Well how’s that for bucking the patriarchy in it’s own backyard. Two women who were forced by their families to be ‘celestially married’ to Bountiful polygamist community leader Winston Blackmore, have chosen to legally marry one another.
The Vancouver Sun reported in June of last year that “One bride is Lorraine Johnson, an American, sent by her family to “marry” Blackmore, who was then the powerful bishop. She was his 18th wife. It’s not clear whether Johnson immigrated legally to Canada or simply came across the border and stayed. The other bride is Shelina Palmer, a Canadian born into a polygamous family in Bountiful and assigned to Blackmore. She is wife number 22.”
With Johnson under a deportation order at the time of the wedding, it is not clear whether the couple chose to marry out of convenience or love. Both will be required to renounce any other relationships in order to establish to immigration that they are an authentic same-sex couple.
Neither have been legally married before. The women have been living together for several years.
Well, ladies, welcome to the team. May you win control of your lives and bodies successfully.
The Vancouver Biodiesel Coop Cardlock Pump at 360 Industrial Ave, Vancouver
This week, the wife and I upgraded from our 50% biodiesel blend to 100%. Our car is now 100% carbon neutral. We bought an old (1983) Mercedes diesel a year ago, specifically to run it on biodiesel.
A lot of people aren’t aware about biodiesel. Here’s the skinny for aspiring biodiesel dykes.
The diesel engine was invented by Rudolph Diesel in 1892. His prototype ran on peanut oil and he envisioned running it on veggie oil or coal dust. The engine was later modified to run on what we now think of as diesel fuel. Diesel fuel is less viscous (thinner) than vegetable oil, so modern strategies to run diesel engines on vegetable fuel involve some way to thin the oil down so modern diesel engines can handle it.
There are two ways to thin vegetable oil for diesel engines. The first is to heat the oil before introducing it to the engine. In hot climates, people often don’t need to do anything to get the diesel oil warm enough to use, if the engine is in good shape. Older Mercedes engines are often used for this purpose. In cooler climes, people who choose this strategy have their diesel engine modified to allow for a second veggie oil tank and a heated fuel line to feed the engine. The conversion costs aproximately $1500. (Here’s some technical information from Agriculture Alberta) Once converted, the car can run on filtered recycled fryer fat from restaurants, which can normally be obtained for free, since restaurants normally have to pay for disposal. This is gradually changing, as biodiesel becomes more popular, with restaurants selling the oil to biodiesel refineries. The less labour-intensive method our family has chosen is to buy biodiesel. Biodiesel can be put into any diesel engine without modifying it, and can be mixed with regular diesel if desired. People commonly run their engines on anywhere to 5-100% biodiesel. If you run out of fuel and there’s no biodiesel available, no problem, you can still use regular diesel any time you need to. Biodiesel costs about the same or slightly less than regular diesel per litre. Biodiesel is normally made from iether virgin vegetable oil or recycled waste vegetable oil. The virgin oil route has justifiably come under criticism as being unsustainable, as has ethanol when it is made from food crops rather than waste. The second criticism is about whether it is possible to grow enough plants to make enough biofuel to completely replace fossil fuels. I say at the very least it’s a good intermediate technology until plug-in electric cars are more widely available.
The process to make biodiesel reduces the thickness of the oil, and produces glycerine as a by-product. Up until recently, we’ve been purchasing a 50% blend (half biodiesel, half regular diesel) from United Petroleum Products, who have a cardlock fueling station in North Vancouver.
The Biodiesel Coop, which sells 100% recycled veggie oil biodiesel, now has a fueling station near Terminal and Main in Vancouver, and we had our first 100% fuel-up earlier this week. The station operates using a keypad where you enter your member number and password, and is available 24 hours. You need to become a member before fueling up, and then the fuel cost is billed to your credit card.
We noticed a few things when we started running 100% biodiesel. Firstly, the motor runs quieter. Biodiesel is a stronger solvent (gunk dissolver) than regular diesel, so it cleans out your engine. Expect to change your fuel filter a few months after you convert to biodiesel, as this gunk will end up there. Secondly, the black smoke created when starting the engine on regular diesel or even 50% blend has disappeared.
Biofuels (when made from recycled or wasted materials) are generally ‘carbon neutral’, which means that even though they produce some CO2 when burned, they ’stored’ C02 when growing as plants, so it all evens out. By fueling your diesel vehicle with biodiesel, you can therefore save 8 tonnes or more of greenhouse gas emissions per year. Biofuels also are more likely to be produced near where they are burned, reducing transportation fuel use and carbon production. Use of locally produced biofuels also avoids fueling the ongoing conflict and conquest in the Middle East and elsewhere, reducing the possibility of wars for control over oil. Biofuels are also more likely to be produced by small, local companies than petroleum multinationals, creating better quality, local jobs.
All in all, Jeanette and I are very happy to now be 100% Biodiesel Dykes.
Here are some links to information on biodiesel and it’s gasoline equivalent, ethanol.
