![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Friday reading
Aug. 5th, 2016 03:15 pm***
Have some links to articles etc that I've collected to pass on:
And now for some more visual stories, two adorable and gorgeous comics for you.
First this charming, f/f tale of mermaids and tattoos by charmingly antiquated. See the full thing on artist's Tumblr post but here's a first panel as a taster.
And second, Scaredy Cat, a wonderful story of a little kitten's Halloween adventure by Heather Franzen. Again, the full thing can be seen on the artist's site but have the first panel to get you hooked.
***
Have some links to articles etc that I've collected to pass on:
- The ‘perfect body’ is a lie by Lindy West
- Time to Uncover, Alicia Keys talks about going without make up
- Project Naked, women talking about their bodies, full of really interesting essays
- For the Record, Jennifer Aniston on media scrutiny of women and their bodies
- Why stuntwomen are in more danger than men, never thought of it but makes (horrible) sense!
- The fight to celebrate great women on Britain's streets, an interesting look at female statues and sculptures
- Revealed: Cambodia's vast medieval cities hidden beneath the jungle - another example of how we really know only a fraction of even our own past
And now for some more visual stories, two adorable and gorgeous comics for you.
First this charming, f/f tale of mermaids and tattoos by charmingly antiquated. See the full thing on artist's Tumblr post but here's a first panel as a taster.
And second, Scaredy Cat, a wonderful story of a little kitten's Halloween adventure by Heather Franzen. Again, the full thing can be seen on the artist's site but have the first panel to get you hooked.
***
***
Well, I woke up this morning to news that made me feel decidedly unwanted in this country. A novel experience. Yes, everyone is saying that the impact on UK's existing 2.9 million EU citizens like myself will be minimal but... But. A few scattered thoughts/experiences from today.
I am instead tired and sad. Tomorrow is London Pride and I'll be marching on the parade with colleagues and students from my university. There's unity there at least.
A proper update post soon, I promise. Today has just been... Well. It's been a day to note I guess.
***
Well, I woke up this morning to news that made me feel decidedly unwanted in this country. A novel experience. Yes, everyone is saying that the impact on UK's existing 2.9 million EU citizens like myself will be minimal but... But. A few scattered thoughts/experiences from today.
- This will impact on my long-term plans in terms of career, where to live etc. I don't know how yet, but there's suddenly a BIG consideration with a lot of uncertainty (finances? pension? social security?) where there wasn't.
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
pushkin666 texts to say that at least I'm the sort of person they'll want (read: white, highly educated) which is true enough. I reply that it's more the case that I'm not sure Britain will be the sort of country I want to be in.
- Because of the right-wing chest bashing this has caused widely, I'm also not sure WHERE such a country exists any more. In Finland the 'True Finns' are already baying for another referendum. A colleague points out the unholy triumvirate of Trump, Putin, and whoever will replace Cameron (Boris Johnson? I'll take him over Farage) and we all laugh, and we're all scared.
- So many 'oh you're not deported yet' jokes today. So many. Colleague M practically hugs me. I ask her 'who will protect you from your government now?' and she tells me to shut up before she cries.
- Another collegue says he woke up to his wife crying over the results, explaining how she is a huge Star Trek fan and believes humanity's future is in co-operation and unity, how everything seems to be going in opposite direction.
- Vice-chancellor posts a public notice of 'reassurance' to EU staff and students. Everything continues as is, he says. For now. I am not that reassured.
I am instead tired and sad. Tomorrow is London Pride and I'll be marching on the parade with colleagues and students from my university. There's unity there at least.
A proper update post soon, I promise. Today has just been... Well. It's been a day to note I guess.
***
Answer for question 4490.
Aug. 21st, 2015 09:39 am[Error: unknown template qotd]Well this got a bit more sweeping than the question was perhaps asking for, but listen, I have opinions about this!
