J and I are off to Ireland tomorrow for a 10 day research trip/vacation. And, no, we aren't researching how many pubs/pints of guiness we can consume (though I'm sure we will do our fair share). I'm looking into the Filipino diaspora from the Irish side--to determine what jobs most women perform, why they choose Ireland, conditions of employment, organizing efforts, etc. Most Filipinos migrate to Ireland as nurses/caregivers . . . an interesting situation considering that Ireland (pre-EU) was primarily an exporting state with nurses being a hot commodity at one time. How does a primarily white country deal with the new influx of migrants? The one thing they do have in common is religion . . . so I wonder if that is part of the appeal for Filipinos? I shall soon find out. I have plans to attend a "clinic" with the Philippine Consulate on Saturday (Js birthday). Will try to post as often as I can from the Emerald Isle.
Until then, I'm out.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
Post Your Comment
What is the purpose of a blog? I return to this question each and every time I wish to hit the "delete" button on this damn thing. Not that it really matters anyway. But, I marvel at the popularity of "blogs" these days which simply rehearse/repost a news item, followed by a bunch of anonymous armchair cultural critics, posting their missives for all to see, waiting for the next flame war to ignite. The power of anonymity. Everyone is in on the game. For every crappy news item about Paris, Scooter, Nicole, Cheney, Iraq you can "post a comment." If you want a taste of virulent racism, sexism, classism, go to the "comments" section at the end of a "news" item and read to your heart's content. In reaction to a news item posted about the return of Venus and Serena to Wimbledon, someone repeatedly used "savages" and "tribe" to describe the Williams family. On Culture Kitchen, there was a recent post about the horror of eating food at Bob Evans Restaurants. Accompanying this post was a grainy photo (I'm sure shot with a trendy PDA phone) of a salad which had a mysterious dressing that distressed this dear, "liberal", blogger. The classism, evidenced in the judgemental tone and observations of the blogger (noting that every diner in Bob Evans was overweight), was so fucking blatant it made my skin crawl. Oh, to be a NYC blogger, with all the hip toys of the digital community, completely removed from the world, save for a few adventures into "rural" America. Hypocrites.
Feminists have made an impact on the progressive blogosphere, rankling the deep-seated conservatism of 10-65 year old men who have nothing better to do at the office then whip out some of the most disturbing mysoginistic messages. To claim we have "moved on" in terms of systemic oppression is to ignore the world of the blogs . . . where all the reactionaries converge, concealed and comforted by the anonymous world of electronic communication. Still, even these feminist blogs leave me wanting for more. It's tiresome to discuss gender and sexuality in a vacuum . . . sometimes accompanied by a penetrating analysis of race and class . . . only to be shot down by an "expert" on the comments section accusing one of hating white people and/or men. So simplistic are these analyses . . .
Today, I read a post discussing the current state of Katrina victims (yes, for those that did manage to live in one of those chemical filled, pressboard, toxic "trailers") who are still waiting for permanent housing and help from the federal government. Fat chance sucka. It didn't surprise me to see one of the very first posts accuse Katrina victims of not doing enough, individually and collectively, to survive. In other words, this person wondered why haven't they formed shopping cooperatives? Why haven't they formed collective day care units? Why haven't they done more dammit? Oh, I get it. Wow. What a fucking brilliant idea! Cooperatives! Maybe even an organic garden too . . . if only we could be assured that the soil won't make our skin peel off.
And what, exactly, is the purpose of all those little gadgets, annoying buttons (diggit, reddit, stumble, etc) that now grace the end of individual blog entries? What used to be a unique and innovative perspective, has now become so thoroughly commodified and homogenized, it's hard to determine the purpose these days.
Of course, I count this faltering little piece of e-real estate I founded 2 years ago, to be among the guilty.
