Monday, February 8, 2010
Parking Compersion
Friday night in Santa Rosa, slowly circling for a precious dinnertime parking spot, I leaned out the window and offered sincere congratulations to those who had scored curb space just ahead of us (Morgan Corviday and me). When I lived in San Francisco, and parking was always an issue, I used to do this silently and considered it the way to channel good parking karma. That was before I even knew about pronoia too, which nowadays perhaps makes this sort of behavior from me not too surprising.
Now looking back on a long weekend whirlwind of spontaneity, I see this in yet another great new context. Compersion is a word used in the polyamory community describing the joy a person feels knowing a partner is experiencing joy with someone else. It is commonly regarded as the opposite of jealousy. In the world of poly relationships, we believe love is abundant, if not infinite, and can be shared with more than one person at a time. Likewise, there will always be enough parking, even if it just means being patient or walking a bit to your destination.
After dinner Jason Baldwin gave me a ride to the Mystic Theater in Petaluma for the Mother Hips concert. As we approached, I began telling the story above, but didn't get to finish before a rock star spot opened directly in front of the venue. Morgan followed a little later and found a similarly great place to park. I consider both of these examples of pronoia, the universe conspiring on our behalf. Just for good measure, here's a photo Jason took of Morgan and me at the show.
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/02/parking-compersion.html
Now looking back on a long weekend whirlwind of spontaneity, I see this in yet another great new context. Compersion is a word used in the polyamory community describing the joy a person feels knowing a partner is experiencing joy with someone else. It is commonly regarded as the opposite of jealousy. In the world of poly relationships, we believe love is abundant, if not infinite, and can be shared with more than one person at a time. Likewise, there will always be enough parking, even if it just means being patient or walking a bit to your destination.
After dinner Jason Baldwin gave me a ride to the Mystic Theater in Petaluma for the Mother Hips concert. As we approached, I began telling the story above, but didn't get to finish before a rock star spot opened directly in front of the venue. Morgan followed a little later and found a similarly great place to park. I consider both of these examples of pronoia, the universe conspiring on our behalf. Just for good measure, here's a photo Jason took of Morgan and me at the show.
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/02/parking-compersion.html
Labels: Compersion, Jason Baldwin, Love, Morgan Corviday, Mother Hips, Polyamory, Pronoia
Friday, February 5, 2010
Update on Nathan Donnelly's Tree Planting Trip to Ecuador
This is a follow-up to Nathan Donnelly's (pictured) previous post about his upcoming trip to Ecuador to plant trees. We can look forward to his photos and other dispatches at Manifest Positivity sporadically throughout February and March.
* * * 
I received a report this morning from Sparrow about the region we will be going into and its importance. I would like to preface what I am about to say with the reality that this region is quickly being bulldozed in order to drill for more oil and provide exotic hardwoods and wicker baskets for our living rooms. It produces a great portion of the oxygen that is passing through your lungs in THIS breath and is the winter home of many of the birds that come to our feeders in the spring. The capacity of this area to produce life is stupefying and can never be fully quantified. It should forever remain that way.
I may have some of the details/names slightly wrong as I'm writing this from memory. The national park we will be attempting to expand on is called Napo Galeras National Park. The Napo River is a large tributary to the Amazon river. The Galeras Massif is the mountain we will be working near/upon. It is older than all the Andes. Long ago it was pushed up out of the ocean and because of that it is composed of limestone. Much later the Andes volcanoed up out of the Earth to feed its waters to the Amazon rivers.
Ecuador itself is smaller than Nevada, however it boasts over twice the species of birds found in ALL of North America! (this is why I quickly gave up the thought of learning them by species). Plants are similar as there are over 17,000 species currently known there. Here in the Siskiyou mountains of Northern California we are quite proud of conifer tree diversity, which is the highest in the world, with one square mile containing 17 species of conifer. A wonderful side effect of dodging the glaciers of the last several ice ages.
The area around Galeras can have up to 300 species of tree IN JUST ONE HECTARE! And another 6000+ species of herbaceous plants. Many of these species are endemic to only this area. This is largely because the limestone soils there are so rare and the higher elevation forests are basically islands causing the isolation needed for species to evolve separate from each other and become new life forms. Add to this the geologic ancientness of this land to do as it will and you have something special.
Incredibly, much of this area has never had a botanical inventory of any kind. 25 new species of tree have been discovered here in recent history in the parts that have been surveyed. Sparrow is partly responsible for the existence of Napo Galeras National Park (along with one other) and has done much work collecting the data, photos, and inventories that made it possible to be made into a national park. Last year he was in Galeras collecting data for an expansion of the park. As I understand it much of his equipment was stolen and he lost his data.
We have planned a 12 day backpack trip into Galeras to recollect the lost info/photos. The hot and incredibly humid climate combined with our expected load of 70lb. packs is probably going to make much of this experience miserable, but I hope to be in constant distraction by the flora and fauna, except some of the snakes. Apparently the most dangerous wildlife in this region is not the Jaguar or vampire bats but the snakes. I am a great lover of snakes and most animals, however these are some of what are called the two-step snakes. Meaning that's how far you'll get if you're bitten. These include the Bushmaster, a gigantic viper of 12 feet with a double set of fangs, the Fer-de-Lance, and the Anaconda, which can reach 30 feet and which I just read an account of a woman barely escaping with her life after fighting one off. These snakes are all nocturnal however and crossing their path is quite rare. I mostly mention them for shock value.
I just learned about 15 minutes ago that we will also be slingshotting ropes into the enormous trees so we can get into the canopy, where much of the life of the Amazon basin lives, to collect botany samples, etc. In fact many of the plants in this area never even come into contact with the soil. Their roots are able to extract everything they need from their host trees, rain/fog, and even the air! We will also be setting up infrared cameras along game trails and near fruiting trees to photograph nocturnal wildlife, and monkeys enjoying their meals.
