Spore Project is GO!

Starting NOW Orlando artist  Doug Rhodehamel's Sport Project is officially LAUNCHED with Doug'as signature paperbag mushrooms being planted by people all around the world to support arts education and creativity. It's easy-peasy, just make some paper bag mushrooms (as seen on Doug's how-to video), plant them in your yard or at a local event (with permission of course) and participate in this campaign to draw attention to the need for further funding for the arts in schools. The arts are often one of the first things targeted when budgets get slashed - they're seen as unnecessary, a frill (in comparison to, say, algebra, which we've all had garbage-bags full of use for, eh? Yep, I'm still wildly resentful of that waste of hours of the only life I might have) but how many of us benefitted enormously from or even built our careers on classes in art, music, language or literature, things that weren't going to appear on a standardized test but turned out to be the loves of our lives?

      The Spore Project hopes to draw attention to both that need and to the simple joy of making art all over the world - already paperbag mushrooms have appeared in tons of places around the globe, even at this year's Olympics. This is the month to get in on the act (that's me with the Pepto-pink, rhinestone-and-maribou mushroom I made for Doug's art event "Fungus of the Stars." I thought paper bags could use a little glamour.)
       You can meet Doug this weekend at Whole Foods in Winter Park Saturday, May 1 from noon - 4pm and Sunday, May 2 from 1-5 pm to learn more about the project or just check out his video and website and try it out for yourself.

Jezeb-Elle part 2: the ads

Loved Jezebel's comparison of 1986 and 2010 Elle magazine - today the did the ads. Funny, what a great reminder it is of makes the 80's - when we thought greed, ostentatious wealth and right-wing lunacy couldn't get much worse. We didn't know what any of those things were yet. Maybe that's why everyone looks so happy.

Jezeb-Elle

God, I love Jezebel. It's one of my favorite magazines on the web and keeps that status every damn day (I get their headlines in my mailbox). They totally outdid themselves this afternoon by giving me a very happy 20 minutes perusing this issue of Elle from 1986 (Elle is another favorite) and comparing the take on fashion - and by extension social attitudes - between that and the May 2010 issue. 

It's fabulous stuff, especially the notations of color (both of clothing and people) and naturalness (1986 relied less heavily on airbrushing people into pore-free perfection). They promise a comparison of the ads in '86 and '10 is forthcoming. In the meantime I had to share because I love this piece (and because I am still rocking the stupidly large glasses in photo #11.. Long live Linda Ellerbee!)

Liz story on MyPleasure: Donate your boobs to science (just for a day)

When a young college student, Purdue's Jen McCreight, decided to test an Iranian leader's theory that immodest dress causes earthquakes she decided that today, April 26, women should dress as immodestly as they can (mostly showing cleavage) and participate in "Boobquake" to see if he's right. Read all about it on the MyPleasure website: Boobquake 2010: Can Cleavage Make a Quake? and show off some skin in the name of scientific endeavor.
     In recent years I've taken mom's advice on age-appropriate dress ("You don't want to look like  Baby Jane Hudson,"), i.e., cutting back on the decolletage, short shorts and anything with a cartoon character on it, but today...it's for science. And yeah, that's me in my belly dance days (2008) offered up along the theory that digital skin counts.
     Now if it works....if we get a huge quake on Boobquake day...then what? Well, I will maintain my faith in science...but I might consider joining a convent, too. Is there any such thing as an order of agnostic nuns?

THIS JUST IN: MyPlease is offering discounts on nipple toys in honor of Boobquake! Check them out on Twitter and get the promo code:


MyPleasure is supporting Boobquake (http://wp.me/pEH4i-8O ) with 15% Off All Nipple Toys – Use Promo Code Boobquake: http://bit.ly/5KtEGI 


(PS: You know you want to use 'nipple toys' as a name for something in your life. Your next password? Your band name? Your authorized bio by Kitty Kelly?)

