Dear Gary,
You. Are. Awesome.
And by that, I mean completely awesome.
I think it's way too bad that people are censoring your Doonesbury series about the new restrictions on reproductive freedom. As a woman living day in and day out in this culture, I find it to be totally ridiculous that I and my sisters are expected to just sit back and put up with all these scary restrictions on our own healthcare that will affect our lives...but a cartoon disagreeing with this (and drawn by a man, no less!) has to be censored so as not to hurt the feelings of the males who came up with these scary restrictions. Where is the logic in this? People like me have to sit back and have a transvaginal sonogram if we are seeking an abortion or be called sluts if we are sexually active, but the men (who will not be pregnant) who created these laws are offended by a comic strip about this? I have had enough of this!
But you know what, Gary? As my way of saying thanks for your art, I'm going to be a friend for you. I'm going to do my little part in making sure more people see what you intended, rather than the censored strips. So Revel readers, make sure you take a look: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/03/13/new-media-rule-107-censorship-has-opposite-desired-effect. Today for me, tomorrow for you, as Angel from Rent would say.
So thanks, Gary. This revel is grateful. And I hope you don't have any more inspiration for similar strips, as all the restrictions on reproductive freedoms are really scaring me.
Your friend,
Revel
Showing posts with label revel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label revel. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Local, Loyal, and Loving It
When I was in undergrad, I couldn't get enough of all the independently owned businesses in Champaign-Urbana. When my classmates would buy their clothes for a night out at Kohl's or Macy's, I would instead dig up some thrift shop finery at Dandelion or Le Shoppe to wear. Instead of grabbing my morning coffee at Starbucks, I'd walk a little further to Caffe Paradiso or Bar Giuliani (may its memory be eternal!). It was pretty easy to support local businesses because there were just so many of them!
I love buying local. Often have. Rather than going to a chain or big-box store, I try (if I can help it or afford it) to support places that are operated by people who work and live in the community. A quick look at the Chamber of Commerce's website would give me all the information I needed to tell if someplace was a franchise or not, and once I figured out where it was, I would go.
Coming back up to this area got me really wondering if I'd still be able to continue buying local and loyal. Not to be mean or rude, but I'd always considered this area the land of the chain stores and restaurants, a veritable desert when it came to original businesses. When I decided on going to school in the city and got my job, I wondered if I'd be able to still shop as originally as I act.
Well, I'm glad to know that I was wrong. I think the best cure for any sort of worry like that would be to look a little closer. Some of my best finds came totally unexpectedly, like when I was driving to meet with a funder or wandering around a new downtown. So I can't have Le Shoppe because it's 3 hours away? I got Horsefeathers in my backyard for my import/vintage/head shop needs. No B.Lime around for non-pretentious beautifying? I've found J-Beauty for my local supplier. Sick of Starbucks? There's Something's Brewing nearby. Bored with everything the county has to offer? (As if!) Well, Chicago's only a train ride away!
I guess the moral of the story, when it comes to buying local and buying loyal, is just to look a little closer. Sure, no two towns are created equal, but there are good things to be found just about everywhere. I'm still local, still loyal, and still loving my area. And when I head downstate, I make sure to hit up my old haunts because my love of local doesn't stop up north.
I love buying local. Often have. Rather than going to a chain or big-box store, I try (if I can help it or afford it) to support places that are operated by people who work and live in the community. A quick look at the Chamber of Commerce's website would give me all the information I needed to tell if someplace was a franchise or not, and once I figured out where it was, I would go.
Coming back up to this area got me really wondering if I'd still be able to continue buying local and loyal. Not to be mean or rude, but I'd always considered this area the land of the chain stores and restaurants, a veritable desert when it came to original businesses. When I decided on going to school in the city and got my job, I wondered if I'd be able to still shop as originally as I act.
Well, I'm glad to know that I was wrong. I think the best cure for any sort of worry like that would be to look a little closer. Some of my best finds came totally unexpectedly, like when I was driving to meet with a funder or wandering around a new downtown. So I can't have Le Shoppe because it's 3 hours away? I got Horsefeathers in my backyard for my import/vintage/head shop needs. No B.Lime around for non-pretentious beautifying? I've found J-Beauty for my local supplier. Sick of Starbucks? There's Something's Brewing nearby. Bored with everything the county has to offer? (As if!) Well, Chicago's only a train ride away!
