tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99127742024-03-13T10:53:39.905-04:00Kudzu, Mon AmourThe Royal Mishaps of Queen Esther, Unemployed Superstar.Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.comBlogger1363125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-86726667276986948352020-02-27T10:12:00.000-05:002020-02-27T10:12:55.793-05:00Week Two -- Gettysburg: The Mixtape + The Booklist While in residency at Gettysburg National Military Park, I've decided to find ways to let the world in on my creative process (indirectly) by coming up with alternative ways to engage the casual observer. I've assembled a playlist on Spotify -- <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4yrrFVW42dEYVhqdh8VlRi." target="_blank">Gettysburg: The Mixtape</a> -- that's basically my soundtrack as I wander through the battlefield and in the town, the museums and both the National Cemetery and the Lincoln Cemetery, where black soldiers and other black citizens are buried. You'll hear anything from Kool and the Gang and Ennio Morricone to Aaron Copland and Billy Squier. All of it is meant to sonically evoke this dark somber majesty, this strange Southern Gothic sadness that is Gettysburg. <br />
<br />
I believe in research and scholarly excavation as a solid foundation when approaching any creative work. This list is a compilation of a few of the books that are informing my solo show <i>Blackbirding</i> as well as this most recent Black Americana song cycle, inspired by pivotal moments in battle strategy, infamous stories of heroism and cowardice, bizarre monuments -- and of course, the blood-soaked land itself.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Gettysburg: The Booklist</b></div>
<ol>
<li><i><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8203-1352-8" target="_blank">Celia, A Slave: A True Story</a> </i>by Melton A. Mclaurin</li>
<li><a href="https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810883376/African-Americans-and-the-Gettysburg-Campaign-Sesquicentennial-Edition" target="_blank"><i>African Americans and the Gettysburg Campaign</i></a> by James M. Paradis</li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/569354.The_Colors_of_Courage" target="_blank"><i>The Colors of Courage: Gettysburg's Forgotten History: Immigrants, Women and African-Americans in the Civil War's Defining Battle</i></a> by Margaret S.S. Creighton</li>
<li><a href="https://www.strategypage.com/bookreviews/1917" target="_blank"><i>Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil War's Most Persistent Myth</i></a> by Kevin M. Levin</li>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/10/16/770341484/in-stolen-five-boys-are-caught-in-a-reverse-underground-railroad-toward-slavery" target="_blank"><i>Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odysssey Home</i></a> by Richard Bell</li>
<li><a href="https://www.phillytrib.com/lifestyle/book-review-sweet-taste-of-liberty-offers-take-on-reparations/article_91daf8f2-1ddb-5619-b61c-646da13f240b.html" target="_blank"><i>Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America</i></a> by W. Caleb McDaniel</li>
<li><a href="https://www.broadstreetreview.com/books/erica-armstrong-dunbars-never-caught#" target="_blank"><i>Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit Of Their Runaway Slave Ona Judge</i></a> by Erica Armstrong Dunbar</li>
<li><a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/231709/summary" target="_blank"><i>Forever Free: The Story of Emancipation and Reconstruction</i></a> by Eric Foner</li>
<li><a href="https://groveatlantic.com/book/every-drop-of-blood/" target="_blank"><i>Every Drop of Blood: The Momentous Second Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln</i></a> by Edward Achorn</li>
<li><a href="https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780811718400/Maine-Roads-to-Gettysburg-How-Joshua-Chamberlain-Oliver-Howard-and-4000-Men-from-the-Pine-Tree-State-Helped-Win-the-Civil-War%27s-Bloodiest-Battle" target="_blank"><i>Maine Roads to Gettysburg: How Joshua Chamberlain, Oliver Howard and 4,000 Men From the Pine Tree State Helped Win the Civil War's Bloodiest Battle</i></a> by Tom Huntington</li>
<li><a href="https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cwbr/vol21/iss4/14/" target="_blank"><i>"Too Much For Human Endurance": The George Spangler Farm Hospitals and the Battle of Gettysburg</i></a> by Ronald D. Kirkwood</li>
<li><a href="https://uniondb.com/products/a-vast-sea-of-misery-a-history-guide-to-the-union-confederate-field-hospitals-at-gettysburg-july-1-november-20-1863" target="_blank"><i>A Vast Sea of Misery: A History and Guide to the Union and Confederate Field Hospitals at Gettysburg, July 1 - November 20, 1863</i></a> by Gregory A. Coco</li>
<li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/timothy-egan/the-immortal-irishman/" target="_blank"><i>The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became An American Hero</i></a> by Timothy Egan</li>
<li><a href="https://networks.h-net.org/node/2295/reviews/2395/campbell-cox-dixies-daughters-united-daughters-confederacy-and" target="_blank"><i>Dixie's Daughters: The United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Preservation of Confederate Culture</i></a> by Karen L. Cox</li>
<li><i><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-m-oshinsky/worse-than-slavery/" target="_blank">Worse Than Slavery: Parchman Farm and the Ordeal of Jim Crow Justice</a> </i>by David M. Oshinsky</li>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17957712" target="_blank"><i>This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War</i></a> by Drew Gilpin Faust</li>
</ol>
<br />Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-54103962764667212812020-01-01T05:32:00.000-05:002020-02-27T05:38:19.180-05:00New Year, New Decade<br />
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<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6yc5ycg6sw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Here's a moving self portrait of how
I'm setting myself up nicely for the #newyear. "Legend
has it that #collardgreens and #blackeyedpeas are said to represent a
prosperous new year, with the #greens symbolizing #cash and peas #coins.
American currency, however, is nothing like the dark green hue of
cooked #collards and at no point have we used puny, white pea-sized
balls as change. While some may still eat collards and #peas for this
reason to ring in the new year, the tradition dates hundreds of years
back in American history and even further back across the
Atlantic." For more -- @mic: Collard greens and black eyed peas:
The history of why we eat them on New Year's
https://www.mic.com/articles/163513/collard-greens-and-black-eyed-peas-the-history-of-why-we-eat-them-on-new-year-s
> #foodporn #yummo #foodpornography #foodporno #letseat
#instagram #insta #websta #webstagram #newyorkcity #nyc
#harlem</a></div>
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A
post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thisisqueenesther/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Queen Esther</a> (@thisisqueenesther) on
<time datetime="2020-01-01T19:12:56+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 1, 2020
at 11:12am PST</time></div>
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</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-91712921478422162112018-11-02T12:00:00.000-04:002018-11-02T12:00:09.494-04:00November = NaNoWriMo!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://d15q5g7ipjper4.cloudfront.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/what-is-nanowrimo-418x315.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="418" height="300" src="https://d15q5g7ipjper4.cloudfront.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/what-is-nanowrimo-418x315.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">November is NaNoWriMo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Write a novel in a month.<br />
Yes, that's right -- 50,000 words by November 30th. That's 1,667 words per day. <br />
Because the world needs your novel.<br />
Because you've got to get that book off your chest, out of your head and out into the world.<br />
Because you've got something to say -- and deep down you know that someone else needs to hear it.<br />
Because you've always wanted to write a book. <br />
Because why not.<br />
<br />
Join me and <a href="https://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">register here</a>.Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-74406397405130103832018-11-01T12:00:00.000-04:002018-11-01T12:00:03.989-04:00Steady on my grind...!I pressed pause on this blog when my creative life started to run me over<br />
