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The Onion A man thanks God he’s not sexually attracted to children, the nation’s women aren’t as crazy about Bryan Gosling, and the guy on the third floor with two computer screens on his desk is not fucking around. It’s the week of August 13th, 2012. Subscribe to The Onion on YouTube: http://bit.ly/xzrBUA Like The Onion on Facebook: http://www.fb.com/theonion Follow The Onion on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/theonion
New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove Gary Lachman is the author The Return of Holy Russia: Apocalyptic History, Mystical Awakening, and the Struggle for the Soul of the World as well as over twenty other books about the influence of esotericism on politics and society. He has written biographies of Carl Jung, Aleister Crowley, Rudolf Steiner, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Emanuel Swedenborg, P. D. Ouspensky, and Colin Wilson. His newest book is Dreaming Ahead of Time: Experiences with Precognitive Dreams, Synchronicities and Coincidences. Here he compares the standard, Newtonian view of time with other approaches. Einstein, for example, described the past and the future as stubbornly persisting illusions. Hermann Minkowski, who taught Einstein, referred to time as the fourth dimension. P. D. Ouspensky, the Russian philosopher who worked with G. I. Gurdjieff, postulated a six-dimensional universe with three dimensions of time. Even the pre-Socratic philosophers, argued about the relationship between the flow of time and the perfection of eternal timelessness. New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in “parapsychology” ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is also the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. (Recorded on February 23, 2022)
Miss Coney Island is a celebration of pageantry while poking fun at the toxicity of real pageants. Photo by Ed Barnas
by LYNN SALLY | MARCH 9, 2022 (zocalopublicsquare.org)
Blush! I scream at my reflection. More blush!
I am backstage at the Miss Coney Island USA pageant caking on makeup. My actual eyebrows have been glued down—a technique learned from drag queens—and I’ve shaped new, exaggerated brows into a speculative arch that sits practically in the middle of my forehead. Below them, I’ve painted on clown crème makeup and bright turquoise blue eye shadow. A thick layer of glitter seals the look together. Glitter sticks to things that are wet, I like to say, the double-entendre evident in my inflection.
My muse here is Miss Piggy, the Muppet who balks when confronted with the concept less is more. “[T]hat is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard,” she cries defiantly. “Less is less.”
All of us backstage at the competition are committed to rejecting the dictum less is less, and celebrating more is more, as we pile on the makeup, tease the wigs higher, and squeeze into the outlandish costumes that later that evening we will take off on stage.
This, if it’s not clear, is not your typical beauty pageant. At the Miss Coney Island, we celebrate oddity over perfection, individuality over conformity, and spectacular excess over static rules. The burlesque beauty pageant includes traditional pageant categories—evening wear, swimwear, talent—but instead of demanding perfection and promoting unattainable beauty ideals, it flips the well-worn formula and subverts the content, showing through exaggeration and parody the grotesqueness of unrealistic beauty standards.
While on the surface burlesque and pageants may appear to be regressive to the progress women have made since the feminist movement began fighting for equal rights, what we’re doing is really a continuation—not an abomination—of second-wave feminism’s employment of bold, agit-prop theatrics as activism and entertainment.
This goes back to 1968 when feminists staged a protest of the Miss America Pageant. Boy, did they put on a show!While on the surface burlesque and pageants may appear to be regressive to the progress women have made since the feminist movement began fighting for equal rights, what we’re doing is really a continuation—not an abomination—of second-wave feminism’s employment of bold, agit-prop theatrics as activism and entertainment.
The New York Radical Women, a feminist group formed in 1967 that brought national attention to women’s equality, came up with the idea to protest on the boardwalk in front of the Atlantic City Convention Center the day the new Miss America was going to be crowned. I like to imagine them sitting around a circle together, drumming up ideas, each one more outlandish than the one before; one member scribbles everything down, and another offers up: well, let’s do it all, and see what sticks.
