Monday, January 23, 2006, 06:13 PM - Politics, Friends
If you can stand it, take a look at the MSF list of some of the horrendous things going on in the world that are being ignored:list of the 10 most underreported humanitarian crises.. My friend Jane Coyne has been working with MSF for the last year or so, doing post-tsunami relief in Sri Lanka and working with malnourished children in a couple of places in Africa. I have huge respect for her work, and for this organization - they seem a little less strangled by bureaucracy than many aid groups, and their quick response to crises like the Pakistan/ Kashmir earthquake is impressive. Tuesday, January 17, 2006, 03:20 PM - Politics, Books
Larry Bogad (friend of Andrew Boyd's who I met last summer) wants to tell you why 38,000 fed-up Amsterdammers did, when given the option in 1970. He's reading from his new book Electoral Guerilla Theatre: Radical Ridicule and Social Movements on Wednesday evening at Modern Times (1/18) and Monday 1/30 at Black Oak in Berkeley, both at 7:30 PM. I'm going to go on Wednesday, but I'll probably be late. More on the book:
Across the globe, in liberal democracies where the right to vote is framed as both civil right and civic duty, disillusioned creative activists run for public office on sarcastic, ironic and outrageous platforms. With little intention of winning in the usual sense, they use drag, camp, and stand-up comedy to undermine the legitimacy of their opponents, and call into question the fairness of the electoral system itself. Bogad looks at satirical campaigns around the world, including the GNOMES, who won 5 seats on the Amsterdam City Council, much to their own surprise. then the real pranks began...
Buy the book here. And in case you were thinking that I'm an out-of-touch idealist, Thursday night it looks like I'm going to a book party for this: Making Meaning: How Successful Businesses Deliver Meaningful Customer Experiences. Don't ever try and tell me I'm not multifaceted. Good thing one of my academic friends recently sent me a hypergeek journal article on the futility of the search for individual fulfillment through consumption, so I'll be ready.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006, 02:17 PM - Politics, Friends
My friend Josh -with whom I worked with last summer on Leave My Child Alone- just got featured in a NYT story on Pentagon monitoring of campus anti-war activism.. Nice to know I'm helping shape the next generation of activists... also Jen Low from Code Pink is part of the fun - aren't they cute?
Tuesday, January 17, 2006, 12:30 PM - Politics
So please explain to me how the hyper-right faction of the Supreme Court (soon sadly to grow by one) sleeps at night when they ignore the central tenets of conservatism? Isn't the whole point of their legal theory to LIMIT the role of the feds in state affairs, regulation, etc. and to interpret legislation narrowly? Although I don't agree with that philosophy, I can understand it (I'm not completely immune to the charms of some libertarianist ideas). Thomas, Scalia, and Roberts dissented in the Oregon case, arguing that federal controlled substance law would allow for prosecution of MDs prescribing meds for assisted suicide. Apparently federal power is acceptable to regulate things that serve their agenda, but not things that don't? I guess after the 2004 election expecting methodological consistency from them is silly - but their determination to advance the conservative agenda certainly is stable. Thomas is the one I really don't get, since he dissented in the medical marijuana case, arguing (correctly, I think) that the interstate commerce clause didn't apply, and the feds had no standing - while the majority argued that the feds could prosecute medicinal pot users because of the commercial implications. Then again, I'm not perfectly consistent in my judicial philosphy, either- but I'm a shameless pragmatist in most things. Monday, January 16, 2006, 08:32 PM - Politics
I drove back from Tahoe this morning and was crying my eyes out listening to King speeches on part of the drive. (Who knew I was so emotional?) There was some horribly depressing stat on NPR about how most white people do nothing to acknowledge MLK day, but one hopeful note was the effort to have people think of the holiday as a day of service. Although millions of Americans volunteer on a regular basis, one more opportunity surely can't hurt. And it does seem like the best way to honor a Capricorn is to get some work done, after all. Of course, one could choose to see the coopting of the impressive King legacy of social transformation into insipid school-painting projects, but I think it's a better option than having people think of the 'holiday' as an excuse to go shopping. It was nice to have the drive to think about the huge changes he helped bring about in our society (which I far too often take for granted), and also to consider how a lack of focus on economic issues limited the reach of the major social movements of the second half of the 20th century. Saturday, January 14, 2006, 07:54 PM - Sex, Politics