and the world started to fall apart<br />
in small desperate chunks <br />
I didn't think about winding it up again<br />
until I realized this would have been a great place to explain myself<br />
and my process maybe<br />
and definitely document all the fun I've been having<br />
in so many different directions<br />
with so many different people<br />
who are family to me<br />
in some small atomic way.<br />
(You really should have been there.) <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blog.ted.com/meet-the-spring-2018-class-of-ted-residents/" target="_blank">The Spring 2018 TED Residency</a><br />
The Black Americana album (almost done recording)<br />
The jazz album (getting mixed and mastered)<br />
Eyal Vilner Big Band<br />
and the epic hang after the gig that feels inevitable with him<br />
because Eyal is just that cool<br />
Finally, a novel idea<br />
Brooklyn Americana Music Festival<br />
New York Hot Jazz Festival <br />
Swimming lessons<br />
Manicures and pedicures<br />
and facials and beauty boxes<br />
and blue eyeshadow<br />
and red lipstick<br />
and exfoliating<br />
and moisturizing<br />
and all kinds of yoga<br />
Doctor visits<br />
My eyebrowist<br />
My accupuncturist <br />
My ever present Fitbit,<br />
clocking 5 - 7 miles a day<br />
just walking around in this beautiful idiotic city.<br />
Getting my body back<br />
Getting my bearings<br />
physically<br />
mentally<br />
spiritually<br />
Cleaning house<br />
Decluttering<br />
Organizing<br />
Fingerpicking and flatpicking<br />
and being horrible at it<br />
and doing it anyway<br />
because I love it<br />
even though it doesn't love me<br />
Taking lessons with Booski in Hoboken<br />
Gigging with Hill and Sharp <br />
Trying not to kill Caleb<br />
<br />
And my grandmama. <br />
And Hamiet.<br />
<br />
My uke<br />
My banjo<br />
My parlor guitar<br />
More new songs, coming at me like shrapnel<br />
as ideas implode in my head<br />
at all hours<br />
and I scramble to get myself out of the way<br />
so I can hear it clearly enough<br />
to write it all down<br />
the way it wants to be written down<br />
whatever that is.<br />
Walking down the street singing to myself<br />
over and over and over<br />
under my breath<br />
like a crazy pants<br />
until i can whip out my phone and sing into it<br />
in front of strangers<br />
like a weirdo <br />
and then taking it apart when i get home<br />
catching lightning in a bottle<br />
messing with my A&L to help me out<br />
and when it can't<br />
singing all of it back to myself<br />
until its complete.<br />
<br />
Feels like I'm carrying cut glass in my mouth<br />
when a song is stuck in me that way. <br />
Any second, the blood will gush<br />
if I don't handle it delicately enough.<br />
And if I don't get all the shards out of me,<br />
it could get stuck in my throat.<br />
I have to get it all out of me.<br />
All the songs<br />
All the poems<br />
All the librettos and plays<br />
All the scripts<br />
All the books <br />
All the pictures<br />
All the movies<br />
All the talks<br />
All the ideas<br />
Everything.<br />
I want to leave it all here<br />
I don't want to take any of it with me when I go. <br />
<br />
In this moment of desolation and abundance<br />
I stride forth like a cold white walker <br />
in a dress that's older than my mum<br />
looking like a Drum magazine pinup <br />
with a head covered with kink<br />
full of ideas <br />
and a mouthful of cut glass<br />
A banjo strapped to my back<br />
A pretty dog at my feet<br />
MPB on my arm<br />
And God, directing my steps<br />
<br />
I believe I'll run on and see what the end is going to be.<br />
<br />
In the meantime<br />
winter is coming<br />
time to vote<br />
pray<br />
hibernate<br />
travel<br />
and stay on my grind<br />
<br />
<br />Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-77257473693860938772018-03-04T11:47:00.000-05:002018-07-10T18:19:35.887-04:00What's in this year's Oscars swag bag? <br />
<br />
Ah, the legendary "unofficial" Oscars swag bag. Now that Joan Rivers is gone and the event seems so predictable, what's in the bag interests me way more than the ceremony itself. A week before the event, <a href="http://www.distinctiveassets.com/" target="_blank">Distinctive Assets</a> sends a swag bag to each nominee -- and yes, the host. All of its contents are 100% donated by the participating companies in the hopes that the rich and famous will use their products. (Hmph. I don't get the ROI on this one.) <br />
<br />
Apparently, there's a lot of stuff in that bag. When it's value <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/hayleycuccinello/2016/02/09/the-200000-oscars-gift-bag-the-business-of-vibrators-breast-lifts-and-more-absurd-swag/#2e25cbb82182" target="_blank">ballooned to well over $230,000 in 2016</a>, they stopped flinging those numbers in the air and made pithy statements like <i>it's the giving of the gift that matters</i>. Actually, it's the product placement that matters. Because ultimately, the actor is a personal brand that has value as a commodity. Ultimately, it's all a marketing ploy. Lots of people figure out what product to use because their favorite famous person uses it. Or vacations there. Or whatever. What's ironic is that when you make millions of dollars per picture, you can easily afford to pay for all of it yourself. <br />
<br />
They don't need what's in that bag.<i> I do.</i><br />
<br />
I've always wondered what's inside that swag bag. No, scratch <i>that</i>. I've always wondered what it would be like to <i>get</i> one. I love acting, I really do. I have no doubt that someday, I'll work a lot. The thing is, I'm not so sure I want to totally commodify myself. And the work that most on camera actors put in to look the way they do need hardly be stressed. Read more about that <a href="http://kudzumonamour.blogspot.com/2009/07/your-inner-svengali.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Whatever. I won't believe that I've truly made it -- whatever "making it" is -- until I get gobs of free stuff.<br />
<br />
Here's an interesting tidbit: <a href="http://www.laweekly.com/arts/the-evolution-of-the-oscar-gift-bag-4446398" target="_blank">Sandra Oh</a> is the only actor to ever turn down an Oscars swag bag. (Ha.) And yes, they have to pay taxes on this stuff but that shouldn't be a problem when you're loaded.<br />
<br />
Check out this list while I get my unbridled greed in check (and on a Sunday, no less!) and feel free to let me know if I've forgotten anything. But first, the highlights!<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Twelve nights in Tanzania for two:</b> Single rooms at the <a href="http://www.elewanacollection.com/serengeti-migration-camp/serengeti-migration-camp-at-a-glance" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Serengeti Migration Camp</a>
(one of the top 10 hotels in the world) start at $695 and go up to
$1,178. The 12-night stay includes a journey from Arusha to Zanzibar on
private air transportation, all private meals, spa services, hot air
balloon safari with champagne breakfast, private safari guide and
vehicle, chef-guided cooking lessons, wild game drives and walking
safaris, horseback riding, and snorkeling. <b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Golden Door Spa: </b>A week-long stay at <a href="https://goldendoor.com/your-stay/spa/" target="_blank">this legendary destination spa in San Diego</a> will set you back $8,850. </li>
<li><a href="https://drjane360.com/products/healing-saint-luminosity-skin-serum-30ml" target="_blank">Healing Saint</a>: A year's supply of products including a luminosity skin serum and a hair follicle stimulant that claims to prevent further hair loss, valued at $2,316 by <a href="http://www.thisisinsider.com/oscar-nominee-gift-bag-2018-2018-2#a-years-supply-of-healing-saint-luminosity-skin-serum-along-with-a-hair-follicle-stimulant-valued-at-2316-that-claims-to-prevent-further-hair-loss-20" target="_blank">Business Insider</a>.</li>
<li><b><a href="https://rougemaple.com/boutique/rouge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rogue Maple Syrup:</a></b>
This is perhaps the weirdest inclusion in the swag bag, along with
sweat-absorbing underarm pads. This high-end syrup costs over $100 for a
package that contains multiple small bottles.<b> </b></li>
<li><a href="https://koloalandingresort.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><b>Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu:</b></a>
This Hawaiian resort goes for about $330 for a single night in a villa.
