Sarah Jones' Gracie Award Win- Studio 360

Sarah Jones first came to my attention around 2000 when I worked as a DJ at my university's radio station. She was one of the artist on Giles Peterson's compilation 'INCredible Sound of Gilles Peterson'. There were were so many hot tracks on the album and I played most of them over and over-on my show, in the car, at the gym, at home, and every other place I could. Jones' track [with DJ Vadim providing the beats], 'Your Revolution', was a proclamation of independence, freedom, and above all a strong stance against misogyny. Strangely enough the FCC didn't quite get the message and relegated it along with the very songs it spoke out against and subsequently banned it from the airwaves.

Jones has gone on to star in a one woman play 'Bridge & Tunnel', where she plays diverse characters that cut across a broad spectrum of life. Additionally, she's won Tony awards for her work and become a UNICEF spokeswoman. I've not seen Jones in person, but listening to her on the radio and watching her on video, it feels as if she transforms herself and embodies characters including their accent, language, and thoughts.

Recently a segment with Jones from PRI's Studio 360 was awarded a Gracie Award. Jones speaks with Professor John McWhorter about 'blaccent' and how accents and speech patterns are viewed by society. You have to hear it for yourself. The woman is brilliant. Stop by her website as well!

International Women's Day 2009

Happy International Women's Day. This year Liberia is hosting an event to celebrate the day. Many female leaders are expected to take part. The event is quite significant for Liberia in it's recovery and of course the country's first female president Helen Johnson Sirleaf will lead the celebrations. Since it's inception 100 years ago, the day has gradually grown in significance. In some countries International Women's Day is placed on the same level of importance as Mother's Day. I remember when I lived in China some male friends from various eastern European countries gave flowers to all of us female students in our dorm as a symbol of their support for the day.

Individual countries can have a theme, but the international theme for this year is 'Women and men united to end violence against women and girls'. This is a wonderful theme because the only way change can happen is with women and men working together. Also a key point of International Women's Day is that it is about positivity and not anti-male as some detractors complain.

This holiday has helped bring attention to numerous issues that pertain to women including sexual violence, abuse, pay equity, and access to education. We've clearly made significant strides in a variety of ills that plague the world including gender inequity but there is quite a long way to go. The good thing is that literally every day people are working towards improve things. One such example is a troupe of actors in Nepal who are apart of 'The International Theater of the Oppressed'. This form of theater uses drama as a way to highlight social issues and teach people how to make changes within their communities. This particular Nepalese production focused on domestic abuse. As with all 'International Theater of the Oppressed' productions audience members were invited to participate and become playwrights of a sort by deciding how the play ends. The actors included women and men, an example of how both sexes can work together for the betterment of women which ultimately improves men's lives as well.

We can look near and far and find plenty of examples of gender inequity. Each of us has the power to improve the lives of women by doing something as large as 'The Theater of the Oppressed', volunteering with local agencies, or even helping a friend. Basically the tenants of International Women's Day should be a part of our daily lives.

In the Kitchen

So I've decided that once a week I'll have a post about cooking and food. While this isn't a blog devoted to food, I do devote a good deal of time to cooking. While I enjoy cooking for myself, there is something so utterly lovely about making food for others. If I offer to make something for you, that means I like you and if I like you, feel very honored.

I love the hum of running around my own kitchen but also enjoy the adventure of a new kitchen. Have recipes will travel is my motto. On a recent trip to Bristol my friend's Mom handed the kitchen over to me and I made the Sunday 'roast'. It was so exhilarating to see them going for seconds!

This week my menu includes pork, apple, fennel, and cabbage stew served with basmati rice; plum cobbler; chicken marinaded in lemon juice and oregano; whole wheat pasta with a garlic and Parmesan sauce; pecan and chocolate chip cake; and a ground turkey and cheddar cheese quiche. The last two items are a birthday treat for my cousin. There are a few birthdays coming up including mine and I'm looking to experiment; so we'll see what I get up to next week.

Happy Eating!

You've got to be joking-Expulsion of Non-Profits?!

