I apologize for posts being so sparse during the last week or so. I went to a Halloween party and instead of waking up the next morning with a hangover, I woke up with the flu! Oh man it was gross: achy, vomit, blasting headaches, 15 hours of sleep a day interrupted by trips to the bathroom, sips of Echinacea tea. Living under wooly blankets, watching terrible movies, pawing away dogs that were starved for attention, subsisting on bread and soup….I don’t remember the last time I was that sick.

I’m almost back to 100% now. Things are looking up. Now I have piles and piles of papers to grade on a Halloween night, interrupted by trick or treaters, and perhaps a zombie movie. Speaking of which, I saw 30 Days of Night last night in celebration of solid bowels. More than one person (albeit unreliable film opinions) told me that this movie was great. Horrible! The end didn’t make a lick of sense. It doesn’t do the graphic novel any justice.

The Noise is out. I’m in it. You should read it. For the December issue, I’m looking at animal rights issues, particularly exposing NAU’s animal testing. Before I lie to them so they’ll talk to me, I wanted to ask if anyone knows any information or particular people I should speak to about this. That would rock my world.

This is great….except the line where science and progress is held in such high regard. If we change our understanding of “progress” to one that actually serves the majority of people and nonhumans on this planet, Charlie is very inspiring here.

Charlie Chaplain - Amazing Speech - video powered by Metacafe

Last month I wrote about a B-52 bomber that accidentally mounted 6 nuclear warheads and flew across the country. Though my initial post sparked some controversy, digressing into a conversation about the existence of nuclear weapons, I still think the missing nuclear weapons was irresponsible and, frankly, scary.

I was happy to read yesterday, “The US Air Force has relieved several officers of their commands after.” Infact:

Three colonels, a lieutenant colonel and 66 other personnel were punished following the incident at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, on 29 August.

“In the countless times our dedicated airmen have transferred weapons in our nation’s arsenal, nothing like this has ever occurred,” the Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations said.
Gen Newton said the “unprecedented string of procedural errors” had begun with a failure by airmen to conduct a required inspection of the missiles before they were loaded onto the wing of the B-52 at Minot.

“We hold ourselves accountable to the American people and want to ensure proper corrective action has been taken.”

In my book, “proper corrective action” would be to disarm all nuclear weapons, as there existence is unacceptable. Kill the precedent. Nobody should have nuclear weapons.

About a year ago, I realized that I often use the word “girl” when I really mean “woman.” Ever since I realized I was doing that, I’ve recognized it every where I go. Everyone, it seems does this and I’m curious as to what that means.

Once upon a time, men were boys and women were girls. Once I reached a certain age, I wasn’t a boy, but a man—or more regularly, a “guy.” But in the way we continued to speak of the opposite sex, the girls stayed “girls.”

What is the female equivalent to “guy?” Lady? Who says that? “Lady” goes with “gentleman” and nobody says that unless they’re addressing a crowd. And even then, nobody really means it. I’m 27; the girls my age aren’t girls, they’re women. Still, they’re referred to as girls, even though I’m referred to as a man or a guy. Nobody would call me a boy, so I don’t understand why, in the great age of equality (at least ideologically) and political correctness, we still call women, girls.

I’ve been interested in dating again, but I don’t want to date a girl, I want to date a woman. If someone asks me if I’m dating a girl, it makes me feel creepy, like I’m trying to be with a 14 year old or something.

This might seem like I’m making a big deal out of nothing, at first I thought I was doing just that. But language is important and meaningful and the impact of language is always underestimated. Our world is shaped by the language we use to describe it. Our identities are shaped around the words we use to describe ourselves and what we do.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a student say, “That’s gay” in class, to which I always immediately address: “is that an appropriate way to describe this topic? What is homosexual about the issue of water usage in Arizona?” They always say that they didn’t mean “gay” literally and of course they didn’t.

Our culture is notorious for using language in a way that produces a disconnect between what we say and what we actually mean. This also helps to produce a similar disconnection between our ideologies and our actions. We’re not deforesting, of course (who wants that?), instead we’re “developing natural resources.” We can buy all the “green” products we want, but that doesn’t realistically mean we’re doing anything positive for our environment. The Bush Admin is fantastic at this. Lets forget that the “clear skies act” allows for more air pollution, that the “healthy forests initiative” results in increased deforestation, that the “no child left behind act” does nothing to address individual needs, cuts funding from schools that need it the most, and that every teacher I know hates this with a passion.

So if we use the word “girl” to describe women, what are the implications of this? Why do we do it? What are we hiding?

This is so rad. I can’t believe it’s finally happening. High fives to Klee, Crystal, and everyone else for making this happen. I’m going to try to get down there this weekend to help out and I’m going to volunteer as much as possible. Let me know if you want to ride there with me and help out.
I know they’ve been ordering books from AK Press, and they’re giving them like 40% off. They’re phenomenal to work with… 

When: Thursday, October 25th
6:00 pm - 9:30 pmWhere:

I don’t like this fashion trend one bit. I know it’s from Stephen Colbert’s absurd fear of bears on his show. I still don’t like it and I think Stephen Colbert is obnoxious most of the time.

