Monday, February 28, 2011

God’s iPod

 
 

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via Black Youth Project by Summer M. on 2/28/11

I was going to serve up a nice little nihilistic rant to begin the week, but I've thought better of it.  Instead, I will provide you with a list.  It's been a while since I've done a list, right?

Last week, I failed to give a special birthday shout out to Nina Simone.  After posting my blog, I spent most of the day listening to Nina (partly because it was her birthday, partly because I needed to get Soulja Boy's "Speakers Going Hammer" out of my head).  The exercise lead me to Youtube.  One of the comments on a clip of "Sinnerman" reads: this is on God's iPod.

I'm stealing that idea for today's blog.  What, exactly, is on God's iPod?  A few guesses (which may just look like a list of some of my personal jams, because the God I believe in has the same [excellent] taste in music that I have.  Me being made in His image and all.):

I ask my brilliant and blasphemous reader(s): What else might be on God's iPod?


 
 

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speakjah: ebony-and-ivory:

 
 

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Hi I remember reading on your blog a while back a question where someone ask...

 
 

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Hi I remember reading on your blog a while back a question where someone asked you if you preferred your intimate experiences with men or women. And I really like your response about it being much deeper and more complex about that to the point where you could even really address what was being asked. I am a queer-identified cis-woman and Sometimes I feel really disempowered in my sexuality. It frustrates me that I don’t KNOW. I can’t say that I’m a lesbian. I can’t say that I’m straight or bi or pansexual. I don’t feel like I really understand my sexuality in these ways. And then I feel guilty. Like I’m copping out of owning an identity “lesbian.” Like I’m not strong enough to be attracted to only women or to make the resolute decision that all I will ever date, be intimate with and care for are women. And so there’s an association with weakness there. And I also feel weak because I feel like after all the abuse I have witnessed and experienced at the hands of men, I should be a lesbian. I should be completely turned off of men and not attracted to them. In fact when I think of the violence they have perpetrated and the violence of men against women, it is enough to turn me off but only temporarily. It makes me feel like I’m putting myself willingly into danger by not rejecting my desire for cis-men and owning a lesbian identity. Like I’m betraying myself. At the pit of my stomach I don’t know if what I feel is a genuine attraction to cis men or a sort of defense that happens as a result of my internalized queerphobia and also my response to abuse. And I feel ashamed that the latter 2 may be possibilities and I feel even worse about not knowing. Like there is something wrong with me. If you wouldn’t mind sharing with me a bit about how you understand your queer sexuality and how you’ve navigated it, what your journey with your sexuality has looked like. Have you ever wondered these same things about yourself? I really need to hear some on the ground voices, not academic theoretical bullshit or any of the other dominant ways of understanding our sexualities. At the end of the day I think sexuality is a lifeforce and sexual direction comes from the inside but I need affirmations. and reassurance. plenty of that. thank you.

via maia medicine on 2/28/11

okay i thought about this question for a while.  and these are my thoughts. 

—sometimes i think there is too strong an emphasis on defining our sexuality.  in difft stages in my life, i have been attracted to difft people.  it gets fluid and messy (kind of like sex). 

—okay so lets for a second that an attraction to men, means that i am acting out of my internalized queerphobia and response to abuse.  that sucks.  but lets say that my attraction to women, also means that i am acting out of my internalized queerphobia and response to abuse.  see what i mean?  the internalized shit is still there.  i know women who are attracted to certain types of women, and admit that part of their attraction comes from their queerphobia, of not wanting to be that kind of queer, but this kind. 

so it seems to me that watching who you are attracted to, just paying attention to it, and understanding it deeply in all of its flattering and unflattering aspects, is a way to at least understand it. 

cause my suspicion is that all of us have really complicated reasons motivations for why we are attracted to whomever.  and not all of them are going to be pretty.  hell, a lot of them arent going to be flattering. 

so for me, its fluid.  and you know, when it comes to sexuality, well, sex is one of those things that can destroy our ego's sense of self with a healthy dose of real energy. 


