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Category Archives: feminism

Why can’t disorder be beautiful?

The mess in my apartment never goes away. We get this room clean, and that room clean, and the other, but rarely all at the same time. Even when we push to get everything in order, there is always something neglected — usually my mess in the second bedroom where I keep all my art supplies, strewn about, which I always promise to myself to organize but never get around to doing.

I’ll organize this, and organize that, and it will help me keep my life together for a time — organizing my closet or my deskspace or the living room — but as soon as a stressful time comes, and they come with regularity, the organization goes out the window — I throw my clothes on the floor and never pick them up, food kept on my desk with nail polish and sewing thread and sticky notes — it’s always the concept of, do what is necessary now and put everything in place later, when you’ve returned to “normal” energy state and can handle it.

But life seems to move at a faster pace than my body can keep up with. Maybe could keep up if I had a normal amount of energy, then I’d have the space and drive to get that make-up work done regularly, if I still weren’t able to just maintain everything as I went along (that being the idealized perfect state to which we aspire, right?). Maybe if I had the energy that I have when I’m at my best — but all the time — things would be great. And when I’m at my best energy level, I feel like I could continue things like that, if only I did this and changed that and kept things this way. And I try those things as they come to me, I am constantly reorganizing my entire life, never stop fine-tuning, trying to make things more efficient. But it’s never enough, I just don’t have enough in me to keep up with it all.

So maybe we get the junk off the floor and vacuum and swiffer everything, and tidy up around the edges of things, but there’s still that mess within those edges, still always something just sitting in a jumbled pile that I’m supposed to get to later. No matter how well I am — and even with an able-bodied husband doing more than his share of the work — we never get it all.

I have trouble thinking when I can see clutter. What it is about it, I don’t know, surely some gender considerations there, my insecurity about my disability always looming, and my personal idiosyncracies. But when there is visual clutter, my brain locks up and it is so much harder to process very basic things. And if only it were as easy as getting up and taking care of the clutter, then the energy I would be using on thought processing goes to the physical labor of cleaning, and I’m back to blank square one anyway, and a day later the clutter is back again.

And that’s the cycle I find myself in.

One day, a couple months ago, I sat in this chair trying to comprehend what I was reading, with a mess on the floor in my peripheral vision, and I spun around and thought to myself, why can’t this be beautiful?

This mess, this disorder, everything that comes with a life well-lived? The clothing on the floor, the half-filled mug of tea, the unmade bed, the shoes in the entryway, papers scattered about? Why do I feel like it weighs me down? Why can’t it be like the wrinkles and mottled skin and greying hair acquired with age: a reminder of everything you’ve done to earn them, a window into the life you’ve lived to get them?

Why can’t it be an indicator of richness? Why can’t it be something positive?

That one moment, I felt it deep inside. And it hasn’t come back. I just can’t look around and not feel weighed down by everything being so disordered, feel it reflects poorly on me, look at it and see nothing more than “something I should be doing but can’t do.” Something that is my responsibility, but I haven’t the capability. That is what pulls at me when I look at my mess, my beautiful mess. All I can see is everything I can’t do, while simultaneously feeling, in the back of my head, that I can do it but choose not to and that I am just of poor character, lazy, unmotivated, irresponsible, inconsiderate, slothful and selfish…

Maybe my physical mess, then, is a manifestation of my mental mess.

I just want to know. Why can’t I be beautiful too? If this is all I can do? Why do I feel lesser than the middle class folks who have these lovely tidy homes, not perfect and still full of personality, but tidy? They get to be beautiful, they get to be responsible and considerate. Why can’t I be too, if this is all I can do?

What will it take for me to look at that mess again, and see something grand? Will I ever see it again?

What does it mean to heal?

Perhaps this is the wrong question. Instead, I propose: What is there to heal?

Healing is the process of a body, having been injured in some way, doing what it takes to restore itself to normalcy. Merriam-Webster says, specifically, “to make sound or whole” and “to restore to original purity or integrity.”

Take note of the words I have highlighted. What are they saying?

This cultural idea of healing, applied to a person’s spirit rather than body, draws upon the idea of an abnormal body being made “normal.” It assumes that any person not normal should be made normal.

But there are all sorts of bodies in this world. Bodies with broken bones, broken skin, disfigured limbs, faces, with cuts and gashes and wounds, missing limbs, missing organs, organs which work in abnormal ways — according to our cultural norms.

And, much the same, there are all sorts of people in this world. People who have survived assault and abuse, been subject to violence, faced trauma, been manipulated or neglected, dealt with addictions, lost loved ones. People who have experienced any number of things which cause them significant distress.

These people are expected to “heal” from their experience. They go through a modest amount of time processing the event emotionally and then return to normal.

But why should they be made normal?

Why should any broken person be pushed and pressured into a form which does not fit?

Why is it that a person who is anything other than normal is therefore less than whole?

Why can’t a person simply be who they are, even if they are injured or broken or disfigured, and still be considered a whole person?

Any person who has faced trauma will need to find ways to process their trauma, ways to cope, ways to live with what has changed in their life. But that person should not have to push hirself to go back to how things once were — or to make things resemble what they are for a person who has not faced that trauma. Things may be different. There is not only one way to live a life. There are many. And perhaps you will settle into a different one — one which works better for who you are now — which may not have worked for who you were before. And that way is no less right.

What do you do when life changes? You adapt. You make things fit you. You don’t make you fit everything else.

It’s ok to be broken. Being broken does not make you less than whole. It makes you different. And that’s ok.

Calendar Girls: Sexification Strikes Yet Another Serious Health Condition

[Author’s note: I’d been meaning to submit this piece somewhere since earlier this year, but never got around to it. I know we’re almost finished with 2009–so focusing on a charity calendar may seem a bit old meme, at least in internet time–but some of the issues that this campaign raises are, as they say, timeless.]

When the words “chronic pain condition” come to mind, not many people can name a charitable project that is trying to raise awareness while also dovetailing nicely with current mainstream standards of beauty. British former model Bianca Embley has set out to change this, at least in the UK. After a work-related accident that resulted in a diagnosis of severe fibromyalgia, Embley was left unable to work. According to her website, Embley “aim[s] to raise awareness of Fibromyalgia, specifically in the press and media, but also by supporting awareness campaigns through UK Fibromyalgia charities and organizations” with the rather risqué Polka Dot Gals 2009 Calendar [NSFW]—a 12-month compendium of artistic nude and nearly-nude portraits of female models, including one who, the website crows, has posed for such illustrious publications as Maxim and Playboy. All of the photographs make use of the organization’s official colors (black polka dots on a yellow background) in various creative ways. The calendar and its photos have garnered a fair amount of press coverage in Great Britain, in addition to quite a few celebrity endorsements. While this project’s goal is certainly one that means well, the project also brings questions of conventional female beauty, its marketability, and intended audience to the fore.

The Polka Dot Gals project seems to have an almost-exclusive focus on a very specific type of beauty that’s almost a Feminism 101 cliché: the young, white, thin, fully made-up and free of body hair paragon of femininity that is so overexposed in modern consumer culture, advertising and—dare I say it—pornography. As many a feminist activist has warned us, this type of “beauty” sells; at the same time, it is this sort of representation of female beauty that feminists have decried since the 1970s.

However, what makes this criticism more complicated is that Embley herself posed for the calendar, and though she may appear able-bodied in these images, she is not. The photographs that feature Embley have her posed [link goes to an article that appeared in The Sun; NSFW] in ways that suggest that she is able-bodied, at least in part; in one shot, she stands fully nude, her back to the camera, as she clutches a martini glass in one hand and her cane in the other. Taken out of context, this pose does not seem to allude to her condition in an obvious way—and the photograph, in fact, looks strikingly similar to many soft-core images that have come before it. The message seems to be twofold: 1) Women with chronic illnesses can still be sexy, albeit in ways that are approved and encouraged by the culturally sanctioned gold standard of sexualized, “feminine” display; and 2) This sexiness can be channeled into photographs for public display and consumption, so long as the goal is to “raise awareness” of chronic illness and disability.

A few of the poses struck by these ostensibly well-meaning calendar girls don’t seem to have much to do with the condition, or with disability, at all: former Playboy model Danni Wells, in her photo, wears both a coquettish smirk and a yellow and black polka-dot ribbon that (just barely) covers her naked body. Were it not connected with Embley’s campaign, the image could plausibly be a banner ad for a porn website. Wells’s personal stake in the campaign stems from the fact that her grandmother lives with fibromyalgia. (One might wonder how Wells’s grandmother feels about her granddaughter’s participation in the project, especially given the nature of the images that make up the calendar.)

Such images bring to mind the question of intended audience; according to the website, a “portion of the profits” will go toward raising awareness of the condition in the UK, which begs the question of who, exactly, might purchase this calendar. The fact that the calendar is full of photographs that, by and large, seem designed to appeal to a heterosexual and possibly able-bodied male audience, is obviously problematic in a feminist sense. Given that fibromyalgia is a very gender-skewed condition (the ratio of females to males with the condition—at least within the US—is nearly 10 to 1), it appears that projects which aim to raise awareness of the condition in new and interesting ways have been a long time coming. The goals of the Polka Dot Gals are admirable, and the calendar may bring some much-needed attention to a condition that lacks a public face, but the project’s uncritical reproduction of the white, attractive and (seemingly) able-bodied female body as body-on-permanent-display—no matter if the body in question is wrought with constant pain and fatigue—is still troubling.

