blueAlto

Yes, if the site look a little different, it should. Today is the release of squarespace version 5, a new era in personal blogging and web site management. And no, I don't work for the company, I just sound annoyingly like it. Seriously, I have no affiliation with the rising internet company, except for my experience with them over the past year. Which, I will say, has been second to none.

Version five, the largest release yet, offers an entire host of options that are regular features on most  multi purpose and large websites, but rarely offered for blogging platforms, even the big ones. Add to that, some of the most creative, visually appealing, and classy web designs (okay and my passion for minimal design isn't hurting either), and I highly recommend you check out squarespace. With just a few mouse clicks you can start setting up a site in minutes.

They offer a 14 day trial of all aspects of the software, no credit card number required. After the trial, you can sign up, either for a yearly or monthly fee, and maintain your website on a great hosted platform. Prices for personal sites are in three tiers, and run from seven through seventeen dollars a month. In my opinion, it is worth every penny.

More easy as pie website applications! 

Never one to get especially excited about new applications in the social networking realm, I took on Twitter after some prodding. Yeah, what a complete cult like drinking game flashback to second year that was. I'm sorry, it makes me nervous, very nervous. Because really, I don't care what you are wearing when you do your laundry, before you groom your cat!

And no facebook people, I don't want to be your friend. Go away strange cling on person. Even if we do have two contacts in common from thirty years ago.

Evil, Facebook person breathlessly says. "How cool is that?

Sorry to put a damper on it, but ~ not very.

And then came tumblr.

In the case of blueAlto (reloaded), very simply, tumblr, is a combination of media formats, all taken directly from published work on bluealto, but presented in an extremely different style, one that previews work through various site boxes. Turns out is a real innovative blog application that allows users to post text, images, videos, audio, quotes, chats, and a multitude of other features. The best thing in my opinion? The original, minimal, yet alternative and divergent theme choices available to a completely free site.

Check out the blueAlto (reloaded page). Maybe even get one of your own!

Not a major fan of social networking sites in general, there is a brand new combination dating site, discussion forum site that is Toronto specific. It's a place that I see a lot of potential in, as there have been some quality discussions in the forums, with intelligent, considered responses, and the membership appears to be diverse.

It's always refreshing to see a site for gay men that has a demonstrated respect for each other emphasized through tone, through interaction and through the things the membership supports, or admonishes in another member.  As a collective, we don't share the most stellar history of supporting each other. Judgmental, sweeping assumptions aside.

Perhaps though, I spoke too soon. Going to the site today, I checked the forums and there was an active discussion of sexual choices / sexual interests, and what can be considered mainstream, or "fringe". A member had expressed his interest in an activity that was admittedly fringe, and he expressed his ambivalence with being open about his interest. Within minutes, the barrage of email this man received (in the forums) was often hateful, snide, ignorant and ill informed, based on nothing but ugly, untrue stereotype.

Looking at the overall picture here, I was struck by two things.

1. The level and strength of anti gay hate in gay people (and lets make no mistake, that's what this dynamic is really all about).
2. The sheer lack of willingness by other members to get involved and call out the bullies. 

Let's face it guys, with regard to number 2, we really need to do better here.

I thought about how the above applied both to me and my responsibility in these discussions, and to the membership as a group. Then I posted a letter to the more obnoxious commenter, (which I have no doubt will be the initial cause for the flame war I will not be taking part in). As they say, best to pick your real battles. But I challenge anyone who is involved in these sites, if you see abusive or threatening behavior occurring, mention it to the staff, or if you feel you can and feel comfortable, the victim. Takes less than five minutes.

This was the response I posted in the above thread to the married man and father who cheats with men on his unsuspecting wife. 

Funny, when I view your arrogant and dismissive invective, sent of course from behind the cover of computer screen, it only begs the question: Who, exactly, are you to questions another mans sexual proclivities? I assume the answer to that, from your profile details anyway, would be "A married, secretly gay father who is promiscuously cheating on his unaware wife?"

Next time, might I suggest you consider your own baggage laden existence before you engage oppressive anti sex paradigms and shame based morality plays on another person.

Good luck with the whole closeted / deceitful thing though. I'm guessing you are going to need it

So, as I said, I challenge all gay men out there: If you want a respectful space, a place to come and be accepted, a place to be heard, then please, take a part in creating it. One way is to call out the BS that none of us support.  I personally think that doing and creating, instead of ripping up and tearing down, will often go a long way in relieving that type of damage.

