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- D&D camp, circa 1982
- Notional future They Might Be Giants albums about War on Terror, labor history
- The American Burqini, and modesty throughout the ages.
- Update: Cash4Gold drops Consumerist from lawsuit
- Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Burqini
| Posted: 27 Sep 2009 04:42 AM PDT  Here's a lovely interview with an alumnus of the Shippensburg Adventure Game Camp, a residential D&D camp for 10-17 year olds held at Shippensburg College (now Shippensburg University) in Pennsylvania. Campers played a series of rotating adventures in aged-grouped parties, with the councillors comparing notes behind the scenes to keep all the groups in synch and to ensure maximum fun and mayhem for all the players. They unwound with improv games. I attended a D&D day camp around this time, 1983 or so, at Harbourfront in Toronto. We painted lead miniatures (I still love doing this) and had guest-lectures from medieval weapons freaks, a ninjitsu master, and a science fiction writer named Edward Llewellyn, who was the first published sf writer I ever met. He signed a copy of one of his books for me and I obsessively sought out and read his entire oeuvre. And of course we played lots of D&D. I still remember that as one of the most fun summer activities I ever got to participate in. Shippensburg Adventure Game Camp ran in the summers of 1981 through 1985. There were two one-week sessions, each Sunday evening through Friday afternoon. I found out about it because the teacher we had convinced to sponsor the school D&D group got a flier for it when it was first organized.One time at D&D camp... (Thanks, Fipi Lele!) |
| Notional future They Might Be Giants albums about War on Terror, labor history Posted: 26 Sep 2009 07:33 PM PDT  They Might Be Giants did a wonderful appearance on NPR's Science Friday to promote their album Here Comes Science, and finished off with two possible future albums, both of which have my vote: * There Goes Your Liberties (a history of civil liberties and the War on Terror) * Here Comes the Syndicalists (a history of the labor movement in America) I have a feeling they were kidding, but guys, if you're listening, those are great ideas! They Might Be Giants: Here Comes Science (broadcast Friday, September 25th, 2009) |
| The American Burqini, and modesty throughout the ages. Posted: 26 Sep 2009 05:09 PM PDT  BB guestblogger Aman Ali's post about a modest bathing suit designed by Muslim women for Muslim women has sparked debate. At the time of this post, I'm also seeing that an anonymous Muslim woman has voiced her thoughts in the thread, and I encourage you to go read. She ends: "I own a burqini and LOVE IT." Still, some non-Muslim commenters in the related thread take the position that "modest swimsuits" such as the burqini are a form of Muslim oppression against women. I think that's a silly, narrow, and factually inaccurate position. I thought it might be helpful to point out a few related Western apparel websites: * Stitchin' Times Women's Swimsuits ...and, I want to point out this series of posts about Victorian Bathing Machines, contraptions that allowed 18th century folks in England to bathe in the sea while adhering to the cultural norms of the era. Above, one proponent of modest sea-bathing in that era. My point, such as it is: why must our first reaction to stuff like a Boing Boing post about burqinis be to judge or condemn? You may or may not choose to wear one, but the world doesn't revolve around you. I believe it is more fruitful to try and learn about and appreciate cultural differences than to get all flustered about whether or not you approve. The commenter who loves her burqini (or any one of the smiling American customers on this "modesty swimsuit" website) does not care what you think about her garments or her beliefs. Nor should she. Let all forms of happy mutancy prevail. (Thanks, Clayton Cubitt) |
| Update: Cash4Gold drops Consumerist from lawsuit Posted: 26 Sep 2009 05:49 PM PDT  Cash4Gold, a company that offers money for gold jewelry and coins you send them, has dropped the website Consumerist as a defendant in a lawsuit against ex-employees. More here. (thanks, Ben Popken)
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| Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Burqini Posted: 26 Sep 2009 05:10 PM PDT Aman Ali, a BoingBoing guest blogger, is the co-author of 30 Mosques, a Ramadan adventure taking him to a different mosque in New York City every day for a month.  When I first heard of this product a few years ago, I'll admit it made me laugh, even with me being a Muslim. It's a swimsuit called the Burqini that's designed for Muslim women. Men and women in Islam are both asked to dress modestly but many of the swimsuits designed for women today are too revealing to allow them to do that. As you can see, the Burqini doesn't show any skin but it's not too loose to the point where it's difficult to swim. No woman should be denied the freedom to have a fun filled day at the pool or beach, which is why this company designed the Burqini. The more I thought about the product, the more I began to realize how awesome it is. It's another way Muslims have been able to adapt to local cultures and customs without compromising their beliefs, an issue many religions face today. The Burqini has gotten a lot of backlash from governments in Europe. But I don't think any government has a right to tell people how to dress. How come a woman is not allowed to wear a burqini to a pool, but there's no law saying she can't wear a giant panda suit? If she wants to wear either of those outfits, hey go right ahead. Burqini's official site |
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