Chivalry

Is chivalry still common, or does women's independence make it considered inappropriate?  I know women who are offended by overtly chivalrous behavior from men or their partners/lovers.  I know I am offended sometimes, but other times I appreciate it.  Why?  And why does a discussion of this have to be about gender? Why should I feel badly about accepting free drinks or having a door opened for me? What term, maybe better than politeness or respect, could be used to separate chivalry from the sexist fundamental Western values that bind our civilization.  Chivalry grew out of a dark period and was based on moral behavior and knighthood (honor) and it's implications don't have to be gendered! Right?

Amongst my closest friends chivalry tends to be more closeted, but in some sense maybe we need more of it out in the open. Maybe not in the traditional sense but in standing up for our friends, loved ones, reading a situation that might be uncomfortable for someone and stepping in to assist (without being that jealous lover.)

Maybe we as women need to really BE more independent instead of just saying we are.  For example, when a bar owner is hitting on my friend and I, "accidentally" showing us porn on his laptop (= sexual harassment?), we put up with it and laughed at his perverted jokes simply because he offered us free shots.  A bar owner (of a respected JP bar) should not behave that way but it also doesn't help that we, who consider ourselves strong, independent women who look after ourselves, are validating his behavior.  Maybe if I expect to be respected I shouldn't allow him to make me look like a drink-whore. Maybe other men in the bar didn't realize that we were actually just using him...but at whose expense?  Is it a privilege of an independent woman to do this?

I think I might have made up for this Friday night when I booted a young "gentleman" from a gathering at my house.  Many of my friends later told me that they heard the things he was saying yet for some reason nobody told him to cut it out.  Maybe if he'd been called out a bit earlier in the night he wouldn't have kept going or disturbed so many women.  I don't like that happening to my friends at all, but especially not under my roof a place that unlike a bar, I can actually do something about who is there.   Recognizing women are independent doesn't mean you should stand by while they are being demeaned.  Somebody should say something.

I guess that night, that person was me. I guess I wore the "balls"...and I think I might do it more often.

Drunk New Yorker grabs train cables, suffers extreme shock and then sues Amtrak for negligence?

Via: Universal Hub

"So this barhopping New Yorker up in Boston climbs on top of an Acela train at South Station late one night in 2006, reaches up and is promptly zapped with 27,000 or so volts, leading to serious burns and injuries, including the loss of his left arm [and eventually his left leg as well!].

Naturally, he's suing Amtrak for gross negligence, because it failed to do enough to keep idiots from climbing on top of trains and grabbing hold of electrical wires..."

Read more...

Original story from the Herald

So much *Aht* and Music in Bahston this weekend

This is one of those weekends where I must hop from event to event to soak up all the awesome-ness...especially while it's still *kind of* warm out.

Here is the breakdown:

FRIDAY NIGHT

Silent Rave Boston (7-9pm): Stop dancing by yourself in front of the bathroom mirror. Get outside with your kindred souls and rave the night away in Copley Square. Bring your ipod and dance!

Open Mic/Open Stage at Casa Bonita, a hip art studio in lower allston run by a couple of wacky youths (aka my friendz!). And guess what, $5 entrance w/open bar (aka TONS of free beer)

If you want to play, here's the deal. You get 15 min or less to prove you've got talent! email casabonita@gmail.com if you want to play, or join the Facebook event.

Here are photos from the last Casa Bonita event which was a HIT: here and here and here

SATURDAY

P R O V I N C E T O W N M U S I C F E S T I V A L
I just discovered this online today. The awesome folk/blue grass band I saw last night, Tripping Lily will be performing there along with Magic of Steel, a reggae and calypso group and many others.

Music will go from 5-9pm.

Energy SOlutions day: 11:00am - 2:00pm, Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common

Mass. Interfaith Power & Light and the Sierra Club are sponsoring an Energy Solutions Day on Boston Common at Parkman Bandstand. Join with others to enjoy the fall day, listen to music and learn about energy solutions which will save you money, cut your greenhouse gas emissions and promote good stewardship of the planet. Plus, get a free energy-saving lightbulb while supplies last!

For more information or to volunteer, contact Carol Oldham (617-423-5775; carol.oldham@sierraclub.org).

SATURDAY NIGHT

LAURA MARLING - JOHNNY FLYNN - GREGORY HOSKINS - MUMFORD AND SONS: SPECIAL ACOUSTIC SHOWCASE

6:00pm - 9:30pm, ICC 557 Cambridge St, Allston MA

Tickets available through www.massliveevents.com for $10 + $2.75 Service Charge

10pm-2am
Rhymes with Dolores @ the Precinct in Somerville. W/ guest Adam Pell and Dave Shulman.

