Interview with the lone woman minister in Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa’s cabinet, until the Reddy brothers ousted her. I interview her for MiD DAY on Women’s Day, 2008

Being a lone woman in the cabinet, do you find any difficulties?

No. I have never faced any problems being the lone woman. I have been taking my independent decisions. I feel if there were many other women ministers things would have been easier. All women could together put forward the problems of women in the state, and our stand would have been stronger.

How did you enter politics?

I come from a RSS family. My brother was a full time RSS worker and I followed him. I was active in the RSS. In 2004 I became a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC). In 2007, I contested the assembly elections and won. I was inducted into the cabinet as a minister.

Tell us about your life before becoming a politician?

I was born into a farmer’s family in a village called Charvaka in Dakshin Kannada district. Our village had no basic facilities like road or electricity. Till 10^th standard I studied in a school which had no teachers. I did my graduation at St Philomena’s, Puttur and MSW from Roshni Nilaya, Managlore. I then worked as a research assistant in Indian Institute of Social Services and as a counselor at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.

Do you suggest politics as a career for women?

Certainly. Most educated women shun away from politics. I call upon them not only to vote but to also participate actively in politics. They are well informed and take good decisions for the welfare of the state. The have to come forward to clean the system.

Politics is considered dirty. So you still recommend it?

Yes politics is dirty. There is a lot of leg pulling, jealously and enmity. That’s why I ask educated youngsters to join politics. Not only BJP, but let them join any party. Educated youngsters can cleanse the system.

Can women handle the pressures of being a politician?

I have not faced any problem. May be this is because I am single and hence had no other commitments. I could give my time totally to politics. But when women are married, they may face difficulties. As Indian women they have to take care of their families as well as concentrate on their career. Still, we have many successful married women politicians in India like Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dixit.

Why have you remained single?

 RSS has a tradition where many do not get married and devote their time totally to service. I had grown up with the same mentality and decided not to get married. Initially there was opposition from my family and they wanted me to marry and settle down. But later they gave in.

Of late, Bangalore has come to be known as an unsafe city with attacks on women. Do you think the city is unsafe?

 Bangalore is safe compared to many other cities in India. Incidents like eve-teasing have been happening in Bangalore before too. It is just that now they are being hyped. To stop such incidents the mentality of the people has to change.  I have traveled alone in the city before entering politics, and I have never faced any problem. The onus is also on women too. They should not dress provocatively or behave invitingly. I don’t say that they should not wear jeans, but they should not be provocative.

Do you wear jeans?

I have worn it in my younger days. I used to wears jeans and tops. Now, I restrict myself to sarees and salwar kameez.

Unlike other woman politicians you have worn a fancy embroidered saree. Who selects your clothes?

(laughs) If I like any saree I buy it. After becoming a minister I haven’t been able to go shopping. My friends select my clothes and buy them for me. I used to wear fancy sarees earlier, by now I have to restrict myself. So now I prefer khadi silk.

What is your take on pub culture?

It is an individual’s choice. If a woman in matured, working and independent she can certainly go to a pub if she wishes. I am not for students going to the pub. Here it is not about culture, but responsibility. No parent would want his student child to miss classes and be in pubs.

Do you drink alcohol?

No. I don’t

There is a buzz that an astrologer had told Devegowda that the next Chief Minister would be a woman, so he put his daughter-in-law Anita Kumaraswamy in the bye-elections. Do you see yourself as the first woman Chief Minister of Karnataka?

(Smiles) No Comments. I pray that our leader Yeddyurappa only continues as the next chief minister for the next ten years. He is doing a very good job. I am still young in politics and have to learn a lot.

niet uit te lezen in 1 keer, maar de moeite waard voor mensen die nu eindelijk ’s willen weten of hun achterdocht tegenover bepaalde godsdiensten of bepaalde praktijken gerechtvaardigd is. de auteurs overdonderen je eerst met feiten allerhande, het ene al gruwelijker dan het andere en komen pas dan met de argumenten die hun theorie moeten bewijzen. Benson en Stangroom gaan er nogal met de grove borstel door en een aantal critici neemt hen dat ontzettend kwalijk. het had misschien iets minder militant gekund, maar of het dan hetzelfde effect zou hebben? uiteindelijk gaat het om een eeuwenoude gewoonte, die dan maar geïnstitutionaliseerd werd. en wat critici dan aanhalen als tegenargument (o.a. vrouwelijke moslimleiders) is eerder zwak als je het tegenover de gigantische stapel feiten en argumenten zet die de Benson en Stangroom aanhalen …

uiteindelijk is het ook iets om ontzettend boos en verontwaardigd over te worden. zelfs na zoveel eeuwen ‘ontwikkeling’ blijft het akelig om vast te stellen dat vrouwen nog steeds ondergeschikt blijven. niet overal, niet altijd (generaliseren is gevaarlijk) maar toch …

