humor, Philly style

My good friend Amy is a nut-and a great singer/actor/comedian. Check her out

Aviva Chomsky, Immigrants, and such

Browsing through the books at my alma mater, I noticed the book "They Take Our Jobs" and 20 other myths about immigration by Aviva Chomsky. Sounds like a book we should all read, especially you over at CNN. As reviewed in Colorlines Magazine:

Review By: Daisy Hernandez, ColorLines - July 1, 2007

“If ever there was a need for a pithy primer on immigration, it’s now, and scholar-activist Aviva Chomsky has provided just that. She considers myths from the book’s title, “immigrants don’t pay taxes” and then gracefully and in plain language delivers arguments with lessons on history, law and racism. In other words, this is the book to give your xenophobic mother-in-law at the next family barbecue.”

bilbao is grey

bilbao is grey
Originally uploaded by txiribiton

I really need to get to Spain. I found this great photo on Flickr

music and more of what I miss about NY

Today I am really missing NY. First, sadly it is the 6th anniversary of September 11th, though unlike that day, today is a dark, dismal, rainy day. I can't believe how much my life has changed since that time, including the fact that I no longer live in my beloved city. Please take a moment to remember all those who perished that day, and to pray for peace and the bringing home of our women and men serving in Iraq.

On a much different note, my buddy over at Blabbeando posted this and other great videos of a party in Brooklyn reminding me how much I miss the spontaneity of NYers coming together to party out in the park or anywhere else where finding the spirit that moves us is present in beautiful, dancing brown bodies...

Coming Out at 88

Living in the 'burbs, hell, living in Philadelphia has often made me feel like I retreated into the closet and if I sit and think about it, queerness feels much different now that I'm a parent trying to live a quiet existence in a safe neighborhood. These days, it's my son who outs me regularly as he tries to explain in his toddler voice that I'm his mommy and my partner is his mama while strangers smile and look bewildered.

Found this great essay at MSNBC/Newsweek about an 88-year old woman who has finally been able to say she is a lesbian. Her essay can be found here.