I have been fortunate enough to do field work most of my adult life (and much of my childhood) and even went to school for nature photography once upon a time. I'm feeling very excited about doing this and am sure it will be a peak experience in my life. To see a place like this become protected because of OUR efforts will bring me great joy and bring benefits, to All, we will never comprehend. Please get ahold me if you feel you can contribute in some way. We are looking for donations of any size (a hundred bucks will buy a lot of trees, and beans and rice, and goes a long way in Ecuador) and would even like to bring some tools down with us if you have any old tree planting equipment (like a hoe-dad) that's been hanging in the shed for too long. We're bringing it all down and leaving it with the villagers of Agua Santa (by the way, Agua Santa means "Sacred Spring", which is now dry due to deforestation).
Please reply to this email (BeSatori@gmail.com) if you have any questions at all. My mailing address is Nathan Donnelly, PO Box 146, Orleans, CA, 95556. And my home phone is (530)627.3312, please call anytime.
You can tell me just what you'd like your money to go toward buying (i.e. tools, general fund, trees, etc.) Thank you all dear friends, I hope to see you all again soon and I will continue to post updates as things progress and whenever I get the chance from Ecuador, expect some amazing photos too! Good Fortune!
-Nathan Donnelly
p.s. We just got our tickets finally! We're flying out the 17th of Feb. and will be returning the 24th of March. We're flying out of Portland to save some bucks on ticket prices so I will likely be leaving home on the Klamath River on the 15th if you need to contact me.
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/02/update-on-nathan-donnellys-tree.html
I received a report this morning from Sparrow about the region we will be going into and its importance. I would like to preface what I am about to say with the reality that this region is quickly being bulldozed in order to drill for more oil and provide exotic hardwoods and wicker baskets for our living rooms. It produces a great portion of the oxygen that is passing through your lungs in THIS breath and is the winter home of many of the birds that come to our feeders in the spring. The capacity of this area to produce life is stupefying and can never be fully quantified. It should forever remain that way.I may have some of the details/names slightly wrong as I'm writing this from memory. The national park we will be attempting to expand on is called Napo Galeras National Park. The Napo River is a large tributary to the Amazon river. The Galeras Massif is the mountain we will be working near/upon. It is older than all the Andes. Long ago it was pushed up out of the ocean and because of that it is composed of limestone. Much later the Andes volcanoed up out of the Earth to feed its waters to the Amazon rivers.
Ecuador itself is smaller than Nevada, however it boasts over twice the species of birds found in ALL of North America! (this is why I quickly gave up the thought of learning them by species). Plants are similar as there are over 17,000 species currently known there. Here in the Siskiyou mountains of Northern California we are quite proud of conifer tree diversity, which is the highest in the world, with one square mile containing 17 species of conifer. A wonderful side effect of dodging the glaciers of the last several ice ages.
The area around Galeras can have up to 300 species of tree IN JUST ONE HECTARE! And another 6000+ species of herbaceous plants. Many of these species are endemic to only this area. This is largely because the limestone soils there are so rare and the higher elevation forests are basically islands causing the isolation needed for species to evolve separate from each other and become new life forms. Add to this the geologic ancientness of this land to do as it will and you have something special.
Incredibly, much of this area has never had a botanical inventory of any kind. 25 new species of tree have been discovered here in recent history in the parts that have been surveyed. Sparrow is partly responsible for the existence of Napo Galeras National Park (along with one other) and has done much work collecting the data, photos, and inventories that made it possible to be made into a national park. Last year he was in Galeras collecting data for an expansion of the park. As I understand it much of his equipment was stolen and he lost his data.
We have planned a 12 day backpack trip into Galeras to recollect the lost info/photos. The hot and incredibly humid climate combined with our expected load of 70lb. packs is probably going to make much of this experience miserable, but I hope to be in constant distraction by the flora and fauna, except some of the snakes. Apparently the most dangerous wildlife in this region is not the Jaguar or vampire bats but the snakes. I am a great lover of snakes and most animals, however these are some of what are called the two-step snakes. Meaning that's how far you'll get if you're bitten. These include the Bushmaster, a gigantic viper of 12 feet with a double set of fangs, the Fer-de-Lance, and the Anaconda, which can reach 30 feet and which I just read an account of a woman barely escaping with her life after fighting one off. These snakes are all nocturnal however and crossing their path is quite rare. I mostly mention them for shock value.
I just learned about 15 minutes ago that we will also be slingshotting ropes into the enormous trees so we can get into the canopy, where much of the life of the Amazon basin lives, to collect botany samples, etc. In fact many of the plants in this area never even come into contact with the soil. Their roots are able to extract everything they need from their host trees, rain/fog, and even the air! We will also be setting up infrared cameras along game trails and near fruiting trees to photograph nocturnal wildlife, and monkeys enjoying their meals.
I have been fortunate enough to do field work most of my adult life (and much of my childhood) and even went to school for nature photography once upon a time. I'm feeling very excited about doing this and am sure it will be a peak experience in my life. To see a place like this become protected because of OUR efforts will bring me great joy and bring benefits, to All, we will never comprehend. Please get ahold me if you feel you can contribute in some way. We are looking for donations of any size (a hundred bucks will buy a lot of trees, and beans and rice, and goes a long way in Ecuador) and would even like to bring some tools down with us if you have any old tree planting equipment (like a hoe-dad) that's been hanging in the shed for too long. We're bringing it all down and leaving it with the villagers of Agua Santa (by the way, Agua Santa means "Sacred Spring", which is now dry due to deforestation).
Please reply to this email (BeSatori@gmail.com) if you have any questions at all. My mailing address is Nathan Donnelly, PO Box 146, Orleans, CA, 95556. And my home phone is (530)627.3312, please call anytime.
