Fems 4 Better Magazine

Sporadic Staff

2011-03-31T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hello Again! As promised we are marinating on what we're going to do next and in conjunction with F4BMag; but also as promised we're still accepting entries! We're lucky to have one such for you peoples! Introducing the "Sporadic Staff." How fortunate for us that these people feel moved to share with us/you! They may be sporadic, but we're not willing to allow them to stand alone in their

Sandbox

2011-03-31T11:03:00.001-07:00

MUSINGSSheera

The November 2010 Staff

2010-11-30T21:08:00.000-08:00

Present, With the arrival of our new topic "Musings" we've manifested new interest, entries and talent. It's thrown in there with that nice consistency we've built up over time. We're pretty excited about it and encourage all to dive in and participate! We don't know how you're feeling, but it's good to be regular again! Other than that, do check out the November Staff below, as well as their

Homesick: Part III

2010-11-30T21:06:00.000-08:00

NATIONAL NEWSMarcie Alyse Segment Three The implications that capitalism-industrialism has for the household, and specifically for marriage, are truly devastating. Again, and still against better judgment, a list: Let’s begin with the principle of extraction: as the industrial marketplace teaches its citizens to define and value objects and ideas based on their extractive potential,

Electric Boogaloo (acespace.org)

2010-11-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

Electric Boogaloo Check out this post on how to take the energy we create on the dancefloor and turn that into power! Written by one of F4BM's founders in one of her many alter-identities: Climate Educator

Double Negative

2010-11-30T20:58:00.000-08:00

MUSINGSDavid "Judah 1" Oliver I searched for your heart like W.M.D.s in Iraq. I mean I had to give those who supported me reason to be there. I listened to the allies I had forged in my own head. They convinced me of the fact. There was something in you? Worth fighting for. Packed on a precipice. Perhaps I listened to the crowd too much; Reality, there was no crowd. The allies always say what

Conscious Forms

2010-11-30T20:57:00.000-08:00

MUSINGSDEEBS What’s inherent in our composition? Is my form part of the solution, or the problem? Are we not, as individuals, several minds, bodies, and spirits? Let's revel in our shared words, our shared desires, our shared wounds?

The October 2010 Staff

2010-10-31T23:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Peoples, We've been on a little bit of a hiatus but October was a PACKED month and...so was September. All that being said, weeeee'rreeeee back. Late but great, you know. So we've got two articles for your perusal and thought, please do comment. But most of all, please do enjoy! Other than that, do check out the October Staff below, as well as their articles! And as always, to all, holler

Homesick: Part II

2010-10-31T23:57:00.000-07:00

NATIONAL NEWSMarcie Alyse Segment Two Here is why: -- As I started considering more closely the most compelling critiques of marriage – those of Simone de Beauvoir, Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, and others – I started seeing correspondences. Their critiques of institutionalized marriage and power dynamics within marriage were extraordinarily similar to those critiques of industrialism and

MOMMY WOW!

2010-10-31T23:55:00.000-07:00

WILD CARDSanyu E.N. Nagenda I’m a Big Kid Now! In order to get into this story, I’m going to have to do a little backtracking.... After I graduated from CollegySchool, USA in 2009, I moved back home to Los Angeles in September of the same year. Being a native who has worked in Los Angeles from the age of 15, I didn’t really grasp the scope of California’s unemployment issues. This is my home,

The August 2010 Staff

2010-08-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

Hello World Citizens, Happy end of August to you all! Kristina and I would like to make a special shout-out to Burning Man 2010: Metropolis, which we are missing this year. As to the business you're about to get into here, BE EXCITED! Once again we are blessed to have ANOTHER NEW CONTRIBUTOR! And naturally our returning contributors are no less fabulous! Good tidings and we'll see you in

Men in Italy: No one wants to be catcalled, not even on cobblestone streets

2010-08-31T18:30:00.000-07:00

INTERNATIONAL NEWSMargaret Fiori Lessons learned from a year in Italy Recently, I have been trying not to hate men, but every time I have another negative encounter with them, I find myself returning to these antagonistic thoughts. It has gotten to the point that if I have to pass a group of boys on the street, I'll purposefully cross to the other side just so I don't have to hear them

