Tatiana Ryckman

Bipedal, By Pedal! #2: Confidential Mad Libs

mandy — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Because it’s been about ten years, I forgot how funny mad libs could be, and the ones in Bipedal, By Pedal! #2 have proven to be a fun distraction during lunch breaks and in long grocery store lines. Take, for example, my mad lib from this morning: “On Wednesday, September 29th at 17:30 hours, the so-called 'bananas' are planning a bicycle rally in downtown Portland. From information supplied by C.I.D., their plans...were to gather coffees in the South Park Blocks, group into formations of twelve riders...and gyrate along a predetermined path.” Okay, it’s not the most mature form of entertainment, but that’s a large part of its appeal.

What I was most excited about when Bipedal, By Pedal! #2 came in the mail was seeing the awesome creativity of fellow cyclists. I anticipated seeing the heavy-handed injustice that had fallen upon riders nationwide portrayed through silly rewordings of the Portland police inter-office memorandums. Yet the purpose of the small paperback booklet is presented in an aggravating way. While the information is served up with a strong slant against law enforcement, and in favor of the Portland Critical Mass Bicycle Rally, it doesn’t make cyclists look very good.

Critical Mass rallies are huge (usually monthly) rides that take place in many metropolitan areas around the world. The ride works better in some cities than others. Last year in L.A., for example, the LAPD was asked to join the group in order to protect the cyclists. And riders in Sydney, Australia have long ridden with police officers, who help control car traffic and facilitate the ride.

So, when I read that the group’s mission was to be “as non-confrontational as possible and...try and educate people about the stupidity of -ing verb cars,” I cringed. How can tired motorists trying to get home in rush hour traffic relate to a group of 200 cyclists blocking the intersection they need to cross? How do reports of cyclists “lifting their bikes above their heads and shaking them at police,” help anyone? In short, how will adding another frustration to people’s day win them over?

This is not to say there have not been reports of disturbing police behavior toward cyclists. One report, written by the arresting officer, details a confrontation with a cyclist: “I watch (Rothkoph) ride [eastbound] in the [westbound] lane. [When I] asked for his identification, he replied that he had none with him...I informed him that for his own and my protection I would place him in handcuffs...he looked at me and said ‘I don’t think so.’ I grabbed him by his head and took him to the ground.” Would that have happened to a motorist without I.D.? Unlikely.

We all have an agenda—that’s why many of us choose to write for Elevate Difference—but brandishing bicycles like weapons doesn’t seem like it will help the cause. In response to the antagonistic nature of Critical Mass in Austin, TX, a number of alternative rides have started, check for social cycling groups in your town, or try a Critical Mass to see if it’s right for you. Maybe you can step up and ask both the law enforcement and confrontational cyclists to be on the side of the greater good, no matter when or where or how they ride.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, April 3rd 2011

Herding Donkeys: The Fight to Rebuild the Democratic Party and Reshape American Politics

mandy — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 08:00:00 +0000

By Ari Berman

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Herding Donkeys is a tense 223-page documentation of the last eight years in American politics. In it, Ari Berman doesn’t argue that the Democratic Party needs to change its ways so much as tell how it’s been done. Finally.

For someone who rarely reads the news, Herding Donkeys was a daunting book to approach, but only a few pages in I began to recall the events Berman details. Back in 2003 I decided to do a little research on the 2004 presidential candidates. I wasn’t old enough to vote, but I was old enough to form an opinion and wanted to be ready for the upcoming election.

After sifting through the democratic candidates, I decided Howard Dean was the man for the job. Who could argue with his success in Vermont as Governor, or the education improvements he made in his home state? What I couldn’t understand was why everyone wasn’t behind this guy; why didn’t anyone know who he was? A week later the Howard Dean Scream played on repeat on news stations all over the country. What ordinary citizens like me didn’t know at the time was that the Dean Scream came after a series of unexpected wins for a guy that most people didn’t even know existed.

The first half of Herding Donkeys chronicles the unlikely victories for Howard Dean and their (sometimes) careful construction. Dean pioneered the Fifty State Strategy, taking his campaign into the reddest states, often ignored by traditional Democrat campaign trails, and implemented another unique strategy: listening to people. We all know that Dean was never elected president, that he pulled out of the race after seeing footage of his own scream on the news, but what Berman shows in the second half of his book is the way Dean paved the way for Obama’s success.