I think about these things quite a bit you see. I teach on a sustainability and justice focused course and therefore think about these things a lot, and try to keep myself informed. Although information, knowing what's going on and what WILL happen as a consequence of climate change and what we must do to mitigate (not to stop or reverse because it is actually way, way too late for that) the impacts, has not been the problem for decades. Lack of political will, short-termism, old-fashioned greed and downright fear (monkey see no evil etc) are the problems. And yet, we know (and they know) that business-as-usual is over. A paradigm shift is coming, brought on by our own actions; a fundamental change in how we live and you, your community, your business, your sector must either adapt or become part of history.
We cannot wait for other people to do something about it, for the world-leaders or business-leaders to take action. They haven’t. They won’t. Instead, moving toward sustainable future that provides even an outside chance of survival for us as individuals, as communities, as a species, requires everyone to step up and become a leader themselves.
So that is the one thing I wish everyone would do: walk the talk. Be what Sarah Parkin (2010) calls ‘positive deviants’: people who will do the right thing despite obstacles, and who will challenge structures, systems and powers that build them, while bringing others with them. There are literally hundreds of ‘easy ways to be eco-friendly’ lists and tips out there in the internet, you really just have to search for them, start making some changes and become the example, the leader for others to follow.
I think about these things quite a bit you see. I teach on a sustainability and justice focused course and therefore think about these things a lot, and try to keep myself informed. Although information, knowing what's going on and what WILL happen as a consequence of climate change and what we must do to mitigate (not to stop or reverse because it is actually way, way too late for that) the impacts, has not been the problem for decades. Lack of political will, short-termism, old-fashioned greed and downright fear (monkey see no evil etc) are the problems. And yet, we know (and they know) that business-as-usual is over. A paradigm shift is coming, brought on by our own actions; a fundamental change in how we live and you, your community, your business, your sector must either adapt or become part of history.
We cannot wait for other people to do something about it, for the world-leaders or business-leaders to take action. They haven’t. They won’t. Instead, moving toward sustainable future that provides even an outside chance of survival for us as individuals, as communities, as a species, requires everyone to step up and become a leader themselves.
So that is the one thing I wish everyone would do: walk the talk. Be what Sarah Parkin (2010) calls ‘positive deviants’: people who will do the right thing despite obstacles, and who will challenge structures, systems and powers that build them, while bringing others with them. There are literally hundreds of ‘easy ways to be eco-friendly’ lists and tips out there in the internet, you really just have to search for them, start making some changes and become the example, the leader for others to follow.
***
The unprecedented outcome marks the first time that a citizens' initiative has received lawmakers' blessing...
Finnish Parliament approves same-sex marriage
Genuinely crying with happiness.
***
The unprecedented outcome marks the first time that a citizens' initiative has received lawmakers' blessing...
Finnish Parliament approves same-sex marriage
Genuinely crying with happiness.
***
Weather forecast by UKIP
Jan. 20th, 2014 03:21 pm***
Context: The endless embarrassment and stupidity of UKIP
Response: The endless hilarity and love of Nicholas Pegg
***
Context: The endless embarrassment and stupidity of UKIP
Response: The endless hilarity and love of Nicholas Pegg
***
Academic quote of the day
May. 31st, 2013 11:34 am***
"International study teaches that other people may be good and beautiful despite being different. With respect to criminal justice, societies that are organized in very different ways may provide equal measures of justice and order. One society neither monopolizes nor exhausts the potentialities for virtue." (Bayley, 1999: 11)
Full Ref.
Bayley, D.H. (1999) 'Policing: the World Stage'. In R.I. Mawby (Ed.) Policing Across the World. Oxon: Routledge, 3-12.
***
"International study teaches that other people may be good and beautiful despite being different. With respect to criminal justice, societies that are organized in very different ways may provide equal measures of justice and order. One society neither monopolizes nor exhausts the potentialities for virtue." (Bayley, 1999: 11)
Full Ref.
Bayley, D.H. (1999) 'Policing: the World Stage'. In R.I. Mawby (Ed.) Policing Across the World. Oxon: Routledge, 3-12.
***
Academic quote of the day
Feb. 12th, 2012 02:33 pmStrain Theory, old and not without limitations, but still relevant.
