My main blog is here.

I would love to have you read it!

This journal is largely FRIENDS-ONLY.

If you would like to read it for some reason, please introduce yourself here.

Abortion providing Doctor murdered in Kansas during church services.

FUCKERS.

< a href="http://jflag.blogspot.com/2009/04/press-release-no-to-boycott-in-san.html">Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays (JFLAG) would actually rather not have you do that</a>. Please read their press release.

via a million ppl on my f'list

Amazon = ass covering liars, apparently.

My AmazonFail Timeline

Theory: It's not Amazon's fault

IDK if I buy:
It's obvious Amazon has some sort of automatic mechanism that marks a book as "adult" after too many people have complained about it

It is? Could he have linked? I'm not seeing it. I may be missing it. If that is true, this situation is not analogous to six apart's reaction to Warriors for Innocence. Both may have involved "trolling" as defined by the linked poster but...so? Six Apart still reacted as horrifically as they did. If in Amazon's case it amounts to a tech "glitch" (read: they have a stupid fucking feature that should have been troubleshot) they may be less directly at fault than six apart was...

Edit to add Nevermind, I forgot that someone at Amazon said there was a new policy. Seems like unless Mark Probst lied, Amazon is probably full of shit. and backtracking (you will not get through to PublishersWeekly where they're statement is, it is reposted here.

You've probably heard already: Amazon has a new policy on "adult" materials. I consists of hiding many titles that have gay content from search results, as well as removing their sales rank. Everything from Macho Sluts to Heather has two Mommys has been affected. Not books like The Complete Playboy Centerfolds, though. Application among books with QueerCon so far has been inconsistent and confusing. Many books show up, but only in Kindle and/or used editions, even when you search them by title. You have to click the "See all 740 items" link to find the thing you're obviously looking for. The net effect is increased difficulty in purchasing queer title.

Our own markedformetal's Sex and Bacon has been de-ranked and de-listed. Curiously, Indecent still shows up fine.

postmaudlin's Fucking Daphne doesn't show up when you search it either. No rank.

You can sign a petition opposing the insanity here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/in-protest-at-amazons-new-adult-policy

Contact Amazon directly:

connect-help@amazon.com
http://clicheideas.com/amazon.htm

Jeffrey Bezos, CEO
AMAZON.COM
1200 12th Avenue South
Seattle, Washington 98144-2734
United States
Phone: 206-266-1000
Fax: 206-622-2405

(Thx, eumelia)

Don't stop the GoogleBombing.

So tired. Must cook for seder. So much to cook. So tired. Will a James and Ginger make it better or worse? Beer will make it worse. Wanted one last beer before Pesach. Oh wells. You can vote. On what I should drink. Don't want coffee. Maybe Democracy Now podcast will help. So tired.

I'll tell you what I made later. Will try to take pics. Involves K4P gnocchi I invented. Then someone said: but if you cook it in water it's not k4p anymore. What. I know not these things. I mean, she wasn't sure. So unless someone confirms the story, I think I'm fine.

So tired.

My phone has awful reception. As of yesterday I am eligible for an upgrade. There are lots of decent looking phones I can get free, but I kind of really want a pda. But I'm broke. There's one that has not-great reviews that I can have for $30 after rebate.

I can also get this better-reviewed pda(but kinda fug) for $50...is it worth it?

Should I get the not-great pda or a decent phone and just wait til I can afford a refurbished iPhone?

Greenwich Village Bakery selling "Drunken Negro Face" cookies.

Lafayette French Pastry
26 Greenwich Ave

Don't fucking buy your pastries there.

GAH.

JUST WATCH IT.

For Immediate Release

Friday, January 16, 2009

NYC Jews Call for an Immediate End to Israel's War on Gaza

Banner Drop at U.S.S. Intrepid Marks Spread of U.S. Jewish Solidarity With Palestinians


A banner drop over New York City's West Side Highway, carried out by members of Jews Against the Occupation/NYC, declared “Jews Say: End Israel's War on Gaza NOW!” This action by Jewish New Yorkers continued the wave of increasingly public Jewish solidarity with the Palestinians targeted by the Israeli government's ongoing attack on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 1,000 people, nearly 1/3 of them children.