Nonetheless, I’m troubled by the general fear of nature mindset that it perpetuates. I also think this fear justifies violence toward nonhuman animals.

Last week, a colleague of mine gave a presentation about the Writing Center to a Freshman Engineering class. She said the professor (or instructor, I don’t know) walked into class and released a Brown Recluse spider on the front desk. The students, of course, freaked out (apparently if you get bit, you might end up like this…you’re going to wish you didn’t look). He said, “this is a poisonous Brown Recluse spider, but don’t worry…”

And he smashed it.

I have no idea what this has to do with engineering. And though the students were freaked out, I don’t have to tell you that the spider obviously had a lot more to be scared of than any of them did.

I feel like I’m beginning to see more and more of this general contempt for nature everywhere I turn. This all makes me what to cite this great quote again.

We should not be surprised to learn that the subjugation of women, alternative masculinities, and the environment are fueled by the same dominant masculine ideologies. As batterer-intervention counselor Lundy Bancroft concludes in his book, Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men, abusive men have internalized cultural beliefs about what it means to be a man that legitimize their behavior. One of the central issues at work in the construction of these ideologies is characterized by an initial sense of entitlement. “Entitlement,” according to Bancroft, “is the abuser’s belief that he has a special status and that it provides him with exclusive rights and privileges that do not apply to his partner” (Bancroft 54). When we consider the ways in which men have similarly legitimized their control over the natural world, we might understand that “the attitudes that drive abuse [of women, alternative masculinities, and the natural world] can largely be summarized by this one word” (Bancroft 54). Consider the roots of men’s sense of entitlement over the natural world in one of the oldest and, arguably, most influential texts, The Bible.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis, chap. 1, v. 26)

The most problematic word in this passage of The Bible is the word, “dominion,” which is defined as “lands or domains subject to sovereignty or control,” thus the derivative, “domination.” Thousands of years of identifying the environment in this way has had, as we have seen, devastating effects for the natural world. Further, identifying the natural world as one giant smorgasbord, whose purpose lies in the service of men, has brought with it the comforts and privileges we’ve grown accustomed to. This dominant ideology, however, similarly fuels the kind of battery and abuse that Bancroft describes. “Over time, the man grows attached to his ballooning collection of comforts and privileges” (Bancroft 152). This “attachment” is primarily in relation to the ideology that produces these comforts and privileges. Therefore, in the same way one must be defined in opposition in order to justify inhuman treatment of them, the ideologies that characterize the dominant masculine ideology must similarly never be questioned because of the comforts and privileges such an ideology produces for those in power.

As the question in the title of Bancroft’s book suggests, as long as women ask, “Why does he do that?” the emphasis is on the victim to change her behavior to avoid the abuse. As long as the victim of abuse is questioning his or her own actions, s/he remains blind to the systemic violence that underlies entire relationship. This also exemplifies a strong disconnection between the ideology and action. “Power, like property, like land and water, has become privatized and concentrated. And it’s been that way for so long that we believe it to such an extent that we think that’s the natural order of things” (Jensen 42).

Similarly, the discourse surrounding sustainability right now challenges us only to ask questions that do not question the entire abusive, destructive, and inherently, unsustainable system. “Global timber harvesters are squeezing more and more fiber out of a hectare of forest and yet deforestation proceeds unabated” (Princen 33). Similarly, our culture is feverishly examining alternative fuels such as hydrogen fuel cells, ethanol, bio-diesel and scores of others, but because the discourse surrounding sustainability is focused on the question of “how are we going to run our cars, sustainably?” it is rare that anyone considers the underlying premise that questions whether or not cars can ever truly be sustainable in the first place. “The outcomes, the goals of the institutions, are to ‘improve’ the environment, to use the resource more efficiently, to ‘green up’ consumption,” without questioning the culture of consumption itself (Prinsen 33). In this way, the dominant masculine ideology has us identify with its creations and its needs, which produce the comforts and privileges gained through a sense of entitlement, instead of identifying with real world needs.

Bancroft, Lundy. Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men. New York: Berkley Trade. 2003

Jensen, Derrick. Endgame: Volume 1: The Problem of Civilization. New York: Seven Stories Press. 2006

Princen, Thomas. “Principles for Sustainability: From Cooperation and Efficiency to Sufficiency.” Global Environmental Politics. Vol. 3, No. 1. 33-50. 2003

Been listening to music. And I’m gonna tell you about it! Lots of new albums out lately and I’ve got a couple to plug. Instead of copying and pasting links from record company and band websites, I just took a picture of music spread out on my bed. And yes, music is sexier on my bed.

