lip magazine: for girls who think feel create speak out live

Trees provide the earth and humans with oxygen to breathe. Recreating an economy based on hemp and other bio-resources will end our dependence on timber and synthetics. Save our planet from more devastation by supporting sustainable industries.

Pulp Hemp, Not Trees.

moreTrees produces urban streetwear using blends of organic cotton, hemp and recycled p.e.t. (plastic soda bottles)…! to create urban fashions for kids who are sick of wearing either potato sacks or unethical and poisonious clothes.

Their production company hosts tree give-aways, guerilla gardening demos and videos about greening our urban environments. The clothing line features graphics of the same spirit, along with
superior tailoring for the most flattering fit, so you’ll be looking fine while supporting the cause.

moreTrees will be making its way to Aussie stores soon. Check it at www.moretreeshemp.com.

Filed under: staff blogs | No Comments »

There may be more important decisions in life that I should devote this level of agonising to, but deciding whether to vote for Hillary or Edwards in the primary race for Democratic presidential candidate occupied my little mind for months. A few New Yorker articles convinced me that Edwards was the Leftiest, Obama too religious and reactionary and Clinton the smartest. I want the Leftiest, but I want the woman too. Which is more important: to vote for the policies that I think are the most ethical or for the woman? I started out thinking I should vote for Edwards’s good old Lefty anti-poverty policies but Erin began a campaign to convince me that women’s status the world over may finally get better if the leader of the free world is - at last - female. She has a point. I was going over to her side. And then the Iowa commentariat settled it: all anyone had to say was women weren’t coming out in support of Hillary and that was it. I needed to show my solidarity!

I received my absentee ballot in the mail. I was so excited! That big green form is like freedom to me. I immediately (finally!) went to the uni library to surf the internet and make sure my feelings about the candidates were informed enough. I went to the candidates’ websites and I confirmed what I already thought from The New Yorker but Hillary’s website was sooo disappointing. I was crushed! What’s a ‘working families’ plan compared to an anti-poverty campaign (which both Edwards and Obama had)? And who the hell isn’t a working family except for singles? A stupidly meaningless concept: rich people are working families too. She’s clearly trying to appeal to everyone. And worst of all her Israel policy is unfettered support: kill all the Palestinians if you want, we support your right to a state!

I know deep down that these kind of policies will get her elected. Edwards has no chance in hell and even Obama seems too Lefty for conservative-leaning swing voters to elect. Hillary’s saying exactly what she needs to say (the Jewish lobby is powerful, and she is New York’s Senator after all) and playing it very smart. But, oh, I don’t want to vote for those policies! I want to vote for her in all good conscience, not simply because she’s female. Two committed Hillary friends believe she’s just as Lefty as she always was and she’ll do what she really believes when she gets in office… God, I hope so. Though from the New Yorker I got the impression that the health care debacle she instituted under her husband’s reign taught her that the only way to get things done is to play WITH the Republicans rather than against them. Which sounds about right.

While I was exploring the web and becoming increasingly distraught, I was also wondering if my agonies were actually over, because it seemed like I could vote both for who I wanted to be president of the USA and whose delegates I wanted to vote for (its a very complicated voting system that I don’t really understand but I think it is really the delegates who ‘vote’ and not the people - the people’s vote helps establish who will get more or less delegates). So, the way I figured was that I could symbolically vote for Edwards by choosing him for Prez and practically vote for Hillary by choosing all her delegates (and not Obama’s - only those two of the five candidates had delegates).

This seemed to good to be true. Could I really vote for two different candidates? Would I invalidate my vote, lose Hillary delegates? I went online to try to find answers, but to no avail. Clearly, America doesn’t want Americans to know how to vote properly. Last night - knowing I wanted to get my ballot off by today to ensure it is counted for the 5 Feb primary - I emailed the NY State Board of Elections and asked my questions. And lo and behold (thank you, thank you, thank you) someone answered back by this morning with the short email, ‘yes, you can’ - vote for both. So I did! Agonies over! Gooooo Hillary! And here’s hoping the Lefty Edwards can influence things.