The banner, which was seen by thousands of commuters during morning rush hour on Friday, January 16th, 2009, expanded the public presence of the many New York Jews who strongly disagree with the self-appointed community spokespeople who have repeatedly expressed support for the bombing and invasion of Gaza. “We are standing up for justice,” said Niuta Teitelboim, one of the JATO/NYC activists, “which is a Jewish tradition that many Jewish organizations seem to have abandoned. Too many have vocally endorsed a war which has involved a continuous string of Israeli war crimes: the mass killings of children and families at UN schools designated as places of refuge; the targeting with bombs and artillery fire of hospitals and ambulances; and most recently the destruction of food and medical aid supplies in a UN facility.”

JATO/NYC placed the banner at the U.S.S. Intrepid to highlight the role of U.S. aid to Israel in the current war and massacres. “Palestinian doctors, ambulance drivers, and children are being killed by bombs paid for with U.S. taxpayers’ money, dropped from planes paid for with U.S. taxpayers’ money, sent by an Israeli administration that could not maintain one of the world's largest militaries without a constant flow of cash from the U.S. treasury,” elaborated R. Rosenthal, another JATO/NYC member involved in the action. “That means all of us are involved in this bloody war. Even if foreclosures and unemployment weren’t decimating our neighborhoods, surely there are better uses for $3 billion a year than helping the Israeli government commit war crimes.”

Over the past week, Jews across North America and Europe have shown their opposition to Israel's latest war, as well as its ongoing military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem and denial of Palestinian refugees right to return home. Jewish groups have held sit-ins at Israeli consulates in Toronto, Los Angeles, and San Francisco; taken it upon themselves to declare the cancellation of a London rally in support of the war; participated actively in the many demonstrations calling for an immediate end to the bombing and invasion of Gaza; and joined the worldwide campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions on Israel until Palestinian rights under international law are respected. “Today’s action is one small contribution to the growing movement in solidarity with the 1.5 million Palestinians being bombed, shelled, and shot by the Israeli army," JATO-NYC member Sholom Schwartzbard explained. "We know from our own history what being sealed behind barbed wire and checkpoints is like, and we know that ‘Never Again’ means not anyone, not anywhere - or it means nothing at all."


_________________________________
Pseudonyms explained here.

Yay!

Some of you may have seen this last week:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Board of Deputies of British Jews Cancels Sunday's Solidarity Rally


The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council, in consultation with a coalition of prominent organisations in the Anglo-Jewish community, have decided to cancel the planned Israel Solidarity Rally, due to occur on Sunday 11th of January.

This decision has been taken after intense discussions within the community, due to a feeling that such a demonstration would not be in accordance with the Board's wish to bring the conflict to an immediate conclusion. It was thought that the demonstration might be perceived as the community taking one side in the tragic war in Gaza and Israel, and might be seen as supporting Israel's military campaign.

The Board calls for an immediate ceasefire, immediate negotiations between Israel and Hamas, and for lifting the economic blockade of Gaza, in order to allow the Gazan and Israeli people to live together in peace. There is no military solution, only a political one.

The Jewish community does not wish to be seen as a participant in the conflict, and in taking this stand we hope to be a part of the solution. The Board stands in solidarity with the besieged and injured people of Gaza, as well as the victims of terrorism in Israel, and we oppose all violence as contrary to the tenets of the Jewish religion. We would like to reach out to the British Muslim community, as well as those of no religion who have demonstrated against Israel's military campaign-we share your anguish at the destruction and loss of life caused, and hope that our action in calling off our demonstration will be a small step towards peace.

