Cinderella in Combat Boots

loree — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 18:54:09 GMT

Welp, I've been headed this way for a while, but I'm going to be jumping ship on Livejournal soon too. The latest TOS change makes even a permanent account an unattractive proposition. Find me on Dreamwidth, Twitter, or Facebook.

I'll be turning off crossposting after this post goes through, and deleting my LJ account once have time to collect my scrapbook and user icons.

This entry was originally posted at http://loree.dreamwidth.org/344720.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

IMPORTANT

loree — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 16:21:26 GMT

Today is the last day to sign up for Obamacare if you haven't already. Don't let the new administration make you miss it.

This entry was originally posted at http://loree.dreamwidth.org/344484.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

loree — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 19:29:57 GMT

Crosspost test.

loree — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 00:49:32 GMT

That previous message was not written by me, but is reposted in memory of our beloved dagard, who ended his battle with depression by committing suicide on February 16 of this year.

If you're reading this, if you're thinking of hurting yourself, I'm begging you -- please don't. Depression lies to you. I love you, I'll miss you, I won't be better off without you, I need you, I care, and the world would suck without you in it.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741741

loree — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 00:40:24 GMT

Entry reposted from http://sweetmusic-27.livejournal.com/116749.html.

Time for a happier update

loree — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 21:50:53 GMT

This past Saturday I was elected to be Vice Chair of Norwescon 40. We're taking applications for executive positions, and will be conducting interviews next weekend. I'm looking forward to new challenges -- and it's going to be interesting being responsible for only a handful of people instead of more than 200.

I'm also planning a memorial bash for Firesign and Dagard, to be held in Las Vegas over the weekend of August 12-14. I suspect it will be more cane-waving and two-drinks-is-my-limit and early-bedtimes than interesting-chemicals and what-day-is-it and drank-all-the-things than bashes past, but I don't think that's a bad thing. I'm in the final stages of research, and will be posting the details to the LambdaMOO community on Facebook when they're settled.

Help needed

loree — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 22:24:40 GMT

tithonium and I are planning to go over to dagard's place this evening to start the process of collecting his belongings. We could really use some help. Anyone free to meet us on CapHill tonight after about 7pm? Comments are screened so you can leave phone numbers and we can text about the details.

ETA: If you can't make it, feel free to spread the word, but only to people we know, please. We don't need Joe Rando rifling through our dearly departed's bank records.

loree — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 06:12:06 GMT

I haven't posted in forever, I know, and I'm sorry that I'm breaking that trend with such terrible news. But some of you don't frequent the other social media spaces where I've been talking about this.

dagard, meatspace name Ryan Brown, was found dead in his home today after I called the police to perform a welfare check. Details of what I know so far are posted here, from a redacted letter I wrote to his father.

Norwescon panelist invites

loree — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 21:12:03 GMT

If you're expecting or hoping for one, please check your spam filters. I'm suspecting a filter problem, because I'm astounded at the number of people yet to reply. And if you *have* received yours, save yourself a couple of nag emails and fill it out? :)

(Comments screened, although if you have questions about Norwescon programming business, it's probably better to email me - same username as here, at the convention domain. Dot org.)

Fashion sideways

loree — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 05:02:10 GMT

"Watch out or you'll lose your goth cred," said my boss of the white scrunchie I wore today, completely failing to notice the pattern printed on my shirt - a jumble of skulls reminiscent of one of the bone collections in the Paris catacombs painted in black and blue watercolor.

Cloth scrunchies are plentiful again. That's a fashion trend I missed. I should buy my weight in them so I'll have enough to last until they're popular again in another 20 years.

I have given up on regular updates

loree — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 22:39:05 GMT

I am still reading. I am and remain ALL THE BUSY with Norwesconly things - the convention starts in ten days. But I had a lousy shopping experience at an Avenue store this weekend that deserves some Avenging.

To whom it may concern:

I am writing about an extremely unsatisfying shopping experience at your Renton, WA store this Sunday the 6th of April. While the staff were perfectly delightful and helpful, there were several issues making the day an unpleasant one.

First, the lack of availability of items in larger sizes. I was in the store expressly to find jeans and yoga pants. I wear a [size redacted], and there were precisely TWO pairs of pants in my size in the entire store. Is this an ordering issue on the part of store management, or corporate policy? I noticed the sign on the door mentioning larger sizes available on the website, which makes me suspect the latter. It's difficult enough to find clothing in my size that doesn't look like it should be adorning a couch. You used to be my go-to source; not anymore.

