kriti ki kahaani

Aishwarya Rai and baby Aaradhya on the balcony of the Hotel...

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:23:00 -0700

Aishwarya Rai and baby Aaradhya on the balcony of the Hotel Martinez

sarahlcomics: Afternoon lull quickie chart. Or follow the...

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:46:32 -0700

Afternoon lull quickie chart.

Or follow the advice of a really rad professor and head over to a Swedish molecular cell biologist’s mansion in Pacific Heights for some customized B-12 shots!

"I know a kid from a tribal area that bikes several miles a day to go to school in Sana’a. His family..."

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:39:19 -0700

“

I know a kid from a tribal area that bikes several miles a day to go to school in Sana’a. His family have had drone aircraft hover over their homes. One day they could step in the capital city and come home to see their entire world shattered (literally) or worse a drone could strike their home while they’re inside. The only thing worse than instantly being killed is sustaining horrific injuries without any medical facilities nearby and succumbing to a slow, painful death. This is the sad reality that many Yemenis in the rural areas are forced to endure.

When we say we hate America, we don’t mean individual citizens. I wish Americans would step outside of their narcissism for a second to understand that the term ‘America’ is applied in a political sense here. We don’t wish harm on American people, because ultimately they’re not the ones responsible for what were forced to go through. We mean the imperialism, the militarism, the warfare that’s attached to America, the forced destabilization of our country, the dwindling economy, the rampant distrust of the West which therein festers into a vulnerability that’s turned most of these newer ‘militants’ onto the idea of terrorism. It’s a vicious cycle, you see. The more innocent people killed, the increase in extremist activity, which justifies even more drone strikes and it eventually will snowball into unforeseen chaos.

Of course the individual American isn’t responsible for this, but citizens of the U.S. need to understand that it’s their tax dollars that fund this weaponry. It’s their supposed protection that’s being protected at the cost of our lives, livelihoods, stability and economical comfort. Whether or not Americans like, they are inevitably a part of this killing machine and not directly lobbying, protesting and holding their government accountable is complicity. It’s the allowance of our deaths.

”

- An excerpt from an email that my cousin Haseem sent me yesterday, upon hearing of Obama’s re-election.

How proud I am to call this kid my family. He’s so eloquent and well written.

(via eastafrodite)

6 Tips on How to Avoid Being Screwed by a Non-Profit

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:56:24 -0700

stfuconservatives:

youngist:

By Jade(d)

So you’ve just graduated from college and you want to change the world. Good for you. The non-profit sector seems like a natural place for a justice-minded person such as yourself, and nonprofits are almost always hiring because the turnover rate is so high. But you may find the social justice industry to be… a little unjust. Here are a few tips and tricks for how to avoid being exploited by a nonprofit.

Don’t work at one. Seriously. Working at a non-profit generally involves at least some level of exploitation. (When was the last time you saw a non-profit with a union?) If this doesn’t deter you, figure out what you’re willing to give up: Is it sleep? Weekends? Seeing your friends? Most non-profit workers do not work 9-5. Working nights and weekends is common. Paid overtime is not. Non-profits tend to make you feel like if you are not willing to work 24/7 then you are not “down for the cause.” That’s bullshit. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel like you’re not “down enough” because you are not willing to sacrifice your well-being for “the movement.” People who don’t take care of themselves burn out and often become jaded and bitter. You can’t sustain “the movement” if you don’t sustain yourself.

Read More

I’ve seen a lot of people sharing this on social media today. I imagine a lot of my followers are interested in nonprofit work, so I wanted to pass it along.

"The march rally call says; “Let’s remember gay hero Harvey Milk!” We say; “Harvey Milk was no hero...."

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:13:49 -0700

“

The march rally call says; “Let’s remember gay hero Harvey Milk!”

We say; “Harvey Milk was no hero. He was a straight-pandering Republican, responsible for the gentrification of the Castro and the criminalization of trans sex workers in San Francisco.

