this speech is problematic because it tramples on many aspects of feminist struggles. Throughout our history, women have been marked economically, socially, and essentially inferior to men based solely upon anatomy — submitting them to lack of credibility in public life, to objects for men [to conquer or to romanticize], and to insecurity.
To express such overwhelming disgust for the female bodies only reinforces this oppressive tradition — male dominance and misogynist rhetoric. If gay guys are not attracted to women, fair enough; but the drawn out or exaggerated monologues are not necessary.
Historically and currently marginalized, LGBTQ must tirelessly fight for identity, voice, and validity on all fronts. However, I'm concerned when the struggle to find identity by one group is based on antagonism toward another; when one oppressed demographic finds a way to stand by stepping on another. Employing misogyny to combat heterosexism is hypocritical and simply unjust. It polarizes identities and weakens movements for liberation by advancing the oppression of others.
Even though our histories are different, women and gay men suffer under similar forces which try to confine gender roles and control sexuality. However, if we are secure enough in our own identities, we won't need to degrade others in order to find a voice; we won't have to push others aside in order to stand. In fact, we can resist heterosexism more effectively if we refuse to perpetuate oppressive rhetoric and become allies for others in their struggles. Such solidarity leaves little room for the tyranny of hierarchies. Rather than imitating heterosexism, solidarity will enable us to stand with, rather than on, others and it will give us new strength in our fight for liberation.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Peckish prancing
Pictorial: The Complete Cast of The Hunger Games
from http://www.pajiba.com/trade_news/pictorial-the-complete-cast-of-the-hunger-games.php
Director: Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Seabiscuit)
Writers: Suzanne Collins (source material). Billy Ray (State of Play, Flightplan) is on the screenplay.
Katniss: Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone)
Gale: Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song)
Peeta: Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right, Journey to the Center of Earth)
Haymitch: Woody Harrelson
Caesar Flickerman: Stanley Tucci
Effie Trinket: Elizabeth Banks
Seneca Crane: Wes Bentley
Rue: Amandla Stenberg
Primrose Everdeen: Willow Shields
Mrs. Everdeen: Paula Malcomson
Thresh: Dayo Okeniyi
Marvel: Jack Quaid
Foxface: Jacqueline Emerson
Glimmer: Levin Rambin
from http://www.pajiba.com/trade_news/pictorial-the-complete-cast-of-the-hunger-games.php
Director: Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Seabiscuit)
Writers: Suzanne Collins (source material). Billy Ray (State of Play, Flightplan) is on the screenplay.
Katniss: Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone)
Gale: Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song)
Peeta: Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right, Journey to the Center of Earth)
Haymitch: Woody Harrelson
Caesar Flickerman: Stanley Tucci
Effie Trinket: Elizabeth Banks
Seneca Crane: Wes Bentley
Rue: Amandla Stenberg
Primrose Everdeen: Willow Shields
Mrs. Everdeen: Paula Malcomson
Thresh: Dayo Okeniyi
Marvel: Jack Quaid
Foxface: Jacqueline Emerson
Glimmer: Levin Rambin
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
"Have you heard about Hugo and Kim?"
Secretary of State release sent voters to phone sex line
Associated Press
10:13 a.m. EDT, May 4, 2011
from http://www.southbendtribune.com/sbt-secretary-of-state-release-sent-voters-to-phone-sex-line-20110504,0,4897212.story
ELKHART, Ind. (AP) - Indiana voters who had questions about mayoral primaries may have been surprised when they were offered "stimulating conversation" instead.
The Elkhart Truth reports that the Indiana Secretary of State's Office initially included the wrong number in a news release about the Hoosier Voter Hotline that was activated for Tuesday's primaries. Instead of a 1-866 prefix, the release listed it as a 1-800 number. People who called the number would have heard, ""For fun, stimulating conversation anytime, anywhere" and were directed to another number where they could talk to "hot" girls.
Secretary of State spokesman A.J. Feeney-Ruiz says the agency hasn't received any complaints from anyone who called the wrong number.
Associated Press
10:13 a.m. EDT, May 4, 2011
from http://www.southbendtribune.com/sbt-secretary-of-state-release-sent-voters-to-phone-sex-line-20110504,0,4897212.story
ELKHART, Ind. (AP) - Indiana voters who had questions about mayoral primaries may have been surprised when they were offered "stimulating conversation" instead.
The Elkhart Truth reports that the Indiana Secretary of State's Office initially included the wrong number in a news release about the Hoosier Voter Hotline that was activated for Tuesday's primaries. Instead of a 1-866 prefix, the release listed it as a 1-800 number. People who called the number would have heard, ""For fun, stimulating conversation anytime, anywhere" and were directed to another number where they could talk to "hot" girls.
Secretary of State spokesman A.J. Feeney-Ruiz says the agency hasn't received any complaints from anyone who called the wrong number.
many thanks to the lovely 'zana for forwarding this story to me.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
"I was running for a bus and I pulled a muscle": The making of Chariots of Fire; or, still in the mood, I guess
this was one of my father's all-time favorite films.
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