In Protest of SOPA & PIPA - A Blogspot "Blackout"

I am not much of an activist. I have opinions, but just having opinions doesn't do much if you don't act on them.  However, as a longtime internet geek, I felt it important to do what I could as it pertains to the blackout in protest of SOPA and PIPA, which go before our House and Senate at the end of this month. Unfortunately, the Blackout JavaScript doesn't work on Blogger (my platform for this website), and there is no maintenance mode I can put the site in which is equivalent to such an action.  So a blog post is the best I can do to make my opinions known...AND do something about it.

What is SOPA/PIPA? Why am I protesting SOPA/PIPA?

A lot of misinformed artists and creatrixes believe that SOPA/PIPA are just a way to protect intellectual property.  While that is the expressed intent of SOPA/PIPA, they reach much too far and have been given too much leewayessentially twisted into a widespread censorship tool which doesn't target the issues it claims. Sound like some conspiracy theory? Sorry, but this time, no. The hype is very real. So real that Big Names in the internet universe are standing up and saying, "Yeah, we want protections. And no, this isn't gonna cut it."  Names like Google, for instance.  Wikipedia for another.  And many others you will surely recognize and respect.  You can find a comprehensive list over at http://sopastrike.com/

The internet was built, and continues to thrive, on the tenets of free speech and free-flowing information we enjoy....nay RELY on in the information age.  I have researched this for many weeks, and can tell you without reservation that I believe SOPA/PIPA are a threat to our freedom of speech on a scale we have not experienced in generations.  For people who don't know me very well, you may think I am prone to propaganda-like exaggeration.  But those who know me well will understand what heavy and heartfelt words these are coming from my lips, and hopefully it will spur some cross-section of those of you reading this to take action.

But don't listen to me. Educate yourself.  Find out why so many companies, so many organizations,  so many minds much greater than mine have come to the same conclusion and are blacking out their web presence for 24 hours in protest of SOPA/PIPA.

Google has put together a great rundown of what these measures mean.  Please read at your leisure at this link:
https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/sopa-pipa/

There you will find three short and sweet points to get you started learning about the issues, and how ineffective these acts will be toward their supposed goals, but how insidiously far-reaching they can be toward censorship of the internet.

Yeah, like, the WHOLE internet.

I am sorry I can't blackout my site, and show my support of the strike in a more passionate fashion. My words and links will have to suffice. My hope is it will move you into action to lend your voice to suppress these acts, and protect our freedoms.

Snow Day Hot Toddy

Here in Seattle, we are under the spell of snow.  That is my back yard from yesterday, and it is now over 2". *sigh* I love you, snow...

Snow is fairly rare here in the greater Puget Sound Area (that's Seattle and surrounding areas north, south, and east, for those not In The Know), and it creates a love-hate relationship with the fluffy white stuff.  You see, our snow is wet, heavy, slick, and icy, and it lands on one of the hillier cities in the US--the city becomes a giant winter slip n' slide!  We also have a melt/freeze cycle, such that the snow melts a bit, then freezes into sheets of ice, onto which more snow falls, making a slurry of slushy, icy, dangerous conditions.  Add that to a populace who never learns how to drive confidently in those conditions since it happens so infrequently, and it gets downright scary out there!

So snow day is a very real phenomenon around these parts.  When it snows, we get to stay home.  Well "get" also is a misnomer, since for some that means lost wages.  But if you can afford an extra day off, or can get a little work done from home, then snow days really are a treat!  You get to hang out in a snow globe and watch the landscape become a glistening blanket of white.

Since these conditions means class is canceled, I thought I would share a special drink recipe to enjoy at home tonight.  For a non-ginger version, you can just use a dash of sugar or simple syrup in the traditional hot toddy recipe.  But the ginger just seems so decadent!  (I also recommend Yazi, which is a ginger-infused vodka which we always keep around the house. The bottle is gorgeous, and the vodka delectable.  Makes a great spike for many drink recipes to make it extra special.)

I hope everyone is warm and safe tonight. Happy snow day!

Mm Mm Monday - Latcho Drom

Oh happy day. Heaven of heavens!  Someone has put all of Latcho Drom (in parts, but all of it) up on YouTube...in high quality!  I had seen bits and bobs before, but usually low quality stuff that might as well have been on an old VHS.

What is Latcho Drom? It is a seminal documentary film made in the 90's about the Romani people, specifically tracing the travels of the "Gypsies" through India, Spain, Egypt, Turkey, Romania, etc.  In short, it is a visual and musical journey through the regions from which tribal bellydancers draw their fusion elements. There is much awesome music, much awesome dancing, much awesome costuming...and none of it is "costumed". These are The Real Thing.  And the worst part is that the video is no longer available except on old VHS.  They never made a DVD of it (though if someone did, they could make a small fortune from bellydancers alone).  In the meantime, we have YouTube. HOORAY!  Here they are:

Fabulous Friday - Ruth St. Denis

Fair Rates for Bellydance

Samira Shuruk is a well spoken, well respected bellydancer in our community, and she wrote a wonderful article talking about the importance of setting your rates at a fair level--for you and for the community at large.   It also gives some practical advice on how to be supportive in your own community. I liked this part especially:

"If you are not a dancer and have somehow stumbled upon this page:  Please remember that included in our fee is SO much more than the 20 or so minutes you see us perform.  An hour prep time, travel time (average 30 minutes to an hour each direction), waiting around at the whim of the host/musician, all occur on the day of the gig.  Factor in rehearsal time, class time and the cost of education, costuming, props, music, marketing and all other business expenses and you’ll have a better idea of the challenges faced by a professional dancer in a business run rampant with hobbyists."

"This is not a “per hour” job, it is a “pay per service” career, as there are many factors that make up our services."

Read the full article here: http://www.samirashuruk.com/belly-dance/fair-rates-article/