If you’re going to celebrate the so-called “revolutionaries” of electoral politics, rather than actual revolutionaries like Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, and Jim Fouratt; it is questionable why you’d pick a white, straight-acting Republican like Harvey Milk.

Why pick someone someone who embodies the “Just Like You!” attitude of the straight establishment; when there are candidates like Jose Sarria, an openly gay gender variant person of color who actively campaigned against police brutality and gentrification, who even ran for the very same office (S.F. Board of Supervisors) a decade before Milk in 1961?

If this rally is for a revolution of social liberation, why did people simply pick-and-choose to celebrate queer history that best fits in with Hollywood’s film screening schedules? (Did anyone even know who Harvey Milk was before the movie came out in 2008?)

”

- Liberation, Not Assimilation: Against the Harvey Milk Day of Action (via socialistexan)

let’s do a little bit of fact-checking - sourced from randy shilts’ “the mayor of castro street:”

1. “republican” - harvey milk was only a republican while he was closeted and working a 9 to 5 job in new york’s financial district prior to his coming out and moving to san fransisco. during his political career, he constantly and consistently railed against the right and against social and economic conservative interests.

2. “straight-pandering” - harvey was anything but. harvey milk’s political career was predicated upon his opposition to the straight-pandering activities of the wealthy, well-established homosexual and democratic party establishment. many of harvey’s contemporaries, wealthy homosexual men like david goodstein and rick stokes, sought to endear wealthy liberals to their cause and used their clout to support straight candidates. harvey was of the gay community and for the gay community; the straight-pandering liberal establishment openly despised him.

3. “responsible for the gentrification of the castro” - oh, undoubtedly, harvey was highly influential in revitalizing the economy of his neighbourhood and turning it into a destination spot and a safe haven for the gay community. but there were other forces at work in 1970s san fransisco - namely, the pro-business economic policies of politicians like dianne feinstein and george moscone. harvey unequivocally supported neighbourhood businesses and the economic interests of the poor.

4. “responsible for the criminalization of trans sex workers in san fransisco” - this is totally untrue. harvey was a supporter of sex workers’ rights and trans+ rights and worked actively to defend both groups.

5. “white” - yes, harvey milk was white, but a quick look through his speeches reveals that he often spent more time talking about race issues than gay issues. he called for the closure of the united states’ embassy in south africa. he lobbied fiercely against legislation that would have reduced the wages of POC city employees. POC san fransiscans had an ally in harvey milk, and his closest friends and political allies - ever heard of michael wong? - were people of colour.

6. “straight-acting” - i literally just laughed out loud in WHAT universe was harvey milk straight-acting oh my fucking god - he was openly, publicly, and vocally gay, he had relationships with men, he marched to his swearing-in with his arm over his boyfriend’s shoulder. straight-acting???? what?????????????

7. jose sarria was a fucking hero. acknowledging harvey milk’s contributions to the gay community does not negate the incredible work that sarria did in san fransisco’s queer community, doesn’t negate his advocacy against police brutality, doesn’t negate his courageous run for office. the reason there’s a movie about milk and not sarria is that sarria only ran for public office once before leaving organized political life; milk ran four times, got elected, enacted massive gay rights reform, and was assassinated for his efforts.

8. by the way, jose sarria endorsed harvey milk. they were friends and political allies.

9. “did anyone even know who harvey milk was before 2008?” - um, try the entire population of san fransisco? most of california? most of the united states when dan white’s trial blew up in the national media? try president carter, who publicly endorsed milk’s causes and personally corresponded with him? are you aware that “the times of harvey milk,” a documentary film about milk’s life, won the 1984 academy award for best documentary feature? yeah, people knew who harvey milk was before 2008.

did you?

do you even know who harvey milk was?

because it sure as fuck doesn’t sound like it.

(via lalondes)
This still amuses me to no end. it shall neer get old

(via mediocrepresident)

hinduthug: Vidya Balan at Jeune & Jolie premiere at Cannes...