Liz Story on SeXis: The Subersive Universe of Paul Krassner

It’s been said that one of the greatest things you can do is inspire others and I was definitely inspired by my interview with Paul Krassner. It’s not every day you get to interview a living legend – co-founder of the Yippie movement with Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, satirist, one-time publisher of Hustler, founder of The Realist and creator of the infamous Disney orgy poster. "I was an iconoclast for so long I became an icon....I lost my 'clast' somewhere,' he says, along with lots of other great things. Enjoy!

Liz Story: Recycle Your Cycle

            For many years when I’ve needed an expert to consult for stories on sex and relationships I’ve often spoken with Dr. Sandor Gardos, sex therapist and founder of MyPleasure.com and now I’m happy to say I’ll be contributing pieces to their wonderful website! The first of these is a look at the environmental impact of “feminine hygiene products,” i.e., Recycle Your Cycle or how can you make your period a little greener. I consulted with our own Emily Ruff from the Florida School of Holistic Living on this one – enjoy! 

Kick and Tickle: If Shoes Could Kill

       Though I’ve never considered myself part of that feminine stereotype that would rather have shoes than food, sex or plane tickets I do appreciate outstanding footwear when I see it.
     Never have I seen it shine more brightly than on the website Crazy Shoes and Boots: If Shoes Could Kill featuring shoes that combine fashion, art and my favorite quality in any article of clothing near-total unwearability.

       Actually, these cactus shoes could be wearable – and dangerous to anyone who pissed you off. And these hairy heels by Bart Hess are so downright demonic that I really really think I should own both pair.

       “If Shoes Could Kill” looks like a new site – it doesn’t have tons of pages yet so you can’t kill your entire work day there, but then, that was once true about I Can Has Cheeseburger. Hopefully the shoes will have the same success. 

Nothing succeededs like...secess? The Conch Republic Anniversary Celebration

            Sure, a lot of cranks these days talk about cessation but only the unique breed of people who can put up with the extreme mix of luxury and danger that is Key West have ever had the nads to do anything about it.

            In 1982 Key West officially seceded from the US in protest of a border patrol station set up north of Key Largo, ostensibly to check drug trafficking in the area. If they were going to be treated like a foreign country, dammit, they would become one. Key West withdrew from America, called itself The Conch Republica, fired a single “warning shot” which was a loaf of stale Cuban bread, immediately surrended and applied for foreign aid. The global media attention drawn by this genius PR move got the border station removed and gave Key West another reason to throw an annual party.        

     Here's the Conch Republic Anniversary Celebration schedule of events, starting with a Fairvilla Megastore lingerie fashion show at Shanna Key Irish Pub, moving on to Friday’s re-enactment of the Bloody Battle a bit of high seas theater in which the Conch Republicans “fight” the actual Coast Guard, and Saturday’s Red Ribbon Bed Race sponsored by Fairvilla Megastore (below is some video from last year’s event.). The costumes alone are worth a visit to Duvall Street and just the people in the Key West streets provide theatrics as good as "Glee" so if you're going to be down south this weekend don't miss it! Check out some real secessionists and forget the tea - just enjoy the party.

All the Single Ladies: 8 Reasons Marriage Doesn't Matter

If you've noticed my blog has seemed to be stoned out of it's gourd in the last week or so it's my fault - the part of my brain that is supposed to store information about how the web works was temporarily hollowed out and filled with cotton candy, but now that I'm back to speed here's the skinny: last Friday Alternet ran my piece: All The Single Ladies: 8 Reasons Marriage Doesn't Matter and as of this moment it's climbed up to #8 on Alternet's chart of most-emailed/discussed/read pieces.
      What I loved best about this piece is the excellent information provided by Nicky Grist at the Alternatives to Marriage Project about a free, easy, legal way to put in writing who you want your medical proxy to be, who you want to be allowed in your hospital room and other similar arrangements it's a good idea for unmarried people or those with family of choice they want in on their decisions. Go to either the story or the ATMP site and click "Hospital Rights" for info.
      Oh to see some people's "Keep These People Out of My Room" lists....that's when the truth comes out....