Benson en Stangroom zullen zich hiermee niet populair gemaakt hebben en er zullen steeds mensen zijn die argumenten blijven aandragen die het tegendeel zouden moeten bewijzen. misschien moeten anderen de stap zetten naar het nog beter uitwerken van het thema. minder drammerig, nog beter beargumenteerd en leesbaar. wie weet bereiken ze dan niet enkel de reeds bekeerden …

This is for all my designer fashionistas out there.

Campbell Soup Company and Tim Gunn from Project Runway are looking for designers to help create awareness for heart disease.

Go to Campbells Address Your Heart and design a red dress.  Winner gets a trip to NYC and the chance to walk the red carpet with Tim Gunn at the Woman’s Day Red Dress Awards where your dress design will be revealed!

If that isn’t good enough for you, the chosen dress design could be featured as the next Campbell red dress. Previous red dresses have been designed by Nicole Miller and Michael Volbracht for Bill Blass.

Hurry! You only have until November 6th!

“make it work”

Choć to nie marzec, 24-25 Października obwołano Women’s Day. Parking podziemny na pow. ok. 8 tys. m2 w centrum Blue City w Warszawie zostanie zaadoptowany na swoiste „miasteczko” – oczywiście kobiece miasteczko pełne tego wszystkiego, czego pragną kobiety. Wyłożony kolorowymi wykładzinami labirynt, zostanie klimatycznie oświetlony. Dodatkowo organizatorzy zadbają o odpowiedni zapach, muzykę, a nawet smaki towarzyszące poszczególnym strefom.  Przewodnikiem po nich, mają być nasze zmysły…

Odwiedzić można będzie strefy:

Truskawki (LOVE),
Soczystej Pomarańczy (PODRÓŻE),
Cytryny (GADŻET),
Kwiatu Wanilii ( LUKSUS),
Zielonej Herbaty (ZDROWIE I URODA),
Kropli Wody (FITNESS),
Ziarna Kawy (CAFE & BAR).

Women’s Day będzie niepowtarzalną okazją do spotkania z wyjątkowymi ludźmi, chociażby najpopularniejszymi gwiazdami tańca w Polsce. Zobaczymy m. in. Katarzynę Krupę, Cezarego Olszewskieg, Blankę Winiarską, Michała Uryniuka (z Tańca z Gwiazdami), Marię Foryś, Wiole Fiuk, Roofiego, Paulinę Jaksim, Tomasza Prządkę (z You can dance). Egurola Dance Studio, partner wydarzenia, zaprezentuje pokazy tańca brzucha, salsy i tańca towarzyskiego. Trenerzy szkoły poprowadzą również lekcje tańca dla zgromadzonych.

Natomiast Małgorzata Foremniak wspólnie z uczestnikami wyprawy na Kilimandżaro opowiedzą o niedawno zakończonej wyprawie, zaprezentują film z wyprawy oraz opowiedzą o sile kobiet i potrzebie wzajemnego wspierania się.

Inna atrakcją będzie możliwość wymiany ciuchów z innymi uczestniczkami Women’s Day. Przy wyborze pomagać będą styliści.

W nocy z soboty na niedzielę podczas After Party występią Sonique i Afromental.

Sponsorami wydarzenia są: Blue City, PrimaPharma, Portfel.pl

Liczba miejsc jest ograniczona, więc chętni powinni się pospieszyć z zamawianiem wejściówek w cenie 25 zł na www.eventim.pl , w Empiku w Blue City lub w kasach w dniu imprezy.

Come by our Health-E Illinois booth at the Loyola Center for Fitness Women’s Day on October 24, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.   Women’s Day includes Professionals from the following disciplines:   Vascular Screening, Blood Pressure Screening, Dermatology, Breast Health, Ophthalmology, Aesthetic Clinic, Orthopedics, Personal Training, and Nutrition! Women’s Day is a FREE Event!

The Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Sandy Goldberg NBC5 News Contributor and founder of the A Silver Lining Foundation.

Click here, to see the event flyer.  Loyola Center for Fitness is located on Loyola University’s Medical Center Campus in Maywood, Illinois.  For directions, click here.