You can tell me just what you'd like your money to go toward buying (i.e. tools, general fund, trees, etc.) Thank you all dear friends, I hope to see you all again soon and I will continue to post updates as things progress and whenever I get the chance from Ecuador, expect some amazing photos too! Good Fortune!
-Nathan Donnelly
p.s. We just got our tickets finally! We're flying out the 17th of Feb. and will be returning the 24th of March. We're flying out of Portland to save some bucks on ticket prices so I will likely be leaving home on the Klamath River on the 15th if you need to contact me.
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/02/update-on-nathan-donnellys-tree.html
Labels: Environment, Nathan Donnelly
Thursday, February 4, 2010
V-Day Humboldt
By April Cooper
I fell in love with the Vagina Monologues when they came out in book form approximately 12 years ago. I happened across them in the Poetry section at Walden Books. V-Day was not yet a movement. The monologues were not being performed locally. But I suddenly had validation for so much that I felt about my experiences as a woman and a survivor of violence. I had the inspiration to celebrate my body and make peace with my history.
That same year I made my first yoni sculpture in a beginning sculpture class at HSU (yoni is the Sanskrit word for female genitalia and means "source or origin of life"). A couple years later, I began The Yoni Endeavor – a multi-media art and Internet project of yoni sculptures and digital paintings, poetry and a blog, all focused on my healing and raising consciousness about women's issues. I showed my sculptures for the first time at a local Vagina Monologues performance and held a yoni sculpting workshop for the actresses in the show. I nurtured the Endeavor for four years before moving on to other projects.
I believe that V-Day is a movement that has transformed women's lives around the world. I believe the Monologues raise our cultural consciousness about women, their bodies and experiences, and the violence that happens to them every day in a variety of contexts. I believe that telling our stories of violation and healing, as well as empowerment and celebration, are vital to ending to the cultural apathy towards and dismissal of women's experiences. We can inspire other women to find their own healing by sharing their stories, even if only with those closest to them.
My work as an artist and community organizer has shifted from specializing in women's healing to sex positive community. How we learn to relate to our bodies and ourselves as sexual beings significantly impacts our personal expression and ability to function healthily in life. As an Impropriety Society Hostess, I decided this year that it is important to integrate these two passions. I believe that it is essential for the Society to support organizations in our community that are providing valuable education and healing work around relationships and sexuality.
I believe it benefits our community when service organizations collaborate and/or support one another's work, especially when their missions are closely related. All of the organizations that benefit from V-Day activities – Six Rivers Planned Parenthood, North Coast Rape Crisis Team, Humboldt Domestic Violence Services, Emma Center and Women's Shelter in SoHum – are doing great work towards healing the wounds caused by relationship and sexualized violence, as well as promoting healthy sexuality. It is the Society’s and my honor to support V-Day.
I will be contributing some of my yoni sculptures to the V-DayArts Alive! show at Accident Gallery on Saturday, February 6th, and proceeds from any sales will go to V-Day. One of my sculptures will also be presented as a "trophy" for the Vagina Warrior Award given during the February 13th performance of the Monologues. The Society will also be providing a basket for a silent auction and making a donation to V-Day from the proceeds of The Fire Down Below. We encourage individuals and other organizations to consider supporting both the V-Day movement and the local non-profits for whom they raise funds.
More information about V-Day's week-long activities can be found at their Facebook page.
V-Spotlight: Aerial, Cabaret, CockTales, Fire dancers, and SambAmore!
Time: 8:00PM Friday, February 5th
Location: Redwood Raks
V-Day at Arts Alive! With Singing Nettles and Female Art
Time: 6:00PM Saturday, February 6th
Location: Accident Gallery
Vagina Quilting Workshop
Time: 2:00PM Sunday, February 7th
Location: Six Rivers Planned Parenthood
Evening with Eve Performances of selected works from Eve Ensler and Spare Change
Time: 8:00PM Monday, February 8th
Location: Northcoast Repertory Theatre
Movie Night "Rape in the Congo"
Time: 6:00PM Wednesday, February 10th
Location: College of the Redwoods FM 203
V-Day Humboldt Craft Night Vagina chocolates & jewelry making
Time: 7:00PM Thursday, February 11th
Location: Six Rivers Planned Parenthood
V-Day benefit at Arts Arcata!
Time: 6:00PM Friday, February 12th
Location: The Garden Gate
V-Day Humboldt presents The Vagina Monologues
Time: 8:00PM Friday, February 12th and Saturday, February 13th
Location: Eureka Theater on Friday and Van Duzer Theater on Saturday
* * * April Cooper is the mother of two teenagers, and believes being a conscious parent is the most important and rewarding work she could ever do. April is also a multi-media artist, writer, community organizer and erotic party hostess. Her sex-positive advocacy journalism will appear regularly at Manifest Positivity.
# # #
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/02/v-day-humboldt.html
I fell in love with the Vagina Monologues when they came out in book form approximately 12 years ago. I happened across them in the Poetry section at Walden Books. V-Day was not yet a movement. The monologues were not being performed locally. But I suddenly had validation for so much that I felt about my experiences as a woman and a survivor of violence. I had the inspiration to celebrate my body and make peace with my history.
That same year I made my first yoni sculpture in a beginning sculpture class at HSU (yoni is the Sanskrit word for female genitalia and means "source or origin of life"). A couple years later, I began The Yoni Endeavor – a multi-media art and Internet project of yoni sculptures and digital paintings, poetry and a blog, all focused on my healing and raising consciousness about women's issues. I showed my sculptures for the first time at a local Vagina Monologues performance and held a yoni sculpting workshop for the actresses in the show. I nurtured the Endeavor for four years before moving on to other projects.