Time and Energy, or Lack Thereof

This amazing post and its follow-up by Anna at Trouble in China (she is also a contributor here, as you may have noticed) got me thinking. [In the interest of full disclosure, my Shakesville post is in there as an example of the problematic nature of inclusiveness.]

Whenever I mention my personal blog in, say, a contributor’s or artist’s bio, I nearly always include the qualifier “sporadically updated.” Regular readers will know that this is partially my style–the dash of self-deprecation–but it masks something else. Namely: I very rarely have the energy to write a whole blog post, to respond to comments, or, hell, to comment on other blogs with wit and insight. This does not mean that I do not exist. It only means that I, quite simply, don’t always have the mental or physical energy to contribute to a medium that is, by and large, designed in favor of the non-disabled.

Before the inevitable questions of “why don’t you just quit?” arise, I keep and have kept blogging for a very specific reason: I cannot just give up. Certainly, there are better writers out there than me. There are better blogs. I have blog friends who are more articulate, more stylistically clever; some of these folks who blog more, or have more readers. Yet I know that the blogosphere is a bit wicked in that one is only as good as her or his last post (to use a worn cliche). Some of us can crank out quality posts nearly every day. Many of us cannot.

I often cannot keep up with a ‘sphere in which other voices–more able voices–have the luxury of time and actual emotional/physical energy to blog. The conspiracy theorist in me wants to chalk this up to the blogosphere’s–and to a lesser extent, the internet’s–design as yet another space where able-bodied folks can “fit,” and can be “productive” in terms of number and quality of posts. For all the talk of the internet as a utopia where one is free to not be embodied, the same old shit seems to keep coming up, along with the big ol’ Cthuluphant in the room: that the world is designed for able-bodied (and preferably white, straight, middle-class, and male) individuals. Productivity, fitting in, responding quickly: These are things that non-able-bodied folks may not be able to do, whether because of issues of time, energy, ease of access, or many other factors. What happens when one cannot type because of searing pain in her hands, wrists, arms? What happens when one finds that he is too brain-fogged to write a post, much less comment on an existing post that many other people have already commented upon? When one is confined to bed because of nausea or all-over pain that forces her to lie for hours, staring at the ceiling, doing nothing because it’s all too much? What happens is that much-needed voices are not part of the conversation. They are lost, but not because they are not there.

This is shameful. There is no other word for it.

Do I know where to begin in pursuit of a solution? No.

Does anyone? I am not sure. I would like to hope that someone does, but I remain unsure.

We’re here. You just might not know it, yet.

Originally posted at Ham.Blog

Please, Tell Me More

One of the many problems which people with disabilities of all genders experience is well-meant advice. How is advice a problem? Well, it plays into a long history of infantalization of people with disabilities, and it’s a reminder to us that non-disabled people often believe that they know what’s good for us. The fact that people routinely believe that they know more than we do about our bodies is a very serious problem, because it’s this attitude which can lead to inappropriate medical treatment, institutionalization, and abuse.

All of us can relay some version of the following conversation:

Person With Disabilities: “…yes, I have [condition].”

Person Without Disabilities: “Oh, my [cousin/friend/mom/brother/etc] had that! You know what worked really well for them?”

Person With Disabilities: “…”

Person Without Disabilities: “This great medication!/A raw vegan diet!/Yoga!/Etc.”

Person With Disabilities: “Uhm, thanks.”

Person Without Disabilities: “Here, let me get you the info!”

So, here’s the thing. This kind of dialogue? Is actually not very helpful. Because people with disabilities are actually a bit more knowledgeable about their bodies, conditions, and comorbidities than random people they meet. Many people with disabilities are, in fact, working on various ways to manage their conditions. They might actually not be that pleased that they are having to share information about their personal lives for the purpose of asking for accommodation, clarifying a situation, or providing general information about themselves. Which means that they are especially displeased when people offer unsolicited medical advice.

They’ve probably tried or considered all of the things being brought up by the well meaning advice monger. And some of these things may even be working! Others may not! But, neither of these things is the business of a stranger, unless a person with disabilities specifically says “gee, I just don’t know what to do about my [condition], anyone have any advice or experience with it?” Or unless that stranger is a doctor whom the person with disabilities is consulting specifically to talk about treatment options, in the privacy of a medical practice.

There’s this idea which some non-disabled people seem to have that we are “broken” and we need to be “fixed” and we’re just not trying hard enough to fix ourselves. Or people are giving us the wrong advice. Or we don’t know how to take care of ourselves. If only someone would just tell us what to do, this logic goes, we would heal ourselves and be all better.

This same logic is used against other marginalized groups. Men sometimes tell women how feminism should be. White activists tell black activists how to address racism. Heterosexuals tell LGBQTAIs how to achieve full civil rights. In all of these cases, we have a situation in which someone in a position of power is telling someone in a position without power how they should behave. How they should access power. How they should live. What they should do.

Can one see how this might be a problem?

Can one see how this might intersect specifically with feminism?

One of the big problems with mainstream feminist dialogue around disability is the pernicious idea that people with disabilities need to be fixed, that being disabled is a horrible and tragic plight, and that people would naturally do anything to avoid becoming/stop being disabled. I wouldn’t say that this is necessarily the fault of feminism; rather, it’s the fault of the culture we believe in, because these are widely held cultural beliefs. But this is the thought process which allows mainstream feminists to only bring up disability issues in the context of reproductive rights (because, of course, no one would want a disabled baby!).

Were mainstream feminists to stop to consider their thought processes, they might see how their actions are playing into a system of oppression similar to the one used to keep women subordinate for centuries. “They’re childlike! They can’t make decisions on their own! They need guardians! They should be institutionalized!” These are all sentiments which continue to be aimed at people with disabilities, and which have a history of being used to marginalize women. Should women be using them against people with disabilities, let alone women with disabilities? I think not.

Problematic attitudes like these are one of the things we are hoping to spur people into examining with this website.

If you are currently able, when was the last time you provided unsolicited medical advice to someone upon learning that ou had a disability? If you are a person with disabilities, when was the last time you received unsolicited medical advice or other advice about how to live?

Disability Is a Feminist Issue

FWD/Forward is all about the intersection between feminism and disability issues, so it’s worth talking about why I think (know) disability is a feminist issue. I’ll note that this post is not intended to be a comprehensive review, nor is it intended to be the final word on the matter. It’s just a brief primer. Also, fair warning, I’m a bit jived on asthma medication right now, so this post is a bit slangier and more sarcastic than my usual oeuvre.

The short version of the reason that disability is a feminist issue is that some people with disabilities are women. I know, shocking! But I’m here to tell you that it’s true. And I don’t speak from purely anecdotal evidence. According to the Centers for Disease Control*, approximately one in five American women is living with a disability. So, people, science says that some people with disabilities are also women.

So, if you identify as a feminist, presumably you are doing so because you care about women and issues which affect women. If an issue affects one in five women, it’s probably something which you should care about.

But, there’s more!

Did you know that women with disabilities are up to twice as likely to be victims of sexual assault and violence? Those certainly seem like feminist issues to me, so it seems worth examining why one in five women is at a higher risk of experiencing violence.

Did you know that people with disabilities are also twice as likely to experience poverty and unemployment? Poverty and unemployment are also considered feminist issues by many feminists, in no small part because they tend to disproportionately affect women. So, if you have conditions which already disproportionately affect women involving some women more than others, again, it seems worth exploring the causality behind that.

Did you know that the wage gap is also more severe for people with disabilities? The wage gap is often identified as a key feminist issue; it’s the thing that a lot of non-feminists think about when they hear the word “feminism.” Again, if you have a problem which is recognized as an issue which affects women and you find out that women women experience that problem at an even higher rate than ordinary women, isn’t that a feminist issue?

This is called intersectionality, people. It’s the idea that overlapping and interconnecting systems of oppression are involved pretty much anywhere you feel like looking. Now, every single feminist in the entire world does not need to address every single overlapping system of oppression which touches women. But every single feminist in the entire world does have an obligation to make sure that deliberate harm is not inflicted by ignoring intersectionality. That means that if the focus of your feminism is, say, sex positivity, you need to think about sex positivity beyond pretty white straight cis people without disabilities. Because, if you don’t, there’s a chance that you, yes, you, are hurting people with your feminism. And not just people in general, but other women!

And, I would like to point out that this is an argument so simple that even my father, who is the most un-hip person you can imagine, who scratches his head when he hears the words “intersectional feminism,” gets it. So if my dad can get it, you can get it, seeing as you are presumably interested in feminism and disability issues, since you’re reading this site, which means you’re already ahead of my father.

