Sunday Links, 4/19/15

A few tasty things I’ve eaten recently. This one is tofu bibimbop.

Fa(t)shion
–Quote of the day: Janelle Monae is not for male consumption.
-Celeb kids wearing awesome gender-bending outfits: Jaden Smith in a dress, and Mark Ruffalo and his daughter Bella in matching suits.
–I went in search of non-boring plus size activewear and this is what I found.
–The folk feminist struggle behind the chola fashion trend.
–Lane Bryant #ImNoAngel campaign misses the (stretch) mark.
–13 plus size neoprene fashions to rock this spring.
-My friend Femma has started Femme FatSew, a blog about sewing plus size clothes.
-Pepper recounts a challenge in which plus size bloggers wear outfits that match different fun, springy shades of nail polish.
-I so want to try to make this DIY flower-filled tulle skirt.

Fat Acceptance
–Pregnancy, obesity, and the lies we tell.
–Obesity, dementia, and some seriously shady reporting.
–Help Rachel attend yoga teacher training so she can bring more body-positive yoga to the Boston area!
–How to help a fat-shamed kid.
–Ugliness is not a fat person’s worth fear, it’s being invisible.

Pizza with broccoli, lemon, goat cheese, garlic, mushrooms, and basil

Sunday links, 4/12/15

Climate and Sustainability
-An important new number: using all the fossil fuels currently available could warm the planet by 16.2 degrees F (8.8 degrees C)–which is far, far beyond humanity’s ability to adapt.
–Everybody needs a Climate Thing. I’m still trying to find mine…
–3 reasons to be optimistic about the fight to save the climate.
–Finally, a climate change message that just might work: public health.
-Kate Schapira set up a Lucy-from-Peanuts-esque counseling booth in a public plaza to listen to people’s climate anxieties.
–May Boeve: the new face of the climate change movement.
–Life above the Alberta tar sands–why we’re taking the government to court.
–Top academics in anti-poverty research ask the world’s universities to divest from fossil fuels.
–Harvard feels the heat on fossil fuel divestment.
–With sit-ins around the country, students escalate “Divestment Spring.”
–7 things to know about California’s drought.
–Obama is about to announce a big job creation move for the solar industry.
–8 things you need to know about Hillary Clinton and climate change.

Fa(t)shion
–20 plus size floral dresses that scream spring.
–How to make Kentucky Derby hats with 5 tutorials that ensure you’ll have the biggest, baddest floral topper at your derby party.
-HELL YES to floral hats as the new flower crowns.
-Amazing pictures from the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival in New York. I would love to go someday!
-“5 years ago today, I came out of the closet. Today, these are the clothes that came out of my closet.”
–Questing for garments that work with–instead of against–your body is a worthwhile project.
-I love this lookbook of plus size goth outfits.

Sunday links, 2/15/15: snowpocalypse edition

It’s getting a little ridiculous.

Fa(t)shion
–Rihanna’s pink cupcake dress = love. It reminds me a bit of Kaylee’s shindig dress in Firefly, too.
-Kelsey shows off her visible belly outline.
–Moms launch stereotype-bashing clothing line that challenges what it means to be “girly.”
-Advice on how to style a tutu for everyday wear.

Fat Acceptance
-Naomi writes about loving her fat body, learning to enjoy movement, and creating a fitness app as a fat woman.
–Things obesity isn’t.
-ARGH: Legislators in Puerto Rico are debating a bill that would fine parents of obese children up to $800 if they don’t lose weight.
-A roundtable of HAES experts talk about social determinants of health and the role of social justice in HAES: part 1 and part 2.
–The incredibly bravery of fat-shaming children.
–Size and prejudice: on the issues faced by larger fat people.
–Medical discrimination against fat people–again.
–What if I lose weight doing my Ironman?

Climate and Sustainability
–Dispatches from the Seneca Lake uprising–including a delicious-sounding farm-to-table civil disobedience banquet (!).
-May Boeve of 350.org interviews Naomi Klein about low oil prices, the power of fossil fuel divestment, and how build a more kick-ass climate movement.
–Women lead the march for climate leadership in California.
–Why Harvard students are sitting-in outside Drew Faust’s office.
–Love and fire: a prayer for Keystone.