Ari Berman’s book sheds new light on how we got the political landscape we have now, and does so with surprising readability. He puts the recent Democratic success into context and makes it easy to see why so many democrats came out of the woodwork in the last presidential election: people finally felt that they were being heard and that their vote really mattered.

No matter what your political leaning may be, Herding Donkeys is an inspiring show of creativity and revolutionary approaches to traditional political campaigning. The ideas that are so well stated in this book effect more than who our next president is, it helps us work for change on all fronts and reminds us that our actions are significant.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, January 22nd 2011

The Woody Nightshade

mandy — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:00:00 +0000

By Sharron Kraus

Strange Attractors Audio House

Positive reviews litter the internet for Sharron Kraus’ earlier records and got me excited for her new release, The Woody Nightshade. However, the rave reviews made my disappointment with the album all the more palpable.

It took at least three listens on a really good stereo to really be able to appreciate The Woody Nightshade. To make it easy for you, if English folk music that leans on Celtic influences is what you’re into, this might be just the album for you. That said, if you’re looking for something that is instantly catchy with a firm melody or clean harmonies, then you might want to pick up something else.

The lilting dissonant vocals and random strumming that make the songs on The Woody Nightshade blend together into a cohesive work aren't intended to be experimental as much as a contemporary approach to traditional music. Kraus’ voice reminds me of recordings my sixth grade teacher played in class while we were studying the Medieval period. Her voice is simultaneously clear and indecipherable.

While it’s easy to get lost in the web of stringed instruments and to forget that there are words being sung, there’s a lingering melancholy that bubbles just under the simplistic surface of the entire album. Songs like “Evergreen Sisters” are decidedly haunting and the title track is no different; “The Woody Nightshade” is an eerie tune accompanied by vocals so slow and wandering that the lyrics are nearly lost. For Kraus, though, the form closely follows function. The listener doesn’t need to hear the line about the man she watches as “he looks away” to feel that’s what just happened. Her distant voice deftly conveys emotion.

The fifth song on the album, “Once,” is easier to get into for a first-time Kraus listener like myself. She sings simple lines we’ve all heard and thought, but with a relatable, quiet sadness: “Once there was a love, and that came to an end... Once each other’s touch was the thing we lived for.”

The Woody Nightshade is for careful listeners who are looking for sad songs to get lost in.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, January 18th 2011

Fix It, Make It, Grow It, Bake It: The D.I.Y. Guide to the Good Life

mandy — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:00:00 +0000

By Billee Sharp

Cleis Press

Fix It, Make It, Grow It, Bake It is packed full of just about as much information as the title suggests. The book is generally a fun and easy read, with crafting suggestions and healthy recipes. It is not, however, the bible I’d hoped it would be. While there are many recipes for making your own toilet bowl cleaner, there’s little helpful advice on things like how to garden. Rather, the focus is simply on the benefits of gardening.

One of the great things about Fix It, Make It, Grow It, Bake It is that Billee Sharp is adept at making things most people would scoff at seem perfectly reasonable. For example, Sharp makes dumpster diving seem as viable an option as buying a chair off Craigslist—and not just for furniture. In the chapter entitled “Freeconomics,” Sharp gives suggestions for dumpster diving for food, organizing community programs that will help neighbors share their unwanted items in lieu of sending them to the dump, and twists on the tried and true clothing swap (which she has renamed “Naked Lady Parties”).

There is one line in the book that tainted the rest of the read for me. In chapter four, “Homely Habits,” Sharp makes it clear that she’s not the best at wielding a wrench, which is fine. But then she writes that when her husband is out of town she keeps a roll of duct tape on hand because, “Even if I can’t fix stuff, I can hold it together with duct tape.” This is one of the least empowering things I’ve ever read, and coming from a book that claims to put power back into my hands, I found it to be pretty jarring.

In addition to a little feminist boost, Fix It, Make It, Grow It, Bake It desperately needs an index. There is so much information about baking, fixing, and growing in order to save money in the chapter about finances, but one may never find some gem they hoped to reference without spending cash on post-its to mark the pages.

