Roots

yerba-santa:

If every self-absorbed white missionary spent time in their own countries, doing work to help the poor and the marginalized

real work, volunteering in schools

volunteering to clean up streets

showing people kindness and real christian virtue

instead of going on glorified vacations and posing with asian, brown, and black children

maybe then I would support their stupid fucking fundraisers

maybe then white folks wouldn’t be so clueless about how people live

in their own cities and neighborhoods 

(via krystallynmarie)

stfusexists:

theangrymuslimah:

Obama Bombs Yemen Hours After Winning Reelection

Not even a full day had passed before newly reelected President Obama ordered another drone strike in Yemen. Huffington Post:

On Wednesday morning, as many Americans sifted through the voter data and exit poll numbers of President Barack Obama’s reelection the night before, the Twitter feeds of close watchers of Yemen lit up with reports of another sort of presidential event: an apparent U.S. drone strike had killed several individuals in that country.

“All signs (after dark, suspicions of locals, target) point to Sanhan strike being a US drone,” Yemen-based freelance journalist Adam Baron wrote on Twitter.

Several other analysts concurred.

A White House spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. If it were a American strike, of course, it would have to have been authorized by Obama.

The drone war violates both domestic and international law, and the Obama administration’s vehement disdain for transparency in government is the only thing keeping it from public and legal scrutiny. Beyond the law, it’s terrorism.

And this is why we can’t have nice things.

I think it’s great that we’ve got a moderate Democrat in the White House and social/domestic policy is going to go our way, but this is simply unacceptable. We can’t accept this from anyone, not even our side, liberals/moderates/libertarians. The day for celebrating is over, now it’s back to work - call your senators, representatives, and start writing to the White House.

(Source: jayaprada, via krystallynmarie)

sailorswayze:

shipping your own original characters

DaravanxSyfer4lyfe. 

(Source: rybackrulez, via caffeinatedfeminist)

Hello, fitblrs!

I know I have been absent now for about… three weeks? Give or take? 

There are many reasons for my disappearance. I’ll put the full story at the end, behind a cut, but basically it entails me being arrested for peacefully practicing my First Amendment right to assemble in Phoenix, Arizona). If you don’t want to read the full story, that is definitely fine. I understand. And whatever you think about the Occupy Wall Street Movement is also fine. But it is the main reason behind me not being here. 

I also survived another small bout of chest pains from my earlier pneumonia, lost my job due to my fingerprint card being revoked for being arrested, interviewed for a new position, had my card reactivated, moved, had visits from friends, started dating someone, and have taken on a more community organizer role in this movement. 

Its been a crazy three weeks. 

I’m getting back on the wagon, though. In the three weeks since I’ve stopped working out (and I mean absolutely stopped. No runs, no Curves, NOTHING. Unless you count marching. Lots of marching), I’ve started to feel that old anxiety and that old feeling coming back. I forgot that even though I’m dedicated elsewhere now, I am still becoming a runner. I am going to be a runner. 

Restarting C25K next week. I’m going to drop back to W3, see how that feels, and go from there. I can honestly say that I miss it. I miss running, and working out, and eating right, and most of all I miss you all. I don’t have internet at my new place yet, but hoping to fix that tomorrow. 

And now, read on for the whole story…

Read More

I need to write this down before I forget!

Tomorrow (Friday): C25K W4D2
Saturday: maybe Curves? Most likely a rest day.
Sunday: W4D3 (FINALLY)

Monday: rest (doctor’s appt)
Tuesday: W5D1 (yikes)
Wednesday: Curves (30-min circuit + Zumba!)
Thursday: W5D2
Friday: rest
Saturday: Curves
Sunday: W5D3

I can honestly say that right now I’m looking forward to all of this!  

Today was my first day at Curves! 

Right now I’m feeling pretty good about it. My one complaint is the heteronormativity blatant in the advertising and in the food book I purchased (which I think might be a slight waste of money, but it has recipes I am looking forward to trying out). I guess that’s what I get for choosing a single-gender gym. And while realistically I would love to work out in a place completely inclusive of all gender identities, I have to admit working out in a room comprised solely of women-presenting persons puts me at ease. 

Slight tangent aside, I liked it! I was not expecting the machines to give me as great a workout as they did. They showed me how to use them on the first circuit and then had me go through one circuit actually doing it. And let me tell you - it is HARD. I was huffing and puffing. But it was a good workout and I didn’t feel dead at the end of it. 

My favorite bit by far was that I got to do a zumba class right afterwards. It was so much fun and I didn’t feel like I was working out at all! Just dancing and laughing. 

I’m not going back until Tuesday since moving is commencing this weekend and I have a follow-up doctor’s appointment on Monday. I purchased the card trainer thing and we’re going to set it up. 

Hope your day was great, lovelies! 

Farthest I’ve gotten. I thought yesterday’s W4D1 was going to be disasterous since I had to take time off to nurse my pneumonia, but it was actually the best yet! I really like the C25K program - the three minutes runs feel so easy compared to the five minute ones. Its nice to see and feel my progress. I also reserved energy and set a 15:21 pace for my last 5-minute jog and I got through it!

I also might have found a C25K buddy! Its hard to find people who are willing to set their run paces as slow as mine (I’m a turtle) but she’s willing and also wanting to start slow with the C25K. Its also been hard since all my friends are still in college and I work out when they do homework.

Hitting up Curves tonight for the first time. I’m doing the circuit stuff and then hanging out to do a Zumba class. Pumped! I’ll let you know as it goes.