Sunday links, 2/8/15

Blog note: I haven’t been doing Fatshion February posts for the past few days because I’ve been sick, booo. I’m hoping to be better, and back to daily outfit pictures, within the next day or two. 

Cute Valentines I saw in a store window

Fa(t)shion
-Rachelle is putting together a fatshion zine. Check it out and submit if you’re interested!
–16 black fashion bloggers.
-Mary Lambert writes about how she learned to love shopping as a plus size woman, and shares her favorite stores.
-I hope Julianne is right that ginormous pants are coming back in style–I still love them.
–Massculine Fatshion is a new site for masculine-of-center fat folks interested in style.
-Chastity shares her favorite plus size budget-friendly online shops.
–Plus size wedding dresses for the bride on a budget.
–Observe and reserve judgment on other people’s clothing choices.

Fat Acceptance
–Missy Elliott taught me that it was ok for a fat woman to feel desire.
-(NSFW) The Adipositivity Project has a gorgeous Valentine Series which features fat people and their lovers.
–Football, fat people, and media representation.
-Ali shares her strategies for combating fat-shaming on a day-to-day basis.
-Ragen also shares strategies for fat activism in her Say Something Sunday series of posts.
-The Fat Nutritionist talks about her relationship with food and exercise.

Mac n’ cheese: the ultimate winter comfort food.

Sunday links, 6/22/14

Fa(t)shion
-My new favorite Tumblr: Fat Babes in Crop Tops.
–A fat-booty butch buys a suit on a budget.
-Huzzah! Gisela Ramirez’s shop–home of the infamous “F*ck Flattering” crop top–is finally open again.
-Beck Poppins has put together a guide to dressing like her–that is, with lots of platform shoes, ethereal nightgowns, feminine dresses, and fun accessories.
–School dress codes are vehicles for body-shaming, and it’s time to do something about it.
–For women’s office wear, who’s making the rules?

Fat Acceptance
–I’m fat, and I’ll eat whatever I damn well please.
-A distressing story of a woman who left science due to fat stigma. It always makes me sad to read stuff like this, but I’m glad she’s speaking up.
-Peggy Elam writes about Pearlsong Press, the fat-positive publishing company she founded.
–Dr. Oz was censured for pushing diet products. It’s about time!
-Leah writes about why she’s ok with calling herself fat. I agree 100%!
-Can we get even a moment of peace from concern-trolling about our bodies?

Jobs and the Economy
-A recap of CommonBound, a new economy conference that took place here in Boston. It sounds amazing, and I wish I could have been there–I definitely want to go next year.
–How to write a new organizing playbook.
–I was a digital best-seller–and I barely made any money.
–How inequality shapes the American family.
–The teaching class: teaching college is no longer a middle-class job, and everyone paying tuition should care.
–Our deadly culture of overwork.
Friends without benefits: how companies are asking potential hires to spend months interacting on social media in hope of a job offer.
–How the other half dies.
–Don’t drink Starbucks’ “free college” PR stunt. Tressie McMillan Cottom has more analysis of the plan.
–Why can’t college be free?
–#YesAllWomen deserve economic opportunity.
–The true cost of money hidden in tax havens.

Climate activism, carousels, and cherry blossoms: a day in the city

I’m starting a new temp job next week, so yesterday I took advantage of my free time and the gorgeous weather to spend the entire afternoon taking in the beauty of Boston in the spring.

I went into the city to rally for fossil fuel divestment at the Massachusetts State House. We sung “Sing for the Climate,” lined up on the steps like a choir, and then people split up to deliver flowers to the representatives who support the divestment bill and clocks (message: time is running out) to those who don’t.

There’s nothing quite like protesting in the spring, when anything feels possible. Especially when, not only have two Massachusetts towns divested from fossil fuels in the past week, but so has the first major university. I’m starting to have hope that the tide is finally–if excruciatingly slowly–turning. That we really will build a better world.

Friday night music: rocking out for the environment

I’ve come across a bunch of great songs related to climate/environmental justice lately. Here are a few of my favorites:

So…I love that this video about divestment features a bunch of people wearing vests and then removing them at the end of the video:

It’s Earth Day. I have thoughts (and a bunch of links).

The Laura in her natural habitat, in the Berkshires about a year ago. I just noticed that the rock in the upper left corner of the picture looks like a heart!