I believe that V-Day is a movement that has transformed women's lives around the world. I believe the Monologues raise our cultural consciousness about women, their bodies and experiences, and the violence that happens to them every day in a variety of contexts. I believe that telling our stories of violation and healing, as well as empowerment and celebration, are vital to ending to the cultural apathy towards and dismissal of women's experiences. We can inspire other women to find their own healing by sharing their stories, even if only with those closest to them.
My work as an artist and community organizer has shifted from specializing in women's healing to sex positive community. How we learn to relate to our bodies and ourselves as sexual beings significantly impacts our personal expression and ability to function healthily in life. As an Impropriety Society Hostess, I decided this year that it is important to integrate these two passions. I believe that it is essential for the Society to support organizations in our community that are providing valuable education and healing work around relationships and sexuality.
I believe it benefits our community when service organizations collaborate and/or support one another's work, especially when their missions are closely related. All of the organizations that benefit from V-Day activities – Six Rivers Planned Parenthood, North Coast Rape Crisis Team, Humboldt Domestic Violence Services, Emma Center and Women's Shelter in SoHum – are doing great work towards healing the wounds caused by relationship and sexualized violence, as well as promoting healthy sexuality. It is the Society’s and my honor to support V-Day.
I will be contributing some of my yoni sculptures to the V-DayArts Alive! show at Accident Gallery on Saturday, February 6th, and proceeds from any sales will go to V-Day. One of my sculptures will also be presented as a "trophy" for the Vagina Warrior Award given during the February 13th performance of the Monologues. The Society will also be providing a basket for a silent auction and making a donation to V-Day from the proceeds of The Fire Down Below. We encourage individuals and other organizations to consider supporting both the V-Day movement and the local non-profits for whom they raise funds.
More information about V-Day's week-long activities can be found at their Facebook page.
V-Spotlight: Aerial, Cabaret, CockTales, Fire dancers, and SambAmore!
Time: 8:00PM Friday, February 5th
Location: Redwood Raks
V-Day at Arts Alive! With Singing Nettles and Female Art
Time: 6:00PM Saturday, February 6th
Location: Accident Gallery
Vagina Quilting Workshop
Time: 2:00PM Sunday, February 7th
Location: Six Rivers Planned Parenthood
Evening with Eve Performances of selected works from Eve Ensler and Spare Change
Time: 8:00PM Monday, February 8th
Location: Northcoast Repertory Theatre
Movie Night "Rape in the Congo"
Time: 6:00PM Wednesday, February 10th
Location: College of the Redwoods FM 203
V-Day Humboldt Craft Night Vagina chocolates & jewelry making
Time: 7:00PM Thursday, February 11th
Location: Six Rivers Planned Parenthood
V-Day benefit at Arts Arcata!
Time: 6:00PM Friday, February 12th
Location: The Garden Gate
V-Day Humboldt presents The Vagina Monologues
Time: 8:00PM Friday, February 12th and Saturday, February 13th
Location: Eureka Theater on Friday and Van Duzer Theater on Saturday
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/02/v-day-humboldt.html
Labels: April Cooper, Emma Center, Facebook, Humboldt Domestic Violence Services, Humboldt Impropriety Society, North Coast Rape Crisis Team, Planned Parenthood, V-Day, Vagina Monologues, Women's Shelter of SoHum
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Report Back From Manifest Positivity New Collaborators Meeting
I'm pretty mellow in this video describing the good vibes of today's Manifest Positivity new collaborators meeting. A dozen of us found lots of common ground around using a paradigm of positivity while creating advocacy journalism - transparent use of media as a tool for social change. The meeting was the first open public dialog about creating a collective to build on the vision presented at ManifestPositivity.org. This video goes over some of the ways people can get involved. Also see this FAQ I printed for the meeting as a handout: http://bit.ly/MP-FAQ.
If you don't see the video, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flML1N4AaPU
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/02/report-back-from-manifest-positivity.html
If you don't see the video, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flML1N4AaPU
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/02/report-back-from-manifest-positivity.html
Labels: Collaboration, Talk Show Proposal
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Manifest Positivity Collaborators FAQ
Like the Calendar, Media Appearances, and Volunteer Opportunities posts (soon to be updated), this FAQ will be linked in the About section of Manifest Positivity and periodically updated. It has been originally prepared at this time as a handout for the new collaborators meeting tomorrow, Feb. 3, at 5:30pm in The Ink People offices 517 3rd St. in Old Town Eureka. Contributor applications will be available at the meeting and soon be linked here and in the About section. Meanwhile, please use the contact form in the left sidebar at Manifest Positivity to get involved or ask questions. And thank you!
What is Manifest Positivity?
The purpose of Manifest Positivity (MP) is to make the world a better place by transparently using any/all forms of media and social networking to advance public service projects and community organizing. Promoting this approach, called advocacy journalism, is also a primary function, with success gauged by our ability to create the change we seek in the world.
What are the core values of Manifest Positivity?
Beyond transparency, MP media creations and activities model the positivity paradigm, emphasizing kindness, joy, love, presence, and the playfulness of pronoia – the belief the universe is conspiring on our behalf.
How is Manifest Positivity organized?
MP was founded in June 2009 by Dave Berman and gained non-profit status as a DreamMaker program of The Ink People in October 2009. MP currently exists as a blog, Facebook fan page, and on Twitter. Applications are being accepted to evolve this solo venture into an advocacy journalism collective that will share in decision making, broaden the scope of topics presented, and create an online TV talk show (proposal) to expand the platform. It should feel like a virtual after school club, where participants are happy doing what they love and what they're good at.
How can I get involved with Manifest Positivity?
Lend your skills to: website content creation (writing, videos, etc.); promotion; web design; graphic design; technology research and development for the talk show; organizational structure (steering committee, department/issue editors). Please use the contact form in the left sidebar at Manifest Positivity to get involved or ask questions.
What topics does Manifest Positivity deal with?