*Have you ever wondered why it’s called the “Centers for Disease Control,” instead of the “Center for Disease Control”? It’s because it’s the “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” which is somehow magically acronymed into CDC. Who knows where the P went!

Ableist Word Profile: Hysterical

Welcome to Ableist Word Profile, a (probably intermittent) series in which staffers will profile various ableist words, talk about how they are used, and talk about how to stop using them. Ableism is not feminism, so it’s important to talk about how to eradicate ableist language from our vocabularies. This post is marked 101, which means that the comments section is open to 101 questions and discussion. Please note that this post contains ableist language used for the purpose of discussion and criticism; you can get an idea from the title of the kind of ableist language which is going to be included in the discussion, and if that type of language is upsetting or triggering for you, you may want to skip this post.

Today’s word: hysterical. There are a lot of different contemporary definitions of the word (Merriam-Webster, Cambridge, Encarta), but the theme among all of them is emotions that are extreme and unmanageable. A movie described as hysterically funny is likely funnier than most and may cause you to laugh uncontrollably and snort soda out your nose. Someone at a funeral who is crying loudly and who cannot seem to stop crying would likely be described as crying hysterically. But while your mental picture of the movie-goer laughing hysterically could have been either a man or a woman, the person hysterical with grief or worry is much more likely to be a woman than a man. That’s no accident – the history of this term is very gendered.

The word itself is derived from the Latin word hystericus, meaning “of the womb,” and from the Greek word hysterikos, meaning “of the womb, suffering in the womb,” from the Greek word hystera, meaning “womb.” And they understood the uterus to be the direct cause of hysteria. As Hannah S. Decker writes, “Various ancient Greek philosophers and physicians, including Plato, had argued that the uterus is an independent entity within a woman’s body… these thinkers concluded that the uterus had an ardent desire to create children. If the womb remained empty for long after the owner’s puberty, it became unhappy and angry and began to travel through the body. In its wanderings it pressed against various bodily organs, creating “hysterical” — that is, uterus-related — symptoms.”

So when someone on a blog tells me to chill out because it sounds like I’m hysterical about an issue,  the etymological meaning is that my failure to put a baby in my uterus (which has independent will and agency inside my body) has caused it to become angry, loose itself from its mooring, and start floating around inside of my body until it bangs into my brain and starts making me unreasonably upset.

There’s also a strong historical tradition of labeling women as “hysterical” in order to silence, marginalize, or even kill them. During the Roman Catholic inquisitions, thousands of European women were tortured and burnt as witches because they were thought to show signs of hysteria. But it was during the Nineteenth Century that things really got going. Some doctors considered the force of the uterus so powerful that it might overcome the brain and cause a woman to have pathological sexual feelings, “requiring” the physicians to “medically manipulate” the genitals in order to release the woman from control of her uterus. Yes, you read that right, the doctors were obligated to fondle their patients sexually for their own medical good. Conveniently, both mental or emotional distress and any physical symptom could be an indication of a woman’s hysteria, so doctors could diagnose literally any woman as hysterical.

Once hysterical women were no longer burned at the stake, the most common treatment was to send them to bed or to an asylum to prevent any activity or thought that would inflame their hysteria. This was an extremely effective way to marginalize or silence women, as any protest that she was not hysterical would be seen as conclusive proof that the diagnosis of hysteria had been correct. This meant, practically, that any woman categorized as hysterical was forever silenced and lost all credibility.

That’s a whole big mess of etymology and history, so let’s unpack that a bit. When I am told I am hysterical, there is both 1) the implication that I am excessively or unreasonably emotional AND 2) the implication that my condition is unique to my femaleness. It’s also 3) implied that hysterical statements (or even statements from hysterical people) should be discounted and hysterical people need to change in order to participate in the discussion, or should be removed from it entirely. Now let’s look at each one of those individually.

The first is a criticism of and dismissal of my personal emotions based on the observer’s judgment on whether they conform to what “normal” or “reasonable” emotions would be for that situation. The idea of “extremeness” is built into every definition of the word, implying that there is an assumed agreed-upon “normal” range for emotions. In the past, that likely meant “emotions acceptable to white men with money.” Currently, though, the idea is strikingly parallel to current definitions of mental disabilities and mental health diagnoses in the DSM-IV, which require that a specific set of symptoms “must cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning” in order for a person to meet diagnostic criteria. This means that thee idea of emotions that are outside the “normal” range of experience to the degree that they affect a person’s function is the very definition of mental illness. So the accusation of “hysteria,” with the implication that the hysterical person has abnormally extreme emotions, is very clearly an accusation of mental illness. And remember part 3 — the conclusion that a hysterical person (or a person with a mental disability, by equivalency) should be discounted in discussions because of their hysteria/disability. THAT IS ABLEIST.

But that’s not all. The other implication of the term is that this over-emotional condition is a uniquely female condition and is caused directly by female reproductive organs being sad about not having a baby. While that’s not literally how it’s meant today, it still feels like a slightly nicer way of saying “you’re just upset because it’s that time of the month,” another way to marginalize and dismiss females based explicitly on their femaleness. It’s a way to say “that sounds like something a woman would say when she’s being super woman-y and influenced by being a woman.” And again, this is assumed to be a reason to discount the information or perspective offered and to exclude that person from the conversation. THAT IS SEXIST.

And here’s where the intersectionality comes in. Hysterical is a handy dandy insta-dismissal that slams two marginalized groups at the same time – and it only works because to be related to either group is considered to make you lesser. It also means that this word, with its invocation of both ableism and sexism, is particularly sharp when aimed at women with disabilities. That’s why arguments like “It’s sexist because it makes all women sound like crazies! Who’d want to be a crazy!” are extremely problematic – not only does the word rely on both sexism and ableism, it relies on the interaction between those two axes of oppression to be a super strong word.

If we thought of people with mental disabilities as full equals, with valid feelings, thoughts and perspectives that deserved respect, then the message “you are talking like a person with a mental disability because you are a woman” would be a compliment. The message would be “you are presenting a perspective or idea that deserves respectful consideration.”

If we thought of women as full equals, with valid feelings, thoughts, and perspectives that deserved respect, then the message “you are responding with extreme emotion because you are a woman” would imply that the emotion was valid and important and deserved respectful consideration. It would likely mean that whatever idea or perspective presented with that emotion would be given more credit and consideration, not less.

It only works as an insult, as a way to dismiss and marginalize, because both groups are considered lesser. And this is a great example of why intersectionality is so important – the kyriarchy uses other marginalized groups to attack us. As we support each other and all grow stronger, the kyriarchy will be less able to use these groups against us.

Note: I use the word hysterical in some contexts (‘I was hoping Zombieland would be as hysterical as Shaun of the Dead but it totally wasn’t.’) — I think these concerns are primarily relevant when using the word to characterize an individual’s argument, ideas, emotions, or perspective. I’d be interested in learning if others find it problematic in those contexts.

Email Q&A: What About Womanists?

We’re not even a week since the roll-out, but the response so far has been tremendous. Along with the excellent discussion in comments, we’ve gotten some really great questions, like this one (which we’ve paraphrased from the original email):

Why is the name of the blog Feminists With Disabilities? Wouldn’t it be more inclusive, especially of women of color, if the name acknowledged the womanist movement? Say, Feminists and Womanists with Disabilities?

We’ve been discussing this since we got the email, and we’ve come to a consensus that for now, we aren’t comfortable using womanist in the title of our blog. None of the current group of contributors identifies as a womanist. While we aren’t all white, those of us who are women of color identify as feminist. Those of us who are white don’t want to be disrespectful of the work womanists have done and are doing and appropriate their word for their movement created specifically in response to white privilege and oppression.

We also do not want to imply that we are authorities on womanism and that anything about womanism needs to change by including “womanists” in the title. Many of us are concerned with the historical exclusion of women with disabilities from mainstream feminism, and that exclusion is the primary focus of this website.

None of this means that we don’t welcome womanists and womanists with disabilities to join us as readers, as commenters, as guest posters, and as contributors (and if someone who did identify as a womanist did join us as a contributor we would revisit this issue). We want to create a safe space for all women here, and we do not want womanists to feel excluded; they have much to add to the conversation, and we look forward to hearing from them. We hope that FWD will be a place where inclusivity and respect are the rules rather than the exceptions.

Outrageous pre-existing conditions

(Originally posted a month ago at three rivers fog; in the meantime, news also came out that things like acne were considered pre-existing conditions as well: consider any and all further outrage well and fully included in the subject of this post.)

You’ve undoubtedly heard the news already. A history of domestic violence or C-section are considered, by private US health insurance companies, to be “pre-existing conditions,” which are used as a basis for denying coverage, rescinding coverage, charging higher rates, or other discriminatory practices.

Of course, this is outrageous. Why should a woman who has been beaten by some asshole be denied health care coverage? It isn’t fair.

But there’s something wrong here. And not just with this discriminatory practice — but with the people breathlessly reporting it.

Because, you see, it is being reported, not as:

Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions Are Morally Wrong, but as

How Dare They Treat DV Victims and Mothers the Same Way They Treat Women with Depression, Diabetes and Cancer!