If you’re a novice thrifter or a newbie to reducing, reusing, and recycling, Fix It, Make It, Grow It, Bake It will have more helpful hints than you'll know what to do with. But if you’ve fixed a chair or composted recently, there may not be a lot of new information here for you.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, September 21st 2010

Orgasmic: Erotica for Women

mandy — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:00:00 +0000

By Rachel Kramer Bussel

Cleis Press

I remember flipping quickly through the pages of my friends’ romance novels in high school looking for the juicy parts. The sexy parts. I had been told the books would be like "porn for women," so I assumed there would be something pornographic in the material. Alas, as soon as I found a creamy white thigh slipping out of a slit in a skirt, it was magically the next morning and the characters were talking... again. So, I gave up. Fortunately, Orgasmic addresses the need of female-oriented erotic literature more directly.

Admittedly, as an adult well grounded in societal norms, it was difficult to take Orgasmic seriously when I opened it with a friend over margaritas at a Mexican restaurant. The collection of stories found in the book contain, though not intentionally, some humorous material. However, while some of the dialogue (or the words authors come up with for sexual anatomy) makes for solid comedy, other stories are not to be taken so lightly.

Do not, for example, read Dusty Horn's “Share” while on a plane (trust me). Unless you’re a veteran member of the mile high club or know how to take care of business in tight places, public spaces are not the right place to read this story. Dusty writes a truly erotic lesbian adventure that is both cervically and cerebrally stimulating. What makes this story stand out from a few of its neighbors is that it is really well written, and really sexy.

Take this line about her double-ended toy for example, “A tug of war—I pull on the dick with my hand and counter clench around the bulb with my pussy wall. Where do you think you’re going?” Dusty does not stop there with her toy-inspired escapades; there is dildo pistol whipping, dildo sucking, fucking, jerking, and on... and on.

Lolita Lopez’s “The Chair” is also eye wideningly kinky, and may inspire you to take a more mechanical approach to your sex life. “Hurdles,” by Rowan Elizabeth, is nearly a how-to guide. While her methods for getting off on oral may not work for you, there’s still a great lesson to be learned about communicating with your partner about what you need to get it done.

Perhaps some of the clichés and silly references to the fins on Cadillacs looking like dicks are part of Orgasmic's charm. Sometimes sex is funny. Sometimes the things that turn us on are funny. Some might say, “different strokes for different folks.” Orgasmic is, indeed, full of a lot of strokes. If one story makes you laugh, try the next; that one might just get the job done.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, September 20th 2010

Pleasure Me Purse Kit

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 08:00:00 +0000

By Good Vibrations

To get it in the open and out of the way: the item’s name, Pleasure Me Purse, is a command to someone else. While the purse is awesome, it could be a downer for someone who expected something along the lines of a Pleasure Myself Purse.

Good Vibrations' Pleasure Me Purse Kit comes with a waterproof Magic Touch Bullet Mini Vibrator, a deliciously scented Mini Heart-Shaped Rub Me Massage Bar, .5 ounces of crème brûlée flavored Devour Me Lickable Body Oil, and a sample of Please Cream Lubricant. While the “purse” itself seems hardly big enough for lipstick and an o.b. tampon, the contents are so varied, and in some cases so multipurpose, one would be hard-pressed to try them all out in one evening (or one morning, or one really exciting afternoon).

In small quantities, the crème brûlée body oil can be great, and opening the miniature bottle can fill a room with its potent scent, which I might have first guessed to be waffles and maple syrup. When dabbed strategically and appropriately, the oil turns ordinary old oral into a tasty treat. As my partner jokingly put it, “I really like that stuff. It made you suck my dick like a delicious lollipop.”

I have mentioned in a previous review that I ask a little more of my vibrators than a gentle shake–which is, of course, what one gets from the small toy included in this kit. It gets tired after five minutes of use, and the low intensity vibrations alone are what bring me to warn all the single ladies: you may be better pleasured by a different bag. That said, if you’re not doing everything yourself, the little silver buzzing bobble can be a lot of fun in more places than one (hey-oh!).

The .17 oz sample of the cream lubricant is really more than enough for a single use. The packaging boasts that it is “water-based, glycerin-free, long-lasting, [and] moisturizing,” which is probably all true, but it was difficult to tell when adding it to what I already had going on naturally. However, in a very weak post-coital study of the cream’s longevity, I did get bored rubbing it between my fingers for what seemed like eternity. This I take as a good sign.

