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joecial-distancing · 4 years

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2019 in review in review:

A few years ago I started tracking yearly goals, books read, movies watched etc in a year, along with overview blurbs, in private posts. End of 2019/beginning of 2020 I was really frazzled/burned out about a lot of stuff and just never finished up making the thing. 8 months later, got the urge to read back what I’d got done, then figured I’d maybe go ahead and see about finishing.

Media tracking below the break. thoughts/blurbs written in 2020 italicized, 2019 not.

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Didn’t do so hot on explicit personal goals, but had a lot of stuff go ok around them this year.

School’s been fine/better than fine.

Job’s probably the biggest failing. Still with same job, haven’t made the firm moves to jump off, dragging my feet too much on exploring stuff w/ Columbia/NASA GISS.

Did not get better with covid, lol

Dating life still non-existent, but I’ve registered on apps, gotten more comfortable with selfies, improved general social life dramatically, been flirted with, updated my wardrobe, and generally started to get comfortable accepting that I’m a hot person.

Somehow got extremely better during covid.

Books

Grant (finished)

We stan a taurus legend

Guy was good at exactly one job, and was fortunate enough to have been in the right place/right time to get to do it.

Mort (discworld)

Definitely best discworld I’ve gotten to so far.

Don Quixote p. II

Really entertaining in a way that part 1 wasn’t; I was shocked how much the meta element landed for me.

Consider the Lobster (DFW collection)

had zero context on who DFW is/was when I read, and still don’t exactly tbh. Wanted to wait for a pause in The Discourse before diving into more of him, but dunno if I’m ever going to get that.

Crime and Punishment (revisited)

Weirdly didn’t get much more out of this than I did the first time I’d read it

Better Than Sex (HST Gonzo papers)

Xerox/widespread fax accessibility opening citizen access to mass media in a manner really reminiscent of what social media would go on to do at a much larger scale. Has a much more deliberate narrative arc than the other gonzo papers collections, also has that excellent HST richard nixon eulogy

The Brothers Karamazov

SPQR

Slouching Towards Bethlehem (Didion collection)

Pet Sematary

Not my favorite King, but not bad

Sourcery (discworld)

still funny/charming, but Mort really made clear/reminded me how much the hapless sadsack Rincewind mold of protagonist wears on me after a while.

The Devil's Teeth

My Year of Rest and Relaxation

Liked it a lot more once I realized it was doing a Fear and Loathing thing.

Homage to Catalonia

This should be the Orwell that gets taught in schools. Make it a followup to All Quiet on the Western Front or something, jeez.

Lyndon Johnson I

Having now finished all of them, this one’s probably the least-interesting but sets up a bunch of important context that the others still then feel the need to retread.

The Razor's Edge

Recommended to me as a “white guy discovers eastern mysticism” book, but also is more interesting in its treatment of that than I’d expected (helps it was written in the 40s).

Cat's Cradle

There’s a part in this where Vonnegut’s making fun of people who try to bond with strangers over being Hoosiers, and my dumbass immediate thought was “ooh, Vonnegut’s a hoosier? Me too!”

Lyndon Johnson II

Robert Caro felt compelled to apologize for spending so much words lionizing Coke Stevens, segregationist opponent to Johnson’s senate run. His goal was pretty clearly to show lbj’s lack of campaign charisma by contrast, definitely definitely overcommitted in his own narrativising.

Libra

I want to go back to this after reading some more De Lillo.

Gravity's Rainbow

This book absolutely kicked my ass

Overstuffed and referential in a specific way that really keeps me hooked in instead of put off. When I learn about some piece of cultural context that I retroactively recognize as being referenced in this, I want to go back and reread the entire thing.

From Caligari to Hitler

Kind of fails both as film criticism and cultural analysis, but absolutely made me want to run for the hills when considering current relationship between mainstream movies and demands of pop culture.

I took a class on Weimar cinema in undergrad that I now realize was probably biting pretty heavily from this and never once referenced it.

Movies

Venom

Movie itself is not as fun as the Tom Hardy hype coverage. PG13 was the absolute worst space to aim for, PG- or R- versions of this could have been a blast.

Harryhauser Argonauts

Was tripping when I put this on, and it was all kinds of fun.

2001: a Space Oddyssey

First time seeing this, all-time classic for a reason!

A Good American (the NSA doc)

Dr. Strangelove

Mel Brooks History of the World p. I

Not my favorite Brooks, best joke was at the beginning.

In Bruges

Had been a while since I saw a proper dark comedy.

Spiderverse

Fukkin awesome!

Visually great, and extremely better than usual superhero stuff for being aimed at PG instead of PG-13.

You Only Live Twice

Highlander (Revisited)

I watched The Old Guard on netflix recently and it mostly just made me wish I was watching Highlander instead, because at least Highlander knows exactly how goofy it is

Moonraker

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Much like The Shining, I though this would have been 100% spoiled for me by cultural osmosis, but turns out it wasn’t, and even the scenes I had seen *totally landed* in-context still.

Kung Fu Hustle

Ichi the Killer

Really gross, really fun

Matrix Reloaded (watched thru highway scene) (Revisited)

The highway scene was not nearly as cool as I remembered it being.

John Wick 3*

Probably dumbest plot of all of them, best choreography. I like how every single fight had its own distinct flavor. “Knife museum fight” “horse fight” “halle berry dogs fight”

Akira

A classic

Pet Sematary * (ugh, bad)

Why can’t john lithgow be in good movies anymore

The Revenant

MCU Spiderman

Fuck this was awful.

MCU Spiderman 2*

Really weird, complete Rorschach Test of a movie: it’d be totally valid to read into this that global warming is Fake News, for instance.

Lmao this was completely awful

Rites

Dredd (non-stallone)

oh hey Lena Headey’s in this

For All Mankind!

Watched in honor of moon landing anniversary

Lion King *

Watched it way too stoned, was like dark side of the moon + wizard of oz except instead it’s a lion king script reading + nature footage edited for lip syncing.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood *

Many scenes of very long setups for really stupid shaggy dog jokes, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t. I do kinda want to rewatch now knowing more about manson, which I knew pretty much nothing about beforehand

Blowout

A good john lithgow movie

also I think I like travolta in things.

Lord of War

A Good cage movie

I like when Eamon Walker shows up in stuff.

Taxi Driver

A classic

Snowpiercer

Watched in a bar with only one speaker working, which is the correct way to watch. Weirder and funnier than I thought it was going to be, which still doesn’t make it good, but,

dbz big green dub

Exorcist III

Brad Dourif just tearing it apart

Deep Red (argento)

Suspiria (1977)

Watched the remake in 2020, which was ok, but nothing tops the Goblin score.

Elf Bowling

Thanks, Gnome

Parasite *

Interesting to me that this one seems poised to hang around people’s good esteem for a while

FMA: B

Rick & Morty

Saw some episodes, generally pretty funny, some misanthropy that’s probably appealing to a certain type of teen al a something like House, but ultimately I don’t totally Get the intensity of discourse about it.

Leterkenny

Mob Psycho 100

One Punch Man

Deadwood

Watchmen

Only watched like half of it. Was playing around with a lot of hefty imagery/thematics, but didn’t really seem ready to rise above playing (tho also I feel like it’s weird on some level to *expect* them to rise above that in the first place)

Music

New Avantasia

HEALTH/ show

lol remember concerts

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard/ show

Just learned about King Gizz in 2019 and got completely obsessed with them. I don’t tend to expand my music selection very readily, and a lot of what I currently *do* know is old/inactive stuff, so it was/is incredibly exciting to have an active group with good momentum just immediately win me over like that.

Mistimed the edibles and ended up with a really good finale and a really long subway ride home.

New Yeasayer

Sad they split up

Steve Wilson Tull remixes

Aqualung’s a good album and the sound mixing’s kinda bad, so I liked this project.

Stonefield

Opened for Gizzard. Really good as studying music

Video Games

Civ VI: Gathering Storm

Hades

Turns out Supergiant’s design proclivities all work *extremely well* on a roguelike

Baba is You

Untitled Goose Game

Cute, if maybe a bit overhyped

finally fucking finished Pillars of Eternity

Had fun with it, but too long, and really dour for how long it is.