[Editor Note: I received this email from Marlee and Tully of Sugarbeach, who have some great news to announce. Congratulations! - Editor]
Hey Sophia!
Hope you gals are doing well!
We thought we’d send you this as it might interesting to you.
We have just written and recorded this years’ theme song for Vancouver Pride 2008, “Living Out Proud”. Vancouver will be using it for the kick off of events and media liaisons as well as in the parade. So far 7 other major cities around the world have also decided to use it…some have put it on their website already. The cities include, Seattle, Ottawa, Charlotte, North Carolina (where we will be performing at their pride in July), Toronto (it looks like Proud FM may be playing it as well) , Kentucky and Cornwall, UK. We are totally jazzed by the great response we have gotten.
We have given it to them for free to use however they need it and it is also downloadable for free on our myspace page.
“Living Out Proud” is a celebration of Pride as well as an encouragement for LGBT people to come out in every aspect of their lives and we’re hoping it also reaches the ears and the hearts of those in prominent positions whose coming out, we feel, could make such a positive impact on the lives and rights of LGBT people everywhere.
So there you go!
Chat soon…thanks,
Marlee and Tully
from SUGARBEACH
One of the newer technologies in the area of web publishing is the use of RSS or ‘Really Simple Syndication”. An RSS ‘feed’ is like a mini database stored on your site, that provides a list of what information is on your site in a format that can be easily searched or exported for use by news aggregators. RSS ‘feeds’ are created by webmasters or blogging or web content software as a way of promoting the information on the site. Here’s an example of what an RSS feed looks like for the Lesbian Quarterly website.
How does this bring more people to my website? Well, news aggregators use the RSS feeds to help you promote the information on your site, and bring people to you to read more.
News aggregators are part of services like iGoogle and ‘My Yahoo’, where people using these customized web pages (known as portals) can select the topics they’d like to read about. The service then goes out and searches the available RSS feeds to find information on those topics and display it on the page. Typically the person can read the title and a short excerpt, and then click on a link to go to the original site for the rest. If you provide useful information on your site and in your RSS feed, it can be a good way to draw additional readers to your site.
The LQ website contains a number of features that get their information from aggregated news. Below is an example. The linked articles below are from several websites including xtra.ca and lesbian events in canada from Yahoo upcoming events (unfortunately, most are in Ontario).
-Sophia Kelly is a website, database and business consultant based in Vancouver www.sophiakelly.ca
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| July 1, 2008 | to | July 31, 2008 |
LQ readers will be familiar with the Rhizome Cafe, owned by lesbian couple Lisa Moore and Vinetta Lenavat, who were profiled a year ago coinciding with their remarkable cafe’s one year anniversary. Since the cafe has lots of community events and activities, I’m including their monthly calendar newsletter in it’s entirety, below. ~LQ Editor
July at Rhizome Café * Arts Venue * Community Space 317 East Broadway, Vancouver
Dear friends of Rhizome-
Happy summer to you all! Here are a couple of announcements, as well as the listings for upcoming events in July (and a few August ones too.)
Family Sundays Take a Break til September
Since January, we’ve held a series of wonderful kids’ activities on Sunday afternoons. Thanks to all who have performed, DJ’ed, facilitated, and attended these events! We’ve decided to take a break for the summer, so as not to compete with good outdoor activities. We’ll be back with more Family Sunday events in September.
Rhizome Café Turns Two
As of last week, Rhizome Café is now officially two years old! Mark your calendars for the evening of August 16th, and join us to celebrate these two years of community and activism, arts and culture, good food and friendship. The details are listed below.
Help Design a Rhizome Café T-shirt
It’s time to create a Rhizome t-shirt, and we’re scheming up a truly unique and rhizomatic design process. You (yes, all of you) can contribute to the creation of the final t-shirt design. Here’s how it will work: By July 21, email or drop off a black and while sketch of an image you think should go on a Rhizome t-shirt. Images need not be professional or polished looking. Anyone can submit one. We will pass your drawings on to some artists who have recently shown their work at Rhizome. They will compile elements of everyone’s images, add their own two cents, and produce t-shirt designs that represent the visual ideas of many people. The t-shirts will be unveiled (and available for sale) at Rhizome’s second anniversary party on August 16. You may or may not recognize elements of your work in the final designs, but you can rest assured that your drawing will have influenced these t-shirts-created rhizomatically! Again, the deadline for submissions is July 21.
Tell Us about Your Garden
We’re researching ways of expanding our Pay-as-you-feel food system by including some produce grown right here in the neighbourhood. We’re still in the research stages of this process, but for now we’re just wondering: Do you grow vegetables within walking/biking distance of Rhizome? What do you grow? Do you ever have more than you can use? Let us know, and we’ll tell you more of what we’re thinking.
Summer Holiday: June 28 through July 4
Rhizome Café will be closed from June 28 through July 4 so we can take a break. See you when we return!
We hope you’ll join us for the various events listed below. Also, remember that we’re open for delicious lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, snacks and drinks. Our complete hours are listed at the end of this message. And let us know if you’d like to use our Community Meeting Room for your group’s activities. You can check our website for more information on what we do and how we do it: www.rhizomecafe.ca.
