Kerry

Ezra Kelin's Wonkblog is something I read daily because I generally like his take on the political news.  Lately though, I have really enjoyed their new feature Best Sentences We Read Today.  Some recent examples:

"The market for methadone vomit in prison is lively, and the preferred recipe for this cocktail is one part puke (strained, please, bartender) to one part Tang."

On the new Star Trek movie: "Watching it is like talking to a salesman who stops every 40 seconds to ask if you’re still with him, and then slaps you in the face just to make sure."

"The difference between photojournalism and photography is ethics."
"Cursive should be allowed to die." with a link also to counterarguments.

to cynthia1960 !!!

Treat yourself today!

The first five people to comment in this post* get to request that I make them a piece of jewelry in the medium of my choice. It will likely take me a while to make it, but within the next few months should be doable.  Please comment with colors that you like or often wear.

In return, please consider posting an offer in your journal (offering graphics, vids, writing, crafts, whatever), regardless of your ability level.

* The first five on each of my main journals -- Livejournal and Dreamwidth

This entry is a meme I've taken from serene and wild_irises 

I wish I knew what to say about inequality and injustice, but after reading this blog post today - thanks to Body Impolitic for the pointer - shortly after reading this editorial I am about speechless.  

( Excerpts I find particularly striking )

Why is it still acceptable for some to have more rights than others? We have to begin to recognize and honor the humanity of every person. We just have to make it happen.

When I left the office yesterday the Facilities guy was busy installing my new standing-is-optional office set-up.  This consists of a new keyboard tray that goes up and down and a swing arm for my monitor so it can move up and down also.  I didn't really think there was much point to hovering over him while he worked, so I took off figuring all would be set in the morning.

It sort of is.    The keyboard tray is awesome, I really like it, it's easy to reposition and has a perfect range for my height.  But the monitor has not been set up yet.  The Facilities guy is not in yet, so I can't check with him, but I suspect he went as far as he is comfortable with without an IT person involved.  So here I am waiting....

I hope I can get this set-up completed today.

Kiva, the online lending platform which has previously served developing countries is making a big announcement tomorrow on Good Morning America.  I don't want to steal their thunder, but as someone who follows their activity closely over at Kiva Friends i am pretty sure I know what it will be. 

I recommend that if you want to check out Kiva to make a loan to an entrepreneur in the developing world you might want to go there today, before they get bombarded tomorrow.  However, if you are interested in making a loan to an entrepreneur closer to home, well tomorrow could well be the day for you.

Do apples make you hungry? I don't mean the thought of apples making your mouth water.  I mean does eating an apple make you feel hungrier?

I knew I would be eating lunch later than usual today so I grabbed my apple as a snack, knowing it was probably a mistake to do so.  Sure enough, 30 minutes later I felt like I hadn't eaten in three days.  is it just me?

I have been planning a post for a while because I HAVE been following the conversation pretty much from the beginning.  If you don't know what I am talking about, you can start here at Seeking Avalon and then you can go here to the comprehensive links post from rydra_wong .

I am in the position of having no real power in this debate, I don't know most of the individuals who are involved.  I live my life mostly on the edges of fandom. I have never been involved in writing or publishing.  But I care very much about SF & F as a reader and occasionally con-goer.  I have been mostly a silent participant so far, but I just can't hide behind my privilege anymore.  I want to be among the many who have spoken out against the failures at the heart of this massive conversation.

After reading La La La, I can't hear you I just wanted to publicly acknowledge that I am as rosefox says "taking the first step of admitting this is a problem" for me and others around me and I want to continue "to learn about ways to make things better. "

As my friend and mentor wild_irises  has suggested, I will continue to read, and to listen and to learn.  I will keep an open mind and an open heart.  I will not let myself get defensive.  If I show my ass, please, please tell me it's showing.

I know that is not enough.  sugargroupie is right to say "Your words mean fuck-all to me if your mouth has written a check that your ass can't cash. Simply put, actions are louder than words. It's not just about working on your own privilege, but following through on that work."

I can only write words here, and I know it is not enough.  A promise to keep learning and to keep listening  and to try to be better is not enough.  But it's all I have for now.

This was a nice Potlatch and it was nice to have a chance to go.  It has been a number of years since I have been able to attend, for various reasons, so it was almost like a new experience for me.  My favorite part of Potlatch was seeing a number of people who I have not seen in quite some time and reconnecting with them, but it was also a great jewelry weekend for me.  Running the auction was a valuable experience, most of which I enjoyed.  I am releived that it went so well, and was so successful.

I think having the Auction drop-off table was helpful.  My hope was that it would inspire people to drop their contributions off sooner rather than later so that they could be entered into the database a little easier.  I think for the most part it worked, though there were still a couple of things that came in <1 hour prior to the start of the auction.  There were still some things missing out of the database, but mostly everything was organized.  It also helped to let people know who I was, since I haven't been around the community much recently.

I managed to see some programming on Saturday, and have lunch and dinner with friends, so despite the impending auction, it was a nice day.  One of my favorite things on Saturday was having elisem make a pendant from a lovely Murano glass bead my sister gave me some years ago.  I will try to photograph it later and post it.  It is stunning.

The auction itself was a good deal of fun.   klages made a surprise appearance after having the misfortune of an injury and volunteered to auctioneer.  I especially felt for her when she made the comment that it was very difficult to perform without being able to scamper about as she might normally do.  Co-auctioneers Jay Lake and Tom Whitmore kindly began to dance in her stead. "It's just not the same." she said whistfully. 

All three did a terrific job, selling some very interesting items.  The book "Cooking in Alaska" which was a whimsical donation because of the picture of Potlatch hats it contained sold well when Ellen pointed out a recipe for some sort of candy that seemed to involve copious amounts of lard.  Tom and Jay somehow managed to sell  the book "All I Ever Wanted to Know I Learned from Star Trek" not once, but twice after imnotandrei paid us to take it back and auction it again.  Jay did a particularly nice job of modeling the custom pendant that Elise was donating, which was to be made at her table the next day.  Though he might have broken it, throwing it like that!

On Sunday morning I decided that rather than store two boxes of books that the Dealers said were pretty much worthless for a future auction, we would have a clearance sale.  We managed to sell all but 1/2 a box and those I bought and will post on Bookmooch.  If you put out books, you can trust fans to come and adopt some.

I closed up shop in time for the Helixes, Corals, and Brains: "Oh My!" panel with kate_schaefer elisem  and Laurie Edison. This was a terrific panel with each artist talking about their process, their inpiration and how it relates to math, science and nature.  light_of_summer has already posted a poem she wrote inspired by the panel.

After this panel I rushed off to join the basic wireworking class elisem was holding.  It was a wonderful class, and I am very much looking forward to getting together with a friend who also attended and practicing what i learned.  Everyone came away with a pendant and pair of earrings they made, and I am very happy with mine.  I was able to finally find a way I liked to use some cool beads I had been struggling with, thanks to the gift of some spacers.  

I got home about 6:15 last night and managed to stay awake until a little after 8 PM.  Tonight I will have to give a lot of attention to the wayward boys, who were quite unhappy to see me leave again this morning.

7:45 PM:  15 minutes to the start of the auction.  Gee, I hope one or more of the auctioneers arrive soon.

In the "Invocation Against Entrophy" Chiasstic Farrago performance.  It is nice to hear poetry read really well.

I am nervous, but I think we are ready.