Pillars II

Kinda drifted off it eventually, but I do genuinely like that the flavor of the fantasy is colonial era rather than medieval.

There’s a Balancing Bastard Factions element where it’s like the writers are just being smartasses after a while. Having to go extremely out of their way to make siding with colonizers seem like a competitive option.

Pokemon shield

Cuphead

pisses me off, which was a nice outlet when I was stranded by flight cancellations during thanksgiving

Celeste

Also very difficult, but really easy to stay patient with, which is nice.

Disco Elysium

None of the discourse made me want to play this, but people talking about the mechanical stuff it did got me extremely interested. Mostly Delivered IMO.

Breath of the Wild

You can approach the nodes of the main quest in the order you choose, and the second one I chose made ninjas start fucking spawning everywhere when I’m just trying to explore, and there’s no way to make it stop. May go back to it one day.

Podcasts

Relentless Picnic Patreon feed

The treats really helped me start distinguishing individual personalities, compared to the regular eps.

Picnic Discord!

FatT Counterweight

Fun, but also I think Mechs are not my shit.

FatT Spring in Hieron/ end of that particular world

8 months since I’ve last tuned into FatT. ah well.

Law School

He’s in everythiiiing!

You Must Remember This: Manson family

*There’s* the context

Misc.

Kindle train guy

Times Square sleeping guy + kids taking selfies w/ him

toddler singing along after Psycho killer (a, ya, ya ya, ya)

drunk and dragged to a drag show

Central park football family

Soft Steel Drum Subway Busker

Weird old lady going to grand central for oysters

2018 in review (cards):

MySelf (CC)

Self: Tower

Blocked: 10 Cups

Ethereal/subconscious: 8 Swords

Material: 3 Swords

Past: Justice

Future: Page Wands

Attitude: Sun

External: King Swords

Hopes/Fears: 5 Coins

Trajectory: High Priestess

Also Self:

Hierophant

7 Cups

7 Coins

Blind Spot:

(self & others): 5 cups || (others not self): High Priestess

(self not others): Moon || (nobody): 3 Cups

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deamabilisworld · 4 years

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My struggle with gender, philosophy and feminism

During my army days I was fascinated in metaphysics. This is what sort of got me into mathematics and philosophy. They are really intertwind topics. However, I gradually shown interest in philosophy of gender.

I can think of multiple reasons for that:

On an analytic stand point, partially under the influence of daoism, the dualic image of things appealed to me. I’ve grown convinced in the idea that there are two negating views of the world and we must accet both as living beings. It was convenient, like many of the old world writers, to assign them to the concept of gender. Not as attached to sex. Human beings developed a lore under the concept of duality, and attached to sex the idea of gender which relates to this duality. The polar genders (and whats between them) seem engrained in many cultures and especially western lore, and it has influence on the way we preceive the world.

This sort of lead me to the second reason: While philosophy historically attempted to create an impersonal frame of mind, one of pure logos, being, godliness which would rationalize basically everything, there was also this frame which attempts to understand things from the personal, from context and from emotional connection to them.

And of course, the fact that I am transgender made me think about gender a lot. As I read more I realized how useful philosophy is to rationalize these thoughts. Being transgender is not only a personal emotion, it is highly rationally justified when you understand the analysis of language, culture etc.

Sidenote: no, philosophy doesn’t mean only ‘post modernism’ and def not ‘illogical’. I should write on the topic at some point, but most of my reading focused on the british or ‘analytic’ philosophy which really attempted to ground itself on mathematics (as the root of language) and science. At first, because like most of us, I believed in medicalism and biology as the root of all knowledge, evolutionary psychology and all, and then gradually discovered both from the empiric standpoint and the philosophical standpoint how unsound this position is, as I progressed through reading of the analytic tradition (and read my loverboy, Wittgy).

Anyway, back to present day Emma.

The Rowling incident resulted in a major split in the feminist movement in Israel. What happened basically was this: The Slut Walk in Israel started off by queer anarchists. One of its major leaders was a queer trans woman with a beard called Dan Vag. TERFs and liberal feminists really didn’t like the idea and put a lot of pressure and shaming against the Slut Walk.

Dan Vag committed suicide after this atrocies public shaming. Since she was a source of inspiration to the queer anarchists, her death broke the community down. The new leaders of the Slut Walk, or more specifically the Tel-Aviv Slut Walk were mostly cis women, both TERF and liberal (along side, began a mass marketing movement of the walk, a lot of social media coverage, association with major political figures and of course: capitalization from the walk by selling t shirts and merch).

The topic declined in the following years until Rowling raised her ugly head which raised the awareness that the feminist circles in Israel are not safe for trans and bisexual women. This brought a major split within the movement. The Slut Walk currently is much more gay (lead by a lesbian woman, open to trans people) and yet still very liberal (though not libertarian, they sided with the TERF circles).

Anyhow, thing is, that though trans were outcasted from feminist circles before, it was always more subtle and manipulative. The Rowling incident made everything louder and more exposed. Which is a good thing. It finally opened a discussion which should have occured years before. So... I guess... thank you Rowling for being such a dumb, vicious person.

Thing is, while there is much good intention, most of the discussions are made using Facebook which is sort of shit for discourse. I should note, we have many doctors and academics who were willing to take the time and write very serious posts about the matter (sadly no rational argument or post from any figure with knowledge supporting the TERF side, almost as though it is mostly a load of rubbish and they repeat the same dumb arguments over and over again), but seeing as though they are mostly posted in Facebook, most people don’t come to contact with the information and it is quickly forgotten. Plus, most of the discourse on Gender Theory within our circle remains very... undergrad and below level.

Enters ol’ narcissist me. People pushed me for some time, and I thought about it myself, of preparing a YouTube video about the topic. But I had two major issues:

A. I wished to cover the TERF side as unbiased and maturely as possible

B. I wished to bring something new and insighting to the table and not repeat the abundant information that is avaiable everywhere (which TERFs don’t seem to read or be able to understand God knows why).

Ben Shapiro’s gender video was just translated to Hebrew, and I prepared a script for it but I felt bad replying to such an idiot. While he argues similar things to many TERFs, I don’t see value in replying to them because none of his points holds up to scrutiny more then 5 sec.

I was actually insulted. They are willing to hold extremely lazy believes, that are so easy to debunk, and not think for even 5min about the people who are hurt by that. They are not the ones who are hurt by their views and I can see why thinking about these topics places them in inconvenience so I guess it doesn’t matter for them. You know... the banality of evil and all that.

But then I remembered I studied Deleuze during the last summer vacation, and I remember his view on Science in Desert Island which intrigued me, specifically with relation to intersex.

Specifically, the fact that science attempts to induct from cases to general theories, and then apply them to different phenomena, implies that science would attempt to enforce sameness and eliminate differences. Thus, for instance, by creating the binary presentation of sex, intersex become an anomaly for the theory, which is either ignored or regularly supposed to be contained in one of these two categories for convenience. Likewise, statements as 'Women have property X' don't fully describe which category has property X: people of similar sex hormones balance, people with a certain genetic markup, people with a female or male anatomy etc. Thus the description increases our underdeterminancy and raises the issue of under-diagnosis in trans and intersex people.

I also saw a rescent video which made me think about this issue further:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcOhfOrz0HM

And I had many thoughts:

It’s an interesting take on the issue, it can demonstrate many of the things people don’t understand about sex and gender in an easy to follow manner, Deleuze is a very sexy man and it would be a great opening video about the binary view on sex.

Anyhow, this got me excited.

I mailed a few of my professors, some professionals I know for Deleuze and stuff, one of them was even interested in making it a complete research with me about Deleuze and gender (apparently, not a topic discussed enough cause everyone is at the other party, parising Foucault for the same shit over and over again while forgetting that Deleuze guy who was a serious golden boy).

Anyhow, I’m excited about that.

