Abed waded through the water to the middle of the ancient river, as
temperatures reached near 50 degrees celsius (122 Farenheit) and wind
whipped through the city like a hair dryer one July afternoon.
He told AFP he comes to the Tigris "to have fun and feel refreshed".
Summer
in Iraq is a prime example of the convergences of multiple crises
weighing down the lives of the 43-strong population: a dilapidated
electricity sector, rising temperatures and severe water shortages.
The water is disappearing. And what's in the water that Iraq still has access to?
MEMO explains:
Chemicals and waste materials from various
government institutions and power plants are polluting the River
Tigris, causing skin diseases and colon cancer.
Sewage waters are also poured into the
River Tigris, which passes through the capital, Baghdad, which has a
population of approximately 9 million.
Liquids containing toxic and chemical
substances coming out of Baghdad City hospitals are also released into
the River Tigris. In addition, people living in neighbourhoods along the
river also throw their garbage into the river.
Let's talk about something fun. Along with
Kat providing music coverage here with her album reviews, we also note music videos. Some weekends, I'll have a day where we offer six or more single music videos on a single day.
Two drive-bys e-mailed (
common_ills@yahoo.com) asked questions that are obvious to community members but not everyone has been with us for a year or more -- let alone 19. So just to catch everyone up . . .
There are men that get noted. From time to time, in a snapshot, I do note a male artist. When Prince died and when George Michael died, for example, we noted those passings.
Otherwise?
We don't note a lot of men.
Alice Walker talks about writing and how we create, in writing, the world we live in. In 2004, when we started, it was very obvious that we lived in a sexist world. It was obvious before that. The sixties had suffered significant pushback in the late 80s and 90s in terms of women. Men made the 60s canon and women were left out of it. There were tokens. Thanks to the work of music lovers -- not just women -- in the 80s and the 90s, this nonsense of one or two token women being in the official history was shredded. No, it was not just going to be Aretha. Or just Aretha and Janis. People advocated for much more and the sexist system began to weaken.
But when we started here, in 2004, Stevie Nicks was not the critical success Stevie Nicks. The tide was turning, yes, but all those sexist old men hadn't died off or learned to shut their damn mouths. No woman was as vilified by music critics in the 90s and, yes, early '00s, as Stevie Nicks.
Time and again, women are robbed of their credit. And this is after they've earned the credit.
Party United My Ass. That was 2008. The rise of PUMA. PUMA was needed, not just for the 2008 election cycle. The primaries were rigged against Hillary -- look no further than the Texas primary if you're late to that story -- and women were outraged. Good. Outrage prompts action.
So PUMAs left various left outlets that were sexist (that they shouldn't have been at to begin with) and started their own sites -- largely on WORDPRESS. And that should have been something amazing.
Within three weeks, it was obvious it was nothing to be thrilled with.
Most didn't know how to focus. They were a news site and this day it was all about the Dems and the next day it was about some international crisis and the next day it was some bad AMC TV show revolving around a man and then it was about this and that. People want to know what to expect. There is no real audience for anthology shows anymore. When people turn on the TV, they want to see characters they know -- also true in a variety series.
The best of the sites was Rivderdaughter's THE CONFLUENCE. No surprise, it's pretty much the only one that lasted.
Was it the defocusing that harmed them?
No. It was their lack of vision.
They had seen vile sexism -- I'm sorry, if you were paying attention in 2008, you saw real sexism, the 2016 whiners were grasping at straws. They created their own sites which should have meant that they were creating their own worlds.
But instead, they just copied what already existed.
On Saturdays, slow news days, they couldn't play hot topics. So these sites would discuss music or movies. And what world were they living in? Weekend after weekend, for example, we saw one woman post about movies. Every film was some crap featuring male leads and sometimes an all male cast.
Oh. Okay. Well maybe it's geared to straight and bi women and we're going to talk about what we find hot in certain men?
Nope.
This woman wanted to discuss 'the great films' and, week after week, Saturday after Saturday, it was one male cast after another.
I'm sorry was there a shortage of men online glorifying films about men?
No, those sites already existed and they were passed off as the norm and as sites for all.
After many times pointing this out here, the blogger e-mailed to gripe that she didn't want to write about THELMA & LOUISE. Hmm. That's the only film she can think of with women?