[PARTIAL LIST] Adoption/foster care, advocacy journalism, alternative healing, alternative transportation, animal rescue, community organizing, election integrity, emergency preparedness, environmentally conscious living, healthy food (including organic gardening and the connection between diet and the environment), houselessness, mediation and peaceful conflict resolution in general, peace (especially supporting veterans and conscientious objectors), secular spirituality (kindness, law of attraction, love, presence, and pronoia), sex positive communication.
What questions are currently unanswered?
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/02/manifest-positivity-collaborators-faq.html
What is Manifest Positivity?
The purpose of Manifest Positivity (MP) is to make the world a better place by transparently using any/all forms of media and social networking to advance public service projects and community organizing. Promoting this approach, called advocacy journalism, is also a primary function, with success gauged by our ability to create the change we seek in the world.
What are the core values of Manifest Positivity?
Beyond transparency, MP media creations and activities model the positivity paradigm, emphasizing kindness, joy, love, presence, and the playfulness of pronoia – the belief the universe is conspiring on our behalf.
How is Manifest Positivity organized?
MP was founded in June 2009 by Dave Berman and gained non-profit status as a DreamMaker program of The Ink People in October 2009. MP currently exists as a blog, Facebook fan page, and on Twitter. Applications are being accepted to evolve this solo venture into an advocacy journalism collective that will share in decision making, broaden the scope of topics presented, and create an online TV talk show (proposal) to expand the platform. It should feel like a virtual after school club, where participants are happy doing what they love and what they're good at.
How can I get involved with Manifest Positivity?
Lend your skills to: website content creation (writing, videos, etc.); promotion; web design; graphic design; technology research and development for the talk show; organizational structure (steering committee, department/issue editors). Please use the contact form in the left sidebar at Manifest Positivity to get involved or ask questions.
What topics does Manifest Positivity deal with?
[PARTIAL LIST] Adoption/foster care, advocacy journalism, alternative healing, alternative transportation, animal rescue, community organizing, election integrity, emergency preparedness, environmentally conscious living, healthy food (including organic gardening and the connection between diet and the environment), houselessness, mediation and peaceful conflict resolution in general, peace (especially supporting veterans and conscientious objectors), secular spirituality (kindness, law of attraction, love, presence, and pronoia), sex positive communication.
What questions are currently unanswered?
- What online communities would be supportive of MP?
- What technology will we use for the talk show (with a working premise of live streaming multi-party video chat displayed like the Brady Bunch)?
- What technology will we use for project management?
- Can we get grant money for the talk show?
- Can we partner with an existing project or organization to create the show rather than build it from scratch?
- Can we transition the blog over to ManifestPositivity.org, which currently flips to blogspot (as does .com and .net)?
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/02/manifest-positivity-collaborators-faq.html
Labels: Calendar, Collaboration, Facebook, Media Appearances, Presence, Pronoia, Talk Show Proposal, The Ink People, Twitter, Volunteer Opportunities
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Impropriety Society Presents: The Fire Down Below
From HumboldtImps.com:
I went to a bunch of Imps parties in 2009 after reading this North Coast Journal article about the 2008 Halloween affair, Ghouls Gone Wild. The parties are not orgies, and my purpose here is not gratuitous self-disclosure, though I will say today I attended a "vibes crew" training to be eligible to volunteer at future events. We reviewed the Rules, Guidelines, and Waiver that all guests are required to sign before entry to an event, discussed the privacy policy (below), and talked about the roles played by vibes crew members, including checking IDs and welcoming guests, chatting with people who may seem unaccustomed to the scene, and generally keeping an eye out for inappropriate behavior such as excessive intoxication, which is actually quite rare at Imps parties.
The purpose of Manifest Positivity is to help people and organizations achieve their public service goals, including the important sex-positive affirmations of the Imps - acceptance of diverse lifestyle choices and gender identities, modeling effective negotiation and healthy consent-driven communication and safer sex practices, and generally breaking down barriers and taboos. I've grown a lot as a person from the experiences I've had with this group and consider many people I've met this way to be good friends now. Further, more Imps have stepped forward with plans to attend Wednesday's Manifest Positivity new collaborators meeting than members of any other community group around, so the support flows both ways.
Finally, yet another example of pronoia to share, stemming from a fully clothed and friendly birthday spanking I consented to this past Friday night at the hands of some Imp friends. Just before it started, I was asked if I had anything in my back pockets. I reached in and right as I pulled out two fliers for The Fire Down Below, a woman approached asking if we had any of these invites. The coincidence of timing was the universe conspiring on her behalf, the definition of pronoia.
* * *
http://humboldtimps.com/privacy.html
The Impropriety Society does not sell, divulge, or trade e-mail addresses, names or personal information received from the webpage, classes or events.
Confidentiality is a concern to almost everyone who attends an adult-oriented event or gathering. What you choose to reveal about yourself is largely a matter of personal judgment, although most people err on the side of caution. The Impropriety Society is not a "secret society"; however, while many people who attend an event choose to be completely open about their interests, many do not. It is important not to make any assumptions about a person's openness with the general public, to be discrete, and to be respectful of each individual's personal choices. Be especially cautious about approaching someone you have met at an Impropriety Society event at another outside setting (such as a shopping mall). Please also remember that who attends and what happens at the event is private and should not be discussed with those who did not attend. These events are meant to serve the community; that means that as a community, we will make choices that create a safe space in which we might, again and again, share amazing times and spaces together.
# # #
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/01/impropriety-society-presents-fire-down.html
The Impropriety Society is a Humboldt County based group aimed at promoting sexual self-awareness, providing opportunities for the exploration and celebration of erotic ideas and desires while respecting the boundaries of others, and showing community acceptance and support for a variety of sexual preferences and lifestyles.The next Imps event is Feb. 13, a pair of daytime workshops and an evening Valentine's party called The Fire Down Below.