#blog #terf #queer-anarchist #deleuze #ludwig wittgenstein #analytic philosophy #daoism

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tkmedia · 3 years

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The best Brownlow count in years… shame thousands couldn’t see it thanks to streaming debacle

Port Adelaide star Ollie Wines claimed the 2021 AFL Brownlow Medal in the most exciting count in quite some time… but an archaic TV rights situation meant many footy fans couldn’t watch a minute of it. Here are the big talking points out of the AFL’s night of nights. 7Plus… minus all the good stuff The integration of streaming services into everyday life has now given people an expectation that whatever they want to watch is now just a click away. With Kayo Sports a staple of every self-respecting sports fan’s monthly expenses, plus new faces such as Stan Sport and Paramount+ entering the market, we’ve grown accustomed to simply booting up our laptops or opening our phones and tuning in. But it seems Channel Seven – and the AFL – aren’t with the program, as it were. Because the first indication for thousands – if not more – Australians that something was amiss was when they logged onto Seven’s streaming service, 7Plus, for the Brownlow count – only to find no trace of it. Great news for Border Security fans, to be sure… but AFL lovers everywhere were left feeling rightly jilted. We only have smart TVs and there’s no #brownlow on @7plus WTF. Also no paid streaming option via @AFL either… how is this a thing in 2021?! @Channel7 — christie fekete (@ChristieFekete) September 19, 2021 I'm trying to stream the Brownlow on 7Plus (forgive me, I'm in lockdown!). But I'm getting Border Security instead. Either Peter Dutton is about to cause a big boil over by beating the Bont or something is going wrong here?#Brownlow — Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) September 19, 2021 Advertisement Can any ???? experts explain @7AFL’s logic in not making its #BrownlowMedal coverage available on @7plus? There must be a reason… — Marc McGowan ????✍️????????‍???????? (@ByMarcMcGowan) September 19, 2021 The reason why is simple: Seven don’t have streaming rights for any of their AFL-related content. After Telstra ended their AFL Live Pass access at the beginning of 2021, they now belong exclusively to Foxtel and Kayo Sports … who, as it happens, can show everything EXCEPT the two biggest events on the calendar. Namely: the Brownlow Medal and this Saturday’s grand final, which are the sole domain of Seven. It took Seven until the count started to notify expectant fans venting on Twitter that they wouldn’t be able to stream the count on 7Plus. PSA: due to rights restrictions, the #BrownlowMedal cannot be streamed on 7plus. You can watch live and free on Channel 7. — 7AFL (@7AFL) September 19, 2021 While the network took the lion’s share of the blame on social media last night, they’re not solely to blame for the shemozzle. It’s a farce in this day and age that supposedly the biggest sporting competition in Australia can prevent a network from live-streaming an event it has exclusive access to. Can you imagine Channel Nine doing the same with the State of Origin series? Fixing the contract up must be a priority for the AFL, and surely will be after Monday night’s debacle. It’s a shame it comes as too little, too late for many fans left in the lurch. Advertisement And fair warning – unless you’ve got access to a special set-top box in this list, you’re going to need to break out the ‘rabbit ears’ to catch the grand final on Saturday night. Ollie Wines – Brownlow Medallist, and straight-up savage Heading in as the favourite after an outstanding season, averaging over 32 disposals in Port Adelaide’s run to the preliminary final, Wines secured his place among the game’s elite with a maiden Brownlow, for himself and the club. Fascinatingly, he did it despite the very thing that arguably gave him that favouritism – a lack of teammates to take votes off him – being flipped on its head. Where Melbourne stars Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca were expected to drag each other down, and ditto Bulldogs pair Marcus Bontempelli and Jack Macrae; it was Wines’ partner in crime Travis Boak’s 25 votes which was the highest club runner-up tally of the night. Boak’s outstanding polling, particularly early in the night, makes Wines’ achievement of equalling Dustin Martin’s record of 36 votes all the more impressive. In 16 of 22 games, he was deemed to be among the three best players afield – a record he now holds on his own.

(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Sealing the result with two votes on Bontempelli’s Bulldogs in Round 23, the unassuming country lad from Echuca, in Victoria’s north, then proceeded to win the footy world over with plenty of blunt honesty in his victory speech. When notified by host Basil Zempilas of his record-equalling haul, Wines responded simply: “I’m not sure about the numbers, but 36 sounds like a lot.” Always a keen footy fan, his favourite player growing up was another Echuca product in former Carlton swingman Andrew Walker; he’d reveal a hilarious anecdote about a call to radio station 3AW in “the early 2000s” to talk about his idol with legendary caller Rex Hunt. Advertisement Reckon you'll be able to get onto talkback tomorrow Ollie ????#Brownlow pic.twitter.com/O8cIBJRFD7 — AFL (@AFL) September 19, 2021 Wines then had them rolling in the aisles when he singled out a few Power teammates who had tagged along to Perth, despite little chance of polling many votes themselves. “We’ve got a really good crew come over tonight. A lot of the boys jumped on because I was a bit of chance, so I’m sure they’ll enjoy the night. “There were a lot of guys who weren’t a chance of polling votes – Tom Clurey… he asked for the after party invite, so he’s got that!” Finishing off the night with an impromptu phone call from Power president David Koch, the Brownlow will surely be some consolation for Wines after his team’s preliminary final defeat to the Bulldogs. It certainly was for his family. Scenes @ North Melbourne pic.twitter.com/fLHQDGCDVL — Maddie Wines (@maddiewines) September 19, 2021 Advertisement Forget ‘midfielder’s medal’, the Brownlow is a ‘favourite’s medal’ The last non-midfielder to win the Brownlow was Sydney legend Adam Goodes back in 2003 – and he was a ruckman who would win another ‘Charlie’ as a midfielder three years later. It’s no secret that the AFL’s most prestigious award is now exclusively the domain of the on-ballers. When Taylor Walker’s 9 votes is the most by any permanent forward, and Tom Stewart’s 8 the highest by a backman, you’ve got yourself a pretty clear discrepancy. However, in recent years the line has been pushed even further: it’s no longer enough to just be a midfielder to take home the Brownlow. Now, unless you’re one of the red-hot favourites being touted as a chance for months leading into the night, you might as well enjoy a cup of tea and turn in for an early night. Since Matt Priddis took home a surprise Brownlow in 2014, six of the seven medals have been won by the pre-count favourite. Wines, albeit a far closer-run choice among pundits than the overwhelming fancies of Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin and Lachie Neale in recent years, polled accordingly. Don’t get me wrong: Wines, and those before him, are all indisputably worthy winners for outstanding seasons. But was his season really so astounding as to merit a Brownlow-record 36 votes (tied with Martin’s 2017 tally) and SIXTEEN appearances in the best three on the ground? You could say the same for Neale in 2020, who was adjudged by the umpires as best man afield ten times in seventeen home-and-away rounds, for a tally of 31. Perhaps the most glaring example of this is at the Western Bulldogs. Runner-up Marcus Bontempelli finished narrowly second behind Wines with 33 votes; while teammate and disposal machine Jack Macrae, the man who this year broke the record for the most disposals ever in an AFL season, finished with… 12. Not saying he should be leading but…. Umpires, let me introduce Jack Macrae. 12 votes!!?? pic.twitter.com/CTQ8P1TDTF — Alister Nicholson (@AlisterNicho) September 19, 2021 Advertisement Suggestions that the umpires have enough on their plate to be awarding Brownlow votes as well are fair, but it’s not going to rectify this situation. The obsession with the game’s biggest stars in the weekly cycle that is AFL media has made it just about impossible to head into a game without your eye being automatically drawn to the Bontempellis, the Wineses, the Dangerfields. If they’ve been the hot topics on every footy show all weekend long and then rack up 30 touches, regardless of their effectiveness, is anyone surprised when they continue to poll so spectacularly? All the while, the efforts of not just the gun forwards, backs and ruckmen of the game, but now the unassuming Macrae-style midfielders too, go largely ignored. For better or for worse, it seems we’re stuck with this trend. A bunch of hot candidates in 2021 at least made it interesting… but another Neale-esque count rout next year would be less than ideal. History made as records crumble by the bucketload Has a Brownlow ever produced so many new records? Well, the first one maybe, and those ones where two umpires gave the votes, but you get the idea. We’ll start with the obvious ones: Wines’ 36 votes equals Dusty’s highest-ever haul, while his 16 vote-winning games stands alone. It was a massive night for all the other top contenders, too; with Wines, Bontempelli (33), Oliver (31) and Carlton sensation Sam Walsh (30), it was the first Brownlow ever to feature four tallies in the 30s. The previous best? Two – between Martin and Patrick Dangerfield in 2017, Dane Swan and Sam Mitchell in 2011, and – one from the archives – Collingwood’s Des Fothergill and South Melbourne’s Herbie Matthews in 1940. Speaking of old-timers, the ageless David Mundy became the oldest man ever to poll more than 20 votes, getting to 20 on the dot at the age of 36. Not to be outdone, 33-year old Travis Boak (25 votes) is now the oldest man to poll 25 or higher. But it wasn’t a big night for others. Collingwood defender and premiership Bulldog Jordan Roughead set a new bar for the most games without a single vote, at 192. He beat out the previous holder, Geelong’s Tom Lonergan (191)… who was thrilled to pass on the baton. Note to all MC’s… delete from all future intro’s ???????? https://t.co/r9nChWw5HG — Tom Lonergan (@tomlonergan13) September 19, 2021 Disappointingly, though, one eight-year streak came to an end with Wines’ win. Lift your game, Echuca. Echuca has a McDonalds, so the streak is over. https://t.co/8j0jB3xxJ4 — Max Laughton (@maxlaughton) September 19, 2021 Read the full article

