Brash enthusiasm

Tearing your radio apart

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:37:57 GMT

Chaps, chaps, a question: did any of you when you were tiny do things like pull your radio to pieces to see how it worked, and then rebuild it? Or develops your own computer skills out of sight of school/parents, and learn how to hack? Or similar? And if you did do any of these things, how have they contributed (or not) to you being in the line of work that you are now? TELL ME PLZ I AM CURIOUS.

Relatedly, this is a nice little piece on whether kids today are more or less likely to learn how to hack than 10 years ago. Unrelatedly, this is a picture of some baby otters.

Getcher ninety-nine t-shirts here.

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:51:39 GMT

Following the unexpected 'OMG!!' reception of the t-shirts, I'm going to be placing a mass order for them sometime in the next week. Poll below and details on how to order.

The details:
Cost: £18.
Payment: To my Paypal account, which is the same name as my gmail address. If you're not sure what that it, please leave a comment in the exciting box below.
Deadline: I'd like details and payment by the evening of Wednesday 9th September.
Acquisition: If I'm unlikely to see you personally in the next month or so (hello Australians! hello North Americans!) then I'll post it and we can figure something out.
Multiplicity: The poll only allows for one t-shirt per person, to save my sanity. If you'd like more, let me know by email or in the comments.

View Poll: I've got 99 problems, but a stylish wardrobe ain't one

I'm also thinking about writing something up for maybe Feministe or The F Word about the incarnation of the design, and I'm really interested in what YOU, my lovely flist, think of it - whether it's a good design or a bad idea, why you would or wouldn't like to wear one. Or anything else! Comments are screened unless you say otherwise.

I'm leaving this entry unlocked until next Wednesday so do point people at it if you want.

Fires in Australia

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:11:43 GMT

For those of you that haven't seen, there are truly horrific fires happening across Victoria, Australia right now. The current death toll stands at 84.

If you can, please donate to the Red Cross. (Australians, if you know of other ways that internationals can help, please say).

Research and work opportunities in Brighton

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:25:08 GMT

Awesomely interesting stuff with amazing people at Brighton Uni - please do propagate:

1. Applications are invited for fully-funded PhD research topics:

Everyday lives in/of ‘alternative’ cities

This project will focus on the practical and gritty everyday lives in/of the ‘alternative’ city. An empirically rich and theoretically informed focus on particular ‘cities’ and/or urban districts that have developed reputations for being ‘alternative’, within and beyond normative conceptualisations of diversity, is envisaged. This could include considerations of social relations, bodies, communities, emotions, affects, materialities, governance, regulation, and/or citizenships. The specific case studies could examine particular counter cultures, LGBT communities, ‘alternative’ music scenes, acts of resistance, or the student could take a broader more conceptual view of ‘cities’ and the lives within. This project will adopt a largely qualitative approach where new methodological developments will be encouraged. The theoretical, methodological and case study focus will be developed with the student in relation to their interests. Supervisors: Dr Kath Browne (email: k.a.browne@bton.ac.uk), Dr David Bissell, Prof. Andrew Church.

How to apply: For further information and an application form, contact Edward Rhodes (School Research Administrator): email e.c.rhodes@bton.ac.uk, telephone +44 1273 642280. The closing date for applications is Friday 21 November 2008. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 9 December 2008, with a planned start date for the studentships of 1 January 2009. Studentships will cover UK/EU fees, a grant equivalent to those supported by the EPSRC and funding to cover travel, subsistence and laboratory costs. The successful candidates will have a first or good upper second-class Honours degree and normally a good Masters degree in a relevant subject. All successful applicants will be required to participate in University Research training and will register for an MPhil with possible transfer to PhD.

2. Research Project Assistant

From £19,263 to £21,681 per annum (pay award pending)

The Count Me In Too (CMIT) research project seeks to progress social change for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) people through evidence-led practice. Having conducted exciting participatory action research since 2005, the project is now embarking on a new phase that will focus on creating community and academic resources. As part of this new strategy, the project now requires a dynamic and self-motivated Research Assistant to work as part of the team with community partners Spectrum. You will support the production of resources, operate an information desk that addresses LGBT research, undertake further research and analyses, and contribute to the academic outputs of CMIT. The nature of this project means that you will be involved in both academic and community engagements and outputs. The role also requires close liaison with key stakeholders including LGBT people, communities and voluntary groups, together with an engagement with the local mainstream community, voluntary and statutory services. Alongside direction from the research team, the duties will be guided by consultations and an LGBT steering group. Experience of qualitative research and a working knowledge of SPSS software are required. The post is fixed-term for 18 months as funding is limited. Job sharers welcome.

Call (01273) 642849 (24 hours) or visit www.brighton.ac.uk/vacancies/

IBARW - The Cake Theory Of Being An Ally

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 06:59:05 GMT

So I didn't want to write too much for this, not least because of prior discussion about IBARW being an excuse for white folks to pat themselves on the back. Whilst there may certainly be an element of that, I also believe that IBARW serves a huge purpose in getting discussion going from all quarters about race, racism, and all associated factors (including this year's theme of intersectionality). My perspective and experience come from being white, middle class and British, so what I thought I could reasonably write about was privilege and being an ally. So: without further ado,

The Cake Theory of Being An Ally:
I have something in my head about the link between privilege and being an ally, and I think it goes something along the lines of - if you're going to be an ally of a specific oppressed group then that implies that you're not a member of that oppressed group, and that implies that you have some degree of privilege*. So - one of the first (key?) steps in working to be an ally is recognising and owning that privilege which will include:
- Understanding how it affects the way you experience the world (aka the amazing 'backpack' essay)
- Understanding that you will have to earn the benefit of the doubt and put your money where your mouth is as far as actions go
- And the big one here, understanding how your privilege allows or may lead you to suppress discussions of racism.

So, thinking/writing aloud here, I think one of the big big things about learning how to be a not-too-massive-fuckup of an ally** is learning when to shut the damn hell up and listen to what people have to say, rather than assuming that ones view carries greater weight or that ones experiences are relevant. But: this can be difficult - I don't think folks are necessarily socialised to learn how to sit quietly and listen and learn. And thus, the cake theory.

The first step is to have at all times a slice of delicious cake by one's side. Then, if you find yourself ~~in a beautiful house~~ reading a discussion online and thinking "But the 'flesh-coloured plasters' don't match my skin as a white person either", or "But white people are stereotyped too!" or "But we're all just people/queer/women/members of the human race - can't we be colourblind and focus on what unites us?", instead of wading in, take a bite of delicious cake instead. Your hands will be occupied by the motion of pushing bakery products into your mouth or delicately wiping the buttercream icing off your cardigan meaning that you won't be able to type or speak but instead can sit and be quiet and learn. With cake!

No-one will or should ever give you a cookie for behaving like a half-way decent human being; however, with the careful and timely application of cake, you can learn how to become a better ally.

*Obviously, intersectionality means that it's not as simple as that - I've seen it described as a card game where you might have any number of privilege cards out of: white, male, heterosexual, middle/upper class, cis-gendered, able bodied etc etc.
**Bearing in mind that one aspect of being an ally is knowing that you will, inevitably, fuck up***
***As someone who is slowly, stupidly learning this stuff, this obviously means that I fuck up with exciting regularity, so any comments/feedback gratefully received - I like the Cake Theory for shutting up and listening, but am not sure how it fits with challenging crappy behaviour when that arises.

References: Some useful resources to read whilst eating CAKE:
- Ally Work
- White Privilege masquerading as anti-racism
- How not to be insane when accused of racism
- and lots more here