Landon Donovan, ladies and gentlemen.
What Does a Solar Flare Sound Like?
This:
It turns out that the corona of the sun contains giant magnetic loops that vibrate much like a guitar string or a woodwind reed. And Sheffield University's joyously named Professor Robertus von Fáy-Siebenbürgen has created software to convert those vibrations into music.Thanks so much to Shaker NapalmNacey for passing that along.
The Sashay Project #2: Swinging the Thought Bubble
[Part 2 of a series – you’ll probably want to read Part 1 here for context]
To sashay, or not to sashay?
That is the question.
Where I grew up, there was a saying: “Check out the swing in that backyard!”
Spoken exclusively by a man/men about a woman, this was definitely sexual objectification, but I noticed, even when I was very young, that there was something in the way that this particular phrase was uttered which seemed different from the usual cat-calls and whistles.
For one thing, I don’t recall ever hearing it expressed loudly enough for the woman being objectified to actually hear it – and I think this clued me in, young as I was, to the fact that this commentary was different somehow – I seemed to grasp instinctively that this was commentary on a woman’s essential sexuality.
It wasn’t just a commentary on a lone body part (“Nice tits!”) – it communicated something about how that woman was perceived to be presenting herself – about how she moved through the world.
When I contemplate the maze of cultural messages implied in the backyard swing catcall -- “That woman is sexy/desireable/unashamed/brazen . . . ”, and think about how this intersected with all the other cultural messages I was getting at the time -- “Sex is BAD.”
“The body is shameful.”
“Women who are sexy are slutty whores.”
“BE sexy.”
“Be chaste.”
“Don’t draw attention to yourself.”
“Make sure people notice you.”
“Make sure your appearance is acceptable.”
“Be beautiful.”
“Don’t be too beautiful.”
. . . . . I can’t help but think it’s a miracle that I didn’t require more therapy.
When I found myself (as described in the first post of this series) feeling self-conscious about my big, beautiful, bubbular ass swinging and swaying through my neighborhood, I recognized immediately the “don’t take up too much space with your fat self” meme at play, but the “don’t look like a sexual being – especially a sexual woman” meme was subtler and far more complicated for me.
There was the simple, seemingly autonomic programming I had absorbed about my safety as related to living in a female body (Swing those hips at your peril, little missy!), but there were also echoes about how I “should not” appear as a sexual being at all – because I’m fat – because I’m “old” – because I’m a dyke.
Which led me to gasp at how completely and automatically I had associated the notion of swinging my hips with a display of sexuality.
You need to understand – I don’t think of myself as a person who has all these completely-internalized judgments about my age, or my fat, or my sexual orientation – or as a person who has absorbed and adopted puritanical attitudes about “modesty” or “wantonness” with regard to natural physical expression -- when these thoughts arose in me, I was genuinely shocked, and utterly appalled.
I'm usually the person in my social group who is known for saying the outrageous thing, for being forthright and "shockingly honest" about subjects like sex -- I've often said that the level of mental health I have around my sexuality is kind of miraculous, given the sexual abuse I experienced as a child.
Yet here I am, noticing that I'm hesitant to swing my hips because it might look "too sexy" -- suddenly aware of attitudes I didn't know I was carrying.
I didn’t think I was restricting my gait, much less restricting my gait in an attempt to hide or appear in a certain way.
I thought the way that I walked was . . . . just the way that I walked.
There’s a woman who I have known for years. I’ve watched her go through many changes over the past decade, and last year, she told me that she was consciously working on improving her posture. She’s nearly six feet tall, she’s got a big frame, and she’s fat.
I’ve always admired how she seemed to fully “occupy” her body, and it was really cool to see how she began to move even further into her form as she worked with a Rolfer and consciously shifted how she stood and walked. It was as if she was living right out to all every edge of herself, and I found it beautiful to behold.
As she went through her process, she talked about how her body seemed to be releasing things into her consciousness as she worked with moving differently – old family-of-origin patterns, thoughts she hadn’t been aware of previously – emotions that she felt had literally been “locked in” to places in her body.
I suspect that this may be what I’m experiencing now – as I allow my hips to move in new ways, it’s as if the judgments and myths and fears and programs that bound my hips up in the first place are popping off and flying up in my face to make themselves known.