Homesick: Musings on Household

2010-08-31T18:20:00.000-07:00

NATIONAL NEWSMarcie Alyse Segment One Growing up, I played domestic with Barbie a lot and daydreamed about my future white dress too much. I’m not qualified to determine if this was a result of nature or nurture; I’m also probably unqualified to determine if my later scorn of households and nuptial ceremonies was a result of nature or nurture either. But I am pretty sure that my current

home is (not) where the heart is:

2010-08-31T18:15:00.000-07:00

PHOTO STORYTala Zohary Khanmalek Yazdi on becoming a turtledove Feast on these photos, description to come... P.S. Scroll to the bottom of this page to see the Photo Story in it's full enlarged glory!

The July 2010 Staff

2010-07-31T19:32:00.000-07:00

Hello Good Folk, So we're finally back, and we're excited to be! We haven't forgotten or laxed on this project, we just realize that things that are going on in the world right now are distracting or depressing/unmotivating. Kristina and I are actually considering turning F4BMagazine into an archive for Personal Essays written by Familiars, Friends and Fellow-Minded Folk. What do you think about

Earth, Oxygen, Energy & Water

2010-07-31T19:31:00.001-07:00

INTERNATIONAL NEWSSanyu E.N. Nagenda A Manifestation Known as Planet Earth I’m pretty rudimentary when it comes to an environmental education. At least as far as the actual scientific facts are concerned. But I don’t think you need to understand the science to understand every biological coexisting relationship. Newton discovered, “If a force acts upon a body, then an equal and opposite

Filibusted

2010-07-31T19:30:00.001-07:00

NATIONAL NEWSKristina von Hoffmann The impediment to progress. Forestalling the vote is the definition of a filibuster. Delaying decision-making is too. Impeding the democratic process, yup. IRKING THE SHIT OUT OF ME. And quite possibly, ruining anyone’s chances of ever. getting. anything. done. To put it straight, the filibuster “permits a senator, or a series of senators, to speak for as

Over Border

2010-07-31T19:29:00.000-07:00

NATIONAL NEWSS'manga (I Can't Get No) Legalization! Since the immigration law in Arizona was signed just over 2 months ago, politicians and the public have refocused their attention on: immigration reform, immigrant rights, drug wars in Mexico, the demand for drugs in the U.S., and the reality of life on the U.S.-Mexican border. The series of events that surround the passing of the

Stop the Snip

2010-07-31T19:28:00.000-07:00

HEALTHLocowings Dutch Doctors Condemn Male Circumcision In a boldly decisive move, the Royal Dutch Medical Society (KNMG) spoke out in May against the practice of circumcision of infant boys, becoming the first recognized medical association to discourage the procedure. Calling circumcision “a violation of the right to autonomy and the right to the physical integrity of the child,” KNMG and its

Tuesday Night Cafe

2010-07-31T19:27:00.000-07:00

WILD CARDSanyu E.N. Nagenda www.tuesdaynightproject.org About: As part of a blogger’s night, I was invited to attend Tuesday Night Café (TNC), a performance and community-oriented open mic event, by Mary Rose Go, the Stage Manager of TNC. The event is held at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) Plaza, a venue that provides an art and community space in Downtown LA/

The May 2010 Staff

2010-05-31T23:58:00.000-07:00

Hello All, We're back with your monthly issue (after a little vacation - I've fixed the dates). Goodbye May and Goodday June! So it's a shorty Issue for you this month. I've been sick with unemployment and sick in health and Kristina has been running around like the very busy person she is so we haven't been as fierce in our recruitment this month. That being said, we still have 1 new May

Miss America the Terrorist⋄

2010-05-31T23:57:00.000-07:00

NATIONAL NEWSPatrick Kigongo And Her Alleged Hezbollah Ties... Rima Fakih, a Michigan resident who lived in Lebanon until the age of seven, has attracted the ire of some conservative writers because she is guilty of the twin crimes of being a) Arab and b) Muslim in America today. Commentator Debbie Schlussel accused the newly crowned Miss USA of being an auxiliary member of Hezbollah.

