Worn Out: Santigold and Spankrock in New Alexander Wang Campaign

Santigold and Spankrock dance around in soft tees from T by Alexander Wang for the label’s fall campaign to a remix of Santigold’s new single “Go” that I've never heard before....Specially made for Mr. Wang, perhaps?
 Pictures from the campaign, shot by Dan Jackson and styled by Alastair McKimm, are currently going up over New York as part of what Wang’s PR department has called a “wildposting campaign.”  I don't know what that is, exactly, but I do know I want to be a part of it! Video after the jump!

Listen Up: The Afro-Punk Music Festival Makes Me Wish I Was A New Yorker

So, do you want to see Janelle Monet, Cee Lo Green, Gym Class Heroes, Das Racist, Santigold, Kenna and more?  Do you want to see them for FREE?  I do....Oh, I wish I lived in New York... Schmanks, Afropunk (tagline: The Other Black Experiance....), for breaking my heart.  For those that can go, the concert is the 27th and 28th of this month.

GoldenGirlGadfly: Vogue Profiles Ida Keeling, setting athletic records at 96 years young

Ida Keeling celebrates with her daughter, Shelley

While flipping through the new August Vogue magazine and noticing their new efforts to be more "current" and "colorful" (ie: fawning articles on Dakota Fanning and her little sister, Elle; cursory inclusion of 1 and 1/2 brown models in editorial), I came across an article that surprised me.  First I was surprised that it was about a brown woman NOT in entertainment or fashion; second, it's subject was Ida Keeling, a 96 year old who has SET THE WORLD RECORD for the 60 meter dash.  No, not the world record in her age bracket (she competes in the 95-99 age category)...the world record in track-and-field for the 60 meter dash, PERIOD.  She trains in her hallway.  Like, the hallway of her apartment building, while being coached by her daughter, Shelley.  Are you amazed yet? Are you ready to fire your mediocre-in-comparison grammie to BEG Ida to dispence advice and bake you cookies? Well...there's more..

In The News: WTF is the Debt Ceiling? Ten Facts To Help Make Things Clear(er)

For those of us who get twisted and turned around by all the clear facts rhetoric, incendiary language and other muddying-the-waters tactics by the folks on Capital Hill, here is what I have managed to glean through frantic googling and wiki-search.   Basically, we are in crunch time to decide what to do about the huge bill that the US has racked up...

 The ten facts are after the jump!

She's Crafty: Solid Perfume Pocket Watch

So I audibly gasped when I saw this tutorial, originally from Aftelier Perfume,was posted up.  The idea of using an old thrift store pocket watch, (or those little cheap ones from too trendy stores) to hold my perfume sounds hellamadwicked awesome, especially as I am known to lose things on a regular basis.  Since I can keep this little sucker handy, I'll be ready with a scent re-up when I'm running from my office to a rendezvous with the SO, and smelling a little OFF from my work day. Not to mention I'm weird about scents.  Ever since I heard that scent is a key component of memory, I want to have my own original thing going, so that my personal mix is completely distinctive and special....(Can you tell I was an only child...??) This tutorial allows me to create my very own scent, and store it in a way that means I can't just misplace it...Although let's not say NEVER...Difficulty: 1/5 Cost:4/5

She's Crafty: General Storage Cubbies

The welcome across Ana White's furniture blog is a little frilly for my taste, but do you know what's not?  Her badass homemade designs for tables, bed frames, daybeds, and more.  I ran across Ana White simply because I absolutely love my power tools (and any excuse to use them), and asked my SO for his oppinion.  "Go with the Farmhouse Bed", said he, rightly noting that the plans were detailed and easy to follow, as well as cost-effective.  Ana apparently makes most of the furniture for her family, and considers herself a homemaker, which she most certainly is in the most literal of senses.  My project for this upcoming month?  The General Storage Cubby. Difficulty: 3/5 Cost: 2/5

What's Cooking: Watermelon Aqua Fresca!

This Ah-MAY-zing watermelon aqua fresca recipe comes to us via Flaming Tortillas , who considers themselves dedicated to bringing the best of Latin cuisine, culture, and food news to your kitchen table. It features what’s in season right now,  favorite recipes from all over Latin America and fresh cultural Latin events around the country. I happen to really enjoy it, although I might add something EXTRA to this already delightful recipe, if you know what I mean *wink*

Rant: Why Defensive Posts On Interracial Dating Miss The Point

Image via Jezebel by Steve Dressler

So this morning I was over at one of my favorite blogs and I came across another "I'm with a White guy and here's why" articles.  Now, as someone who has had her fair share of interracial relationships, (both loving and healthy, as well as not-so-constructive), these articles always kind of irk me.  Originally posted at News Taco, (a new favorite site, for sure), the author talks about originally wanting to share cultural references with someone who "understands", but then goes on to say:

In The News: Amy Winehouse Found Dead

Amy Winehouse was found dead in her home today, according to BBC.  Noooooo!  I was still waiting for the third album!  And, although I love Adele/Duffy, they simply don't give me that raw, aching goodness when I listen to a song like Amy does! I just....don't have words.  She was only 27.  It just goes to show that life is so, incredibly short, and we can only do with it what we can....