For more information about Women’s Day: (708) 327-2348 or  e-mail luchf@lumc.edu.

This! Eating Mimi’s plants!!!!

PS sorry, Mim, I had to take a picture! It was so funny! Normally she doesn’t like me, but today she came to me, miauwing and touching my leg, jumped on the window behind me, stepped to the PC table, then to „mine“ where I was reading and started eating the leaves!!! Awesome!

So first, Kata lives here, then she picks Mimi, then they pick Jens, then appears our Isa, then Jens brings flowers to the World Women’s Day (here the chain is little broken), then Isa brings the CAT, then Kata comes back from Darmstadt, Mimi is away, Kata sits in Mim’s room, then comes the cat and eats the flowers… hmm… Mimi, Jens, Isa are absent… Well it looks more like a chaos than a chain or a circle.. but still… OK, I’ll practice for the next story!

By Henry Makow

More than ever, women have a sense of frustration and betrayal because their “leaders” sold them on careers and “being independent.”

A new poll of nearly 4000 working women conducted by Women’s Day and AOL, found that a stunning 57% dream of quitting their jobs to stay home with their kids and 63% viewed their work as “just a paycheck.”

Two-thirds said they would “change what they do in a heartbeat.” Four-fifth would NOT want their daughters to follow in their footsteps. Nevertheless two-thirds are worried about losing their jobs and would work longer hours just to keep them. (Talk about a wage slave.)

In 1950, less than 30% of the workforce were women. Today that number approaches 50%. In 1956, 35% of all women worked. Today 60% or 72 million do. If the 1956 level had been maintained, 30 million American women would not be working today.

In spite of the obvious dissatisfaction of female working stiffs, their cultural caretakers are loath to admit that feminism was a trap. Their jobs depend on it. (More on this below) “Everyone hates to work,” they rationalize.

My mother had a business importing watchstraps in the 1950’s. My father asked her to give it up and concentrate on being a homemaker. He was able to support a young family on the salary of an engineer. My family reaped the benefit of a full-time mom.

The central banking cartel, led by the Rockefeller Foundation, decided to double the labor force (lowering wages) and break up the family by convincing women they ought to have careers and sex instead of husbands and children. Feminism was the vehicle for this social engineering backed by propaganda disguised as “women’s lib.” Gender division is part of a pattern of Illuminati subversion, which also includes inciting race, class, religious and national divisions.

Their goal in attacking marriage/family is to remove us from the sources of our humanity and identity. Men and women were willing to sacrifice. They were willing to play roles which were noble and in tune with human nature. Now people are divorced from these roles and are lost. The bankers can control us better this way.

Occasionally a truly independent woman discovers these truths and is able to convey them. Recently Katie Rolphie wrote of the hedonistic pleasure of motherhood…the all-consuming love that threatens “everything you are and care about” — which, in Roiphe’s case, is her writing career. Suddenly, she doesn’t want to go back to work; being with her newborn feels far more important and rewarding. “Taking care of the baby — physical, draining, exhilarating — is more like farming: following the rhythms of the earth, getting up at dawn, watching the corn flush in the sunrise. It is not at all like writing.”

SUBVERSION FROM THE TOP-THE NEW TEMPLATE

Wednesday, an article in the Huffington Post explained how the Fed has taken over the field of Economics. As a result there are few independent voices capable of criticizing the Fed (i.e. the central bankers) and avoiding the credit catastrophe of last Fall. As you read the first few paragraphs, understand that this is a template for what has happened in every sector of society, every profession, every organization, including government, media and education. This is how they sold feminism. They control the money. They control everything through the people they buy off. This is the model of our enslavement.

“The Federal Reserve, through its extensive network of consultants, visiting scholars, alumni and staff economists, so thoroughly dominates the field of economics that real criticism of the central bank has become a career liability for members of the profession, an investigation by the Huffington Post has found.

This dominance helps explain how, even after the Fed failed to foresee the greatest economic collapse since the Great Depression, the central bank has largely escaped criticism from academic economists. In the Fed’s thrall, the economists missed it, too.

“The Fed has a lock on the economics world,” says Joshua Rosner, a Wall Street analyst who correctly called the meltdown. “There is no room for other views, which I guess is why economists got it so wrong.”

One critical way the Fed exerts control on academic economists is through its relationships with the field’s gatekeepers. For instance, at the Journal of Monetary Economics, a must-publish venue for rising economists, more than half of the editorial board members are currently on the Fed payroll — and the rest have been in the past.”

