freeskiers
While some of us long to escape the cold, dark stretch of winter for hot tropical beaches, for others, there's nothing quite like whoooooshing down those shimmering sugar alps. If you're fond of freestyle skiing, get ready to slide down the slippery slopes in good company. This passionate, international community shares travel/gear tips, anecdotes, photos, and videos for those who can't get enough of the sweet stuff.

Tags: freeskiers, skiing, snow, travel, winter sports

seasonal_icons
Need some extra twinkle to decorate your place? Check out these dazzling holiday-themed icons. If you're an artist, you can post your own creations, provided you abide by the simple rules (which is to say, all cheer and no politicking). Be sure to comment and give credit if you wish to borrow a little spirit (no direct links, please). If you're feeling a touch of humbug this season, this is an instant shot of festivity.

Tags: design, holiday icons, season_icons, userpics

handmade_gifts
High on creativity, but low on cash? You'll find tons of brilliant suggestions for do-it-yourself crafts sure to please everyone on your holiday gift list. Offering detailed instructions, photos, budgets, timelines, and active support, you'll soon turn spare remnants of fabric and time into cherished keepsakes. Be sure to search entries and read user guidelines before you post for help!

What? I get bored when I have too many days off in a row. This is the shameless guilty pleasure trip I was hoping to be taken on when I saw Ninja Assassin last week. Stylish, sexy, predictable, and violent, this was every bit as much fun as The Covenant--with all the "Wait, what?" and "Oh, you've got to be kidding me," and "Hello, homoerotic subtext!" that that implies. Just melodramatic enough to keep the plot rolling, yet it doesn't take itself so seriously that it falls into unintentional self-parody. All good things. This is going on my Christmas list. (Warning: Major spoilers.)

Title: Blood: The Last Vampire
IMDB Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0806027/
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV5ukdJFGJQ
Genre: fantasy, horror, drama
Rating: R

( I don't investigate. I kill. )

Cross-posted on Halloween Candy.

I saw the new George Clooney movie, "Up in the Air," on Friday at the AMC Georgetown 14. The movie opened in limited release (15 theaters) this weekend, and averaged $79,000 per theater. It will expand to wide release Dec. 25.

( Full review after cut )

In the US, the institution of racism has served as a tool used by the white power structure to oppress blacks. Racism has taken many forms, from laws which made black people slaves to laws which merely criminalize black activities more than white. One of the manifestations of this racism is the white practice of mocking black stereotypes to white audiences for white fun--the most famous example of which are blackface minstrel acts. In these acts, a white people don black makeup in a manner similar to the whiteface makeup worn by clowns, wigs, costumes, etc., and then act out stereotyped caricatures of black people. The shows served to define what "black" meant to whites, what white did not mean, and gave white people a chance to laugh at blacks.

In short, it reinforced and embodied the racist power structure. While blackface shows have died out in the US due to popular disapproval, the custom of caricaturing other races for fun and profit has not. Most recently, Pikake brought a Ghetto Party in Ybor City, Florida, to our attention. The point of such parties is for white people to dress up as black people and enjoy a lovely evening of mocking black stereotypes to make themselves feel superior. Events of this nature serve to further demarcate the artificial line between "white" and "black", show how much better white culture is than black culture, and remind everyone that equality is a dream for idiots.

This Ghetto Party is an act of oppression, racism wielded to create and enforce social hierarchies and prevent the creation of a just world.

If you would like to protest The Ghetto Party, then I recommend you contact the management in charge of the party, and the Crowbar, the club where the event will be held. Additionally, here is the address for the skate park of Tampa, which is putting on this event:

Skatepark of Tampa,
4215 East Columbus Drive,
Tampa, Florida 33605 (813) 621-6793
info@skateparkoftampa.com



(Now that is how I recommend making an argument if you want people to listen.)

The Top 10 Films of the Decade
Well, I’ve jumped on the band wagon of listing the Top 10 Movies of the Decade. With the year and the decade drawing to a close, it’s time for reflection on the best made films of the decade. The following list has 10 films (not in order) which I believe are particularly memorable for one reason or another. Whether it be that they were a breakthrough in film making or it be the way they made people feel, they are all films that will be remembered and are a compliment to the films of the 2000’s. I understand that many people may feel differently to me regarding this list, but this is only one person’s opinion.
( Top 10 Of The Decade )( Read more... )

I think I’m ready to make my first predictions for this category at next year’s Oscars. Being ten films this time around means that (a.) it’s harder, and (b.) these will change, but I have ten. They are:

An Education
(500) Days of Summer
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The Messenger
Precious
A Serious Man
Star Trek
Up
Up In the Air

Most shaky: Summer, Messenger, Serious, Star Trek.
Ones I’ve missed for now, but may put in later: Nine, Invictus, The Last Station

Note: these aren’t my 10 best films of 2009, but my predictions for Best Film Oscar nominations. Surprisingly, for this time of the year, I’ve seen 7 of them (haven’t seen Messenger, Precious or Air). The only one I would put on my personal 2009 favourite list is Summer (and this is partly why I feel it’s a shaky one but, with the list expanding to 10 making the whole thing hard to predict, I’m keeping it there for now - I would be sad if it made it and I didn’t predict it)

Many people, especially women, arrested at the G20 in Pittsburgh report sexual harassment, threats, photographs, and abuse by police officers
(may be triggering, some graphic descriptions of police abuse)

This is further evidence of the need for support work at these protests. There were sexual assault support teams members at the jail, ready to offer help to people as they came out of jail, but we need to make support more visible, accessible, and long-term. This shit is awful.

Skeleton Structure of Sexual Assault Support During Mass Mobilizations

CALLOUT FOR SUBMISSIONS!
We are looking for more practical experience, stories from the frontlines, criticism, resources, and suggestions! We hope to turn this into a zine complete with example consent policies, handouts, guides for giving support, and stories.
DEADLINE: January 1st 2010.
E-mail to saworkingroup(a)gmail.com