If it’s true, as some researchers say, that people can identify others from a huge distance just by their gait, and mine is changing, I can only wonder what this might mean for my personality.
Perhaps “walking my talk” will take on a whole new meaning. Maybe my “life path” will be altered or enhanced by the way I move on it at a purely physical level.
I’m excited about, and a bit daunted by, this experiment. No doubt I’m going to bump into things along the way, both physically and mentally – obviously, that’s already happening – but I feel ready and willing to embrace the adventure.
So far, I've realized that when I walk in the manner my body finds most easeful:
I feel self-conscious about how my body looks to others.
Oh! -- And here's a weird one:
I feel worried that I'm taking up too much room.
I feel like I'm displaying myself sexually (and am, consequently, more noticeable and less "safe").
I feel afraid that people will think that I think I'm "hot shit".
I have no idea where that last one comes from -- it was a complete surprise -- but somewhere -- somewhere lurking in my pelvis, there is apparently some poor kid who was told to never, ever think they were "hot shit", lest someone else tell them they were just a "cold turd".
I will not only Free My Ass. I will Liberate that Kid and say: "Well, you ARE Hot Shit!"
Then I will sing them a few verses of Laura Love's "Mahbootay" (for which I wish I had the singer's permission to put an mp3 sample here -- but buy it at Itunes because if you love this series, you'll adore this song):
Mah Bootay, Mah Big Ol Bootay. Mah Bootay, Mah Big Ol Bootay.
I take it -- I take it shopping.
Mah Bootay, Mah Big Ol Bootay
I buy it -- I buy it presents.
Mah Bootay, Mah Big Ol Bootay
I feed it . . . . on peanut butter.
Mah Bootay, Mah Big Ol Bootay
(Series note for the Sashay Project: This is a series of posts that explores the way I locomote through the world and how it is affected by sexism and the gender binary -- people who locomote through the world by means other than walking are welcomed and encouraged to share their insights about how sexism/gender performance might impact how they move through the world.)
Chicago Pride
The Chicago Blackhawks are bringing the Stanley Cup to the Chicago Pride Parade:
Blackhawks President John McDonough is rerouting the Stanley Cup from the NHL draft in L.A. to the parade Sunday . . . and Blackhawk defenseman Brent Sopel has volunteered to represent the team.The Chicago Cubs will also participate in the parade, with "the first float sponsored by any major Chicago sports team," atop which will ride Super Cubbie Ernie Banks to represent the team, who are playing during the parade.
"I am honored to do it," said Sopel, who will be accompanied by wife, Kelly, and his four kids.
...[McDonough] has arranged for the Stanley Cup to be flown back from the National Hockey League draft in Los Angeles 15 hours early. "It's important for the city and important for the franchise. ... The Stanley Cup has become the biggest celebrity of all. It has its own personality and charm. We will be proud to participate in the parade. And Brent Sopel is one of the truly great guys. To have the cup part of the parade is just another great part of the celebration."
Rock on, Chicago.
[H/T to Shaker Ethyl.]
Quote of the Day
"Human rights are gay rights and gay rights are human rights."—Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during her address yesterday at an event co-hosted by the State Department's Office of Civil Rights and GLIFAA, the organization for Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies, echoing the phrase she made famous in 1995 at the UN's 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing. ("If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights once and for all.")
Clinton said she is asking embassies in Africa and elsewhere to report on rights of the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. The State Department also is placing more attention on ensuring gays around the world have access to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and providing grants to human rights activists who are persecuted either because they are gay or defend gay rights, she said.This, Shakers, is a politician who keeps her campaign promises, even when she doesn't win the election.
"These dangers are not gay issues. This is a human rights issue," Clinton said. She drew more rousing applause when she declared "human rights are gay rights and gay rights are human rights," a variation on the phrase she famously delivered in Beijing 10 years ago declaring "women's rights are human rights."
Clinton said she is equally concerned about creating an environment at the State Department in which gay employees feel valued and "can give 100 percent." That is why, she said, she supported offering equal benefits to same-sex partners of State Department employees, a move that encouraged Obama to authorize such benefits for gays throughout the federal government.