It is being reported as different from “normal” pre-existing condition exclusions. It is being reported as being especially wrong. As being worse. A true moral violation, taking things to a new level.

But why?

Here’s the thing. Insurance companies refuse coverage to people with pre-existing conditions (anything from asthma to leukemia) because they know these people will be highly likely to incur greater costs than healthy patients. The entire rationale for excluding them is because they cost more money.

If you have had a C-section once, you are much more likely to end up having another one if you ever give birth again. If you have a history of domestic violence, you might end up with an abusive partner again, and end up needing care.

Yeah, it’s complete bullshit that these people would be refused health care. It’s downright immoral.

But why is it especially immoral to refuse health care to these women — but not to women with osteoporosis or an anxiety disorder or back pain? Or Ehler-Danlos Syndrome or food allergies or heart disease or lung cancer?

How is it any different?

Victims of domestic violence don’t deserve to suffer consequences for something that is not their fault. This is truth. It contributes to the very popular cultural myth that victims are somehow to blame for the abuse they suffer — that they must have done something to provoke it, or that they should have left, etc. All this stuff is highly damaging.

But that doesn’t make it different than telling a woman with lung cancer that she can’t have care because her disease is somehow her fault. Which contributes to the very popular cultural myth that people with medical conditions are somehow to blame for them — that they must have done something to earn them, that it’s their own fault they ended up that way, and therefore they lose rights to certain things because they are inflicting the costs of their mistakes on the rest of us.

Because if you haven’t done anything wrong, you won’t ever end up sick. If you do end up sick, there must be something you did wrong.

Maybe that woman smoked. And maybe that other woman slapped her boyfriend first. And that woman who was raped wore a short skirt and flirted with the man first. That does not make this violation her fault. This is basic feminist theory. “Blaming the victim.”

Health care is a human right. We all deserve basic health care that respects a person’s dignity and integrity and humanity.

So why are these things different? Especially outrageous?

I can’t identify any reason except one.

Because they apply to healthy women.

It’s understandable why health insurance companies would refuse care to women with arthritis. It makes sense that they would deny care to women with psychiatric disorders.

Because we, as a society, think it is OK to deny quality of life and societal access to people with medical conditions, disabilities and chronic illnesses. We have determined that it makes sense to discriminate against them. We get why these things are done. And they’re done to those people. Over there. Not to me and mine.

But C-sections? Why, one-third of mothers in the US will have a C-section instead of a vaginal birth! That affects me and mine. Therefore, it is especially outrageous — that we would be treated like we treat them.

Oh, but that’s not how you think?

What justification is there for acting as though these practices are any worse than the practice of denying coverage to women who have lupus?

There isn’t any that isn’t rooted in a deeply ableist bias.

How about we get outraged by the fact that there is any such thing as a pre-existing condition exclusion at all? I can get behind you on that one.


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What moves at the margin : selected nonfiction

The commanding voice of Morrison's essays, speeches and reviews offers compelling insights into family, history, other writers and politics. The pieces span from 1971, when Morrison was an editor at Random House, to 2002, the year she won the Nobel Prize, and range from book introductions to th...

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Main Author: Morrison, Toni.
Contributors: Denard, Carolyn C.
Format: Book
Language: English
Published: Jackson : University Press of Mississippi, c2008.
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Call Number: PS 3563 .O8749 A6 2008

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The Corona Police Department formally organized its Mounted Enforcement Unit in 1991. The Mounted Enforcement Unit has been utilized in a variety of city functions such as large crowd management, crime suppression in the downtown area, transient enforcement details, concerts in the park, Fourth of July fireworks celebration, as well as search and rescue details.  The unit also has a Mounted Color Guard which presents the colors at formal events, including parades.

The Mounted Enforcement Unit currently consists of six members.  Lieutenant Neil Reynolds, Detective Megan Samano, Corporal Jody Smith, Officer Elizabeth Jolin, Officer David Dopson, and Volunteer Pamela Molter.

For more information on the Corona Police Department's Mounted Enforcement Unit, please contact Lt. Neil Reynolds


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This is a research project intended to highlight issues inherent in the ownership and use of cultural heritage. All too often, cultural institutions frame their online terms of use by telling users what they cannot do with the content made available on their website, rather than focusing on what users can do with that content. We don’t want to make the same mistake. The intellectual concerns that underpin this project are explored at length in the publication, but first and foremost we want users to engage with Display At Your Own Risk, creatively and otherwise.

So, here are some of the things that you can do with the images and files within this online resource:

  • print them out for pleasure or for study
  • hang them on the walls of your home or office
  • use them to create your own digital or analogue artwork
  • use them to order fabric and make curtains, a tablecloth, or something wearable
  • take the metadata and repurpose it, perhaps as a poem or as lyrics for a song

These suggestions are by no means exhaustive. You should be guided by your own intuition and interests. And above all, take time to enjoy the works in this exhibition. We have.

You could, of course, decide to host your own version of Display At Your Own Risk. If so, you have two choices: you might choose from the selection of works included in the Display At Your Own Risk exhibition folder; alternatively, you might choose to curate your own exhibition. Should you choose the latter, instructions for how to Curate At Your Own Risk are included in the open source exhibition file, along with the exhibition folder containing our selections.

But whatever you do, please share with us your use of this experimental exhibition by tagging it on Twitter and Facebook as #myDAYOR


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Divergences, Revue libertaire internationale en ligne
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The Year in Hate

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Number of Hate Groups Tops 900

From white power skinheads decrying "President Obongo" at a racist gathering in rural Missouri, to neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klansmen hurling epithets at Latino immigrants from courthouse steps in Oklahoma, to anti-Semitic black separatists calling for death to Jews on bustling street corners in several East Coast cities, hate group activity in the U.S. was disturbing and widespread throughout 2008, as the number of hate groups operating in America continued to rise. Last year, 926 hate groups were active in the U.S., up more than 4% from 888 in 2007. That’s more than a 50% increase since 2000, when there were 602 groups.

As in recent years, hate groups were animated by the national immigration debate. But two new forces also drove them in 2008 : the worsening recession, and Barack Obama’s successful campaign to become the nation’s first black president. Officials reported that Obama had received more threats than any other presidential candidate in memory, and several white supremacists were arrested for saying they would assassinate him or allegedly plotting to do so.

At the same time, law enforcement officials reported a marked swelling of the extreme-right "sovereign citizens" movement that wreaked havoc in the 1990s with its "paper terrorism" tactics. Adherents are infamous for filing bogus property liens and orchestrating elaborate financial ripoffs.

Somewhat surprisingly, it wasn’t just the usual suspects from the white supremacist underworld who sought to exploit the country’s economic turmoil and political strife. A key 2008 hate group trend was the increasing militancy of the extremist fringe of the Hebrew Israelite movement, whose adherents believe that Jews are creatures of the devil and that whites deserve death or slavery.

These radical black supremacists have no love for Barack Obama, calling him a "house nigger" and a puppet of Israel. They preach to inner-city blacks that evil Jews are solely responsible for the recession. The rhetoric of white-skinned hate group leaders in 2008 was equally alarming. Last September, for example the cover of National Socialist magazine depicted then-presidential nominee Barack Obama in the crosshairs of a scope, with the headline "Kill This Nigger ?"

What follows is a detailed look at the three most active and dangerous white supremacist hate group sectors in 2008 : Ku Klux Klan groups, neo-Nazis, and racist skinheads.
Ku Klux Klan groups
Reversing a generally declining trend since 2000, Klan groups in the U.S. increased significantly in 2008, from 155 chapters to 186. Seventeen new chapters belong to the Brotherhood of Klans Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (BOK), which during the past five years has grown into the largest Klan organization in the country. In 2008, the Marion, Ohio-headquartered BOK launched a handful of chapters in Canada, linking up with the Aryan Guard, a fast-growing white nationalist group based in Alberta.

A smaller but likewise rapidly expanding Klan group, the United Northern and Southern Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, which in 2007 absorbed the National Aryan Knights, more than doubled its number of chapters and tripled its geographic reach last year, going from 11 chapters in eight states to 24 chapters in 24 states.

The continued rise of the United Northern and Southern Knights and the BOK paralleled the decline of the Imperial Klans of America (IKA). Since 2005, the IKA has shriveled from 39 chapters in 26 states to just six chapters in five states. Last year, it suffered a crippling blow when a Meade County, Ky., jury delivered a $2.5 million judgment against members of the IKA, including $1 million against IKA leader Ron Edwards, in a lawsuit brought by the Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of a mixed-race teenager who was assaulted by IKA thugs in Kentucky.

Beyond the IKA trial, the biggest Klan story for the mainstream media in 2008 was the murder of a 43-year-old Tulsa, Okla., woman during a backwoods Klan initiation ritual near Bogalusa, La. According to law enforcement investigators, the victim was recruited over the Internet to join the Sons of Dixie, a tiny KKK faction led by Raymond "Chuck" Foster. Foster allegedly shot the woman in the head after she changed her mind about joining the Klan.

