ATFA / MARTI / Rumi Forum Friendship Dinner in Ramadan

Ramadan Mubarek!

Tonight we joined the Episcopal Church of the Ascension field trip to the local chapters of ATFA (American Turkish Friendship Association, formerly MARTI, Maryland Turkish American Inhabitants) and Rumi Forum for a Friendship Dinner.  Teşekkür ederim!! 

We were early and so ended up at the Christ Episcopal Church of Rockville table with their priest and members – we haven’t visited them yet, but we did visit their thrift shop The Bargain Box for the first time last week and two of our dinner companions volunteer there. The Ascension table had our priest and members we haven’t met yet because they attend service at different times than we do.

Here is the invite:

“Friendship Dinner with Ascension in Ramadan
Wednesday, July 23rd, at 8:15 p.m. by ATFA MD (MARTI) and RUMI Forum MD.
I am delighted to invite you to share the joy of a Friendship Dinner during Ramadan. We will celebrate these dinners every night from June 28th to July 27th. You may attend at our Rockville location: 230 N. Washington St on Wednesday, July 23.

The Friendship Dinner Program starts with introductions at 8:15 p.m., followed by a dinner of excellent Turkish cuisine at sunset, and a short presentation about Turkish Culture, Rumi Forum & Atfa MD. The evening concludes with traditional Turkish tea and dessert to accompany continued conversations, and it ends at approximately 9:45 p.m. Please let Randy know if you are coming.

—Murat Ozbas, President ATFA MD (MARTI)”

Mycroft Masada ~ MasadArts ~ my artwork

It’s Chrismahanukwansolsticetc-In-July here at MasadArts!  At least in the art department.  Yes, I’ve finally updated my artwork portfolio.  Now with 46 photos.  Enjoy, Like / +1, comment, share, shop, etc.  

This is just some of my artwork -- and so far just stationery, but photos of my jewelry and more are coming soon.  It's all mostly handmade, and mostly made of vintage / recycled / found / thrifted / gifted / reclaimed etc. materials. 

I have many supplies and ideas, and access to many more -- and I do personalizations, customizations, commissions etc.

Here is a slideshow -- but be sure to click through to Picasa Web Albums for the best view.

Transgender Lobby Day 2014

Best wishes to everyone gathering here in DC for Transgender Lobby Day -- and everyone who wishes they were!

TLD begins today with an optional reception and continues through Tuesday, and is a project of National Center for Transgender Equality, Trans People of Color Coalition, Translatin@ Coalition, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, PFLAG National, Black Transmen, Inc., and Black Transwomen, Inc.

“Q: I cannot attend this lobby day. How else can I help?

A: We recognize that there are many people who are excited to make an impact but can't take the time away from home or work to attend our Lobby Day. The most important thing is that your members of Congress know that transgender people urgently need strong and clear job protections at the federal level. We urge you to set up a meeting with your members of Congress while they are back home during recess between Monday, August 4th and Friday, September 5th. Use our "Make Your Voice Heard" resource to learn more about how to schedule and prepare for your meeting.”

Shira Glassman's "Climbing The Date Palm” includes a fat main character

Yasher koach to my friend and fellow fat-appreciative writer Shira Glassman, who was asked to write about why the romantic lead in her novel “Climbing The Date Palm” is fat, and did so, for Mama Kitty Reviews.

"Ultimately, the most important reason Farzin is fat is because fat people deserve love. There are millions of people out there who are not a size small and it can’t possibly be fun to read book after book and watch movie after movie in which only skinny people ever find true love, and fat people are either villains, sassy sidekicks, or the butt of jokes."

"Climbing The Date Palm" is the second book in Shira's 'Mangoverse' fantasy fiction series, which centers Judaism, queerness, feminism, and dragons; the first is "The Second Mango".  "Mango" is available from Prizm Books (e-book) and Amazon (Kindle and paperback); "Date Palm" is available from Prizm and Amazon as an e-book, and will be available in paperback by the end of the month -- and the paperback can now be pre-ordered from Wild Iris Books (which also still has hard copies of "TSM", including autographed ones).  Book three is "A Harvest Of Ripe Figs", which will be published by Prizm on January 21st.

And all three books include other fat / bellied / not-thin / ... characters.      

Shira can be found on Facebook, Wordpress, and Tumblr.

Here are two pieces of Kaveh / Farzin art by Becca Schauer (the second is so squeeworthy that I can't even):

Fat Activism Conference : Tools For The Revolution

Friday August 22nd through Sunday August 24th is Fat Activism Conference : Tools For The Revolution! 

Virtual – access live or recorded by phone or computer; some workshops will be more interactive and/or have handouts. Only $39 or pay what you can.  

The website is http://fatactivismconference.com/.  There is also an Open-Invite Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/534062743387931/.