I went to a bunch of Imps parties in 2009 after reading this North Coast Journal article about the 2008 Halloween affair, Ghouls Gone Wild. The parties are not orgies, and my purpose here is not gratuitous self-disclosure, though I will say today I attended a "vibes crew" training to be eligible to volunteer at future events. We reviewed the Rules, Guidelines, and Waiver that all guests are required to sign before entry to an event, discussed the privacy policy (below), and talked about the roles played by vibes crew members, including checking IDs and welcoming guests, chatting with people who may seem unaccustomed to the scene, and generally keeping an eye out for inappropriate behavior such as excessive intoxication, which is actually quite rare at Imps parties.
The purpose of Manifest Positivity is to help people and organizations achieve their public service goals, including the important sex-positive affirmations of the Imps - acceptance of diverse lifestyle choices and gender identities, modeling effective negotiation and healthy consent-driven communication and safer sex practices, and generally breaking down barriers and taboos. I've grown a lot as a person from the experiences I've had with this group and consider many people I've met this way to be good friends now. Further, more Imps have stepped forward with plans to attend Wednesday's Manifest Positivity new collaborators meeting than members of any other community group around, so the support flows both ways.
Finally, yet another example of pronoia to share, stemming from a fully clothed and friendly birthday spanking I consented to this past Friday night at the hands of some Imp friends. Just before it started, I was asked if I had anything in my back pockets. I reached in and right as I pulled out two fliers for The Fire Down Below, a woman approached asking if we had any of these invites. The coincidence of timing was the universe conspiring on her behalf, the definition of pronoia.
http://humboldtimps.com/privacy.html
The Impropriety Society does not sell, divulge, or trade e-mail addresses, names or personal information received from the webpage, classes or events.
Confidentiality is a concern to almost everyone who attends an adult-oriented event or gathering. What you choose to reveal about yourself is largely a matter of personal judgment, although most people err on the side of caution. The Impropriety Society is not a "secret society"; however, while many people who attend an event choose to be completely open about their interests, many do not. It is important not to make any assumptions about a person's openness with the general public, to be discrete, and to be respectful of each individual's personal choices. Be especially cautious about approaching someone you have met at an Impropriety Society event at another outside setting (such as a shopping mall). Please also remember that who attends and what happens at the event is private and should not be discussed with those who did not attend. These events are meant to serve the community; that means that as a community, we will make choices that create a safe space in which we might, again and again, share amazing times and spaces together.
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/01/impropriety-society-presents-fire-down.html
Labels: Collaboration, Humboldt Impropriety Society, North Coast Journal, Pronoia
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
No Asbestos at The Ink People; Red Tag Changed To Yellow
Test results have found no asbestos in Eureka's Muni building, a concern raised by the January 9 earthquake here. The finding allowed a change from red-tag status to yellow, meaning The Ink People (TIP) Programs Manager Tanya Nordberg has been able to coordinate entry to the previously off-limits building with Eureka city maintenance personnel to retrieve office and art supplies, as well as other materials vital for many to continue their creative works and services in the community.
"It was bittersweet," said Nordberg (pictured) of the brief return to TIP's home of 22 years. "I'm happy we could get things we need so artists can work, but unfortunately the future is still up in the air."
TIP is currently maintaining administrative offices in Old Town's Carson Building at 517 3rd St. This space is not big enough to accommodate the many varied classes, workshops and projects nurtured by TIP, many of which are still seeking new temporary homes in the community. Further, TIP Executive Director Libby Maynard pointed out that upcoming retrofitting of the Carson Building means another temporary location will likely be needed before the whole operation can be restored under one roof at the Muni.
“The City of Eureka has been very accommodating and bent over backwards while being extremely busy,” said Maynard, always cheerful, upbeat, and grateful. Maynard also recognized The Northern California Indian Development Council for providing the current work space.
It is still a complex process to repair the plaster damage to the walls and ceiling of the Muni. This will first involve estimates, then FEMA, budgeting with the City and a bidding process for the work to be done. No time frame has been established for completion.
TIP is appealing to the community for assistance in relocating its interrupted programs, as well as its overall operation. Donations are also needed for rent and utilities, as these have not been a typical part of TIP's budget due to its unique arrangement as the City of Eureka's designated art agency. Inquiries and offers of assistance can be made via tanya@inkpeople.org. Monetary donations can be made online at http://bit.ly/TIPdonate or via snail mail to the Carson Building address.
Nordberg said "We're not in the clear yet, but beams of light are shining through."
Manifest Positivity is one of about 60 projects in TIP's DreamMaker program. A meeting of new MP collaborators (more details here) will be held in the Carson Building offices at 5:30pm on Feb. 3. Please contact me if interested in working with MP, regardless of whether you can attend the meeting.
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/01/no-asbestos-at-ink-people-red-tag.html
"It was bittersweet," said Nordberg (pictured) of the brief return to TIP's home of 22 years. "I'm happy we could get things we need so artists can work, but unfortunately the future is still up in the air."
TIP is currently maintaining administrative offices in Old Town's Carson Building at 517 3rd St. This space is not big enough to accommodate the many varied classes, workshops and projects nurtured by TIP, many of which are still seeking new temporary homes in the community. Further, TIP Executive Director Libby Maynard pointed out that upcoming retrofitting of the Carson Building means another temporary location will likely be needed before the whole operation can be restored under one roof at the Muni.
“The City of Eureka has been very accommodating and bent over backwards while being extremely busy,” said Maynard, always cheerful, upbeat, and grateful. Maynard also recognized The Northern California Indian Development Council for providing the current work space.
It is still a complex process to repair the plaster damage to the walls and ceiling of the Muni. This will first involve estimates, then FEMA, budgeting with the City and a bidding process for the work to be done. No time frame has been established for completion.