And they really did pull out all the stops. The “day-long boardwalk-theater event” included picket lines, guerrilla theater, and leafleting. They carried signs that read “All Women are Beautiful,” “Let’s Judge Ourselves as People,” and “Break the Dull Steak Habit,” a message that elaborated on another protest sign which featured an image of a woman with a cowboy hat on and nothing else. Her back faced the camera as she looked over her shoulder; lines drawn upon her body literally (and symbolically) carve it up into meat cuts: rib, loin, rump.
They also crowned a sheep as Miss America, and created a Freedom Trash Can as a receptacle for “woman-garbage,” as they put it: “bras, girdles, curlers, false eyelashes, wigs, and representative issues of Cosmopolitan, Ladies’ Home Journal, and Family Circle.” They planned to burn the Freedom Trash Can and all its “woman-garbage,” a nod to the burning of draft cards in protest of the Vietnam War. One woman mopped the boardwalk as she balanced a baby and various kitchen items in her arms, a performance intended to call attention to the devaluation of women’s domestic labor.
That day, the boardwalk became the stage for the New York Radical Women’s agit-prop theatrics.
But, as often is the case, time and distance have distorted what happened at this now historic event. This was the moment that bra burning became the symbol of second-wave feminism. But the Freedom Trash Can was never set on fire, and bras were never burned. And yet this is how the movement has been memorialized.
Focusing on the bra burning trivializes the movement and characterizes the protestors as somehow “unfeminine.” Distorting what really happened that day erases the playful, agit-prop theatrics that took over the boardwalk. As a result, second-wave feminists have been depicted as humorless, anti-men, and anti-sexual or, even more “outrageous,” same-sex desiring.
But the Miss America protest demonstrates that second-wave feminists were anything but humorless—they used lighthearted humor and playful tactics to address serious issues and demand equality. Not so coincidentally, neo-burlesque employs similar strategies. Burlesque is, at its root, parody, and neo-burlesque’s “making fun” has a double meaning: it pokes fun while encouraging spectators and performers to have fun.
“Beaked Beauty” Photo by Ed Barnas
This is what the Miss Coney Island pageant is all about. As the founder, Bambi the Mermaid, puts it: “This is a weirdo pageant…. I don’t want to see you in your rhinestone perfection. I want to see you in a plastic bag with a seagull poking your eyes out.”
First staged in 2003 as a fully scripted one-off with a pre-determined winner, the pageant returned to Coney Island USA in 2004 as a “real” competition. Today, it has become a wildly popular annual show at Coney Island USA, a nonprofit arts and performance organization.
That night as we compete, parodic pageantry fills the stage. In the swimwear category, one of the contestants, MsTickle, sports bikini bottoms with the wings of a giant maxi pad poking out of the sides of her G-string. The year before, Little Brooklyn, a comedic burlesque performer, wore swim fins during the swimwear portion of the competition making her physicality belabored and awkward, the exact opposite of what typical, high-heeled pageant competitors intend and what judges seek out. For the talent portion, I performed “Miss Dairy Queen,” an act that recreates, in butoh-esque slow motion, the moment when a beauty contestant gets crowned and her face cracks and her beauty becomes grotesque. At the end of the act, I twirl six pasties, one for each udder.
Now, standing in the wings to take the stage for the crowning of Miss Coney Island, I can’t help but think that the New York Radical Women would have loved this show.
Each contestant is brought onto stage to thunderous applause. Rather than a panel of judges critically checking boxes off on a scoresheet like at a traditional pageant, the audience at Coney Island USA decides who wins. This time Julie Atlas Muz, who earlier performed a contemplative act that culminates in her peeing in a glass and appearing to drink it, is crowned Miss Coney Island. The weirdo eccentrics win this burlesque pageant, not necessarily the most traditionally “attractive” (though Muz could easily sweep the competition in both regards).
Today, in the spirit of second-wave feminism, burlesque performers intentionally adorn their bodies with “woman-garbage”: false eyelashes, corsets, and wigs. We reclaim and repurpose symbols of women’s oppression.