CONCLUSION

It’s remarkable that this article appeared. As the oppression administered by the central bankers increases, more of their dupes will get wise. Their ranks will be swelled by millions of women (and men) deprived of their natural role and birthright. There will be a great division in society between the central bankers with their legions of lackeys, and humanity as a whole.

Feminism is one of countless hoaxes by Illuminati central bankers designed to enslave humanity by creating wars, plagues, and depressions while generally degrading and demoralizing mankind. The world wars, the cold war, 9-11, the war on terror were all engineered by them. They belong to a satanic cult, the Sabbateans, and their influence is now pervasive and overwhelming. We need to wake up before it is too late.

For in-depth commentary on how John Paul Mitchell feels about this article, working women, and the economy, please visit and read , “Before I Lose All The Women’s Votes.“

(Source: Henry Makow)

No, this post is not about the television series I stopped watching in season one. Here in South Africa, today is Women’s Day, which has got me to thinking about housewives and their day to day lives and how this may or may not have changed over the last few years. Without getting mixed up in politics, feminism and all those things I’m not too interested in, I’m making the most of Women’s Day 2009 by taking a look at what women do with their lives.

Naturally this day is more about Women’s Rights, but because I’m not a fan of bra burning, nor do I get belted up by my man when I forget to by milk I’m sticking to the basics.

Back in the 1950s it was normal for your husband to come home after work at around 5.30. In the hours before this you would have done all the housework three times over, set your hair with Cedel HairNet a few times more than that and reapplied your makeup at approximately 5pm whilst finishing off the roast dinner you’ve had in the oven since 4pm. Of course back then there were no mobile phones, so said husband could arrive home just slightly early, completely catching you off guard and only giving you time to either do your lipstick or set the table. The man went to work and you went to work (in the kitchen, bathroom…). So how much has changed?

Move forward to the 1960s – the decade of flower power and bra burning and man-hating for some I’m told, but I tend to think on the larger scale it was just as relatively normal for most people as every other recent decade has been. Some people went to work, some people stayed home, people ate, people went to sleep, some people went to the moon. Without bothering to do too much research other than what I recall from fleeting discussions during school, I do know there were a few fundamental changes which took place through the 60s and 70s. It became more common for women to also work. Divorce also became more common. The hems on jeans got wider. And for now that’s all I can think of.

From about 1980 onwards I believe the role of women, and the life they choose to lead has remained pretty much the same. This is also the decade of frozen foods. Easy and convenient for when us women have had too much to do in the day. We go out for coffee with our friends, we sit on the lounge in the evening with or without a family and watch ‘Desperate Housewives’ and it doesn’t seem to matter too much if the table isn’t set when our boyfriend or husband get home and we still do the housework when we have the time. Yes, thankfully attitudes have relaxed, or to be more accurate in this statement; attitudes have generally relaxed. (Though I’m not sure I know any man who’d think his girl had lost it if she didn’t have her hair set and lipstick on to cook dinner and vacuum the carpet)

As testament to a typical Women’s Day I did typical things, not on purpose but because just about every day I’ll be doing some kind of home duty, whether it be washing up, laundry or  bent on my knees scrubbing the shower with an Ajax product the equivalent of Napalm or Agent Orange. It even has orange oil in it. The result of the aforementioned changes that took place through the 60s, 70s and 80s is that my man helps me with these jobs, I have the freedom to look for employment and if I happen to go out with friends for the evening (not, thankfully in 1970s flared jeans) then there’s always something in the freezer he can get for his dinner. But, like most nights it means I’m free to be relaxed and enjoy cooking a meal in trackpants, a tshirt and my hair in various stages of un-doneness without a can of Cedel or a flowery apron in sight.

Word to the Women! We rule and rock and other cool words!!!

There will be posts from Tuesday again, as I will be enjoying the public holiday tomorrow!!

Of course, I won’t actually because I have to do some shitty assignment which is totally sucking balls!

But let me not bore you with that… this is a happy day, time, era….

“Shining for Jesus”  – this is the WA’s theme for the next two years, from Psalm 18 : 28 where it says, “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” Penny Howie, the new  District President, and a member of Primrose Methodist, gave the address at the annual WA service held on Sunday, August 9th at 8.30 a.m. She took the word ‘SHINE’ and used it to give us some pointers on shining for Jesus. Here are some notes from her talk:

S – for SERVE and SHARE. Jesus came to serve and the gospels are full of examples of how He did this. We must follow his example in humility and love as we serve those around us. We must also share – the things we have, our thoughts, feelings and knowledge with others, for all we have is a gift from God. There is also sacrificial giving – in Mark’s gospel Jesus commends the small gift of the widow, for she gave all that she could give and not just the left overs.