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elijahlucius · 3 years

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Listen patiently to everything.

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a more complete and immersive picture of the world in three dimensions. The tigers suffered other defeats as well. Farmers had been charged with violations of a Clean Air Act and Right to Know laws, requiring them to monitor and report emissions. He could see some now, swinging from spar to spar and ship to ship. The magazine rankings do not include FCS teams such as Northern Colorado.. There were gardens bright with flowers and fountains sparkling golden in the sun. "We've hit a wall, fatigue issues," Van Gundy said. These days the Sistermen left open piracy to Salladhor Saan and his ilk and confined themselves to wrecking. I pronate, I think. Employees in MNCs also celebrate it where they dress up gruesomely and try to scare people with their makeup. "He knew the media were going to be on him all day and he'd had a haircut he looked sharp! I think he knows how to deal with it," Pietersen said. It is for the best. Tuesdays at the Japanese School House, Geil and Pajaro streets, Castroville. The passage twisted to the left. Viserion. Walt Disney World raised parking rates to $11 a car at its four theme parks this past weekend. His awards from World War II and Korea include Distinguished Service Cross, three Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts. It is also a $75.00 doll that is selling online at the official site. No, sir; it is to brassiere garcon fall upon the less wealthy class of our citizens, chiefly upon the non-slaveholder. Mirroring the impact of the original Monsieur Dior's 1947 New Look across the spectrum of fashion, there are few collections shown today that are not in some way a reaction to Simons's designs. The information I have gathered little by little has completely reassured me. Onward, forward and so forth! [1]. Under the deal, Under Armour becomes the official footwear supplier for the league. Looking at it you would have allowed at once that twenty years must have elapsed since its last meal. I'm going to go everywhere I need to go to make sure Flint is remembered. And every day on the trail was followed by a deep black night sky awash with stars, yet another reminder of nature's humbling grandeur and the Bugaboos enduring beauty.. Stannis Baratheon had descended on the Iron Fleet biciclete pret from both north and south whilst they were trapped in the channel between the island and the mainland, dealing Victarion his most crushing defeat. I can’t command you to be brave, but I can command you to hide your fears. He kept on talking so . By any standard, James was brilliant that night, what with 45 points and 15 rebounds in an elimination game on the road. Should the hour come, and I pray that it does not, we will light that beacon. I just want the damned numbers but I cannot seem to find them anywhere on the Post's vaunted Political webpage.. I will even write King Tommen, stating as much and asking for a pardon and the restoration of my lands and titles. It's maybe why I gave you the handle "Beautiful" so "if the shoe fits wear it," Cinderella, or "call em like you see em" I miss you, I miss your slow walk I miss your squeeze, I miss your shape, I miss the scent that is you, and I miss your taste, thick and full of my desire, I miss your love.

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suetravelblog · 4 years

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Oregon Wildfires 2020 – usatoday.com

Surely, we can all agree that 2020 has been a filthy little year! With over three months to go, it’s painful contemplating what more havoc might come. After an extended trip abroad, I returned to the US in December 2019, with no idea about what was soon to follow in 2020. Long flights are difficult, and I cringe when recalling the 20+ hour flight from Dubai to Seattle with fidgety, sneezy passengers from all corners of the world touching everything as they wandered throughout the aircraft.

Wuhan Novel Coronavirus – New Scientist

Covid-19

The March Covid-19 “lockdown” wasn’t fun, but since I’d been on the move for a long time, I was content with extended quiet days in one familiar space. I feel great compassion for people who caught the virus and those who have suffered untold economic and physical pain. Tragedies continue to play out worldwide as new side effects surface and second waves begin occurring in the UK and throughout Europe, it’s a sad and disturbing, with hope for a vaccine but no clear end in sight.

I wanted to volunteer and help, but that wasn’t wise. Like everyone, I sat at home and watched dramas play out online and via cable television, shuddering at the thought of what might happen next.

Oregon Fires

To further complicate an already complex environment, in September hellish forest fires struck Oregon – a tragedy for humans, nature, and animals. Although I’ve experienced wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington – nothing quite like this!

The fires began when a storm brought historic high winds and lightning which wreaked havoc along the West Coast. Some of Oregon’s most beautiful mountainous areas are lost. It’s devastating and will take years to recover. These fires have changed the State of Oregon forever. Tragic stories told by brave survivors and firefighters are heart wrenching.

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Red suns, dark skies thick with smoke, and toxic ash-filled air are part of the other-worldly experiences we’ve endured over the past few weeks. Friends in San Francisco relate goosebump rendering stories of a surreal, fire-ravaged environment.

Recently, we’ve had rainstorms in Oregon – unusual for September – and even shriveled up rhododendrons are perking up again. It’s pure delight hearing the sound of raindrops, finally opening windows, and standing outside taking a deep breathe! Sadly, with the rain, flash floods are predicted in areas already devastated by fire.

Firefighters Western Wildfires – The New York Times

Cleanup is next, in accordance with approved guidelines. Everything in sight is coated with ash!

2020 Presidential Election

There are no words to describe the prolonged abuse Americans are suffering in regards to the 2020 presidential election. It’s the nastiest, most mean-spirited campaign in history. I was out of the country during the two previous elections, and thought I’d done what was necessary to vote absentee – discovered I had not.

Voting from a foreign country is supposed to be easy, but it wasn’t. While traveling, you may not have a mailing address or access to a printer, scanner, or fax, at least I didn’t. My attempts to get setup for voting online while traveling abroad threw things off balance. Later, when back in the US and waiting for a ballot for local elections, I realized it wasn’t coming via hard mail or email. While trying to sort it, I got bounced back and forth between national, state, and county election officials, none of whom were particularly helpful in figuring out what ran amok. I almost gave up, but voting is vitally important, so I persevered and went in person to a local voting office to cast my vote. Oregon was a vote by mail state long before I moved here in 2007.

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Traveling in a foreign country during a presidential election is nerve wracking. Especially with endless negative media exchanges between news commentators and politicians flashing on computer and television screens everywhere. I was embarrassed to be an American, and with all the vicious vitriol, felt uneasy and vulnerable like citizens in some third world countries.

These days, it seems political campaigns begin the day after a presidential election ends and continue non-stop for four years until the next one occurs! The public is endlessly pummeled with partisan ads and nasty media coverage. It’s too much. Surely there’s a better way!

Map Portland-Eugene Area Fires – Wildfires Today

Peaceful Diversions

During super stressful times and when outside sources of entertainment are unavailable, people need peaceful diversions. I’ve found a few and rediscovered some as well.