Blipping on the media’s radar last December was the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, whose imperial wizard, Ray Larsen, called for all Klansmen "worldwide" to wear black armbands and fly the American flag upside down on Jan. 20, the day of Barack Obama’s inauguration.
Neo-Nazi groups
A slight drop in the number of neo-Nazi chapters last year from 207 to 194 was attributable largely to the dissolution of National Vanguard after its leader, Kevin Alfred Strom, was convicted in January 2008 on child pornography charges. (Strom was released last fall after serving prison time.)

Another major neo-Nazi leader, American National Socialist Workers Party "Commander" Bill White, also suffered legal troubles in 2008, culminating in his December indictment on several federal felony counts for posting death threats on his website or by making them by phone. Along with the threats, White often posted the home addresses of perceived enemies, ranging from Canadian human rights attorney Richard Warman (in an item subtly titled "Kill Richard Warman") to Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts to officials of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

When the seven-count federal indictment came down, White was already jailed in Chicago on separate charges. He was arrested last October and extradited from Roanoke, Va., where he owns apartments in black neighborhoods, to face a federal obstruction of justice charge for allegedly threatening the foreman of a Chicago jury that convicted neo-Nazi leader Matt Hale in 2004 of soliciting the murder of a federal judge. Still, despite White’s legal and personal financial turmoil (he declared bankruptcy last June), the ANSWP grew last year from 30 chapters in 26 states to 35 chapters in 28 states, making it the second-largest neo-Nazi organization in the country, after the National Socialist Movement (NSM).

Apart from its usual literature dispersals, book burnings, swastika lightings, and its annual "Hated and Proud" hate rock festival, the NSM in 2008 targeted Latino immigrants with sizable "illegal invasion" protests in Washington, D.C., and Omaha, Neb. Subjected for years to movement ridicule for their brown-shirt uniforms, NSM national and state chapter leaders also voted at the group’s National Congress last April to switch to "more militant looking" black BDUs (Battle Dress Uniforms). Even with the makeover, the NSM lost 30 chapters last year (it later added 26, for a net loss of six chapters) after leader Jeff Schoep abandoned his family and relocated NSM headquarters from Minneapolis to Detroit in January 2008, reportedly to move in with a new girlfriend of dubious Aryan purity.

Nevertheless, the NSM benefited from diminished competition as the formerly dominant National Alliance continued its long decline, shrinking to 11 chapters in nine states. Similarly, Aryan Nations, another one-time powerhouse, withered to 11 chapters in 10 states. White Revolution gained no ground, ending the year as it began with a dozen chapters.

Two upstart neo-Nazi groups emerged in 2008. The League of American Patriots, which held its inaugural meeting last March 29, appears to be comprised of former National Vanguard members. The second newcomer, Knights of the Nordic Order, was founded by "two former captains of the Aryan Brotherhood," a notorious white supremacist prison gang, according to its website.
Racist Skinhead groups
The total number of racist skinhead crews, driven by the addition of a couple of new organizations, rose from 90 in 2007 to 98 last year.

Relatively inactive in 2007, Hammerskin Nation, long a force to be reckoned with in the racist skinhead subculture, came back in a big way in 2008. The diminished tally of Hammerskins chapters (which dropped from 15 to 12) is misleading, as it represents the merging of smaller chapters and Hammerskin leaders weeding out weaker outfits, rather than a real drop in the organization’s strength and membership. On the contrary, the Hammerskins last year stepped up recruiting while forging new bonds with other skinhead groups and hosting dozens of hate rock concerts, white power cookouts, Mixed Martial Arts prizefight viewing parties and other widely promoted events.

The Confederate Hammerskins (CHS), the organization’s southeastern regional division, kept particularly busy, beginning last March with a St. Patty’s Day concert in Central Florida that was heavily attended by skins from across the country. Represented crews included Volksfront, Blood & Honour American Division, Atlantic City Skins, Troops of Tomorrow, and The Hated. Members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, a notorious biker gang, also attended.

A close Hammerskins ally, the Portland, Ore.-based Volksfront, held its first annual "Althing" gathering last Aug. 29-Sept. 1 on private land purchased by Volksfront in rural Missouri, about an hour’s drive north of St. Louis. Part three-day hate rock blowout, part skinhead summit, the Althing was held in the "Samuel Weaver Memorial Hall," named after white supremacist Randy Weaver’s son, who was killed by federal agents during the infamous Ruby Ridge standoff in 1992 (Weaver’s wife and a U.S. marshal were also killed). Among the white supremacist leaders who attended was veteran skinhead organizer David Lynch, leader of the resurgent Sacramento, Calif.-based crew American Front.

Last December, more than 100 skinheads from at least five states gathered in Florida for a "Martyr’s Day" party, co-sponsored by CHS, Volksfront and American Front, that featured a keynote address phoned in from prison by Richard Kemp, a member of the white supremacist terrorist group The Order. Martyr’s Day commemorates the 1984 death of Order founder Bob Mathews, who died in a shootout with the FBI.

Another noteworthy development in the skinhead sector was the severe weakening of the Vinlanders Social Club (VSC), a skinhead coalition that began in 2003 and grew to become Hammerskin Nation’s primary rival. Plagued by infighting, criminal prosecutions and desertions, the Vinlanders made no public appearances in 2008, limiting their activities to private beer bashes. Three inner-circle Vinlanders, including co-founder Eric "The Butcher" Fairburn, were convicted last year of a March 2007 racially motivated attack on a homeless black man in downtown Indianapolis. At his sentencing hearing last August, Fairburn publicly renounced the skinhead movement.

Formerly aligned with the VSC, the Keystone State Skinheads (KSS) distanced their group from the Vinlanders, changed their name to Keystone United and recast themselves as media-friendly "pro-white" activists. Keystone mouthpiece Keith Carney denounced hooliganism in several newspaper and television interviews. Last October, the group held a "Leif Ericson Day Celebration," honoring the Viking explorer, in a Philadelphia public park on the banks of the Schuylkill River. In contrast to the screaming hate rock performed by Absolute Terror and Total War at the annual Keystone-sponsored "Uprise" concert in January 2008, which was held in a secret location, Celtic folk musicians provided entertainment at the two-faced crew’s "family-friendly" event.

In contrast to KSS, the United Society of Aryan Skinheads (USAS) made no effort to revamp its image in 2008. Formed in recent years inside California’s state prison system, the USAS continues to espouse white-power skinhead ideology and grow into a strong presence throughout Southern California as members are paroled. The USAS went from a single chapter in 2007 to nine chapters in 2008, including three separate crews in San Diego, the group’s base of operations in the outside world. Though populated almost entirely by ex-cons, the USAS, unlike most prison-based white supremacists, actually maintains a powerful racist identity and rarely compromises principles in favor of criminal profits.

One major new racist skinhead group surfaced in 2008 : the Supreme White Alliance, or SWA. Co-founded by Kentucky skinhead Steven Edwards, son of Imperial Klans of America leader Ron Edwards, the SWA by year’s end boasted eight chapters in as many states, an active website and a substantial online presence on MySpace as well as on the white nationalist social networking site New Saxon. The group’s vice president is former IKA member Jarred Hensley, who served more than a year for his role in the hate crime assault that led to the SPLC lawsuit. "Out of prison and back on the streets," Hensley posted on MySpace last July upon his release. "It’s gr88 to be a Skinhead !" Last October, former SWA probate Daniel Cowart was arrested in Tennesee with another skinhead he met online for allegedly plotting to assassinate Barack Obama after killing 88 black students (88 is neo-Nazi code for the phrase "Heil Hitler"). The SWA claimed that Cowart had been kicked out prior to hatching the plan.

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diy Home Bathroom
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Bathroom Design

Minimal, linear, often metallic and futuristic, contemporary bathroom vanities come in modern finishes such as brushed nickel and chrome, and are usually free of extraneous ornament and decoration. The result can be a synergistic blend of strength and beauty. A contemporary aesthetic does not exclude natural stone or natural woods. Natural materials and high quality bathroom vanity mirrors will provide lasting endurance and timeless style, and because they are tough enough to withstand everyday wear, they will remain beautiful for years to come.

Bathroom Ideas

Bathroom Design Software   Small Bathroom Ideas
Bathroom Tile Ideas   Master Bathroom Ideas

Coordinating fixtures according to a contemporary look is not a difficult task if you keep to these few basic concepts. Each piece of your bathroom vanity must be considered carefully. The mirror is often frameless in a contemporary setting, and an unusual sink design might centralize the aesthetic, complementing a clean-lined cabinet. In modern designs, sinks often look like bowls sitting on a tabletop, a design called the vessel sink. Sometimes faucets extend straight out from the wall. Cabinets fashioned of stainless steel, brushed chrome, transparent acrylic, unadorned unstained wood and glass are just a few of the many options the home designer has at his or her disposal when shopping for a contemporary bathroom vanity.

do it yourself

Technology is partner to innovations in aesthetics, and so creative choices abound, especially in the field of contemporary design. Modern bathroom vanities are a great place to begin as they focus the design into four basic components of the vanity: the mirror, the sink, the top and the cabinet. The contemporary one-piece bathroom vanity is one very popular option for homeowners. This releases the customer of having to match fixtures with sinks to cabinets. Other attendant items in the contemporary vanity are: stainless steel towel rail, and/or a uniquely designed trap. The trap though a small detail could be considered an object of beauty itself depending on its character.