The six-night stay in a two bedroom villa with an ocean view features the added amenities of an on-site spa and
numerous excursions.<b> <br /> </b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.avatonresort.gr/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Avaton Luxury Villas Resort:</a></b> Staying at this Grecian island resort would typically cost about $450 per night.<b> </b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://blushwhimsy.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Blush and Whimsy Magical Color Changing Lipstick:</a></b> This product sets you back $22, but nominees won’t have to shell a dime.<b> </b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.23andme.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">23 and Me</a>:</b> A health and ancestry kit goes for $199, while just an ancestry kit costs $99.<b> </b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.oxygenetix.com/products" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lifetime supply of Oxygenating Foundation and Oxygenating Hydro Matrix</a>:</b> The foundation goes for $66 and the hydro matrix goes for $70.<b> </b></li>
<li><a href="https://www.epifruit.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><b>Epifruit:</b></a> Nominees get a year’s worth of fruit deliveries.<b> </b></li>
<li><a href="https://www.tryproven.com/pages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><b>Proven Cosmetics:</b></a>
This brand uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to create
personalized skin care products for consumers, which, in this case, are
the world’s best actors.<b> </b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.reianwilliamsfineart.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reian Williams Fine Art</a>:</b> A commissioned original painting is available for all nominees.</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>a commitment from Jarritos iconic Mexican soda to donate a pallet of soft drinks to a charitable event of the nominee’s choice.</li>
<li>personal training sessions with celebrity trainer Alexis Seletzky</li>
<li>ALLÉL DNA-based skincare</li>
<li>BANGARANG Positive Cube</li>
<li>Chao Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation</li>
<li>Charleston & Harlow candles</li>
<li>Chocolatines’ edible 16-piece jewelry box</li>
<li><i>Cook Yourself Happy: The Danish Way</i> cookbook</li>
<li>Curlee Girlee children’s empowerment book</li>
<li>Dandi Patch amazing underarm sweat patches</li>
<li>Delicacies Candy & Confections organic & vegan lollipops</li>
<li>D.Thomas Clinic Signature DNA Head-to-Toe Treatments</li>
<li>Esther Fairfax Lotte Berk Barre Method private group class</li>
<li>Face It makeup remover combo kit</li>
<li>Halo, Purely For Pets 10,000 bowl donation + snacks </li>
<li>Happiest Tee luxury t-shirts</li>
<li>Hydroxycut Organic weight loss supplements</li>
<li>Inception of Beauty 10-piece makeup brush set</li>
<li>Justice For Vets Challenge Coin</li>
<li>Kalliope NYC Phobia Relief Expert</li>
<li>Liwu Jewellery inspired by ancient Celtic symbols and Chinese calligraphy</li>
<li>Look Fabulous Forever Prime Collection</li>
<li>Luxura Diamonds limited edition conflict-free diamond necklace</li>
<li>My Magic Mud activated charcoal whitening toothpaste</li>
<li>M·Y·O Cosmetic Cases</li>
<li>MZ Skin Collagen Eye Mask and Golden Eye Treatment</li>
<li>"99 Creative Wows – Words of Wisdom for Business Celebrity" Creativity Kit</li>
<li>Non-invasive full face skin rejuvenation from Nurse Gigi</li>
<li>No. 9 Daily Chemical Exfoliant from Oumere Skin Care</li>
<li>A lifetime supply of Oxygenetix Breathable Foundation and Hydro-Matrix</li>
<li>Paiva Aloe Gorgeous! luxury cleanser and mask fusion</li>
<li>PepperFace, stylish pepper spray </li>
<li>PETA Bath Bomb (for humans)</li>
<li>Posh Pretzels gourmet gift box</li>
<li>Quincy Herbals SlimMax Detox Tea</li>
<li>Quip beautifully simple electric toothbrush</li>
<li>Safi Kilima Tanzanite bolo bracelets</li>
<li>Southern Wicked Lemonade all-natural lemonade moonshine</li>
<li>The Green Garmento Gigantote</li>
<li>TOTALEE hair care products</li>
<li>Vaya Tyffyns stainless steel lunchboxes</li>
<li>Wetsleeve wearable hydration on-the-go</li>
<li>Youth Blast revolutionary anti-aging supplement</li>
</ul>
Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-62084843393649467752018-01-02T15:00:00.000-05:002018-01-02T15:00:39.180-05:00Start The New Year Right -- Register To Vote!<i>“What one does realize is that when you try to stand up and look the
world in the face like you had a right to be here, without knowing that
this is the result of it, you have attacked the entire power structure
of the Western world.”</i> -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwM3ZN4NcjQ" target="_blank">James Baldwin</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>“Apathy gets you the government we have today.”</i> – Gil Sery</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>When I was a kid, all the Southern black folk around me took their civic responsibilities very seriously. Election Day was a solemn moment, one fraught with a reckoning to the past and the full understanding that once upon a time, the simple act of casting your ballot in a local election could get you and perhaps your entire family killed, or at least run out of town on a rail. To vote was to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who couldn't -- and I figured if the powers that be were going to work this hard to keep me from doing something, I should do it. Voting became synonymous with adulthood. I would couldn't wait to grow up so I could move to New York City, live in Harlem, live the life of an artist (whatever that meant), and vote. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>So far, so good. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><iframe allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="288" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" src="https://video-api.wsj.com/api-video/player/v3/iframe.html?guid=70B2C18C-995F-4889-B361-6CE3EF178FE5&shareDomain=null" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="512"></iframe> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>I can't explain why white women voted for Trump in droves, many of them knowing full well that their vote would have elected Hillary -- and yet they showed up for a record-breaking women's march on Washington, DC the next day. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="//players.brightcove.net/293884104/SJa0Thl7_default/index.html?videoId=5241976321001"></iframe> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>I suppose I could blame the electoral college. Still and all, I don't know why half the country didn't bother to vote in the last presidential election. I can't tell you why most people don't vote in mid-term elections. I can tell you this: Way too many people genuinely don't care -- and unfortunately, the first sign of bad nutrition is apathy. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>I can also tell you that 2018 midterm elections will be fire. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>If you want to stick your toe in the water, here's some tasty apps. I'm already at the other side of the pool -- eating clean, running and working on a new song cycle. It's 2018, folks. #GetYourLife!</span></span><br />
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote" target="_blank">Click here to get all the information you need so you can register to vote</a>! <br /><br />* General election: November 6, 2018<br />* State primary: September 11, 2018<br />* Federal primary: June 26, 2018<br /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.voter.xyz/" target="_blank">Voter -- Matchmaking for Politics</a>!<i> <br />Answer a few simple questions and find out which politicians truly have
your best interests at heart, and have a track record to back it up.</i><br /><br />Because advertising is one thing -- but who your favorite politician really is? That's probably something else.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.wired.com/2014/05/countable/" target="_blank">Countable</a> <br /><i>An app that makes it easy to pester your Congress member.</i><br />
<br /><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xrUXbCQ63s8" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />If you'd like to know what your representative is up to in Congress, you can use this handy app to find out. And then you can use the app to contact them directly, tell them how you want them to vote on legislation and you can see their voting record -- so if they're half-baked, you can vote them out in the next election cycle. </li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-73550159630365711562017-11-03T11:01:00.000-04:002017-11-03T11:01:42.098-04:00Don't Miss This Post-Halloween Drag for the Ages!In celebration of <a href="https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/" target="_blank">Native American Heritage Month</a>, here's an epic drag straight out of Oklahoma that added years to my life. Enjoy!<br />
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OU Pi Beta Phi member Reagan West (<a href="https://twitter.com/reaganwest_xo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reaganwest_xo</a>) decided to be a Pocahottie for Halloween despite her organization telling her not to. <a href="https://t.co/wgfZrB8qkl">pic.twitter.com/wgfZrB8qkl</a></div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926110897042489344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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OU Panhellenic organizations can have some pretty strict rules when it comes to social media presence. The internet is forever, Reagan.</div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926111507393499136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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I'd like to kick off Native American Heritage Month with this drag because y'all need to know we are not playing with you. This has to stop.</div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926111940014936065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Here's why I drag Beckys like Reagan for being disrespectful assholes. She literally does. Not. Care.<a href="https://t.co/STf5iypX6T">https://t.co/STf5iypX6T</a></div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926113279428186112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Not only does she provoke people to drag her for this, but she is completely aware of her actions. She thinks she is invincible.</div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926113715430350849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Damn, wouldn't it be a shame if <a href="https://twitter.com/reaganwest_xo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reaganwest_xo</a>'s sorority knew that she was contributing to OU's legacy of racism? <a href="https://t.co/Ub8T0PVjsi">https://t.co/Ub8T0PVjsi</a></div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926114160395587584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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There's just no way poor Reagan can exempt herself from taking responsibility for her actions. She knew better. She's grown.</div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926114851927314432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The dumbasses in OU Greek life are always bitching about diversity training--when y'all brought it upon yourselves.