H – for HAPPY and HOLY. Happy means pleasure or contentment as a result of circumstances so it stands to reason that we are not happy all the time. When things get tough it is hard to feel happy. The Bible teaches us to praise God in all circumstances and the ability to do this, even when things are not looking all that rosy, will go a long way to helping us be happy! Jesus encourages us to be holy – set apart to do the Father’s work. Mother Teresa said that doing God’s will with a smile will demonstrate our holiness. There is a picture in the gospels of our light being hidden under a bushel. Make sure you do not put your light there – let it shine out for God.

I – for I, me, myself. That’s right – remember to look after YOURSELF. Spend time with Jesus, let him feed your spirit so that your light can shine for Him in this world! Look after your health and make sure your work is interspersed with times of relaxation. As Marianne Williamson said (famously quoted by Nelson Mandela): “As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

N – for NURTURE, which is a process of training, bringing another up. A major role that women take on in many spheres of life. We should nurture everyone, the stranger and friend alike, taking advice from Mother Teresa again to see Jesus in the people to whom we minister.

E – for ENTHUSIASM. Do not be lacklustre in the things that we do. Do all we do wholeheartedly, to bring glory to God. In the book God’s Mirror, by Max Lucado, a man used a piece of mirror to signal an SOS signal to a passing ship and so be rescued from a desert island. Lucado asks, imagine if the mirror had decided not to co-operate, had sent it’s own message instead of the dots and dashes of the SOS that the man so desperately needed to send? Imagine if the mirror had felt lazy or uninspired that day? Imagine if the mirror had had a mind of it’s own? Thankfully the mirror didn’t and so the man was saved. We, on the other hand, do have a mind of our own. We need to have the mind of Christ and to use it to shine for Him!

What would Life is Savage be if it weren’t for the ladies..and since today is Women’s Day in South Africa i would just like to send out some love and happyness to the fairer sex.Life without you would be pointless (except for those of you who like playing hide the sausage with other dudes) and we really appreciate all you do for us.

So as a present i give you  some good old Cape Town eye candy in the form of Justin Munitz…(ok im killing two birds with one stone here but you’ll forgive me..coz he just made you tingle in your happy place right?!).Enjoy the day..hope you get spoilt by the men in your lives.

He has been entered into a Bachelor of the Year competition and you can vote via sms or go the website HERE.

Really really excited.

I had a moment last night where panic set in… What if no one turns up, what if the food is bad, what if people hate it and leave early?

I was so upset that I got out of bed and went to Paul for a hug. I sat on his lap and cuddled and told him all my fears. He asked a few key questions and suddenly I realised Im not worried about people coming, we have already sold so many tickets and the food will be great and everyone will have a fantastic time.

The WIZO AVIV Shaffa ladies have worked our butts off to make this a success and I have every confidence that that is exactly what it will be!

Now this morning I am so excited I could burst. This is going to be an amazing event with amazing women.

August being International Womens month, i thought it appropriate that i pay tribute to all the women in the Shipping industry in South Africa (and all over the world)..

Today when you look at many of the shipping companies around the country, more often than not, you will find that women outnumber men in many of the departments.. Women have come a long way in this previously male dominated industry and are growing from strength to strength with many of them moving to the higher echelons.. This shows their dedication, tenacity and perseverance alongwith determination..

From experience and in my personal opinion, the women in the industry have proved their mettle time and again through their meticulous work style and ethics..

Well done ladies and may you grow evermore.. I SALUTE YOU..

Happy Womens Month & Day (9th August)..

Super Punani – The Girl with the Cherry Lotus.”

Trinity Godiva, Cape Town sex therapist, columnist and sexual freedom fighter, presents a hilarious, open-minded one-woman show in celebration of National Women’s Day.

Super Punani plays off at the Galaxy’s West End in College Road, Rylands, at 4.30pm on 10 August.

The show portrays every woman’s quest for a successful sex life, in the guise of various characters – from a dominatrix to Super Punani (Trinity Godiva’s representation of the perfect naked woman who creates magic with her “Cherry Lotus”.)

Also revealed are sexual mysteries in a hilarious interactive game for “Girls’ Eyes Only.” The game links everyday women to their glamorous, stripper sisters and shows us all what we can learn from them…

Don’t miss Super Punani – a celebration of sexual liberation!