Here’s what’s happening in the coming month:
Art on our Walls
Illustrated Journey Youth Project:
Comics by immigrant and refugee youth
Events
Reminder: Rhizome Café Summer Holiday
We’ll be closed from Saturday, June 28 through Friday, July 4.
Vancouver Film Premiere: Meditate and Destroy
Saturday, July 5, doors at 6:30, event at 7:30
DIY Dharma and 108 Rampage Film Tour present: Meditate and Destroy, film screening and Q and A with Director Sarah Fisher. Meditate and Destroy provides an intimate and dynamic portrait of an unconventional Buddhist teacher and counselor. This powerful 80 minute documentary shows how author Noah Levine (Dharma Punx, Against the Stream) uses his personal experience and punk-rock sensibilities to connect with young people within juvenile halls and urban centers around the country. Tattoos, motorcycles, and an engaging punk rock soundtrack are featured in this hard-hitting look at how Buddhism has a place in the world of punks.
$7-15 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds
Disjunct! Performance Series Presents: Under Current
Thursday, July 10, 6:30
Join us for an evening of readings and performances by Queensland, Australia poets Julie Beveridge and Graham Nunn, with Jacqueline Turner, Matt Rader, Nikki Reimer, and the pppoetry band.
By donation, $5-$7 suggested
Board Games are So Gay
Friday, July 11, 7:00
We’re back with another round of queer-friendly board games for all ages and abilities. Bring your favourite games or use ours. DJ Julie will keep the tunes coming!
Free
Homes for All Fundraiser: “Stand for Housing”
Thursday, July 17, 7:00
R.A.O.K.-Youth Helping the Community is raising funds to purchase banner-making supplies for their weekly Stands for Housing. The group-a self-governed and self-empowered committee of youth, ages 13 to 24-plans to go nationwide, raising awareness on homelessness and trying to reinstate the national social housing program. The evening will include a variety of youth-driven performances.
Suggested $5-$10 donation, but no one turned away for lack of funds.
Glenna Garramone’s CD Release Show
Thursday, July 24, 8:00
Join Victoria’s avant-folk songstress, Glenna Garramone, as she celebrates the release of her new CD, Seasky-Starsong. See www.glenna-g.com.
$5
Café Rebelde
Friday, July 25, 7:00
Join us for this monthly informational and social event in support of Latin American social movements. This month’s topic is “Building the Political Platform of the FMLN (El Salvador.)”
Free
Bi the Way, It’s Our Cabaret
Saturday, July 26, 8:00
Vancouver’s bisexual community celebrates Pride with an evening of great company and delightful coffeehouse-style performances. A variety show featuring music, poetry, drag and much more, with special guests The Heartfelt Apologies. Open to all bisexuals, friends and allies. Brought to you by The Centre’s bisexual social group.
Admission by donation, sliding scale at the door.
In Concert: Lehera Trio
Thursday, July 31, 7:30
Lehera is a trio from Bangalore, India and Canada. The group brings together their roots in North and South Indian classical music and Western musical forms to create a genre that is both energetic and contemplative. Vocals in English and classical Indian styles intertwine with Hindustani slide guitar, violin, bamboo flutes and vocal harmonics.
$5-$10 sliding scale
Books 2 Prisoners Fundraiser
Friday, August 1, 7:00
As part of this year’s Prison Justice Day organizing, this event will benefit Books 2 Prisoners, a Vancouver collective that sends books free of charge to prisoners across Canada. Performances by LOUD, readings by Emma Kivisild and Lora McElhinney, and screening of the film “What I Want My Words to Do to You: Voices from a Maximum Security Prison.”
$7-$15 sliding scale (postage to send a book to one prisoner or a box to a group)
Save the Date!
Rhizome Café’s Second Anniversary Extravaganza
Saturday, August 16, 7:00pm
There will be food and music, fun and games, participatory art projects and more!
Thanks! See you soon!
Rhizome
Café * Arts Venue * Community Space
Where we are:
317 East Broadway
Vancouver, BC, Coast Salish Territory
For more information:
604-872-3166
www.rhizomecafe.ca
rhizome@rhizomecafe.ca
When we’re open:
Tuesdays: 4 to 10pm
Wednesdays: 11am to 10pm
Thursdays: 11am to 10pm
Fridays: 11am to midnight
Saturdays: 10am to midnight (brunch from 10 to 3)
Sundays: 10am to 3pm (brunch from 10 to 3)
We’re closed on Mondays.
A note on our name:
In the botanical sense, a rhizome is a root system that some plants (like lilies and orchids and ginger and bamboo) use to spread themselves about. While the roots of most plants point generally downward, the rhizome is a horizontal root system that runs parallel to the surface of the ground. The plant sends shoots up from nodes in the rhizome, creating what look like many separate plants. These seemingly unrelated individuals are actually all connected, through a system that’s not immediately visible to the eye.