Secondly, cleanliness. The pants I *was* able to try on brushed across the floor while I was changing, and came away streaked with dust. It doesn't appear that the floors had been swept in weeks.

Third, clutter. Apparently a shipment had just come in - there were boxes everywhere in the changing area, and the three-way mirror was blocked by a folded ladder. Not acceptable.

Fourth, poorly executed repairs. The wallpaper in my changing room had apparently started to peel up at one time, and rather than repair it properly, it was held down with several strips of clear packing tape. Inadequate cheaply-done repairs make it appear as though you can't afford better, and don't inspire confidence.

Clothes shopping is often an emotionally-fraught experience for people of size. Were I a person of lower self-esteem, I would have left in tears instead of in frustration. Your stores can do, and have done, so much better. There are advantages to shopping at brick-and-mortar stores, but experiences like mine drive customers to the Internet - and if they don't enjoy the in-store experience, they aren't likely to patronize your online offerings either.

Furthermore, the other three locations in the greater Seattle area have now closed, so my options of shopping at your brick-and-mortar stores are limited. I'm not willing to drive 140+ miles to shop at the next nearest store, nor am I willing to be punted to the website for every purchase. Carry more [size redacted]s and you're more likely to keep me as a customer.

Let me say again that the staff in store were lovely - they went out of their way to help me, and diligently returned to their stocking tasks when not assisting customers. All of the issues I describe show clear evidence of issues at the management level or above.

Disappointedly,

Loree Parker
[contact info redacted]

P.S. - I was only able to spend $48.15 in your store yesterday. I'd budgeted $300, and your loss was Catherine's gain.

P.P.S. - Skinny jeans are a terrible idea for fat women. Can we please be done with that trend now?

CQ

loree — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 22:30:30 GMT

Has anyone been in contact with rigel_p lately, and if so can you please ask her to contact me? I've got something relatively urgent (yay-urgent, not danger-urgent) I need to discuss with her, and am having no luck raising her via email (Gmail) or phone (Google Voice).

Comments screened if anyone has alternate contact info, else my own contact info is in a protected post at the top of my journal if you don't trust our Russian overlords with someone else's details.

ETA: I've been able to get in touch with her. Thanks all!

Come work with me!

loree — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:06:42 GMT

My company has open positions in Seattle for two senior Unix systems engineers, a systems engineering manager, QA, software test engineer, Remedy developer, a project manager or two, and a handful of various data and application analysts.

Job descriptions and more information are available on our Jobs page - if you're not local to Seattle, we also have a variety of positions from sales and client support to federal projects and software development in a variety of locations:

CA: Aliso Viejo (Orange County), Torrance (LA)
CO: Greenwood Village (Denver)
CT: Hartford
FL: Miami, Pensacola, Tampa
IA: Cedar Rapids, Iowa City
MD: Annapolis, Baltimore, Ft. Meade, Hanover
SC: Charleston
TN: Memphis
TX: Austin, Dallas
VA: Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Ft. Belvoir, McLean, Quantico, Stafford
International: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada (Calgary, AB)

Feel free to share this. And as employee referrals tend to move to the top of the stack more quickly than free-range applicants, feel free to reference me if you apply. If you don't know my last name, leave a comment with your email address (comments are screened).

My company is hiring - 15 open positions in Seattle

loree — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 19:17:00 GMT

More details here, but these are the positions we're hiring for in Seattle:

ATAC Analyst
Computer Software Developer - SIP.net
Computer Technologist
Data Analyst - Data Provisioning
Database Administrator - MS SQL
Financial Analyst
HP Openview Application Management
Manager / Sr. Manager, Network Engineering
Network Analyst
Sr. Network Engineer
Staff Accountant
SW Test Engineer
Systems Engineer
Systems Engineer - UNIX/ Windows
VoIP Engineer

We also have 100+ other open positions in other divisions and other countries:

CA: Aliso Viejo, Camp Pendleton, Torrance
CO: Denver
FL: Pensacola
GA: Atlanta, Suwanee
MD: Annapolis, Ft. Meade, Hanover
VA: Arlington, Herndon, Springfield
VT: St. Johnsbury
Washington DC
Calgary
Afghanistan
Kuwait

Employee referrals tend to go further than free-range applications, so let me know if you apply. Leave your email address in a comment if you want to discuss any of these offline, with the caveat that I'm not going to know much about most of the positions outside Seattle. (Comments are screened unless you explicitly say otherwise.)

