Rachel's Spot

One of my most favorite mentors, Deborah Appleman, is currently teaching college level courses at Minnesota Correctional Facility –Stillwater, a Level 4 (out of 5) correctional facility for men in Stillwater, Minnesota. She works with inmates prisoners, discussing language and power. She posts a weekly entry after every class, hoping that her blog will encourage conversations about educational opportunities for the incarcerated.

Take a tour of how they are living and now read what they write (like this snippet):

Check out DEBORAH'S BLOG!

Posted by Rae at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (271)

PREEMPTIVE EDUCATION :: Language, Identity & Power

SPECIAL WORKSHOP: THIS SATURDAY
Conscious Women Rock the Page
Presented by JLove Calderon, Elisha Miranda, Sofía Quintero, and Marcella Runell Hall

In this session, participants will be introduced to a cutting-edge practical implementation of Hip-Hop content and pedagogy in the form of the new book, “Conscious Women Rock the Page: Using Hip-Hop Fiction to Incite Social Change.� This session seeks to introduce attendees to the upsurge of feminist popular fiction utilizing Hip-Hop culture to raise substantive issues including race, class, gender, sexual orientation and culture. The four authors have teamed up to develop a curriculum based on three popular Hip-Hop novels to engage communities on the issues and themes that their books raise and to inspire action. The authors will read brief excerpts of their works, co-facilitate a sample activity from our curriculum and discuss how participants can harness popular fiction to raise consciousness and promote activism, especially among young women who may not identify as either feminists or activists.

To get registration info for the entire weekend of workshops and activities, please email Program Director, Parker Pracjek at parker@urbanwordnyc.org or call 212.352.3495. Scholarships available.

Presented by Urban Word NYC, Hip-Hop Theater Festival, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, & Human Development and the Center for Multicultural Education & Programs at NYU.

For more on JLove Calderon, visit www.jlovecalderon.com.
Email her at jlove@jlovecalderon.com

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Download MORE INFO HERE

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The student writes:

The cover of the magazine plays on the subconscious fears of blackness that are embedded in the fabric of America.

Here's another great Adbust:

The student writes:

When the advertisement says, "comes naturally", they are possibly trying to play on both male and female insecurities surrounding natural orgasms. Absolut Pears is presented as an (Absolut)ion to these anxieties and problems. If anything, the effects vodka will probably make those insecurities worse...

Posted by Rae at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (204)

Watch CBS Videos Online

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TT and I retired from the Girl Scouts last year, but we support Farkeen and the girls!

Posted by Rae at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (533)

- for future updates, stay connected on www.myspace.com/studentsforkeith -

Posted by Rae at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (322)

Here's what I'm teaching at IFP:

Introduction to Video Production – Learning the Techniques*
Instructor: Rachel Raimist
6 sessions: Wednesdays, October 1–November 5, 6:30–9:30pm
Reg. deadline: September 24
Tuition: $235/$195 members
Max. enrollment: 12 students

This course is designed for all skill and interest levels - beginners, video enthusiasts and more experienced students needing a refresher course. Students will gain hands-on production experience using digital video (DV). We’ll focus on directing the camera, lighting for video and sound recording. We’ll also examine video production techniques of various film forms and genres through a mixture of screenings, discussions and hands-on exercises. There will be no hands-on editing during the course. Tuition includes camera rental for use outside of class.

Advanced Video Production – Shooting the Short Film*
Instructor: Rachel Raimist
6 sessions: Wednesdays, November 12–December 17, 6:30–9:30pm
Reg. deadline: November 5
Tuition: $235/$195 members
Max. enrollment: 12 students

This course is designed for students with some filmmaking experience who have the desire to produce a short film. Students should have some experience with camera, sound and lighting equipment. You’re encouraged to come to class with a short script (up to 8 pages of narrative, documentary or experimental) that will be used for the duration of the course. You’ll learn how to revise scripts, prepare production materials (budget, storyboards, shooting scripts, etc.), cast actors, and other aspects of pre-production. We’ll study directing the camera, directing actors and creating visuals that communicate the director’s vision. Students will select scripts to collectively shoot as a group or proceed with individual projects. Students will crew shoots, act as production teams for one another and edit projects using Final Cut or iMovie.

We’ll conclude the course by screening our work. Students are issued editing time to be used in IFP’s editing suite outside of class time to help ensure project completion by the end of the session. Students are expected to provide their own portable external hard drives for storing their projects. Tuition includes equipment rental and editing time.

LOTS of AMAZING CLASSES!

Posted by Rae at 8:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)

From FEMINISTING.com:

While Mayor, Sarah Palin Charged Rape Victims for their Own Justice

Multiple readers clued us into the latest incredibly disappointing fact about Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin: under her mayoral leadership in Wasilla, Alaska, rape victims were charged for their own rape kits. Op-Edna explains:

A rape kit is a sexual assault forensic evidence kit, used to collect DNA that can be used in criminal proceedings to assist in the conviction of those who commit sex crimes. The kit is performed as soon as possible after a sexual assault or attack has been committed. It is usually humiliating and uncomfortable for the victim-imagine enduring that and then paying $1200 just so that the criminal who assaulted you might be caught.

Let's put this into perspective. One of the services that almost every American (with the exception of a few hardcore Libertarians, I suppose) agree that our government should provide is policing and investigation into crime, especially of a violent nature. Rape, one of the most difficult to prosecute, disproportionately affects women--young women, in fact. If Palin wants to play fierce mother hen in her stump speeches, I suggest she explain how it is that she wouldn't do everything in her mayoral power to make sure that rapists be caught and prosected.

What adds insult to injury here is her stance on abortion for rape victims. So, not only did she neglect to support women who were raped in getting the evidence they needed to get justice, but she doesn't believe they should have the right to choose what happens with their bodies after they've endured such violation.

and Sarah Palin action figures [WTF!?]. They are action figures, not dolls, so boys will play with them?

See here.

and yet more good "fun":

From Mikhaela Reid

Posted by Rae at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (74)

From today's Strib: New aerial photo system develops into government tool

Improved technology giving bird's-eye photos of every inch of property is saving money for cities and counties in a variety of ways.

The technology is being used by a growing number of counties and cities looking to save time and money. Assessors, for example, can view properties without ever leaving their desks.

Thanks Pictometry!

Posted by Rae at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (315)

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