Board of Deputies of British Jews and The Jewish Leadership Council

For all enquiries contact:

The Board of Deputies of British Jews
6 Bloomsbury Square
London WC1A 2LP

Tel: +44 (0)20 7543 5400
Fax: +44 (0)20 7543 0010

Email: info@boardofdeputies.org


No, the press release is not real. At least not in the sense of being true. Responsibility has been claimed:

From: Jewdas <jewdas@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Subject: Hoax Email: Jewdas Owns Up!
To: xxx@xxx.xxx



Well yes, it was us. We sent the Board of Deputies Hoax email. Not some 'Islamist cell' 'or Hamas supporters' as many of you imagined. Just a group of nice yiddisher boys and girls, of the sort that you might run into in your local kosher delicatessen. We weren't doing it to be malicious, we weren't trying to 'upset' anyone, we weren't even trying to stop people going to the rally. We just thought we'd give people something to talk about over Kiddush, instead of discussing the poor quality of the gefilte fish. Moreover, we wanted, in this action, to show another possible reality, to suggest that 'another jewish community is possible'

Those who believed it, even for a moment, were being given a gift, a vision of the Jewish leadership who stood up for peace and justice, rather than standing for mindless ethnic solidarity. These people should not be considered gullible, rather they showed the imagination to see an inspiring, alternative vision. We offered a Midrash on Anglo-Jewish life, a dvar aher (another path), an aggadah for the Talmud of the present. In this 'temporary imaginary zone' the Jewish Establishment opened up, listening to the voices it usually shuts out, thought outside the box, and took a brave decision on principle rather in accordance with political expediency. And many Jews agreed with this bold (imaginary) decision, as you can see in some of the responses received at the bottom of this email. Further, we have reports of a person believing the email for a whole shabbat, and describing that day as 'the best day of her life'. A shabbat in accord with the best of Judaism then, in sad contrast to the shabbat on which this war was launched.

So back to the rather less inspiring reality. The demo was described as a 'peace rally'. Now we at Jewdas recognise good satire when we see it, and this is particularly hilarious. But come on guys - Peace Rally? Sadly it was anything but. The slogan was End Hamas Terror; Peace for the People of Israel and Gaza. So no mention of the Israeli army then. Its not like they've been involved have they? They've just been sitting around, playing Kalooki. A rally that puts all the blame on one side (and arguably on the weaker one at that) and fails to call for a ceasefire, can hardly be described as being for peace. The fact that an Israeli embassy spokesperson could sum up the rally, on the Jewish Chronicle's website as "They understand we had no chance but to go forward with a military operation" tells you all you need to know. We will not allow the notion of 'peace' to be bastardised, to become 'peace on our terms'. Let us repeat the proposal in our email, this time under our own name:

We call for an immediate ceasefire, immediate negotiations between Israel and Hamas, and for lifting the economic blockade of Gaza, in order to allow the Gazan and Israeli people to live together in peace. There is no military solution, only a political one.

The proposal put out in our email was eminently reasonable, it was not a demonisation of Israel, rather a call for an immediate ceasefire and for negotiations, trying to end the cycle of violence. This is what calling for peace actually entails and we stand by the proposals outlined within it.

And as we looked through the responses from those who believed they really had received a message from the BOD, some expressing vile anti-Islamic abuse and condemning supposed 'appeasement', it was proved that brave leadership from a diasporic Jewish body to oppose these views is a necessity. We understand those who responded from within Israel, we feel your fear deeply, but until a two-way peace process on fair terms is initiated, you'll never be free from fear. But an urgent corrective is needed for those based in Britain saying such things as "this plays directly to the hands of the Islamo-fascists", "I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you. They don't want to be at peace with you" and "By cancelling tomorrow's event you are telling the world that we are no match for the Palestinians. Your statement regarding the Jewish community not wanting to be seen as a participant in the conflict is a brazen untruth. WE ARE participants in the conflict".

Where is the representative body who will tell these people that it's not about being a match for 'them' or being a one-sided 'participant', that there is no 'them and us', that the fate of Israeli-Palestinian populations are bound together - indeed, just as Jewish-Muslim populations in the UK are? This is a voice that is urgently required.