What if they gave an orgy and...

....if I finish the line it'll spoil the plot.
      TONIGHT at 9PM
      One of today's Florida Film Festival recommendations is based on that concept. Cummings Farm is kind of like a "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" for the new millenium, a comedy about three couples trying to spice up their relationships by meeting at a sweet little family lake house, Cummings Farm, for a little orgy between friends. Imagine "The Big Chill" with lube...kinda. I mean, think about it. The planning. The guest list. The awkwardness. The people you had to invite because they're so-and-so's boyfriend or girlfriend....consider this and a picture starts to emerge of something that makes you realize that this nowhere near so straight-forward a prospect as "Caligula" made it look like.

       TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY APRIL 14   3:30 PM
       WINTER'S BONE (Enzian)
       Those of you who follow this blog might think this is a porn film set in Alaska. Not even close.
       It is, however, one of the best narrative features you'll see at the Film Festival, a totally engrossing tale of Ozark drug culture and a teenage girl who has to find her dad and face the opposition group of people so flinty they make Ebeneezer Scrooge look like Julie Andrews. Grim - no question - but so authentic you'll feel at times like you're watching something on Bio.

        Speaking of, there are two documentaries I haven't seen but have heard high praise for,  and one I have seen that's a  must-see. THE TIGER NEXT DOOR (3:30 pm) and RACING DREAMS (6pm, also Saturday at 4pm) are two about which I've heard nothing but good things. Then there's BEST WORST MOVIE which I jabbered on and on about yesterday and which you'll be glad you saw. Nothing puts your own concerns in perspective like spending some time with the actors and director who were in or were responsible for a film widely regarded as THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE.
       That's it for now, more tomorrow....

Florida Film Festival: 3 to see today

The Florida Film Festival this weekend and you need to be three people to be able to take in all the great events – so start splitting into those alters NOW because there’s a lot of stuff you don’t want to miss.

I’ll be bringing you some updates throughout the week but there are three movies running today, any of which would be a great catch (All shows are at REGAL in Winter Park; see schedule for details):

7 PM: Bomber

This is a dark British comedy about a young man who has no desire whatsoever to be on a road trip with his parents, who need one, and his father’s quiet personal effort to make up for events of World War II. Crisp, funny and relatable on many levels – bound to be a festival favorite.

9 PM: Punching the Clown

Kind of like “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” was two years ago, “Punching the Clown” is a must-see for aspiring musicians albeit a very, very different kind of film. I’m just going to quote the blurb on the Film Festival website for this one (since I wrote it):

“ If you mixed the Barenaked Ladies and Larry David, you’d get a reasonable approximation of Henry Phillips, a struggling singer/songwriter whose witty lyrics and acoustic compositions are heads above what you might think of as comedy songs. After a disastrous screw-up at a religious fundraiser, Henry abandons the road to try his luck in L.A. He’s doing okay when two miscommunications occur—one that could make him and one that could break him. …This fresh, sharp, sophisticated farce stars the real-life Henry Phillips, who co-wrote this award-winning film with college pal Gregori Viens. It’s …an authentic, sugar-free look at how the fame game works and how one misunderstanding can change everything.”

8:30: Best Worst Movie

Anyone familiar with the struggle of being in any aspect of the art world can only imagine what it must be like to be struggling along in your career and suddenly find yourself tagged as being in THE Worst Movie Ever Made. Ever. Bar None. Makes Ed Wood look like Frank Capra. That kind of thing.

Such was the fate of the cast of “Troll 2" which evidently had nothing to do with “Troll” or anything else in the known universe. Twenty years later Michael Paul Stephenson, who starred in the film when he was 8, made a documentary about the weird arc of the success of a failure and how the rest of the cast – including the Italian director - reacts to being part of something that’s famous for falling flat on it’s face – albeit with the best and most artistically circuitous intentions.

