Celaine

If you are bored, check out MyHeritage.com‘s face recognition thingo. You upload a picture and it tells you who, out of it’s celebrity database, you most resemble. Anything over 60s a pretty good match. According to their site info, 80s probably a dead ringer (or live ringer, one). Here are a few I did:

I haven’t been online a whole lot, lately…been off doing other things. I’ll definitely be gone for the next few weeks, and then again for much of June and July.

Special thanks to Annette Hyder for organizing this project. My contribution, photoem#15 in the series, is above.

March 1, 2006— Annette Marie Hyder, author and poet, launches Facing Feminism: Feminists I Know.

Are you sick of being told what it is that matters to you as a feminist? Do you feel moved to express your feminism and connect in a powerful way with feminists from around the world? Want to speak up and be heard?

The Facing Feminism: Feminists I Know international feminist project is one in which, through portrait art and words, the many different faces of feminism are visually demonstrated. The project is designed to make a statement in contradiction to the stereotype, the one dimensional portrayal, of feminists, usually as stridently against makeup, fashion; graceful pursuits, that is dominant in the media. In addition to putting a more varied and representative “face” to feminism, and thus being a tool for education and advocacy, this project aims to enlarge the current dialogue about what it means to be a feminist and also to help feminists conceptualize a philosophy of feminism that works for them. It will help to de-demonize the concept of feminism.

“Some feminists love wearing heels and perfume. Some don’t. Some have alternative lifestyles while some are stay at home mothers.” stated Annette M. Hyder, curator of the project. “Concomitant with the many things that distinguish feminists individually, there are the things that unite them: their strength and intelligence and their belief that they are entitled to equal opportunity in all spheres of life which is what the project is all about”.

The project is hosted through the mnartists.org web site and distributed through the media via the magazine Empowerment4Women. It is being curated by journalist/editor, artist and author Annette Marie Hyder.

For this series, each feminist is invited to submit a photo of their choosing and a text forum to express their feminism. Each statement is individual to each feminist and so it shows how individual feminists interpret the freedoms that they want within their common bond. The photoems can be viewed at www.empowerment4women.org and at www.mnartists.org.

The Facing Feminism: Feminists I Know project is expected to continue to expand in an organic fashion creating a ‘six degrees of separation’ effect demonstrating how we are all—despite our differences—connected in a global network of feminists. This project is also being aimed at the media by means of dissemination through a magazine and periodical coverage.

###

Press Contact: Annette Marie Hyder, Empowerment4Women Respect Editor
E-mail: annette@empowerment4women.org
Web Sites: www.empowerment4women.org; www.annettehyder.com; www.mnartists.org

Great news! The anthology is now available for pre-order through Sun Rising Poetry Press! Copies are $18 each (contributors, please contact Donette about orders and discounts).

A little colorful fun to chase away the winter blahs…but seriously,why do this? I love the answer to this one…I’m celebrating moments and milestones. Over the past year and a half, I’ve made sweeping progress with my fitness, health, weight…the results of which have been way beyond anything I expected or initially believed I could achieve. Perhaps one of these days, I’ll have the sand to post some drastic before and after shots…but in the meantime, just know that these images mean “if I can do it, anyone can do it…you just gotta believe in it”.

Let’s just say I’ve lost about 10 sizes, and have gained significant muscle and stamina. Two years ago, I was barely able to walk after a back injury. I didn’t do any of this for looks…it’s all about health and vitality, range of motion, living well. This is just the inside, manifested onto the outside…because that is what really counts. I’ll share more about my personal journey, if anyone is interested in that sort of thing. Meanwhile, here’s a bit of my personal celebration of walking the path…being in the moment…appreciating, gratefully, what fruits have ripened.

The Retro Office Chair Series

The Hot Pink Series

The Leather Jacket Series

The Black & White Series

This is my second photo-documentation of my progress (the first was Annapolis/Greenbury Point from last October). I am currently working on a book about my journey to fitness…I like to think of it as the Un-Diet book. I am hoping that, one day, it will help a few others find what I have found. If you are interested in trying out my “program”, I will be giving away some free e-book versions of the manuscript sometime in the fall of 2006. The only catch is that if you use it, you have to report back (on the good, the bad, the ugly, what works, what doesn’t, and so on).