I'm actually an ENFP, even though most people would assume I am an ENTP.  No doubt you're asking yourself what the hell he's babbling about now.  A new on line fetish index perhaps?  No, not today.

Actually, what ENFP and ENTP refer to, is my result on a personality assessment, one that uses a tool called The Myers Briggs Index.  The Myers Briggs type indicator test is a personality assessment tool used to aid in career decisions, human resources, relationship counseling, and a host of other functions.  Based on the sixteen dominant archetypal traits developed by Carl Jung, it is the most commonly used personality assessment tool in North America.

Having an undergraduate degree in sports psychology, I am familiar with a wide variety of these assessment tools. Some are well formulated and based on extensive theory, and some are completely full of hooey. In critically comparing my own personality traits to the results of the Myers Briggs assessment, I have found it to be a very accurate and consistently reliable tool. In general, the test is based on how one navigates the four prominent domains of :

1)  Manifested Affect: Extroversion or Introversion

2) `Information Processing: Sensing or Intuition

3)  Decision Arrival: Thinking or Feeling

4)  Formative Structure: Judging or Perceiving

The following is a description of my Myers Briggs "type". As I indicate above, since I first took the test over eighteen years ago, it has been a very accurate assessment in so far as describing the main traits of my personality. My ranking on the tool consistently notes an extremely high affinity with the dominant ENFP type traits. In other words, I'm a "classic" ENFP. From the Myers Briggs Foundation website:

ENFP's are introspective, cooperative, informative, and expressive. They have a strong desire to make their thoughts known to the world. When ENFP's speak or write, they are often hoping to use their convictions to motivate others to participate in advocacy or they hope to reveal a hidden truth about the human experience. Greatly concerned with ethics and justice and have as trong desire to speak about current issues and events, they are the most inspiring and animated of the role variants.

ENFP's are very individualistic and they feel a need to experience significant social events, and consider intense emotional experiences to be vital to life and view the world as a drama. They are constantly seeking to learn about everything that has to advancement of good and the retreat of evil in the world.

ENFP's are keen observers of the people around them. They have exceptional intuitive abilities and are capable of intensely concentrating on a particular individual. Often able to read hidden emotions and to place significance on the actions of others, they are constantly scanning their social environment and intriguing characters are not likely to escape their attention. Their attention is usually active rather than passive. ENFP's are sensitive and alert to what is possible.

ENFP's are warm, energetic, spontaneous, positive, exuberant and dramatic. Other individuals usually find these personality qualities to be attractive and often want to be in the company of the ENFP. They usually have highly developed people skills and get along well with their colleagues.

When you have some time, why don't you take the online multiple choice assessment which will tell you which of the sixteen archetypes you are. If you decide to take the test, it is always helpful to read the background and theory on The Myers Briggs Inventory tool, at the Myers Briggs Foundation website. Let me know what you score as.

Because you can always use irrelevant and barely interesting factual information about the mundane details of my life....I bring you the five things meme. Actually garnered and appropriated from Antonio's blog, I thought this one actually looked kind of fun.

So, without any further annoying buildup....

What were you doing five years ago?

In 2003, let's see. Professionally, I was working as a critical care flight paramedic and was considering the position in clinical research that I began in 2004. Personally, it was a year before David had the medical allergy disaster that started the downward trajectory. We had also just purchased and moved into our two bedroom condo. Times were very good.

Five Things On My To Do List For Today?

1. Pick up books at the bookstore that are in.
2. Work on a lesson plan for the Monday youth writing workshop I teach.
3. Increase my daily laps in the pool by fifteen minutes.
4. Meet Allison for Japanese (Thursday night tradition for the last year)
   
5. Schedule an annual prostate exam (there is most definitely a reason it is number five - Ick)

Five Favorite Snacks?

1. Cranberry / blueberry granola
2. Blue cheese and crusty bread
3. Pears
4. Grapes
5. Guacamole & Tortilla chips
   

 Five Things I Would Do If I Was A Billionaire?