I guess the moral of the story, when it comes to buying local and buying loyal, is just to look a little closer. Sure, no two towns are created equal, but there are good things to be found just about everywhere. I'm still local, still loyal, and still loving my area. And when I head downstate, I make sure to hit up my old haunts because my love of local doesn't stop up north.
Friday, April 29, 2011
An Open Letter to US Clothing Manufacturers
Dear US Clothing Manufacturers,
I get it. You've got clothes to sell, profit margins to meet, trends to set. You all are really busy people. But how about you take a little break from the sewing machine and the clothing patterns to read a little letter from a friendly feminist fashionista?
I have but one suggestion for you when you are making women's clothes. Can you please start sizing them by actual body measurements (like waist, hips, inseam, bust, etc.) as opposed to some totally random and completely un-standardized sizes like even or odd numbers? You know, like the way men's clothes are sized? I mean, I am really finding it difficult to find or order things that fit because I am a different size in just about every brand out there! At Kohl's I am a medium. At JCPenney I am a medium to large. Most laughably, at Target, I am an extra-small (and anyone who knows what I look like is probably rolling their eyes at that!). I don't even know my own dress size because it's different depending on the brand.
You know, when I was in high school, we had this awful dress code with uniforms. And I mean, it was really awful--boxy old polo shirts and the choice of flimsy pleated skirt or these dress pants that were ordered from a company. I didn't like the skirt so I wore the uniform pants. Since I couldn't try on the uniforms (they were ordered), I did what most girls didn't. I just sent the company my measurements and wore men's clothes through high school because it was much easier to get something that fit my measurements! (And again, anyone who's seen me knows that my presentation is as hyperfeminine as it gets! However, I was not going to shell out my cash on clothes and wait for them to arrive...only to find they didn't fit.)
Take it from me, dear clothing manufacturers. It really is no fun to constantly be confused. So please find some way to standardize your sizing so that I can finally figure out what size I am. Preferably, I would like it to be simple measurements like the men's clothes are sized.
Thank you much. For this I may even go back to primarily buying my clothes new and from "normal" stores.
Love,
Revel
I get it. You've got clothes to sell, profit margins to meet, trends to set. You all are really busy people. But how about you take a little break from the sewing machine and the clothing patterns to read a little letter from a friendly feminist fashionista?
I have but one suggestion for you when you are making women's clothes. Can you please start sizing them by actual body measurements (like waist, hips, inseam, bust, etc.) as opposed to some totally random and completely un-standardized sizes like even or odd numbers? You know, like the way men's clothes are sized? I mean, I am really finding it difficult to find or order things that fit because I am a different size in just about every brand out there! At Kohl's I am a medium. At JCPenney I am a medium to large. Most laughably, at Target, I am an extra-small (and anyone who knows what I look like is probably rolling their eyes at that!). I don't even know my own dress size because it's different depending on the brand.
You know, when I was in high school, we had this awful dress code with uniforms. And I mean, it was really awful--boxy old polo shirts and the choice of flimsy pleated skirt or these dress pants that were ordered from a company. I didn't like the skirt so I wore the uniform pants. Since I couldn't try on the uniforms (they were ordered), I did what most girls didn't. I just sent the company my measurements and wore men's clothes through high school because it was much easier to get something that fit my measurements! (And again, anyone who's seen me knows that my presentation is as hyperfeminine as it gets! However, I was not going to shell out my cash on clothes and wait for them to arrive...only to find they didn't fit.)
Take it from me, dear clothing manufacturers. It really is no fun to constantly be confused. So please find some way to standardize your sizing so that I can finally figure out what size I am. Preferably, I would like it to be simple measurements like the men's clothes are sized.
Thank you much. For this I may even go back to primarily buying my clothes new and from "normal" stores.
Love,
Revel
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Home again
Hello readers! You might notice things have been a little quiet around here for the past 6 months. YIKES! Well, not to make excuses, but here are my excuses. I'm hoping to be a bit more active around here, since I miss my little world in the blogiverse.
