unkempt maker

aye -- a blathering blistering
meandering wandering
greener and faster and meaner and warmer

triangle the fire and lay under water
wanting and wasting and do it yourself

mysteries swollen and bile convulses
and spider erupts in your head like a split
stripping and missing

your mind in the got her aroused;
a shudder and flicker and swifter it's done

--Sarah D.

[As part of a challenge to Mark to write some of his own poems because he's been celebrating National Poetry Month, I sort of promised to write one of my own despite my almost complete dislike of poetry. So, here is my 5-minute poem for you. Deconstruct and rip apart at will.]

"You Mean Christians Are Maintaining Our Monopoly?"

A rather sizeable technology firm located in Washington state has apparently forgotten the numerous times it was awarded for its respect of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights -- in the workplace and in the community.

Said company has revoked its support of a LGBT rights bill in Washington due to threats of an evangelical Christian boycott of its products. HRC has already crafted a response taking them to task, though the letter to the CEO gets rather mushy at the end.

They just need to get called out for being the greedy, hypocritical, right-wing fearing cowards that they are.

B.M.F.A.

I don't know what it is about the McGarrigle/ Wainwright clan, but they sure are continuing to be a compelling bunch of independently talented weirdos. The new release from Martha Wainwright [S/T] is just another example of such talent and certainly demonstrates that Rufus isn't the only child in the family who knows how best to illustrate his or her vocal stylings.

Besides the fan favorite from her EP of the same name, "Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole," Martha offers up a bunch of similarly cathartic tunes throughout the album, her first full-length. "When the Day is Short" is a personal favorite. Certainly not a compilation of songs that will fit every mood, but when it's right, it's perfect.

The only negative that's come out of Martha's solo career -- as far as I can tell -- is that she and Rufus have been less likely to be found touring together. And as anyone who's seen them together on a stage knows, they're one hot musical bro-and-sis duo. Perhaps Martha will make some guest appearances while Bro tours with Ben Folds this summer?

Corky, look out!!

Thank goodness my beloved little gray and white mangy cat, Corky, does not live in Wisconsin. According to news reports, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress recently voted in favor of removing feral felines from the endangered species list. Luckily, there are a couple more hoops for the cat-killers to jump through before it's officially done, and people don't seem to think the legislature will actually change the animal cruelty laws. So it'll be a while before stray tabbies need to start stockpiling bulletproof vests, if at all.

But still, people. I understand that cats can be a nuisance, but in no way should they be hunted. And who decides which cats "look" feral and which ones don't? If Corky were running around La Crosse, I guarantee she would be shot - she's a raggedy bag of bones with hair clumps the size of baseballs. She's old. She's gross. You'd never guess she's a "domesticated" cat.

Hunters are certainly one group I do not trust to show discretion and restraint.

On the upside, I'm glad to know there are groups out there like the Alley Cat Allies and Don't Shoot the Cat who are working around the clock to protect the little rascals. And to buy them body armor.

Interview Mutation

I encourage you all to go to the closest bookstore that you can find listed on this website and purchase the current issue of Rockrgrl magazine.

Do this for a few reasons:

1) Most importantly because there is an interview with Kristin Hersh written by a super talented writer who can convincingly allude to "anthems shaking the stalagmites of Hades" without making you laugh out loud. [Or maybe not; apparently some people do laugh...]

2) The picture of Sally Timms on p. 35 that has some people drooling into their beer...I'm not one of them, but you should check it out anyway.

3) The ad for everyone's favorite feminist-owned sex toy store in Minneapolis, the Smitten Kitten, found on p. 39.

Ordinances and Obituaries

Andrea Dworkin, feminist and censor extraordinaire, died April 9th. So why can I only locate one obituary in the news [the Guardian's]?

Her official website has a memorial all set up, but -- as far as I can tell -- the U.S. media has been silent. Nothing in the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, CNN...you get the picture.

I'm getting the distinct impression that either the media is abandoning her now that she has no more controversial quotes to offer, or they're waiting to get the results of her autopsy. I like mysteries; her cause of death seems to be one. I guess we'll have to wait until the news media decides to report on her to find out what happened.

[Update: This morning the Post and the Times had obituaries. Perhaps I was being too impatient last night?]