The mint chocolate scented massage bar was definitely my favorite and seemed to go over well with my partner. The heart-shaped bar melts easily by touch and smells good enough to eat (in fact, we were sort of hoping we could eat it). Besides smelling awesome, giving and receiving a massage can be a really nice addition to the usual sexual repertoire, and fosters a sense of intimacy beyond coitus itself.

Overall, if you’re already accustomed to utilizing lotions and vibrators with a partner, then this little purse packs a lot of variety and excitement. If you’re new to sexual accoutrement, it’s a compact way to see what you’re into. Definitely make sure your partner is willing to try it out, and allow yourself the options of both liking something that you may have previously thought weird or disliking it even if it’s supposed to be sexy.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, May 12th 2010

Sex Appeal: Six Ethical Principles for the 21st Century

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 08:00:00 +0000

By Paul Abramson

Oxford University Press

Sex Appeal flows in an intuitive series of ideas and expresses thoughts that may be obvious, but seem to be seldom practiced. The six logical principles regarding sex for our era outlined in Paul Abramson’s book are not only interesting, but vital to a peaceful coexistence.

If you tried to make a personal guideline for sex using the golden rule, you might get a summation of Abramson’s leading principals: do no harm, celebrate sex, be careful, know yourself, speak up and speak out, and throw no stones. Doing no harm, according to the author, reaches beyond avoiding sexual violence and demands honesty between sexual partners. Abramson encourages readers to be honest with their partners about their history and their expectations. What better way to avoid the spread of STIs and the cliche (but true) image of teenage girls everywhere crying into their pillows, “But he said he loved me.” Every chapter in the book refers back to this idea and seems to spin on an axis around it.

To disarm readers who may assume Abramson is an advocate of having no sex, the author has included an entire chapter encouraging readers to celebrate the act. He argues, though, that the catch to celebrating sex may mean abstaining. For some, that could mean waiting until a certain age, or for others, avoiding it within a certain relationship. The author argues that to really enjoy the amazing experience of intercourse, one has to be mature enough to handle it, which, of course, brings us back to “do no harm,” but also leads into the next idea.

Be careful. When it comes to sex, you don’t even need your mom to tell you this one. Until people are practicing “do no harm” like it’s their job, orgasming comes second to playing safe. So in addition to not hurting others, we don’t hurt ourselves, and the best way to do that is to know ourselves.

“Speak Up and Speak Out” as well as “Throw No Stones” both pull out of the genitals and move into the brain. There’s a lot to understand about sex, Abramson points out, that goes beyond how to do it. These two chapters discuss fairness, protecting oneself and others, ways to avoid or deal with sexual abuse, and harnessing judgment and stigmas around sex—especially as they’re expressed in the US.

While it’s unlikely to happen, the book should probably be part of the curriculum of every high school sex ed class. Occasionally, explanations seem to drag on and some analogies comparing sex to soccer go just a little too far, but the points are valid, clear, and important. Much of what Abramson discusses in this short book may seem blatant to a sexually active adult, but to a young person, the insights (or at least the lessons attached to them) could be huge.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, April 29th 2010

Women Writers of the Provincetown Players: A Collection of Short Works

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Edited by Judith E. Barlow

State University of New York Press

For someone whose theater knowledge is limited to a high school rendition of Cheaper by the Dozen, the compilation of plays that comprises Women Writers of the Provincetown Players were both easy and enjoyable to read.

Prefaced with a twenty-three -page introduction outlining the history and significance of the group of women included in Women Writers of the Provincetown Players, the book quickly but adequately fills in the reader. Many of the plays are between ten and twenty pages, and range in subject from feminism to love, or simply intellectual entertainment. The opening line of the introduction prepares the reader for the impact these playwrights had, as “during the opening years of the twentieth century, women’s designated place in the theater was in the audience.”

To counter this irritating—to say the least—situation, a number of women writers joined the Provincetown Players, a group of radical visionaries, but hardly outcasts. These educated middle class citizens summered in Provincetown and joined together to “oppose the status quo of their conservative hometowns and [dedicate] themselves to supporting artistic innovation, questioning the capitalist system, reevaluating relations between women and men, and challenging traditional sexual mores.”