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:09:50 -0700

hinduthug:

Vidya Balan at Jeune & Jolie premiere at Cannes Film Festival, 2013

theifiles: globalpost: Palestinians marked the 65th...

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:27:08 -0700

theifiles:

globalpost:

Palestinians marked the 65th anniversary of the “Nakba” or the Day of Catastrophe, which marks their displacement after the creation of the state of Israel.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians protested Wednesday on the 65th anniversary of the “Nakba” or the Day of Catastrophe, which marks their displacement after the creation of the state of Israel.

May 15 is the day Palestinians choose to commemorate the displacement of hundreds of thousands of their kinsman in the aftermath of the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1948.

Protesters chanted, “The right of return will not die.”

Palestinians mark Nakba (Day of Catastrophe) with protests

Photos by AFP/Getty Images

For background, our editors put together a playlist highlighting some of the best reporting about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ongoing Nakba: Powerful infographic from Visualizing Palestine shows century of land theft, expulsion

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:43:58 -0700

Ongoing Nakba: Powerful infographic from Visualizing Palestine shows century of land theft, expulsion:

An ongoing displacement, the forced exile of the Palestinians

islamicthinking: One of the most beautiful pieces of Islamic...

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:32:11 -0700

islamicthinking:

One of the most beautiful pieces of Islamic Caligraphy I’ve ever seen! #subhanallah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of God, the Infinitely Majestic, the Most Merciful.

christianback: norsegays: astrolope: People being angry about...

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:34:08 -0700

christianback:

norsegays:

astrolope:

People being angry about ~dem gays~ on Target’s Facebook.

I just want to give my two cents on this and tell you a story.

A couple weeks ago, I was hired at Target. I have a job at Target. Not a big deal right?

It is a big deal because i’m a transman.

It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that it’s hard for me, my brothers, and sisters to get a job. There are legal restraints regarding the job and if you don’t pass, it’s hard to be taken seriously at a job interview.

Right on the application, it asks what your preferred name is. It also asks if there is anything that target should know. I put the fact that I am a transman, expecting not to get a call because usually when you put that down, people will throw out the application. I got TWO interviews.

At the interview, they asked me about it. I told them I am on hormones and they told me that they didn’t care. Not in the sense that they don’t emotionally care, but that it didn’t matter. I was male and that’s all that mattered. They also told me that they give sex same couples benefits in states that do not recognize them as a married couple.

At my job orientation, I was not misgendered once. Even my supervisors who weren’t sure of my gender avoided pronoun use, which I found only happens when you’ve had pronoun training. They gave me a name tag with my preferred name and didn’t ask questions. I felt safe and respected, which is huge for a trans* person.

TLDR: Target is amazing not just for the LGB, but also the T. Shop there for the rest of your life.

I didn’t know about this, pretty swell!

Photo

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:20:41 -0700

"We have to consciously study how to be tender with each other until it becomes a habit."

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:11:47 -0700

“We have to consciously study how to be tender with each other until it becomes a habit.”

- Audre Lorde (via ryanbhilliard)

65 years since al-Nakba

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:50:27 -0700

huitzilihuitl:

Nakba Day (Arabic: يوم النكبة Yawm an-Nakba, meaning “Day of the Catastrophe”) is generally commemorated on 15 May, the day after the Gregorian calendardate for Israeli Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut). For the Palestinians it is an annual day of commemoration of the displacement that preceded and followed the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.

"Long ago, we realized that simply trusting people and government agencies to always do the right..."

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:47:31 -0700

“Long ago, we realized that simply trusting people and government agencies to always do the right thing doesn’t work, so we need to check up on them. In a democracy, transparency and accountability are how we do that. It’s how we ensure that we get both effective and cost-effective government. It’s how we prevent those we trust from abusing that trust, and protect ourselves when they do. And it’s especially important when security is concerned.”

