~ derail---ummmm... I still sitting with the uncertainty and assessing the value to our community and to me, personally. I AM trying to adapt/adhere to the spirit the BB guidelines are intending, without compromising how I move in the world and relate to others. I AM a gemini, after all! We gather and deseminate/cross pollinate information. Bizzy little bees and butterflies. :D

And for what its worth, I have read your personal opinions and perspective carefully, Barbara, and with respect. I don't necessarily agree with you on all points, but that's ok. But for my own integrity I have to be careful not to feel censored, shamed ,coerced or bullied into doing things. I don't imagine that is what you are trying to do, but I had an unsettling feeling with your post above. ~rerail

back to the news of the day- I hope other womyn find inspiration in the works of Adrienne Rich as I have.

http://www.astraeafoundation.org/news/2 ... ienne-Rich

We Are Woman March on Washington DC got moved from April 28th to September. Regional marches are still happening on the 28th, apparently. More info here:

http://www.wearewoman.us/p/about_18.html

If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, May 11-12-2012, you might be interested in this:

http://womenandmythology.wordpress.com/ ... onference/

For anyone interested, the April 23 print issue of "The New Yorker" has a good article on Alison Bechdel ( of "Dykes To Watch Out For" and "Fun Home" fame). She has a new book coming out soon entitled, "Are You My Mother?". Unfortunately, online the article is only available to the magazine's subscribers.

Life after Dykes to Watch Out For

Alison Bechdel is getting some serious ups from the critics and Literati..

http://entertainment.time.com/2012/04/3 ... hdel-test/

Her previous memoir Fun Home got critical acclaim, and her new book Are You My Mother? was just released and got excellently reviewed in the Book Review section of the NYTs this last Sunday. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/books ... chdel.html

Her Bechdel test has become a meme and is surging a bit of life into feminist critic of the media world..

I personally appreciated her comments on Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse . Virginia Woolf always seems to get underrated as a true artist because of the tendency for critics to foreground her lesbianism. The same can be said about Alison. She is a great artist.

(Hi Artemis, as you can see I'm selectively with you in a little more than just spirit in your slightly subversive thread. My two cents as concerns the bb changes would be that the forum now functions more in the services of advertising/information for the festival, which is a practical and fair change that i appreciate more than regret because it offers a much more accurate environment as to how womyn actually communicate with each other at the festival for gals reading here who have not yet attended. But, unfortunately, the board also now demonstrates less of the diversity of interests, actions and ideas of the womyn who attend. I hope your pre-fest NYC gathering goes well. I use to live and work in Brooklyn. Might just be the best town to live in in all the world. By-the-way, have you ever read V. W.'s "A Room Of One's Own"? Brilliant piece. And existing in the catalogue of past "Masterpiece Theatre" productions is a wonderful one-womyn performance of it by Eileen Atkins.)

So I'm a reader and sports fan who loves to see womyn portrayed well in the mass media. "Sports Illustrated" for May 7th has an issue devoted to title IX with many good articles and of course the obligatory picture of Brandi Chastain celebrating the U.S. soccer world cup victory (sans shirt) in 1999. History is important. I bought a couple extra issues for my nieces, who all love and thankfully can play many different sports.

(i think it must be the "what are you reading?" thread i miss the most from the old bb.)

Just finished a very good, informative book; "Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer and Sex Changed a Nation at War: A Memoir" by Leymah Gbowee, the Liberian Peace Activist and co-winner of the 2011 Nobel peace Prize. Well written; what an incredible person; and very instructive read.

I also have an interesting tale to tell about my town's Memorial Day service which some here might appreciate and find a promising sign of the times. Much to the chagrin of many people in attendance, the person chosen to give the commemorative speech (it's entirely possible that he "invited" himself to do it) was a local right-wing politician who proceeded to hit every Republican talking point now being repeatedly spewed this election season only to bring it all to a big finish by declaring that the most dangerous enemies of this country at present are domestic and acting (read 'occupying' and marrying) amongst us. Now, i live in basically a conservative and at least superficially polite Mid-Western community but the good people who had gathered for this memorial didn't come to hear the veterans of past and present wars misused yet again for political reasons, so when the pol finally issued this public service warning someone in the crowd shouted-out, "Yes! corporately bought-and-sold politicians and criminal bankers!" which elicited a very positive response from the fed-up crowd considering the circumstances. I know my relatives who served in WWI, WWII and the Gulf War, and many of the veterans present that day, did not do so to create the kind of country this Politician is pushing and it was wonderful to hear the public's voice spontaneously speaking-out at a public function against such propagandist tripe served-up on what should be a day of respect for ALL those who served. Some folks also left the service discussing the need and most effective way to approach the Mayor and city council about establishing a citizens/veterans committee to pick next year's speaker.