I'm still working full-time (and really coming into my own there!), and I have begun attending night school on my way to a MA in women's studies. Although night school is part-time, it takes up a good deal of my time with lots of reading, writing, discussing, and presenting. Add in something of a social/familial life, and you have an unbelievably busy and sleep deprived revel. (And you thought sleep deprivation ended with undergrad!) Between all that I'm learning in the non-profit world and at graduate school, I feel like my mind will be expanding so much it'll be all the way around the world by the time I have that diploma!
That said, I certainly will be back to update you all with my revelings, rantings, and reckonings. I just didn't want to leave you all in the dust wondering where I went! Happy 2011 y'all! It's 4 years of Revel Productions!
I'm still working full-time (and really coming into my own there!), and I have begun attending night school on my way to a MA in women's studies. Although night school is part-time, it takes up a good deal of my time with lots of reading, writing, discussing, and presenting. Add in something of a social/familial life, and you have an unbelievably busy and sleep deprived revel. (And you thought sleep deprivation ended with undergrad!) Between all that I'm learning in the non-profit world and at graduate school, I feel like my mind will be expanding so much it'll be all the way around the world by the time I have that diploma!
That said, I certainly will be back to update you all with my revelings, rantings, and reckonings. I just didn't want to leave you all in the dust wondering where I went! Happy 2011 y'all! It's 4 years of Revel Productions!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
"Official" St. Patrick's day
Sadly, I misplaced my pin that says "I'm not Irish, but feel free to kiss me." I walked right into the FPREP panel today, and everyone was sporting green clothing except for Sesali (my treasurer) and me. Sesali says the holiday has no significance to her, and as a southern-European-descended lady, I have to concur with that.
So to all of you Irish and not Irish, happy St. Patrick's day and for the love of all things sacred, please celebrate responsibly. I don't want to have to read about you in the police blotter (and yes, legals do read the police blotter, and being a legal myself I am not an exception).
And a huge shout-out to my buddies in FPREP, Fem Maj, and the Vagina Monologues: I love you all and thanks for being so fabulous on the panel! And for you FPREP guys, thanks for the questions and your genuine desire for change. That's so important, and I'm glad to have you all on board.
So to all of you Irish and not Irish, happy St. Patrick's day and for the love of all things sacred, please celebrate responsibly. I don't want to have to read about you in the police blotter (and yes, legals do read the police blotter, and being a legal myself I am not an exception).
And a huge shout-out to my buddies in FPREP, Fem Maj, and the Vagina Monologues: I love you all and thanks for being so fabulous on the panel! And for you FPREP guys, thanks for the questions and your genuine desire for change. That's so important, and I'm glad to have you all on board.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Three cheers for self-promotion!
She's a revel
She's a saint
She's the salt of the earth
AND SHE'S DANGEROUS.
She's a revel
Don't you know it?
Activistic feministic
In your face and rockin' widdit.
She lives the revolution,
The dawning of our lives.
She is so liberated.
I just can't deny it.
No I just can't deny.
She's a revel
She's a revel
She's a revel
And she's dangerous!
She's a saint
She's the salt of the earth
AND SHE'S DANGEROUS.
She's a revel
Don't you know it?
Activistic feministic
In your face and rockin' widdit.
She lives the revolution,
The dawning of our lives.
She is so liberated.
I just can't deny it.
No I just can't deny.
She's a revel
She's a revel
She's a revel
And she's dangerous!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Please don't stop the music!
Well, looking back on it, I have a lot of songs/CDs referenced in here. I think I will make a list of all the ones I've done so far (with more to come as I add them). Most recent ones go first, older ones are last.
Act Naturally--song by the Beatles
I Don't Think I Know Me--written by Michael Clem, performed by Eddie From Ohio
Miracle Girl--song by the Lovemongers. Don't know the mongers? It's a side project of the girls in Heart during the 90s.