“... actual advance toward desired success-symbols through conventional channels is, despite our persisting open-class ideology, relatively rare and difficult for those handicapped by little formal education and few economic resources. The dominant pressure of group standards of success is, therefore, on the gradual attenuation of legitimate, but by and large ineffective, strivings and the increasing use of illegitimate, but more or less effective, expedients of vice and crime. The cultural demands made on persons in this situation are incompatible. On the one hand, they are asked to orient their conduct toward the prospect of accumulating wealth and on the other, they are largely denied effective opportunities to do so institutionally. The consequences of such structural inconsistency are psycho-pathological personality, and/or antisocial conduct, and/or revolutionary activities. The equilibrium between culturally designated means and ends becomes highly unstable with the progressive emphasis on attaining the prestige-laden ends by any means whatsoever. Within this context, Capone represents the triumph of amoral intelligence over morally prescribed "failure," when the channels of vertical mobility are closed or narrowed in a society which places a high premium on economic affluence and social ascent for all its members. This last qualification is of primary importance. [...] It is only when a system of cultural values extols, virtually above all else, certain common symbols of success for the population at large while its social structure rigorously restricts or completely eliminates access to approved modes of acquiring these symbols for a considerable part of the same population, that antisocial behavior ensues on a considerable scale. In other words, our egalitarian ideology denies by implication the existence of noncompeting groups and individuals in the pursuit of pecuniary success. The same body of success-symbols is held to be desirable for all. These goals are held to transcend class lines, not to be bounded by them, yet the actual social organization is such that there exist class differentials in the accessibility of these common success-symbols.” (Merton, 1938: 679-80, emphasis as original)
Ref.
Merton, R.K. (1938) ‘Social Structure and Anomie’, American Sociological Review 3(5): 672-682.
A mixed bag
Aug. 11th, 2011 09:13 pmHello All,
Yes, I'm still around, just been having a long chilled out weekend with
pushkin666 during which she traumatized me with Guns'n Roses slash and also managed to get me back into Supernatural. I'm currently working through the latest season with great interest. So, riots happened, in Manchester too. I was home though so didn't witness any disturbances first hand. Other people have already been articulate about the how and why, so I'm just going to point you to this link post by
zellieh and leave it at that. ***
I've received three wonderful mixes at the Mixtape Exchange that I'm very happy about and you should all go check them out.
ravanna made me a deliciously achy Patrick/Pete mix some are fearful. It hurts in all the best of ways, full of missed chances and might-have-beens. Like an angsty fanfic, only via songs. lady_ganesh made me mix for world-domination called Pretty Poison. It has both full on rock songs and some slower ones for the more insiduous evil... Motivational for thesis writing too!tjs_whatnot made me squeal with joy by making a mix for my fic Access All Areas (or: How Spencer Smith Got His Groove Back). The mix, All Access is a perfect match for the story and the characters. I kept listening to it and thinking 'yes, exactly, that's Spencer being in unrequited love with his BFF' or 'this is when they get together nngghh'. Also this mix is to be commended for making me cry at a Shakira song. No really. You see, I expected 'Underneath your clothes' to be a crack choice but it turned out that Ryan = Shakira, okay. And he knows that underneath Spencer's sexy modelling clothes there's an endless story, the man he chose, his territory. And all the things Ryan deserves for being such a good girl, honey. ***
I'm going to be posting my two mixes tomorrow so look out for those as well if you have interest in Psych and/or slipping over to the dark side.
I haven't forgotten about the two remaining rec posts from Round 2 of Kat Recs All The Fics either, so those are coming this weekend.
***
RL update can be summarised with thesisthesisthesis (today I wrote what I think are the opening paragraphs) and also some paying work. Life is not very exciting.
