***Entry 347***
Wednesday, January 15, 2003
01:25 p.m.
Interesting Things
Totally disconnected new sites + information; albeit, both are linked to projects I am working on.

1. Report on DC IMC issues from last Saturday's retreat. Note that sexism is one of the *most* important issues.

2.Really interesting site that combines a lot of different pieces of information on International ANSWER.

***Entry 346***
Wednesday, January 15, 2003
10:57 a.m.
Against War
Josh sent me the url for this post-article about the impending war on Iraq. The article attempts to portray people's fear about going to war, although it is occasionally vague. Here's a tidbit:

Candace Woolford, 19, thinks the future is now. She quit her waitressing job after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because the tips got so bad. She tried unsuccessfully for months to get a better job, finally settling for $6.50 an hour, plus 2 percent commission, to sell jewelry at J.C. Penney at the Mall in Columbia. But it's far from a dream job.
"A lot of people don't have money," she said while taking a cigarette break. "I sell nothing all day."
Now, Woolford said, imagine if war breaks out: People won't have diamonds on their minds, and her $450-a-month rent in Catonsville, Md., will be that much harder to pay.

The call to action and press release for the State of the Union protest [see below] are written exactly for people like Woolford. It's still the economy, stupid.

***Entry 345***
Wednesday, January 15, 2003
10:29 a.m.
Great Benefit Show Tonite!
From Jill via email...
tomorrow -weds jan 15th at bar nun-1326 U St NW
a benefit for The DC Rape Crisis Center
timeslots-
upstairs
9-11 Books and Jungle Jessi
11-12:30 Proxxy
12:30-2 Slant
downstairs
9-11 ken Lazee
11-12:30 Dan Soda
12:30-cl Sam the "man" Burns
$5 minimum donation-more money desired
you must be 21 and over to enter
This is the latest party from Jill and her For the People Productions. For the People is dedicated to merging electronic dance music with social justice causes. The parties always have great music--the DJs always spin for free--and *all* the money goes to the cause they are supporting. That is, tonight...all the money raised at the door will go to the DC Rape Crisis Center.

This is the party of the week. Be there.

***Entry 344***
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
06:28 p.m.
The Sorry State of the Union
The press release for the Sorry State of the Union is now visable online here. Additionally, the organizing website is now online as well. Check it out and get involved.

***Entry 343***
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
11:10 a.m.
[No] Movie
Unfortunately, I'm caught in a meeting tonight, but if you are not busy...you should catch Bhopal Express at Visions tonight. If you go, please tell me about the film because I know *nothing* about this issue...and probably should have a degree of understanding.

***Entry 342***
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
09:46 a.m.
Overwhelming Thoughts
Last night's DC IMC meeting devolved into another heated argument on sexism. The conversation was supposed to be about holding a retreat to deal with sexism in the DC IMC. However, a few white men made statements that reflected their indifference to the issue: Does sexism exist in the DC IMC? If it is contentious to discuss the possibility of holding a meeting to discuss sexism--then clearly, sexism is still an issue. [I should note that there were several white men that were supportive of holding a meeting...]

I left feeling like absolutely *nothing* had changed in the year and a half since the Women's List of Demands. And, by expressing that feeling after the meeting I got shot down by one of the IMC regulars. Nothing has changed. All my attempts to reform the DC IMC remain meaningless. I often wonder why I get involve in the DC IMC in the first place--there's little intellectual stimulation, there's little that doesn't delve into "the politics of personal destruction," there's little that doesn't alienate.

I've written before that I care passionately about the ideal of media democracy. That's driven me to continue participating for more than two years, I'm not sure how long I can continue.

***Entry 341***
Monday, January 13, 2003
11:31 a.m.
So Busy
Are you ever so busy that you can't focus on anything? My email box is so full of projects I'm working on...and I don't even know how to begin sorting them out by importance. There's something to be said about multitasking. But, there's a problem when multitasking becomes so multifacited that it causes multiple problems. In other words, until I can focus, I will be relatively absent from the blogosphere.

Meanwhile, I encourage you to read this article about inequality in America. Here's a fabulously "insightful" tidbit: As the sociologist Jennifer Lopez has observed: "Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got, I'm just, I'm just Jenny from the block." As long as rich people "stay real," in Ms. Lopez's formulation, they are admired. Ahh...fun...

