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By david_orchid • 15 years ago

Kay Ryan, Outsider With Sly Style, Named Poet Laureate

When Kay Ryan was a student at the University of California, Los Angeles, the poetry club rejected her application; she was perhaps too much of a loner, she recalls. Now Ms. Ryan is being inducted into one of the most elite poetry clubs around. She is to be named the country’s poet laureate on Thursday.

That description “perhaps too much of a loner”, is a bit euphemistic.  Although she surely transcends the label "gay poet" it is indeed noteworthy that being an out lesbian did not harm her chances to be considered for, much less, awarded this honor.

Her poems, she says, don’t begin with a simple image or sound, but instead start "the way an oyster does, with an aggravation." An old saw may nudge her repeatedly, such as "It’s always darkest before the dawn" or "Why did the chicken cross the road?"

"I think, ‘What about those chickens?’ " she says, "and I start an investigation of what that means. Poets rehabilitate clichés."

Some do, perhaps, but many wouldn’t dare to enter such familiar territory. Ryan, however, adds depth and so many surprises that the silliest clichés become fertile ground. "The other shoe," from 2003, is a classic example:
By david_orchid • 15 years ago

BARBIE’S new S&M look has whipped up a storm

BARBIE’S new S&M look has whipped up a storm – with protesters dubbing it “filth”.

The doll’s image is transformed with kinky fishnets, motorcycle jacket, black gloves and boots.

Makers Mattel say Black Canary Barbie, out in September, is based on a DC comic superhero of the same name.

But religious group Christian Voice said: “Barbie has always been on the tarty side and this is taking it too far.

A children’s doll in sexually suggestive clothing is irresponsible – it’s filth.”

"Filth"?  Isn’t that a bit strong? 

Link

BARBIE’S new S&M look has whipped up a storm – with protesters dubbing it “filth”.

The doll’s image is transformed with kinky fishnets, motorcycle jacket, black gloves and boots.

Makers Mattel say Black Canary Barbie, out in ...
By david_orchid • 15 years ago

“Skinny Bitch”

Okay, so I was reading The New York Times today and after turning over the last page of Section A, I was assaulted by a full page ad of congratulations to the book Skinny Bitch for spending one year on the Times Bestseller list.

Apparently the authors ("Don’t hate them – be them!"), Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin have created a series of books based on, "A non-nonsense, tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating #@&* and start looking fabulous!"

Let’s see, besides the main volume, there’s, Skinny Bitch in the Kitch ("Kick-Ass Recipes for Hungry Girls Who Want to Stop Cooking #@&* (and Start Looking Hot!)); Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven ("A Gutsy Guide to Becoming One ...

Okay, so I was reading The New York Times today and after turning over the last page of Section A, I was assaulted by a full page ad of congratulations to the book Skinny Bitch for spending ...
By david_orchid • 15 years ago

Some Great Women Songwriters

Since I live in Nashville and have had at least somewhat of a career as a songwriter, I want to talk about an area where women truly excel and that is in the area of singer/songwriters.

I have long been amazed at the plethora of talent among new female songwriters.  Going back to Joni Mitchell, each succeeding generation of new songwriters produces a remarkable body of work, much of it uniquely feminist in its expression.  I am sure Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin, Lucinda Williams, Cat Power and Jonatha Brooke, are familiar names, but these represent the best known, tip of the iceberg.

If you haven’t already discovered the next few women artists, I think it well worth the investment in time to ...

Since I live in Nashville and have had at least somewhat of a career as a songwriter, I want to talk about an area where women truly excel and that is in the area of singer/songwriters.

I have ...
By david_orchid • 15 years ago

You can’t make this stuff up …

This story has been picked up by several blogs:

An Iowa blogger who claimed to use activism and education to promote “a more just and life-affirming culture of sexuality” for women, especially those women who have been victims of sexual violence, has pleaded guilty to photographing and filming a college student’s breasts without her consent.

Kyle D. Payne, 22 of Ida Grove, presented his guilty plea Monday in Iowa District Court for Buena Vista County. He agreed he was guilty of felony attempted burglary in the second degree and two counts of invasion of privacy, a serious misdemeanor.

I guess to put a positive spin on this guy, one could say as a way of dealing with his urges he tries to ...

This story has been picked up by several blogs:

An Iowa blogger who claimed to use activism and education to promote “a more just and life-affirming culture of sexuality” for women, especially those women who have been ...
By david_orchid • 15 years ago

Good news from the high-tech market, but why not in every area as well …

This article was in USA Today:

Women break to front of tech

SAN FRANCISCO — The glass ceiling finally seems to be shattering.

Hillary Rodham Clinton nearly snagged the Democratic presidential nomination. Danica Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has emerged as a major figure in world affairs.

Eva Chen smiles at the comparisons. As one of the tech industry’s top female executives, she is already accustomed to strides in her own profession.

"It’s gratifying to see more women in prominent roles in tech," says Chen, co-founder and CEO of Trend Micro, the third-largest computer-security company in the world, behind Symantec and McAfee. Its market value is $5.5 billion.

Okay, I think it is great that women ...

This article was in USA Today:

Women break to front of tech

SAN FRANCISCO — The glass ceiling finally seems to be shattering.

Hillary Rodham Clinton nearly snagged the Democratic presidential nomination. Danica Patrick became the first female ...
By david_orchid • 15 years ago

Women condutors (musical, not trains)

So, I often read and post to a classical music forum put up by The New York Times and the other day someone opined that women had no business standing on a podium and leading an orchestra.
And immediately was “hear, hear’d” by a regular contributor known for his “conservative” politics.
I chimed to express the view that it was only a matter of time until more women enter the conducting ranks, but that they had been systematically kept out by the patriarchal nature of our society. In follow up posts, I added that the primary reason why more women have not entered and excelled as conductors was because, as in most traditionally “male” professions, women have been ...

So, I often read and post to a classical music forum put up by The New York Times and the other day someone opined that women had no business standing on a podium and leading an ...