Bathroom Design

3D Bathroom Software   Bathroom Remodeling

How to Tile a Bathroom

Shower Enclosures

Another quintessentially modern addition might be a pair elegant cylindrical glass diffuser lights with clean, perpendicular lines and a sophisticated brushed stainless finish with frosted white glass. It is important to add a soft light to the contemporary bathroom, with its potentially cool details. The lighting in the contemporary bathroom vanity can be relatively inexpensive, as there is a good deal of stylish modern lighting available. The modern bathroom vanity, with its brushed metal finishes and cool clean tones, will assist any homeowner on their quest to create a unique environment of modern fusion and timeless beauty.

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Downscaled Climate Projections

Advantages of a Probabilistic Approach

Flexibility to Control Covariability in Time, Space and between Variables

In a deterministic approach, the correlation between a downscaled variable at one "weather station" and second "weather station" is determined by the large-scale predictors. If, as is usually the case, the large-scale predictors are more highly correlated in space than the observed local variables, then the downscaled variables will be too highly correlated in space compared to observations.

In a probabilistic approach, however, one has flexibility to control the correlation between two stations. For example, consider a small scale variable at two stations, $s_1(t)$ and $s_2(t)$, together with the corresponding large-scale predictors, $L_1(t)$ and $L_2(t)$, where all variables are a function of time, $t$. For simplicity, we assume that linear regression is a good approximation so that the downscaled $s_j(t)$ is related to $L_j(t)$ by \begin{equation*} \tilde{s}_j(t) = a_j L_j(t) + b_j + c_j n_j(t), \end{equation*} where $a_j$ and $b_j$ are the ordinary least squares constants, $n_j(t)$ is noise with zero mean and unit variance, $c_j$ is the square root of the "unexplained" variance, $\tilde{s}(t)$ is the downscaled $s(t)$, and $j = 1$ or $2$. One can show that the correlation between the downscaled variables is: \begin{equation} \label{corr} \mathrm{corr} (s_1,s_2) = \frac{ a_1 a_2 \mathrm{cov} (L_1,L_2) + c_1 c_2 \mathrm{corr}(n_1,n_2) }{ \sqrt{(a_1^2 \sigma_1^2 + c_1^2)(a_2^2 \sigma_2^2 + c_2^2)} }, \end{equation} where $\sigma_j$ is the standard deviation of $L_j(t)$. In a deterministic approach $n_j(t) = 0$ and the correlation between $s_1$ and $s_2$ \eqref{corr} simplifies to \begin{equation*} \mathrm{corr} (s_1,s_2) = \mathrm{corr} (L_1,L_2). \end{equation*} In a probabilistic approach, on the other hand, one has the freedom to choose the cross-correlation between $n_1(t)$ and $n_2(t)$ and this in turn determines the correlation between $s_1$ and $s_2$. In this simple example, one can solve \eqref{corr} for $\mathrm{corr}(n_1,n_2)$ and easily determine the noise cross-correlation required to correctly reproduce $\mathrm{corr}(s_1,s_2)$.

The same strategy can be used to adjust the temporal auto-correlation and the correlation between two separate variables. For example, we find that the random noise for downscaled maximum temperature needs to be positively correlated with the random noise for minimum temperature in order to correctly reproduce the observed covariability between maximum and minimum temperature.


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Tanglefoot near: Trail from New Albany to Houston will open soon

Lauren Wood | Daily Journal Korey Vernon, left, and Jacob Ball with TBall Plumbing and Wiring install a light at the whistlestop in Ecru Wednesday morning.

Lauren Wood | Daily Journal
Korey Vernon, left, and Jacob Ball with TBall Plumbing and Wiring install a light at the whistlestop in Ecru Wednesday morning.

By Errol Castens
Daily Journal

PONTOTOC – The pavement is laid and striped. Signage and lighting are in place. Whistlestop restrooms are being completed.

And after years of anticipation about this area’s first multi-county recreational rails-to-trails conversion, it’s safe to say that bikers, hikers and runners are eager to see the opening of the Tanglefoot Trail.

Trail officials know this, because they’ve had to remind quite a few that it’s not yet open to the public.

“Board members, we’ve got to politely tell people, please don’t be on it yet,” said Randy Kelley, executive director of Three Rivers Planning and Development District, at a recent meeting of the GM&O Rails-to-Trails Recreational District board.

So, when will it open?

It’s a bit fuzzy yet, because the whistlestop rest areas have to be completed, and then MDOT engineers have to do final inspections before they turn the trail over to the District.

“We hope to have the Trail open to the public sometime in August,” said Karen Heintze of Three Rivers.

Like hundreds of similar trails across the country, the 44.56-mile Tanglefoot is a conversion of an abandoned railroad converted to recreational use.

The project began in 2003, when the Mississippi-Tennessee Railway announced plans to abandon the right-of-way from New Albany to Houston. After hearing from Longleaf Trace Manager Herlon Pierce about the successes of that 40-mile rails-to-trails conversion in south Mississippi, a formal group was formed in 2006.

It eventually took on the GM&O name for the last railroad that included the route in Tennessee-to-Gulf-Coast service. Later “Tanglefoot” was adopted for the trail name after a steam locomotive on the original line built by novelist William Faulkner’s ancestors. (“Tanglefoot” is also pretty descriptive of the kudzu that grows alongside much of the trail.)

“Starting out, the hard part was just selling an idea that was new to all of us,” said Board Chairwoman Betsey Hamilton. “One of the most exciting things is to hear the very positive comments from those who were, in the beginning, naysayers.”

Perhaps even more important than providing recreational opportunities, she said, such Federal Railbanking Act projects keep rail properties intact in case they are ever needed again as either railroads or other public utilities.

Sheriff’s departments in the Tanglefoot Trail’s home counties of Union, Pontotoc and Chickasaw will patrol the trail both at crossings and along the path, using golf carts the Rails-to-Trails District has furnished, and the District may hire part-time deputies for extra patrols.

“The sheriffs have bought in,” Kelley said. “That’s key, for them to be on board.”

Along with the nearly complete whistlestop rest areas in Ingomar, Ecru, Algoma and New Houlka, visitor centers are planned for the “gateway” cities of New Albany, Pontotoc and Houston.

New Albany Mayor Tim Kent said local leaders hope to create a temporary staging area in the Union County Library parking lot, just south of downtown, eventually building a formal visitor center adjacent to Bankhead Street.

“We really would like to put a gate, wrought iron, bicycle racks, so we can draw visitors into downtown,” Kent said. “We’ve got to find somewhere to get some money, whether that be through sponsorships, donations or other sources.”

Pontotoc Mayor Jeff Stafford said officials in his city hope to buy a five-acre former industrial site along the trail for a gateway.

“We’re going to try to build a Tanglefoot Park with restrooms and recreational facilities for visitors and our residents,” he said. The decision depends on support from residents, but Stafford said the park would greatly enhance the site just a few blocks west of the square.

“We’ll remove the blight and make it a really attractive area,” Stafford said.

Houston’s trailhead is planned for a site off Church Street. Mayor Stacey Parker said the Tanglefoot’s opening will be “one of the best opportunities that have happened to us in a long time.

“The biggest asset we have on our end is the Natchez Trace,” he said. “We’re very much trying to draw people from there onto the Tanglefoot.”

The trail will show a cross-section of Northeast Mississippi to visitors and locals alike. Hardwoods such as oaks, hickories and poplars dominate the treescape, with a lot of pines and an understory of cedars, dogwoods and many other native species, along with wildflowers and awe-inspiring stands of kudzu.

“I think the prettiest stretch is from Houston to Houlka, because a lot of it is covered with hardwoods that form a canopy over the trail,” said Trail Manager Don Locke. “The area from Ecru to New Albany is more open, but there’s some nice cropland out there – hills on one side, bottomland on the other.”

Ben Hamby, director of economic development for Jefferson Davis County, said his area has benefited greatly from the Longleaf Trace.

“We have people from out of state here just to ride the Trace,” he said. “We get people all the time from Florida and other states, and we refer them to local places to eat and to stay while they’re here. Economically, it’s important to us.”

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Mineral Titles Online (MTO)

Mineral Titles Online (MTO) provides details of mineral exploration and mining tenements throughout Western Australia.

In addition customers have the ability to perform a large portion of their business transactions with the department’s Mineral Titles Division through the MTO system, as well as order, pay for and receive tenement title searches online.

Transition to Online Processing

The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) is committed to providing enhanced digital services.  DMP endeavours to have all transactions available online. The initiative is designed to provide users with the flexibility of transacting at their convenience. Since 2011, DMP has made over 18 Mining Act 1978 (Mining Act) forms available online with a further 12 scheduled to be released this month. DMP is endeavouring to progressively make more of its transactions available online. The initiative has reduced processing times and improved ease of business by replacing the physical lodgement of Mining Act related forms and supporting documents at a Mining Registrar’s office.