From the first play in the collection these goals are evident, yet apropos to the time. Winter’s Night by Neith Boyce opens the book on a strong feminist note by posing the radical notion that the lead character, Rachel, “is less a victim of the two brothers than of the assumption that marriage is the ideal situation for all women.” While by today’s standards the main plot of the story may appear to be an uncomfortable love triangle between a woman, her recently deceased husband, and his living brother, the real aim of the piece is to broach a touchy idea: that marriage may be more of a trap for women than the assumed salvation.

In addition to the opening chapter informing the reader to the significance of the works in Women Writers of the Provincetown Players, each play is accompanied by a short (roughly three pages) introduction giving background on the author and where the included work fits in the Provincetown Players' repertoire.

Many of the woman who contributed to this book with their theatrical works were better known for other uncommon feats for their time. Susan Glaspell, for example, was publishing long before she began her secondary education at Drake University; others, such as Rita Wellman, had been publishing since childhood. Edna St. Vincent Millay was a known poet before joining the group, and Djuna Barnes is described, impressively, as a “novelist, playwright, journalist, theater reviewer, and poet.” The book is a pleasant read, seeing the progress of women in both art and society.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, April 28th 2010

Amy and Gully with Aliens

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

By W.W. Rowe

Snow Lion Publications

Amy and Gully with Aliens looks promising from the title, and the immediate jump into action makes this Buddhist children’s book a breeze. Although a quick read (108 pages with large print), the story comes packed with a heavy moral punch that is based somewhat on the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh: Amy and Gully find themselves learning from aliens about “love and kindness”—a repeated theme throughout the short book.

While the religious and moral story is compelling and resonates with the reader, the feminist aspect leaves something to be desired. In the opening pages of the book, Rowe depicts a quintessential 1950s family. Mrs. Trent (the mother) “flips a pancake.” Mr. Trent (the father) is reading his newspaper, irritated with the kids, and "needs to make some phone calls” before he can take them to school. Mrs. Clearpot is the plump, nature-nut biology teacher that kids ignore, while Mr. Wilkins, the school principal, is capable of teaching those kids a lesson.

While the gender assignments, admittedly, are not pivotal to the plot of the story, they encourage obsolete stereotypes. The easy categorizing of male and female roles in the story is not overt or malicious, but it was seemingly done without thought. It is the nonchalant way women are portrayed as existing only to fill the role of caretaker or are unable to win the respect of their students that makes these roles seem so common. Conversely, men are depicted as busy, important, and in control.

Even when Amy and Gully, the sister-brother duo, fully encompass our attention aboard the spaceship where most of the story takes place, it is Gully who thinks of clever ways to distract the Snoods, their captures, and who plans their escape. Amy is, obviously, helpless. (In W.W. Rowe’s defense, Amy possesses an admirable capacity for sympathy and love—two of the most valuable characteristics, according to the philosophy of the book—even if she is lacking in brains and brawn.) Most of the cliche gender assignments are gone by chapter six when Mala, the all-seeing, all-knowing alien of truth and light, comes to run a final “zarbite” (the Snood’s word for experiment) on the children. This is, of course, where the children are exposed to ideas of inner peace, love, and kindness.

On a moral level, Amy and Gully with Aliens is a great story for children, regardless of religion. The book offers a good option for those seeking moral literature outside traditional Bible stories. At the same time, if you have the goal of teaching non-traditional gender roles, this may not be best book to convince your impressionable young son or daughter that women are just as capable as men.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, February 20th 2010

Silicone Night Time Buddy

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:01:00 +0000

By AdultSexToys.com

Virgins beware. This dick does not come with training wheels.

For weeks I looked forward to my pale pink Night Time Buddy. The picture I saw online made it look so cute... and effective. Upon opening the box, however, cute was not what came to mind. Six inches always sounded so good, yet when I feverishly cut away the packaging tape what came to mind was “huge” and, admittedly, “terrifying.”

Generals: Two AA batteries (not included) and about half an hour later I had faith that the Night Time Buddy had earned its (largish) place among the other battery-operated gadgets in my nightstand drawer. At first, the veins and balls gave my gizmo the uncanny valley effect, but I soon realized that once between your legs, it really doesn’t matter what it looks like. My new pal, er, buddy, has four fun vibrating settings with different rhythms, and will never go soft on you when you’re in the mood. I do wish that the vibrations were a little more intense, but the highest setting got me there with a little effort.