***Entry 340***
Saturday, January 11, 2003
12:10 p.m.
Getting Old
I'm at the DC IMC retreat right now. It's actually kind of interesting; however, I'm not going to focus on that right now. Instead, I'm going to deal with the silliness I witnessed at last night's Sumac show at the Black Cat.

Sumac was great. However, a small segment of the audience represented everything I hated about high school. There was a group of high school aged kids [the black x's explained everything] that decided to take over the dance floor with loud, vaguely expressive ska-esque dancing. The group--two blonde girls with asymetrical hair cuts, one brunette, and one guy with a trench coat--was joined by a girl in her mid-30s who clearly hasn't gotten beyond her high school mentality. They danced in a multifacited kicking, arm-swinging, fist waving and moshing pattern. It excluded everyone else who were moderately moving to the music from fully participating. They looked extremely ridiculous as they attempted to get others to join them on the dance floor.

I realized one thing in this extravaganza--I've gotten old. I'm not interested in reliving high school. I'm just interested in moderately moving to the music. Full participation is the task of the young and immature.

***Entry 339***
Friday, January 10, 2003
03:47 p.m.
Cosmopolitanism vs. Internationalism
I'm a little late on posting this...but I've had a *super* busy day at the office. Unfortunately, planning for the State of the Union protest has impeded my ability to go out tonight...so I was upset, until I read this piece by Coral Bell on cosmopolitanism vs. internationalism. It deserves a much more comprehensive response than I am going to give it right now...because I'm still working. Anyhow, to whet your appetite...and hopefully encourage you to read the article, here's a small chunk.

The explosive worldwide growth of information and communication technologies, especially the Internet, has provided an ideal context for the activists who run such groups. It is easier and cheaper to set up a "demo" now than ever before. And the media are in a sort of (mostly unwitting) symbiotic relationship with the advocacy NGOs. They need stories even more than the activists need publicity. Few things provide better television pictures than a good rowdy protest--except for falling towers, which leads us to yet another technological development that is deeply unsettling to the traditional normative environment.

I quoted a lot more than I usually do, but this article provides way more insight than I could demonstrate with a one or two sentence cut aside. Read it...and let's talk. [via Arts & Letters Daily]

***Entry 338***
Friday, January 10, 2003
12:49 p.m.
This is Great!
I'm sure this has already been all over the web, but the text of Helen Thomas v. Ari Fleischer has been reposted here at the DC IMC. I read it and thought that it *had* to be a joke, but I checked out the link to the White House press conferences site, and learned that this really happened. This is worth while reading.

***Entry 337***
Friday, January 10, 2003
11:56 a.m.
Weekend Plans
It's Friday! However, the weekend is chalked full of fabulous things to do...Here's a break down.

Friday Night:
1. 6pm...Presumably *hot* [albeit, pretentious] Art Opening @ Signal 66
2.8:30pm...Matt Patner's local band Sumac performs at the Black Cat.

Saturday!:
1. 9am...DC IMC retreat
2. 4:30pm...Steelers playoff game.
3. 7pm...Caps game! [Woo! box seats and valet parking!]

Sunday:
1. 11:30am...State of the Union protest planning meeting.
2. 1pm...Banner Making and Drumming Extravaganza @ 942.
3. 7pm...DC IMC convergence planning meeting @ 942.

***Entry 336***
Friday, January 10, 2003
10:22 a.m.
Glendening Out; Tuition Up, Death Penalty In
[Or] The Decline of the Great State of Maryland
Today, the Post has written a retrospective of Maryland Governor Parris Glendening's eight year stint in Annapolis. The article mentions Glendening's notorious do-what-I-want mentality that lead to Smart Growth, Gun Control, and the Moratorium on the Death Penalty. Now that Republican Bob Ehrilch is being sworn in, Marylanders can expect tuition increases next semester and a lifting of the Death Penalty moratorium. Marylanders can also expect a serious decline in environmental protections as well.

Although I currently [proudly] reside in the District of Columbia, I still have a lot of Maryland pride. And, I'm worried that Ehrilch is going to completely destroy the high quality of life Marylanders enjoy.

***Entry 335***
Thursday, January 9, 2003
01:40 p.m.
Quick Thoughts on Things I Like
1. Beautiful, warm, sunny days in January. Get outside if you can!
2. Shrimp Salad sandwiches and macaroons from So's Your Mom deli.
3. Knowing that I'm taken seriously despite being a flippant space-cadet.