Gardening

Although I have “basic” gardening done during my travels, there was a ton to catch up after being gone for over a year. Being surrounded by mini skyscraper-sized fir and oak trees on a little less than an acre is idyllic, but it also means there’s never-ending maintenance. The landscaping is on a hill, so that adds another level of tricky. Pruning, weeding, and cleanup has taken time and still isn’t finished, but visible results make the hard work worthwhile.

My back-landscaping leads into the woods, and deer, naughty squirrels, chipmunks, and wild turkeys are abundant. No matter how many times I’ve spoken to them :o) – they continue working against me by foraging, digging, and eating everything they find appealing. I’ve spent a fortune on deterrents and am now using Tabasco sauce – mildly effective but it seems the animals enjoy some spice with their food!

Orange Fire Skies Over San Francisco Bay – Sky News

Yoga and Hiking

I’m working on a personal yoga routine and started using wrist and ankle weights, which are making a noticeable difference. Gravity is cruel, and trying to counteract it is an endless process. Finally, I’m getting into a workout routine that works for me, and I look forward to it.

With the fires, hiking in nearby areas is curtailed temporarily. Over the summer, I took a few extended hiking trips which will be the subject of future blog posts.

Fire Ravaged Oregon Town – Star Tribune

Watercolor Painting

I began watercolor painting again – fruit and flower still life. Took lessons years ago, but never made much progress. Some scenes are setup in my small painting area, others are from a collection of art books, and a few were created using photos and media shots found online. Painting is a great way to relax and focus! I’ve shared my paintings with friends and have no illusions of talent but feel comfortable with my work. A few recent paintings are attached.

Five Apples

Apple Trio

Gran Manzanas Roja

Solo Sunflower

Pumpkins

Four Tomatoes

Candy Apple

Apples from Above

Animal Shelter Volunteer

I hope to start volunteering for a local animal shelter, fostering animals needing a temporary home until they can go up for adoption. With traveling, it’s difficult to have pets, so fostering is perfect. It’s been some time since I fostered, so I need to take a class first and hope that happens soon. Understandably, they’re busy after the fires.

Cooking

It’s fantastic to be in my own little kitchen again, with a familiar stove and cooking utensils. Cooking in an alien kitchen (7 of those on the last trip) can be frustrating. You often just give it up or do something simple, like pasta. I’ve enjoyed home cooking, and whatever is in season is on the menu. Surely Covid-19 restrictions are creating new chefs all over the world.

7 Recipes to Wow – faithhopeloveandlucksurvivedespiteawhiskeredaccomplice.com

Travel Again

Of course, I’m eager for another travel adventure. When is the question? As a friend says, staying healthy and active until things normalize is the only thing you can do.

Best to all!

Covid-19, Fires, Elections, and Peaceful Diversions Surely, we can all agree that 2020 has been a filthy little year! With over three months to go, it’s painful contemplating what more havoc might come.

#Covid-19 #Oregon Fires 2020 #West Coast USA Fires 2020 #Wuhan Novel Coronavirus

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westboast · 4 years

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Quarantine

January 29, 2020

Quarantine—“ORIGIN mid 17th century : from Italian quarantina ‘forty days.’”

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 (“coronavirus”) in Seoul: 4.

Days sober: 5.

“Teachers, please wear masks at all times. Please check your temperature at the beginning of work every morning and record in the log in the lobby.”

Keep coming back.

“I don’t know if I love you or not.”

I’m doing this because I want to feel better, be better.

“I know you’re trying to be better, but I can’t really feel that.”

But I wanted to be better for you.

Keep coming back.

“Are you sure you want to delete Grindr? All data and messages will be lost.”

“How’s the new book coming?”

“This is the end of a chapter, not the end of a book.”

“Sometimes you have to walk alone for a while.”

Seoul to Chicago, one way, 575 dollars (U.S.).

“I wonder what you would look like if you lost weight.”

According to the New York Times, a face mask can cut the risk of spreading the virus by 85 percent.

“I wanted you to try to be more attractive for me.”

“I don’t want negative energy in my house. If I let strange people in, I know I’ll have to cleanse and burn sage.”

The blanket that you came on.

The towel that you dried off with.

The ice cream that we couldn’t finish.

“You’re taking this too seriously.”

Keep coming back.

“They found me in a ditch. I had swallowed my own tongue.”

“We aren’t alcoholics. It’s circumstances.”

[Subway doors open] If you are experiencing symptoms of upper respiratory infection... [Subway doors close].

I don’t know how seriously I should be taking this.

“I heard a conspiracy theory that the Chinese government made the virus and they were planning to unleash it on Hong Kong. But it got out of control.”

“Avoid bars and clubs when you’re starting.”

“You’re obsessed with one thing I said.”

“Teachers, please stay out of confined, crowded spaces this weekend.”

“Do you want to go to the club?”

Yes, I don’t want to be at home.

Keep coming back.

“It looks like the Apocalypse in here, everyone dancing in their masks.”

February 27, 2020, second day of Lent

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 (“coronavirus”) in Seoul: 55.

Days sober: 33.

2020 is not a fin de siècle, but it feels that way to me. Things have ended swiftly since January. For one thing there is the longing that has appeared throughout these posts since leaving Seattle, the idea that I need someone to complete me. I don’t, actually. For too long I have tried to be someone for someone else, many someones. But I don’t need to, actually. And really, I can’t.

Last weekend the confirmed cases of COVID-19, colloquially “the coronavirus,” skyrocketed in Korea. On February 27, the country was at around two thousand cases. This event has been attributed to the activities of a cult based in Daegu which had meetings in Wuhan. Its members contracted the virus and have been hiding from health authorities. Fingers are being pointed in many directions, mostly toward China, often toward President Moon Jae-in.

Several small countries have barred people from entering from Korea. Taiwan has instituted a 14-day quarantine for anyone entering from here. At present the United States has not yet implemented widespread quarantines for people traveling from East Asia, though plans are in place.

I’m writing this for the future self who reads it. I want him to remember what was going on in late winter. Things are going to change again soon, I think.

Classes were cancelled this week. My coworkers and I had to go in on Friday to prepare for the upcoming term, though it is unclear when that will begin. The mood at work was somber, morose. We wondered if we would have jobs a month from now. “I’ve never experienced something like this,” my coworker said.

The city does not feel right. There are fewer people on the streets. Many restaurants are closed. There are no symphonies, no dance classes. Movie theaters are empty. Airplanes are flying half-full. My coworkers and I went to Lotte World and it wasn’t empty. I liked the knockoff Space Mountain the best. It felt very good, almost defiant, to laugh that much.

The masks are everywhere. The mask itself has become a potent symbol of the last six months. The protesters in Hong Kong wore black masks to identify themselves to each other and obscure themselves from facial recognition software. Now there are lines around the block in Korea for people to buy the dwindling supplies of them. There aren’t enough.

The virus itself is a respiratory condition. It is only dangerous for the elderly, the very young, and those with compromised immune systems. But the panic it has sparked would suggest that it is unusually dangerous. The western media’s coverage of the virus bears all the hallmarks of a racist hysteria. It came from China, from an outdoor market. A place full of raw meat and seafood. It is a foreign, Asian disease. There is a rumor that it originated in a bat that someone ate, a baldly racist suggestion, mingling the vampiric and the Victorian with general cultural ignorance. The New York Times always shows pictures of the masks. Masks, masks, masks. People wear masks in Asia. People use hand sanitizer compulsively in the United States. The hygiene culture of one place looks strange from another.

Ling Ma already told the story of this disease in Severance. That book imagines an airborne fungus from China that spreads around the world and turns people into brain-dead walking corpses. The pandemic is a metaphor for xenophobia against Chinese immigrants. Now we experience the nausea of seeing that xenophobia unfold in real time, as it did during SARS several years ago. The same story will emerge again in another few years. It is socially permissible—totally logical—to fear a disease. It socially impermissible to admit fear of someone Asian. In the case of this disease, these phenomena are one in the same. The recurring story of the Chinese disease creates a pressure valve for people to release their racist fantasies into the public square.

They release those fantasies like steam, soothing, jasmine-scented steam. I am not like them, they think, looking at pictures of Asian cities full of people in masks—sick people, unsanitary people, open-air-market people. No, I am clean. Panic justifies fear justifies racism and intolerance. I’m not racist, I just don’t want your sickness. I’m not racist, I just don’t want you anywhere near me.