It drives me batty that the most important image of women from either the Roberts or Alito hearings is Alito's wife crying. Is welling up the best way for me to influence the future of the Supreme Court?? When he's confirmed, and if he does help overturn Roe, I will certainly be crying my eyes out, given that I'd have to spend a huge chunk of my life dealing with state-level battles over the legality of abortion. If only my tears were so sympathy-provoking, and I could get them such good coverage. Just imagine what would have happened to his chances for confirmation had HE been the one crying. And maddeningly there's at least a chance that if I were being cross-examined in front of the world, I WOULD cry. Yet I think mine (and many women's) capacity to mix emotional and intellectual intensity is one of our strengths. I'm so curious as to whether her emotional display was deliberate - really a master stroke if it was. In personal relationships I can never quite be sure of how much my manifestation of gender is authentic and how much is strategic or performative in response to social norms (or for that matter how much I should enjoy and accept my undeniable response to the masculine- or be suspicious of it). Yesterday I went with the enjoyment option, and I can't say that I'm sad about it. I'll let you know when I quit my job to drive my daughter to swim practice, but don't hold your breath just yet.Saturday, January 7, 2006, 03:30 AM - Politics, Food
So today I had a lunch meeting with Megan (the brain behind The MMOB and my favorite co-conspirator on Leave My Child Alone), and she brought along Joan Blades! It was great to meet her- she's just the combination of grounded strategist and slightly ethereal presence you'd expect from someone who's changed organizing forever- through technology. She's starting a new, very large-scale project centered on women's issues...I hope I'll have the opportunity to contribute to it. (And in addition, I got to snack on those onigiri from the Japanese deli that take me right back to department store basement food heaven in Tokyo). Really an unexpectedly superlative lunchtime, all things considered.Wednesday, January 4, 2006, 06:41 PM - Politics, Technology
We'll all have to get our assfucking fix from the new Wonker (?) David Lat, erstwhile faux-babe blogger of Underneath Our Robes....
Nice job for Nick to snag him, although I bet his life as a prosecutor had become a little, um, complicated?
Tuesday, January 3, 2006, 05:57 PM - Politics
So it seems like I'm taking the leap into the world of GCI where I'll be working on MoveOn's 2006 efforts as well as developing progressive voter outreach strategies and a West Coast client base. I'm not sure that I'll be able to give up on the other fun projects I've been working on this fall, though, so it seems like it will be another round of balancing acts....Plus I'm still having meetings with people about my ideas for engaging social workers and other nonprofit sector staffers in civic engagement strategies. And my word, I live in San Francisco, shouldn't I be developing some technological solution that will save the world?? I am loathe to close off any possibilities, but could probably do with a bit more focus in the short term...more soon.Monday, December 12, 2005, 02:42 PM - Politics, Friends
I got this request for help from a friend in New Orleans - he's appealing for funds to rebuild a school there - and of course it's the simple local institutions that help create true community, and that must be revivied to ensure that New Orleans residents a home to return to.
;)
Here's their appeal:
The International School of Louisiana (ISL) opened six years ago and with a mission of providing children of all backgrounds a challenging language-immersion (Spanish and French) curriculum with a
focus on global citizenship. Many believed ISL was the best elementary school in New Orleans before Katrina, and its survival is, in a small way, crucial to the city's success.
As the first and only one of three Orleans Parish-based public schools to resume operation after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, ISL has demonstrated the resilience to reinstate the quality learning environment our children enjoyed before the storms. The job will not be easy, but we have the tools to make it happen: talented, dedicated administrators and faculty, and families devoted to restoring ISL to its former vitality and promise.
Currently, ISL is operating in a small church building west of New Orleans, in Kenner, LA; but we plan to return to Orleans Parish. We are
working with the School Board to obtain a building, but we will need to pay for renovations ourselves.
What ISL needs is money: resources to ensure that the school can afford to make the changes that will be required to move into a larger school
building in the City of New Orleans. The families of ISL have set a goal of $100,000 by December 31st.
If you can help us put those resources together with a contribution of your own, it will go to very good use and will be greatly appreciated.
We're trying to get as many $100 donations as we can, and anything you could give would be a great help.
ISL is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization, and you may contribute securely online by visiting the ISL web page (where can also read more about the school): [/url] http://www.isl-edu.org .
For ongoing updates on Katrina-related issues:
Katrina Action
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