anti-Blondie dissertation

Don't get me wrong. I love Debbie Harry and Blondie as much as the next person. But I have to draw the line at that awful, awful song some of you might know as "Rapture." I don't think I need to go into much detail about why I hate this particular song. I am quite sure that most people, minus the karaoke crowd of America, can agree that this song just plain stinks. However, it is believed by many that this is the first "rap" song to hit the charts. I will agree that it is the first song to incorporate elements of disco and hip hop. I will gladly give them credit for that. Why anyone in their right mind would want to is beyond me. But this twiggy, two-toned blond, Miami turned Jersey girl was not the first to rap and hit the charts. No, no. Instead these guys are of the pioneers with the corner market on that claim to fame.
With their hit single "Rapper's Delight." This song was one of the 1st hip hop songs to hit the charts and the first hip hop song to ever go gold. So, as far as I am concerned, Blondie can suck it in this regard. Still keep in mind that I am otherwise a Blondie fanatic. However, it upsets me to no end when white folk are able to co opt what communities of color have been doing for ages, make it popular, turn a pretty profit, and get street cred for it. Kinda like this guy...

Elvis wasn't the father of rock n' roll! He simply brought "colored" music into the spotlight of mainstream America. But I will save my Elvis rant for another time and place.

For now, be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

This I believe...

I believe what's good enough for National Public Radio is good enough for me...

This marks the first installment, in a number yet to be specified, of "This I Believe: The Wild Goose Chases and Whimsical Fantasy That I Center My Life Around"

I believe in fairy tales and carbohydrates. I believe in flights of fancy and bouts of binge drinking. I believe in unicorns and love, and John Denver above. I also believe in Diamonds. Not the sparkly gems that justify the drilling and de-beautification of South Africa by De Beers, but instead the Diamonds that have brought pleasure to the cohorts of my generation.

Dustin and Mike Diamond.

After seeing the Beastie Boys in May and watching Celebrity Fit Club on television the other night, I was completely overtaken with a desire to believe that these two are in fact brothers. Mike and Dustin's noses, chins, and current hair do's bear a striking resemblance. It could only be true, right? This desire turned obsession managed to keep me awake for an entire hour before I began obsessing about my financial situation. When I awoke the next day,I cruised the interweb and located a few websites that backed up my theory. Let me tell you, I was thrilled. Just think, if the "D-man" is in fact packing heat (like he announced on Celebrity Fit Club) then maybe Mike D's nuts do in fact warrant a lyrical shout out!

Currently my roommate, queen of BuzzKilLandia, has been completely overtaken with a desire to make me to believe that this is all an elaborate hoax. She, too, found websites that make her nay saying credible. However, i currently don't give a rats ass. Maybe I wanted the connection to be real so badly that I only looked at websites that confirmed my suspicions, but what the hell does Wikipedia know anyway? They let people like this guy write up rodomontades about their notoriety and vast fame. I know this guy. The only thing he is notorious for is saying stupid shit like "i'm your ticket into the scene" and for making air paddles when he walks. He's a nice guy who perfectly proves the non-truthiness of wikipedia.


I digress. Back to the lecture at hand:

This I believe: the two Diamonds are siblings and if I have have the fortune of one day meeting Mike D I plan on asking him: "do you remember that one time when you were Screech's brother? Was that a hoax?"

Important Immigration Event in Seattle

People of Seattle, I pity the fool who does not come to this event. Serena Maurer is an amazing teacher at the UW who actively challenges the pedagogy of institutionalized learning. If you do not have the opportunity to take any of her classes, then I highly recommend your attendence.

"I am Not a Criminal!": Immigration, Security and Resistance,"

July 18th, 6:30-8:30 pm
New Freeway Hall
5018 Rainier Ave S. Seattle WA


Please join us for a conversation about the characterization and treatment of immigrants as criminals. This evening is being organized by the Women Studies Department at the University of Washington. Washington Community Action Network is co-sponsoring the conversation.


Moderator and participants:

Serena Maurer, Instructor in Women Studies and 2006 graduate of our PhD Program. Her dissertation research in the Yakima Valley focused on how notions of immigration and criminalization were tied together in resisting struggles for recognition and resources.

Shankar Narayan, Policy Director at Hate Free Zone

Maria Rivera, a local immigrant activist

Maru Villalpando, a Community Organizer with Washington Community Action Network (Washington CAN!).

See you there!!

color me excited

So far the summer of Shanny has been a bit lackadaisical to say the least. However, it is about to get super rad.
The first item on my agenda is to take vacation. What better way to get motivated than to take a break from doing nothing, right? I agree completely and so does my favorite person, HW.
At around 7pm, he and I will be hop into a shiny rental car and rocket north east past the Canadian line. To this lovely place:

Banff, Alberta!!! Banff is located in the Canadian Rockies. We will hike and bike aboot Banff National Park. Then, after a long day of activity, we will soak in mineral hot springs. HOORAY!!!
When we get back, I will get started on my doula and LSAT prep. not so hooray, but still productive and being productive is fun fun fun.

school's out for summer...

Last wednesday was my first and only final of the quarter and my last final of the 2006-2007 school year. It was for the most difficult class I have taken during my college career--PsychoBiology of Women with Professor Nancy J Kenney. She has an extremely unorthodox teaching style that makes the important information she teaches come across as interesting. She also demands that you put in a lot of study hours for her tests, because they are HARD! I thoought I had done so for the first 2 tests and all I got was a big, fat B on both! So I studied my ass off for the final. I dilligently went through practice tests circiling the correct answers and writing down why the other options were incorrect. It was intense. However, when the day of the test came I was not surprised by any of the questions--I owned the material. On this test my grade was quite different. I got an:
Hip Hop Hooray!! This boost in my test score, combined with my service learning work, got me a 4.0 in the class. And incidentally, I earned a 4.0 for the entire quarter. This brings my cumulative GPA up to a 3.9, a very respectable GPA to be applying to law school with.
So now I go enter into the Summer of Shanny with no worries or regrets and will actually be able to