I LOVED this movie and if you’re a fan of documentaries, cult films, horror films or just those stories of how a confluence of single events can lead to something deeply, deeply weird, it’s a must-see. AND Troll 2 – the real thing - will be showing at midnight this weekend!

More recommendations as the week goes on....

Liz story on SeXis: Profile of Cleis Press co-founder Felice Newman

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity of interviewing Felice Newman, co-founder of the innovative book publisher Cleis Press, for SeXis magazine and found myself feeling lucky that I came of age in the time I did. Felice and I talked about feminism in the 70's (Cleis published their first book in 1981), the politics aof the past few decades and the expansive creativity and openness of the 90's. Cleis took that particular brass ring and ran with it, giving us authors like Susie Bright and Pat Califia, hugely popular collections of gay, lesbian and women's erotica, how-to's like "The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex" and cultural eye-openers like "I Am My Own Wife: The True Story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf" about a man who got through World War II Europe as a cross-dresser. 

      Cleis continues to bring that vibrancy with an eagle eye for the edge and a willingness to go there in style. I hope you get a chance to read the story  and meet Felice - I walked away smarter and more energized for having done so. Enjoy!

Liz story: The History of Erotica, Part 2 in SeXis magazine

It just occurred to me that since I posted my History of Erotica, part 1 in SeXis magazine yesterday that some of you might think I did the Mel Brooks thing and there was never going to be a part two...well, tada! Here it is:  History of Erotica, part 2 because after all the stuff I learned in part one, including lovely stuff about Sappho, John Wilmot (aka "The Libertine" and Sacher-Masoch, following up was a pleasure and in this installment you'll find out a few things about the trials and tribulations of Henry Miller, Anais Nin and along with quotes from author/ editor Rachel Kramer Bussel and also Felice Newman, co-founder of Cleis Press. Hope you enjoy!

Liz story: The History of Erotica, Part 1 in SeXis magazine

Typically I'm very expert at cramming things, many things into small spaces (I have a small apartment and a lot of furniture...why, what were you thinking I meant?) but trying to get as much of the history of sensuous literature as possible into a single story was overwhelming. There's so much of it! And it's so good! 

So the wonderful folks at SeXis gave me a two-parter, today's piece is The History of Erotica, pt 1; more to come tomorrow. I learned a LOT writing this piece and found many beautiful things I hope to get to revisit when there is 'world enough and time' but for now here it is and I hope you enjoy it!

Faith in Photoshop

Faith Hill was pretty enough to be a Stepford Wife but not pretty enough for the cover of Redbook - a great comparison of the real Faith photo and the retouched version (well, I appreciated it) appeared this week in Jezebel. Make sure to click their link for the numerically annotated version of everything that was changed, but in the meantime, you can be amazed by Jezebel's animated version that shows how the retouch trims Faith down (because she's huuuge!), removes the natural lines on her face and...my favorite part...by removing those natural laugh lines makes her look less happy, less like she's really having fun doing this photo shoot (which she does in the original) than like a serene, tolerant statue.
I'm not going to go through the whole "No wonder women are self-conscious..." refrain because you know all that and it's probably done with men's pics too, but the next time you see yourself in a picture and think "Oh my god, I'm so (insert "fat," "old," "blotchy," or other regrettable feature here)"
first, call yourself a photo editor and
second, try to remember if, when it was taken, you were happy. That counts for something even if you can't see it.

Peeps Diorama Contest

Just in time for Easter: The Fourth Annual Washington Post Peeps Diorama contest wrapped up recently and the winner was this unbelievably detailed super sweet rendition of the ballon house from “Up.” Check out the link for a gallery of runner-ups and a video of how the “Eep” house was made (hint: lots of popsicle sticks). Don’t you love religious holidays?