I was going to debut my weekly ode to cooking, but it feels a bit ridiculous to do so after what I've heard and read today.

The ICC has decided that Omar al-Bashir, the president of Sudan, must be tried externally and thus put out a warrant on him. The warrant charged Bashir with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Some people in Sudan are not happy including human rights activists who feel Bashir should be tried internally. Of course Bashir isn't just willingly handing himself over to the ICC, instead he is making good on threats to expel non-profit organizations from the country.

He believes members of these organizations supplied the ICC with information that helped the court build a case against him. Something about this is intrinsically disturbing. We are talking about groups like Oxfam and Mercy Corps that are working to help the very people Bashir is supposed to care for in his position as president.

Nicholas Kristof has been back and forth to the Sudan and is extremely knowledgeable about the intricacies of the situation. He answered questions about Darfur today.

Frank Lloyd Wright through T.C. Boyle's eyes

After spending much of last summer visiting Frank Lloyd Wright structures my interest in Wright has increased. As a child I visited Oak Park and was intrigued. But seeing Taliesin [Spring Green, WI], Meyer May House, Monana Terrace, Wingspan, and, the Johnson Wax building as an adult is startling. Upon seeing Wright's artistry and hearing the stories about his work process and life, one cannot deny his brilliance and confidence. One also can't deny his arrogance.

Whether it was requesting that the lady of a Wright designed house wear clothes to match the home or rearranging the furniture in Wingspan while the occupants were asleep, Wright was simply audacious. And what about the women throughout his life? What really happened there? Well T.C Boyle has an idea and shares it in 'The Women', a fictionalized account of four of Wright's romantic relationships, including 'she who shall not be named'-Miriam. The book is narrated by a young apprentice who comes from Japan,via Washington DC and Harvard, to work at the proverbial feet of the great master.

Can't wait to read the book!

Warwick Economics Summit 2009

A few weeks ago [February 13th-15th] I attended the Warwick Economics Summit at Warwick University in Coventry, UK. This student organized conference started in 2002. Every year students from across the globe come together and listen to leaders in a variety of fields discuss emerging topics in the economic, political, development, and social spheres.

This year's speakers included: John Authers-Investment Editor at the Financial Times, Kate Barker-External Member of the MPC_Bank of England, and Patrick Birley-Chief Executive for the European Climate Exchange. Although I enjoyed each speaker my top favorites were KAL (Kevin Kallaugher)-resident political cartoonist/satirist from The Economist; Paul Donovan-Deputy Head of Global Economics with UBS and Sadeq Sayeed-Vice Chairman of Nomura International {tied}; and Andrew Oswald Pioneer-Professor of Economics with the University of Warwick and Richard Wilkinson- Emeritus Professor of Social Epidemiology with the University of Nottingham {tied}.

KAL's personality is just as engaging as his work. He even taught us how to draw former President G.W. Bush in a few minutes flat! Most importantly he discussed the great amount of news and information he reads in order to create his works of art as well as new ventures into other forms of visual media. Donovan and Syeed were tied in my book because these two gentlemen were the most blunt speakers of the whole weekend. As for the professors, their research is thoroughly intriguing. Both Oswald and Wilkinson are using economics to explore areas related to other disciplines like happiness and social inequalities.

Beyond the speakers, there was a dinner dance complete with economics/general knowledge quiz and seminars where students debated and discussed a given subject. We discussed the impact of Chinese and African business on the West in the seminar I attended. As this is my main research area, I couldn't help but dig right in.
All in all the conference was a success. And less I forget big kudos to the wonderful organizers. They were professional, organized, and very sweet.

The picture was taken at the conference with some new friends in front of Simon Patterson's artwork wallpaper-'Cosmic Wallpaper'.

Never to late for a little Recognition

Having some issues with my left hand today, in fact I might have sprained it. Quite honestly I can't help but laugh because admittedly, clumsiness is a part of my daily vocabulary. So basically this is being kept short today.

This story is one of many that needs to be remembered: that of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in WWW II. The unit of African-American women had the critical task of organizing delayed mail from the United States and sending it on to soldiers abroad. Years later these special women are finally being recognized .