<a href="https://t.co/Fk4PxsKiDz">https://t.co/Fk4PxsKiDz</a></div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926115597011881984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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I don't give a damn if you call this a witch hunt. Idgaf. I'm sick & tired of my people being subjected to this shit. They don't deserve it.</div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926116073321259008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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So, if you'll pardon me, I have an email to write to <a href="https://twitter.com/OUPiBetaPhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUPiBetaPhi</a> about <a href="https://twitter.com/reaganwest_xo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reaganwest_xo</a>'s dumbass behavior. I'll update y'all later.</div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926116793596436480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Can’t end the drag without a screencap of the block: <a href="https://t.co/7D1fliHWsO">pic.twitter.com/7D1fliHWsO</a></div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926116954955542534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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ICYMI:<a href="https://t.co/Lf25EnRieG">https://t.co/Lf25EnRieG</a></div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926120486823710720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The email I sent to <a href="https://twitter.com/OUPiBetaPhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUPiBetaPhi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PiBetaPhiHQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PiBetaPhiHQ</a> regarding <a href="https://twitter.com/reaganwest_xo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reaganwest_xo</a>'s costume depicting a harmfully sexualized indigenous woman. <a href="https://t.co/VamolodIO2">pic.twitter.com/VamolodIO2</a></div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926141638153592835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Here's another update: just received this pic allegedly from <a href="https://twitter.com/reaganwest_xo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reaganwest_xo</a>'s snapchat. Let me know if anybody can help identify this man. <a href="https://t.co/jKhpdJ1uti">pic.twitter.com/jKhpdJ1uti</a></div>
— hokte (@sydnerain) <a href="https://twitter.com/sydnerain/status/926161873329901568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
<br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br />Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-28378537230658791832017-10-23T10:00:00.000-04:002017-10-23T10:00:57.764-04:00The Glorious Schadenfreude of Trumpgrets<br />
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<a href="https://fiveablog.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/schadenfreude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="500" src="https://fiveablog.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/schadenfreude.jpg" /></a></div>
After the shock of the election, after the late night phone calls with sobbing confused (white) friends, after the long random conversations in the street with bewildered strangers, after the 50% of Americans who didn't bother to vote woke up and reality sank all the way in, there was a grieving process. Strangely, buyer's remorse was almost immediate.<br />
<br />
The strange and abiding schadenfreude of <a href="https://trumpgrets.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">#Trumpgrets</a> -- people who voted for him and regret it -- is a gift that keeps on giving. I know that there are some who want to take that loving hippie approach and lead his followers gently to (bipartisan) high ground while a few amongst us wouldn't mind dropkicking them into reality somewhere along the way, if that would help the process along. No need for any of that. His most rabid supporters are beginning to see him for who he really is -- a <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/06/the-mind-of-donald-trump/480771/" target="_blank">thin-skinned sociopathic narcissist</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/12/nyregion/donald-trump-atlantic-city.html?_r=0" target="_blank">a failed businessman</a>, a megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur and a liar of epic proportions. Behold the epic Trumpgrets below and enjoy as much of that sweet sweet schadenfreude as you want, knowing that in spite of whatever the media and that Liar in Chief have to say about it, the tide has definitely turned against him.<br />
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And yes, most of these love notes are dated on or before December 2016.<br />
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<div class="tumblr-post" data-did="26c54a4a1071d35ce429f4dd05a1fa7e01e99394" data-href="https://embed.tumblr.com/embed/post/O1D39ciLvS1fbnNM1sR7-Q/162061453055">
<a href="http://www.areyousorryyet.com/post/162061453055/but-are-you-sick-of-winning-yet-jamie">http://www.areyousorryyet.com/post/162061453055/but-are-you-sick-of-winning-yet-jamie</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.areyousorryyet.com/post/162254853060/life-comes-at-you-fast">http://www.areyousorryyet.com/post/162254853060/life-comes-at-you-fast</a></div>
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I admit I voted for him, and then immediately regretted it because he showed himself to be more extreme than I thought he'd be.</div>
— Rebel librarian (@alliedoll42) <a href="https://twitter.com/alliedoll42/status/874634579566616577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Wrong. I voted for your father. Now, I'm embarrassed to admit that. What a joke and a laughing stock we have become.</div>
— Michael May (@maymb0329) <a href="https://twitter.com/maymb0329/status/892214610006347777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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And now our Pussy Grabber in Chief has just banned transgenders from serving in the military. I regret my vote more than I can articulate.</div>
— J-Rod (@allabouthechomp) <a href="https://twitter.com/allabouthechomp/status/901238442759204865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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again you dropped the Ball! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DACA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DACA</a> This is not intelligent immigration reform. this looks racist and petty! Again disappointed I voted 4 U!</div>
— Jordan E. Jaquay (@coachjakes12tvc) <a href="https://twitter.com/coachjakes12tvc/status/905198098846277632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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DRAIN THE SWAMP? TRUMP, I REGRET VOTING FOR YOU AND I DESERVE THE HATE THAT COMES MY WAY.</div>
— Reinaldo Torres (@Mryarserrot) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mryarserrot/status/918998064748048384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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My dad voted for Trump. My dad moved to Puerto Rico. My dad waited 3 hours to spend $60 on a gallon of gas to charge his phone to email me. <a href="https://t.co/e7w1eQjPQ6">pic.twitter.com/e7w1eQjPQ6</a></div>
— Molly McNearney (@mollymcnearney) <a href="https://twitter.com/mollymcnearney/status/919954422813294594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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You need to check yourself. Your not doing your job and no one cares what you think. It is a shame I voted for you. Sad</div>
— Arthur Cordaro (@artcord311) <a href="https://twitter.com/artcord311/status/920816342290354177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Surely you're not!! You got my vote last time, but I regret it! Should have set this one out! You will NEVER get my vote again! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/embarrassed?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#embarrassed</a></div>
— Linda Moore (@lindee1364) <a href="https://twitter.com/lindee1364/status/920327824707407872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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basically lazy.didnt do my homework. politicians are corrupt on some lvl.some more than others. I really had hope.</div>
— jj Disabled veteran. (@jj_greyspot01) <a href="https://twitter.com/jj_greyspot01/status/832717994593640448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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When I voted I did vote for you because i am loyal to my party. You are the only real enemy to country at this point.</div>
— James MacDonald (@pdquikssnova) <a href="https://twitter.com/pdquikssnova/status/829736941142708224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> you're a clown, I voted for you, but god damn I would switch my vote to Bozo in a heartbeat.</div>
— pop culture patriot (@DeruiterJack) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeruiterJack/status/832875938715013120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://trumpgrets.tumblr.com/post/165563222428/image-and-source-a-sassy-gay-republican-regrets">https://trumpgrets.tumblr.com/post/165563222428/image-and-source-a-sassy-gay-republican-regrets</a></div>
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It's ok, most of us don't feel any empathy for your dumbass either! <a href="https://t.co/Av9TeUk735">pic.twitter.com/Av9TeUk735</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/808866633120882689">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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*Liberal smirk* <a href="https://t.co/t6CdQPbjw0">pic.twitter.com/t6CdQPbjw0</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/808875696466563076">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Too late Gary, your vote just killed all of the polar bears you fucker! <a href="https://t.co/STTQZJBjyT">pic.twitter.com/STTQZJBjyT</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/808878268480884736">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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LMAO, they're really getting mad at this man!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trumpgrets?src=hash">#Trumpgrets</a> <a href="https://t.co/gLAsvf6shh">pic.twitter.com/gLAsvf6shh</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/808898319183388672">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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*TAUNTS AVALYNN BY SINGING THE RUSSIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HER DUMB ASS VOTED FOR!* <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trumpgrets?src=hash">#Trumpgrets</a> <a href="https://t.co/VTMN7tNEnI">pic.twitter.com/VTMN7tNEnI</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/808904001756471296">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Will... <a href="https://t.co/zE8ULflne7">pic.twitter.com/zE8ULflne7</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809102456147808256">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Wait...so you could overlook threatening to execute the family members of suspected Muslim terrorists, but KANYE DOES IT FOR YOU?!?!? <a href="https://t.co/o4ELRQCNzr">pic.twitter.com/o4ELRQCNzr</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809153413829238784">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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ANGIE WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE STAR OF THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE IS MEETING WITH CELEBRITIES AND NOT HER!