There are many films worthy of posts: GRACE OF MY HEART, IN THE SPIRIT, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, SPARKLE, LADY SINGS THE BLUES, MAHOGANY, COMING HOME, THE CHINA SYNDROME, the original FUN WITH DICK AND JANE, STEELYARD BLUES, KLUTE, COMES A HORSEMAN, JULIA, CAT BALLOU, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, UP THE SANDBOX, WHAT'S UP DOC?, YENTL, WANDA, SOME LIKE IT HOT, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES, NORMA RAE, PLACES IN THE HEART, THE COLOR PURPLE, PRIVATE BENJAMIN, SHAMPOO, CROSS CREEK, PASSION FISH, CACTUS FLOWER, CROOKLYN, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, SEARCHING FOR DEBRA WINGER, BLACK GIRL, SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, ANNIE HALL, CRIMES OF THE HEART, FRANCES, TOOTSIE, MISSING, BETRAYED, X, Y & ZEE, THEY SHOOT HORSES DON'T THEY?, 3 WOMEN, Brian De Palma's CARRIE, WAITING TO EXHALE, RAGGEDY MAN, HOW TO BEAT THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, COUNTRY, MEN DON'T LEAVE, DANGEROUS LIAISONS, MARRIED TO THE MOB, BLUE SKY, LOSING ISAIAH, BULLWORTH, SWORDFISH, THE RUSSIA HOUSE, BATMAN RETURNS, PARTY GIRL, ALL ABOUT EVE, BUCK AND THE PREACHER, NOW VOYAGER, CABARET, UP TIGHT, Lili Fini Zanuck's RUSH, SINGLE WHITE FEMALE, 9 TO 5, SHORT CUTS, THE LATE SHOW, COUSIN BETTE, CHERI, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, WHAT LIES BENEATH, THE LETTER, MRS. SOFEL, PROTOCOL, DEATH BECOMES HER, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, THE HOUSE OF YES, EXTREMITIES, GHOST, BASTARD OUT OF CAROLINA, SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, DOLORES CLAIBORNE, HAIRSPRAY (1988 and 2007 versions), WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT, BONNIE & CLYDE, THE MORNING AFTER, GEORGIA, FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, BOYS ON THE SIDE, CROSS CREEK, BOYS DON'T CRY, JUNGLE FEVER, SHADOWLANDS, THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY, I COULD NEVER BE YOUR WOMAN, IN THE CUT, STRANGE DAYS, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, MARGOT AT THE WEDDING, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, A MEMBER OF THE WEDDING, AKEELAH AND THE BEE, MERMAIDS, FOXY BROWN, MRS. PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE, CAT PEOPLE (1942 and/or 1982 version), THE HUNGER, WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE, WILDCATS, SET IT OFF, WHITE PALACE, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, JACKIE BROWN, LITTLE MAN TATE, CONTACT, SUNSHINE STATE, KILL BILL VOL 1 & 2, BROADWAY DANNY ROSE, HANNAH & HER SISTERS, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, MANHATTAN, SLEEPER, LOVE & DEATH, MASK (Cher, not Jim Carey), ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE, RAMBLING ROSE, BLACK WIDOW, HEATHERS, CHINATOWN, BOB & CAROL & TED & ALICE, LOVE WITH THE PROPER STRANGER, COPYCAT, THE SHELTERING SKY, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, HOUSESITTER, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, INTO THE NIGHT, A DANGEROUS WOMAN, THE HARVEY GIRLS, THE PIANO, EVERYBODY WINS, HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT, ALIEN, ALIENS, ALIEN 3, ALIEN RESURRECTION, HALLOWEEN, HALLOWEEN H20, TITANIC, SISTER ACT, HOT MILLIONS, WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, GIRL INTERRUPTED, MISS FIRECRACKER, LOST SOULS, BEAUTY SHOP, WORKING GIRL, BEETLEJUICE, POETIC JUSTICE, BROADCAST NEWS, INSIDE MAN, THE ACCUSED, SUMMER STOCK, REALITY BITES, THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS, BUGSY MALONE, David Cronenberg's CRASH, FREAKY FRIDAY (both the 1976 and the 2003 versions), MY GIRL, SOUNDER, POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, SIESTA, A FISH CALLED WANDA, TRUE LIES, FRIDAY FOSTER, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, BEST IN SHOW, WAITING FOR GUFMAN, A MIGHTY WIND, NETWORK, THE ABYSS, DON JUAN DEMARCO, TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY, THE YARDS, A LIFE LESS ORDINARY, RESURRECTION, MOONSTRUCK, THE HOURS, NASHVILLE, THE THING CALLED LOVE, THE GO-BETWEEN, USED PEOPLE, TO DIE FOR, PANIC ROOM, NIM'S ISLAND, GOSFORD PARK, BARFLY, THE FIRST WIVES CLUB, DON'T LOOK NOW, MADAME SOUSATZKA, PAPER MOON, ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN, MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY, DAUGHTER OF THE DUST, THE LAKE HOUSE, BEACHES, THE HOLIDAY, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS, THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, A ROOM WITH A VIEW, A NEW LEAF, A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, MEMOIRS