1. Sleep, for no less than half a year.
2. Give donations in very sizable amounts to my four favorite charities ~ the SPCA, the PEN America Writing Empowerment Project (self awareness and esteem building through literacy), HIV front line care and treatment, breast cancer research.
3. Meet and spend time with every single person who has become a friend through blogging.
4. Get a beach house in the BC channel islands and write the two books that I am entertaining the idea of attempting.
5. Share the wealth generously with good friends and family.

1. I can sometimes be impatient.
2. I have an excessively critical streak. Though I have become better at channeling that. 
3. I carry a grudge. Manifesting in such a way that if you have screwed me, you will generally try to avoid me.
4. Sometimes out of concern I will offer help when help may not be the best thing to offer.
5. I will often go to great lengths to put off unpleasant tasks. The reason I still have to go through a few of David's closets.

What Are Five Places I Have Lived?

1. Tokyo, Japan
2. Ottawa, Canada
3. LA
4. Usinsk, Northern Russia
5. Toronto, Canada 

1. Lifeguard
2. Ski Patrol
3. Flight Paramedic
4. EMS Clinical Researcher
5. Cultural Studies Instructor 

1. A ten year old long sleeve cotton navy polo shirt. Cuffs are thread bare, collar is stretched and ill fitting, and it is the most comfortable shirt I own.
2. Steel blue flannel shirt that I wear as a heavy shirt or fall jacket.
3. Fifteen year old Chocolate brown leather flight jacket from Roots. A Christmas gift from my parents.
   
4. My oldest pair of button fly Levis that have a small patch on the ass made from plaid cotton boxers. Surprisingly they are the best fitting pants I have ever owned. Still!
   
5. Any of my collected or traded paramedic T shirts, or traded rugby team shirts.

Though I really detest the various "learning strength through adversity" narratives, there is, I am learning, a practical benefit to those times when the shit hits the proverbial fan. Specifically, the ability to gauge ones personal breaking point. Due to a few unexpected family situations which require my time and energy, something has to give. Offered a choice, I would rather not personally realize that breaking point.

So yes, what has to give at this point, is this website. Not closing shop, not taking an extended hiatus; what I have decided to do, is take a good few weeks and zero into what I have to do in the tangible world. Translated, these pages are going to go still until the beginning of July. Not an easy thing to do, especially when you tend to be a type A control issues type of guy. Though I am humble enough to recognize my limitations, ones which have never before been so close to the surface.

I am hoping that you will return in July, and at that point I will be able to articulate a more definitive future for the site. One that I anticipate will be none too different than the current incarnation. Thanks everyone for your support and your kind words, phone calls and emails. And I thank you in advance for your understanding in this situation.

Wishing everyone a great rest of the month. See you soon.

Al 

For those of you who have my personal home phone number, no doubt you are aware that I am still experiencing some connection issues on this end. For anyone that does not have my home phone number, if you are attempting to contact me for whatever reason, please do so through a current email address, or via the contact page on this site.

The reason I bring this up, is because there have been several attempts to contact me and offer wishes of support etc, through the 613 area code phone number listed for Al Rae. That is not my home phone number, but my parents home phone number in Ottawa, and leaving a voice mail on that number will go directly to either my mother or father. While I appreciate the sentiment, and all wishes have been received in the spirit they had been sent, it is disconcerting to my parents to receive messages about the current situation that were originally meant for me.

Just to reiterate, there was absolutely no offense taken, and I thank you for your concern, though I would ask that if you do not have my current home phone number or a current personal email address, if you need to contact me, please contact me via the site email form found on the contact page. Thanks in advance for understanding this request.

Al 

 A meme! Direct from my friend Allison, brilliant theater actress, and the only non blogger that knows more meme's than bloggers. Allison thought it might be a good tool to lighten up the mood a little around here. And even I would agree, except that this meme is by far the strangest and most attention deficit focused read I think I have ever seen.  Really, what is about?  You tell me.

No I am not tagging anyone with this....Well, on second thought, yeah, I think I will.  I tag Jack.  Only because he always has really cool answers to seemingly boring things. And two, because he must be dead on his feet after completing the California Aidescycle, the annual seven day California bicycle ride to raise funds for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and research. Congratulations on riding in it a third (fourth?) year Jack! Check out his site for a live blogging version of his seven days on the ride.

Okay, now back to the vacuous meme.

Does someone love you?

Yes someone loves me - as in they care. And yes someone loves me loves me - or so he says.