 
 

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drugsbydreads: pussypumped: Red dread empress ANGELINA 

 
 

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Brazil: Two More Indigenous Territories Are Declared The Permanent Possessio...

 
 

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via 道 on 2/28/11

Brazil: Two More Indigenous Territories Are Declared The Permanent Possession Of Indigenous Peoples :

Translated from Portuguese, Original Below

Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo, signed yesterday, February 23, two ordinances, declaring indigenous lands (IT)-Ocaia Rio Negro, Rondônia, and Enchanted Lagoon, Ceara, as the permanent possession of indigenous peoples Pakaanóva and Jenipapo-Kanindé respectively. As ITs it will now be in the process of demarcation, for subsequent approval by the presidency.

IT Enchanted Lake

Located in the municipality of Ceará Aquiraz, near the capital Fortaleza, IT Enchanted Lake has a total area of 1,731 hectares, in which live about 80 families of the people Jenipapo-Kanindé. The ethnic group inhabiting the territory of IT since the late nineteenth century, after migrating from other regions in search of refuge.

In the territory, the Jenipapo-Kanindé produce cowpea, cassava, sweet potatoes, mangoes and cashews - both for internal consumption and for sale. The Enchanted Lake, which gives its name to IT, is located in the center of the area and has religious significance for the Indians, besides being a source of livelihood through fishing.

The declaration of ownership and demarcation process will help the Indians to defend their territory, which faces pressure from nearby industries - that use the lake water and dump waste - and also of tourist, attracted by the beauty of the place.

IT Rio Negro-Ocaia

The indigenous land-Ocaia Rio Negro, which inhabit the Pakaanóva Indians, who call themselves Wari 'is already settled with an area of 104,000 hectares in Guajará-Mirim (RO). With the new declaration, from a review study done by Funai, the territory is replaced by 235 000 hectares and the lands Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, Rio Negro, and paca New Ocaia form a contiguous area to the border with Bolivia.

Between the late 1940's and the moment of peace in 1961, most of that population, and frightened by reduced shipments of extermination, he abandoned many of their villages, focusing on the more protected areas along the river and affluent Ocaia Negro. As a result, traditional territories and are no longer recognized at the time of the studies for the demarcation of IT, were not included.

In July 2007, the Working Group set up to revise the boundaries of IT, together with former inhabitants, found traces of the massacres and found that the Wari 'recognize as their territory not only the places that take up now, or recent past, but also those that were occupied by their ancestors, and whose location and name were passed from generation to generation. Also, consider part of its territory forest areas frequented during the flight of corn - when the community expects to grow the corn planted. At that time, between October and December, they lived on hunting and gathering in different areas. Thus, the Wari 'inhabited a much wider region than the previously demarcated land.

The ethnographic research, based on life stories, identified the existence in that territory until the year 1960 of 233 traditional villages. Of these, 83 were within the territory pleaded in this review. The fact that the current settlements are generally much larger than those existing before contact, such as PIN-Ocaia Rio Negro, with 380 people at its headquarters, caused changes in standards of living and sanitary conditions and health, as the scarcity of game and fish, plus the huge increase of epidemic diseases such as malaria and intestinal parasites.

In 1995, the Wari 'returned to living areas above, suitable for growing corn, and collection areas, fishing and hunting, activities that require the route to areas of considerable size. This was the reappropriation of an area that, in addition to traditional, was the first place where they were settled by SPI in 1961.

History - The earliest reliable reference on the Wari 'dating from the early 1800s, locating them as inhabitants of the right bank of the river Pacaás New. From the first decades of 1900, they also began to occupy the left bank tributaries of the river Pacaás New.

