Nonogirl Radio

Black Gold

I saw Black Gold as research for Intersection's upcoming gallery show on Chocolate and man did I learn a lot. Those 78 minutes were packed with information for an economic, globalism luddite like me.

I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but now, I will only by FREE TRADE coffee.

The Bible

Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but I think that this link may be my "bible."

I hope to one day work somewhere like this (but with better navigation).

Full Circle

  First Radio Appearance 
  Originally uploaded by nonogirl.

I spend part of my time off cleaning up my years of accumulations. Yesterday, I found old photos, including this one from 1994.

Yes, that's me sporting my feminist/punk rock flat top.

More importantly, this is the first time that I was on the radio and at a radio station! I was an intern for Visual Communications, the nation's oldest APA media arts organization. Along with giving me the opportunity to learn from veterans of the Asian American movement, helping me write an article about Kayo Hatta's Picture Bride, and writing an emcee script Nobuko Miyamoto, they let me join staffer Abe Ferrer on Miya Iwataki's APA radio show on KPFK.

And then I was hooked.

Third Coast 2006

I missed the festival this year, but thankfully I can pretend I was there by listening to the sessions online!

Buy It, Burn It, Trash It

I have never really become one with my ipod. I never got down how to shuffle and don't have the time to make playlists. But with my expanding podcast subscriptions and a 240 miles of driving this weekend, we finally bonded.

I've been listening to Weekend America and Radio Lab via podcast, but one new show in particular is what tipped me over: Sound Opinions out of Chicago.

These guys liken themselves to the Car Talk guys, but talk about popular music rather than automobiles. And since I stopped reading the sf_indie list, this seems like a great way for me to stay in the know. They've also got a great review system: Buy it, burn it, or trash it! They also do a great job of integrating their site with their audio. Check out their show notes for the show that I listened to today.

Paul Conrad

Over a most delicious vinegar chicken, I learned about a new hero last night, Paul Conrad. He's over 80 years old and has been making daily political satire cartoons, initially for the Los Angeles Times. He frames biting truths into a one square cell following only his own gut feelings from reading the morning paper.

The documentary says that there once were 200 political cartoonists, now there are only 85. The newspaper business is about making sales, not making controversy.  Corporatization destroys of one of our most fundamental democratic building blocks, free press.

Day of the Dead Segments

  Tania Figueroa and Adrian Arias perform 
  Originally uploaded by El Rio.

I'm getting better at repurposing my interviews and sold two stories on Somarts' Day of the Dead exhibit called The Light of the Heart for the Shadow of the Soul.

For Latino USA, I looked at how Rene Ya˜ez transformed this indigenous tradition into a multicultural ritual in San Franciso. For Pacific Time, I looked at work of two Asian Americans in the show.

Although both shows were worried about producing radio about visual art, I found plenty of sounds to work with. Also, i applied some of the lessons I'm learning from the KSW writing workshop I'm participating in.

After working so hard at the Somarts openning, I plan to strictly PLAY at the Day of the Dead procession on Thursday.

Halloween in San Francisco

Even though I live in the Castro, it's been a long time since I've done Halloween. Usually I'm in Chicago for the Third Coast Festival, but this year, I opted to distance learn and skip out on the socializing.

AND, I invested time into a costume.

I was Gleek, the blue monkey with the Wonder Twins. (See video) I sewed a cape and purple booties, dyed boxers and a top golden, and sewed up a tail with a coat hanger inside. I also found a purple cumberbund and a blue wig and carried around a pail with purple fabric for water!

To celebrate, i rode in Critical Mass, turned up at Dhamaal, and had a small house party at home.

Man was it good fun, but I don't know how people do this year after year. It took everything out of me to pull this together. If I want to do something next year, I'll have to remember to start early!

Reward

  Reward 
  Originally uploaded by nonogirl.

My computer died when I had writing homework and two radio assignments due. My substitute computer for audio crashed ever couple of seconds in playback.

But when I finally finished, I treated myself to lunch in the sun at Absinthe. Eggplant sandwich on focaccia, a beat salad, and a glass of proseco.