Dreamin’ of the Ocean

2010-05-31T23:56:00.000-07:00

HEALTHTala Zohary Khanmalek Yazdi Health as Libations Guess what ya’ll?! Summer, a yang season, is here. To harmonize with summer and the yang principle we must synchronize our lifestyle with its most basic significations: inward/outward growth (yes, we are finally talkin’ linear, as opposed to the sinusoidal transformation or “Coatlicue state” of the winter season). Coordinate with the sun

What's the Deal With Privacy?

2010-05-31T23:55:00.000-07:00

POPULAR CULTURESher Warkentin Facebook attempts to take over the Internet Unless you've been living under a rock (in which case you're probably not reading this anyway), you've certainly heard, read, or even tweeted about the current spectacle playing out over Facebook and its controversial privacy practices. Facebook is by and large the biggest social networking community on the Internet.

The April 2010 Staff

2010-04-30T22:14:00.001-07:00

Hello! We're happy to be back this month with our first official Photo Story!! Additionally, we have two new contributors to welcome! Awwww, there's something about Spring, no? We have even more good news too! There are more articles coming, 3 or 4 in fact, but we just need another week to get them up for your perusal. Other than that, do check out the April Staff below, as well as their

Au' Natural: A Photo Story

2010-04-30T22:14:00.000-07:00

PHOTO STORYElaine Chen-Fernandez ** EDITOR'S NOTE: If you scroll to the bottom of F4BMagazine, you can see these pictures in their full enlarged GLORY!! ** I simply adore California; a state that offers some of the best local and international produce in the nation. And now that spring has arrived, there isn't a better time to march (or stroll) yourself down to the local farmer's market

"Mom?.. I mean, Ms.!?"

2010-04-30T22:13:00.002-07:00

EDUCATIONMs. Lovely I am not in a place in my life where I can see myself as a mom. Growing up, I looked at my mother with a sense of awe. She was beautiful. She knew the answer to every question I could think to ask. She always knew where everything was. She smelled good. Her toenails were always painted and she always wore pretty shoes. All of my friends must have been jealous--none of their

Musings Inspired by the “Biebonic Plague”

2010-04-30T22:12:00.003-07:00

POPULAR CULTURECatherine Eleanore AKA, "Bieber Fever" Watching “Bieber Fever” sweep across the globe has been a fascinating experience as a 23 year old. I’ll completely own up to participating in the boy band mania of the late 90s (in fact, JC of N*SYNC, if there’s any chance you’re reading this, holler at me), but watching the preteen population go collectively out of their minds from

War (What Is It Good For?) - Part C

2010-04-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

PUBLIC FIGURESSanyu E.N. Nagenda Absolutely Nothing (Part C) I've been thinking about this last article in my "War. What is it Good For" series for a while this month. I wondered, for a drawn out moment, if I had beaten the topic to death. But then a friend of mine forwarded me M.I.A.'s latest music video titled "Born Free" M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo. ...And I

Sexual Healing

2010-04-30T22:11:00.000-07:00

INTERNATIONAL NEWSLocowings Nurses Draw The Line Shocked and embarrassed, a 24-year-old Eindhoven nursing student reeled as her home-care colleague instructed her on how to sexually relieve the 42-year-old multiple sclerosis patient they cared for. "You must watch what I do," the colleague, one of the man's seven regular caretakers told the girl. "It is intended that you do this later. It

The March (Mini Issue) 2010 Staff

2010-03-31T21:40:00.001-07:00

So we started off March thinking we'd take the Ides and tell them where to shove it, but then Ceasar's wounded spirit came down upon our staff like a beastly soul. In other words, we've got 4 articles for you this month...WHICH ARE GREAT (Muchhhhhhhho RESPECT to the ladies who came through this month), but unfortunately few. **If you'd be so kind, please check out our "Note to The Folk,"

Note To The Folk

2010-03-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hello Good Folk, As we mentioned before, we have a very Mini March Issue to present to you this month. So we're wondering, are you enjoying what you're reading here? Do you see, or at least have an idea of what kind of a space we're trying to create? And if not, what character do you think this domain is taking on? Kristina and I have been truly inspired by and fortunate to have friends and