***Entry 334***
Thursday, January 9, 2003
01:05 p.m.
Correction
My housemate Karen Zamperini reminded me that she did not explicitly advocate Jill following The Rules. She has offered this response, the rules seeks to "catch" by being unavailable/mysterious/blank canvas where he can project his fantasy, i'm saying if he's not pursuing he's not interested enough and you shouldn't waste your time. you shouldn't be second guessing whether someone is attracted to you or wants to be with you. hence, make sure he's making some effort.

I guess that makes sense. I'm sorry for misinterpreting your perspective Karen.

***Entry 333***
Thursday, January 9, 2003
11:18 a.m.
Quick...Turn on Your TV
Or, wait a while. Adam's going to be on CNN's TalkBack Live today at 3:00. It's the second time he's been on in the past few weeks. Yea!

***Entry 332***
Thursday, January 9, 2003
11:05 a.m.
West Wing Review
To be honest, most everything I had written down in my notes last night have already been stated here. But, I want to add a little commentary. One, Gov Exec is right: it is doubtful that a President would state "America's going to lead this world--not just bully it." But, I think that was just a blatant stab at the Bush Administration. [Yea, Sorkin!] Additionally, I can't say enough about Will Bailey being the best character. In past episodes he was so nervous...in last night's episode, he stood up for himself re: the goat in his office.

After much [arguably convoluted] thoughts [hey, I'm super busy today], I've decided that the theme of the episode was why going to the extreme to impress someone will ultimately fail. After all, Charlie failed to change Pentagon policy when he tried to impress Zoe--and her awful French aristocratic boyfriend. Josh failed to impress Leo with the foreign policy vote. And...then there's Donna, who wrestled with her conscience at the end of a long stalker-esque day. The message: Just do your job. Don't get ridiculous.

Chris Strohm and I have decided that it might be a hot idea to host West Wing watching parties. So...contact me, if you are interested.

***Entry 331***
Wednesday, January 8, 2003
09:55 a.m.
"The Tyranny of Structurelessness" Revisited
When I finish working through the three piles of stuff I need to do at work today, I will return to write a rejoinder of sorts to this anarchist critique of Jo Freeman's classic "The Tyranny of Structurelessness." Chuck O sent it to me yesterday and I've been meaning to write a response ever sense.

The short version: The critique is far too influenced by the author's disgust with political scientists and Democrats. The long version is later.

***Entry 330***
Wednesday, January 8, 2003
09:08 a.m.
Brief Thoughts on Feminism
Jill had her second date with the new boy last night. For some unscheduled reason, all the 942 girls converged in the living room to give her advice. Many of the so-called tips were rephrased ideas from The Rules. That is, the "tips" that the other girls gave were from The Rules. I didn't contribute.

However, I did criticize the advice. After reading The Rules for my Values Inquiry class [Fall Semester 2001], I approach those who treat the "ideas" in that book as reality, with apprehensive scorn. The Rules after all, are merely steps toward relinquishing your identity for a boy [any boy.] The problem, is The Rules not only reduce women to boy-hunters desperate for anything willing to play the game with them--but The Rules reduce men to stupid animals that can be easily manipulated.

Perhaps, I would understand the appeal of The Rules even after all the criticism it has received, if I were desperate to find a man and keep him. [But, I'm not on that quest. I'm far more interested in being a productive worker and getting into graduate school.] Or perhaps, I need to understand game theory in order to get The Rules. Or perhaps, it simply an age distinction that has never been a factor before. [All the other women @ 942 are are the brink of their 27th birthdays, I'm rapidly approaching my 23rd...]

I can't help but see all this as silly. Especially since all the women in the house agreed that Jill should wear a flattering shirt that said "Fem-un-ist."

***Entry 329***
Tuesday, January 7, 2003
03:24 p.m.
Call For Hip Hop
I need your help. If you know any local hip hop groups that would be interested in performing at the Sorry Ass State of the Union Concert/Rally, please email me immediately!!!

***Entry 328***
Tuesday, January 7, 2003
01:35 p.m.
The Upcoming DC IMC Retreat
I'm not going to write a review of last night's DC IMC meeting. If you really want to know what happened, you can read my minutes. The most important thing about the meeting was learning about the upcoming DC IMC retreat. I'm not sure if I will be able to attend the meeting--I already have two other things I'm scheduled to do that day; however, if you are reading my site, I strongly suggest attending this retreat.