Do you know anyone named Dave?

Many actually.

Ever kissed anyone with the name starting with a J?

My ex Julia. My ex Jim. John. Joe ~  OMG what a mistake that was.  And I'm sure many who's names I didn't catch.

Has anyone ever mistaken you for a family member?

Yes, my family has done this often. Haha.

What color is your parents bathroom

 Light blue. Yes, as bad as it sounds.

Do you think that hair extensions look skanky?

If you can clearly tell they are hair extensions and that's not the goal ~ yes they look skanky.

Are you named after a grandparent?

Yes, middle name of both grandfathers.

Say you were given a drug test right now. Would you pass or fail?

Pass. Boring, I know.

Are you taller than 5'6"?

Substantially.

Do you know anyone in jail/prison?

There is a person I know of in passing whom I was recently surprised to hear was now in jail. And yes, I know someone who has been.

Ever see a dead body?

I was a paramedic ~ what do you think?

Do you like the color green?

Um, yeah... sure. Kinda lame question, huh?

What is your best friend’s Dad’s name?

You know something? I have no fucking clue. Oh well, yes I do. I should, it's my own name, Allan.

How old are you?

Piss off!

Ok... 40.

Who was the last person to send you a text message?

Hmmm... Roger. I actually don't do a ton of texting.  Actually, I find the concept vile.

Ever drove into the ghetto to buy drugs?

Do they sell drugs in the ghetto?

Last restaurant you went to?

Marche Movenpic

What is the weather like today?

Crisp, mildly cool and sunny. My favorite.

Last voice mail you received?

From my Mom.

What did you do yesterday?

Doctors appointment, out of town meeting, slept.

What’s the first thing you would do with five million dollars?

Run away with Tater.

What nationalities are you?

Irish and a bit of Scottish.

How many hours did you sleep for last night?

Five interrupted hours.

Any upcoming concerts you want to attend?

Montreal Jazz Fest

Who’s the last person that you felt was stalking you?

Stalking... like REALLY stalking? I don't think I want to mention that on the internet!

Have you ever been on your school’s track team?

Ha! When wasn't I.

What jewelry are you wearing?

None. I.Don't.Wear.Jewelry.

If all of your friends were going on a road trip, would you?

Depends on where. Well, no it doesn't. Because it totally depends on who's going.

How much money do you have?

I bet there are, somewhere in the world, one or two tacky losers who actually answer that question.

Do you swear at your parents?

I have. Not now. At least not in anger.

Is your phone right beside you?

No.

Have you cried today?

Surprisingly enough, no.

Do you think that someone is thinking about you right now?

Probably. if not, that's okay too. They will eventually.

Do you untie your shoes every time you take them off?

Yes. So shoot me.

What is the color of your bedsheets?

Varies depending on the sheet currently on the bed. Varies as well to how long they may have been on the bed:)  Generally, white sheets. If not white, grey cotton jersey.

Have you ever crawled through a window?

Yes, more than once.

Are you photogenic?

At times i could be model of the year and at other times i look rather "special". Like I should have a rope holding me to one of the adults. Generally though, yes, I can take a good shot.

What’s your star sign?

Virgo. The Virgin. Cruel irony, I know.

Where do you spend most of your money?

Overpriced gourmet grocery stores and books.

What was the last thing you did?

Pressed "Enter" after writing the last answer.

Do you have a tattoo?

Yes.  And I was drunk enough.  And no, still no regrets.  Okay fine ~ a dolphin on my ass.

Is there a secret you’ve never told any of your friends?

I am almost 100% certain that there's no "secret" I haven't told at least one person. But no one person knows everything.

Have you ever told someone you loved them but didn’t mean it?

Yes. I still feel bad about that.

Have you ever changed your clothes while in a vehicle?

Yes.

What are you doing in 2008?

Another ambiguous one. Trying to get the great American / Canadian novel that has already been written, published.

What is your ring tone?

A simple and boring ring.

What were you doing at 2am last night?

Trying to get to sleep after strenuous activity.

Are your parents married/divorced/separated?

Still married. To each other no less.

What are you doing tonight?

Obviously not what I was doing at 2 am!

What are you doing tomorrow?

With any luck!

Who did you last message on Myspace?

I do not frequent that den of bad design.

What’s your opinion on sex without emotional commitment?