Vancouver, 2015:

A CBC report concludes that many new property purchases are being made by Chinese buyers, confirming the widespread belief that this has been the case for years. One catch: they’re mostly Chinese-Canadian.

Seattle, 2014:

“They’re going to be speaking Mandarin in the schools soon!” said a panicked mother at an Italian restaurant.

“Are they?” I said. I was sort of listening. Mostly I was looking at her husband’s third thumb. We had seafood for dinner. It didn’t smell fresh.

February 28, 2020, third day of Lent

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 (“coronavirus”) in Seoul: 74.

Days sober: 34.

“Why is your mask red?” said my friend James. We were standing on the mezzanine at Apgujeongrodeo Station, near Gangnam.

“It’s all they had left at E-Mart,” I said, as we boarded the escalator. “It’s red so when I start coughing up blood people don’t get upset.” At this point I began pantomiming a tubercular fit.

“You’re being that obnoxious white guy.”

“Oh, sorry.”

That one didn’t land.

I wanted Italian food but my credit card didn’t work. James bought me arrabbiata.

“Red is a good color on you,” he said, looking at the mask, “because you’re white.”

“Thank you. It really brings out my sunburn.”

He laughed. That one landed.

“Could you look over a work email for me?” he said. “I’m worried about my English.”

“Your English is fine.”

“I don’t want it to be fine. I want it to be good.”

“Okay, it’s good.”

“I want it to be great.”

“It’s great.”

“I want it to be more than great.”

“Fine, you’re Shakespeare. Jesus Christ.”

“I’m just forgetting a lot of words.”

“It’s normal. Even I forget words because I don’t hear English all the time.”

“Really?”

“Really. Me and my friends talk about it a lot. I’m forgetting Japanese too. I forgot the word for strawberry the other day.”

“In English?”

“No, Japanese. If I forgot the English word for strawberry that would be a serious problem.”

We finished eating and moved toward the escalator.

“I think there might be a recession,” I said, looking at my phone. “The stock market in the U.S. is tanking.”

“Yeah.”

“All because of what’s essentially a bad cold.”

“It makes no sense.”

“This is what happens when people panic.”

James and I get along well because we roast each other. We took the escalator to the main floor of the mall. The perfume department.

“Oh, they have Chanel,” I said. “I dated a guy who worked at Chanel once and he broke my heart. This used to be very triggering for me. Do they have...” I looked around for it: his cologne. “They do.”

Bleu de Chanel.

I approached the sacred vial and asked for a sample. The clerk sprayed a little card with it. James and I went out the front doors into the night. I began having a meltdown and rubbing the card all over my neck, contaminating myself with memory.

“BREAK MY HEART, BABY!” I yelled hysterically.

“You look really weird right now.”

“OH YEAH!”

“Oh my God, please stop,” he said, grabbing the card and throwing it in the trash.

“You know, the fact that I can joke about this is actually progress. A year ago I would have been destroyed.”

We left the mall in search of an ATM and cigarettes.

“Can we go to a coin noraebang?” I said.

“Sure.”

“Just for one song. There’s a song that I want to sing.”

If you lose your one and only,

There’s always room here for the lonely

To watch your broken dreams

Dance in and out of the beams

Of a neon moon.

“Fuck, they don’t have it,” I said, shaking the controller in the booth.

“You only have two minutes to choose.”

“Do people have sex in here?”

“I don’t think so. There’s CCTV.”

I think they do.

“Oh, I’ll do ‘Islands in the Stream’ instead.”

The song started and a disco ball turned on.

[three minutes later]

James: “Your voice is terrible.”

Me: “Fuck you.”

We went back outside.

“Maybe Korea isn’t your country,” he said.

“That’s abundantly clear to me.”

“What will you do tonight?”

“I don’t know. My friend lives around here but I don’t know where.”

“She’s probably going out.”

“Maybe.”

“This is the city of foreigners now. Koreans aren’t going outside because of the virus.”

“I have a flight tomorrow anyway.”

“They’re blaming us now,” he said. “They’re saying Korea is spreading the virus.”

“It’s not really anyone’s fault.”

“Exactly.”

Anyone attempting to find logic in all this will be sorely disappointed.

“Why don’t we have boyfriends?” he said later.

“You said you didn’t want one.”

“That’s true.”

“I might. I think I do. But it turns out you have to be emotionally stable to let someone into your life like that. Plot twist!”

“I can understand that. That’s why I’m not trying. I don’t want to burden someone with my problems.”

“You’re not a burden. You just have to find someone who accepts you. You don’t want someone relentlessly positive. ‘You should try to be happier.’ Yeah, thanks, I hadn’t thought of that. If you think about things, you’ll see that there’s actually a lot to be depressed about.”

“Exactly.”

“I’m tired of seeking people’s approval anyway. Who the fuck are you? I don’t even know who these people are, and they expect me to care about their opinions of me.”

“Exactly. Who the fuck are you?”

A few minutes later we were going back down into the train station. Apgujeongrodeo Station is outside of my emotional quarantine zone. It’s where a lot of memories, blissful, drunk, heart wrenching, have occurred. It’s where I began to realize things were not going to work out with one person. Its where I became friends with my coworkers. It’s where I became friends with James.

“You should change your singing voice,” James said, laughing on the escalator.

“Oh, that’s great. I’ll add that to the suggestion list I’ve gotten here. So I should change my voice, my body, my personality. Am I forgetting anything? Oh, my nationality.”

“Your nationality? What nationality did they want?”

“Australian, apparently, which is hilarious because everyone knows Australian guys are trash.”

“And racist.”

“Yeah.”

In January, around the time the virus appeared in Korea, I decided that things needed to change drastically. I was walking with my friend near Sungshin University Station, another emotionally contaminated point, one night.

“I’m just really hung up on the idea of the quarantine right now,” I said. “It’s like, there’s the literal quarantine with the virus. But then for me personally there is the quarantine from dating, from alcohol. I don’t want these guys, these—what’s the word? I keep forgetting English words...It’s a scientific word...Variables! I don’t want any more variables in my life right now. I wish I could disinfect my house and get the memories out, because they’re all I can see when I’m in that room. And now if I do wind up quarantined, literally quarantined, I’ll be trapped in the room with the memories, even though I’ve quarantined myself from dating.”

I suppose that is what a quarantine is: being trapped in a room with your own problem. The purpose of a quarantine isn’t so much to protect yourself as it is to protect others from you. Here is where my dating metaphor breaks apart. I’m not quarantining myself from anyone, actually, because there’s nothing wrong with me.

To another friend: “Love in the Time of Coronavirus.”

That one didn’t land.

The Catholic observance of Lent began on Wednesday. It is forty days of fasting. Lent is a time to reflect on desire, among other things. It is a season to eschew something that brings one pleasure, in order to more fully appreciate it once it’s returned. This year I’m not fasting, because I haven’t given up anything that I actually enjoy. How can one fast from something never savored? How can one give up what was never really there?

—Seoul

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readingphotographs · 7 years

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PH Photography 2016 highlights and 2017 Wishlist

How appropriate it was that the music that was blasting when I entered a Christmas party organized by photographers was the 70’s disco classic, Sumayaw Sumunod by Boyfriends (Literally translated, the title means Dance Follow). The title was a great way to describe the events of the world in 2016. You either dance to your own beat or follow suit. Although as much as 2016 was a dreadful year in human history, I feel that this was a great year for Philippine photography. A year full of growth for the medium not just in the practices of the photographer but also full of historical events in which photography responded.

And so as the song goes, my thoughts raced at what happened in 2016 for Philippine Photography:

Zines. Zines Everywhere.

There was an unprecedented number released in 2016. I assume that the drivers for the growth are the groups cultivating creative expression in universities and independent small press organizations. There's also the opportunities for work to be seen such as in the different Zine festivals.

As usual, it came in different forms and messages. I’d like to point out that there is an increase in what I would like to now call photobooklets (I should write about this on its own). Not as large scale in narrative or production as a full photo book but also not as inexpensively made and aesthetically liberal as a zine. I'm not sure if this made up classification is unique to the Philippines (or developing countries for that matter) but it is interesting developments in the production methods of artists.