So you want to be a panelist...

loree — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 18:41:43 GMT

If you've ever wanted to be a panelist at Norwescon, now is the time to let me know. Don't wait for me to ask you - I'm delegating those decisions to the track leads. Go check out my page on becoming a panelist, reply via the webform linked at the bottom of the page, and I'll forward your info along to the appropriate track leads for consideration.

Please note, however, that while I plan to continue the previous years' policy of cycling through panelists to keep content fresh, on any given year there are roughly three times as many panelists to choose from as slots available to fill. So if you're not chosen, whether you've been a panelist before or not, it's a 99% chance it's not personal. After the convention, everybody except the elected positions are fired and have to reapply for their positions, so chances are good the same people won't be in charge from year to year.

Good luck!

Norwescon stuff & things

loree — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:51:29 GMT

I'm still buried under a mountain of dayjob work, and I found out yesterday morning that the Pro Suite coordinator has to drop out due to health reasons. If I know anyone at all who is already attending and would be interested in helping out in that arena (especially on Friday as my panel schedule is pretty packed), drop me a note. I'm not above bribery.

Responsibilities for each party are in the general arena of show up, put pre-prepared snacks on plates, open door on time, shoo people out on time, bag up trash, walk through to make sure nothing's broken or missing, close door -- you don't even have to stick around during the party if you don't want to.

My panel schedule is
Friday Noon Cascade 5
Size Acceptance Is For Everybody
In one corner is the medical establishment and popular media with their obsession with thinness at any cost. In the other corner is the size-acceptance movement and its grass-roots rebellion against the diet industry. We'll discuss the works of fat-positive authors, the origins of the BMI table, the definition of an epidemic, and why it isn't any more polite to tell a small person to eat a sandwich than it is to tell a large person they'd be so attractive if only they lost a few pounds.
Loree Parker (M), Sheye Anne Blaze, Julie Haehn, Dierdre Phoenix

Friday 5 pm Cascade 5
Exploring Other Cultures (Without Being A Jerk)
There has long been the tendency in art and literature to borrow from other cultures and subcultures, but admiration can rapidly become obsession, othering, and cultural appropriation. Well-publicized RaceFail online discussions, usually centered around an ignorant remark by a well-known personality, are prime examples. We'll discuss privilege and oppression, why "intent isn't magic," more polite methods of asking questions (and who to ask them of), and how to give an honest apology without fanning the flames. Suggested pre-panel Googling: Derailing for Dummies, Racism 101, Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
Lilith von Fraumench (M), Loree Parker, Caren Gussoff, Sheye Anne Blaze

Friday 8 pm Cascade 3&4
How To Get Laid At A Con
How to hook up and be safe, tips on enhancing your communication skills, safer sex advice, grooming tips, and etiquette recommendations of things to NEVER EVER do or say to keep you from being that creep others avoid. And who knows -- today's hook-up might be tomorrow's happily-ever-after. Funny stories and serious advice. 18+ WITH ID
Mickey Schulz (M), Burton Gamble, Loree Parker

Friday 9 pm Cascade 2
Young & Queer: Beyond The Trevor Project
Some attitudes have changed in the last decade or two; but how is it for those still struggling with their personal and sexual identities? How do we cope with widespread bullying from our peers and elders? What do we say when our personal identities don't fit into one box or another? We encourage young people with questions about their place in society and fandom to come to talk and share strength with each other and with older fen who've been through it themselves.
Loree Parker (M), Gregory Gadow, Dennis R. Upkins, Alexander James Adams

Friday 10 pm Cascade 3&4
Putting the "R" in RPG: Boundaries
First of a three-part panel series discussing how to successfully incorporate the 'R-rated' campaign. This first panel discusses defining and setting the boundaries of what's OK and what is definitely NOT OK to members of your gaming group when introducing mature topics to the gaming table.
Ogre Whiteside (M), Loree Parker, Mickey Schulz, Satyros Phil Brucato

Saturday Noon Cascade 6
Polyamory 101
What is polyamory? Why would anyone want more than one partner? How does everyone interact so that each person's needs are met and no one gets hurt? How do more conservative family members react to these plural relationships? Should you? Shouldn't you? What are the pros and cons?
Loree Parker (M), Sean Hagle, David Nasset, Sr., Sheye Anne Blaze

And now back to the datamines.