Super Punani - The Girl with the Cherry Lotus

My dad casually announced at the dinner table last night that he had picked up the recent issue of Women’s Day magazine for his flight to Oregon. OMG. I barely swallowed my mouthful of wine before asking him if this was a ploy to start conversations with pretty ladies on the plane. My dad loves talking to pretty ladies, and yes, that’s what he refers to them as. Could be worse. He could be saying “hot chicks with nice racks” and then I’d need to vomit.

My dad is the master of dropping clever one-liners and I think that’s where Gavin gets his skills. Dad also made a recent life-style change by going vegetarian. It’s not a moral issue, it’s because he has gout and is trying to decrease uric acid levels in his diet, hence the Women’s Day magazine article. I was pretty surprised by his transition into vegetarianism. This is the man, after all, who once asked me if there was any meat in the dishes I had made at Gavin’s birthday party. For the record, there was, and I directed him to the sausage balls. The main theme, however, was butternut squash because that’s the phase I was in. I know. Who the fuck makes multiple, if even one, butternut squash dish for a 6-year-old’s birthday party? Welcome to the freak show.

When I was in junior high school and high school I was naturally embarrassed by the fact that my dad was relaxing in his recliner in his tighty whities every night by 7:00. In fact, it caused me to make a few guys pee in our front yard because I refused to let them in the house. But my dad is absolutely one of my favorite people to be around. He even wears pants pretty much all the time now. Sweatpants a lot of the time. In fact, one day I took him to the grocery store and he was wearing a trademark pair of Razorback sweatpants. I didn’t even think about where he was keeping his billfold or money. But I certainly did once he reached his hand INSIDE the front of his sweatpants and I saw the cashier recoil in horror. Seeing her expression, I whipped my head over to my dad and offered the feeble explanation, “No, no! He’s wearing shorts under the sweatpants. With pockets!” Perv.

“OK, so it’s cool to have ringtones, apps and games on your cell. And sure, $2 to $3 a pop or $10 a month may not seem like a lot of money for so much fun. But watch out. You can blow through a lot of cash in no time.

Get smart: Make a hard-and-fast rule that you do not pay for ringtones, apps or games—then find them for free. They’re out there; you just have to search for the ones that work on your particular phone and with your service provider. Check out Phonezoo.com ….”

Read the whole article here

9th August 2009 - Womens Day

A day to not only celebrate but embrace your womanhood, to own your sexuality and your sensuality.

What better way to do that but to help disadvantaged woman.  And children.  And soldiers in need of rehabilitation.

WIZO AVIV Shaffa is proud to host a womans day celebration aimed at empowering you!

SAVE THE DATE!

Lola Montez will be entertaining us, toys and lingerie will be on sale on the evening.  Entrance is R100 and includes cocktails and nibbles.  A lucky draw with fantastic prizes is also on the cards.

Take a look here for more info.

INGREDIENTS

• Cupcakes
• 1 box (18.25 oz) French vanilla cake mix
• 1 1/2 cups light unsweetened coconut milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 1/2 tsp each coconut and vanilla extract
• Frosting and Decoration
• For Rose Petal Cupcakes: canned vanilla frosting; red liquid or gel food color; pastry bag with large star tip; light corn syrup; clean artist’s brush; small fresh pink roses, rinsed and patted dry; granulated sugar

PREPARATION

1. Heat oven to 350°F. You’ll need 24 regular-size muffin cups lined with paper or foil liners.2. Beat cake mix, coconut milk, eggs, oil and extracts in large bowl with mixer on medium speed 2 minutes or until blended and smooth. Divide among muffin cups.3. Bake 20 to 22 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 5 minutes before removing cupcakes to rack to cool completely.Plan ahead: You can bake cupcakes up to 2 days ahead; store covered at room temperature. Decorate, cover and refrigerate up to 1 day ahead.Rose Petal Cupcakes: Tint frosting pastel pink and pipe a swirl on top of cupcakes. Thin some corn syrup with water; lightly brush on rose petals. Toss in sugar. Arrange petals on top of frosting swirl as shown.

recipe and image courtesy of womens day.com

Ellen Shumsky, a photographer, documented the Gay Liberation Movement from 1969 – 1972. Her images were published (under the name Ellen Bedoz) in many underground newspapers and counterculture anthologies of that time including COME OUT! and RAT. She was a founding member of Radicalesbians and a co-author of the Lesbian Feminist Manifesto “The Woman Identified Woman.”