Barracuda--song by Heart, stolen by the Republican party
Let It Ride--song by Angie Heaton, a Chambana treasure
I am Woman--song by Helen Ready
Live Through This--album by Hole
Activity Grrrl--song by Joan Jett, may very well have been written about me
Alone--song by Heart
Feeling Good--song by Nina Simone, covered by Muse, butchered by Pussycat Dolls
I Fought the Law--song popularized by The Clash
Time of Inconvenience--song by Nanci Griffith
Sunny Came Home--song by Shawn Colvin, from album A Few Small Repairs
Summer Shudder--song by AFI
Summer Breeze--song by the ever-boring Seals and Crofts
Two Outta Three Ain't Bad--improved by Bonnie Tyler
Pieces of Me--song by Ashleigh Simpson
Fake Your Way to the Top--from the movie Dreamgirls
Oil to the World--parody of "Joy to the World"
Who says you can't go home?--song by Bon Jovi
Keep on rocking in the free world--song by Neil Young and his band Crazy Horse
Getting Better--song by the Beatles
Dancing Barefoot--song by Patti Smith
She's A Rebel--song by Green Day, revel-lutionized by me
Act Naturally--song by the Beatles
I Don't Think I Know Me--written by Michael Clem, performed by Eddie From Ohio
Miracle Girl--song by the Lovemongers. Don't know the mongers? It's a side project of the girls in Heart during the 90s.
Barracuda--song by Heart, stolen by the Republican party
Let It Ride--song by Angie Heaton, a Chambana treasure
I am Woman--song by Helen Ready
Live Through This--album by Hole
Activity Grrrl--song by Joan Jett, may very well have been written about me
Alone--song by Heart
Feeling Good--song by Nina Simone, covered by Muse, butchered by Pussycat Dolls
I Fought the Law--song popularized by The Clash
Time of Inconvenience--song by Nanci Griffith
Sunny Came Home--song by Shawn Colvin, from album A Few Small Repairs
Summer Shudder--song by AFI
Summer Breeze--song by the ever-boring Seals and Crofts
Two Outta Three Ain't Bad--improved by Bonnie Tyler
Pieces of Me--song by Ashleigh Simpson
Fake Your Way to the Top--from the movie Dreamgirls
Oil to the World--parody of "Joy to the World"
Who says you can't go home?--song by Bon Jovi
Keep on rocking in the free world--song by Neil Young and his band Crazy Horse
Getting Better--song by the Beatles
Dancing Barefoot--song by Patti Smith
She's A Rebel--song by Green Day, revel-lutionized by me
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Calling all psychologists!
Well, several of my psych and community health major buddies have brought up that they all want to use me as an example of their latest psychological discovery. The newest complex is...(big fat drumroll here)...THE SUPERHERO COMPLEX!!!
Typical symptoms include but are certainly not limited to: Always being involved in a million different grassroots causes and being the queen and tyrant and dictator of scheduling, Trying to help out all of your friends even if it includes some very emotionally deteriorating steps to be taken, Running for more than one extracurricular leadership position, Volunteering to help people you've never even met, and basically just thinking you can save the world while you lose sight of everything else.
Side effects involve but are also certainly not limited to: Huge lack of sleep, Consumption of massive amounts of coffee (best if you're the type who can handle the strongest types of coffee), Appearring to be everywhere at once, Idealistic attitude and complete dejection when things don't go the way you've planned them, Ability to debate anyone at anytime about your causes, The ever-present question of "How do you do all of that???!!!" and super-amazing time management skills.
If you know this person, it's most likely that she's just finished typing this post.
The cure: There is no cure and there never will be.
Typical symptoms include but are certainly not limited to: Always being involved in a million different grassroots causes and being the queen and tyrant and dictator of scheduling, Trying to help out all of your friends even if it includes some very emotionally deteriorating steps to be taken, Running for more than one extracurricular leadership position, Volunteering to help people you've never even met, and basically just thinking you can save the world while you lose sight of everything else.
Side effects involve but are also certainly not limited to: Huge lack of sleep, Consumption of massive amounts of coffee (best if you're the type who can handle the strongest types of coffee), Appearring to be everywhere at once, Idealistic attitude and complete dejection when things don't go the way you've planned them, Ability to debate anyone at anytime about your causes, The ever-present question of "How do you do all of that???!!!" and super-amazing time management skills.
If you know this person, it's most likely that she's just finished typing this post.
The cure: There is no cure and there never will be.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Welcome to the revelry!
Here are the private thoughts behind the fledgling Revel With A Cause Productions. Your grand tour of my wild mind starts now...
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