Activated and Adapted Spaces for photography

Another proof of growth is the opening of spaces to photography, from new galleries exclusive to photography to spaces that can be adapted for exhibitions. I've seen bars, drinking places, empty warehouses, and places where photography is least expected. Other galleries were also keen to show photographic works and talks.

This can indicate that the art establishment and public is slowly showing interest in the potential of photography as a viable medium. It is also possible that Photographers are getting more and more resourceful in finding ways to show their work. Either way, this is a great trend that I hope will continue for 2017.

Photographic Exhibitions Increased

There was a weekend that I had to visit 4 exhibitions in a day. It was exhausting but it is a good proof that the scene is bustling. Even major institutions such as the Ayala Museum, hosted great shows, most notably, Yee I Lann’s work which touches on our Filipino sensibilities and even showed us a lesson for our own history. Another notable exhibition. Jippy Pascua and Dennese Victoria’s Myth is groundbreaking in its execution and process.

It may have been difficult to go and see all of these shows but I’d prefer it than nothing. Here’s to hoping for more.

Strong Presence in fairs and institutions overseas

It felt like every month, there was news of somebody getting international exposure either from a festival, respected institution, or notable publication. Art Dubai had a great show on artist-run spaces that featured THOUSANDFOLD and bringing with them the work of Czar Kristoff (His "Photobooklet" Configurations is one of the best of 2016) and Gino Javier. Then, Gian Cruz’s You as me made the rounds in various festivals and was also in the spotlight with Geloy Concepcion’s Reyna De las Flores for the Pride Photo Awards. I’ve also lost track of the number of times I saw Lawrence Sumulong get recognition this year (My favorite is The Last of Us which got him the Allard Prize For International Integrity). Noel Cellis also bagged the Varenne Foundation Photo Award and landing his photo as one of TIME’s best of 2016. I’ve also been fortunate to be part of this trend with my presentation in the Museum of Photography - Seoul about my ongoing research on Philippine Photozines.

PH Gender Representation

There was a click-bait listicle last year that named the cutest female photographers. In response to that, I made my own list of PH photographers that you must see but I didn’t indicate their that all the names I placed there were all women both emerging and established in various genres of photography.

I’ve come to realize that the PH has a good gender representation when it comes to photographers. There’s always a presence of women in exhibits, contests, and other opportunities for work. I guess it helps that we have TALA Collective and other women active in the top of the industry. Now the question is that representation recognized? Nope. I feel the general mood is still that women photographers are still looked down upon.

However, I don’t have the numbers to support this realization. Here’s to hoping somebody makes the study and come up with the concrete number. Hopefully, it will result in making the industry better for all.

Photojournalism as always

As always. Photojournalism has always been the PH’s bread and butter. What I do admire from our working Pj's are the conditions they are now operating. Not just the environmental conditions but the societal conditions. The post-truth era has come to question the role of journalism and made it difficult for anyone working in the news. Thankfully, our photojournalists are stepping up and defending not just their craft but the stories and issues they are trying to tell.

As usual, TOKWA collective and TALA photo collective are leading the charge setting a good framework for how collectives can work. Although there are a lot hungry and hardworking freelancers are also pushing it.

The infrastructure for good photography is growing

We now have libraries dedicated to photobooks and zines, galleries like Vetro, which exclusive to photography have appeared, print labs have also sprouted that understand the needs of photographers, book designers (Most notably Karl Castro) have emerged that know understood the visual medium, and Mapa books launching Tommy Hafalla’s book while Veejay Villafranca’s much awaited Signos will follow in 2017.

The structure that can support good photography is slowly growing. Perhaps the best thing that happened in 2016.

Wishlist

I think it really was an up year for photography but that doesn’t mean there are things that needed to be worked on or improved. Here are some of my personal thoughts on how the scene can be improved.

No room for mediocrity

I still see a lot of works that are just going through the motions. A project for project’s sake. It came to a full head for me when I realize I’m committing the same mediocre practice. In these times when we can use art to open eyes and educate, the slightest hint of pretentiousness or personal indulgence should not be tolerated. There should be no more room for mediocrity. You can either have something that is well planned with all the sincerity you can muster or make it something that fluidly mixes with your life and your sensibilities. Hans Aarsman’s observations about photography should be in full effect.

For the international Media to recognize our local photojournalists

We have a lot of great talent here working on stories with immersing themselves in the thick of it. Yet western media insists on bringing their people in. I wonder why they don’t trust the boots on the ground. I do know that there is a small number who are already correspondents and shooting wires for international agencies and I hope it increases. Then again, I don’t have solid figures to see if this is an actual trend. I’m basing it off from my observations especially the coverage of the war on drugs.

Maybe the problem is the other way around, maybe we need to reach out there more and demand that we can tell our own stories in our own manner. Leverage our command of the English language to insist that we can cater to a western audience. Well, this is why it is a wish list Hopefully western media wakes up from their colonial eyes and build connections here. Those that already did, good on you.

Inclusivity is the key

I want the scene to be more inclusive of the talents outside of Metro Manila. My favorite works this year came from Cebu (Patricia Zosa’s Taste of Summer) and Laguna respectively (Asshulz’s The Face of a Marcos Apologist). Uniting the 7,107 islands has always been a challenge ever since not just for art. The internet is a great equalizer but it can only do so much. I think platforms should make an effort to have a presence in the different regions of the country. Not just in highlighting the work but finding ways for work to be consumed in those areas.

And speaking of platforms…

Platforms for a mass audience

What we have so far is photographers looking at other photographers works. I think the initiatives for 2017 should be to develop programs that would be great for a mass audience not critical of photography. I’ve always had that dream of making a person understand the consequences and beauty of the mundane practice of uploading a photo. The masses doesn’t need to know Barthes or Szarkowski but just to have a grasp on what a photograph is and what can it do.

The film industry has been successful in its attempt this year with MMFF. I think we can do the same. We can start doing the little things by dropping the academic or art speak. More importantly, better writing. This brings me to my next wish...

More about the work and less about the self

I’d love for the platforms to be about the work. Showcase them in a manner that the platform is merely a vessel of delivery. Branding does play a part in the success of platforms but it shouldn’t be what the audience would remember. For a platform to stand out, it has to show not just good works but an avenue for critical discourse. If you are not offering insight, perhaps I should just visit the work on their portfolios and see it there.

As for photographers, what are you trying to say and why are you saying it? This is why Authorship is important. Your work should be remembered, not you. Even if you argue that the work is about the commodification of yourself, what the audience should take away is how good, memorable, or impactful your work was. I don’t want to see works with “This is my personal view of the city” or any iteration of it in an artist statement.

This is why critical discourse on the work is important. If the audience is educated and demanding of good work then the artists have to step up and demand of themselves great work. A creative economy that sustains itself.

Sustainability

I will not undermine the importance of financial support for the further growth of the infrastructure. A challenge for platforms is to build that audience and find ways to be economically viable as a career. It is a problem that I also experience for this platform. As much as I want to focus my time chronicling works and opening them for critical discourse, I need to prioritize paying the bills and finding ways to have money for food. That is a problem that is all too common in the scene from artists, photojournalists, and platforms.

Hopefully, growth means opportunities that create a demand for good work. There’s always grants to apply for, investors to entice, and books/zines to sell but the key is finding a way without compromising the work.

In Closing

As I take a few more swigs of my beer from the Christmas party, I can’t help but be afraid of 2017. Will the trends of 2016 continue? Will all my heroes die and the enemies of good rise to power? Are we really going to be ok? Will my cynical brain just shut up?

Before I even finished my thoughts, they passed me the mic to sing some songs. That’s what we have to do really, we simply step up and continue. If photography can grow in what can be considered a down year, I think we’re going to be ok.

Just like the line in the Boyfriends’ Sumayaw Sumond says:

Awiting Bago, Naghihintay para isayaw mo

(the new songs are there waiting for you to dance to them.)

Happy new year everyone.

Keep on dancing.