PORTRAIT OF A DECADE: a note from Ellen Shumsky

This collection of 116 Black and White images captures the transformtional spirit of this tumultuous decade through my personal odyssey. It follows me from the serene timelessness of Southern France where I first studied photography, through the Anti-Vietnam War movement, the Women’s Liberation movement, my experience in Cuba with the Venceremos Brigade, and most centrally my membership in the Gay Liberation Movement and the Lesbian Feminist organization, Radicalesbians.  From 1969 – 1972 I dedicated myself to the self-chosen mission of documenting these Gay and Lesbian Liberation movements from a privileged insiders perspective.

It was through my participation in this revolutionary community that I healed my divided self – the closeted teacher, activist, American expatriate photographer in France; and the out lesbian comfortably embedded in the New York City gay subculture. The Gay Liberation Front and Radicalesbians were liberation experiences that spoke directly and immediately to my need to discard a shroud of shame and secrecy and to empower integrity, authenticity, resourcefulness, dignity and pride.

By the end of that decade, I was feeling constrained behind my camera. My photos had always been up close and personal portraits and I was now feeling the need to come out from behind the walls of glass (viewfinder and lens) for more intimate personal engagement. When my cameras were stolen, I took it as a sign. I embarked on training to become a psychotherapist. For the past thirty years I have been a psychotherapist in private practice, a psychoanalytic teacher and writer. My work as an agent for change now happens on the most personal level – one on one – as I help people to become their most empowered selves.

Ellen Shumsky, June 2009

The following images are from
PORTRAIT OF A DECADE: 1968 – 1978, PHOTOGRAPHS BY ELLEN SHUMSKY
Introduced and Edited by FlaviaRando, Ph.D. (Graea Press 2009)

Havana Airport, 1968
copyright Ellen Shumsky. all rights reserved.

Gay Pride March, N.Y.C., June 25, 1972
copyright Ellen Shumsky. all rights reserved.

Women’s Day, N.Y.C., August 26, 1970
copyright Ellen Shumsky. all rights reserved.

Washington Square Park, N.Y.C. 1970
copyright Ellen Shumsky. all rights reserved.

The “Portrait of a Decade: 1968 – 1978″ photography exhibit is now showing 45 of Shumsky’s images at the NYC LGBT Center, located at 208 W. 13th Street. The exhibit runs through the summer of 2009. For your copy of “Portrait,” contact ellshumsky@aol.com.

LATER TODAY: ACTIVIST BRANDON WALLACE

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INGREDIENTS

Cupcakes

• 1 box (18.25 oz) white cake mix
• 1 cup apple juice from frozen concentrate (save 1 1/2 Tbsp of the concentrate, undiluted, for icing)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 Golden Delicious apple, peeled, cored and coarsely grated
• 1 large egg
• 2 large egg whites

Icing

• 1 brick (8 oz) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened
• 1 1/2 Tbsp frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
• 1 box (16 oz) confectioner’s sugar

PREPARATION

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. You’ll need 24 muffin cups lined with paper or foil cups.

2. Cupcakes: Combine cupcake ingredients in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer on low speed until ingredients are moistened. Increase speed to medium and beat 2 minutes, until batter is smooth.

3. Fill muffin cups with a scant 1/4 cup batter. Bake 22 minutes or until a pick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack.

4. Icing: Beat cream cheese and apple juice concentrate with a mixer just until smooth. Beat in confectioners’ sugar on low speed to mix; increase speed to medium and beat until well blended, about 1 minute more (icing will be soft).

5. Decorate: Divide frosting into thirds. Tint each to desired shade with brown, green and yellow food colors. Spread frosting on cupcakes. Store cupcakes in refrigerator.Apples: Tint pieces of marzipan brown, green and yellow. Form the green and yellow marzipan into apple shapes. Form brown into apple stems; press into tops of apples. For red blush on yellow apples, dilute red food color with water. Apply with a small, clean artist’s brush; let dry.

Acorns: Tint pieces of marzipan light and dark brown. Form dark brown marzipan into acorn shapes, and light brown into caps and stems. Use the back of a small knife to make cross-hatching on caps.

Leaves: Work brown, green and yellow food colors into chunks of marzipan. Roll out between sheets of wax paper to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut leaf shapes with small leaf cookie cutters. Use back of a small knife to mark leaf veins.