LJ DB issues again.

loree — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:13:17 GMT

Comment on a post, and get a 'this page has been deleted' error. Reload friends page, the post is still there, and has new comments. Comment I posted shows up in my inbox. Direct link to the page? Still broken.

KGB script-kiddies, aren't you tired yet?

loree — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:34:50 GMT

LJ is especially quiet today. RSS and crossposting must be broken. The Russian election is over, script kiddies, get back to your non-DDOSing day jobs.

Calling all Norwescon pros

loree — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:20:32 GMT

Turn in your pro surveys ASAP to programming norwescon org. If we don't get it back by December 6th, we're going to assume you're not interested. And if you think you should've been invited and haven't, be sure to check your spam filters and old email addresses - while we try to make sure we keep our info up to date, something inevitably falls through the cracks.

All comments screened unless you explicitly say otherwise. If you have a question, don't want a response via LJ comment, and don't have my midgard email address, leave a comment with yours.

Norwescon 35 panels, 1st pass

loree — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 07:25:57 GMT

Here's what I've come up with for the Culture track. I cut some dead wood, reworked a few titles and descriptions, and added some new panels to shake things up a bit. Please feel free to tell me if my ass is showing, particularly on the new race and transgender panels.

Several are listed with the restriction 18+ or 21+ WITH ID (pending location) - we're going to have Maxi's as additional convention space in the evenings this year, so there's a chance some of the already-age-restricted-because-I'm-not-going-to-jail-for-ill-defined-child-porn-laws topics may end up someplace where you can have an adult beverage while talking about teh sexx0rs.

Alternative Scene Etiquette
The etiquette for alternative culture events has become much more important in recent years. As the Goth, Con and Kink scenes seem to simultaneously blend and diverge, so can the rules that apply to appropriate social behaviors. Come learn from the experiences of those who've been there on how not to be a tourist.

BDSM 101
Interested in BDSM? Want to find out what it’s all about? What are these limits, boundaries, and play people keep talking about? We will endeavor to answer your questions - or if we can’t, we’ll point you to a resource that can. We will also discuss BDSM etiquette and resources for you to find out more. 18+ or 21+ WITH ID (pending location)

Advanced BDSM
So you know the basics of BDSM, maybe you've engaged in play or had a kinky relationship. Where do you go next? And what exactly is edge play, anyway? We'll explain all that, and give suggestions on how to do the edgier things more safely and sanely. 18+ or 21+ WITH ID (pending location)

Bullies Suck: Raising Compassionate Children (NEW)
Consider the case of ten-year-old Jasmine McClain and the scores of other children who have ended their own lives rather than endure another taunt from a bully. Even one life lost is too many. How can we raise our kids to be kind? How do we explain terms like sexual identity, gender dysmorphia, racism, misogyny, and oppression in terms young children can understand? How do we broach them with older children without being condescending? And when the timeworn strategy of "ignore bullies and they'll stop" doesn't work, how do we help keep our kid from being the next victim?

Comparative Religions: Past, Present, Future, and Fictional
Faith and belief -- both historical and author-invented -- have been major themes in popular fiction and fannish media for generations. We'll respectfully discuss how faith is applicable to fandom, and the parallels and differences of religions past and present that have shaped (or been shaped by) the worlds of our favorite genres.

Disability in Science Fiction & Real Life
Geordi LaForge lost his visor in the ST:TNG films, Jake got his legs back with his Avatar, but Prof. X still has his wheelchair and Vorkosigan's birth defects never gave normal an option. Are these character archetypes plausible representations of the realities of life with a disability, or do they detract from the distinct cultures that have developed within the visual-, hearing-, and mobility-impaired communities? And are villains like Unbreakable's Mr. Glass and the albino twins of The Matrix a sign of mainstream acceptance or just a new twist on the old carnival freakshow?