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DontCoddleKanye?src=hash">#DontCoddleKanye</a> <a href="https://t.co/IwAQRbyhuM">pic.twitter.com/IwAQRbyhuM</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809154893193867264">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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I'm gonna make this one my screensaver. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trumpgrets?src=hash">#Trumpgrets</a> <a href="https://t.co/qHCnYLUDGX">pic.twitter.com/qHCnYLUDGX</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809165041014603791">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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LOOK AT WHAT SHE DID TO HER HOUSE YALL!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trumpgrets?src=hash">#Trumpgrets</a> <a href="https://t.co/z2vhFUFZNj">pic.twitter.com/z2vhFUFZNj</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809171088454406145">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Who's the clown now James?!?! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trumpgrets?src=hash">#Trumpgrets</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ucl90tPz8b">pic.twitter.com/Ucl90tPz8b</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809180273682350081">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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You know Trump's in trouble when he starts to lose the Klan vote. <a href="https://t.co/NyXowCgkeD">pic.twitter.com/NyXowCgkeD</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809184849051451392">December 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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See what happens when you think that reading is a liberal conspiracy? Now eat your shit sandwich bruh. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trumpgret?src=hash">#Trumpgret</a> <a href="https://t.co/UFd0BCxMwe">pic.twitter.com/UFd0BCxMwe</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809191305511370757">December 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
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LMAO they wanna put Hillary in jail so bad!!!! <a href="https://t.co/Fywa6OckAT">pic.twitter.com/Fywa6OckAT</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809248452114841600">December 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
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APOLOGIZE FOR GIVING US THE AMERICAN VERSION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN AND HIS KIDS! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trumpgret?src=hash">#Trumpgret</a> <a href="https://t.co/9f5GI7xMei">pic.twitter.com/9f5GI7xMei</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809272805082755072">December 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
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SO YALL THINK HE GONE RESPOND TO HER?!?!?!? <a href="https://t.co/GCnxNuAmau">pic.twitter.com/GCnxNuAmau</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809274804905934848">December 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Nope, you're just really really really stupid. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trumpgret?src=hash">#Trumpgret</a> <a href="https://t.co/hr5mzjz9d7">pic.twitter.com/hr5mzjz9d7</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809284875668832267">December 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
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NAH BRUH, YOU MADE THINGS HARD FOR YASELF! <a href="https://t.co/1OhDvDMpJp">pic.twitter.com/1OhDvDMpJp</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809528180130385920">December 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Another unsatisfied Trump University dropout. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trumpgrets?src=hash">#Trumpgrets</a> <a href="https://t.co/jTN3QARRCv">pic.twitter.com/jTN3QARRCv</a></div>
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/809529725890789377">December 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<br />Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-47918156380842654522016-11-28T12:00:00.000-05:002016-11-28T12:00:12.138-05:00"What Now?" Part 1: Let's Go Shopping!<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"There are people who have money and people who are rich."</i> -- Coco Chanel</div>
<br />
In this post-election Christmas season of non-stop shopping, Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales and endless pop culture distractions, there are simple effective ways to use your money to make your voice heard politically. Because buying things -- whether you're shopping for a blouse at Lord & Taylor or eating a hamburger at McDonalds -- is a political act.<br />
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If you are anti alt-right, anti-white supremacy, anti white nationalism, anti-hate or anti-Trump, here are a few suggestions on how to put your money where your politics are.<br />
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<b>1.</b> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/boycott-trump-list-of-retailers_us_582c789de4b0aa8910bde58f?ncid=engmodushpmg00000004" target="_blank"><b>#GrabYourWallet</b></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.racked.com/2016/11/14/13623970/grabyourwallet-trump-boycott" target="_blank">This campaign</a>, initiated by Shannon Coulter and Sue Atencio, has a pretty straightforward missive: If you'd like to hit the Trumps where it hurts them the most, boycott the retailers that carry their merchandise. <a href="https://grabyourwallet.org/" target="_blank">Their comprehensive list</a> includes contact information to retailers, so you can call and/or email the reasons why you won't be shopping there. Because if people won't buy, they won't sell. <br />
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Frankly, if I see something I really like at Nordstrom's, I can usually go online and find it someplace else at a fraction of the cost. This ain't the 80s. We have the internet. So there's that.<br />
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<b>2. Donate to anti-hate groups in a hateful person's name.</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-rSDUsMwakI" width="610"></iframe><br />
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Are you related to any Trump supporters who vote Republican no matter who's on the ticket? Do you know any bigots? Is your co-worker a racist? Take a tip from John Oliver, host of <a href="http://www.hbo.com/last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver" target="_blank">Last Week Tonight</a> and donate to an anti-hate group in their name. What a wonderful Christmas present for that uncle that hates gay people or that white supremacist cousin you grew up with that just joined the Klan.<br />
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Here's John Oliver's short list:<br />
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<a href="https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=1DDE1DC08DE5CADB3DE338A907E886F6.app20110b?df_id=12913&12913.donation=form1&s_src=Evergreen_c3_PPNonDirected_shorturl" target="_blank">Planned Parenthood</a><br />
<a href="https://www.reproductiverights.org/about-us/donate" target="_blank">Center for Reproductive Rights</a><br />
<a href="https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Donation2?df_id=15743&15743.donation=form1" target="_blank">National Resources Defense Council</a><br />
<a href="http://refugeerights.org/our-work/" target="_blank">International Refugee Assistance Project</a><br />
<a href="http://www.naacpldf.org/other-ways-give" target="_blank">NAACP Legal Defense Fund</a><br />
<a href="https://give.thetrevorproject.org/checkout/donation?eid=63307" target="_blank">The Trevor Project</a><br />
<a href="http://www.maldef.org/contact/" target="_blank">Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund</a><br />
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<b>3. <a href="https://www.ragedonate.com/" target="_blank">RageDonate</a>! </b><br />
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I <i>love</i> this one. It takes quotes from Trump and matches it with the appropriate charity in a revolving, ever spinning, never-ending roulette of hate speech. With one click, you give $10 and your rage subsides -- until he makes another inflammatory racist remark.<br />
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<b>BONUS: <a href="https://www.buycott.com/" target="_blank">Buycott</a></b><br />
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This is an app that let's you vote with your wallet by scanning barcodes while you shop. With one swipe, you can trace a product's corporate family tree and make a more informed consumer decision. And yes, it's free.<br />
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Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-24242499374928911422016-11-14T18:00:00.000-05:002016-11-15T09:36:03.769-05:00Supermoon WhitelashWaiting for <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/supermoon-november-14-full-moon-2016/" target="_blank">the supermoon</a> was enough of a minor distraction to pull me out of my post-election doldrums. Then I saw this.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/10/jeffrey-lord-donald-trumps-anger-translator">Former
Reaganite and Trump anger translator Jeffrey Lord</a> says Democrats started
the Klu Klux Klan. Understanding the truth behind this statement requires
much more nuance than <a href="http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/09/24/jeffrey-lord-is-cnns-on-staff-donald-trump-apol/205768">a
hamfisted shill for Donald Trump</a> is capable of, at least on camera. I
followed the breadcrumbs to where this line originated. As usual, I expected
nothing and I was completely disappointed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">When <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._W._Jackson">Bishop E.W. Jackson</a> --
lawyer, staunch Republican, conservative political pundit, former radio talk show host
and ex-marine, amongst other things -- was a nominee for lieutenant governor in
Virginia in 2012, he released a video through his organization S.T.A.N.D.
(Staying True to America's National Destiny) to push an agenda called <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/29/bishop-urges-blacks-to-oppose-anti-christian-democrat-party/">Exodus
Now</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">His goal? To convince black
people to leave the Democratic party. What motivated all this? <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/high-democratic-enthusiasm-gay-rights-wasnt-always">The
Democrat's support of gay marriage at the 2012 convention</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Bishop Jackson says that
Black people should leave the Democratic party because Democrats are the ones
who started the KKK. In the wake of this claim, <a href="http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2013/jun/10/stephen-martin/state-sen-stephen-martin-says-democratic-party-cre/">Virginia
State Senator Stephen Martin repeated it</a> -- adding that Democrats also