AMONG THE WORST

2010-03-31T21:39:00.003-07:00

NATIONAL NEWS Sher Warkentin U.S. Maternity Laws Are A Sad State Of Affairs Google "US maternity leave" and you'll find article after article with phrases like "dismal" and "among the worst." It's hard to believe that countries like Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Cuba could be more progressive than the United States on any level, but when it comes to parental leave rights, not only are they

War (What is it Good For?) - Part B

2010-03-31T21:39:00.002-07:00

PUBLIC FIGURES Sanyu E.N. Nagenda Absolutely Nothing (Part B) With every unnatural demise, a question will always remain. How many ideas are killed with every death?Does this seem like a strange association? We kill the potential for ideas when we allow unnatural or premeditated deaths to remain rooted

Industry Wars

2010-03-31T21:39:00.001-07:00

POPULAR CULTURE Catherine EleanoreThe Battle over Kathryn Bigelow's Big Win These days, I’m feeling really sad for Kathryn Bigelow, as insane as that might sound. I set out to write about how kick-ass it is that a woman won an Oscar for Best Director, but after doing a little research, I was pretty disheartened by the amount of criticism she’s been weathering. She may have undeniably

Boys Wear Pink

2010-03-31T21:39:00.000-07:00

WILD CARD Prima BarischoffGender Variance for Progressives What does it mean to be gender-variant? Conservatives use the term to mean someone deviating from the “natural” expression of their sex. Progressives often use the term as a means of acceptance for people who do not conform to our societies expectations about gender, but what message are we sending when we use the term “Gender

The February 2010 Staff

2010-02-28T18:17:00.001-08:00

February is a short month and, concordantly, our staff is a bit shorter too - but no less fantastic. The February Staff are a handful of concerned and interesting people, and you'll even recognize a few of them from last month. For those who are new, please give them a warm greeting (we want them to come back after all)! Additionally, as this is a Mind-for-Profit Blogzine Collective, many

Eco Makeup

2010-02-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

WILD CARDM.Rose Do You Know What You're Inhaling? I'm a pretty basic gal and I try to lead a healthy, balanced not-so-eco-crazy life. Shop once (maybe twice) a season. Eat organic veggies, but love conventional Hawaiian grinds. Scrutinize product labels before purchasing. And wear makeup three times a week, only when working in the restaurant. My beauty—scratch that—masking routine

The C&C Chronicles: February Installment

2010-02-28T18:16:00.002-08:00

WILD CARDOld Savvy More Than a "Reefer Madness" Education First off, let's begin this discussion by forever dropping the words "Reefer" and "Dope" from our vocabulary outside of quoted examples. If we're reefering (last time) to Cannabis, we should actually understand what we're talking about. Cannabis sativa is a subspecies of the plant family of Cannabaceae or Cannabidaceae. The

For Girl and Country

2010-02-28T18:16:00.000-08:00

EDUCATIONJoseph Kaifala "Do Me A Do You" When it comes to pithy statements, idioms and proverbs concerning birth, life and death, there is no shortage of wisdom in Africa. The statements often teach vital moral values and instructions for the savoir-vivre of a community. But like most things in Africa, one needs not look too deep into the trenches of societies to find flagrant manifestations of

Message Media Ed

2010-02-28T18:15:00.002-08:00

EDUCATION Shani Byard-Ngunjiri Empowering the Elderly In 1990, my mother took me to see Nelson Mandela, South African activist and humanitarian, speak at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Sitting amongst a sea people from all ethnic backgrounds, I was entranced by this legendary leader. He had an uncanny ability to connect with each and every individual and create an environment that empowered

Superballs

2010-02-28T18:15:00.001-08:00

POPULAR CULTURESLa (Serena) Super-bowels (Necessary to Digest this Article) Note: You can be any of the following and still be getting (female) ass:A stuffed animal (Kia) A talking baby (E*Trade) Nerdy college kids (godaddy.com) An incompetent time traveler (“Land of the Lost”) A caveman (“Year One”) I enjoy watching the Superbowl. I enjoy watching its commercials. I enjoy a few

What Is Eco-Fashion?