TIP is appealing to the community for assistance in relocating its interrupted programs, as well as its overall operation. Donations are also needed for rent and utilities, as these have not been a typical part of TIP's budget due to its unique arrangement as the City of Eureka's designated art agency. Inquiries and offers of assistance can be made via tanya@inkpeople.org. Monetary donations can be made online at http://bit.ly/TIPdonate or via snail mail to the Carson Building address.
Nordberg said "We're not in the clear yet, but beams of light are shining through."
Manifest Positivity is one of about 60 projects in TIP's DreamMaker program. A meeting of new MP collaborators (more details here) will be held in the Carson Building offices at 5:30pm on Feb. 3. Please contact me if interested in working with MP, regardless of whether you can attend the meeting.
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/01/no-asbestos-at-ink-people-red-tag.html
Labels: Collaboration, Earthquake, The Ink People
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
A Pronoia Assumption
I've been having a great time these past few days making contact with lots of potential collaborators for Manifest Positivity. It is a key time to do this as preparation for the new collaborators meeting on Feb. 3. These conversations have involved a lot of clarification of what this is all about, both in concrete terms of topics and in the more emotional/spiritual realm of the tone and vibe. I'll be posting something more detailed related to this meeting before the end of the week.
For now I just want to share a quote from a book referenced here a lot, Rob Brezsny's "Pronoia." This quote was included in his weekly e-mail newsletter today and conveys very well the vibe collaborators should grok as necessary for being a good fit with our emerging team. Can you do advocacy journalism - use media transparently to make the world a better place - built on this assumption?...
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/01/pronoia-assumption.html
For now I just want to share a quote from a book referenced here a lot, Rob Brezsny's "Pronoia." This quote was included in his weekly e-mail newsletter today and conveys very well the vibe collaborators should grok as necessary for being a good fit with our emerging team. Can you do advocacy journalism - use media transparently to make the world a better place - built on this assumption?..."Assume that your drive to experience pleasure isn't a barrier to your spiritual growth, but is in fact essential to it. Proceed on the hypothesis that cultivating joy can make you a more ethical and compassionate person. Imagine that feeling good has something important to teach you every day. What might you do differently from what you do now?"
- *PRONOIA*
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/01/pronoia-assumption.html
Labels: Collaboration, Pronoia
Monday, January 25, 2010
An Anonymous Conscientious Objector Speaks Out
I got this video of an anonymous conscientious objector from Carl Davison of Iraq Veterans Against The War. Carl appeared previously in this Manifest Positivity video from the September 2009 Power To The Peaceful festival, mentioning his five years in the marines, three in the army, and then jail time for refusing another tour of Iraq. Retribution for speaking out is clearly real, as the anonymous soldier here knows and addresses in his opening sentences.
If you don't see the video, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oikp0IsWroQ
The masked man above is apparently being represented by James M. Branum, Attorney at Law, "a solo-practice attorney who represents war resisters and other members of the U.S. military who want to be freed from the machinery of death and destruction. Find out more at www.girightslawyer.com."
I e-mailed Mr. Branum asking how the advocacy journalism of Manifest Positivity can be helpful, "ideally in a way that will encourage both other lawyers to help objectors, and other service members to become objectors." I await his response.
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/01/anonymous-conscientious-objector-speaks.html
If you don't see the video, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oikp0IsWroQ
The masked man above is apparently being represented by James M. Branum, Attorney at Law, "a solo-practice attorney who represents war resisters and other members of the U.S. military who want to be freed from the machinery of death and destruction. Find out more at www.girightslawyer.com."
I e-mailed Mr. Branum asking how the advocacy journalism of Manifest Positivity can be helpful, "ideally in a way that will encourage both other lawyers to help objectors, and other service members to become objectors." I await his response.
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/01/anonymous-conscientious-objector-speaks.html
Labels: Carl Davison, Conscientious Objectors, Iraq Veterans Against The War, James M. Branum, Power To The Peaceful
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Report Back From CCH Event
I spent this afternoon with 100 other community members in an Open Space gathering, convened by GreenWay Partners under the name Community Created Humboldt (CCH). The event featured two rounds of hour-long discussions, each hour split into 8-10 topics being explored concurrently with some people meandering among different pow-wows or breaking off into their own sub-groups. The subjects of the talks were generated and facilitated by members of the overall 100 so it was totally self-organizing and with encouragement simply to participate and have fun.
Issues included: transportation/energy, credit exchange, ocean/fish/resources, spontaneous events/law of attraction, normalizing marijuana, people's media, small business innovation, creativity and culture, economic self sufficiency/disaster preparedness, microwave broadband, buying/consuming less, children's environmental and economic education, general plan update, and corporate personhood.
In the first round I spent my whole time in the people's media discussion started and led by David Cobb, host of Thursday Night Talk on KHSU. I knew some of the other participants, including Michele Dulas, who I filmed last summer, and The Ink People Executive Director Libby Maynard (shown at right with Cobb in what was surprisingly the first meeting of the two).
The themes that emerged called for viewing media as part of the commons, with equal access for all; a need to balance nature and technology; a sense that media should support art and culture; and that social media facilitates participation, which we'd be wise to embrace as advocacy journalists - using media as a tool for advancing public service interests. Recommendations included participating in existing media; encouraging community funding for media held in the commons, such as Access Humboldt, the Film Commission, and The Ink People; and the creation of the online TV talk show Manifest Positivity aspires to. The one next step identified was the Manifest Positivity new collaborators meeting on Feb. 3 at 5:30pm at 517 3rd St #36 in Eureka.
In the second round I spent most of my time in the corporate personhood discussion, also led by Cobb, whose primary affiliation is with Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County. DUHC is is part of a large coalition that this week launched MoveToAmend.org in response to the Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. FEC, removing limits on corporate campaign funding based on the (illegitimate) notion that corporations are people with first amendment rights.