created Planned Parenthood. When Senator Martin realized that there is <a href="http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2013/jun/10/stephen-martin/state-sen-stephen-martin-says-democartic-party-cre/">no
evidence to support his claim regarding Planned Parenthood</a> (<a href="http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2013/jun/10/stephen-martin/state-sen-stephen-martin-says-democratic-party-cre/" target="_blank">or the Klan</a>), he said he
misspoke. By then, the misinformation was out there, parading itself as the truth, and the alt-right was off to the races, embracing this statement
as a call to action.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">During the most recent
election cycle, the ads imploring an ethnic mass exodus from the Democratic
party have been nonstop -- from Republicans who declare themselves "the
party of Lincoln", no less. Now, making a statement like "The
Democratic party started the Klan!" is the gigantic turdbomb of epic
proportions that any neo-con can use to dead-end a political discussion. And no
one wants to dismantle it. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A simple fact check and a
brief history lesson proves that this statement is not entirely
true. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Political parties evolve over
time. In the 19th century, they simply didn't exist as we know them
today. Instead of identifying everything and everyone as Republican or
Democrat, it's much more helpful to see where the shift in white supremacy
takes place, and take it from there. Why? Because each party is made up of
people who think a certain way and that's what shapes the party's beliefs and
defines its platform -- <i>not the name of the party itself</i>. Over
time, the white supremacists, racists and bigots have shifted from one party to
another. That's the American way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">As a Southerner and an
African-American woman that's two generations removed from slavery, the
question I ask constantly is this: Which one of you are white supremacists and
what party are you affiliated with <i>now</i>? Political parties are not
stagnant, fixed, immovable. As white supremacists change directions and
affiliations, the parties are redefined. What was liberal is now conservative,
and vice versa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Yes -- during the 19th
century, Democrats were much more racist than Republicans. Were Klan members
Democrats? In all likelihood, yes -- but the Democratic party didn't start the
KKK. Then the Civil Rights Movement happened, polarizing Southern
Christians against the Democratic party. When African-Americans gained the
right to vote and became Democrats, those white supremacist Southern Christian
became Republicans. In this regard, Republicans weren't a force for civil
rights. For the Dixie-crats who joined their ranks, they were a refuge from
it. Those KKK Democrats are Republicans now -- and celebrating their win
in The White House. </span></div>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QwMn2rZH2T8" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">For days after the election, I fielded phone calls and texts and DMs and IMs from friends near and far, offering support, asylum and solid advice. I got a text from my German sibling in Berlin that made me very happy. I've chatted with lots of musicians who say they're not working or associating with anyone who voted for Trump. One friend couldn't stop crying. Another didn't know what to do about her Republican relatives. Because Thanksgiving.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">No one wants to spend the holidays with parents who voted for a bigoted, racist white supremacist. No one wants to buy Christmas presents for anyone who put the alt-right in The White House. No one wants to spend any quality time with someone who refuses to acknowledge that by <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/11/11/trump-sparks-climate-worries-emboldens-forces-of-hate-senate-minority-leader-says.html" target="_blank">campaigning on hate and fear</a>, Trump created this climate of <br />violence and open hostility against people of color, women, the disabled and LGBTQs. This is what we're left with: everyone <a href="https://www.rawstory.com/2016/11/welcome-to-trumps-america-58-reports-of-people-bullied-by-emboldened-bigots-and-the-list-is-growing/" target="_blank">getting bullied</a>, even children (it's become <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-effect-southern-poverty-law-center_us_570e8619e4b03d8b7b9f2836" target="_blank">a disturbing trend</a>); women getting groped when they least expect it; <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/11/11/university-pennsylvania-investigating-racially-charged-group-thread/93669194/" target="_blank">African-American college students, harassed</a>; and yes, <a href="http://nypost.com/2016/08/15/man-charged-with-murder-for-executing-imam-assistant/" target="_blank">murder</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0cNIppzNujw" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Like a monkey gleefully flinging it's own excrement, way too many white people are <a href="http://time.com/4569129/racist-anti-semitic-incidents-donald-trump/" target="_blank">spewing all kinds of racial epithets in every direction and smearing their ignorance all over everything</a> with a fervor that is nothing short of stultifying. A friend in his 50s told me that he didn't recognize his high school friends anymore. He couldn't believe the things they were saying. When I hung up the phone, I remembered that his ex-wife was Jewish. His daughters -- both in college -- were at risk. One of them was in a march somewhere on the west coast and some guy hit her in the head with a rock.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">He felt helpless, scared. "How do you know who the good guys are?" he asked me. Welcome to my black world, I must have said. Or something like that. And then I laughed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">"But she's my Mom," a gay friend whispered tearfully.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">"Does she know <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mike-pence-assault-lgbtq-equality_us_58275a17e4b02d21bbc8ff9b" target="_blank">who Mike Pence is</a>? Does she realize what she's done?" I said flatly. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">"Yeah," he said weakly. "She keeps going on about how Trump is going to bring morality back..." And then his voice trailed off. He's a musical theater performer. His husband is a musician. They've got Obamacare. They've got a great life. And it's over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">The moon hasn't been this close to the earth <a href="http://wgntv.com/2016/11/13/heres-how-to-take-great-pictures-of-the-biggest-full-moon-in-nearly-70-years/" target="_blank">since 1948</a> -- when African-Americans were at the mercy of home-grown terrorism by the Klan (all over the country, not just the South) and the federal government did nothing to stop them. There'll be other supermoons that will make you press pause and look up and wax poetic, but it won't be this close again until 2034 -- and God only knows what this country will be like when that happens. We won't be where we were in 1948 -- but where are we going? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Hopefully, you did something momentous on Sunday night. (If you didn't, tonight is your night.) MPB and I had a mutton chop at </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.keens.com/" target="_blank">Keen's</a> and ate like it's 1889.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"> Then we went for a walk in the moonlight and this depression rose and floated away from me like smoke. By the time I got home, something had shifted. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">As this new reality sets in and the climate of hate refuses to go away, it'll be interesting to see and hear what your favorite artist has to say about any of this in 2017. </span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/--IS0XiNdpk" width="560"></iframe><br />Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-79157717127951643002016-10-13T09:33:00.000-04:002016-10-13T09:33:12.801-04:00...that Clinton/Trump double standard, though...<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="es">
Bingo. <a href="https://t.co/4tl0cvktch">pic.twitter.com/4tl0cvktch</a></div>
— Rosemarie Robotham (@rarobotham) <a href="https://twitter.com/rarobotham/status/786549698899443716">October 13, 2016</a></blockquote>
<br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
Just when I think, no one is saying it so I'll say it -- <i>somebody says it</i>. Beautifully. Kudos to this guy for summing up this election cycle so succinctly.<br />
<br />
Michelle Bachman says <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/293884-michele-bachmann-god-picked-trump-to-be-the-gop-nominee" target="_blank">God "raised up" Trump</a> to be the Republican nominee, and I think she's right. Because of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton will be our next president -- and because of the Republican senators and congressmen who care more about the GOP than jobs or healthcare reform or anything else that concerns the rest of us, the Democrats will probably take the Senate and the House. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-1878921941068189752016-10-10T10:03:00.000-04:002016-10-11T10:05:04.664-04:00Happy *Rape, Murder, Pillage, Enslave* Indigenous People's Day!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eKEwL-10s7E" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
The need to celebrate Columbus Day seems to hinge somewhat precariously
on your (emotional/physical/spiritual) proximity to Italian-American culture. Not surprisingly, San
Francisco has the oldest Columbus Day celebration and New York City has
the biggest. Once I read what he actually did -- from his own journals, no less! -- I had no more of an urge to celebrate Columbus' life or "accomplishments" than Adolph Hitler. <br />
<br />
If you think that Columbus deserves a holiday, then so does Stalin. So does Atilla the Hun. Can you imagine? A parade and a paid day off to celebrate Hitler? <br />
<br />
Here's some must read stuff. <br /><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://usuncut.com/world/7-myths-and-atrocities-of-christopher-columbus-that-will-make-you-cringe/" target="_blank">7 Myths and Atrocities of Christopher Columbus That Will Make You Cringe</a> <br />Here's the one that freaked me out: <i>After several voyages and raping and pillaging, Columbus and his men
grew increasingly depraved. When he was replaced as governor of
Hispaniola and recalled back to Spain in 1500, <a href="http://ageofex.marinersmuseum.org/index.php?type=explorersection&id=65" target="_blank">he wrote in a casual tone</a> of how he provided sex slaves to his men, some of whom were small children as young as 9, for a high price. <a href="http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/31358/why-do-liberals-hate-columbus-day/" target="_blank">Death and Taxes</a> called Columbus “the pimp of the New World.”<br /><br /></i></li>
<li><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-badly-did-Christopher-Columbus-mistreat-the-indigenous-people-he-encountered-in-the-New-World/answer/Andrew-Weill?srid=tk1F" target="_blank">How badly did Christopher Columbus mistreat the indigenous people he encountered in The New World?</a><i><br /></i><span class="inline_editor_value"><span class="rendered_qtext">Here's yet another great reason why Columbus shouldn't be celebrated: Widespread
rapes of both women and girls.<i> <br /><br />Spanish accounts describe how they
preferred raping the 10 year olds because they were "tighter."<br /><br />Women
and girls to rape were handed out as rewards to soldiers for a job well
done. Columbus also ordered the rape of females in front of family
members, daughters in front of the father for example, to break
resistance and spread trauma.<br /><br />Columbus in his own accounts described how <b>he personally</b> raped a "cannibal girl." In his accounts, he convinced himself the girl enjoyed being raped.<br /><br /></i></span></span></li>
<li><span class="inline_editor_value"><span class="rendered_qtext"><a href="http://disinfo.com/2012/10/you-are-still-being-lied-to-howard-zinns-columbus-and-western-civilization/" target="_blank">You Are Still Being Lied To: Howard Zinn's "Columbus and Western Civilization"</a><i><br /> </i></span></span>Here's an exerpt:<i> In the standard accounts of Columbus what is emphasized again and again
is his religious feeling, his desire to convert the natives to
Christianity, his reverence for the Bible. Yes, he was concerned about
God. But more about Gold. Just one additional letter. His was a limited
alphabet. Yes, all over the island of Hispaniola, where he, his
brothers, his men, spent most of their time, he erected crosses. But
also, all over the island, they built gallows—340 of them by the year
1500. Crosses and gallows—that deadly historic juxtaposition.</i> </li>
</ul>
<br />
Here's the good news: there are 16 states and counting!) that don't celebrate Columbus Day unofficially. The states Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon, Vermont and South Dakota do not celebrate it at all. Iowa and Nebraska proclaim the day but don't celebrate it as an official holiday (paid day off, post office closed).<br />
<br />
Eventually, this holiday will be phased out, state by state -- and just
as it took years to create a national holiday for Martin Luther King Jr,
it will be way too easy to look back and see who will remain forever on on the
wrong side of history. Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-81262843236432557442016-10-09T10:11:00.000-04:002016-10-11T10:14:29.536-04:00New York Comic Con 2016!Here's a few shots from this year's comic con, wherein my niece Fatso comes along to goof off and take pictures of me, pretending to be Darth Vader.<br />
<br />
Enjoy! <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLXAk1DAM6c/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Running around at #nycomiccon with this one today...! #nycomiccon2016 #nycomiccon #nyc #newyorkcity #instagram #webstagram #blackgirlmagic #queenesther #insta #instagood #instalike #webstagood #webstalike</a></div>
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A photo posted by Queen Esther (@thisisqueenesther) on <time datetime="2016-10-09T22:49:08+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 9, 2016 at 3:49pm PDT</time></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLXKrq3gkgG/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">I love you #GhostRider!!! #nycomiccon2016 #nycomiccon #nyc #newyorkcity #insta #instagood #instalike #webstalike #webstapick #webstagood #websta</a></div>
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A photo posted by Queen Esther (@thisisqueenesther) on <time datetime="2016-10-10T00:17:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 9, 2016 at 5:17pm PDT</time></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLZlXM-AZ0Q/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">It looks even better in person. #Repost @jeffcinco with @repostapp ・・・ This #GhostRider was legit. Good job @lordoderus. #NYCC #nycc2016 #nyc #newyorkcity #instagram #insta #webstagram #webstapick #webstalike</a></div>
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A photo posted by Queen Esther (@thisisqueenesther) on <time datetime="2016-10-10T22:49:04+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 10, 2016 at 3:49pm PDT</time></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLXG-bnA2-X/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Remember that #episode when three jailbirds pretend to be the #PowderpuffGirls -- and wreak havoc all over the city? FOUND 'EM! #nycomiccon #nycomiccon2016 #newyorkcity #nyc #instagram #insta #webstalike #webstagood #webstagram #instagood</a></div>
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A photo posted by Queen Esther (@thisisqueenesther) on <time datetime="2016-10-09T23:45:04+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 9, 2016 at 4:45pm PDT</time></div>
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A photo posted by Queen Esther (@thisisqueenesther) on <time datetime="2016-10-11T02:18:51+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 10, 2016 at 7:18pm PDT</time></div>
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<br /><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-70866650887882923302016-10-03T10:38:00.000-04:002016-10-11T10:41:12.597-04:00My Fall Bucket List: The NYC Edition<br />
This list is a mere slice of the fun I'll be having this fall. <br />
<ol>
<li> <a href="http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/" target="_blank">New York Comic Con</a>! It's like prom for nerds, so it's only appropriate that I take my niece Fatso, a black STEM girl of epic proportions that looks like a sub-Saharan African supermodel. (There's got to be a really funny joke in there somewhere.) We go every year, just about. Together, we will meander our way through the Javits and take a lot of pictures. As usual, my blackness will be my costume. <br /><br /><i> </i></li>
<li><a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2016/diane-arbus" target="_blank"><i>Diane Arbus: In The Beginning</i></a> at The Met/Breuer Her images are so iconic at this point that a lot of contemporary photography echoes her work -- when they're not flat out imitating it. Here's my chance to see some of her earliest photographs. <br /><br />And yes, I saw her mammoth retrospective at The Met some years ago. For a long time afterwards -- too long, really -- I daydreamed about those children frozen in stiff black and white portraits with their blurry twisted faces, like a visual stammer that bounced against an audible one somewhere in the recesses of time and memory and randomness, and I wondered whatever happened to them, and that made me wonder what could have been. <br /><br /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/arts/television/review-marvels-luke-cage-a-hero-for-harlem.html" target="_blank"><i>Luke Cage</i></a>, <i><a href="http://variety.com/2016/film/festivals/the-birth-of-a-nation-review-sundance-nate-parker-1201688498/" target="_blank">Birth of a Nation</a></i> and <i><a href="http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/insecure-isnt-here-tell-you-whats-fleek-243928" target="_blank">Insecure</a></i>. Enough said.<br /></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2016/10/30/central-park-conservancy-halloween-parade-and-pumpkin-flotilla" target="_blank">The Pumpkin Flotilla</a> at the Central Park Conservancy Who knows? I might make one this year.<br /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.eatlikenoone.com/what-is-the-difference-between-concord-and-thomcord-grapes.htm" target="_blank">Seedless ThomCord grape</a>s are better than candy. <a href="http://lunchscraps.com/can-you-eat-salmon-skin/" target="_blank">Wild caught salmon skin</a> is better than bacon. <br /></li>
<li> <a href="https://juicepress.com/" target="_blank">Juice Press</a> is turning me into a vegan.<br /><br /> </li>
<li> <a href="http://www.jambase.com/article/steely-dan-announces-dates-themes-2016-beacon-theatre-residency" target="_blank">Steely Dan's Beacon Theater Residency</a> in October -- they've got 10 dates, and most of them are themed (October 16th is <i>Aja</i>!)<br /></li>
<li><a href="https://manhattanvintage.com/" target="_blank">Manhattan Vintage</a> This annual pilgrimage must be taken with BFFs who love vintage as much as I do, so we can all flip out over the cool stuff we find, whether we can afford it or not. Lately, I'm a little giddier than usual because I ca fit into more and more of the incredibly dope old cool stuff in my closet.<br /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.refinery29.com/2016/09/123151/byron-lars-nyfw-spring-2017-review#slide" target="_blank">Byron Lars Beauty Mark Tackles Size & Inclusion in Fashion</a> I didn't miss Byron Lars' runway show during Fashion Week in September (I took Fatso but she didn't like it) and I 'm not going to miss this, either -- it's a panel discussion that includes: Liz Black (Journalist-Refinery 29)
Michaela Angela Davis (Cultural Critic-CNN & Creator MADFree), Byron
Lars (Byron Lars Beauty Mark), Allison McGevna (Editorial Director - Hello
Beautiful) and Lynne Ronin (CEO-Nation Design).<br /><a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/events/programs/met-live-arts/ethel-and-friends-fridays?eid=R009_%7b3F5083B8-9E48-4468-A7EE-DC84D93DA6A9%7d_20161014170000" target="_blank"><br /></a></li>
<a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/events/programs/met-live-arts/ethel-and-friends-fridays?eid=R009_%7b3F5083B8-9E48-4468-A7EE-DC84D93DA6A9%7d_20161014170000" target="_blank">
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<li><a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/events/programs/met-live-arts/ethel-and-friends-fridays?eid=R009_%7b3F5083B8-9E48-4468-A7EE-DC84D93DA6A9%7d_20161014170000" target="_blank">ETHEL (and friends) at The Met</a> It'll be nice to lose myself in their take on classical music with MPB -- and since Fatso plays the cello, I'll probably take her, too.</li>
</ol>
Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-24553525336300695762016-10-01T13:00:00.000-04:002016-10-05T11:18:51.522-04:00Deep Thought of the Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-9002612817311242182016-06-22T02:52:00.000-04:002016-10-05T11:22:16.445-04:00Day 22: Walking Buddy<div style="text-align: center;">
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A photo posted by Queen Esther (@thisisqueenesther) on <time datetime="2016-06-23T12:45:52+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 23, 2016 at 5:45am PDT</time></div>
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Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-39324834935820798782016-06-18T01:36:00.000-04:002016-06-24T11:46:30.363-04:00Day 18: Queen Esther & The Hot Five at the Kennedy Center!On Saturday June 18th, the quintet and I performed a set of 1920s vaudeville blues on <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/FOYER" target="_blank">Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage</a>, then returned later that night to play 1930s swing music for <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/NQPSF" target="_blank">Jason and Alicia Hall Moran's <i>Forever Gershwin</i></a> after party.<br />
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Our little road trip turned out to be a pretty fun adventure. We got to see <i>Forever Gershwin</i>, which included selections from <i>Porgy and Bess, </i>and later we noshed on sushi with that indefatigable showstopper Norm Lewis as well as the conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra, whose enthusiasm while gliding the orchestra and the 168 person chorale through <i>It Ain't Necessarily So </i>was nothing short of contagious. I must say, it took the top of my head clean off to hear that many people scatting simultaneously. Thrilling, inspiring gut-wrenchingly brilliant stuff. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.<br />