Feminists have made an impact on the progressive blogosphere, rankling the deep-seated conservatism of 10-65 year old men who have nothing better to do at the office then whip out some of the most disturbing mysoginistic messages. To claim we have "moved on" in terms of systemic oppression is to ignore the world of the blogs . . . where all the reactionaries converge, concealed and comforted by the anonymous world of electronic communication. Still, even these feminist blogs leave me wanting for more. It's tiresome to discuss gender and sexuality in a vacuum . . . sometimes accompanied by a penetrating analysis of race and class . . . only to be shot down by an "expert" on the comments section accusing one of hating white people and/or men. So simplistic are these analyses . . .
Today, I read a post discussing the current state of Katrina victims (yes, for those that did manage to live in one of those chemical filled, pressboard, toxic "trailers") who are still waiting for permanent housing and help from the federal government. Fat chance sucka. It didn't surprise me to see one of the very first posts accuse Katrina victims of not doing enough, individually and collectively, to survive. In other words, this person wondered why haven't they formed shopping cooperatives? Why haven't they formed collective day care units? Why haven't they done more dammit? Oh, I get it. Wow. What a fucking brilliant idea! Cooperatives! Maybe even an organic garden too . . . if only we could be assured that the soil won't make our skin peel off.
And what, exactly, is the purpose of all those little gadgets, annoying buttons (diggit, reddit, stumble, etc) that now grace the end of individual blog entries? What used to be a unique and innovative perspective, has now become so thoroughly commodified and homogenized, it's hard to determine the purpose these days.
Of course, I count this faltering little piece of e-real estate I founded 2 years ago, to be among the guilty.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Underdog
Like other tennis fans around the world, I spent the last two weeks waiting for the crappy London weather to break so some tennis matches could be played. I was amazed that bright sun greeted me on Saturday AND Sunday as I watched Venus win #4 and Federer #5. After one of the most amazing men's finals in recent history, I found myself bummed out, irritable, and agitated that Rafa Nadal lost in the 5th set -- after having two break opportunities at 15-40. During the match I found myself engaged in a school yard text-message fight with a friend who didn't seem to understand why I would root for the underdog Nadal. In sports, I tire of one player constantly dominating. Plain and simple. I always enjoy the upset. I don't see how this is an odd position to take, and I'd wager many feel the same as me. Speaking of wagering, it's always fun to bet on the "long-shot" horse too . . .
I think, however, my rooting for the underdog results from feeling so miserable with the current state of world affairs. Living in the global hegemon, with a military capable of taking over the entire world, it feels natural to want to see an underdog emerge victorious. Now, I am not so foolish to compare a tennis match, bourgeois sport that it is, to this unjust war on terror. However, I always feel compelled to root for the so-called losers . . .Anyway, this stupid fight over Federer's greatness resumed this morning via an email message from aforementioned pal--still bullying me about my love of Nadal's game. And, then, I realized that the biggest underdog in this situation is my poor, insecure friend who cannot feel good unless they belittle/berate their peers.
Life is too fucking short to bicker over idiotic nonsense when Iraqi's are geting blown to smithereens on a daily basis while the Scooter Libby's of the world get a free pass to be thieves, liars, and scoundrels. Enough.
I think, however, my rooting for the underdog results from feeling so miserable with the current state of world affairs. Living in the global hegemon, with a military capable of taking over the entire world, it feels natural to want to see an underdog emerge victorious. Now, I am not so foolish to compare a tennis match, bourgeois sport that it is, to this unjust war on terror. However, I always feel compelled to root for the so-called losers . . .Anyway, this stupid fight over Federer's greatness resumed this morning via an email message from aforementioned pal--still bullying me about my love of Nadal's game. And, then, I realized that the biggest underdog in this situation is my poor, insecure friend who cannot feel good unless they belittle/berate their peers.
Life is too fucking short to bicker over idiotic nonsense when Iraqi's are geting blown to smithereens on a daily basis while the Scooter Libby's of the world get a free pass to be thieves, liars, and scoundrels. Enough.
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