Salmonella is in your peanut butter

This peanut is going to be the end of civilization as we know it... or pb & j's and snickers bars.

take back the night tshirt draft

here are two different versions.
hopefully you like one of them, which one?
what should i change?
also, what colors? I was thinking white ink on black tees (glow in the dark?!), but there are lots of other fun combinations. like pink on purple... maybe that's not too gender neutral.
anyhow, excited to hear what you think :D

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mai 68

This is awesome, like as awesome as quantum science. I was watching clips of french new wave film on youtube since i left my dvds at school. This clip came across my path:

The clever slogan "pas de flics des films.." caught my attention. It translates to something like "films not cops" (i don't know french, so appoligizes for mistranslations). I'm a sucker for those slogans such as "make tea not war" & "make awkward sexual advances not war."
Next I consulted Wikipedia, naturally, to get some more background. I vaguely remembered learning about the social unrest of the late 60's & 70's in France, vaguely...
What I find particularly incredible, aside from the outpouring of political graphic art that was produced by the students, is the use of expression & voice & mind. Wait! Nay, not even that. I find it delightful and refreshing and reassuring, ect. ect. that STUDENTS, young people were doing something. They were not only questioning convention, but in general life and the sense we are told to make of it and then what actually makes sense. The students acknowledge the nonsensical violence that the police and government blindly unleashed on peaceful protesters. The hypocrisy of a government that does not at all protect its citizens or their human rights & instead responds with force.

“The police post themselves at the School of Fine Arts – the Fine Arts’ students poster the streets.”

Here is some more art from the protests. It's soooo good! Let's bring this type of expression back. I'm tired of design for designs sake. I want purpose, humor, & expression.

“A youth disturbed too often by the future.”


"Return to normal."

Lastly, I stumbled upon this website that sells gorgeous reprints of so so many of the may 68 posters and everyone's favorite british slogan "stay calm and carry on." check it out, and to the (if there is) anyone who reads this blog, feel more than invited to buy me this mug!!!:

reflection 2008, onwards to 2009

2008
8 good moments
spring break, walking across toronto to & fro the deerhoof concert
graduation dinner for cory w/ fay & co.
bike ride e. lansing to charlevoix








exploring the abandon cinema

fall alleycats & group rides

finally going to the msu planetarium!!
fl family vaction, disney world the "happiest place on earth"












all times spent star gazing, listening to friends, holding hands, late night walks, and appreciating trees in the fall

8 bad moments

the start of 2008
working elff as a sleep deprived, dehydrated projectionist, ergh
not biking to or.
summer classes
getting out of my lease
certain parts of august and september but you guys got me thru it
having a sinus infect
having a sore throat from mono and not being able to sleep & then sleeping to much (but that wasn't all that bad)


2009
wishes & goals
EAT BETTER. i stopped cooking since moving into the co-ops so as to not deal w. the kitchen & the boredom of eating alone. prepare a week's worth of salad at a time, ect.
TRY NOT TO BUY NEW THINGS. i have too much of everything. i need to downsize so that one day i can move across the country with ease.
DEAL W/ PASSIVITY BY HAVING SOME DAMN ENTHUSIASM. just that. partake in my own life, don't zone out when conversations are happening around me. smile & say hello.

live freely, openly, happily, and without consideration of convention
go abroad
find a home
find a job
adopt a pet (netherland bunny or mini potbelly pig!!)

Feminism in "I Dream of Jeannie"!

As an opinionated, critical feminist, things in the media tend to make me want to puke. I Dream of Jeannie is no exception- how can any good come out of a TV show which features a half-dressed woman with magical powers who's existence is centered upon her "master." Regardless, the episode "My Turned-On Master" caught my attention the other day. I was pleasantly surprised with the messages of feminism which slipped their way into the show. The episode was about Jeannie giving her powers to Captain Nelson for 24 hours in order to attend a formal dinner with him. The trick is that he doesn't know he holds the power of magic for half the episode. While still unaware of his power, he talks about Jeannie being a silly girl who doesn't know enough to do anything meaningful or good with her power. He goes on to say that he would be able to make the entire world better with magic; he could end war, drought, ect. Then, when Jeannie breaks the news that he has her powers, he turns into a jerk. He tells her he will finally be able to save the world, and shoos her away. The best line occurs when Captain Nelson tells Jeannie to leave him to do "men's work" to which she replies, " "It was women's work when I was doing it." In the end, she laughs at his self-righteous and simple understanding of the problems of the world, and he ends up losing his magical abilities.
I really enjoyed the perspective of this episode. While men are viewed as more capable as political leaders than men by our culture, I Dream of Jeannie shows how a more feminine approach is a sign of intelligence and experience. Captain Nelson embodies the masculine attitude of "knowing it all" and "knowing what to do." Unfortunately, much of what is done with this attitude is harmful, and Jeannie explaines this to him. Jeannie, on the other hand, represents the feminine traits of thoughtfulness and patience. It is unfortunate that she cannot be more involved or interested in the "world problems" which Captain Nelson is concerned about, since her strong character could come up with realistic and sound solutions which he is far far away from.

Buy Nothing Day

If you're in Novi, MI or around the Twelve Oaks Mall you can join me in celebrating Buy Nothing Day! Here's the basic info:

Where: Twelve Oaks Mall (we'll decide where to meet closer to the day).

When: Friday, November 28th, early in the morning- around 6 am.

Why: To protest consumerism and corporate greed. With the economy falling apart people are buying less, but there is more pressure than ever being put on consumers to buy crap they don't need. Let's get together and remind people that money will NOT buy them happiness (and that consumerism leads to social inequality and environmental destruction).

What to bring: Zombie costumes! Fliers! Signs! You can make things that say "Buy Nothing Day," "You Are Not What You Buy," and "End Consumerism and Live for FREE!" or what have you. Look at adbusters.org for information, inspiration, and hope. Oh yeah, and don't forget to bring friends, family, and strangers who want to help out.

RSVP by commenting, emailing me, calling me, or showing up at my door for tea and anti-consumerism discussion. Anyone and everyone is invited... if you don't know me PLEASE send a message so I can make sure you get the info about where to meet!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

How to Fight Foreclosure

Hello!

I just watched a report on a woman in California who's home was foreclosed recently, and she responded in the most badass way possible- by chaining herself to her house. While she knows that eventually she will be removed, this is one easy way to stand up and say that you will not leave without a fight. I urge every person facing a foreclosure to continue to live in your home or chain yourself to your home... anything to exercise the power you have and deny the power that the banks have. I urge people to make these actions in order to support each other. No one is alone in having their homes foreclosed.

What is sad and scary is the more extreme actions which have been employed by victims of foreclosure. People have been committing suicide as an extreme way of protesting the banks. The idea is "I will not leave my home alive." I am definitely not advocating this. But if people are killing themselves out of desperation, what other things can each of us do to support each other? We cannot allow a few wealthy individuals to break us down in order to make even more money. This does not need to happen, and these people do not deserve what is happening to them. So think about it... I'll think about it. I cannot stand aside while this happens just because I'm lucky enough to have a secure place to live right now.

Watch the report here: http://www.cbs8.com/ (look for "Woman Chains Herself to Foreclosed Home)
Read here: http://www.wowowow.com/post/california-woman-chains-herself-home-prevent-bank-taking-it-video-130833