Note: Gel and paste colors and small leaf cookie cutters are sold at crafts stores and are also available from Wilton at wilton.com

recipe and image courtesy of womens day.com

recipe and image courtesy of womens day.com

INGREDIENTS

• Cupcakes
• 11⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3⁄4 cup granulated sugar
• 11⁄4 tsp baking powder
• 1⁄2 tsp each baking soda and salt
• 1⁄4 cup each oil and water
• 3 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
• 3 Tbsp plus 1 tsp fresh grapefruit juice
• 2 tsp each freshly grated grapefruit and lemon peel
• Frosting
• 1 brick (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• 2 tsp fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 tsp each freshly grated grapefruit and lemon peel
• 11⁄4 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 2 drops red food color
• 3 cups grapefruit segments, preferably Ruby Red
• Garnish: mint leaves

PREPARATION

1. Cupcakes: Heat oven to 350°F. Line 16 regular-size (21⁄2-in. diam) muffin cups with paper or foil liners. 2. Stir flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in center; put oil, water, egg yolks, 3 Tbsp grapefruit juice and the grated peels in well. Whisk liquids to mix, then whisk with flour mixture just until blended and smooth. 3. Beat egg whites in a medium bowl with mixer on high speed until frothy. Add remaining 1 tsp grapefruit juice; beat just until stiff peaks form when beaters are lifted. With a rubber spatula, stir 1⁄3 the beaten egg whites into the cupcake batter, then gently fold in remaining whites just until blended. Spoon 1⁄4 cup into each lined cup. 4. Bake 15 to 18 minutes until tops are browned and a pick inserted near centers comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes before removing to rack to cool completely. 5. Frosting: Beat ingredients (except grapefruit segments) in a medium bowl with mixer on low speed just to blend. On high speed, beat until smooth and fluffy. Finely chop 1 grapefruit segment and stir into frosting. Spread on cupcakes. 6. Just before serving: Drain remaining grapefruit segments well and place on cupcakes; garnish with mint. Can be made through Step 5 up to 3 days ahead. Refrigerate airtight. Section grapefruit up to 1 day before using; refrigerate covered.

This recipe and image is courtesy of womens day.com

Total Time: 2 hours

INGREDIENTS

• FROSTING
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1⁄2 stick (4 Tbsp) butter, softened
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• CUPCAKES
• 1 stick (1⁄2 cup) butter, softened
• 4 oz semisweet baking chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• 2⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1⁄2 tsp baking powder
• Garnish: 12 fresh raspberries

PREPARATION

1. Heat oven to 325°F. Line 12 regular-size muffin cups with paper or foil liners.

2. Frosting: Beat ingredients on low speed to blend, then on high speed 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Refrigerate to firm up frosting.

3. Cupcakes: Melt butter and chocolate in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Whisk in sugar and vanilla, then eggs, 1 at a time, until well blended. Stir in flour, cocoa and baking powder just to blend. Pour into muffin cups.

4. Bake 33 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in centers comes out with moist crumbs. Cool in pan on a wire rack (cupcakes may sink slightly).

5. Spoon frosting into a large ziptop bag, snip 1⁄2 in. off 1 corner and pipe swirls on top of cupcakes. Garnish each with a raspberry.

I attended an interesting Women’s day celebration this afternoon, called Romancing the Goddess. It was quintessentially feminine in multiple quirky ways.

For starters it was held, not by design, in a Pink building called the Pink Church in Melville. It started over 30 minutes late, we finally walked in to find the chairs arranged in a spiral. It was the most unstructured function I have ever attended, it was perfect!

The Goddess Altar

There were two facilitators Dr Suzan Hojdar and Kate Clement, two very attractive women who may or may not be physically beautiful. They emanated an amazing energy that made them extremely pleasing to watch and experience. There was also a guest speaker, Zanele Nkosi. The three ladies were just free flowing; I don’t know how else to describe it. They kept on interrupting each other and going off on all sorts of tangents. The lack of structure was unnerving. They spoke a little bit about a lot of things; the Goddess, goddess archetypes, feelings, feminine vs. masculine attributes, wisdom, strength and courage. It felt like meeting your girlfriends for coffee and rambling about whatever takes you fancy.

We ended the workshop(?), playshop feels like a better word, with about an hour biodanza, a form of chaotically structured dance. I really enjoyed it. My spirit and body are longing for more dancing. I may go for some biodanza classes in the near future. I also feel very attracted to a dance form calledFan Dancing that I saw on MTV of all places.

Today’s experience reminded me of the time a boyfriend and I got lost in Hartebeespoort and ended up stumbling upon the most beautiful tranquil spot with lush trees and a waterfall. It became our secret, sacred space and we returned there often.

This is the way of the feminine, it seems to lack structure and often you may think you are lost or going around in circles but if you surrender to the flow you always end up in a good place.

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