Evolution of Marriage
In science fiction and fantasy, marriage has seen many shapes and forms -- just as it has in the real world. Which SF/F authors have toyed with different forms of marriage and family in ways that you think could be helpful for us to consider in the real world? How has marriage changed throughout history? What impact do recent laws and legislation have? And what does sanctity have to do with anything, anyway?

Exploring Other Cultures (Without Being A Jerk)
There has long been the tendency in art and literature to borrow from other cultures and subcultures, but admiration can rapidly become obsession, othering, and cultural appropriation. Well-publicized RaceFail online discussions, usually centered around an ignorant remark by a well-known personality, are prime examples. We'll discuss privilege and oppression, why "intent isn't magic," more polite methods of asking questions (and who to ask them of), and how to give an honest apology without fanning the flames. Suggested pre-panel Googling: Derailing for Dummies, Racism 101, Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Fandom In Daily Life
Are you weird, geeky, or a total nerd, and proud of it? Do you express your fannishness in daily life, or do you tone it down for your day job? Come participate in a discussion and share how you show your fannish colors.

Fannish Gardening
You may not be able to terraform Mars (yet), but there is still the backyard. Our panelists will share what they have done to give their exo-structural habitat a little more character and made it more conducive to the fannish lifestyle.

Fannish Home Décor
Tips on maintaining a fashionable, functional fannish household with ever-expanding collections of books, art, costumes, media, and other assorted stuff. How to showcase your geek aesthetic and not look like an audition for Hoarders.

Feminism in Fandom (was: Has Fandom Shattered Its Glass Ceiling?)
The face of feminism has changed over the decades, from the suffrage struggles of the first wave, the women's liberation movement of the second wave, and the intersectionality of the third wave. Women are well-represented in local fandom, but a lot of fan media is still a boys' club. And then there are the comic book heroines with their improbable poses and battle lingerie... What does all this say about the future of feminism? And how do we inspire the next generation of girls to love the same genres we do?

Fighting Transphobia: A Primer For The Cisgendered (NEW)
An entry-level discussion on some of the facets of transgender identities. We'll discuss terminology, whether there's a difference between sex and gender, pronoun usage, and when it's best to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Suggested pre-panel Googling: Not Your Mother's Trans 101, Gender Binary, Silencing Tactics

Geek Careers
Lots of us work in high tech, and we've got panel after panel on developing your writing and artistic skills, but what other day jobs are out there that are (or can be made) fandom-friendly?

Goth on a Budget
Not just corsets, hair dye, and Nice Boots (tm), but also finding a style that's truly your own. How not to break the bank to look great, and why gothic style is about much, much more than just black clothes and pale foundation.

Growing Up Fen
What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing up in convention fandom?

Hook 'Em When They're Young
Fandom has shaped many of our lives from an early age, and popular fiction has helped to grow a whole new generation of fans. Come talk with us about the best books and media of the past and present to get kids interested in science fiction and fantasy... without freaking their parents.

How the 'Net Changed the Dating Scene
Once upon a time, "People From The Internet" were on the same level as axe murderers and timeshare telemarketers, but one dating website claims that 1 in 5 new relationships now begins online. Come share your experiences with online dating, and discuss the best, worst, and most annoying relationship sites out there.

How To Get Laid At A Con (was: Gamers Need Love Too, Fandom Hookups, others I'm forgetting)
How to hook up and be safe, tips on enhancing your communication skills, safer sex advice, grooming tips, and etiquette suggestions of things to NEVER EVER do or say to keep you from being that creep others avoid. And who knows -- today's hook-up might be tomorrow's happily-ever-after. Funny stories and serious advice. 18+ or 21+ WITH ID (pending location)

Intro to Seattle Sex Positive Culture
What does it mean to be sex positive? Where can you find sex positive environments? How can you get involved? Learn more about this movement and what it implies. 18+ or 21+ WITH ID (pending location)

Invisible Disabilities
Not every disability is apparent at a glance, nor is anyone's personal health anyone else's business. From mental illness to chronic disease to a variety of syndromes and impairments too lengthy to list, we'll discuss the difficulties of living with chronic health conditions, the stigmas associated, what progress has (or hasn't) been made in reforming public perception, and strategies on getting other people to mind their own blasted business.

Polyamory 101
What is polyamory? Why would anyone want more than one partner? How does everyone interact so everyone’s needs are met and no one gets hurt? How do more conservative family members react to these plural relationships? Should you, shouldn’t you? What are the pros and cons?