The discussion focused on a long term vision of amending the US Constitution to expressly strip corporations of their "personhood" (despite there being no explicit Constitutional provision granting such status), thereby removing the question of their Constitutional rights and thus the ability to buy politicians. While I'd love to see such a change, I'm having a hard time getting behind a strategy with such a long view when the problems it addresses are so acute and immediate, and when the apparatus that must be engaged (Congress, and the electoral process) to wage the campaign is itself also illegitimate. Further, with so much that can be done (and is being done) to positively affect change through issues shown on the pages of Manifest Positivity, I am finding it tough to accept a strategy that calls for eternal struggle. It is also preferable to be for things rather than against them.
I had been thinking about these things for a few days as the response to the Supreme Court unfolded, but I was not quick to share them. Frankly, it feels like it doesn't fit here. When the topic was engaged at today's meeting I started out just listening, hoping I would begin to feel differently. Ultimately I shared these thoughts as a disconnect I was experiencing and unable to reconcile. Cobb correctly pointed out the Democracy Movement afoot as a way to stay positively engaged, citing community currency, the independent business alliance, and community share agriculture - all totally worthwhile, for sure!
Yet I still couldn't resolve this for myself. I suggested we'd be better off breaking off the Humboldt Nation and disengaging from a completely broken illegitimate system where "leaders" so often act contrary to the best interest and stated desires of their constituents. Humboldt County Supervisor Mark Lovelace had meandered into our circle by this point and he noted such sentiment was common in various discussions he'd observed today.
Not wanting to sidetrack their efforts to plan and promote the Move To Amend campaign, I left the group for the final part of the session and spent a few minutes with the folks discussing economic self-sufficiency. I asked questions about the idea of a gift economy, as I'd just read yesterday after joining Evolver.net.
The event ran smoothly and I'm glad I went. A few people from the first session may come to the Feb. 3 collaborators meeting, which would be great. If there was anything that could have been better, it's that I wish I could have joined discussions on several topics I'm not so well-versed in. Next time...
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/01/report-back-from-cch-event.html
Issues included: transportation/energy, credit exchange, ocean/fish/resources, spontaneous events/law of attraction, normalizing marijuana, people's media, small business innovation, creativity and culture, economic self sufficiency/disaster preparedness, microwave broadband, buying/consuming less, children's environmental and economic education, general plan update, and corporate personhood.
In the first round I spent my whole time in the people's media discussion started and led by David Cobb, host of Thursday Night Talk on KHSU. I knew some of the other participants, including Michele Dulas, who I filmed last summer, and The Ink People Executive Director Libby Maynard (shown at right with Cobb in what was surprisingly the first meeting of the two).
The themes that emerged called for viewing media as part of the commons, with equal access for all; a need to balance nature and technology; a sense that media should support art and culture; and that social media facilitates participation, which we'd be wise to embrace as advocacy journalists - using media as a tool for advancing public service interests. Recommendations included participating in existing media; encouraging community funding for media held in the commons, such as Access Humboldt, the Film Commission, and The Ink People; and the creation of the online TV talk show Manifest Positivity aspires to. The one next step identified was the Manifest Positivity new collaborators meeting on Feb. 3 at 5:30pm at 517 3rd St #36 in Eureka.In the second round I spent most of my time in the corporate personhood discussion, also led by Cobb, whose primary affiliation is with Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County. DUHC is is part of a large coalition that this week launched MoveToAmend.org in response to the Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. FEC, removing limits on corporate campaign funding based on the (illegitimate) notion that corporations are people with first amendment rights.
The discussion focused on a long term vision of amending the US Constitution to expressly strip corporations of their "personhood" (despite there being no explicit Constitutional provision granting such status), thereby removing the question of their Constitutional rights and thus the ability to buy politicians. While I'd love to see such a change, I'm having a hard time getting behind a strategy with such a long view when the problems it addresses are so acute and immediate, and when the apparatus that must be engaged (Congress, and the electoral process) to wage the campaign is itself also illegitimate. Further, with so much that can be done (and is being done) to positively affect change through issues shown on the pages of Manifest Positivity, I am finding it tough to accept a strategy that calls for eternal struggle. It is also preferable to be for things rather than against them.
I had been thinking about these things for a few days as the response to the Supreme Court unfolded, but I was not quick to share them. Frankly, it feels like it doesn't fit here. When the topic was engaged at today's meeting I started out just listening, hoping I would begin to feel differently. Ultimately I shared these thoughts as a disconnect I was experiencing and unable to reconcile. Cobb correctly pointed out the Democracy Movement afoot as a way to stay positively engaged, citing community currency, the independent business alliance, and community share agriculture - all totally worthwhile, for sure!
Yet I still couldn't resolve this for myself. I suggested we'd be better off breaking off the Humboldt Nation and disengaging from a completely broken illegitimate system where "leaders" so often act contrary to the best interest and stated desires of their constituents. Humboldt County Supervisor Mark Lovelace had meandered into our circle by this point and he noted such sentiment was common in various discussions he'd observed today.
Not wanting to sidetrack their efforts to plan and promote the Move To Amend campaign, I left the group for the final part of the session and spent a few minutes with the folks discussing economic self-sufficiency. I asked questions about the idea of a gift economy, as I'd just read yesterday after joining Evolver.net.
The event ran smoothly and I'm glad I went. A few people from the first session may come to the Feb. 3 collaborators meeting, which would be great. If there was anything that could have been better, it's that I wish I could have joined discussions on several topics I'm not so well-versed in. Next time...
Permalink:
http://manifestpositivity.blogspot.com/2010/01/report-back-from-cch-event.html
Labels: Access Humboldt, Collaboration, Community Created Humboldt, Community Organizing, Corporate Personhood, David Cobb, Democracy Unlimited, Evolver.net, Film Commission, GreenWay Partners, KHSU, Mark Lovelace, Michele Dulas, MoveToAmend.org, Open Space, Supreme Court, The Ink People
