Zines First Day of School

Zines!

Richmond Zine Fest 2008!
That's right - go see our zines. On the "free" table. 11a-5p October 11, 2008. Gay Community Center of Richmond. Go there. Thanks!

(P.S. Please ignore my dirty floor in the photo - I've been working a lot! :-) )

The other side of Pink

Featured in the Washington Post this week, here's a (totally unrelated to the last pink org) pink project I can get on board with: The Pink Line Project.
The project supports local artists in the Washington DC area making a significant contribution to arts in the area. It's fresh and not pretentious or stuffy. Check out the founder, Philippa P. B. Hughes' blog!

Code Pink

I'm going to preface this post with a disclaimer just stating that I'm writing as just one half of the Teesquare team. I'd rather not be responsible for putting words in the other half's mouth... and so, with that said:

Reading about Code Pink for Peace this morning in the news, creating havoc on the Democratic National Convention, I can't help but think this is possibly not the best use of these women's talents. Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink is an activist and writer, widely known for her explosive public displays and involvement in organizations that use scare tactics to bully people into taking their side. I've always wondered what Rachel Carson and Susan B. Anthony have that I look up to that so many activist women in the news today don't have. I think it's tact. Or class. I'm not sure, exactly, how to put it into words, but there's definitely something a little unrefined about the movement Benjamin and team are trying to create with their blood-on-our-hands aggressive campaign. I could be way off base, but I'm not sure it's working for them. How come all these talented, well educated women are sneaking into events to flash homemade signs in hopes of getting 2 seconds on the local news? If these people are so talented, why can't they think of a more effective way to spread the word of Peace? I'd love nothing more than our troops to come home, having friends and relatives involved in both foot and air combat from Desert Storm through today. And I'm thrilled that women are educating themselves on the war, political efforts (or non-efforts) to stop it and how they can get involved. Where does effective anti-war marketing begin and where does anti-war marketing begin to make a group of intelligent women look foolish?

Women Dominate A-School, but...

Where do they go when they graduate? Interesting article a few weeks ago in The National (an English newspaper produced in the UAE) about the odd fact that women dominate architecture schools, but the professional field remains a man's world. Read it here. My general understanding is that this is an epidemic across the globe.

A Change in the Air

In continuing with the political theme for another go, I found a nice critique of Obama's logo (I'm trying not to let my inner greenie show, but I just cannot help it) - (one) because it's used in so many creative ways, and (two) because there's never been another like it. I liked this overview critique on Obama's branding from Under Consideration. If you didn't already notice the clever ways in which the logo is being used (a "flag" element being added to the name of each state as necessary, a school ledger type pattern added to the logo when referencing education, etc.) it's worth going back to the Barack Obama Website to take a look at the multitude of treatments. Shout out to the logo designers: Sender and mo/de, both of Chicago.

Political Base

Since I'm on my political horse today, I also wanted to pass along a new website co-created by the former owner of CNET that tracks politicians across the country in local and federal elections. It's called politicalbase.com and is a HUGE resource if you are looking into campaign donations, religious affiliations, education, past political maneuvers or even simply the first name affiliated party of specific politicians. Today, they have a great opinion piece on the decision the New Yorker has made to run an issue with what many believe is a tasteless satirical cariacature on the cover. See that here. It's user friendly - my mom, who claims to be completely disinterested in politics, has even expressed interest in this. You can get the information with as much milk as you need, but being a wiki in nature, you can easily find yourself browsing one politician to the next for hours.

Visualize Change

Obama's website is getting a lot of really great feedback and I wanted to share the information I have found regarding his designers. The team is basically an Art Director and a script guy. Their info is as follows:
John Slabyk of Chicago, Art Director
Celsius Design
he has a great ethereal sort of portfolio that is worth a look.
Scott Thomas also of Chicago, design and coding, etc.
simplescott
Very cut and dry, to the point design. These guys make a dynamic team, if you ask me. (Although the very "I have a dream" photo of Obama is a bit too cheeseball for my personal taste.)