Have a great weekend! I’m off to the great dustbowl of western Texas…back next week!

2nd Sunday Reading Series: C. E. Laine & Olu Butterfly to be rescheduled due to snow…newdate TBD.

Olu Butterfly and I will read at the PoetryInBaltimore 2nd Sunday Series on February 12th, 2006, held at the [link=cityguide.aol.com/baltimore/shopping/main.adp?_diraction=detail&_dircid=102402802]Minas Boutique[/link] on 815 W 36th Street (The Avenue in Hampden), Baltimore, MD [[link=maps.google.com/maps?q=815+W.+36th+Street,+baltimore,+md&iwloc=A&hl=en]map[/link]].
Reading begins at 4 pm. Cover is $3.

Rumor has it that the Baltimore Sun intends to cover the reading. If you’ll be in the area, I’d love to have you come

Brought To You By: Minas Gallery
Phone: 410-732-4258

The Official Scoop: Poet C. E. Laine is author of Allegory, The Weight Of Dust, and Postcards From A Summer Girl. She is a 2-time Pushcart Prize Nominee and editor of Little Poem Press, VLQ (Verse Libre Quarterly), and Erosha. She spends her spare time (when there is any) flying around in old warbirds. For more information: http://www.celaine.com/. Olu Butterfly is a West African ballet dancer, performance poet, and creator of The Revenge of Dandelions. She is a leader in Baltimore’s soul scene and a champion of independent art everywhere. Julie Fisher, founder of PoetryinBaltimore.com, hosts. An open reading follows. Price $3.

I wanted to mention Dave Ruslander’s new book, Voices In My Head. Dave was kind enough to include some of my artwork. The book is an intriguing read, filled with eclectic poems, and artwork by many fellow artists and poets whose names and faces I am familiar with. It’s a neat collection, especially with all these wonderful color illustrations…a sort of gathering of pens and brushes…and Dave’s poems are engaging and fresh, as always.

Ordering info: You may purchase, Voices in My Head, directly from Dave at 30% off the retail price plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Order your copy today for $23.00. Send checks, cash, or money orders to:

Dave Ruslander
PO Box 584
Quinton, VA 23141
Email for info: daveruslander [AT] direcway.com

The contributors and selections are posted. There may be a few additions, as I am still accepting re-sends of work that did not get through due to spam filters, cyber-glitches, etc. Thanks to everyone for making this such a success, even in these early stages. We’ve already raised over $500 for relief efforts, before selling a single copy.

CONTRIBUTORS:
{click here for Table of Contents listing poems}

Kathy Kubik
Daniel Arsyn
Brigit Truex
Dan Stafford
Trish Shields
Terry Lowenstein
T.S. Kerrigan
Kelvin Bueckert
Ginger Bush
Patricia Cresswell
Mike Cavanagh
Kyle Richtig
Nikki Stewart
karyne de contreras
Monica Ellen Smith
Cheryl Snell with art by Janet Snell
Darin Cox
Prasenjit Maiti
Lisa Zaran
Echoes Ezzrai
Corey Mesler
Michael Graber
Christine Hamm
Durlabh Singh
Linda Gayton
Mike Burch
Alex Nodopaka
Yvette Merton
John Gagnon
Belinda Subraman
Dawn Matley Maselli
Lissa Kiernan
Helen Losse
Adrian Potter
Joel Nelson
Vaughn Fritts
Annette Marie Hyder
Deidre Elizabeth
Patricia Gomes
Steve Pray
Alan Addotto
Mel Edwards
Dr. Deo
Michael North
Carl Palmer
Cassandra Robison
Rev. Julie MacDonald
Phyllis Jean Green
Michelle Close Mills
Kathleen Yale
Patrick Randolph
L. Ward Abel
Charlotte Grider
C. E. Laine

Congratulations to our very own VLQ Poetry Editor, Rae Pater, on her recent Pushcart Nomination. Sun Rising Poetry Press has nominated her poem, “Dreaming Dark“, from the Women of the Web Anthology. Congrats also to frequent VLQ contributor, Dorothy Doyle Mienko (nominated for the poem “Skirm“, also from WOTW), who has definitely helped shape the vision and path of VLQ through her work and inspiration. Congrats to two fine ladies, whom I admire greatly!