A brilliant thing if you are mature enough to really get it.

Does it annoy you when someone says they’ll call but never do?

Immensely.  If I say I will call, I'll call.  That whole "when someone tells / shows you who they are, believe them" thing ~ the best advice in the world.

What did you dress up as for your first Halloween?

A panda bear. 

Favourite Disney movie?

Original Bambi. Or Winnie The Pooh. Was Winnie even Disney?

Feel free to add your answers to any and all questions on your own site, or in the comments. 

I will be heading out of town today, dealing with some unexpected family issues. Not sure when regular posting will resume, though I will post an update in a day or two.

Have a good weekend. 

Al 

Doralong of What Would Jackie Where? has tagged me in the current spreading like wildfire meme, The Closest Book. My instructions are as follows.

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Locate the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences on your blog and in so doing...
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

The book closest to me at the moment just happens to be the one I am currently reading; Anthony Bourdains Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly.

Page 123:

We teased, poked, prodded, conspired and competed. We wanted to be the best, we wanted to be different, but at the same time, correct. We yearned to bring honor to our clan, and in that vein, we came up with the looniest, most ambitious menu our super heated, endorphin-overloaded brains could agree on, a sort of Greatest Hits Of Our Checkered Careers So Far collection.

I'm going to tag two people only because they are both, once again, late on their meme obligations. Bad! Teri at Stumbling Thru Life With Grace, and George at curiousg. Consider yourself tagged.

You got to love this Feministing youtube edition of Fuck You Feminist Friday. As usual, it cuts to the chase, is abrasive, and is bound to piss a lot of people off. But most importantly, they are right in their core principle. Even if it is hard to hear for some.

By the look of the comments after Jessica's post today, it would seem a lot of people were pissed. Good. As the title says, the woman has a point. It was nice to see it expressed without the platitudes and framing done to "not offend". So amusing were the responses,  Jessica wrote specificallyy about the comments she received on that post.  Interesting, amusing, but yeah, still very scary that these idiots exist.

It's that time again. Tate's turn with the fiction series, part four of our collaborative writing project, The Letters Project, Part 4, Corridors, is now posted at his site for you to read. Click here to read and see what he has in store for you this week.

Links to the previous three episodes can be found on The Letters Project page (linked in the sidebar) on both of our sites.

Chris from Creek Running North made some interesting and relevant observations recently regarding the idea of online discourse. Is it even possible for us to have a truly humane discourse on line? Chris said:

Sometimes the negative links direct attention to things that need to be addressed, to offenses that would have flown under the collective radar in offline life, and sometimes the mass uproar that follows educates people who would not have been reached by position papers. As a glorified phone tree to alert people to actions that need to be taken to combat short-term horrible, the net is a wonderful thing.

It’s just that it seems to me that there’s a threshold of linkage beyond which political discussions, as opposed to political alerts, become less than useful over time. I’m not suggesting any hard and fast metrics, but I do know that some of the most useful, challenging, rewarding and worthwhile conversations I’ve read online have taken place among regular readers of the blog in question, and I know that I’ve seen outside linkage derail more useful and enlightening conversations than I can count.

I like how Chris points out the duality here. That for every negative conversation in the blog world, there are ones that reflect the opposite point. Balance then, is key. However as many of us know, balance, is very often hard to maintain. Given what occurred yesterday on Joe.My.God via a small number of comments leaving some real vitriolic sentiment for a gay father, and then keeping up the attack at the guys own blog, this is a discussion we as a community really need to have.

The outcome yesterday wasn't good. To be fair, I'm sure it was not Joe's intention to cause this individual any damage, and he has issued a heartfelt apology, but the fact remains, the man in question took down what was his very inspirational and high quality site. I think we need to ask ourselves, ultimately, who plays a role when those things occur?

It's an important question, as silencing voices, is the opposite of what we are supposed to be doing here. Isn't it? Thoughts?

Sometimes I really have to wonder. Do people actually read anything anymore? Ever? The catalyst for my query arrived last night in the form of the email below. For that extra treat, I've maintained the original spelling.

Dear Alen,

How is your day i belive all is well, good.

My name is jenifer, i saw your profile today and became intrested in you, am looking for a nice man that knows how to take cara of a woman that can take cara of me in anything. i will also like to know you more, and if you can send an email to my email address, i will give you my pictures here is my eadras. I believe we can move from here! Awaiting for your mail to my emaila address above

jenifer.