Advanced Polyamory
You've decided that poly is the way to go, so now what? How do you go about blending households, finances, and lives? What about negotiating (and re-negotiating) boundaries? How do you plan for the long term, and do you need a lawyer? And what if you figure out it's just not working? Our panelists have a wide variety of experiences, observations, and suggestions to share.

Poly Parenting
And you thought blending households and finances was complicated... What happens when children come into the mix? How do you cope with three or more parenting styles under the same roof? How do you explain things at school? Can you legally protect your rights as a non-biological parent? And what happens if the ex uses your relationship as grounds in a custody battle? Our panel of polyamorous parents and legal professionals may be able to point you in the right direction.

Queer Voices in SF/F (was: LGBTQI in SF/F & Fandom)
Science fiction and fantasy authors often use the fringes of mainstream culture as plot material. How do authors portray gender and sexuality in their works, and how realistic are the works of those who write outside their own identities? Are the tales of early authors who played with gender still relevant? And have these worlds of SF&F changed the attitudes of fandom and made those in the QUILTBAG community feel welcome?

Race And Popular Media (NEW)
Back when our TV sets still had rabbit ears, shows like Star Trek, The Jeffersons, Chico & The Man, Good Times, Welcome Back Kotter, Sanford & Son, and The Cosby Show brought the ordinary, exceptional, and fantastical lives of people of color into American living rooms every night. But from the look of the primetime schedules of the big four networks, those days have passed. What happened? And why? And what can we as media consumers do to bring diversity back to the weeknight lineup?

Sex Tech & Getting Your Gadget On
Sex Droids. VR Pleasure Dens. Neural net fantasies. A wide (and long, and deep) variety of mechanical and synthetic devices. Do we really need human interaction any more? Are we just a few years away from Gigolo Joe? Or is high-tech stimulation just another way to whet our appetites? 18+ or 21+ WITH ID (pending location)

Size Acceptance Is For Everybody
In one corner is the medical establishment and popular media with their obsession with thinness at any cost. In the other corner is the size-acceptance movement and its grass-roots rebellion against the diet industry. We'll discuss the works of fat-positive authors, the origins of the BMI table, the definition of an epidemic, and why it isn't any more polite to tell a small person to eat a sandwich than it is to tell a large person they'd be so attractive if only they lost a few pounds.

Intro to Health At Every Size (NEW)
HAES is not about diets or losing weight - it's about exercising and eating well with the goal of health, not size. It's about learning: How to work out without hurting yourself, what foods your body wants and needs to keep you going, how to avoid sacrificing your mental health for an arbitrary definition of fitness, and how to be comfortable in your skin instead of living by a number on a scale. Come share your stories and discover how this health movement is the opposite of giving up.

Victorian Sex
Love the subtle bondage and discipline a corset implies? Does a hint of ankle or a flash of stocking come across as shocking? Want to incorporate the Victorian sensibilities of steampunk into your bedsport? Come learn about the not-so-straightlaced Victorians and what was really going on underneath all that clothing. 18+ or 21+ WITH ID (pending location)

Young & Queer: Beyond The Trevor Project (was:Young & Queer in Society & Fandom)
Some attitudes have changed in the last decade or two, but how is it for those still struggling with their personal and sexual identities? How do we cope with widespread bullying from our peers and elders? What do we say when our personal identities don't fit into one box or another? We encourage young people with questions about their place in society and fandom to come to talk and share strength with each other and with older fen who’ve been through it themselves.

I'm looking for constructive criticism, not a mutual admiration society, so if I've done something fucked up and privilege-blind, my wording is awkward, or you think a description needs a refresh, please tell me. I'm not particularly thin-skinned, and I make no claims of being a perfect ally for social justice.

And if you have any suggestions for additional panels that fall under the Fannish Culture umbrella, please send them my way - interest waxes and wanes from year to year, and I can always use a few alternates. There are a couple of caveats, though: 1) Any significantly new anti-oppression topics should be entry-level educational panels for at least the first year; and 2) I really don't have any more room for poly panels.

Election Day today

loree — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:55:34 GMT

Americans: Please vote if you're eligible. Even if you turn in an empty ballot in protest of the entire biased, backward, gerrymandered, inherently fucked up institution. Voter apathy is a big part of how it got that way. Participatory democracy only works when everyone participates.

