Friday, February 23, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Suicidal marketing
I used to be a great fan of SG - after all I have a thing for pin-up aesthetic, Petty Page, corsets, gothic fashion, piercing and the like. I discovered the site back in 2003 (2004?) and at the beginning it was a very-underground mouvement. A couple of dozens girls were posting pictures and the effort to make it a female, sex-positive environment was clear. My doubts began to grow when Nerve.com (another site I did read religiously, and still somehow regard as a sex-positive, edgy community) started to aggresively promote Suicide Girls (the models, not the site) as a brand. Today I stumbled upon this:"Alterna-chick apologists for SG-style pornulation (...) point to the website’s purported (and invisible) “female-positive” stance as evidence that Suicide Girls models are not exploited like conventional Penthousian objets de smutte. Naturally, there are ex-Suicide Girls who, noting that the site re-pimps their photos to hardcore sites as they decline in popularity with the SG staff, and that subscribers to the decidedly un-feminist Playboy have free access to SG, see things rather differently."
Absolutely disapointing, not to mention downright exploitive. In many ways SG's downfall reminds me of American Apparel (1) and the like: companies and sites that truly aimed for the best, but truly got lost along the way.
SG? I'll switch to Fatal Beauty for this kind of imagery instead.
(1) AA and unions.
Valentine Day : get fucked or die trying pt 2.

I am not sure what is going to happen this year, but last year Valentine's "Adbusted" project was a complete success: One year ago with Boris.
I must say I enjoyed this (somehow anti vday) post: I fall down you get up not a sound between us.
For more academic reads I enjoyed this #, as well as Danah Boyd's take on "gifts".
Monday, February 12, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Meanwhile, on planet earth
While I am off learning some web authoring lessons, you might be entertained by my flickR account (sorry Buzznet).Eep! I'll be back as soon as I can (when I can finally design a blog correctly).
Thursday, December 14, 2006
.
Your 'Do You Want the Terrorists to Win' Score: 96%
You are a terrorist-loving, Bush-bashing, "blame America first"-crowd traitor. You are in league with evil-doers who hate our freedoms. By all counts you are a liberal, and as such cleary desire the terrorists to succeed and impose their harsh theocratic restrictions on us all. You are fit to be hung for treason! Luckily George Bush is tapping your internet connection and is now aware of your thought-crime. Have a nice day.... in Guantanamo!
Do You Want the Terrorists to Win?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz
Friday, November 03, 2006
Gone fishing.
If birthdays are a way the secretly evaluate how many people actually remember you and/or make some effort and send you a note and/or an email, then today only three persons thought about me: my husband, and three Micepace friends. Granted, it is only 11.38 - but I'm probably going to sulk if Geoffrey, Costa and Boris do not send me an email before 6.
/ vapid.
/ vapid.
I have a terrible birthday history, from having Bush re-elected two years ago when I was in Vancouver to going and see an awful gig last year. However i received an interesting birthday present this morning - a true monument of pop culture: a 8 black ball with have magic powers, and which can (apparently) read my future.
After a turned it upside down for a couple of seconds this morning, it said my birthday was going to be good.
After a turned it upside down for a couple of seconds this morning, it said my birthday was going to be good.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
(You are) a series of tubes
I truly miss (personal) blogging.
Hopefully will be able to start again in a few weeks, with a new computer. I cannot wait to resume my online activities (non work related) and get active in every online projects I left when I moved to London.
I also really want another template but would have to learn how to make goodlooking blogs, and it certainly is not exactly my forte. I am pumped about all those cool web2.0 applications I did not have the time to use with a personal account, and god - how weird does it feel to realise that you truly miss talking to friends, most of which are only to be found on the blogosphere or Network(ing) sites these days?
I did not realise how dependent I was to Networking sites and blogs up until now - when I foudn myself being Internet-less in my free time. Then again a simple geographical explanation would be sufficient, all my friends live abroad (France, Canada, China, Spain, you name it). And that's an uncomfortable situation to be in when you can't communicate with them as often as you'd like - but then again I should be used to it by now.
In other news, in our new place you can climb on the roof and see a great part of London (the City, mainly). It's absolutely amazing; and I will gladly take pictures soon.
Hopefully will be able to start again in a few weeks, with a new computer. I cannot wait to resume my online activities (non work related) and get active in every online projects I left when I moved to London.
I also really want another template but would have to learn how to make goodlooking blogs, and it certainly is not exactly my forte. I am pumped about all those cool web2.0 applications I did not have the time to use with a personal account, and god - how weird does it feel to realise that you truly miss talking to friends, most of which are only to be found on the blogosphere or Network(ing) sites these days?
I did not realise how dependent I was to Networking sites and blogs up until now - when I foudn myself being Internet-less in my free time. Then again a simple geographical explanation would be sufficient, all my friends live abroad (France, Canada, China, Spain, you name it). And that's an uncomfortable situation to be in when you can't communicate with them as often as you'd like - but then again I should be used to it by now.
In other news, in our new place you can climb on the roof and see a great part of London (the City, mainly). It's absolutely amazing; and I will gladly take pictures soon.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Boris, this week end I wish I was you...
I'm off to Brussels for the week end. Ugh, now I wish I could remember my European Institutions class' content from my 1st year at University...
For those interested, Ryan Adams was extremely good live last weekend. A melancholic (and sick with a vicious cold) version of a country-ish Kurt Cobain.