OF A SURVIVOR, DAZED AND CONFUSED, THE GRIFTERS, NEVER BEEN KISSED, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, GYPSY, MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING, SPLENOR IN THE GRASS, HEAVEN CAN WAIT, TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT, TEA WITH MUSSOLINI, CLUELESS, SLEEP WITH ME, THE SPITFIRE GRILL, BABY IT'S YOU, OPENING NIGHT, THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER, THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE WIZ, HEARTBREAKERS, THIS IS MY LIFE, YOU'VE GOT MAIL, Elaine May's THE HEARTBREAK KID, SCREAM, SCREAM 2, SCREAM 3, THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS, THE APARTMENT, SWEET CHARITY, HEAT AND DUST, BELOVED, AWAY FROM HER, CLOCKWATCHERS, JEFFERSON IN PARIS, GRAND CANYON, A WAY OF LIFE, FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, JUST ANOTHER GIRL ON THE I.R.T., THE SWEET HEREAFTER, SIBLING RIVALRY, GO FISH, HENRY FOOL, FAY GRIMM, CHARLIE'S ANGELS, CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE, THE PREACHER'S WIFE, WHAT WOMEN WANT, DREAMGIRLS, AFTERGLOW, HANGING UP, SUMMER STOCK, CAT BALLOU, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, AGNES OF GOD, LOSING GROUND, DETROIT 9000, ONCE UPON A TIME . . . WHEN WE WERE COLORED, A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE, THE WATERMELON WOMAN, ROUND MIDNIGHT, THE GOOD MOTHER, THE TURNING POINT, SHOOT THE MOON, I LIKE IT LIKE THAT, THE RIVER, THE COOKOUT, FRIDA, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, JUMPING JACK FLASH, LOVE & BASKETBALL, THE STRAIGHT STORY, SCOTT JOPLIN, NORTH COUNTRY, REVERSAL OF FORTUNE, DOWN IN THE DELTA, THE BONE COLLECTOR, MONSTER, HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, A LUV TALE, THE BLACK DAHLIA, Shirley MacLaine's BRUNO aka THE DRESS CODE (a brilliant film that needs to be reconsidered), REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, ON GOLDEN POND, WALKING AND TALKING, DEAD CALM, PRIZZI'S HONOR, DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD, MELINDA, LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR, NEW YORK STORIES, DOGVILLE, FAR FROM HEAVEN, G.I. JANE, MOULIN ROUGE!, SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE, SILKWOOD, CHICAGO, THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN, PUNCHLINE, BAD GIRLS, OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNES, JAGGED EDGE, PULP FICTION, MUSIC BOX, SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, EVER AFTER, BUFFALO 66, SHE HATE ME, THE GREAT SILENCE, HELL UP IN HARLEM, NOW AND THEN, ORLANDO, ERIN BROKAVICH . . .
The list could go on and on. So many great films and instead of attempting to expand the canon of recognized works, the PUMA gals were too busy taking the sexist world that already existed all over on the internet and putting it onto their own sites.
If I try to do a reference, I will always try to find a female one first. I may not be able to -- my brain might not be functioning fully at the time, but that's what I try to do.
Because the internet that existed when this site came up used male as the norm over and over. Quote a song? Why it's one sung by a man or written by a man.
Why do some women do that? It's like the garbage of doing all these tribute albums to men. Judy Collins has yet to salute women with one album. But she's done at least three saluting male songwriters.
Her voice is shot so, honestly, we don't need her at this point.
But when she still had a voice, if would've been great if she'd chosen to honor women -- for even one album. Aretha did.
So when I'm noting music videos of women, that's why.
And, no, it's not just my friends. I don't like Judy Collins. She had a great voice. We note her from time to time. I don't like Joan Baez (I'm team Coretta) but we note her from time to time as well.
Some I note are my all time favorites: Sarah Vaughan, Stevie Nicks, Aretha, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane), Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot (The Mamas and the Papas), Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Janis Joplin, Laura Nyro . . . There are so many.
And, of course, Diana Ross. Who does not get anywhere near the credit she deserves or the credit that she has earned. She is an amazing talent who has given so much. She's also a friend and a wonderful person.
But we either the accept the world as it is, or we work to make it better.
We can do that with our voices and with our choices. I choose to live in a diverse world and choose to use my voice to carve out diversity.
The following sites updated:
