Little Love Notes, “Make Me A Cake.”

Some of the most tender moments of the heart can produce the most meaningful love notes.  One recently shared with me, from a wife and mother of six to her husband, follows:

I THINK IT’S TIME YOU LEARN TO USE THE COMPUTER AND WRITE ME LITTLE NOTES AGAIN.
I MISS YOU. THIS FAMILY IS MY ENTIRE WORLD AND I WOULD NOT BE WHOLE WITH OUT EVERY MEMBER ACCOUNTED FOR. I LOVE YOU AND ALL OUR CHILDREN AND I DON’T CARE HOW MUCH YOUR PAST RUBBS ME WRONG, I KNOW EVERY BIT OF YOUR PAST CREATED YOUR PRESENT! TRY TO EAT THE INGREDIENTS TO THE CAKE WITH OUT MIXING THEM. YOU HAD TO HAVE A FEW RAW EGGS AND SOME BAKING POWDER. TRY EATING THOSE ALONE… YUCK! BUT IF YOU MIX IT ALL UP AND COOK IT A BIT THEN YOU HAVE A YUMMY CAKE. SO MAYBE I DON’T LIKE ALL THE PARTS IT TOOK TO MAKE YOU, BUT MIXED UP AND COOKED YOU SURE ARE YUMMY!!!!! OH YA AND ADD FROSTING TO THAT… SINFUL!

XOXOXO

Can It Be All About Money and Power?: What Is “The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality and Relationships”?

Finding it deserving of his own personal Q&A, Dr. Robert Jensen,  UT Journalism Professor and author of Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity, will be on hand for Alamo Drafthouse      Lamar’s Third Coast Film Night showing of this significant film, “The Price of Pleasure:  Pornography, Sexuality, and Relationships” [52 minute documentary presented by Open Lens Media & The Media Education Foundation A film by Miguel Picker & Chyng Sun Associate Producer: Robert Wosnitzer The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality & Relationships Coming to DVD Fall 2008 http://www.thepriceofpleasure.com http://www.mediaed.org]   

As a journlist, Dr. Robert Jensen became an authority on the pornography industry, porn and its effects on the producers, participants, consumers and their relations.  His comprehensive knowledge, insights, conclusions and candid, straight-forward delivery may bring startling revelations to those fortunate enough to read his book and attend any event in which Dr. Jensen presents.  Though I’ve heard Dr. Jensen speak dozens of times, I’ve never failed to come away with a greater sense of self-respect and respect for the quality of man he represents.  Priceless.

If you’re in the Austin, Texas area, take advantage of these opportunities. 

If not, read Dr. Robert Jensen’s books~~each one, a labor of love aimed towards elevating humanity to its highest potential. ~~Ashtora, 2008 http://ashtoraspeaks.wordpress.com 

In either case, make use of NOWAR’s website: http://www.nowar.org/

Visit http://ThirdCoastActivist.org for event listings and news links.

Wednesday, August 27, 7 p.m.

Third Coast Film Night at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar

“The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality and Relationships”

Followed by a Q&A with UT Journalism Professor Robert Jensen

The critics of pornography have observed that in recent years, there are two trends occurring simultaneously: on the one hand, pornography has become more and more mainstream and accepted; on the other hand, newer, harsher and more degrading treatments of women are constantly being developed and quickly gain popularity, so the average content has become more and more extreme. Why is this happening?

To answer this question, The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality and Relationships investigates the three independent yet interconnected aspects of the pornography industry – production, content and consumption – in order to help the audience gain a holistic understanding. It focuses on this central question: how does pornography help shape our gender and sexual identities, and our relationships?

This film includes interviews of pornographers, porn performers, and scholars in psychology, media, economics and popular culture. Most importantly, men and women candidly discuss how their or their partners’ use of pornography has affected them. The film provides not only analysis that debunk the myths and stories about abuse and alienation, but also revelations of pleasure, desire and humanity. Moreover, the film examines pornography’s effects on the performers and audience beyond the liberal celebrations as well as the conservative / moral denunciations; it engages a nuanced discussion of desire and harm, choice and system constraint, liberty and responsibility.

The 52 minute documentary will be followed by a Q&A with UT Journalism Professor Robert Jensen, the author of Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity.

Location: Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar The film and Q&A will be at the Alamo on South Lamar

Tickets – $8.50 general / $6.50 student, senior – are available at the door or online at http://www.originalalamo.com/Show.aspx?id=5624

This event is a benefit for Open Lens Media.

Wednesday, August 27, 8 p.m.

Documentary at MonkeyWrench Books: ”Live Nude Girls Unite!”

This first person documentary follows Julia Query, lesbian/stand-up comedian/peepshow-stripper, and daughter of a feminist activist, on her raucous journey to help organize the only union of strippers in the United States. Shot on a variety of formats, Live Nude Girls Unite! weaves backstage and dancing footage with labor organizing, street protests, stand-up comedy and comic-book style “animation” making an intelligent and dramatic cutting-edge film.

Location: MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop.

Wednesday, September 11, 8 p.m.

“Gook: John McCain‘s Racism and Why It Matters” - a talk with author Irwin Tang

Irwin Tang will lead a discussion on his new book, Gook: John McCain’s Racism and Why It Matters. The book offers a detailed history of Senator John McCain‘s racial bias, including his habit of using the racial slur “gook.” Tang links racism with warmongering and examines McCain’s consistent advocacy of shooting wars in foreign countries.

Location: MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop.

Musical Contemplation on Love

Many eons and
Many Ages
We have shared, butWe are here.

Does it matter
How long ago
You and I began

 

We are here and now.

Does it matter
How or where
We first met 

We are here and now, somehow.

If we recognize
The familiar
In the other 

We are.

If the moments
And the footsteps
Of our journey 

We are.

Are more precious
Together
Than apart 

We are we.

Must the beginning
Or the ending
Of our Infinite existence 

We are.

Need Ever
Become more
Or less Clear 

We.You and me.

 

 

Ashtora, 2007
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“How’s Your Lovelife?” or “…Only Trouble Is, Gee Whiz, I’m Dreamin’ My Life Away.”

Not Getting Any Younger

As a self-proclaimed expert on Love, what it is and what it is not, I know very little about the opposite sex–men.  I’m only a woman, age 53, not getting any younger, whose life has worked out pretty much to her liking, except for men.

Actually, my relationships with men have been consistently satisfactory, except when it comes to love.  My employers, my teachers, mentors, son-in-laws, friends, brothers, and especially my father have all been paramount to my experience as a human being; so, how is it that I’m such an “expert” on LOVE, but my LOVE LIFE is only history?

I have been IN LOVE, but never IN LOVE with the one man I’ve always wanted to love and wanted to love me…you see, I’ve only met him in my dreams.  I’ve been dreaming of him for years.

Sometimes he’s younger, sometimes he’s older.  He’s been white, he’s been black.  There have been times when his face was never revealed; yet, he’s always the same tall man with a genuine soul, a great mind and an even greater heart.

His heart and his integrity are always unmistakably visibly etched in his face; his strength in his arms; the warmth in his touch; and the gentleness in his kiss.  He’s a man whose largeness of capacity to provide for his own well-being and the well-being of family, friends, and community feels like being wrapped up in a star, loved just as you are, and carried safely home–whether near or far.

He’s a man who belongs to no one, yet to everyone.  He’s his own person, yet always available whenever needed.  He’s longed for me for as long as I have him.

I may never know him, except in my heart of hearts and in my dreams, even though I do find a little of him in everyone, different parts in some than others, even a little in myself; but until I do find him, I’ll continue to dream, dream, dream.

Sweet Dreams.

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