(Not really much of one for prayer, except for maybe awareness, strength and wise guidance, but my thoughts will def. be with the people of Wisconsin this coming June 5th.)

BEST NEW THING IN THE WORLD!!

http://worldtruth.tv/bolivia-gives-lega ... e-earth-2/

Law of Mother Earth sees Bolivia pilot new social and economic model based on protection of and respect for nature. Bolivia is to become the first country in the world to give nature comprehensive legal rights in an effort to halt climate change and the exploitation of the natural world, and to improve quality of life for the Bolivian people.

Developed by grassroots social groups and agreed by politicians, the Law of Mother Earth recognises the rights of all living things, giving the natural world equal status to human beings.Once fully approved, the legislation will provide the Earth with rights to: life and regeneration; biodiversity and freedom from genetic modification; pure water; clean air; naturally balanced systems; restoration from the effects of human activity; and freedom from contamination.The legislation is based on broader principles of living in harmony with the Earth and prioritising the “collective good.”

At its heart is an understanding that the Earth is sacred, which arises from the indigenous Andean worldview of ‘Pachamama’ (meaning Mother Earth) as a living being. An initial act outlining the rights – which was passed by Bolivia’s national congress in December 2010 and paves the way for the full legislation – defines Mother Earth as a dynamic and “indivisible community of all living systems and living organisms, interrelated, interdependent and complementary, which share a common destiny.” read more:

http://worldtruth.tv/bolivia-gives-lega ... e-earth-2/

derail for wrinkles~ I appreciate your comments above . I miss your quotes thread.. :)

"Any good teacher will tell you that aiming at the lowest common denominator is poor practice. In communicating anything, you do better if you aim slightly above the heads of your audience. If you make them stretch a little they respond better." Molly Ivins

pps- Oh my poor NY Liberty..

~rerail

Breaking news from Britain's Middle Ages--A historian has released evidence that women participated and led in Wat Tyler's Rebellion, an agrarian revolt against onerous taxes. She produced the evidence with the leading edge technology of reading the documentary records and noting women's names and activities. The news item appeared in either the BBC or Guardian on-line this week, maybe June 13 or June 14, 2012.

There are all sorts of studies covering how sports positively effect girls' and women's lives and i thought this looked to be a promising program headed by a very impressive board of women who will take the work seriously and fight hard against the obstacles which will be put in their way.
http://exchanges.state.gov/womeninsports

(Easy to guess, it's a H. Rodham Clinton initiative and Pat Summitt is on the board.)

If you are in the New Paltz area..
VIGIL FOR MOLLIE AND MARY (LESBIAN TEENS SHOT IN TEXAS) TODAY AT 6PM IN PEACE PARK!!!!


VIGIL FOR MOLLIE AND MARY!! TODAY!! PLEASE PASS THIS ON . . .

Friday, June 29, 2012
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
New Paltz, NY
Peace Park
1 Plattekill ave, New Paltz, NY


A vigil will be held from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 29 (today) for 19-year-old Mollie Judith Olgin and 18-year-old Mary Christine Chapa, the lesbian couple shot this past weekend at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas. The vigil will take place in the Peace Park in New Paltz at the intersection of Plattekill Avenue and Hasbrouck Avenue. All are welcome. Sponsored by the SUNY New Paltz LGBTQ Faculty/Staff Group

http://abcnews.go.com/US/lesbian-teen-c ... -z_f81DHsI

http://nunsonthebus.com

i don't know how well people understand that all-to-often when these womyn work for decent healthcare; the rights, education and empowerment of the exploited; and point out simple facts such as while 98% of the general population in the U.S. uses contraception, 96% of Catholics do as well, they bring down on themselves all sorts of emotional abuses and serious threats to their lives in their communities and the integrity of those communities from the institutional hierarchy, yet they keep going. But the broader lessons to learn from these womyn are that they're socially effective far beyond what their numbers would suggest because they know how to work together with diverse people and they are extremely well organized (and they have each other, courage, smarts and hope in action).

Sally Ride has passed..

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sci ... ?track=rss

She taught physics at UCSD where I went to school and she was an inspiration to me and other women interested in the sciences.. R.I.P Sally!

and now.. a little "hysteria" from the great state of Michigan..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghOqYO7SWRQ

http://deadlinedetroit.com/articles/133 ... _revolting