First up, the one with the greyhound sitting amongst the fruit; Shellac’s new album “Excellent Italian Greyhound” sounds like the Shellac you know and love. First album from them in 6 years or so. Deep grinding rhythm section that’s probably mic’d seven ways to Sunday. The first song, “The Death of Radio” has that sarcastic Albini charm we’ve come to know and love; a humorous eulogy to a poisoned medium. I’m not sure if the album is as good as 1000 Hurts, but if you’re a fan you’ll want it for sure. If anything, the packaging is impeccable. The LP, as usual, comes with the CD. Steve Albini records the albums with the intention that they will be played in analog and it’s great they push that idea by throwing in the CD for free. What can I say, we live in a portable music society. Memorable lyrics include “I was born wearing pants! (be prepared!).”

Which brings me to the next one, moving clockwise to This Runs on Blood. TROB is from Flagstaff and I actually just got this album at a show a few nights ago. I have to admit, when I first heard them in a basement months ago, I thought they were obnoxious. No bass player, lots of body odor, and pulsing sea gull sounds. What? Anyway, this band has grown on me like a bad rash, or an STD that just won’t let me get on with my life. The album is great. I think they only printed 300 of them (clear vinyl, CD included).

Moving on….Bad Brains have a new album….Rasta hardcore icons from the early 80’s DC scene. The first new one they’ve had in like 240 years. Well I don’t think it’s as good as everyone seems to think it is, but it’s really good. It almost makes up for the crappy albums they came out with in the late 80’s. I guess everyone should experiment (Into The Unknown?). Plus, if you hit up ebay right now (or feel free to open a record store in Flagstaff), you can get this handsome tri-color wax.

Last but certainly not least: The new Ghost Mice split with Andrew Jackson Jihad. I just got this CD today actually. I love Ghost Mice. I’ve seen them a few times. Anarcho-hippie-punks ala Plan-It-X fame: just Chris and his guitar and Hannah with her violin (and mandolin…and sometimes this French guy who plays the accordion). They’re not loud; they have no amps or P.A., but in my opinion, they’re punk as shit. I don’t know, they sing about real things from the heart, and there is something undeniably punk about being able to play on the spot, on a street corner, hitchhike or take trains to shows across Europe, or play in people’s basements, kitchens (which is where I believe I’ve seen them), and living rooms.

The last time I saw them, I wrote Chris a letter (a real letter) a few days after. I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I do remember that I was in a melancholy mood and that I was completely sincere. I remember that I thanked him for coming and playing and that, next time I’d be happy to cook him and Hannah a vegan meal. I just got a letter back and he included this CD for my enjoyment. I’ve listened to it three or four times by now. Ghost Mice, Andrew Jackson Jihad, the G-strings, and the F-holes are playing Flagstaff in early November. I can’t wait. (BTW, please don’t take any of this as a tip to write bands you like and expect free shit in the mail.)

Support music where music, ideas, and freedom win over beer and profits. Chances are you won’t find it on Itunes or Best Buy. Chances are there is great music in your own community, in your own neighborhood, on the corners of the most familar streets in your town. Pay attention and support it.

Unplug your radios and open your ears!

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. ethanol rush could drain drinking water supplies in parts of the country because corn — a key source of the country’s alternative fuel — requires vast quantities of water for irrigation, the National Research Council reported on Wednesday.

U.S. President George W. Bush has called for production of 35 billion gallons per year of alternative motor fuels including ethanol by 2017, as part of an effort to wean the country from foreign oil. U.S. capacity to make the fuel, believed to emit low levels of greenhouse gases, has spiked about 28 percent this year to nearly 7 billion gallons.

But the use of more corn to make ethanol could drain water supplies like the Ogallala, or High Plains, aquifer, which extends from west Texas up into South Dakota and Wyoming.

It takes roughly 4 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of ethanol. Keep questioning their solutions.

The anti-Columbus Day rally at City Hall went pretty well. It was a bit cold, but I saw a lot of people I know and met even more. About 99% of the feedback we got from passing motorists was positive. The only comment I could make out that was negative came from an F-150 whipping around the corning yelling “timber!” This was obviously in reference to our Save the Peaks banner. Oh well. It was probably really funny to him, though pretty douche-baggy to us. One woman slowed her car, read every single banner, then honked yelling “right on!”

Afterwards a lot of us went to Applesauce for open mic night. Holy crap, it was packed! It’s been a while since I’ve been to one of these; Aaron must really be working hard to get the word out. I’m going to start going more. Maybe I’ll come up with an act. The banner I helped to hold at the rally, “We Do Not Celebrate Genocide,” was hung up on the stage to promote the theme of the evening. As usual, the acts were pretty hit or miss, but worth attending nonetheless.

About 12 or so acts in, I sauntered over to 111 and saw a couple bands, picked up This Runs On Blood’s new record. Numbers, a band from San Fran, were all really nice, but I thought they were a little boring. It was pretty late by the time they started playing though.

It seems like all I’ve been doing lately is grading papers and stacking wood….so it was a nice break.