The initiative is consistent with the Western Australian Government’s “Digital WA Strategy” which aims to create cost effective and efficient online systems to provide users with the flexibility of accessing government services and transactions at their convenience.

The current use of Mineral Titles Online is at record high with 78% of mining tenement applications in May lodged online, and by 1 July 2016, 90% of transactions will be available for online lodgement. However, throughout the transition period from paper to online, Mineral Titles Division will continue to offer both over-the-counter and online services.

DMP encourages its customers to use online services as this increases access to services and encourages streamlined processing of applications and determinations.

If you have any queries, please contact Dr Ivor Roberts, Executive Director Mineral Titles Division, Department of Mines and Petroleum via 9222 3118 or ivor.roberts@dmp.wa.gov.au.

If you need assistance in the use of Mineral Titles Online please call MTOL Enquires on (08) 9222 3030 or email mto.help@dmp.wa.gov.au

If you are experiencing technical problems please call the Service Desk on (08) 9222 0777 or email it.servicedesk@dmp.wa.gov.au

Access to Mineral Titles Online

What is eLodgement?

eLodgement refers to the electronic lodgement of Mining Act forms-based business processes and any associated documentation via the MTO.

Customers have the ability to submit selected forms and any associated documentation online 24 hours a day, seven days a week (excluding scheduled maintenance) from anywhere in the world.

eLodgement processing uses a wizard style interface to streamline the online transaction process and upon completion a submission notification is provided by email.

Available online transactions

A variety of transactions can be performed online including:

Tenement Searches

  • Ordering a Tenement Search
  • Order a Tenement Data Extract (PDF)
  • Order a Tenement Data Extract (XML)

Title Related Transactions

  • Apply for a Tenement
  • Apply for an Extension of Term/ Renewal
  • Lodge an Objection
  • Lodge a Tenement Withdrawal
  • Lodge Application to Amend
  • Lodge Surrender
  • Lodge Partial Surrender
  • Apply for an Extension of Time
  • Apply for an Application for Forfeiture
  • Apply for a Copy Document
  • Apply for Excess Tonnage
  • Apply for Licence/Lease Instrument
  • Apply for Consent to Mine
  • Apply for Inclusion of Iron Ore
  • Apply for Inclusion of Private Land
  • Apply for a Retention Status
  • Apply for Restoration
  • Lodge a Plaint

Dealings and Other Processes

  • Lodge a Caveat
  • Lodge a Tenement Transfer
  • Lodge a Devolution
  • Lodge a Tax Memorial
  • Lodge a Caveat Withdrawal
  • Lodge an Agreement Withdrawal
  • Lodge a Tax Memorial Withdrawal
  • Lodge a Caveat Continuation
  • Lodge a Mortgage
  • Lodge a Mortgage Discharge
  • Lodge a Mortgage Transfer

Warden's Court Transactions

  • Lodge an Objection
  • Apply for an Extension of Time
  • Apply for an Application for Forfeiture
  • Lodge a Plaint
  • Apply for a Restoration
  • Lodge a Notice of Appeal under s147

Compliance Related Transactions

  • Apply for an Exemption from Expenditure
  • Lodge Operations Report
  • Apply for an Extension of Time
  • Apply for Excess Tonnage
  • Apply for an Application for Forfeiture
  • Apply for Exemption from Drop Off

Non-title Related Transactions

  • Apply for a Section 40E Permit to Prospect
  • Apply for a Permit to Enter Upon Private Land
  • Lodge a Power of Attorney

Form Relodgement

  • Relodgement/Provisional Lodgement

Rental Payments

  • Make a Rental Payment

  • Lodge Supporting Documents
  • Lodge a Document for a Tenement
  • Lodge a Request Affecting a Mining Tenement
  • Lodge supporting documentation relating to a Warden’s Court matter

What if I am not a registered MTO user?

You can register for free by completing the online form.

Mining act fees and charges

The current mining tenement fees and charges are effective from 01 July 2016.

Fees have been adjusted in accord with the Perth September Quarter 2015 CPI increase of 1.1% whilst rent has been increased by 3.4%. The 2.3% rent increase above the CPI is in lieu of introducing environmental assessment fees.

The Department of Mines and Petroleum’s (DMP) Mining Act fees and charges can now be paid at the Customer Service Counter Perth and regional offices by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFTPOS) or credit card.

You are currently able to order and pay for official tenement searches and data extracts, pay mining tenement rentals and lodge various Mining Act forms online using the Department's Mineral Titles Online system. The Department of Mines and Petroleum accepts Visa and Mastercard. A credit card limit of $99,999 applies per transaction.

If the transaction limit of $99,999 is exceeded then the transaction will be rejected. This is important to note because applications such as Exploration Licences secure priority in time by satisfying the initial requirements of the legislation, including payment of fees.

Mining Tenement Fees and Charges (effective from 01 July 2016).

Additional information


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Worldwide, carbon capture and geological storage (CCS) is the technology considered to have the greatest potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from large-scale fossil fuel usage. The Carbon Storage Taskforce (CSTF), established by the Australian Government under the National Low Emissions Coal Initiative (NLECI) has identified that CCS combined with power generation and gas processing is likely to play a significant role in Australia.

What is geosequestration?

The trapping of carbon dioxide (CO2) in deep underground formations is known as geosequestration. CO2 gas can be converted into a supercritical fluid in the presence of heat and compression. Conditions exist below about 800 metres underground which ensure injected CO2 remains as a supercritical fluid.

In converting CO2 from a gas into a supercritical fluid, its volume is reduced by about 400 times. CO2 in this liquefied state exhibits the properties of both a liquid and a gas, and can be permanently stored in sedimentary formations of porous rock, such as sandstone, lying deep beneath the Earth's surface.

Underground formations of sandstone, which are saline aquifers are recognised as suitable reservoirs for the permanent storage of CO2 Ideally storage reservoirs will be covered by a layer of impermeable caprock to ensure that the CO2 remains permanently trapped deep within the earth.

The CO2 remains trapped in a similar way to a naturally occurring gas deposit which has existed deep in the substrata of the earth for millions of years.

Read more about geosequestration.

The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) is involved in specific projects both in collaboration and on its own. Key projects are outlined below.

Tectonic elements surrounding the study area
Tectonic elements surrounding the study area

South West Hub project

GSWA has been directly involved in management of the geoscientific data collection program for the initial 2D Lower Lesueur seismic survey and GSWA Harvey 1 stratigraphic well. Both are part of the South West Hub CCS project South West Hub project. This project was jointly funded by the State and Commonwealth Governments, and industry. State funding was from the Royalties for Regions Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS).

The Lower Lesueur 2D seismic survey was a collaborative program with Geoscience Australia (GA), which collected approximately 106 kilometres of 2D seismic data along roads in the Harvey and Waroona shires. The interpreted data was used in the planning of GSWA Harvey 1 and is reported as Record 2014/7 2D seismic interpretation of the Harvey area, southern Perth Basin, Western Australia.

GSWA Harvey 1 stratigraphic well was completed in early 2012 and was successfully drilled to a depth of 2945 metres, GSWA’s deepest drillhole. This was performed to obtain data to help assess the potential of the Triassic Lesueur Sandstone as a reservoir for the geosequestration of CO2. The well is located on a structural feature known as the Harvey Ridge, a poorly defined northwesterly–southeasterly trending basement high observed in seismic data and associated with a high gravity anomaly. The well was drilled using a conventional petroleum rig and included four core intervals along with a full mud logging and wireline logging suite. A total of 217 metres of 100 millimetre diameter core was recovered from the well.

Detailed research using the downhole log data and samples from the well is by being carried out by scientists from CSIRO, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University and GSWA. Completed reports covering this research are available from the Western Australian Petroleum Information Management System (WAPIMS). The GSWA Harvey 1 well completion and preliminary interpretation report has been released as Record 2014/12 GSWA Harvey 1 well completion and preliminary interpretation report, southern Perth Basin.

MB Century Rig 7 on-site at Harvey 1 (photo courtesy of Mark Mitchell)
MB Century Rig 7 on-site at Harvey 1 (photo courtesy of Mark Mitchell)

From February to April 2014, as follow up to the completion of Harvey 1, a three dimensional (3D) seismic survey was undertaken over about 115 square kilometres of the area surrounding Harvey 1. The survey was undertaken to help better understand the subsurface geology and to assist in selecting locations for up to four additional wells. GSWA has provided geological advice and assistance for the seismic interpretation and this drilling program, which is underway.

The 3D dataset was officially released by the Minister for Mines and Petroleum at the GSWA Open Day in February 2015 and is available from WAPIMS. Find additional information on the survey, including images from the interpretation 3D Seismic Survey.

Western Australia Carbon Dioxide Geological Storage Atlas

In early 2011, GSWA appointed 3D GEO Pty Ltd to prepare a CO2 storage atlas covering the main onshore basins of Western Australia. The primary focus of the Atlas was on the geological and geophysical interpretation of the main storage target intervals in the onshore Canning, Carnarvon and Perth Basins.