2010-02-28T18:15:00.000-08:00

POPULAR CULTUREKristina von Hoffmann A Puzzle in Terms What do you think of when you hear the phrase “eco-fashion”? Does it make you think of the staid stereotype of a “crunchy-granola-hippie,” bedecked in roughhewn and hand-woven materials? Or does it make you think of the new über-environmentalist? A self-assured, spartan, and dare I say, modern representative of clean living, staked in

War (What Is It Good For?)

2010-02-28T18:14:00.000-08:00

PUBLIC FIGURES Sanyu E.N. Nagenda Absolutely Nothing (Part A) Uncle Sam, Ares, Mars, Kali, Apis, Odin. There are a million names, but all of them suggest that War is indeed a Public Figure. War has gotten so big it demands its own presence. It's "inevitable," it's "natural," it's War! War even has its own kamikaze game show - it cameos on the News almost every night. I mean, War is a success

A Kiss On The Hand May Be Quite Continental…

2010-02-28T18:13:00.002-08:00

INTERNATIONAL NEWSNatascia Tornetta Mallin But Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend? In a time where women’s bodies were seen as a commodity that lost value with age, Marilyn Monroe spoke like a goddess of wisdom reminding girls that “men grow cold as girls grow old and we all lose our charms in the end.” Beauty was valued as a means to acquire security and (with the help of companies like

The Veil Affair

2010-02-28T18:13:00.001-08:00

INTERNATIONAL NEWSSher Warkentin France's War Over the Islamic Veil I wanted to write this piece because although the Muslim culture is very much a part of my life, it is something that I do not understand very well. In investigating the story of France's decision to possibly ban the use of the full Islamic veil, I hoped to learn more. My father is Muslim; he was born in Iran and like many

World Citizenship

2010-02-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

WILD CARD Sanyu E.N. Nagenda It's Everyone's Responsibility (Except Kids...When They're Kids) My original plan was to write an article about the Homeless population in Los Angeles, and the increasing number of mentally ill Homeless in particular, but I've realized I don't yet know how to formulate my sentiment about it into words. And also, I think it's too narrow a topic for my thought

The January 2010 Staff

2010-01-31T17:39:00.000-08:00

With any luck, we hope to have a revolving yearly staff. We (Sanyu and Kristina) are extremely fortunate to have a large pool of brilliant, talented, sassy and innovative acquaintances. The January Staff are a handful of concerned and interesting ladies, but gentlemen, we encourage you to get in on this conversation. As always, to all, holler: fems4bm@gmail.com ...................................

Cannabis Legalization on the Ballot in CA, November 2010.

2010-01-31T17:38:00.001-08:00

WILD CARDOld Savvy Can You Smell It?**Disclaimer: Excuse me if I speak in Californian, but this is ultimately an open letter to my state.**"This isn't 1984, people. It isn't a crime to sign. Or to think..." And it isn't, despite what contrary fear mongering would have people believe. I've yelled the quote above at people a few times - not necessarily in an angry way - in my effort to

The Book of Eli

2010-01-31T17:37:00.002-08:00

WILD CARDSanyu E.N. Nagenda A Rear-View. Sitting here, I must first apologize if you clicked this link expecting to read a review. Sitting here, I'm not even sure what I'm going to write. But The Book of Eli is weighing on my consciousness like a heavy load, and I find I must unburden myself. You know what The Book of Eli is about. "The Apocalypse." The end of the world as we know it now.

The 1st Staff: A Photo Story

2010-01-31T17:37:00.000-08:00

PHOTO STORYF4BM Who's a F4BMagazine?

Old School

2010-01-31T17:36:00.002-08:00

EDUCATIONPrima R. Barischoff Three Demands We, as Parents, Educators, and Concerned Citizens, Must Make of Our School System to Ensure That Our Children Reach Their Potential. The school system in the United States is not designed for the healthy development of children. We, as a whole, do not understand the developmental needs of children, leaving many of them unintentionally abused and

Make-Up (One Teacher's Perspective)

2010-01-31T17:36:00.001-08:00