milkweed

5 Favourite Albums:

1. Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me
2. Beach House - Teen Dream
3. Laura Veirs - July Flame
4. Backseat Goodbye - The Good Years
5. Dear Winesburg - Dark Water

4 Favourite Gigs:

1. Amanda Palmer, Koko
2. Devendra Banhart, Koko
3. Laura Veirs, Union Chapel
4. Jenny Owen Youngs, Monto Water Rats

3 Favourite EPs:

1. Bess Rogers - Bess Rogers Presents Bess Rogers
2. The Mariner’s Children - New Moore Island
3. Jenny O - Home

2 Favourite Singles:

1. Klaus - Belly of the Sea
2. Melodica, Melody & Me - Piece Me Back Together

1 Favourite Discovery:

1. Lelia Broussard

(links to streaming on spotify or bandcamp)

We are the progressive community. We are the left wing. We are women and men, we are from every sector of this community, and we believe that every rape accusation must be taken seriously, regardless of the accused rapist’s connections, power, influence, status, fame, or politics. We believe that rape is a crucial and central issue which affects us all, women disproportionately, and we are sick of being told that you should “never, ever believe” us. We believe that accuser-shaming, accuser-harassment, victim-blaming, and the suppression of rape cases all serve one distinct purpose, which is: TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO RAPE US AND GET AWAY WITH IT. To make us scared to report our rapes, even to the people we know. And we will not stand for it any more. We require — not ask, not prefer, absolutely require –progressive media and public figures to stand against rape in every case. Again, this is not negotiable. This is mandatory. This is a requirement: If you don’t stand against rape, and make that stand a crucial and central part of your platform, we do not accept you either as a real “progressive” or as someone who is in any way qualified for authority or a leadership position. We will not buy your merchandise; we will not support you; we will speak out against you. Because a progressive movement that doesn’t stand against rape isn’t a progressive movement. It’s just The Man, it’s just the oppressor, it’s just oppression, in a baseball hat, holding a camcorder.

— Sadie Doyle, regarding Moore posting $20,000 in bail for Julian Assange

December 7: Community

Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?

When I was waitress, the cafe I worked at was based within a church. We would get the same customers over and over - these really lovely people, most of them quite elderly. There was B., a very kind, old man with a stutter, who made collages with bright colours and photographs. There was H., who we (the manager and I) would try to hook up with B. There were J. and J. who would talk to me about the old wars and seeing bombs and growing up in Harrow. There was C., a Chinese lady who didn’t like Chinese people. She would come in with her son and order soup and an entire chicken for her lunch, and order chicken legs, fruit salad, crisps and ice cream for her son. Every time. Many of the customers would order the same thing every time and I would soon learn them off by heart. Within our tiny dining room we had created a community and it was comforting and cosy.

I would love, love, love to find more people to connect with in 2011. (Hence me choosing the word Connection in my first reverb.) I want to find communities and fit in somewhere. I think as soon as the job hunt is over, I’m going to lend some of my time doing volunteer work, and I really hope I get to meet some great people through that.