On another note, the whole black man/woman thing has been highly publicised (and polemicised) but I wonder if anyone is paying enough attention to the significance that this must be the first election in American history where all the major candidates aren’t white Protestant men. Kennedy was Catholic and Barry Goldwater was a Jewish Episcopalian, but other than that, no one has ever been ethnic. In 2008 we have not only a black man and a woman (who in all other respects is a ‘proper’ candidate: white, rich, married, Methodist) running, but also Giuliani, who is Italian, Catholic and divorced; Romney the Mormon, McCain the Irishman. It’s fantastic and surely speaks to a positively-changing world. The most ironic part is that the one I want to vote for - Edwards - is the Mr Whitebread of the gang…

Filed under: staff blogs | 1 Comment »

Vignette Press has a killer collection in production and is now calling for artwork and creative contributions. They’ve got your non-fiction, now they want your creative stuff. And they want it all, including:

… short fiction, flash fiction, fragments, sketches, songs, sonnets, haiku, hieroglyphics, graffiti, illustrations, poetry, prints, photos, comics, couplets, verse, villanelle, vignettes, ballads, the strange and the unusual, the hybrid, the innovative, the bizarre, the provocative, and just about anything else you can come up with…

Make it dark, unseemly, abject.
Make it awe-inspiring, heavenly, divine.
Make it unearthly, unspeakable, unlawful, un-heard-of.
Make sure it addresses the often taboo, always elusive and ever fascinating topic of death.

No word limits for written pieces, but shorter is encouraged. Send your completed submission and enquiries to dion@vignettepress.com.au by 20 March or get in contact for postal details.

The Death Mook: How do we die? will be launched on Halloween 2008 with a broad distribution through indie book stores, arts venues and online. Contributors will not be paid but WILL receive a copy of the mook, Vignette Press discounts and a show bag of other exciting goodies.

A mook is a hybrid publication issued in series. Not quite magazine, not quite book. Check out The Sex Mook: What is our sex? at www.vignettepress.com.au

Filed under: opportunities | No Comments »

“Daddy, some people lost all of their belongings, don’t you think that means sporting equipment too?” As Cher Horowitz [Clueless, 1995] exclaimed to her father while clearing her mansion of items that can be used by others who are less fortunate. This movie is not only an innocent, feel good film but also with a deeper meaning and got me thinking. Although charity is a wonderful thing, I believe that is it not up to us to determine the charities that should be given to the less fortunate. Thoughtful charity is the way to go. I mean, seriously considering what someone in need could use, not just assuming that they are ungrateful when you give them something that you assume they need. Its unfair to both parties. So my message for all you readers:

Be thoughtful; consider people individually and DO NOT stereotype people. How would you feel if you were judged straight out and not given an equal chance at anything because you were less fortunate than others.

Do one good deed a day/week. If you enjoy a piece of fruit, bring one for your friend/s also. Compliment someone, smile and everyone you meet and always be open to change.

Don’t be afraid to experiment and be yourself; you never know where you can go unless you give things a go. Face your fears and stand up for what you believe in, you’ll not regret trying.

I hope that you all have had a wonderful Australia day weekend and wish you all peace, laughter and thoughtful charity.

SiobhanMarie.

Filed under: staff blogs | No Comments »

When I heard the news this morning about Heath Ledger, my mind spiralled to an earlier moment in Hollywood history when River Phoenix died, albeit in a much more public fashion. Teenage girls everywhere walked their school hallways with bloodshot eyes, and books adorned with pictures of the heartthrob clutched tightly to their chests.

My friends and I raided the video stores for every River movie we could find that weekend, and held a marathon memorial to our teen-obsession. Never too old for a movie-star crush, I’ll be going through my dvds tonight to celebrate the too-short career of this talented young Aussie.

RIP Heath Ledger

Filed under: staff blogs | 3 Comments »

Gallery fourtyfour is seeking submissions and expressions of interest for an exhibition to support International Women’s Day to open on 8 March 2008.

This theme for this year is “100 years of women in paid and unpaid work”.

Check out their website for contact details.

Filed under: opportunities | No Comments »

Spread urban guerilla art love with the world and participate in the global Post-It Note Project.

Filed under: opportunities | No Comments »

- by Belle Gleeson

It’s a weird word, and an even weirder concept: the ‘weblebrity’.

Wikipedia describes the word ‘celebrity’ as ‘a widely-recognised or famous person who commands a high degree of public and media attention’, and the word web as…well, honestly, we all know what that word means. Weblebrities are the new generation of average people making it big in ‘Internet-Wood’.

But basically, anyone with a video camera in their hands and a dim-witted idea can become a weblebrity. These people achieve a high level of fame and recognition for streaming their own home videos on internet sites such as YouTube. They acquire celebrity status for essentially ‘blogging’ the things they do to amuse themselves.