I am not proposing that women’s liberation will come from pasties and G-strings alone. But I am proud of how neo-burlesque continues the bold, agit-prop theatrics of previous feminist waves, reminding us all to have fun and slap glitter on serious issues so that they may shine bright in the spotlight for all to see.LYNN SALLYis a multi-disciplinary artist and scholar who loves Coney Island. Her dissertation explores turn-of-the-20th century disaster spectacles at Coney Island amusement parks. Her most recent book, Neo-Burlesque: Striptease as Transformation,has a chapter dedicated to the Miss Coney Island pageant. Learn more at www.lynnsally.com.
Yesterday 7:00AM (theonion.com)
MIAMI—Descending on the most heavily impacted shorelines in a desperate effort to contain the damage, volunteers rushed to the Florida coast to clean up the glistening hunks found lying on the beach after a massive baby oil spill, sources confirmed Thursday. “Some of these poor studs are absolutely shimmering in all that fragrant mineral oil, so we’re just happy to do whatever we can to help,” volunteer Stephanie Michaels said as she demonstrated how to scrub every square inch of spillage from the chiseled frame of an Adonis. “See how all that gushing oil has highlighted every contour of this hunk’s absolutely ripped pecs and V-cut abs? You can use a brush, towel, or even your tongue to clean them up. When a tragedy like this strikes, it feels good to be able to provide some comfort to these beautiful, perfect creatures.” At press time, the baby oil spill had reportedly destabilized the hunks’ ecosystem, forcing hundreds to be relocated to a new gym.
 Community Update March 2022 HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING! |
| Classes Time for a leap into Spring! We have several classes scheduled already, and are planning even more. You are invited to join us for exciting instruction throughout the season! TRANSLATION® March 12-13, 2022 – Online – Rick Thomas, H.W., M., instructor Translation®, The Prosperos primary Foundation Class, provides the fundamental resource required for Straight Thinking in the Abstract. Learn to see through appearances to Truth: reality, wholeness, innate integrity. To register, please visit: https://www.theprosperos.org/prosperos-events/translation-202206-thomas. LUCID DREAMING March 26, 2022 – Online – HughJohn Malanaphy, H.W., M., instructor Amazing things happen when your Conscious mind becomes aware of what you’re dreaming! Tap your Unconscious, increase creativity, and accelerate personal growth. For information, please visit https://www.theprosperos.org/events. ELEVENTH HOUR DISPATCH April 16-17, 2022 – Online – William Fennie, H.W., M., instructor Timeless,andtimely, lessons for today’s world! A special Easter weekend presentation of a classic class, given live for the first time in many years. More information as it develops; please check at https://www.theprosperos.org/events.Find out about all our classes and events at https://www.theprosperos.org/events. We look forward to seeing you soon! ♣ ♣ ♣ Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ♣ ♣ ♣ Sunday Meetings Presenting talks by Prosperos Mentors and inspiring guests, these online events are open to all who are interested. There is no charge, although we do encourage contributions. Join the meetings at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/332275676! Coming up this month: SUNDAY, MARCH 20 (11:00 am PDT) “Bohm Dialogue” Ben Gilberti, H.W.,M., leads a free-flowing, inclusive, non-judgmental group conversation in which all participants seek a common understanding. SUNDAY, MARCH 27 (11:00 am PDT) “Conversations with Calvin” Calvin Harris, H.W.,M. continues his series of interviews with fascinating guests. Have you missed a meeting? Recordings of selected Sunday Meetings are available online at https://www.theprosperos.com/podcast. Labor Day Weekend Event 2022 “COMING FULL CIRCLE” — SEPT. 2-5, 2022 Yes, planning continues for our major virtual event in September! After two years of postponing, it’s time to get back together (online!) for both fun and thought-provoking interaction. We’re going to be emphasizing attendee participation, with discussion groups considering topics brought up by featured speakers. And there will be entertainment and good vibes for all — so please plan to join us! * * * MORE TO COME — WATCH THIS SPACE! * * * >> THANE’S TALKS & LESSONS AVAILABLE ONLINE! << Thane of Hawaii, Founder of The Prosperos, left the world an amazing legacy of recorded material that addresses many metaphysical and spiritual subjects. We are pleased to be able to share these treasures — for instance, the talk described below — with all who are interested. There is no charge for listening, but contributions are welcome!