Since the period of the first rubber boom in the late 1800s, the traditional territory of this people was invaded, leading to a massive invasion from the year 1940. This provoked a backlash from Wari 'to the headwaters of rivers, areas of its territory less attainable. In time of peace, which in the region of Rio Negro and Ocaia occurred in 1961, the Wari 'had suffered several expeditions of extermination, led by local rubber tappers that, together with epidemics wiped out two thirds of its population.

Many of the people txapakura, linguistic branch shall belong to the people Wari 'had contact with the white man in the seventeenth century. They lived in Spanish and Portuguese missions, allied with the whites, fled and were captured. Others were killed by epidemics and armed attacks.

Source: FUNAI

Portuguese Original

Mais duas Tis são declaradas de posse permanente dos povos indígenas

O Ministro da Justiça, José Eduardo Cardozo, assinou ontem, 23 de fevereiro, duas portarias, declarando as terras indígenas (TI) Rio Negro-Ocaia, em Rondônia, e Lagoa Encantada, no Ceará, como de posse permanente dos povos indígenas Pakaanova e Jenipapo-Kanindé, respectivamente. As Tis passarão agora pelo processo de demarcação, para posterior homologação pela presidência da república.

TI Lagoa Encantada

Localizada no município cearense de Aquiraz, nas proximidades da capital Fortaleza, a TI Lagoa Encantada tem uma área total de 1.731 hectares, nos quais vivem cerca de 80 famílias do povo Jenipapo-Kanindé. A etnia habita o território da TI desde o fim do século XIX, após migrar de outras regiões em busca de refúgio.

No território, os Jenipapo-Kanindé produzem feijão de corda, mandioca, batata-doce, manga e caju – tanto para consumo próprio como para comercialização. A Lagoa Encantada, que dá nome a TI, situa-se no centro da área e tem importância religiosa para os índios, além de ser uma fonte de subsistência, através da pesca.

A declaração de posse e o processo de demarcação ajudarão os indígenas a defender seu território, que enfrenta pressão de indústrias próximas - que utilizam a água da lagoa e despejam resíduos - e também de empreendimentos turísticos, atraídos pela beleza do local.

TI Rio Negro-Ocaia

A Terra indígena Rio Negro-Ocaia, onde habitam os índios Pakaanova, que se autodenominam Wari', já é regularizada com uma área de 104 mil hectares no município de Guajará-Mirim (RO). Com a nova declaração, a partir de estudo de revisão feito pela Funai, o território passa a ter 235 mil hectares e as Terras Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, Rio Negro-Ocaia e Pacaas Novas formam uma área contínua até a fronteira com a Bolívia.

Entre o final da década de 1940 e o momento da pacificação, em 1961, a maioria dessa população, amedrontada e reduzida pelas expedições de extermínio, abandonou muitas de suas aldeias, concentrando-se em regiões mais protegidas, ao longo do Igarapé Ocaia e do rio Negro. Como consequência, territórios tradicionais deixaram de ser reconhecidos e, no momento dos estudos para a demarcação da TI, não foram incluídos.

Em julho de 2007, o Grupo de Trabalho criado para a revisão da delimitação da TI, acompanhada de antigos habitantes, constatou vestígios de um dos massacres e apurou que os Wari' reconhecem como seu território não somente os lugares que costumam ocupar atualmente, ou no passado recente, mas também aqueles que foram ocupados por seus ascendentes, e cuja localização e nome foram passadas de geração a geração. Além disso, consideram parte de seu território as áreas de floresta frequentadas no período da fuga do milho – quando a comunidade espera o milho plantado crescer. Nessa época, entre outubro e dezembro, eles viviam de caça e coleta em diferentes áreas. Assim, os Wari' habitavam uma região muito mais ampla do que a terra demarcada anteriormente.