The Jewish establishment has been trying to create the illusion of unified solidarity behind Israel. But they are losing. A growing number of Jews are not happy to be the PR foot soldiers of the Israeli embassy, and they do not want to be represented as such. As much as anything else, this action is a call for new, or radically reformed Jewish communal organisations, ones that promote peace and justice over solidarity, and pluralism and democracy over hierarchy and backroom politics. There's a great desire within the British Jewish community to express and support alternative views; our message was sent, not via some undercover email stealing operation, but by using our own mailing list. We call on all those members of the Jewish community opposed to the carnage in Gaza to have no fear and to stand against self-appointed leaders and to call for peace and dialogue NOW - not just in Gaza, but within the Jewish community.

We'll leave it to a prominent member UK Jewish playwright to sum it up in his response to the original email.

"You have made a wise decision to cancel the demonstration, and your reasoning is clear and admirable."
If only such an admirable communal leadership existed beyond a hoax.


Jewdas



a selection of responses to the original email


*********************************************************


Your email brought tears to my eyes.Thank you for your courage and good judgement.

I stand firmly in the camp of peace and I appreciate the deep sentiments that are expressed in your statement.It is almost shabbos so I will stop now.

I hope we can turn to each other in the spirit of meaningful dialogue.Thank you.

sincerely,
(volunteer with the IDF on the Golan

***********************************************

Just wanted to express my agreement with the words below.
Thank you.
Very best

*****************************************************************


An extremely wise decision, in my opinion.

******************************************************************

I very much agree with this statement. I hpe it will be widely circulated both outside and inside the Jewish communty.

I have been getting many emails about the conflict, early all strongly biased. I have been countering each one with my own view - a copy of whichis below. I hope I have our agreement to add your statement when I send it out again.

**************************************************

I think this is a good idea.



Is anyone organizing a Pro Peace rally?



*************************************************************************


Dear hoaxer person

I will probably never know who you are, but you did a fantastic thing today! Thank you!! I was so excited when i thought it was real, but the hoax is nearly as good.

****************************************************************************

Dear Sir/Madam

I am a British jew and I am writing to you to express my wholehearted
congratulations on your brave decision.

It demonstrates great moral courage to have taken this important step
at a time when Israel's actions have become so inexcusably barbaric
toward the Palestinians and you rightly point out that it would not be
positive for the British jewish community to be seen supporting such
wanton and brutal taking of innocent life by the IDF in Gaza.

Let us join together in hoping that the Israeli government sees sense
and, as you say, chooses the path of peaceful resolution rather than
the seemingly hopeless and endless cycle of tit-for-tat revenge and
carnage.

**********************************************************************

am amazed and delighted to receive this mailing.
Thank you, and I honour your decision

************************************************************************

You have made a wise decision to cancel the demonstration, and your
reasoning is clear and admirable.

*************************************************************************


I welcome your decision to, which I believe is a wise and important stand against the violence taking place in Gaza, and I thank you for your statement that war is not a path to peace.

****************************************************************************


Congratulations! you have fulfilled the hopes of your constituents.

. Just as the Lord welcomes repentant sinners, so do we! Shabbat shalom and yayasher koachechem.

******************************************************************************

WE SUPPORT OUR GOVERNMENT AND DON'T CARE WHAT YOU OR THE REST OF THE WORLD SAY. WE ARE GOING TO STOP HAMAS AND YOU CAN TAKE YOUR "NEGOTIATIONS' AND STUFF THEM. UNTIL HAMAS STOPS FIRING ROCKETS - NO NEGOTIATIONS!

*********************************************************************************


What is wrong with you!!! lot. There is only one God and you are his people. Take a tour of Israel and get the real facts and don't be deceived. I feel sorry for you. I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you. They don't want to be at peace with you. Get real

**********************************************************************************



have you no shame or pride? Can you remain silent at a time when almost one million residents of Israel are subject to the depradations of a terrorist organization that is dedicated to the destruction of Israel? Have you learned nothing from history? Shades of the 1930s!!

"...if you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, while [Heaven forbid] you and your father's house will perish."
(Esther 4.14)

*************************************************************************************

I have just been informed that the report of the cancellation of the of the demonstration was erroneous.

I withdraw my remarks and apologize,unreservedly, for the view expressed in my previous email.

*************************************************************************************



hat tip: louie_ludwig

Why did Israel attack Gaza?