Not to be an asshole, because I'm sure Ms. Jennifer is a wonderful and charming woman, but I'm curious. Is "Has quite the soft spot for big, rugged, unnervingly intelligent men with facial hair and expertly honed kissing skills", excessively vague? Exactly what part of that does "jenifer" not understand?

Once again, not to be cruel, because it is obvious that English is not this womans native tongue, but the fact remains that if the task of spelling one's first name proves difficult, whatever the reason, then expecting one to be a pro at perceiving more than subtle nods towards sexual orientation; might be somewhat of an unreachable expectation. Or, maybe I'm just too damn demanding and need to stop being so bloody critical all the time. After much thought and consideration, I'm going with the unreachable expectation option.

Am I the only one who gets this stuff? Because now is your chance; tell us your weirdest email story. Please someone, top this! The permanent host of crazy is not what I'm gunning for.

Picked this up over at Theriomorph's site. A site and an author that, apparently, are much more restrained than myself and my site, coming in at a very low 5.5% cussability. Our result you can see below.

The more relevant point of how I am supposed to use this critical piece of information is beyond me. I think I'll just chalk it up to one of those file useless information and save  for a bored meme day. Or something similar. 

Now your turn. What is your sites cuss factor?

 
"Alright, chill out you furry freak, I'm coming".

The lower pond is her favorite, taking the longest time to get to, but making up for it in privacy and the unknown attraction Singher has for this particular pond water. As we hit the gated entrance I recall the last time we had been in this park. Judging by the way she is staring at me, I'm guessing she is aware as well.

A week before he died, I had taken David out for a picnic lunch. Afterward, we had come to this park by the ravine. It had been a regular destination since adopting Singher years earlier. I recall David smiled, really smiled, as he watched Singher chase after the ball I was throwing into the grass. Laughing as the rather odd bundle of fur would swan dive into the pond, splashing through in her bastardized version of doggy paddle, taking the long way, afraid I'd play in the water before she did.

Days after that outing I would recall there was an odd peace about David as we left the park. He paused at the gate, glancing back at Singher, who as usual, was bringing up the rear, tossing the orange ball straight up into the air, snarling when it inevitably lands on her head.

Update:

Part 1 now posted in The Letters Project.

First off, just let me say a big hello and welcome to anyone who is visiting the site for the first time today. Being that today my writing partner and I are launching a new feature, I'm guessing that "new to the site" may apply to a few of you.

The goal for today's post? To talk a little bit about the project that Tate and I have been busy developing. Our motivation for it, where we want to see it go, how we want it to get there, and ultimately the role of the audience, the reader, and if there is something in that potential that may have overlooked in the history of traditional publication paradigms.

Briefly, since many of you are new here, I should say a few things about myself. Easy stuff to begin with, my name is Al, technically Allan, but everybody calls me Al, and earlier this year I hit the big 40. Piece of cake. I live in Toronto, am single, and share my living space with my dog, otherwise known as the insane canine, Singher, a black Lab and Dalmatian cross. Coolest.Dog.Ever

In my daily and off line life, I am two short weeks away from my thesis defense for the MFA in creative writing. So yes, insanity, at the moment feels like it's running in the streets. For more specific information on me, my bio is here, and these are my 100 random things.

As an author, I'm just at the point where my work is getting some larger recognition, and have been offered a few small publishing options. After a successful thesis defense (that would be the plan anyway), my main goal will be attempting to market my novel to some of the larger publishing houses in both Canada and the US. Somewhat ironically, this project began out of an idea that was meant to keep the level of writing discipline up after the highly structured MFA came to a sudden, screeching halt.

My co author, the one you people know as Tate, was someone who I met this fall and instantly hit it off with. We soon discovered that there were not many areas socially, politically, philosophically, and let's just go with "other ways as well", that were dissimilar. Writing, and the desire to pursue that as a life career, was something Tater was just beginning to give consideration to. I think we both knew at the outset it wouldn't be long until we would put our heads together coming up with something. And it seems, we were right.