A pesquisa etnográfica, a partir de histórias de vida, identificou nesse território a existência, até os anos 1960, de 233 aldeias tradicionais. Destas, 83 situavam-se dentro do território pleiteado na presente revisão. O fato dos aldeamentos atuais serem de um modo geral muito maiores do que os existentes antes do contato, como o PIN Rio Negro-Ocaia, com 380 pessoas em sua sede, causou mudanças nos padrões de subsistência e nas condições sanitárias e de saúde, como a escassez de caça e de peixes, além do enorme aumento de doenças epidêmicas, como a malária e as parasitoses intestinais.

Em 1995, os Wari' retornaram a locais habitados anteriormente, propícios para o plantio de milho, e áreas de coleta, pesca e caça, atividades que exigem o percurso de áreas de consideráveis dimensões. Tratou-se da reapropriação de uma área que, além de tradicional, havia sido o primeiro local em que foram assentados pelo SPI, em 1961.

História - As referências seguras mais antigas sobre os Wari' datam do início dos anos 1800, localizando-os como habitantes da margem direita do rio Pacaás Novos. A partir das primeiras décadas de 1900, eles passaram a ocupar também afluentes da margem esquerda do rio Pacaás Novos.

Desde o período do primeiro boom da borracha, no final dos anos 1800, o território tradicional desse povo passou a ser invadido, culminando com uma invasão maciça a partir dos anos 1940. Isso provocou um recuo dos Wari' para as cabeceiras dos rios, áreas menos atingíveis de seu território. No momento da pacificação, que na região dos rios Negro e Ocaia ocorreu em 1961, os Wari' haviam sofrido várias expedições de extermínio, comandadas por seringalistas locais que, somadas às epidemias, liquidaram dois terços de sua população.

Muitos dos povos txapakura, tronco linguístico a que pertece o povo Wari' tiveram contato com o homem branco já no século XVII. Eles viveram em missões espanholas e portuguesas, aliaram-se aos brancos, fugiram e foram capturados. Outros foram exterminados por epidemias e ataques armados.


 
 

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heyfatchick: buttahlove: BIG GIRLS STAND UP! Me and the homie...

 
 

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via 道 on 2/28/11



heyfatchick:

buttahlove:

BIG GIRLS STAND UP!

Me and the homie Everlena. She was one of my plus sized models in a past fashion show. She is so fierce!
My skirt sewn by me.

Hair love. Both of you.


 
 

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Sunday, February 27, 2011

Libyan protesters control western cities

 
 

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via 道 on 2/27/11

Libyan protesters control western cities:

verbalresistance:

Libyan pro-democracy protesters have taken control of several western cities while they are trying to seize the capital city of Tripoli.

Main cities, including Zawiyah, some 50 kilometers (31miles) west of Tripoli, were seized on Sunday following the liberation of a number of eastern towns, AFP reported.

Forces and foreign mercenaries loyal to defiant ruler Muammar Gaddafi have left Nalut, a town 235 kilometers (145 miles) west of Tripoli, according to reports.

Protesters are now planning to march on Tripoli where Gaddafi is holed up after they liberated most eastern parts of the country.

Protest leaders have set up a "national council" in the liberated east and urged the Libyan army to help them take control of Tripoli. They are calling for an end to the long-time rule of Colonel Gaddafi.

However, the forces loyal to Gaddafi continue the violent suppression of peaceful protesters and reportedly bombarded them again.

Former Justice Minister Mustafa Mohamed Abud Al Jeleil, who recently resigned in protest to the atrocity of Gaddafi forces, has said a transitional government will be formed before an election.

In an effort to pressure Gaddafi to stop the killing of civilians, the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Gaddafi and his cronies and referred him to the International Criminal Court.

Two thousand people have been reportedly killed in the violence so far despite the regime's denial that any kind of force has been used against the people.