- Transparency and Accountability Don’t Hurt Security—They’re Crucial to It (via azspot)

Excuse me, Liam: fuckyeahcracker: Effects Of Thinking White People Are “All Like...

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:06:44 -0700

Excuse me, Liam: fuckyeahcracker: Effects Of Thinking White People Are “All Like...:

fuckyeahcracker:

Effects Of Thinking White People Are “All Like That”:

Literally nothing other than white people having their feelings hurt on the internet

I’m not joking there is no real world consequence of this

Effects Of Thinking People of Color Are “All Like That”:

Saudi student is literally surrounded by FBI for cooking rice under terrorist suspicions

White people literally can not associate positive words with Black faces because of racism

More white people use drugs but Black people are sent to jail for drugs at 10 times the rate that white people are

Black people who “sound Black” earn less money than those who don’t because of associations with stereotypes. Black people who “sound Black” are less likely to get called back for jobs

Black children grow up literally associating being Black with being bad and ugly

White people when tested shot more unarmed Black subjects than armed and unarmed white subjects

Hate crimes increase after Boston tragedy

Moroccan High School Student is linked to Boston tragedy for being Brown

Bangladeshi man is beaten by people out of racism

NYPD Commissioner wants Black and Latino men to fear him after the police targeted literally 90 percent Black and Latino men in New York and humiliating them by frisking them in public under the assumption that they had weapons. Studies found that white men were the ones who overwhelmingly had weapons while Black and Latino men didn’t

White people blaming and convicting Black men for crimes they never committed and everyone believing them because of racism

Stop and Frisk, ruled unconstitutional was practiced by New York police disproportionately and unfairly affecting 90% Black and Latino men because of racism

Universities throwing racist ‘Fiesta Party’ homogenizing culture with extreme racism

Here are some of the numbers on hate crimes against People of Color and btw, Neo Naziism is increasing!

Every 28 Hours an African American is Extrajudicially Murdered in the U.S.

Black people 3 times more likely to be arrested for Marijuana

Black people receive much harsher sentencing than white people for the same crimes do I need to go on?

But yeah, white people’s feelings :*(

melissmine: sonic-hip-attack: lati-negros: Academic Secrets- By chance you come across an...

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:05:57 -0700

melissmine:

sonic-hip-attack:

lati-negros:

Academic Secrets-

By chance you come across an academic journal article online that needs to be paid for (something like $25-$40), lots of times you can take the authors name from the article, google them for their email, and ask if they can send you their article b/c you’re interested in their work. More often than not, they’ll say ‘cool’ and send it as an attachment.

Heads up!

As a grad student who has published - absolutely

we don’t get any fucking money directly from publishing, it’s all about the lines on our CV to us. So please do try this route! And if you can’t get that — hit me up and I’ll try to get it through my school connections.

I will always do what I can to help someone out. Fuck the ivory tower.

I like this.

jebiwonkenobi: When I was little I thought being an adult meant not having a bed time but I’ve come...

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:02:24 -0700

jebiwonkenobi:

When I was little I thought being an adult meant not having a bed time but I’ve come to realize that it just means being in charge of my own bed time and it turns out that I am not equipped to handle that responsibility.

"DiCaprio and Mulligan, meanwhile, don’t seem like star-crossed lovers so much as a delusional man in..."

Mon, 13 May 2013 22:29:53 -0700

“DiCaprio and Mulligan, meanwhile, don’t seem like star-crossed lovers so much as a delusional man in love with a bauble of a woman. Maybe that’s intentional?”

-
People Magazine’s review on ‘The Great Gatsby’

(via aeferg)

Photo

Mon, 13 May 2013 22:29:26 -0700

mutinousmindstate: Image by Pardon My Hindi and courtesy of DJ...

Mon, 13 May 2013 22:24:31 -0700

mutinousmindstate:

Image by Pardon My Hindi and courtesy of DJ Rekha.