*going to go listen to "Back to Black"*

-DL

Boob Tube: Persian Version of 'Jersey Shore'?

On Wednesday, Bravo announced they’re working with Ryan Seacrest’s production company to create a Persian version of the “Jersey Shore.” The series is currently being called Shahs of Sunset and will follow a group of young Persian-American friends who "juggle living and working in Los Angeles while balancing the demands of their families and traditions.”

It’s just the latest show to highlight people of color. But the jury’s still out on whether or not that  I, for one, highly doubt that the representation is useful.  Also, I personally just don't trust Ryan Seacrest's too toothy grin, but perhaps that's just me.

Ad-Tastic: Summer's Eve--Putting the "douche" in... well...

So apparently, Summer's Eve (the douciest douche company of them all) has now decided to target women differently on the basis of their ethnicity. Below, behold, the campaign for Latin-American women:

In The News:The 5-0 Makes Me Cry-Oh

Banner reads "They Can't Shoot Us All" at
march following the fatal shooting by police of Kenneth Wade Harding.
Ariel Dovas/Creative Commons

 I have always loved the idea of settling down in the Bay Area, and San Francisco is my number one city I see myself having a little dog in, and a garden, and walking my kids to school with other brown children--someday.  I'm not sure their names or anything specific, but I have always thought that it would be nice, if/when I have them, to have my kids be bilingual, and growing up around the infinite number of foods, languages, customs, and cultures that SF has to offer.   These same brown children (that I DON'T HAVE, mind you) are the reason that I am in a funk this morning.  Because even though they are imaginary, I still have to think about that inevitable day that I will have to sit my sons down and tell them How Not To Get Shot.

GoldenGirl Gadflies: "Of Another Fashion"

Los Angeles Public Library via "Of Another Fashion"

A woman wears pants and wields a gun in the 1920s.

I was listening to NPR and looking through some articles and came across one on Of Another Fashion, a tublr dedicated to being an "alternative archive of the not quite hidden but often ignored fashions histories of US women of color." I would love to interview Minh-Ha T. Pham, who is the creator of the blog...as she is OBVIOUSLY an honorary BrownGirl Gadfly, but, alas, until I get to do so, the NPR profile will have to suffice.  Regardless, the tumblr itself is pretty fly (and I know I plan on submitting some pics of my mother and grandmother), so I encourage you to check it out. Hopefully, with Minh-Ha's permission, I can cross post a few photos here at BGG that really strike me.

-DL

Sales: Borders Liquidation Sale?!

So, as we all know, I am a nerd.  I read as much as I can and I know that any proper Gadfly has a healthy curiosity about the world.....And what better way to learn about it than through books?

So, I was happy to learn that Borders is having a MASSIVE liquidation sale which was supposed to start in Febuary, but had to be ok'd by a federal bankruptcy judge...Which means that starting TODAY, you can get your low-price book game, and get a crack at the over $350 million worth of merchandise that will be up for sale.  Does anyone know where I'll be after work?  I'll give you three guesses....Finally there's something about this recession that could be considered vaguely positive.  ( I mean, it was a mega chain to begin with....) But does this signal the end of book buying like some are saying?  I doubt it

VIG: Very Important Gadflies

I first saw spoken word maestro Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai on Russel Simmons Def Jam Poetry, and remained a fan.  Her video for "Black, White Whatever..." is cached on my computer, and I'm lucky enough to share the Kelly goof/goodness with my youth, who appreciate her honest and wry approach on how she identifies herself.  How could I not admire this obvious BrownGirl Gadfly when out of her mouth flew the words:

“Sometimes, I wish [my spoken word persona] was an outlet or a character since it gets me into trouble,” says Tsai. “I think I took that stereotype of Asian females as being silent and passive and just imploded it in reverse.”

So when perusing Audrey Magazine this month, I was stoked to see a little piece on one of my favorite spoken word YouTube sensations (as the article points out, her videos have gone viral) as well as some excerpts from Kelly's poems. It's hard talking about the so called "hard issues" of racism, class, love, sex and discrimination with both humor AND alliteration, no less...

Worn Out: HK Hightops

Worn Out: Hijab, As Inspired By the Land Before Time

Thanks to Muslima Media Watch for pointing out the photo, along with a pretty astute commentary on what,

She's Crafty: The No. 1 Ladies' Dectective Agency Silhouette

 First and foremost, I want to admit that I have a problem: I read Alexander McCall Smith's books in one sitting, like the litcrack we all know they are.  Among my friends my love of mystery books is well known, from Encyclopedia Brown to Agatha Christie; after all, my first love I christened "Nancy Drew".  The stories about the plucky ladies' of Botswana's first (and only) women's detective agency are entertaining and heartwarming, and the show on HBO is just as addictive.  Get full project details after the jump! Project difficulty: 2/5 Project Cost: 2/5

A Brave New World; or What is a Gadfly?

I suppose I should say something befitting the occasion of the Very! First! posting here on BGG.  Upon thinking about it, I think it would be useful to begin at the beginning....