"If you’ve ever wondered “What does Justin Timberlake listen to when he masturbates to himself in the mirror?” now you have your answer. This EP is clever, sexy, and not to be missed. In “Watch You Sleep” you’re riding shotgun with the creep on the Subway who tries to rub up against strangers. “Some Day” is the gem of the record and would bring Marvin Gaye to his knees. It highlights the finer points of a hookup that never quite happens, which is hard to understand because singer Captain Chet Katz offers to “…cup your boob, if you want me to.” “Bomb Ass Headies” has the Afroman effect of making you want to rip a thousand bong hits. At the same time you might find it in your heart to forgive those dirt balls at Bonnaroo who used to say “Who’s got my headies?” Who needs therapy when you’ve got Rhymes with Dolores? -The Noise, Boston

SUNDAY


The 2008 Allston Village Street Fair will be held on Sunday, September 14th from 12pm to 6pm following the Brian J. Honan Memorial 5K Race and the Allston-Brighton Parade (which by the way blocks off a LARGE portion of Cambridge street). The Allston Village Street Fair will take place on Harvard Avenue from Brighton Avenue to Cambridge Street.

This 2008 years street fair will showcase Allston’s thriving art scene with street performers, art exhibits, vendors, and 2 stages of live music on Harvard Ave. featuring over 30 bands who are donating their performances to this amazing cause. Some of these AWESOME bands are: THREE DAY THRESHOLD, the ALLSTONIANS (Ska), THE SOAP STARS (Mikey P's new band) and CASEY DESMOND.

Also, Emily and Casa Bonita followers will have a vending stand set up to sell artwork and crafts from Casa Bonita. For more info, check what Emily posted on Facebook.

Weekend events: The Boston Ahts Festival

This will be the 6th year for (ähts): The Boston Arts Festival

For 3 days, Christopher Columbus Watefront Park (Aquarium stop on Blue Line, not far from Faneuil Hall) will be transformed into an Artists' Village. Over 60 juried visual artists will exhibit and sell their original works of art. Two stages will feature peformances from Boston Ballet, Blue Man Group, Zili Misik, Bon Savants, Buffalo Tom and much more.

Friday, September 12, 2-7:30 PM

Saturday, September 13, 12PM - 6PM

Sunday, September 14, 12PM - 6PM

Here are some of the acts that caught my eye:

Friday 5:45pm-6 Blue Man Group: Blue paint will be flying along with a tempo of pulsating sounds from this beloved group who are now mainstays within the Boston arts scene

Saturday 12-12:45: Zili Misik
Performing African, Caribbean & American soul, this vibrant all-female group will bring back memories of warm summer days

Saturday 3:45-4:15 (Garden Stage) Pan United
A steel drum explosion from this energetic group

Saturday 5-5:30 Everyday Visuals
Music from local indie group considered to be the next big thing. They were also named "Best Rock Act" in the Improper Bostonian this year. One of my favorite local bands!

Sunday 3:45-4:15 (Garden Stage) Ritmo En Accion
Vibrant dance performance from this local troupe. A teen group now running for 7 years, this troupe has danced at salsa events internationally

Sunday 4:15-4:45 Iyeoka
Performing original work with some popular covers, this young spoken word artist / soul singer recently was featured on a compilation album covering U2's "Desire." I met Iyeoka at Bonnaroo playing with the Press Project and she is quite amazing.

Sunday 5:45-6:15 Bon Savants
Demonstrating music versatility, this popular local indie group will be playing from their album "Post Rock Defends the Nation"

2 Kind of surprising local incidents I read about today

A handful of my friends just moved to Coolidge Rd in Lower Allston. I hope none of them had their cars on parked on the street this weekend. Somebody rammed into about 4-5 cars, on BOTH sides of the road! The first few are scratched but some are pretty F*CKED up!

Check out the story here: http://allston02134.blogspot.com/2008/09/multiple-coolidge-rd-cars-damaged.html

Also, a BC student jumped off a Comm Ave building onto a tree branch and landed! Wow! All his drunk ass friends urged him to DO IT AGAIN! So he did, and this time, didn't make it. I used to live in buildings like this and while hanging on the roof is fun, it's incidents like this that have made me afraid of heights!
http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2008/09/06/bc_student_seriously_hurt_in_leap_from_balcony/

As the college year begins, I wonder if this is the kind of shit I have to look forward to in my neighborhood...

Tattoos and America

Heard a great piece on NPR this morning about tattoos, tattoo history and tattooing in modern America. According to the story, 40% of Americans between the ages of 24 and 40 have ink! But the U.S. tattoo culture is nothing compared to some of the world's body art traditions.

This piece examined the Maoris from New Zealand who have been tattooing for millions of years. They also draw a connection between tattoo design and wood cuts, which I found interesting.


Find the NPR story by clicking on the image below. Click listen to download the podcast.


There is an exhibit concerning Maorian tattoo at the Peabody Essex museum called: "Body Politics: Maori Tattoo Today". The exhibit lasts until January 2009.

I love photographing tattoos, and I find some of the best at music festivals I attend. Some other tattoo photos I have taken...