“ Adventures in the Psychic/Extended Perception World” This talk addresses the issue of psychic phenomena and relates some of Thane’s experiences with the iconic and unpredictable Baird T. Spaulding. Listen online at: https://www.theprosperos.com/adventures MAY WE HELP YOU? High Watch Translation ServiceNeed help with a problem? You can request Translation® for any issue: illness, relationships, professional difficulties, etc. Members of The Prosperos High Watch—students who have shown their understanding of Translation®—will work to reveal the Truth behind the appearance. Contributions are welcome; all information is confidential. Please post your request at: http://TheProsperos.org/community/hwts. Personal Counseling Our Mentors (Teacher/Counselors) offer lay counseling based on the techniques of Translation® and Releasing the Hidden Splendour™ taught through The Prosperos. If you wish to arrange for personal counseling, or need questions answered about the techniques, or just want to talk, Prosperos Mentors are ready to help. For counselor names and contact information, please contact us at info@theprosperos.org. Volunteer Opportunities WEBSITE ASSISTANCE: We are currently seeking volunteers to help with web design and social media. This is a great chance to learn about these essential communication tools! To offer your services, or to request more information on how you can help, please write to info@theprosperos.org. Thank you! FOR MORE INFORMATION…We invite you to visit our websites for information about the School, as well as for descriptions of our wide selection of printed, recorded, and online resources (many are free; others are available for purchase). General Information – For our calendar, class descriptions and blogs, as well as other articles and information, please visit https://TheProsperos.org. Audio Center – This site offers free podcasts, talks and lectures, plus a wealth of other recorded material for our students and friends. To see what’s available, please visit https://TheProsperos.com. |
A guide to working through the inner obstacles of late life and embracing the spiritual gifts of aging
• Award Winner in the Health: Aging/50+ category of the 2021 Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest
• Award Winner in Non-Fiction: Aging and Gerontology category of the 2021 Best Indie Book Award
• Offers shadow-work and many diverse spiritual practices to help you break through denial to awareness, move from self-rejection to self-acceptance, repair the past to be fully present, and allow mortality to be a teacher
• Reveals how to use inner work to uncover and explore the unconscious denial and resistance that erupts around key thresholds of later life
• Includes personal interviews with prominent Elders, including Ken Wilber, Krishna Das, Fr. Thomas Keating, Anna Douglas, James Hollis, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Ashton Applewhite, Roshi Wendy Nakao, Roger Walsh, and Stanislav Grof
With extended longevity comes the opportunity for extended personal growth and spiritual development. You now have the chance to become an Elder, to leave behind past roles, shift from work in the outer world to inner work with the soul, and become authentically who you are. This book is a guide to help get past the inner obstacles and embrace the hidden spiritual gifts of age.
Offering a radical reimagining of age for all generations, psychotherapist and bestselling author Connie Zweig reveals how to use inner work to uncover and explore the unconscious denial and resistance that erupts around key thresholds of later life, attune to your soul’s longing, and emerge renewed as an Elder filled with vitality and purpose. She explores the obstacles encountered in the transition to wise Elder and offers psychological shadow-work and diverse spiritual practices to help you break through denial to awareness, move from self-rejection to self-acceptance, repair the past to be fully present, reclaim your creativity, and allow mortality to be a teacher. Sharing contemplative practices for selfreflection, she also reveals how to discover ways to share your talents and wisdom to become a force for change in the lives of others.