Press TV


 
 

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I Hate This Mess: Media largely ignores massive Wisconsin protests on Saturday

 
 

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via 道 on 2/27/11

I Hate This Mess: Media largely ignores massive Wisconsin protests on Saturday:

Yesterday approximately 70,000 to 100,000 people attended a protest at Wisconsin's Capitol Square in opposition to Governor Scott Walker's (R) Budget Repair Bill despite.  The crowd woud be impressive on any day, but was even more so yesterday given the weather conditions which included snow and temperatures well below freezing.  Despite these facts, the national media largely ignored the protests yesterday.  The websites of Fox News, CNN, and even MSNBC decided to focus on other issues for the entire day.  The cable news networks barely mentioned the Wisconsin protests yesterday on television, choosing instead to run with recorded programs and other stories.

The Wisconsin protests have now been sustained for over two weeks, much longer than any single protests against "Obamacare' or "the bailouts" over the last two years.  The Wisconsin protests are also larger than anything the Tea Party has been able to produce.  The large crowds in Wisconsin are even more impressive considering the fact that the protests deal with only a state issue, whereas Tea Party rallies often dealt with national issues.  Tea Party rallies with just a few thousand attendees frequently received national coverage.  Political pundits spoke of the Tea Party as a movement sweeping over the nation.  Fox News went as far as to promote some of the Tea Party rallies.  Politicians, both Democratic and Republican, were constantly asked about the power of the Tea Party.  On February 19th a crowd of about 2,000 to 5,000 Tea Party protesters went to Madison, Wisconsin as a "counter protest" to the anti-Walker protests.  By all accounts the anti-Walker crowd at that rally greatly outnumbered the Tea Party crowd, yet again the national media chose to emphasize the smaller Tea Party protest.

via 


 
 

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Que Lo Wat: Tunisian prime minister announces resignation

 
 

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via 道 on 2/27/11

Que Lo Wat: Tunisian prime minister announces resignation:

quelowat:

TUNIS, Tunisia – Tunisia's embattled prime minister announced his resignation on Sunday, bowing to a key demand of protesters after at least five people died in a groundswell of new unrest in this North African country.

Mohamed Ghannouchi, 69, has been a major irritant to Tunisians behind the so-called "Jasmine Revolution" that toppled autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali last month and sparked a wave of upheaval in the Arab world.

Even though Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 14, Ghannouchi — who served for 11 years as his prime minister — had promised to stay on to guide the country until elections expected no later than mid-July.

"This (resignation) is not a flight from my responsibilities, but to open the way for another prime minister who — I hope — will have more margin for action than I have had, to give hope to the Tunisian people," Ghannouchi said. He didn't say when the resignation would take effect.

The announcement came against the backdrop of renewed street protests like those that brought Ben Ali down.

On Sunday, officials said that at least five people have died during violent street protests since Friday.

"I am not ready to be the man of repression, and I will never be," Ghannouchi said, warning that unspecified forces appeared to be swelling to try to quash the move toward democracy.

"There are signs that a plot is being hatched to cause the revolution to fail," he said, without specifying.

Some Tunisians believe that Ben Ali loyalists still in the country have sought to sow discord and discredit the movement that brought the former authoritarian leader down.

"There needs to be reconciliation among all Tunisians to show the world that Tunisia is a civilized country," Ghannouchi said. "My resignation will help create this new atmosphere."

The Interior Ministry, in a statement Saturday, blamed "provocateurs" for fomenting violence in otherwise peaceful rallies and for allegedly using young people as human shields in renewed demonstrations.

On Saturday, police and troops backed by tanks used tear gas to disperse hundreds of youths protesting against the caretaker government. Officers were seen chasing some youths through town after the rally ended.

Authorities then ordered a temporarily ban on vehicle and pedestrian traffic on the capital's central Bourguiba Avenue until midnight Sunday — the first of its kind since Ben Ali's downfall.

On Friday, police fired tear gas and warning shots as violence erupted alongside a sit-in that drew tens of thousands of protesters near the seat of the interim government.

Officials said nearly 200 people were arrested over the last two days.

Via AP News


 
 

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via 道 on 2/26/11




 
 

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