Details: The suction cup worked great on the kitchen counter, but in the bedroom I was hard-pressed to find something it would grip. It does not stick to the wall, and I didn’t even try putting my particleboard Ikea furniture at the peril of my bucking hips. In order to take full advantage of that feature, you’re going to need to be resourceful. Fake balls, like real balls, don’t do that much for me, so the two flat pink feet at the bottom of my new penis (which also comes in blue or purple) sort of seemed to get in the way.

Finally, size does matter. Maybe I need a little more time with the Buddy, but for an external masturbator (me, not the dildo), this guy is enormous. The head seems to have extra girth, and after a few uses I got something I once read about in a magazine called “hairline tears in the vaginal entrance.” Lubrication was not the issue. Perhaps it’s because silicone, though quite pliable, does not have the same give as flesh. Or maybe it’s because this dick is huge. But whether it’s too big or I’m too small, I’m okay with either.

All these painfully realistic details aside, the thing does work. With fresh batteries and a sense of adventure the Night Time Buddy can go a long way. Between internal and external stimulation, suction to a (limited) number of surfaces, and plenty of penis to go around—there is a little something for everyone. If you know what 6x2 is like, and you can handle it, I say go for it.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, February 19th 2010

Dancing with Iris: The Philosophy of Iris Marion Young

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:01:00 +0000

Edited by Ann Furguson, Mechthild Nagel

Oxford University Press

Feminism has always been something I’ve engaged in practically and passively—like composting or choosing to bike rather than drive. It’s just another thing that seems good for me and my environment; however, I have never considered dumping my compost on my neighbor’s flower beds, or demanding that others give up their cars. Dancing with Iris, my first official foray into feminist philosophy, makes me feel otherwise.

Discarding the pervasive assumption that all feminists are angry and anti-male, Iris Marion Young inspired her peers to collectively revisit her works as a feminist and political philosopher. Through their recounting of intimate discussions with the Chicago-based professor, and their interpretations of her most well-known essays, I have been re-convinced of the important role feminism plays in our society. While great strides have been made for gender equality, we have a long way to go.

In the chapter aptly titled “Letter to Iris Young” by Karsten J. Struhl, the author addresses his deceased friend and colleague: “You asked at your last lecture...what is our responsibility against injustice?” This chapter made me ask, what is my responsibility? Is it simply to practice, passively? Or is to encourage and effect even the subtlest of changes in the minds of those who have grown complacent with the minimal incremental progress we’ve been able to eek out of our culture? Throughout that letter alone, dozens of brilliant sparks of feminist thought, which are not bitter nor chauvinist, inspire revelatory ideas I believe we all know and understand, but have never articulated as Young and her peers have done.

Author after author present obvious yet eye-opening theories. One such gem appears on page fifty-six in Michaele Ferguson’s "Resonance and Dissonance: The Role of Personal Experience in Iris Marion Young’s Feminist Phenomenology." Ferguson describes the fundamental beliefs of humanistic feminism, in short, that “humanists hope to overcome the limitations of femininity...in order to aspire to universal values, values which are mistakenly linked with men and masculinity.” Yet, Young’s examination of her own female bodied experience moved her toward a more gynocentric set of philosophies. Ferguson writes that Young “[calls] into question the usefulness of a humanist feminism that wants to erase differences between men and women, and to treat both sexes equally...Eliminating these lived differences would be not simply impossible, but also undesirable.”

In my notes on Ferguson’s essay, this one line is underscored much darker than the rest. Beautiful ideas from both humanist and gynocentric thought culminate in an almost annoyingly practical conclusion. Those of us roaming the planet on two legs, feeding ourselves, and making conversation are humans. As such, we deserve from each other a certain level of respect and consideration merely for existing. At the same time, we are still individuals, with different experiences and different thoughts, so we must reflect on these when arguing a position meant to be applied to everyone.

Page after page, I felt compelled to underline and make mental notes. So natural seem these philosophies, that their absence in our daily lives can only be because of their obviousness. So with each academic’s philosophizing I—as the reader, the passive activist, the casual observer—become more aware, more fervent, more interested, more committed, and it seems, somehow, more a woman.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, February 16th 2010

The Girl's Guide to Growing Your Own: How to Grow Fruit and Vegetables Without Getting Your Hands Too Dirty

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:00:00 +0000

By Alex Mitchell

New Holland

I’ve been keeping a full, vibrant, productive garden in my head for about two years. In my mind there are rows of beets, shoots of garlic, bushes of raspberries, clusters of strawberries, and vines of beans. Every plant flourishes year-round and is never plagued by weeds, bad soil, the first freeze (or any of the ones that follow), and definitely never suffers like I do from the hot, hot August Texas sun. Nonetheless, the food would probably taste better if it were real.

