Today in Women's History

Solveig Barlow, aka Sol, is a 10 year old female graffiti artist. In an industry dominated by men, Sol is celebrated for her work and has recently been compared to another British street artist named Banksy. But the young miss dismisses the comparison in a very Alpha Female-like attempt to be recognized on her own merit as a graffiti artist. To date Ms. Barlow, who began spray painting at the age of 8, has created 20 legal graffiti pieces which can be found in her hometown of Brighton, England.

Utilizing bright colors and cartoon-like characters, Sol's art is a statement of the zestful inner-child as opposed to graffiti that symbolizes gang culture and territorial markings. From zoo animals to breakfast foods, Sol creates dreamworlds underneath highway overpasses and abandoned building walls. In response to the growing popularity of her work, she has also begun to expand the scope of her artistry by dabbling in tattoos. Not only has she been asked to design tattoo art for customers, she's also putting the needle to the skin herself. Who says you can't start a lucrative career before you've even hit puberty!?

I'm diggin little Miss' steez hardcore. Tattoos, graffiti and inner child aside... check the hat, stunna shades and gold chain Sol's rockin! If that isn't a modern manifestation of true 80's hip hop, I don't know what is. Much love, young sistah!

Get acquainted @ Flickr: SuperSolveig


"I have no plans to stop so watch out for me."
-Sol, age 10.

The First Woman

Mama and Auntie Nida in Manila.

2008

Since it's women's history month, I had to do a very loud shout out to my mother who just received a long overdue promotion! What I love? 1) She was so excited about getting her own office. ("I get a door!") and 2) Mama's got a government job in the Department of Social Services in Santa Barbara. Who says that there aren't government employees who don't work for the people?

Initially studying to be a nurse my mother had to drop out of college to travel with my daddy around the world. Sound romantic? It really was. But relocation didn't stop her, oh no. My mother was able to attend classes at a small business college and soon made her name as an accountant. (Typical Filipino, for real.) I remember when I was in grade school she worked two jobs and hustled long enough to buy herself a Lexus.

But it doesn't stop there. My mother's success is a large inspiration when it comes to dreaming my own dreams. Not only has she successfully put two strong Filipino women through college (and about to graduate a little Filipino man) but she's got everything she wants in life, at least from what I can see. Including that new Coach bag. I know that my father's support was integral to the process and I love his story of success equally. But because she is an Alpha and because she is a Female... I want to holler at the First Woman in my life. <3

Today in Women's History

San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi fights for rights of speech as the presiding officer to the United States House of Representatives. Second in the presidential line of succession, she would assume the role of President if something (god forbid) were to happen to Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Representing Bay Area nationwide!! =)

Sara Jane Olson, community organizer, activist, film actress, and former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army was released from the Central California's Women's Facility in Chowchilla, CA today. Olson was was sentenced to two consecutive 10 years-to-life terms for possession of explosives and an additional six years in prison for first degree murder.

Any women you know making the news today?

Tattoo by Victor Trujillo

Activism Right There Festival - U.C. Berkeley

I apologize for the picture quality, I'm no photographer and I could barely stand still through the music. There was a sign outside that said "NO CAMERAS" so I assumed that I couldn't take any pictures and had my flash off for the first couple of performances. But by the the time Bambu came out, I said "Fuck it" and camera flashed away. And, dammit, I failed to catch a flick of Brwn Bflo... but they were pretty effin' sick performers.

My girl, Haze, of 40Love

Los Rakas

Zumbi of Zion I


DJ AmpLive of Zion I

Bambu

(check the story here)



DJ Phatrick



Invincible


And the dance crews!! I only took shots of the B-Girls cause they held it down....

Brown BGirl Representin'

White BGirl Representin'

Turf Fiends

Turf Fiends

My Sistahs!

(not pictured: Ms. Tonya Galvante & Ms. Daphnee Valdez)

All in all, a night well spent. The performances were slappin'. The poets inspirin'. And the vibe was swell all around. My only *ish of the night? Ms. Thang standing next to me loudly complaining, "God! Why do they keep talking about Palestine!? It's making me sad!" Duh, girl this is an activist event! Where the fuck did you think you were at, a Britney Spears concert!?

2nd Annual Activism Right There (A.R.T.) Festival, 3.10.09

Host: JENNIFER JOHNS (Oakland)
DJ: K-SALAAM (Minneapolis)$5 youth under 21 and students $10 non-student adults

Tickets will be available soon at the Zellerbach Box Office, or at http://tickets.berkeley.edu/

The event will kick off with a panel discussion by the Third World Liberation Front. TwLF originated in the late 1960's at San Francisco State University (my alma mater!) as a coalition of the Black Students Union, the Latin American Students Organization, the Filipino-American Students Organization, and El Renacimiento, a Mexican-American student organization. Together these organizations led protests, strikes, and sit-ins that eventually lead to the establishment of SFSU's College of Ethnic Studies and expansion of the Black Studies department. This event will celebrate, honor and encourage student activism through art: music, dance, and spoken word.

Performances by: (not full list)

I'm hella looking forward to catching another set by my new obsession 40Love. I caught their performance last night at Milk and was blown away by the powerhouse female emcee Haze. Not only does this fly Miss have style I can relate to (wife beaters and kicks all day, ya'll) but she has a tongue that spits Bambu-style like a machine gun. AND SHE'S FROM THE BAY. I had to bow down. Last weekend I lost out on the Blue Scholars performance (FML!) and I don't wanna miss out on another chance to get lifted! I haven't heard live music since Hopie and Bambu blew the stage out at FatCity, damn..... My body, my mind, and my soul are awake and alert now. I am ready to be rejuvenated by my favorite love: hip hop.

San Francisco Creates Another Stupid Crime

A San Francisco judge has ordered a dozen of the city's most prolific recycling scavengers to stop looting bottles, cans and cardboard from curbside bins.

The court's order, which came at the request of the city's garbage company, aims to crack down on a problem that residents say creates litter and noise and Sunset Scavenger says costs it millions of dollars a year.

The preliminary injunction is the latest effort to stop a wave of recycling theft sweeping California amid rising metal prices and falling employment. Violators would face maximum fines of $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail for each violation.

Sunset Scavenger, San Francisco's official waste hauler, went to court after receiving thousands of complaints from consumers who said organized crews of recycling "poachers" were becoming hostile and dangerous.

[ read article ]

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Violent recycling theft? Are you serious?! The only people I see wheeling carts of aluminum cans and bottles around are old Asian people. That's right, Lolo and Lola trying to make an honest buck out of another person's trash. I can just imagine a gang of 60 year old senior citizens attacking the trash man with their walkers and tagging up his garbage truck with spray paint.

Why should NorCal Waste Systems, Inc. have the monopoly on San Francisco recyclables? Is it so wrong that in "a faltering economy" that those who can't work make money by other non-criminal means? Yes, I understand that digging through those black and blue bins can be extremely dangerous considering the amount of bacteria that one would come into contact with... but a health code violation shouldn't warrant 6 months in jail. A monetary fine equal to the amount of loot seems reasonable, don't you agree? It's ridiculous to think that someone who gains income by digging through waste can also afford to pay a $1000 fine. Trust, they do NOT make $2 million a year, not even close.

But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there is a gang of recyclable theives who run rampant through the City. From my point of view, it's just another example of how a Sucka Free and Green City resident hustles to make a living and how the government tries to punish him/her for doing so.