I’m trying to catch up on all the Earth Day-related news and essays around the internet, and there are a lot–you should see how many tabs I have open right now. To start, I’ll point you to the Nation, which has devoted all of its content today to climate change (!!). So far, I recommend these:
–The change within: the obstacles we face are not just external.
–“Jobs vs. the environment”: how to counter this divisive big lie.

In Keystone XL-related news, Obama has delayed his decision on the pipeline…again. On one hand, it’s kind of annoying that he keeps putting it off; but at the same time, it’s a sign of progress. As Bill McKibben puts it, “[W]ithout a broad and brave movement, DC would have permitted this dumb pipeline in 2011. So on we go.”

Today is the start of the Reject and Protect protest against KXL, which is hosted by the Cowboy and Indian Alliance (yes, that’s really what they call their group of farmers, ranchers, and Native American tribal leaders). There will be a big rally on Sunday, and many of my fellow Bostonians will be there. I don’t have the travel-energy for it, after two trips to Philadelphia in the past few weeks to see my grandmother, but I will be there in spirit.

A protest I might actually be able to attend is the People’s Climate March in New York City on September 20-21. Finally, a major climate action within a few hours of Boston! And I love NYC, so I appreciate any excuse to go there.

Now, on to the thoughts–which are about one particular article. To be fair, I didn’t read the whole thing, just a post about it, so take my reactions with a grain of salt; but I didn’t have the brain-space to read the whole thing when even a few quotes pissed me off so much. The article is a New York Times Magazine profile of Paul Kingsnorth, a former environmental activist who publicly gave up on climate change and retreated to the woods to found a literary journal and hold Burning Man-like parties.

As Heather Smith at Grist points out, his group “sounds less like an enduring movement with relevance to the environmental movement as a whole than a midlife crisis.” 

And then she really nails it: “In declaring the largest problem of our era unfixable, Kingsnorth gave himself — and a few other earnest, idealistic types – the perfect excuse to put on a badger mask and go party in the woods.”

My take on all this: it takes a metric fuckton of privilege to give up on the world.

Sunday links, 3/23/14

Even my plates love waffles.

Fa(t)shion
–Youtheary Khmer’s spring collection is amazing!
-Danimezza rounds up ten gorgeous plus size dresses.
-Joanna rounds up lots and lots of pretty florals. *swoon* Sadly, many of them are not available in the US.
-San Diego people, check out the rad fatties yard sale and swap!
–The Big Fat Flea’s tumblr has some awesome fatshion.

Fat Acceptance
-If you’re in Michigan, check out Amanda Levitt’s talk on fat visibility at Oakland University.
–My weight problem isn’t my weight.
-I’ve been frustrated by this too: must every YA action heroine be petite?
-I so wish I could be in Portland for Big Sexy: A Sexy Showcase for the Fat and Fabulous!
–Congress on Obesity: ego over accessibility.
-I love all of the pictures that Accidental Disney Princess posts of herself dancing, and these ones are especially beautiful.

Climate and Sustainability
–Reclaiming abuelita knowledge as a brown ecofeminista.
-Hells yeah: Massachusetts emerges as the hub of the fossil fuel divestment movement.
-A haunting piece of art about politicians’ inaction on climate change.
–No, we’re not just “environmentalists.” It’s much more than that.
-Andy Smith points out how indigenous people are successfully using social media to fight for their rights, costing corporations hundreds of millions of dollars.
-Zadie Smith writes a moving elegy for a country’s seasons.

Sunday links, 10/20/13

Fall is glorious.

I apologize for the lateness of the links roundup–my brain was way too tired on Friday to deal with it, and I was out all day yesterday. But I will make up for it with lots and lots of interesting stuff (thank you, internet, for being so smart and thoughtful this week).

Fa(t)shion
-As a cupcake fanatic, I am contractually obligated to announce that ModCloth now has a plus size cupcake-print dress (!).
-North Carolinian fatties, check out this upcoming clothing swap!
-There’s one for Philadelphians too.
-Fellow Bostonians, check out the launch event for Thicky Chicky, an online plus size boutique. (I finally get to attend one of those glamorous fatshion events I see all over the blogosphere, yay!)
-Fancy Lady Industries, known for their iconic fat necklace, now has beaded tiaras and other cool new handmade things.
-Skorch’s top ten plus size Halloween costumes.

Watching Amber Riley dance always makes me happy.