The study was funded by the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS), part of Royalties for Regions, and undertaken using the department’s significant and highly valued open-file well and seismic data collected by Petroleum Division and in some cases mineral companies (WAPIMS).

The atlas is available as Report data package 126 Western Australia carbon dioxide geological storage atlas with an accompanying GIS dataset. The atlas comprises four separate chapters. An introduction outlines the purpose of the atlas, how the technical evaluation has been structured, and a summary of the prospectivity. The three main onshore basins – Perth, Carnarvon and Canning – are discussed in separate chapters.

Perth Basin – 3D view to the south of depth to basement displaying prospective CO2 storage locations
Perth Basin – 3D view to the south of depth to basement, displaying prospective CO2 storage locations
From the 3D-GEO mapping, integrated with regional tectonic maps, this 3D structural/fault model was constructed, illustrating the main tectonic elements
From the 3D-GEO mapping, integrated with regional tectonic maps, this 3D structural/fault model was constructed, illustrating the main tectonic elements

CO2 storage assessment of the onshore Western Eucla Basin

GSWA contracted FROGTECH Pty Ltd to undertake a first-pass assessment of the potential for carbon geosequestration of the onshore western Eucla Basin. Initial assessment involved determining the size and depth of potential sub-basins, and the thickness and lithology of the Eucla Basin stratigraphy.

The full report on the study, funded by the Royalty for Regions EIS is published as Report 138 CO2 storage assessment of the on-shore western Eucla Basin. This Report discusses the methodology and results of the assessment and the accompanying ArcGIS project (with all information on USB) contains a compilation of the datasets and images used.

Collaborative research project with The University of Western Australia and CSIRO Petroleum

The tectonic evolution and geosequestration potential of the Canning Basin were evaluated by two recent studies funded by GSWA under the EIS. The work was carried out by the Centre for Petroleum and CO2 Sequestration at The University of Western Australia, and CSIRO Petroleum.

Report 140 Regional structural and stratigraphic study of the Canning Basin, Western Australia assesses the style and timing of tectonic events across the Canning Basin, and reviews the geological history and stratigraphic framework of the basin, with detailed interpretation of the Fitzroy Trough. The Report presents a digital geological model integrating seismic reflection and potential field data with geological data from wells and other geophysics. Digital data related to this Report, including 2D seismic and well data (Kingdom Suite Project) and a digital model of the Fitzroy Trough (GoCAD), are available.

Report 139 Geosequestration potential of the Carboniferous–Permian Grant Group and Permian Poole Sandstone, northwest Canning Basin, Western Australia. It assesses the CO2 storage potential of Carboniferous–Permian reservoirs within 200 kilometres of James Price Point. Three potential fault-block geosequestration sites are identified.

Co-funded pre-competitive program with Geoscience Australia

Planning is underway for the drilling of a stratigraphic well in the Canning Basin to test either the geosequestration potential of the Permian Noonkanbah – Grant Formation sequence or the Ordovician Goldwyer, Willara and Nambeet Formations. The final target is likely to be determined by access and available funds.

For further information contact:


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How a DUI/DWI Can Ruin Your Finances

Wednesday, September 30, 2015, AM | 7 Comments

There are costs associated with a DWI arrest that many people fail to realize at the time they see those red lights flashing in the car mirror. Such costs include fines, penalties, insurance surcharges, court costs, bail, attorney fees and driver education programs.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious matter in all 50 states.

What follows is a brief outline revealing important information concerning the costs associated with losing a DUI case and what to do about guarding against the financial struggle that results from it.

How a DUIDWI Can Ruin Your Finances

  1. Court Costs Fines and Penalties

    The simple act of going to court costs money. It does not matter if you waive your right to a trial and accept a plea agreement. The court needs to be compensated for its time.

    If you plead guilty or are found guilty, you will pay fines and court costs. In addition to these, many states tack on additional fees. The states justify these fees by reporting that the monies collected go toward drug and alcohol awareness programs.

  2. Protecting Your Rights

    If you are a driver of a motor vehicle that is charged with driving while intoxicated, you will have two cases on your hands.

    One of these cases will be criminal and the other will be civil.

    Your criminal case will likely be prosecuted by the County Attorney’s Office.

    Your civil case will involve your driving privileges. For this reason, it will likely be prosecuted by state attorneys working within the Department of Public Safety.

    The professional legal staff at the law firm of Harron Law, with Austin, TX, criminal defense attorneys, says that in all likelihood, you will be given a certain number of days (usually 15) from the date of your DUI arrest to request an Administrative License Revocation Hearing.

    You do not want to default on your right to this hearing because your driver’s license will automatically be suspended. For this reason, you should not take chances. You should retain an attorney to request this hearing for you.

  3. Insurance Premiums and Surcharges

    A DUI conviction earns you high-risk status in terms of car insurance. At this point, insurance providers will either deny you coverage altogether, or charge you a very elevated rate to play.

    The insurance rate you end up paying will be based on your insurer’s perception of what your worst-case driving scenario could be. Remember, from their point of view, you might take another human being’s life.

  4. Civil Forfeiture

    In the U.S., it is possible to lose a very large sum of money to the court system even before you’re convicted. This particular process is called civil forfeiture, and it allows the police to seize, keep and even sell your personal property, including the cash in your pocket, simply by alleging that the cash or property can somehow be connected to a crime.

    Property owners need not be arrested for this to happen.

    The police simply confiscate your money or property on the spot and issue you a summons. For folks whose property has been seized through civil forfeiture, getting it back is notoriously time consuming and burdensome.

  5. A Drunk Driving Charge Can Drain Your Bank Account

    For drivers in any state, the financial impact of a DUI arrest and conviction can be devastating. According to Bankrate.com, the full costs for any one person involved in a DUI conviction will vary and are influenced by many factors.

    Drivers should be aware that first-time offenders with no accident involved can expect to shell out between $9,000 and $24,000 after the judge slams the gavel down.

One drink too many can put a driver at risk not only for the loss of his or her freedom, but for fines, penalties and other costs that can run into the thousands.

The full financial toll of a DUI arrest will often play out for several years after the original incident. This is so even if it does not trigger the loss of a job.

DUI charges are always a serious matter. For this and all of the above reasons, drivers need to know how exactly how to protect their rights if they should ever be pulled over by the police after they have been drinking.

Author BIO

Anica Oaks is a Freelance writer and web enthusiast. Read some of her published work on her Google+ page.

Throw us a like at Facebook.com/doable.finance

  1. 7 Responses to “How a DUI/DWI Can Ruin Your Finances”

  2. By Jonathan Pound on Oct 2, 2015, 7:37 pm | Reply

    Wow, there are a lot negative consequences that can result from a DUI. This site reinforces how important it is to have a designated driver, or to hire a cab. Then, if the worst happens, it looks like it’s a really good idea to higher a DUI attorney.

  3. By Correy Smith on Oct 9, 2015, 6:59 pm | Reply

    Oh wow, just reading this it seems like it sure is costly to be ticketed or even charged for DUI. I’m guessing that even the criminal law would hold the individual who’s accused of it to be responsible in some ways for the charge. How serious of a charge would each state in the United States hold a DUI offense?

  4. By Westly Smith on Feb 23, 2016, 3:41 pm | Reply

    Of course, there are financial consequences that come with a DUI. However, those types of consequences pale in comparison to the damage you could do. I’m glad that you’ve outlined all of the expenses, hopefully it will deter people from driving drunk.

  5. By Andre Beluchi on Mar 21, 2016, 2:08 pm | Reply

    A friend of mine once told me about the costs of a dui. She mentioned that the cost of it affects you financially and personally. It’s something that she had on her records after crashing into her neighbor’s fence and almost running someone over.

  6. By Paul Langley on Mar 23, 2016, 3:23 pm | Reply

    This is some incredibly valuable information for anyone who underestimates the weight of a DUI on your future. My mother got a DUI about ten years ago, and it really did a number on our finances. The only reason we were able to scrape by was because her defense attorney was able to get her off fairly easy, for the situation. Thanks so much for writing!

  7. By Hazel Owens on Apr 13, 2016, 9:49 am | Reply

    Driving drunk is obviously an awful thing to do, but it’s surprising that there’s so many costs associated with getting a DUI. Like you said, even if there was no accident involved, a DUI can cost you up to $24,000. If nothing else, the cost of attorneys, court costs, and insurance premiums should deter you from driving drunk. Thanks for the article.

  8. By Silas Knight on Apr 25, 2016, 6:12 pm | Reply

    I have a friend who was arrested for a DWI before, and he is still trying to recover. One of the things he didn’t do right was protect his rights, like you said. He never hired an attorney, so he wasn’t really able to protect himself.

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Monday, March 01, 2010

Nasi Kandar

Nasi kandar is something you can't eat everyday as it is so rich and full of calories! Fried chicken and curried fish roe with some ochra is what I have selected today. You can choose from a variety of curries with steamed rice.
Wheni want a real feed, this is what I would have.

Location:Jalan Moulmein,Georgetown,Malaysia

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