***
Lastly, a signal boost for
brilligspoons who is looking for roommates in Brighton, MA.your quote of the day
Apr. 23rd, 2011 08:41 am"Individuals who live under conditions of pervasive insecurity tend to make demands for what they judge to be “tough” anticrime measures (more police, more police powers, crackdowns on this offence or those suspects, stiffer sentencing, harsher penal regimes, and so on) in ways that display impatience with informed democratic deliberation, seek to suspend or abandon basic rights, foster hostility toward minorities and outsiders, and risk melding their interests and identities with those of the state whose “protective” power they seek to mobilize. This process is vicious and circular because once such demands are met in the terms in which they are presented, it becomes difficult to create the political and cultural conditions wherein the pace of such measures can be slowed, or a change or reversal of direction effected—thereby effecting a potentially endless “ratcheting up” in police numbers, or incarceration rates, or curtailments of basic liberties. And if such actions are perceived to have “failed,” or are ideologically depicted in those terms— because crime rates go up, or a child is abducted, or a group of youths run amok, or another terrorist outrage occurs—this overwhelmingly prompts calls for still “tougher” measures—only this time with a heavier dosage. A democracy- and liberty-eroding spiral is thus entered in ways it becomes hard to escape. A form of security politics gets entrenched that does much to put at risk democratic principles and basic rights, while doing little to make citizens either any safer or any more secure. As the “war on terror” is reminding us once again, anxious citizens make bad democrats." - Loader, 2006: 216
Full Ref:
Loader, I. (2006). ‘Policing, Recognition, and Belonging.’ The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 605 (1): 201-221.
your quote of the day
Apr. 23rd, 2011 08:41 am"Individuals who live under conditions of pervasive insecurity tend to make demands for what they judge to be “tough” anticrime measures (more police, more police powers, crackdowns on this offence or those suspects, stiffer sentencing, harsher penal regimes, and so on) in ways that display impatience with informed democratic deliberation, seek to suspend or abandon basic rights, foster hostility toward minorities and outsiders, and risk melding their interests and identities with those of the state whose “protective” power they seek to mobilize. This process is vicious and circular because once such demands are met in the terms in which they are presented, it becomes difficult to create the political and cultural conditions wherein the pace of such measures can be slowed, or a change or reversal of direction effected—thereby effecting a potentially endless “ratcheting up” in police numbers, or incarceration rates, or curtailments of basic liberties. And if such actions are perceived to have “failed,” or are ideologically depicted in those terms— because crime rates go up, or a child is abducted, or a group of youths run amok, or another terrorist outrage occurs—this overwhelmingly prompts calls for still “tougher” measures—only this time with a heavier dosage. A democracy- and liberty-eroding spiral is thus entered in ways it becomes hard to escape. A form of security politics gets entrenched that does much to put at risk democratic principles and basic rights, while doing little to make citizens either any safer or any more secure. As the “war on terror” is reminding us once again, anxious citizens make bad democrats." - Loader, 2006: 216
Full Ref:
Loader, I. (2006). ‘Policing, Recognition, and Belonging.’ The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 605 (1): 201-221.
democracy = hard
Apr. 17th, 2011 01:59 pmSo. Local elections. For once I'm both registered and living next to the polling station and everything and have plans to go and vote. In light of this I said to myself: 'Self, go find out who the candidates are so you can select the person least likely to fuck things up even worse.'
And off I went. To the local council's website. Wherein I found a list of candidates. Very good, now I know what they are called and which parties are represented. However, that was it. There are no candidate profiles, no manifestos, no lists of priorities or pledges or aaaaaaaaaaanything. Fuck all. (well, except for that one candidate who is already in the council but even that wasn't very helpful)
There has been absolutely no leaflets, door-to-door canvassing, no posters, placards, signs etc. in my area either. I tried googling the candidate names and got nowhere.
At this point I'd settle for picture so I can decide who has kind eyes.
Bah.
And off I went. To the local council's website. Wherein I found a list of candidates. Very good, now I know what they are called and which parties are represented. However, that was it. There are no candidate profiles, no manifestos, no lists of priorities or pledges or aaaaaaaaaaanything. Fuck all. (well, except for that one candidate who is already in the council but even that wasn't very helpful)
There has been absolutely no leaflets, door-to-door canvassing, no posters, placards, signs etc. in my area either. I tried googling the candidate names and got nowhere.
At this point I'd settle for picture so I can decide who has kind eyes.
Bah.
democracy = hard
Apr. 17th, 2011 01:59 pmSo. Local elections. For once I'm both registered and living next to the polling station and everything and have plans to go and vote. In light of this I said to myself: 'Self, go find out who the candidates are so you can select the person least likely to fuck things up even worse.'