She noted the State Department also has made it easier for transgender people to change their passports and, for the first time, the agency's "equal opportunity statement" will include gender identity. It already includes sexual orientation.
Blub x a million.
----------------------
ETA. It's interesting that the CNN article notes that Clinton's support for extending equal benefits to same-sex partners of State Department employees "encouraged Obama to authorize such benefits for gays throughout the federal government," because I recall when I wrote about her decision, in comments I noted: "An attorney would know that extending benefits only to one section of Federal Employees could prompt a lawsuit that would ultimately result in benefits for all Federal Employees. Hey—Secretary Clinton's an attorney! I wonder if she thought of that...?"
There is a game of 12-dimensional chess being played in DC. It just ain't Obama at the board.
More McChrystal
The Telegraph is reporting that General Stanley McChrystal, facing criticism for embarrassing the administration in a Rolling Stone article, has resigned. There is no word whether President Obama has accepted the resignation.
Meanwhile, the Rolling Stone profile of McChrystal is now available online here.
My impression, after reading it this morning, is that McChrystal is a very smart jerk, who probably never got enough unwavering commitment to the COIN strategy from the administration to ensure he got everything he needed to try to make it work, and who probably never should have been promoted to the position in the first place. It reads like the worst scenario possible: A two-time fuck-up who probably shouldn't have been trusted, and wasn't, for the wrong reasons, when undiluted trust was essential to military success.
Radio Shakesville
Boba Fett's Star Wars Dance Party
Here is a link to the podcast blog where you can download the show.
And this is the list of all songs used in this week's ep.
You can also play the show in a pop-up.
(Which is the recommended way to read Shakesville, just FYI.)
The show is available via iTunes, and on Feedburner.
The RSS is here, if you need it.
Question of the Day
Inspired by Portly Dyke's cupcake post yesterday... What is your favorite dessert?
Your answer doesn't necessarily have to be a sweet treat. If your favorite thing to have after a meal is a slice of cheese or a cappuccino, that's welcome, too.
I adore pretty much anything with chocolate or raspberries, but I have a really hard time thinking of anything I wouldn't pass up for a nice piece of key lime pie.
"We Live in Modern Times"
Check out some of the Renault Twingo's "Modern Times" ads.
[Two young white men are driving down the street at night; two young white women are in the backseat. There is music playing and they look happy. They pull up besides a club outside of which there is a long line of people waiting to get in. In the line is a group of drag queens. The driver of the car makes eye contact with one of the drag queens, who quickly looks away.]More...
Driver: Dad? Hey, Dad! [His dad turns and looks, almost cringing with dread at what his son will say.] Can you get us in?
[The young man grins and looks at his dad expectantly. The dad looks surprised, then relieved, then happy, then proud, all in the span of a moment.]
Voiceover: Twingo. We live in modern times. [Renault logo.]
[Two white women, a mother and a daughter, are driving down the street in the daytime; they pull to a stop at a red light. The daughter glances out the passenger side window and sees a poster reading "Lola: Special Show" accompanied by the image of a burlesque girl. It is her. She looks panicked. Her mother notices the poster and recognizes her daughter; her face drops.]
Mother: What?! You found a job and you didn't tell me?
[The mother smiles. The daughter smiles bemusedly and looks relieved.]
Voiceover: Twingo. We live in modern times. Renault Twingo. [Renault logo.]
[A white woman and a white teen, grandmother and granddaughter, are driving down the street in the daytime; as they pull to a stop in a parking space, a cell phone rings and the teen reaches into her purse to get it. As she does, a strawberry-flavored condom in a decorative wrapper falls out. She looks mortified. Her grandmother picks it up and looks at it with shock.]
Grandmother: Sophie! [The granddaughter grimaces.] I thought you didn't like strawberries!
[Grandmother gives her a knowing look and laughs. Sophie laughs with relief. She reaches for the condom, but Grandmother snatches it away and tucks it into her bra.]
Voiceover: Twingo. In tune with today. [Renault logo.]
Hey, Jon Voigt...
It's a big bag of shut up.
In the interest of full disclosure, the "criminals and illegals" chipped in with me.
