It's a verb, it's a noun, it's a magazine.

I've quoted my friend Amy in my blog several times and while she isn't a fan of blogs, I think she likes being quoted here. The most quotable thing Amy said while we were hanging out for happy hour at Alberta Street Brew Pub last night? Well Amy turned to me at one point and said "Are you gonna blog about that?" And the answer is, yes.

A few weeks ago while eating brunch at The Paradox Cafe (ah, Paradox, the cafe where I once ate three meals in one day -- an animal rights group I was involved with had an office across the street and we would hold our "action planning" meetings there as well as our "after action" follow up sessions and then the late night meal together because we didn't have lives outside of the movement) Amy mentioned that she wasn't happy at her job (being the development coordinator for a foundation that funds LGBQT issues). I asked her what she really wanted to do and she simply stated, "I want to work for Bitch magazine."

While I was familiar with the magazine (I've read it on and off for years...love it, respect it) I didn't realize they were actually a non-profit organization (and therefore had a need for a development director) and I also didn't realize that they had left their home in San Francisco and moved to Portland.

Fast forward to a few days later...I got an email from Amy saying, "I have a new job! I'm going to be working at Bitch magazine."

Just like that! Talk about realizing your dreams! She didn't even know there was a position open when she told me she wanted to work there.

Well, Bitch magazine (Feminist response to pop culture) now has a development coordinator that kicks ass and is so perfect for that position. And because I believe so strongly in both Amy and the magazine I have found myself having a renewed sense toward organizing with non-profits. We met last night to discuss action plans for future fundraising events for the magazine and for the first time in a very long while I was excited and motivated (and thankful to feel that way) to work towards a better world.

Maybe the reason for this is because of the lack of feminism in our culture lately? When I was growing up I wasn't satisfied that the female pop culture role models were the sisters from Heart and Stevie Nicks. I wasn't satisfied that strong women were expected to wear makeup and high heels. At this time I'm not satisfied that music is still filled with sexism, that women are still beaten and killed daily by their loved ones, that porn with "barely legal" girls is one of the most popular downloads on the internet (a man was recently arrested for raping his young daughter and then posting the video online). I'm not satisfied that I get labeled prude for questioning the glamorization of Bettie Page (how many saw the movie about her and were disappointed in the fact that the movie focused on how shitty her life was instead of showing more T & A)? I'm disappointed that my neighborhood association chooses to accept advertising from the local strip club yet rage forward in a campaign against Wal-Mart (yes the latter is bad, but is advertising a strip club building up the community?).

So, I think that Bitch magazine is as relevant now to our society as it ever has been and perhaps more importantly, it is as relevant to my own well being at this time and place in my life as it has ever been.