And off I went. To the local council's website. Wherein I found a list of candidates. Very good, now I know what they are called and which parties are represented. However, that was it. There are no candidate profiles, no manifestos, no lists of priorities or pledges or aaaaaaaaaaanything. Fuck all. (well, except for that one candidate who is already in the council but even that wasn't very helpful)
There has been absolutely no leaflets, door-to-door canvassing, no posters, placards, signs etc. in my area either. I tried googling the candidate names and got nowhere.
At this point I'd settle for picture so I can decide who has kind eyes.
Bah.
And off I went. To the local council's website. Wherein I found a list of candidates. Very good, now I know what they are called and which parties are represented. However, that was it. There are no candidate profiles, no manifestos, no lists of priorities or pledges or aaaaaaaaaaanything. Fuck all. (well, except for that one candidate who is already in the council but even that wasn't very helpful)
There has been absolutely no leaflets, door-to-door canvassing, no posters, placards, signs etc. in my area either. I tried googling the candidate names and got nowhere.
At this point I'd settle for picture so I can decide who has kind eyes.
Bah.
Question Time
Oct. 22nd, 2009 10:44 pmSo who else is watching that toad Nick Griffin try to spin a shiny cover on his nazi-party? *attempts to refrain from punching the TV*
Question Time
Oct. 22nd, 2009 10:44 pmSo who else is watching that toad Nick Griffin try to spin a shiny cover on his nazi-party? *attempts to refrain from punching the TV*
Obligatory politics post
Jan. 22nd, 2009 09:32 amSo, Obama go inaugurated. F-list exploded with joy. Hope is no longer a naive thing to have.
I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said, so instead I pass on two links.
Coming from a country where church and state are very separated, I will always remain uncomfortable with all the "God Bless such and such" included in the speeches. However, here's a prayer I can get behind. By Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire: Bless us with tears
And here is a (fan)video of the Obama grassroots campaign byzimshan that brings life the groundwork movement: All These Things
***
Have a good one folks, I will post some more Finland pictures over the weekend.
I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said, so instead I pass on two links.
Coming from a country where church and state are very separated, I will always remain uncomfortable with all the "God Bless such and such" included in the speeches. However, here's a prayer I can get behind. By Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire: Bless us with tears
And here is a (fan)video of the Obama grassroots campaign by
zimshan that brings life the groundwork movement: All These Things ***
Have a good one folks, I will post some more Finland pictures over the weekend.
Obligatory politics post
Jan. 22nd, 2009 09:32 amSo, Obama go inaugurated. F-list exploded with joy. Hope is no longer a naive thing to have.
I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said, so instead I pass on two links.
Coming from a country where church and state are very separated, I will always remain uncomfortable with all the "God Bless such and such" included in the speeches. However, here's a prayer I can get behind. By Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire: Bless us with tears
And here is a (fan)video of the Obama grassroots campaign byzimshan that brings life the groundwork movement: All These Things
***
Have a good one folks, I will post some more Finland pictures over the weekend.
I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said, so instead I pass on two links.
Coming from a country where church and state are very separated, I will always remain uncomfortable with all the "God Bless such and such" included in the speeches. However, here's a prayer I can get behind. By Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire: Bless us with tears
And here is a (fan)video of the Obama grassroots campaign by
zimshan that brings life the groundwork movement: All These Things ***
Have a good one folks, I will post some more Finland pictures over the weekend.
i can has cheezepolitics
Jan. 29th, 2008 08:44 pmKeeping up to date with US politics: The Daily Show.
Keeping up to date with UK politics: Bremner, Bird and Fortune. And yeah, okay, Channel 4 news. Those anchors are almost as funny and scathing as the comedians.
Keeping up to date with Finnish politics: Mum.
I'm not politically apathetic. I'm politically irreverent.
Keeping up to date with UK politics: Bremner, Bird and Fortune. And yeah, okay, Channel 4 news. Those anchors are almost as funny and scathing as the comedians.
Keeping up to date with Finnish politics: Mum.
I'm not politically apathetic. I'm politically irreverent.