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I’d like to take the time to offer my sincere condolences to one of the kindest gentlemen I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, Manuel “Noli” Yamsuan Jr. who passed away in late 2016. He was an amazing photographer. A kind man and is a role model for those practicing photography. He is an important figure in the roman catholic community as well with his signature work is covering the popes that visit the country. Tokwa Collective made a great video about “Ka Noli” for ucanews and I had the wonderful opportunity to interview him about his work for Rappler. I would deeply appreciate for you to take the time and look at his work.

#criticism #photography #philippines #photojournalism #art

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New Post has been published on Cloudlight

New Post has been published on https://cloudlight.biz/trumps-health-care-victory-could-be-a-pyrrhic-one/

Trump’s health care victory could be a Pyrrhic one

With the passage of the American Health Care Act thru the House, President Donald Trump has succeeded in reviving a notably unpopular bill that could location his House majority in severe peril.

He has also ensured that health care — an awful difficulty for him — will preserve to dominate headlines for months because of the combat over the GOP bill actions directly to the Senate.

And he has succeeded in increasing what can be the most important danger of inquisitive about himself and his birthday party — that this extremely arguable invoice will in the long run without a doubt turn out to be regulation and strip tens of tens of millions of Americans in their health coverage even as making a mockery of Trump’s very own marketing campaign promises.

It is obvious, then, that whilst this vote changed into certainly a

Win” for Trump in the short time period, it is able to entail a few very severe political effects for him and for the GOP ultimately.

Press insurance of House Republicans’ withdrawal of the American Health Care Act lower back in March portrayed it as a humiliating defeat for Trump. And although he had at the start signaled that he wanted to go away fitness reform in the back of and pass on to different troubles, he’s a person who hates losing. So he had his aides and House leaders paintings to revive the bill, and now it has cleared the House of Representatives, giving him the fast-term victory he so craved.

And there are a few real benefits to Trump from today’s vote. With his first one hundred days broadly regarded as disappointing and useless, he has won a few headlines about a victory. He’s managed to bypass his first big invoice thru a chamber of Congress. And he’s stored the GOP legislative schedule of Obamacare repeal and a big permanent tax cut alive for now.

A Way To Better Health With Acai – What Is Acai?

This most likely changed into a query for many of us a while in the past: What is Acai? Even greater thrilling, in which does it come from?

All of this was hardly ever known to the Western world a decade in the past. Even these days there are many individuals who do not know or have no idea about the health benefits discovered on this little berry. Not till scientists stumbled across some natives in the Amazon; natives, who had little or no meals as we know it but had been discovered in desirable spirit and health. Among them are rarely any illnesses that exist in maximum Western societies.

The Amazon has lengthy been referred to as a fertile ground for numerous flowers that thrive in its unique weather producing a number of the fine health benefits.

Their tribal healers used this fruit to promote fitness and durability for hundreds, if now not thousands of years. Their warriors ate up it as a source of electricity, power, and vitality.

Because of these unusual and outstanding fitness blessings of Acai, there has been much research with the aid of contemporary technological know-how considering that. Having located these unheard of antioxidant ranges and superior nutrient content material in a small berry, Acai is now being stated as an exceptionally beneficial addition to a healthy weight loss plan exercising regime.

What Does It Look Like?

Looks can deceive: It is a small berry, spherical, black-purple in color. Its appearance is similar to a grape, however, it has less pulp and only a single huge seed.

Maybe due to its appearance, it has long gone neglected through the relaxation of the arena for centuries.

The large information broke in 2004 as this powerful fruit changed into featured on some of communicating indicates along with The NBC’s Today’s Show and in lots of other fitness profiles.

A scientist gave targeted data approximately this excellent fruit and the way it developed to the top ten brilliant ingredients. He introduced: “The Acai berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful ingredients in the world!”

With even bigger fitness benefits as these berries being combined with different particular end result plus including different elements to produce one of the pleasant natural fitness supplements to be had nowadays.

How Popularity About The Acai And Its Health Benefits Started To Grow.

The National Academy of Sciences in studies has discovered: The Acai berry is full of nutrients, which include beta-carotene, fiber, potassium, vital fatty acids, amino acids and phytosterols.

2017: A Year of Victory

This is your yr of victory! Now, you may skip over to that side of victory. Your victory has come. This is marking the end of your weeping, gnashing of teeth, agonizing, tormenting from the enemy. This is marking the quit of that mockery. You have stayed too lengthy on that aspect. Now, upward push and go over to the aspect of victory in Jesus’ call! The victory means conquest, triumph, win, achievement. I see you now crossing over victoriously in Jesus’ name! And to begin to go over also means that you have been a few where earlier than now, but the region has been suppressing, holding back, destructive, unsightly or unproductive. But Thank God, your 12 months of converting positions has come. Praise God! Let’s go.

Israel became in that terrible state of affairs such as you. In Egypt, they have been in slavery

Struggling and suffocation. They had been in a complete hopeless captivity without a sign of help or deliverance. But on the appointed time God came for them. They were already resigned to their destiny while He abruptly dispatched a deliverer to them. Yes, God actions unexpectedly! He comes unexpectedly – normally if you have given up hope when humans have written you off, whilst your enemies, oppressors would have commenced rejoicing over you, then unexpectedly He would display up. My God! Look at His electricity coming for you currently! Nothing, nobody, no strength, no conspiracy, no power of hell can stop this flow. You are due and could truly circulate to victory, recuperation, healing now. All win, all you lost will also be recovered.

When God added Israel out of Egypt, in a single move He displaced and decimated their enemies.

He changed their status, imaginative and prescient and also made them wealthy. Yes, very rich. We will soon talk that. Divine deliverance will continually come with divine preparation. Israel got here out with silver and gold. In reality, the bible stated that they ‘spoilt the Egyptians’. That is, they stripped, ruined, broken, devastated and messed them up economically. They went away with all the gold and silver of Egypt! Praise God! We aren’t simply having our victory, but we can rejoice it with silver and gold. True. One translation says the He brought them out with awesome wealth. It changed into huge, expensive, big, and stupendous. Wow! Great wealth certainly!

These are what this new 12 month holds for you if you’ll agree with this message. As Israel’s deliverance changed into hinged on believing on God’s message via Moses, your victory could be prompted off by way of your consider on what you’re analyzing now. As Moses spoke to them, I talk to you these days. As He spoke to the king of Egypt, I talk to your pharaoh to launch you currently! God has despatched these words to carry you out of your suffering and slavery. Come out now in Jesus’ call! Share this message with others. We will continue subsequent week. Happy New Year!

How Effective Social Media Marketing Could Increase The Visibility Of Your Small Business

Social media has emerged as an invaluable tool for groups everywhere in the global, allowing them to connect with a global audience and market their merchandise thru multiple channels. But to gain its benefits, you need to understand what you’re doing and make certain you are posting regular, relevant content to your fans.

Whether you are a startup, otherwise you run a long-hooked up business enterprise that wishes to bring into the twenty-first century by way of way of virtual advertising, powerful control of your online substances should make or smash your commercial enterprise. There is not any ignoring you on line presence anymore – in this increasingly more technological international, its topics.

However, effective social media advertising and marketing call for strategic making plan

To permit you to attain new customers and convert them into your products or services. This requires knowledge of both patron psychology and analytics, that’s why it can be first-class to call within the assist of a professional to help you optimize your structures.

An experienced virtual advertising company may be able to provide this carrier in conjunction with professional internet layout and improvement to help boom your employer’s visibility. They could be able to consciousness on substance, amplification and statistics review to help your organization do campaign success.

In order to attain the blessings of this service,

You’ll want to understand your target audience and suppose creatively about how to communicate with them – each via content and photo.

Your organization’s reputation will either be stronger or broken by way of social media. These available systems provide happy clients a place to come and sing your praises, however additionally they permit disgruntled customers to make their alternatives regarded throughout the sector.

However, a social media management group might be able to correctly manipulate your recognition, ensuring that Yelp, Facebook and Google critiques serve only to drive future business in your organization. They may even make certain your company has a wonderful recognition on rating websites through encouraging your customers and network to percentage advantageous reviews.

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