While titles that start with phrases like “The Girl’s Guide to...” make me move forward with trepidation, chary of each frilly, gender-specific tip that is sure to be found inside, The Girl’s Guide to Growing Your Own seemed safe. I mean, it’s about gardening. Alex Mitchell, the saucy British journalist-turned-gardener who wrote the book, does an excellent job of presenting practical information and keeping the girly kitsch to a very tolerable level. I even giggled periodically. Really, giggled.

Squashing the usual excuses for not getting a garden started, Mitchell starts her book off telling the reader how simple growing really is. She describes soil types in easy to understand detail and outlines just how little equipment (and space) you actually need to get going. One of my favorite suggestions was to use the wine shipping crates that are often discarded by liquor stores. They’re a good size, portable (if you want to bring plants in for the winter), and deep enough for most roots. Mitchell also points out that their “imprinted logos give them a certain élan.” And if you can pick up your planters with your booze, you might just save yourself a trip to a garden center.

The Girl’s Guide to Growing Your Own stands apart from other growing manuals for a number of reasons. First, it’s readable. This book is not for a seasoned grower who is trying to find out why her lemon trees are looking peeked or those who can pour through dry textbook pages full of words most of us don’t understand. The Girl’s Guide to Growing Your Own caters to the novice, and does it well. Because it’s divided by seasons, you can use a free ten minutes to browse your seasonally-appropriate section and get ready to grow. The book introduces new gardeners to valuable gardening lingo, where to buy manure, and—here’s the kitsch—a plethora of cute growing containers available to the growing girl.

Freely poking fun at her own obsessive nature—from the aesthetics of her planters to the trees she dotes on and the many short breaks she takes from work to ogle flora and fauna online—Mitchell takes the bulk of the work out of getting started. She even gives plants ratings of one to four hand trowels, which indicates whether “you couldn’t kill it if you tried” or it’s “fussy but fabulous.” Pages of soil and seed concoctions are broken up with recipes for your new produce (including alcoholic beverages), and the book finishes up with a quick guide to diagnosing common edible garden enemies.

From this experience I have learned girly books can be useful, and also that because spring is (nearly) in the air, I should start planting my tomato seeds. Now I am hopeful.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, February 15th 2010

What’s Your Point, Honey?

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:03:00 +0000

Directed by Amy Sewell, Susan Toffler

Initially you might believe that the lives of the women and girls introduced in What’s Your Point, Honey? will intersect in some intimate way. The opening scenes seem to insinuate a touching tale itching to unfold—and it does, but not in the way you might expect.

A triad of 10-year-old girls who are brilliant beyond their years are shown asking pedestrians if they’d vote a woman into the oval office and why America hasn’t been able to already. Seven idealistic college students are portrayed first as strong members of their own communities then as enthusiastic interns with COSMOgirl!’s White House Project on a mission to facilitate a woman becoming president by the year 2024. Teams of successful women tell of their perceptions of what they once believed they were allowed to do, and how they feel about it now knowing what they’ve accomplished.

While the eighty-seven-minute long film relies more heavily on observation than statistics, it still weaves a compelling account of how equal men and women really are, especially where politics, pay, and family are considered. Although the viewer never sees the physical lives of these women intertwine, there is something to be said for the foundation they all strive to build for each other.

Encouraging examples of these women’s effort to achieve a common goal line up over the hour and a half. One twenty-something intern works to pass a law that might end sex trafficking; the gaggle of young girls challenge their impressionable peers to answer the question that established women have been trying to solve for decades before: why haven’t we had a woman president?

“What I’m worried about with the presidency right now,” Mary C. Wilson (President and founder of The White House Project) intimates, “is that we’re looking for the perfect girl [and] perfection is something a lot of us have had to try to get away from.” Wilson’s point borders on terrifying as a Victoria’s Secret mannequin monopolizes the next frame. Two teenage girls are shopping to emulate the hard, plastic figures that surround them. The girls eye thongs, sample lip gloss, look in the mirror holding up tiny tube tops. This not-so-subtle sequence of images makes it painfully clear why COSMOgirl! and The White House Project are so perfect for each other. This is where girls are becoming women, and deciding what their priorities are.

