On Science and Religion

I just finished watching the critically acclaimed movie Contact. I know, I’m late. Shut it.

For those that know me, know that I’m a sucker for cerebral movies that address existential questions. I am my father’s daughter. In fact, I related so much to Jodie Foster’s character and her relationship with her father.  (I swear I should’ve been an astronomer or physicist. Oh well.)  The movie reminded me of when me and my dad would talk for hours about “life out there,” parallel universes, multiple lifetimes. I remember one time my dad and I stood on our deck starring at this flickering light in the sky that moved in a circular fashion. I ran to retrieve my camcorder just so I could record what we both were witnessing. We stood on the patio for about 45 minutes guessing and hypothesizing about that light. What was it? Where did it come from? We didn’t know, but it was cool just to stand and wonder with my dad.  He was the only person I could ever wonder with.

Protected: Writing Samples

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Cool Twitter Conference: October 20, 2009 – Brooklyn, New York

Yesterday afternoon I had the opportunity to speak with fellow geeks and nerds about using social media to promote ideas, businesses, and brands at the Cool Twitter Conference in Brooklyn, New York. (The geeks shall rule the world!)

I was invited to speak by the conference organizers Bob Fine (@bobfine) and author/activist, Kevin Powell (@kevin_powell).  One notable presenter was Jamilah Lemieux (@sistertoldja) creator of the provocative and culturally relevant blog Me, Myself, An Eye. If you don’t know already about this sister, follow her on Twitter and subscribe to her blog now.  Do whatever you have do to be enlightenment by the insightful words of this powerfully-minded young woman of color.

I had presented before at major conferences about the importance of social/new media:

Media Justice and Feminist Futures (SUNY – Albany 2007)

Facing Race (Applied Research Center) - Oakland 2008)

Yesterday’s Cool Twitter Conference was certainly another opportunity for me to learn from others and share my ideas of how best to use virtual platforms for personal & professional development.  I also had the opportunity to publicly coin a new phrase. (Go me!) I’ve written about ’snew’ media before (just look at my ‘About Tara’ bio) and hopefully folks will see this term show up in print next month.  I’ll keep you posted!

That Guy: Kevin Powell on Domestic Violence Awareness

Kevin Powell Image: The Brooklyn Paper

You know that anti-sexist guy who we happen to come across in some off-beat progressive feminist magazine, or read about in a Women’s Studies class, or see in an independently produced documentary, yet he still seems mythical in our distant consciousness like faint familiarity? Upon coming across *that guy* we (i.e. the self-proclaimed feminists, womanists, or simply “pro-woman folk”) celebrate and lament all at once, as if to say; “Ah, yes, I’m sure that guy really does exist . . . somewhere.”

Cornel West Talks Newark, Cory Booker, & Youth Engagement [VIDEO]

Cornel West (Image: Manolomen.com)

This week in NYC is like Woodstock for activists, educators, and politicians.  There’s so much going on from a domestic violence workshop to a film screening on Rethink Afghanistan.

Starting things off, last night had the opportunity to attend Cornel West’s Barnes & Noble event in Midtown.  Brother West was there to introduced his latest book Living and Loving Out Loud, a Memoir and rap a bit with the folks.

When Things Go Too Far: Caster Semenya Suicide Watch

From YouthNoise.com

The Associated Press is reporting that 18-year-old South African runner, Caster Semenya is on suicide watch after recent tests revealed (in front of the entire world no less) that she is intersex.

Van Jones & His Green Ideas

From HeatingOil.com

by Tara L. Conley

Van Jones recently resigned from his post as Special Advisor for Green Jobs in The White House, but hopefully the ideas he advocated for like green roof technology will remain.

Before coming to The White House, Van Jones had been advocating for what he called “green jobs” – the confluence of two ideas; creating new jobs while at the same time building a more cost and energy efficient environment. Among Jones’ top priorities as Special Advisor for Green Jobs was to promote ‘green roof’ technology. The idea behind this type of technology is to provide energy and cost reducing benefits to residents, business owners, and surrounding neighborhoods by building rooftop ecosystem covered with living plants. The vegetated roofs add insulation, reduce urban “heat island effects” and storm water run off, and improve the overall quality of the buildings. During the summer months, planted roofs remain cooler, reducing the need for energy guzzling air conditioners. More green rooftop projects would provide employment opportunities for urban area contractors and builders, thereby creating an entirely new sector within the green industry.