A Greener Apple

Finally! iPod and cell phone recycling!
http://www.apple.com/environment/recycling/ipodrecycling/

The Footprint Chronicles

Patagonia outdoor-wear company has taken steps to make its products as eco-friendly as possible, from design to material to travel, while still maintaining marketability and quality. Their new advertising/marketing concept shows the consumer exactly what goes into making a few of their products, environmentally speaking - both the good and the bad. See this new campaign at The Footprint Chronicles. If Patagonia is making a goal and only getting part way to having it met, think about how few companies are setting any green goals at all and the impact that is having on our world...

Soy Ink Success!

This made me a little sad and really happy at the same time:

"The National Soy Ink Information Center is now closed. Due to the success of the soy ink industry, we feel there is no longer a need to continue our work promoting soy ink and its acceptance through the National Soy Ink Information Center. In short, the soy ink industry is such a success that you don’t need us anymore!"

Soy Ink, America's Printing Plant

More Blog Links

WoC (Women of Color) Blogs
La Chola
The Angry Black Woman
Diary of an Anxious Black Woman
Muslimah Media Watch
AngryBlackBitch
My Private Casbah
Problem Chylde
The Silence of Our Friends
Having Read The Fine Print......
blac (k) ademic

UK Feminist Blogs
The F-Word
Philobiblon
Mind the Gap
Penny Red

Health and Reproductive Issues
Women’s Health News
RH Reality Check
Our Bodies, Our Blog
Radical Doula
The Well-Timed Period

By and For Feminist Men
Hugo Schwyzer
Feminist Fred
No Cookies For Me
Feminist Allies
Masculinities in Media (by the folks at Men Can Stop Rape)

Others to Check Out
Bitch Ph.D.
I Blame the Patriarchy
The Women’s Rights Blog
Truly Outrageous
Tennessee Guerilla Women
Reclusive Leftist
Echidne of the Snakes
Media Girl

Feminism 2.0

Article from March-April 2008 Utne Reader
Utne Reader

For a long time, I was pretty sure that feminism was too shrill, too uncool, too irrelevant to bother with. Power. Patriarchy. Equality. All that would have to wait until college, when I was assigned books and articles on the subject.

That was just seven or so years ago, but inroads to feminist thought are already much more accessible. Magazines like Bitch and Bust have built young, loyal reader bases by tying feminism to popular culture. (If girls are interested in America’s Next Top Model, don’t disregard it—engage it.) More recently, the blogosphere, that sanctum of nonacademic discussions on all conceivable subjects, has created a wide-open forum. What better medium could feminists hope for?

Advertising

Maybe things have improved slightly?

Feminine Face of Architecture

The New Feminine Face of Architecture

Architecture is being feminised. Amanda Levete of Future Systems discusses soft swoops, flowing loops, and why hard-edged modernism is so over.

Paper V Plastic

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2007/10/03/GR2007100301385.html
This is good.

Brainstorming

Fancy New Stamps

Eames Stamps!
The Postal Service is releasing these, among others, in 2008. “This stamp series celebrates our greatest creative minds, our groundbreaking heroes, and the places, institutions and values that have made us who we are,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “We’re proud to be able to highlight noteworthy parts of our shared American history on stamps that people will use every day to connect with family and friends." Ray Eames is my hero.

Tattfoo

http://www.tattfoo.com/projects.html
This is rad.

White Folks Guide to the Subway?

Not sure how I feel about this. Graphic design gone astray?
http://gothamist.com/2008/01/13/map_of_the_day_132.php
http://streeterseidell.com/?p=449

The Miniature Earth Project

I've seen this so many times before, it's still pretty incredible.
http://www.miniature-earth.com/me_english.htm

NPR Greenwash Brigade

Our hand-picked environmental professionals, each part of the Public Insight Network, are on the hunt for "greenwash" as they examine eco-friendly claims by companies, governments and other groups. They ask tough questions about the mainstreaming of green, from the perspectives of people in the trenches who are focused on these issues 24/7.

Blog is here.

Just heard about these guys this morning on WNYC. The radio spot was about whether or not it is useful to achieve a common definition of sustainability.