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I miss singing in a chorale. More on that some other time. <br />
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I had to post this video to give you an idea of what I saw and heard. So lush! I don't know if I could ever get sick of this song...! <br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BG9fI_vlmIG/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">The latest #1930s #frock. #queenesther #vintage #glamour #vintagedress #doramarra #vintagestyle #vintagefashion #vintagegown #webstalike #webstagram #instalike #beautiful #DC #kennedycenter #millenniumstage #performance #webstagood #webstapic #doramarra</a></div>
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A photo posted by Queen Esther (@thisisqueenesther) on <time datetime="2016-06-22T14:50:24+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 22, 2016 at 7:50am PDT</time></div>
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I'd say this newest addition worked out just fine, wouldn't you? I'm just relieved that it fits. There's nothing quite like buying something you can't try on before that point of purchase. <br />
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A photo posted by Queen Esther (@thisisqueenesther) on <time datetime="2016-06-22T22:48:39+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 22, 2016 at 3:48pm PDT</time></div>
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To see our entire set of vaudeville blues, click <a href="http://www.kennedy-center.org/video/index/M6802" target="_blank">here</a>. Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-75402835569926674342016-06-14T17:30:00.000-04:002016-06-24T12:25:49.873-04:00Day 14: YAY! A Guitar Lesson!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6AKcpN0j8zI/V2zQ0NtUu0I/AAAAAAABMsE/De2ejfxjt10q6qrlHAHvOi70yg8aYi4VACKgB/s1600/20160607_125716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6AKcpN0j8zI/V2zQ0NtUu0I/AAAAAAABMsE/De2ejfxjt10q6qrlHAHvOi70yg8aYi4VACKgB/s640/20160607_125716.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is guitarist Jim McLaughlin. Thankfully, he can play anything. I'm going to make him sing a LOT. With this, we are off to the races -- trading guitar lessons for voice lessons.<br />
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The good news is that I'm farther along than I think I am with the guitar, which is kind of a relief. It's not nearly enough, of course -- so I'm still way frustrated. I can't think about any of that, though, or I'll quit. I have to do stuff to make it fun and take my mind off of how far off the mark I think I am. Stuff like writing songs and working up new ideas and practicing while I channel surf. Mindless, meditative stuff. Stuff that will distract me, keep some other part of me bouncing around.<br />
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The good news with James is that he can actually sing and he's got an ear so he can sing harmony. (Sweet victory!) The rest of 2016 will be colorful <i>and</i> interesting...!<br />
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Here's the latest fingerpicking pattern. <br />
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I don't care how long it takes me to learn how to play guitar. I don't care if I figure it out by the time I'm 90 years old. I'll be an old lady and I will be bringing the heat and I won't care at all.<br />
<br />Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-65100732029730477942016-06-13T12:33:00.000-04:002016-06-24T12:54:16.854-04:00Day 13: A Birthday Quote -- from Charlie Chaplin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-30741881690694913852016-06-10T01:44:00.000-04:002016-06-24T12:20:30.593-04:00Day 10: Queen Esther & The Blue Crowns at Jalopy Theater!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The Blue Crowns: </b></div>
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<a href="http://kelvynator.com/wordpress1/" target="_blank">Kelvyn Bell</a>, guitar</div>
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<a href="http://hilliardgreene.com/" target="_blank">Hilliard Greene</a>, bass</div>
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<a href="http://shirazettetinnin.com/about/" target="_blank">Shirazette Tinnin</a>, drums</div>
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Listen to my latest album <a href="https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/11/the-curmudgeon-afro-americana-putting-the-twang-ba.html" target="_blank"><i>The Other Side</i></a> ("The most exciting Afro-Americana album of the year." -- <a href="https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/11/the-curmudgeon-afro-americana-putting-the-twang-ba.html" target="_blank">Paste</a>) on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/50JN0HxsyNlmGSda4Y5t3G?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open" target="_blank">Spotify</a> or <a href="http://last.fm/">last.fm</a>. Or buy it on <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Queen+Esther/The+Other+Side" target="_blank">iTunes</a>.</div>
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<i><br />Come and get it!</i></div>
Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-10192909088180105782016-06-09T00:34:00.000-04:002016-06-24T11:38:13.924-04:00Day 9: Another 1930s frock...!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Because I sing a wide variety of (mostly!) American jazz from the turn of the century through the 50s (<a href="https://youtu.be/w9-Z54Sz1Jw" target="_blank">amongst other things</a>), I'm always in dire need of formal vintage clothing. Although usually I can shop in my closet for a crisp modern look that can accommodate the 1940s and the 1950s, I'm flummoxed when it comes to The Gilded Age. I'm not flatchested enough to pull off an androgynous look, so I get away with as much as I can by finding inspiration in bias cut gowns and cocktail dresses from the 1930s. Here's my latest gown: an elegant, curve-hugging bias cut satin number that simply slips over my head, like a t-shirt.<br />
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I know it looks pink but it's really peach. And I'm a Georgia peach. So there's that.<br />
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Walking around my apartment with all that luscious fabric billowing behind me made me feel as though I were floating on a cloud. Plenty of room for the ladies -- not constricting at all. Maybe I'll try it out when I perform at the next <a href="http://jazzagelawnparty.com/" target="_blank">Jazz Age Lawn Party</a> in August.<br />
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Thank God I can write this off. Happy birthday to me!<br />
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Now I'm off to search for accessories...Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-38352491585145037472016-06-08T02:40:00.000-04:002016-06-24T12:04:28.770-04:00Day 8: A feature in the Village Voice!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGaCKI7lmH2/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">GoGirlsMusic Elite member @thisisqueenesther is in the Village Voice this week! Check it out at http://www.villagevoice.com/music/the-forgotten-architects-of-jazz-and-the-new-york-women-bringing-them-back-8705090 #GoGirlsMusic #queenesther #villagevoice #music #indiemusic #jazz #hotjazz #instagood #instalike #webstagram #webstapick</a></div>
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A photo posted by Queen Esther (@thisisqueenesther) on <time datetime="2016-06-08T20:23:43+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 8, 2016 at 1:23pm PDT</time></div>
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Every day of my birthday month means another birthday surprise. This one -- getting a feature in The Village Voice -- is pretty cool. <br />
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Yes, tickets are still available for the <a href="http://jazzagelawnparty.com/" target="_blank">Jazz Age Lawn Party</a>. See you there!</div>
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Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-66791844037424146982016-06-07T20:00:00.000-04:002016-06-24T11:08:07.995-04:00Day 7: Buddrick von Boy Goes to the Vet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our sweet little 5 month old brindle terrier mix puppy -- Buddy the Furboy! -- caught a cold and went to the vet for a complete examination. Before that, he spent the morning at Camp Canine, getting a complete assessment to make sure his temperament is a-ok for overnight stays. So this is him, completely knocked out in the back of a cab, heading home.<br />
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If you want a dog or cat, I highly suggest you rescue one from your local shelter. Our Buddy was rescued from a 3 day <a href="http://www.thedogrescuers.com/statistics--facts.html" target="_blank">kill shelter</a> in Camden, SC by <a href="http://www.arfhamptons.org/" target="_blank">ARF -- Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons</a>.<br />
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I'm starting to think he knows how lucky he is.Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-41265125382486443892016-06-06T15:49:00.002-04:002016-06-06T17:21:22.390-04:00Day 6: Mouth Wide Open - Literary Open Mic, 6/8!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Looking forward to reading some fresh new flash fiction at this event on Wednesday at Jimmy's No. 43. I'm grateful that the organizers are kind enough to include me. This feels good, all this writing I'm doing -- not just songs, either. I'm revisiting essays and short stories I wrote and sifting through them all over again and that's bringing forth a slew of new ideas. They spin out of me in this effortless way and I pick them up, like seashells on a beach. I've never had writer's block, thank God. I was and still very much am a procrastinator, which is probably why I love a deadline. Quite often, that's the thing that gets it done.<br />
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I love words. Writing came so easily to me when I was a kid, I took it for granted. The rest of my life has been running me over for so long and in every direction imaginable, that I never thought I could lean on writing, that it could be as promising or as fulfilling as performance. <br />
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Having a chill downtown literary moment will be the calm before a very busy weekend of Black Americana at Jalopy on Friday night with my beautiful band The Blue Crowns and of course singing my heart out at the Jazz Age Lawn Party on Saturday. I have to go back on Sunday to dance -- and of course try to win the pie contest..!<br />
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Maybe I'll read <a href="http://kudzumonamour.blogspot.com/2013/03/flash-fiction-chicken-lips.html" target="_blank">Chicken Lips</a>...! Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9912774.post-43702648378044229262016-06-03T02:00:00.000-04:002016-06-07T00:22:43.700-04:00Muhammad Ali (1942 - 2016)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Queen Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07524984418016215108noreply@blogger.com0