Mississippi Personhood Amendment

loree — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:32:03 GMT

Originally posted by gabrielleabelle at Mississippi Personhood Amendment

Okay, so I don't usually do this, but this is an issue near and dear to me and this is getting ~~very little~~ no attention in the mainstream media.

Mississippi is voting on November 8th on whether to pass Amendment 26, the "Personhood Amendment". This amendment would grant fertilized eggs and fetuses personhood status.

Putting aside the contentious issue of abortion, this would effectively outlaw birth control and criminalize women who have miscarriages. This is not a good thing.

Jackson Women's Health Organization is the only place women can get abortions in the entire state, and they are trying to launch a grassroots movement against this amendment. This doesn't just apply to Mississippi, though, as Personhood USA, the group that introduced this amendment, is trying to introduce identical amendments in all 50 states.

What's more, in Mississippi, this amendment is expected to pass. It even has Mississippi Democrats, including the Attorney General, Jim Hood, backing it.

The reason I'm posting this here is because I made a meager donation to the Jackson Women's Health Organization this morning, and I received a personal email back hours later - on a Sunday - thanking me and noting that I'm one of the first "outside" people to contribute.

So if you sometimes pass on political action because you figure that enough other people will do something to make a difference, make an exception on this one. My RSS reader is near silent on this amendment. I only found out about it through a feminist blog. The mainstream media is not reporting on it.

If there is ever a time to donate or send a letter in protest, this would be it.

What to do?

- Read up on it. Wake Up, Mississippi is the home of the grassroots effort to fight this amendment. Daily Kos also has a thorough story on it.

- If you can afford it, you can donate at the site's link.

- You can contact the Democratic National Committee to see why more of our representatives aren't speaking out against this.

- Like this Facebook page to help spread awareness.

Norwescon 35

loree — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:16:06 GMT

I'm running the Norwescon Fannish Culture track again, and am seeking panel (and panelist) suggestions for next year, particularly in the areas of social justice, LGBTQ, sexuality, sexual identity, and assorted lifestyle topics that could be described as "how we nerds live our lives the other 361 days of the year."

The convention is Easter weekend, and panelists receive free membership plus discounted membership for one guest. If you're interested or know someone who is, send them my way. I don't believe in outing anybody without their permission, so comments will remain screened unless you say otherwise.

You can has job?

loree — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:41:28 GMT

Not much time for Livejournalling lately, but if you know someone who's a Cisco God or a Unix Jesus, my org is looking for a Senior Network Engineer and a Senior Unix System Engineer. The former is in my group.

Postings are on the Netterbutts -- ping me for my work email address and/or real name if you want to apply and don't already know them.

There are a total of 8 open positions in Seattle right now, plus about 90 others, if you happen to be in, near, or wanting to move to the following locations:

Afghanistan
Aliso Viejo, CA
Annapolis
Arlington, VA
Baltimore, MD
Ft. Belvoir, VA
Ft. Bliss, TX
Ft. Meade
Ft. Polk, LA
Hanover, MD
Herndon, VA
Iraq
Manassas, VA
Pensacola, FL
Seattle, WA
Tampa, FL
Torrance, CA

We do a lot of government contract work, if you hadn't guessed, but none of it in the Seattle area.

The company also has a presence in these locations (no positions currently open, but that may change from week to week):

Augusta, GA
Branchburg, NJ
Calgary, AB
Camp LeJeune
Camp Pendleton, CA
Crystal City
Detroit, MI
Djibouti
Duluth, GA
Ft. Irwin
Jacksonville, FL
McLean, VA
Oakland, CA
San Jose, CA
Southwest Asia
Suwanee, GA

Feel free to ask if you've got any questions, although I doubt I'll be able to provide much info beyond what's on the website for any positions requiring security clearance. And feel free to share this with others who're looking.

ETA: Comments are now screened if you'd prefer a private reply.

#firstworldproblems

loree — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:31:43 GMT

Dear LiveJournal,

When I click the "Remember Me" tickybox, it means I don't want to have to relogin every Zeus-damned time I return to the website. If you can't upgrade your site features without breaking the old ones, maybe it's time you knock it the fuck off and leave things the hell alone.

No love,
loree