There are moments in the film when I think COSMOgirl! must be thrilled that people have heard the brand name an extraordinary number of times. Yet, in the film’s defense, it’s not without scenes inspiring viewers to take action, or even drawing an uncomfortable lump into one’s throat. Even after three times through, I’m still happy to sit friends down in front of the film.

This film is for women who haven’t felt inspired to act on their own behalf because, well, in some circles women still have yet to arrive, and What’s Your Point, Honey? reminds us that is not okay.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, November 22nd 2009

C'est La Dernière Chanson

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:57:00 +0000

By Maher Shalal Hash Baz

K Records

When the songs on Maher Shalal Hash Baz’s latest release, C'est La Dernière Chanson, last longer than thirty-seven seconds, they are very enjoyable. The eighteenth record for the band is a two disc album consisting of a total of 277 songs ranging from a confusing eleven seconds of horns and drums to three minutes and one second of musical pleasure. Founded by Tori Kudo, the group is now centered around a core group of three musicians (Tori, his wife Reiko Kudo, and Hiroo Nakazaki), but Maher Shalal Hash Baz’s lineup has changed over the band’s eighteen years with a steady stream of incoming and outgoing talent.

The English translation of the Japanese group’s name seems as mysterious as it does in the original Hebrew. Taken from Isaiah 8:1 and 8:3, the name means, “Hurrying to the spoil, he has made haste to the plunder." Musically, however, the band has concocted a multi-genre dish of musical flavor. A catchy jazz base is typically sprinkled with folk and peppered with unique rock overtones. Many of the short songs are congruent in their frequent bursts of a-tonal arrangement, yet maintain an endearing quality. The occasional vocal tracks are equally intriguing in Japanese and English, whether you understand or not.

Currently, the only song available on the group’s Myspace page, "Joab," is longer (three times longer) than many compositions on C'est La Dernière Chanson and is from a different record. At the same time, it still gives an accurate taste of what you may be biting off with this newest release. Something about Maher Shalal Hash Baz’s noise is so painfully cute that even the parts that don’t sound good feel strangely pleasant.

I strongly recommend investing nine minutes in "Joab" to see whether or not you can live without this band.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, September 15th 2009

Bitte Orca

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:07:00 +0000

By Dirty Projectors

Domino

At times the catchy melodies and ironically jarring harmonies found on Dirty Projectors’ latest album, Bitte Orca, seem surprising, and at other times, perfectly in place. From the very first listen the Dirty Projectors certainly project something interesting. It’s the sort of sound that makes you ask, “Do you know who this is?” And for the first time in months you genuinely consider paying for the music that has somehow found its way into your head.

Bitte Orca is yet another disc from the collective’s leader, Dave Longstreth, who formerly put together an alt-rock version of Black Flag’s famed Damaged EP. Longstreth is known for masterfully grinding pleasant chords into more experimental songs, and this album is no exception. Equal parts fresh, glowing pop and adult musical genius, Bitte Orca fits well in the ringleader’s reservoir of music.

While the members of Dirty Projectors are in a state of flux from record to record, Bitte Orca was put together by a spectacular cluster of musicians in addition to the single constant member, Longstreth: Amber Coffman (guitar and vocals), Angel Deradoorian (bass and vocals), and Brian McComber (drums). Sometimes sing-songy, sometimes haunting, and just as frequently introspective, the group’s collaboration has resulted in an album easily described as a success. The two women (Coffman and Deradoorian) who support the music with their wistful voices also act as the cover of the album for the new release. Longstreth poses solo on the back.

Currently on tour, Dirty Projectors are playing the last of their sold out shows around the US and moving on to Europe through September. If given the opportunity to catch the band live, you might want to jump at it. Or, if you just want to see what you might be missing out on, give the band a listen on their Myspace page.

As a whole Bitte Orca seems fitting for a warm day with a light breeze—nothing too heavy, and though there’s no promise you’ll dance, there’s a very good chance you’ll feel good about what you’re listening to.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, September 9th 2009