Quote of the Day
"Home Depot is basically encouraging the attendance of children at events which openly expose them to transvestites, cross-dressers, and homosexual activists. Gay pride events have a long track record for offensive public displays of homosexual conduct. Obviously, Home Depot is O.K. with the idea of exposing children to an unhealthy and risky environment. So much so, it is willing to also celebrate it by participating in its promotion." — Tim Wildmon, president, American Family Association, on Home Depot's sponsorship of gay pride events in New England.
Business As Usual
This just in: A federal judge has overturned the White House's six-month ban on offshore drilling. Looks like the world's oceans are once again made safe for capitalism. Hooray.
Today's Edition of "Conniving and Sinister"
See Deeky's archive of all previous Conniving & Sinister strips here.
[In which Liss reimagines the long-running comic "Frank & Ernest," about two old straight white guys "telling it like it is," as a fat feminist white woman (Liss) and a biracial queerbait (Deeky) telling it like it actually is from their perspectives. Hilarity ensues.]
Deep in the heart of Texas
The GOP are bigots. *clap clap clap*
Ok, it doesn't rhyme--but it's true. The Republican platform (.pdf ...will induce rage), as voted on and is finalized, has a whole lot of shit in it. It's like they thought that Arizona threw down a bigot competition gauntlet and decided to go all out. Some lowlights:
[T]he Texas GOP seeks to end the state's lottery, which provides millions in funding to public education; restrict citizenship to children born in the United States whose parents are citizens; end federal sponsorship of pre-kindergarten schools; impose a jail sentence on any illegal immigrant in the state; shut down all day-labor centers; cut off all bilingual education after a student's fourth year in a U.S. public school; legalize corporal punishment in public schools; mandate that evolution and global warming be "taught as challengeable scientific theory"; and demand that Congress evict the United Nations from U.S. soil and end American membership in the global body.There's also this sort of stuff:
HONORING THE SYMBOLS OF OUR AMERICAN HERITAGEWhen was the Star Spangled Banner subjected to "legislative and judicial attack"? Anyway, straight from "America! Fuck Yeah!", it goes into this heaping monstrosity of bigoted fuckitude:
Ten Commandments – We oppose any governmental action to restrict, prohibit, or remove public display of the Decalogue or other religious symbols.
Constitution in Public Schools – We believe that all state-funded schools should read and teach the constitutions of the United States of America and the State of Texas.
Pledge of Allegiance – We support adoption of the Pledge Protection Act. We also demand that the National Motto “In God We Trust” and National Anthem be protected from legislative and judicial attack.
American English – We support adoption of American English as the official language of Texas and of the United States.
Flag Desecration – Any form of desecration of the American Flag is an act of disregard for our nation and its people and penalties should be established for such.
Symbols of American Heritage – We call upon governmental entities to protect all symbols of our American heritage from being altered in any way.
Confederate Widows Plaque – We call for restoration of plaques honoring the Confederate Widow’s Pension Fund contribution that were removed from the Texas Supreme Court building.
Want to know why you're called bigots? BECAUSE YOU ARE.STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, PROTECTING LIFE AND PROMOTING HEALTH
CELEBRATING TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE
Family and Defense of Marriage – We support the definition of marriage as a God–ordained, legal and moral commitment only between a natural man and a natural woman, which is the foundational unit of a healthy society, and we oppose the assault on marriage by judicial activists. We call on the President and Congress to take immediate action to defend the sanctity of marriage. We are resolute that Congress exercise authority under the United States Constitution, and pass legislation withholding jurisdiction from the Federal Courts in cases involving family law, especially any changes in the definition of marriage. We further call on Congress to pass and the state legislatures to ratify a marriage amendment P-6 declaring that marriage in the United States shall consist of and be recognized only as the union of a natural man and a natural woman. Neither the United States nor any state shall recognize or grant to any unmarried person the legal rights or status of a spouse. We oppose the recognition of and granting of benefits to people who represent themselves as domestic partners without being legally married. We advocate the repeal of laws that place an unfair tax burden on families. We call upon Congress to completely remove the marriage penalty in the tax code, whereby a married couple receives a smaller standard deduction than their unmarried counterparts living together. The primary family unit consists of those related by blood, heterosexual marriage, or adoption. The family is responsible for its own welfare, education, moral training, conduct, and property.