By following this arguably convoluted logic, you will see why I think you should attend this retreat, even if I can't make it. 1. If you are reading my site, most likely you have some connection to me. 2.Since I check my sitemeter regularly, I know that many of you are repeat visitors. 3. Either way, these options make it very likely that you have read my many reports on the DC IMC. 4. That makes you a prime candidate for attending the DC IMC retreat and providing input into what you would like to see the DC IMC become.

Since I'm not sure that was particularly clear, I'll simplify. If you are interested in making media and participating in a project that has so much potential, go to this retreat. It will be worth your time.

***Entry 327***
Monday, January 6, 2003
04:29 p.m.
And, Let's Face It...
Joanne has posted a long and interesting piece on anorexia and other eating diseases. She concludes that anorexia is: Let's identify anorexia for what it is: a childish and narcissistic character flaw. ...Yes, but, I've never had an eating disorder, unlike the *vast* majority of women I know. And, let's face it, I'm narcissistic as well. Have I avoided this particular "ailment" because I'm not childish? Hardly.

The commonly held belief is that eating disorders are based on the need for control. With all due respect to Joanne, I find this analysis slightly more credible. And, let's face it, life is chaotic. Having a little control is important. However, one can choose self-destructive means of attaining nominal control or ones that will lead to greater stability. For example, if I feel chaos rising inside me--I pull out a pen and begin to write.

***Entry 326***
Monday, January 6, 2003
10:01 a.m.
Thoughts on Mondays/Meetings
Getting out of bed on a Monday hasn't been an issue for me since May. Last semester, my first class on a Monday wasn't until 2:40pm. During the summer, I awoke whenever I felt like it. This morning, when the alarm awoke me at 7:55am, all I could think was: I've gotta go to graduate school. This is unbearable. I made it to work on time--despite my reluctance to get out of bed. Being professional is all about being about to deal with Mondays.

Tonight, I am attending a DC IMC meeting for the first time in months. I'm interested to see what has changed. While, I could speculate that it will be the same monotonous discussions with the same group of people dominating, I'm going to try and think positively about tonight's meeting. It's possible that things could have changed. I certainly hope they have. But, as I stated in my "A Critique of Consensus Process," hope is neither a practical nor effective means of "grounding" an organization.

***Entry 325***
Sunday, January 5, 2003
06:22 p.m.
Call to Action
[Disclaimer: I am not the sole author of this work. Do not give me full credit since I was merely part of a larger group.]

What is the state of the union. . .
...To those who believe that healthcare, quality education, food and medication are not a privilege for only the very rich?
...To those who believe that another war is not the most effective means of achieving national security and that tax cuts and golden parachutes for thievery corporations will not save our flailing economy?

We call on you to reflect: What is the state of your union?

On January 28th 2003, we call on you to join friends and family, artists and musicians on the lawn of the United States Capitol for a live concert and rally showing the real state of the union, and reclaiming the fate of our union!

This event coincides with the annual State of the Union Address, where George W. Bush will claim that the state of our union is secure and strong. Through musical performances, speeches, video presentations, spoken word and more, we will question his proclamation!

- What is the state of the economy when joblessness has risen to its highest rate in over a decade, corporations continue to lay off workers by the thousands, and retirement security has become another oxymoron in our lexicon of shattered dreams?

- What is the state of healthcare when the number of uninsured has risen by over 1 million people in a single year, and the few remaining public health facilities and programs are being privatized?

- What is the state of our priorities when parents must choose between heating their homes or feeding their kids and when the elderly have to chose between food or prescription drugs?

- What is the state of our democracy when the president declares war ignoring a vocal oppositions, and our military interests are solely monetary, no matter the impact on humanity?

***Entry 324***
Sunday, January 5, 2003
05:44 p.m.
Snow and Santorum
Well...another serious snowfall in DC. I was kind of excited about the first snow fall in the beginning of December, but I'm not excited about this one. Even so, I accomplished all the important tasks on my agenda today: I drove with Karen to Southern Maryland to deposit my checks, I went over to Adam's to watch the Steelers game...and now, I'm about to get started on the Call to Action for the State of the Union protest.

But first, Washington Interns Gone Bad's favorite Senator, Rick Santorum, is back in the news for giving up his position as Chairperson of the Rules and Administration Committee to self-disgraced Senator Lott. *Sigh*