Kinda useful to show people. Via Kenyon Farrow's blog

from sadie_sabot

From the Free Gaza Movement:
(This is the sixth boat that the Free Gaza movement has sent to Gaza ... in a symbolic effort to end the seige of Gaza. These are small boats, and they do not cross into Israeli waters at all. This Israeli attack on the boat, which occured in international waters, cannot be described as 'self defence' by any stretch of delusional imagination. CNN has report on this--it helps that one CNN reporter is on board-- : http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/12/29/penhaul.gaza.bpr.boat.cnn )

===============================================
URGENT! Israeli Navy Attacking Civilian Mercy Ship! TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY!

The Dignity, a Free Gaza boat on a mission of mercy to besieged Gaza, is being attacked by the Israeli Navy in international waters. The Dignity has been surrounded by at least half-a-dozen Israeli warships. They are firing live ammunition around the Dignity, and one of the warships has rammed the civilian craft causing an unknown amount of damage. Contrary to international maritime law, the Israelis are actively preventing the Dignity from approaching Gaza or finding safe haven in either Egypt or Lebanon. Instead, the Israeli navy is demanding that the Dignity return to Cyprus - despite the fact that the ship does not carry enough fuel to do so. Fortunately, no one aboard the ship has yet been seriously injured.

There are 15 civilian passengers representing 11 different countries (see below for a complete list). At approximately 5am (UST), well out in international waters, Israeli warships began surrounding the Dignity, threatening the ship. At 6:45am (UST) we were able to establish brief contact with the crew and were told that the ship had been rammed by the Israeli Navy in international waters, and that the Israelis were preventing the ship from finding safe harbor. We heard heavy gunfire in the background before all contact was lost with the Dignity.

It is urgent that you TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION!

CALL the Israeli Government and demand that it immediately STOP attacking the Dignity and endangering the lives of its passengers!

CALL Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
+972 2670 5354 or +972 5062 3264
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il

CALL Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence at:
+972 33697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
mediasar@mod.gov.il


BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Dignity departed from Larnaca Port in Cyprus at 7pm (UST) on Monday 29 December, bound for war-devastated Gaza with a cargo of over 3 tons of desperately needed medical supplies donated by the people of Cyprus. At our request, the ship was searched by Cypriot Port authorities prior to departure, to certify that there was nothing "threatening" aboard - only emergency medical supplies.

TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY TO STOP THE ISRAELI NAVY FROM ENDANGERING THE DIGNITY AND ITS PASSENGERS!

Civilians aboard the Dignity being threatened by the Israeli military:

(UK) Denis Healey, Captain
Captain of the Dignity, Denis has been involved with boats for 45 years, beginning with small fishing boats in Portsmouth. He learned to sail while at school and has been part of the sea ever since. He's a certified yachtmaster and has also worked on heavy marine equipment from yachts to large dredgers. This is his fourth trip to Gaza.

(Greece) Nikolas Bolos, First Mate
Nikolas is a chemical engineer and human rights activist. He has served as a crewmember on several Free Gaza voyages, including the first one in August.

(Jordan) Othman Abu Falah
Othman is a senior producer with Al-Jazeera Television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.

(Australia) Renee Bowyer
Renee is a schoolteacher and human rights activist. She will remain in Gaza to do human rights monitoring and reporting.

(Ireland) Caoimhe Butterly
Caoimhe is a reknowned human rights activist and Gaza Coordinator for the Free Gaza Movement. She will be remaining in Gaza to do human rights monitoring, assist with relief efforts, and work on project development with Free Gaza.

(Cyprus) Ekaterini Christodulou
Ekaterini is a well-known and respected freelance journalist in Cyprus. She is traveling to Gaza to report on the conflict.

(Sudan) Sami El-Haj
Sami is a former detainee at Guantanamo Bay, and head of the human rights section at Al-Jazeera Television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.

(UK) Dr. David Halpin
Dr. Halpin is an experienced orthopaedic surgeon, medical professor, and ship's captain. He has organized humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza on several occasions with the Dove and Dolphin. He is traveling to Gaza to volunteer in hospitals and clinics.