Family Values – We affirm that this section is a response to the attacks on traditional family values. These include well- funded, vigorous political and judicial attempts by powerful organizations and branches of the government to force acceptance, affirmation and normalization of homosexual behavior upon school children, parents, educational institutions, businesses, employees, government bodies and religious institutions and charities. These aggressive, intolerant efforts marginalize as bigots anyone who dissents.
Marriage and Divorce – We believe in the sanctity of marriage and that the integrity of this institution should be protected at all levels of government. We urge the Legislature to rescind no–fault divorce laws. We support Covenant Marriage.
Marriage Licenses – We support legislation that would make it a felony to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple and for any civil official to perform a marriage ceremony for such.
Homosexuality – We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.” We are opposed to any granting of special legal entitlements, refuse to recognize, or grant special privileges including, but not limited to: marriage between persons of the same sex (regardless of state of origin), custody of children by homosexuals, homosexual partner insurance or retirement benefits. We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.
Texas Sodomy Statutes – We oppose the legalization of sodomy. We demand that Congress exercise its authority granted by the U.S. Constitution to withhold jurisdiction from the federal courts from cases involving sodomy.
Under the totally not ironic title of "Protecting Our Children" there's also this:
Child Support and Visitation – We support equity between responsible parents in child support, custody, and visitation rights and costs, as well as the strengthening of laws designed to protect children from abuse. No parent/grandparent should be denied court ordered visitation, because of jurisdictional disputes between states. We also believe that no homosexual or any individual convicted of child abuse or molestation should have the right to custody or adoption of a minor child, and that visitation with minor children by such persons should be prohibited but if ordered by the court limited to supervised periods."Protecting Our Children"? Not so much.
Adoption – We support reducing the time, bureaucratic interference and cost of adoption. The law should assure mothers of a choice in selecting a traditional home for their children at the time of terminating their rights for adoption. We oppose mandatory open adoption and adoption by homosexuals.
Foster Care – We support eliminating bureaucratic prohibitions on corporal discipline and home schooling in foster homes to help alleviate the shortage of foster parents.
I mentioned this is comments but I think it's worth editing the post--and I should have included it in the first place. This is also under the "Protecting Our Children" section (emphasis mine):
Parental Rights and Responsibilities – We believe that parental rights and responsibilities are inherent and protected by the United States Constitution. Local, state, or federal laws, regulations, or policies shall not be enacted that limit parental rights in the rearing of both biological and adopted children. The Party supports the Texas Parental Rights Restoration Act to amend this statute and restore the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children. We unequivocally oppose the United States Senate ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which would transfer jurisdiction over parental rights and responsibilities to international bureaucracies. Support of Parental Authority - We support parental authority and the teaching of moral values in the home. We oppose school– based clinics and/or youth impact centers located at, sponsored by, or funded by any state agency or public school district, whether or not they dispense condoms and contraceptives or refer, aid, or advise minors to have abortions.The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. In 1989, world leaders decided that children needed a special convention just for them because people under 18 years old often need special care and protection that adults do not. The leaders also wanted to make sure that the world recognized that children have human rights too.They "unequivocally oppose" this. Unequivocally. Oppose.
The Convention sets out these rights in 54 articles and two Optional Protocols. It spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere have: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. The four core principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. Every right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and harmonious development of every child. The Convention protects children's rights by setting standards in health care; education; and legal, civil and social services.
By agreeing to undertake the obligations of the Convention (by ratifying or acceding to it), national governments have committed themselves to protecting and ensuring children's rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community. States parties to the Convention are obliged to develop and undertake all actions and policies in the light of the best interests of the child.
Texas GOP: loathsome, vile, anti-family, racist, homophobic, nationalistic, jackbooted assholes.
*clap clap clap*
Holy Shit
Iain sent me a link to this article with a one-word commentary: "Yikes."
I don't know what else I can add to that.
And we used to worry something would "go wrong" with Iain's immigration process because of my blogging under the Bush administration.