Maia Campbell & The Curious Case of Social Blogging

I suspect that many women of color suffer quietly or at best receive inadequate attention from family practitioners, internists, or clergy when afflicted by even the most commonplace maladies, such as mood and anxiety disorders . . . With educational efforts of the past decade, mood, anxiety, eating, and substance-abuse disorders are being increasingly recognized in the general population, and larger numbers of women of color are seeking and receiving treatment for the first time.  Paradoxically however, women of color may still be less likely to receive adequate evaluation for psychotropic medications, even when their presenting symptoms are recognized (or recognizable) by health providers . . . It is not uncommon, for example, that African American, Latinas, and Native American women feel patronized by a health care system that tends to portray them as either ‘victims’ or ‘perpetrators’ of societal ills such as drug abuse, crime, and so on, rather than as individuals.  On the other hand, some groups–such as Asian Americans–have a tendency to ‘delay and underutilized’ psychiatric care (Lin, Innui, Kleinman, & Womack, 1982) leading to an ‘invisibility’ of their problems.”

Frederick M. Jacobsen, MD, MPH in Women of Color – Integrating Ethnic & Gender Identities in Psychotherapy (Lillian Comas-Diaz and Beverly Greene, Eds. 1994).

With the recent viral video of actress Maia Campbell appearing disoriented and detached, it’s time our virtual communities, particularly communities of color, recognize that mental illness, whether brought on by genetics, trauma, or drug abuse, most certainly should not warrant exploitative and childish mockery in the name of increasing YouTube and blog hits.  I’m sickened by some of my fellow gossip bloggers, and bloggers of color that chose to distribute this video without providing context, but instead posted cheeky bylines to attract viewers, or otherwise, start shit.  YouTube users that posted the video on their channels with links to their websites, record labels, and blogs, are just as pathetic.  Campbell’s recent video is not the first of its kind to surface. About a year ago, Campbell appeared withdrawn yet again while being video taped by some guy who thought it would be a cool idea to record her engaging in sexual acts.

For obvious reasons I refuse to post or link to any of the videos currently being distributed virally.  I also refuse to link or track back to certain bloggers that choose to use their medium as means of speculating about Maia Campbell’s mental state and circumstance.

Obama’s HCR Speech Challenge, & O’Donnell’s Reality Check

Last night on The Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC political correspondent Lawrence O’Donnell addressed what might be President Obama’s last chance to rally substantial support for progressive Health Care Reform in the US.  Obama will to speak before a joint session of Congress next week.

Some folks are banking on Obama’s rhetoric genius to deliver a speech that will inspire even the most cynical, namely the GOP opposition.  But can a speech actually change the hearts and minds of a party hell-bent on engaging in the art of hyperbole to belly-ache and spread blatant falsehoods about real Health Care Reform?  If you recall back in 1993 at the height of a similar Health Care Reform debate, former President Bill Clinton went before Congress and delivered what was at the time considered a pivotal speech on progressive Health Care Reform.  The result of his monumental speech, you ask? Ask our current Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.  And, as Lawrence O’Donnell points out, Bill Clinton wasn’t facing nearly as much opposition upon delivering that speech as President Obama is facing now.

The Ladies Run This: Summerstage 2009!

Jazmine Sullivan

Yesterday, SummerStage in Central Park went down and hella folks came out to weather the heat and humidity just to see our favorite artists perform.  The show kicked of with Case, followed by Jon B., Ryan Leslie, Deborah Cox, and Jazmine Sullivan.

Truth be told, the ladies (Deborah and Jazmine) stole the show.  It was nice to hear oldies but goodies from Case and Jon B., but performance-wise, Case and Jon could’ve probably rehearsed a few more times before hitting the stage.  Ryan Leslie, on the other hand, gave a great show.  I can’t even front, his energy was stellar, and on top of that homie came out playing multiple instruments while jumping up and down on stage.  Yet still, his vocal skeelz can’t touch Ms. Cox and Ms. Sullivan’s.  Like my girl told me while walking back home from the concert, “Ryan Leslie is more like a hype man, than anything.  And he’s good at it.”