Patrick Wolf was equally good : cute, fairylike and uplifting. While some hated him, M. liked him a lot, and I am a fan - amongst an ocean of emo 16 years old....
For those interested, Ryan Adams was extremely good live last weekend. A melancholic (and sick with a vicious cold) version of a country-ish Kurt Cobain.
Patrick Wolf was equally good : cute, fairylike and uplifting. While some hated him, M. liked him a lot, and I am a fan - amongst an ocean of emo 16 years old....
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Aurelie: si tu lis mon blog....
Aurelie, one of my best friend, co-creator of Volte Face*, intrepid reporter and fabulous feminist is off to China (Nankin) for 10 months with her boyfriend. Aurelie, I'll miss you dearly, and more than everything I will miss our passionate discussions, your enthusiasm and watching you kicking Remi's ass while debating the (non) merits of capitalism.
Boris and I (and maybe M?) will see you in China for New Year, as promised back in the Kenland pub in Rennes a couple of months ago (1)....
You've been an true inspiration to me this year, a source of wisdom, calm and courage (2), even if Boris and I still hate your organic fairly traded tea/chocolate/tee-shirts/furniture/bread/vegetables/everything.
*Don't bother looking at the blog, the internet content sucked. But our paper-based kick ass zine was brilliant, and we passed it on to activists as we all left town for good this summer.
(1) Well, let's just say I'm 60% sure it will happen, because you know I'm afraid I'll get lost in Shangai and I don't think Boris will be any good at finding directions.
(2) It sounds bad and painfully unoriginal, but it's true.
Boris and I (and maybe M?) will see you in China for New Year, as promised back in the Kenland pub in Rennes a couple of months ago (1)....
You've been an true inspiration to me this year, a source of wisdom, calm and courage (2), even if Boris and I still hate your organic fairly traded tea/chocolate/tee-shirts/furniture/bread/vegetables/everything.
*Don't bother looking at the blog, the internet content sucked. But our paper-based kick ass zine was brilliant, and we passed it on to activists as we all left town for good this summer.
(1) Well, let's just say I'm 60% sure it will happen, because you know I'm afraid I'll get lost in Shangai and I don't think Boris will be any good at finding directions.
(2) It sounds bad and painfully unoriginal, but it's true.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Some lost words said on the beach.
[...] thats okay, all english speaking people are like that, their brains are secretly like OMIGOD THERE'S ANOTHER LANGUAGE TOO? THEY HAVE WORDS TOO? OMG [in an email sent sometimes this year].
I don't really know how to articulate this without coming off as a discussion-traitor, but the best thing about hanging out with someone for long periods of time is this : you are increasingly more self-conscious and realise the impact your person [your words, body, actions] has on the other one but you also gradually let go and not care about such an interpersonal force/power* anymore.
The dialogue was coming out of nowhere - my intention was solely to fish for lost details or shared impressions.
"What was your favourite part of the week end so far?"
"Watching you I think"
"Doing what?"
"I don't know... Talk to people, move, all those things"
While such a comment would usually be welcomed with a forced-creeped out smile and hordes of negative comments if uttered by a stranger, it was welcolmed by an intrigued and genuinely amused smile when uttered by him.
[Meaning if he is watching and I'm conscious of the process, fear linked to his capacity of judgement progressively falls into oblivion since I am happy with the conclusion he might reach, no matter what it can be.]
[Meaning if he is watching and I'm conscious of the process, fear linked to his capacity of judgement progressively falls into oblivion since I am happy with the conclusion he might reach, no matter what it can be.]
* Whether the force is a life sucking, dark or light and uplifting one has yet to be decided. Surely it is both, which makes things even more interesting.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Blog sabatical
Given that my laptop has been savagely stolen (London is a zoo! Fucking thief! Fucking hell I WILL FIND YOU! THREE YEARS OF ACADEMIC DISSERTATIONS! And 1000 pictures! GONE!) and that I won't blog at work, I think I'll re-enter the blogosphere once I own an I-book.
Soon enough, but not RIGHT now. Feel my pain - Jessica laptopless = hysterical Jessica.
Soon enough, but not RIGHT now. Feel my pain - Jessica laptopless = hysterical Jessica.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Another feminist rant or what?
If something will ever push me to not have babies, this might be it. Women as babymakingmachines ?
"New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves—and to be treated by the health-care system—as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon," reports the Washington Post. "[T]his means all women between first menstrual period and menopause should take folic acid supplements, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes under control... [I]t's important that women follow this advice throughout their reproductive lives, because about half of pregnancies are unplanned and so much damage can be done to a fetus between conception and the time the pregnancy is confirmed."
"New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves—and to be treated by the health-care system—as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon," reports the Washington Post. "[T]his means all women between first menstrual period and menopause should take folic acid supplements, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes under control... [I]t's important that women follow this advice throughout their reproductive lives, because about half of pregnancies are unplanned and so much damage can be done to a fetus between conception and the time the pregnancy is confirmed."
Surprising?
Nope.
My point is that while a lot of Americans seem to think Bush is only attacking homosexuality (which he is, with his wish to change the constitution, etc), he's also pushing his conservative agenda on women in general, queer, bi, pansexual, straight or not.... His disguised attacks on homosexuals push straight politically-center-right-but-socially-conservative voters/women/wifes to agree with him.