(Germany) Dr. Mohamed Issa
Dr. Issa is a pediatric surgeon from Germany. He is traveling to Gaza to volunteer in hospitals and clinics.

(UK/Tunisia) Fathi Jaouadi
Fathi is a television producer and human rights activist. He will remain in Gaza to do human rights monitoring and reporting.

(USA) Cynthia McKinney
Cynthia is a former U.S. Congresswoman from Georgia, and the 2008 Green Party presidential candidate. She is traveling to Gaza to assess the ongoing conflict.

(Cyprus) Martha Paisi
Martha is a senior research fellow and experienced human rights activist. She is traveling to Gaza to do human rights work and to assist with humanitarian relief efforts.

(UK) Karl Penhaul
Karl Penhaul is a video correspondent for CNN, based out of Bogotá, Colombia. Appointed to this position in February 2004, he covers breaking news around the world utilizing CNN's new laptop-based 'Digital Newsgathering' system. He is traveling to Gaza to report on the ongoing conflict.

(Iraq) Thaer Shaker
Thaer is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.

(Cyprus) Dr. Elena Theoharous, MP
Dr. Theoharous is a surgeon and a Member of the Cypriot Parliament. She is traveling to Gaza to assess the ongoing conflict, assist with humanitarian relief efforts, and volunteer in hospitals.

This has been floating around a lot these past few days, I thought I'd share it here.

Apologies to All the People in Lebanon
by June Jordan

Dedicated to the 60,000 Palestinian men, women, and children who lived in Lebanon from 1948-1983.

I didn’t know and nobody told me and what
could I do or say, anyway?

They said you shot the London Ambassador
and when that wasn’t true
they said so
what
They said you shelled their northern villages
and when U.N. forces reported that was not true
because your side of the cease-fire was holding
since more than a year before
they said so
what
They said they wanted simply to carve
a 25 mile buffer zone and then
they ravaged your
water supplies your electricity your
hospitals your schools your highways and byways all
the way north to Beirut because they said this
was their quest for peace
They blew up your homes and demolished the grocery
stores and blocked the Red Cross and took away doctors
to jail and they cluster-bombed girls and boys
whose bodies
swelled purple and black into twice the original size
and tore the buttocks from a four month old baby
and then
they said this was brilliant
military accomplishment and this was done
they said in the name of self-defense they said
that is the noblest concept
of mankind isn’t that obvious?
They said something about never again and then
they made close to one million human beings homeless
in less than three weeks and they killed or maimed
40,000 of your men and your women and your children

But I didn’t know and nobody told me and what
could I do or say, anyway?

They said they were victims. They said you were
Arabs.
They called your apartments and gardens guerrilla
strongholds.
They called the screaming devastation
that they created the rubble.
Then they told you to leave, didn’t they?

Didn’t you read the leaflets that they dropped
from their hotshot fighter jets?
They told you to go.
One hundred and thirty-five thousand
Palestinians in Beirut and why
didn’t you take the hint?
Go!
There was the Mediterranean: You
could walk into the water and stay
there.
What was the problem?

I didn’t know and nobody told me and what
could I do or say, anyway?

Yes, I did know it was the money I earned as a poet that
paid
for the bombs and the planes and the tanks
that they used to massacre your family

But I am not an evil person
The people of my country aren't so bad

You can expect but so much
from those of us who have to pay taxes and watch
American TV

You see my point;

I’m sorry.
I really am sorry.

I could just use my phone or email various ppl this week but this hits more birds with one stone and the browser on the computer is already open to LJ so. Those of you in or otherwise familiar with Philly? Where exactly is that little coffee and bagel place on or just off Baltimore ave that has great vegan options? or do you have other suggestions for quick cheap vegan west philly eats?

I will briefly be there next week to shoot something and I'm sure I will get hungry.

I know all I need to do is ask the first anarchist I see. But recommends from trusted sources welcome.

Major force in my childhood.



Thanks, Womanist Musings!

Much Delayed.



Alina Simone


Martin Bisi


Fiery Furnaces


Franz Ferdinand