All's I Need

Jan 21

“LGBT oppression, like women’s oppression, is tied to the centrality of the nuclear family as one of capitalism’s means to both inculcate gender norms and outsource care for the current and future generations of workers at little cost to the state. In addition, the oppression of LGBT people under capitalism, like racism and sexism, serves to divide working-class people from one another, especially in their battles for economic and social justice.”

Sherry Wolf - Sexuality and Socialism: History, Politics, and Theory of LGBT Liberation (via cultureofresistance)

—Okay, so this is it, right? All wrapped up in a nutshell?

(via officialnewtgingrich-deactivate)

Nov 1

This is your brain on fossil fuel

One of Cal’s most popular professors, David Presti, who teaches on Drugs and the Brain, makes an analogy about our societal addiction to oil. Check it out.

Jan 9

My friend John (he’s a folk musician/pediatric cancer physician in New York City; I know, unusual combo) posted this as a balm for all the bad stuff happening around. It’s wonderful. Not specifically the kind of music I tend towards, but the story that Arlo Guthrie tells, and the singing—it’ll make you feel good.

“So there we were, 30,000, drinking, screaming, crying, laughing, singing people, all singing an old Elvis tune somewhere in Europe. Boy, there was something wonderful about that, you know. And I suddenly realized how proud I was to come from a country where our songs are known, and loved, and sung all over the world by all kinds of people.

Also, I learned a little something about what folk songs was about, and even what they’re not about. And sometimes, it’s not even about anything. I mean, here we were singing an old Elvis tune, that didn’t have much to say about the state of the world or something like that, but boy, more was being said by who was singing, and how they were feeling, than trying to sing lots of songs that try to say a whole lot of stuff, you know. So, maybe help me sing this old Elvis tune. I’ll give you the words.”

Oct 25

Protest Racism and Xenophobia--Creatively!

“Remember that shockingly racist, god-awful, yet unintentionally hilarious parody gold-mine, “Evil Chinese Professor” political ad from last week? Yeah, that one… Well, Reappropriate is teaming up with Angry Asian Man, Disgrasian, and 8Asians to host the “Evil Chinese Professor” meme-off! The rules are pretty simple: Download the blank “Evil Chinese Professor” .mov video file (or grab the .zip package that contains some extra goodies like a helpful script). Make a creative and funny parody. Upload your vid to YouTube. Send your YouTube link to evilchineseprofessor@angryasianman.com before November 27th (Bruce Lee’s birthday, because really… how appropriate…). We will judge all the entries, and the winners will receive an awesome prize pack! So, scoot! Get to the vid-making!”

I missed this controversy, but click the link to see the original ad, outrageous, and think about participating!

Plus, a couple of cool bloggers, Reappropriate and Angry Asian Man.

via paradiseinprocess

Oct 18

zuky:

From Colorlines:

Grab your popcorn, there’s a new documentary out that looks like required viewing. Mountains that Take Wing: Angela Davis & Yuri Kochiyama: A Conversation on Life, Struggles and Liberation is making the rounds on the university and festival circuit, and is not to be missed.

The film captures conversations between the two activists and icons spanning a decade as they talk social change and political struggle, theory and activism and art. The film is a unique opportunity to eavesdrop on two women who’ve been at the center of civil rights, prison abolition and global liberation struggles as they reflect on their lives and the work ahead. A rare and exciting snapshot of living history.

Awesome. I know Yuri’s family, and of course, Angela is amazing.

Sep 12

This is good news.

A planned Quran burning Saturday in Amarillo was thwarted by a 23-year-old carrying a skateboard … he gave the book to a religious leader from the Islamic Center of Amarillo.

Protesters, ahoy! Good for you! And…I’m admitting to myself, and to all of you, that I kind of have a stereotype of Texas that I’m now vigorously rethinking. Go, Amarillo!

(via theonetrueb!x and The Amarillo Globe-News)

Sep 7

“

After all, the world has always been speckled with rabid clowns, an endless parade of spittle-flecked sociopaths that make us shudder and sigh, many with “Reverend” before their names or “Show” just after it. American culture is rife with worldviews so narrow and poorly educated, you can be quickly convinced we are but an inch from permanent insanity.

Or maybe not. I prefer to think of these fine denizens of dumb as the darker, skankier parts of our individual consciousness, the red flags of the soul. Should we not be grateful they exist? That they are here to remind us to be ever vigilant and wary? Hell yes we should.

After all, the Fred Phelps, the Glenn Becks, the Terry Jones of the world are but our basest natures made manifest, the bleakest, most paranoid, lazily ignorant parts of each and every one of us. Deny it at your peril.

…And they exist to deliver but one message: If you’re not conscious, if you don’t pay attention, if you don’t fill your cup to brimming every single day with laughter and paradox, love and possibility, if you don’t deeply appreciate the madhouse irony of this completely gorgeous, impossibly ruthless human experiment, well, they will but fester like a sore on your big toe, and you’ll no longer be able to dance.

”

Mark Morford, SF Chronicle Columnist. He’s fantastic; read some of his stuff.

Aug 4

Link to Prop 8 Update Site...SFappeal.com

“Here’s your Prop 8 Update post: bookmark it or whatever. We’ll be updating this post all day today on today’s decision and reactions.” (Go to link…)

Holding our breaths. Ready to celebrate or protest.

Jul 22

ComicCon Protests the Westboro Baptist Loonies

To be honest, I’d have expected slightly better signs and costumes given the venue, and I really don’t think God Hates Jedi. But still, awesome. I remember protesting them years and years ago when they showed up at the Met Church in San Francisco. We weren’t prepared with signs or anything. What got me was, the news stories covering them had been showing them like they were a throng, but when they got out of their little mini-bus, there were only like 18 of them. Lot more of us, which was gratifying.

Still they are around, though.

comiccon

Jul 18

U.S. Army Training Guide on Homosexual Conduct Policy

From the U.S. Army, to deal with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Given the underlying premise is completely idiotic, the message here isn’t too bad, actually.