So, what is The Letters Project? In a nutshell, it is a multi author fiction series that will occur once a week, and each week one of us will build creatively on plot, characters and story structure of what the other author had previously written. Though there is, of course, a catch. Beyond an initial set up of a loose plot and character abstract, and an agreement on theme, Tate and I have not talked to each other at all regarding ideas or plans for the story, or the characters. The very over used saying "when you know it, we'll know it" applies very well here.

Beyond that, everything is going to be a wait and see. We really don't know if this will last past our initial thoughts of a ten week run, or who knows, maybe this is meant to be the first online soap opera that will know a ten year run. Like I said, who knows? Overall our goal is to spur each other on creatively, while offering clear support of that goal. Anything beyond that, is simply going to be fun to enjoy on the ride. Hopefully for the reader, it will be an equally enjoyable ride

Lastly, the first edition of The Letters Project will be posted this Thursday evening (tonight). We really hope you enjoy it, and if you do, we would love you to toss a comment in the box telling us what you thought. Because judging from what we have written so far, we promise you, this is going to be something very, very exciting for all of us.

To access the The Letters Project, simply click the folder in the sidebar. 

The very important issue that I have been writing about for the past couple of days, the active silencing of women of color bloggers, is finally gaining some momentum, and blogger Ico has written an open letter to the white feminist communityy, asking them to, quote, stop fucking up! She is amazingly on point in this letter:

The icing-on-the-cake, the piece-de-resistance, the ginormous-cherry-on-the-sundae-of-hypocrisy. If the issues concerned a bunch of women and men in arguing over whether something were sexist or not, there would be no question of who was right. When you have a group of men ganging up and claiming that the women in the room are being over-sensitive and irrational and seeing sexism where there is none (we have all been in this room before, I think), we all know the men are full of bullshit. It is an egregious show of male privilege.

So when all the WoC in the blogosphere are telling us that there are problems in feminism…

Um… yeah.

It's an uncomfortable, but highly required, long time in the coming message, and it is something that needs to be treated as a priority. If you would be interested in supporting the cause, then go to the site linked above and leave a comment, asking to be included and signed off on the letter.  

When I made the very scary decision to leave what was a rather cushy position in emergency medical research, and return to grad school for my MFA, it was with a lot of thought and some obvious goals. All of which were in some way based on my experiences reading literature and non fiction that had the ability to move me, change me, or make me consider something for the first time. If you stop to think about those things, and just what it means when those experiences happen for us, it can be overwhelming.

I have always been deeply affected by a personal narrative, the act of an author writing and expressing a strongly felt declarative statement. When the prolific blogger brownfemininepower took down her website recently, the blog world lost a very strong, powerful voice. One that I really wish more people had a chance to read. I remember when I first stumbled onto her site almost a year ago, the first article I read was discussing her initial experience with women's studies, and her first experience with the brilliant and cutting edge Andrea Smith, author of Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide.

While I had never had the opportunity to hear her lecture, or experience the teaching of Ms. Smith, I had read her books, and I had very specifically garnered much of my pedagogical ethic of student safety, from her writings and philosophy. What became increasingly clear to me as I read brownfeminepower's essay discussing Andrea Smith, and the ensuing comments, was what that particular community of women of color bloggers had more of than any other blog community I had come across. In a few very large and meaningful ways, they were rich.

Odd you might say, given the dynamics that have been laid out over the last several months, it seems like a somewhat contradictory thing to say. And if we were just talking about acceptance and validation from the mainstream, I would agree, they are anything but rich. Though what I was feeling, what I was seeing, and what I am trying to get at, is the community that these women have created with and for each other, is extremely rich.

It's something that you can't help but notice and it's a flavor that runs through all the women of color blogs that I have read. They are there for one another, they support each other, they hold each other up, and when it gets bad, as it has lately, they have each others back. And no, they don't always agree. Though there is always a core respect, and a core support. And it's something that makes me angry when I think of some of the darker reasons for that highly developed trait I see in women of color.

That is something I envy, and it is something we in the liberal mainstream blog world - feminist, gay, anti racist, pick your theme, we could all do a bit better at. The following video We Belong: Women Of Color & Online Feminism is one made by Sudy, who also writes a great blog. I think the video does an exacting job of conveying my point here. It was shot around the recent WAM conference (women and media) and when I first saw it, I was overwhelmed by the genuine support that it demonstrates so beautifully. I think it's a great, inspiring way to close out this topic.