Woven throughout with wisdom from prominent Elders, including Ken Wilber, Krishna Das, Father Thomas Keating, Anna Douglas, James Hollis, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Ashton Applewhite, Roshi Wendy Egyoku Nakao, Roger Walsh, and Stanislav Grof, this book offers tools and guidance to help you let go of past roles, expand your identity, deepen self-knowledge, and move through these life passages to a new stage of awareness, choosing to be fully real, transparent, and free to embrace a fulfilling late life.
(Goodreads.com)
The Lord of Gain is one of the cards which usually receives a hearty welcome when it comes up in a reading. At the mundane level it indicates the financial rewards which come from working diligently and dedicatedly on an important project, so it will often mark a stage of completion. In the workplace it will show that hard work is rewarded both by appreciation and an increase of salary. Sometimes it can indicate promotion (though rarely a total change of workplace) earned as a result of loyalty and attention to detail.
As you’ll remember, Disks not only deal with our financial area, but also with day-to-day security in the family environment. So sometimes the Lord of Gain can come up to indicate consolidation and achievement at home. Perhaps an emotional conflict has finally been resolved, or a long-standing problem finally dealt with.
At the spiritual level, this card talks a lot about the principle that what we give to life is what we get back. And here we have confirmation that we have lived as much as we are able in the moment, appreciating the things that come our way, and celebrating the bounty we have. As a result, more abundance flows in.
The card rarely indicates windfalls, or unexpected sources of income. Here we have worked hard to create something rewarding, and the Lord of Gain indicates the results of our efforts.
(via angelpaths.com and Alan Blackman)
Yuval Noah Harari Filmed on 2nd March 2022, during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this urgent conversation between the historians Timothy Snyder and Yuval Noah Harari explores the implications of the unfolding crisis in Europe. The discussion is moderated by the journalist and historian Anne Applebaum, and was hosted by YES (Yalta European Strategy), with support from the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.
JANUARY 19, 2009 (signifyinguyana.typepad.com)
One of the stories in The Art of The Short Story is James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues.”
Sonny is a young jazz musician, and a recovering drug addict who has been rescued by his older brother (the narrator). The story is set in 1950s Harlem, New York where junkies, prostitutes, preachers, teachers, the struggling, the disenchanted, the hopeful all live together in one place . . . a panorama of urban black America.
In the excerpt below, Sonny’s brother hears him play piano at a nightclub for the first time, and is drawn in by his performance. For the first time, he recognizes his younger brother’s way of communicating. He sees in his performance the pain, the connections between past and present, the hope, the power in achievement of one man’s ambition that signals so much for not only him, but so many like him.
Then they all gathered around Sonny and Sonny played. Every now and again one of them seemed to say, amen. Sonny’s fingers filled the air with life, his life. But that life contained so many others.
And Sonny went all the way back, he really began with the spare, flat statement of the opening phrase of the song. Then he began to make it his. It was very beautiful because it wasn’t hurried and it was no longer a lament. I seemed to hear with that burning he had made it his, with what burning we had yet to make it ours, how we could cease lamenting.
Freedom lurked around us and I understood, at last, that he could help us to be free if we would listen, that he would never be free until we did. Yet, there was no battle in his face now. I heard what he had gone through, and would continue to go through until he came to rest in earth.
He had made it his: that long line, of which we knew only Mama and Daddy. And he was giving it back, as everything must be given back, so that, passing through death, it can live forever. I saw my mother’s face again, and felt, for the first time, how the stones of the road she had walked on must have bruised her feet. I saw the moon-lit road where my father’s brother died. And it brought something else back to me, and carried me past it. I saw my little girl again and felt Isabel’s tears again, and I felt my own tears begin to rise. And I was yet aware that this was only a moment, that the world waited outside, as hungry as a tiger, and that trouble stretched above us, longer than the sky.
–from “Sonny’s Blues,” a short story in James Baldwin’s “Going to Meet the Man”