Now, I’m not entirely against this new weblebrity concept. I will shamelessly admit to using research time for this article to watch some entertaining people here. Most people, however, either love the idea of weblebrities or absolutely loathe it. Entertainment comes in many forms; but so does stupidity. Where’s the line to separate the two? And when does it all go too far?

Take for instance, Chris Crocker. Most of you will know him. If not, picture this: guy films himself wearing makeup and crying about the treatment of Britney Spears by the media. When I first saw it I wasn’t sure if it was funny or creepy. Then I wondered what possessed him to film it, let alone broadcast it on the Internet. And it seems like I wasn’t the only one to think this. Chris Crocker has now been interviewed on a number of shows in the US, and the video of him having a break down for Britney has taken over 350,000 hits on YouTube.

It seems crazy that one video, albeit one of the funnier ones I have seen, has caused so much public attention. Is this the type of entertainment we are craving now? What happened to going to the circus to watch people making fools out of themselves, or to the theatre to see comedy for a laugh? It is obvious that sitting at home and being able to watch anything you want on the Internet is a lot easier, but does that justify the fact that anyone can showcase themselves via this means? It seems to be that our generation, as a majority, find more entertainment on the net by looking for people to laugh at, rather than laugh with. It seems we are encouraging this type of behaviour by supporting it.

The ‘Numa Numa’ guy was just a bored, regular guy, sitting in his room listening to foreign pop songs one day when he decided to have a little dance to it. The result being over 14 million views on Newgrounds.com, the original site he broadcast it on. I saw an interview on TV with him not too long ago—he’s raking in the money from what was an act of boredom. Evidently, we love him. And now he’s gone on to help companies advertise their good and services, he has thousands of people imitating his dance in nightclubs and has a whole fan base of people who imitate his video and broadcast it themselves. He would never have become a celebrity for what he did; but in the wacky world of weblebrities, thanks to the people who log onto those sites every day, he’s a star.

If that’s all it takes to become a famous weblebrity, nervous break downs over female pop stars and dancing like nobody is watching, then give me a camera! Keep an eye out for what I might openly publicise.

Filed under: articles | No Comments »

- by Josefine Kristensen

These works question consumerism and the concept of homosexuality being a lifestyle choice. Using a well known consumer product that is marketed worldwide brings to light how advertising appeals to the longings of consumers and in turn questions the concept of homosexual love being a “lifestyle choice”. The work’s conceptual thinking is a comment on society and love. There are three cans that have been labelled with three identities of love and each ask: Do we have a choice on how we feel and who we fall in love with? Do we really have the ability to feel love for any human being? Saying homosexuality is a lifestyle choice implies that love is a choice and is controllable. It implies that both homosexuality and heterosexuality are changeable lifestyles.

Wouldn’t this mean we could fall in love with whoever we choose? And, wouldn’t it imply that we all feel equally homosexual love and heterosexual love? Advertising targets the desires of the consumer and makes products/services desirable by appealing to the sensibilities of the consumer. Wouldn’t then advertising use homosexual scenarios just as much as heterosexual scenarios to target consumers if we had a choice and were able to feel equally homosexual and heterosexual love? Wouldn’t these scenarios be appealing to all if it was a choice?

Exhibition Details:
Dates: Tuesday 1st Jan –25th Jan 2008.
Opening night: Queer City Launch - Wednesday 16th of January 6pm beginning at 45 Flinders St. Finishing at the after party at Loop.
Festival participation: Midsumma Visual Arts - Queer City.
Venue work is at: PLATFORM SHOWS: Degraves-Flinders Station Subway.

Filed under: events | No Comments »

Dearest fondest readers; how are you today? I wish you all days of happiness and joy.

This is my first post here; and i’m very excited to have this opportunity. I got it, because I went for it. But would I still have this opportunity if it wasn’t for my persistence to search for experience? I had to convince myself that I was good enough to go for it; has anyone else felt that they are needing to reaffirm themselves? This is why I want to learn to be able to scream and let out all the feelings that have been suppressed, indulging in simply positiveness of my own body, mind, soul, spirit and all good things that the universe has for me. Can you stand up and scream? Scream so your lungs let out all those trapped emotions and leave nothing but a purity inside of you.

We deserve happiness in all forms, so in hope of inspiring others that they are worthy of happiness and joy, below is the most well known and simplistic piece of writing, Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. Please read, enjoy and believe in yourself that you are worth of happiness. Do not feel suppressed, you are worthy of all things that you believe you are and more. Believe.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Filed under: staff blogs | 2 Comments »