Bellingham has the dances going on!

Bellingham dances are heating up.  This is put on by 4 Women Dances and they have launched a website (was not working properly when I checked it and I sure understand that little problem!) that I hope they will use to post their dances on.  Currently they have been advertising via one particular lesbian group that is not inclusive of FTM's which is a thorn in my side. 

Stimulus Package Women-Only Dance-NO COVER  
Saturday January 23, 2010
5:30 pm - 9:30 pm ID required/21+
The Royal
208 E. Holly St., downtown Bellingham
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-441-1858

Women's Masquerade and Valentine Dance - Bellingham January 30th

Women's Masquerade and Valentine Dance.  Join us for a night of play, lively music, entertainment and socializing. Ladies, come as yourself or someone else!  Enjoy snacks and beverages along with contests, a special surprise and you winning a spa package for two at a luxurious spa/hotel in Bellingham.

Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship
1708  I Street

Bellingham, WA  98225

January 30th Saturday, 8 pm to midnight

Proceeds from this women's dance support Village Vida Centre educational programs that support you...  and also to have FUN!

$10. at Door or FREE if you VOLUNTEER

We would like for as much women to come as possible - please pass information about the dance to as many girls you know especially if they are on your dance list.

The dance promoters are asking for you to answer a few questions. 

http://surveymonkey.com/s/WX3DVLR

On Seattle Announcements Calendar.

Tonight Understanding Addiction Jan 14th

THURS JAN 14, 7:30 pm, at Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Avenue at Seneca Street, downstairs, enter on Seneca, Seattle; Future of Health presents Gabor Mat on UNDERSTANDING ADDICTION.
Addictions fill celebrity tabloids and fuel "reality" TV shows, but the true reality is that even those of us who know an addict, or have experienced addiction, have a hard time fully understanding the void that addiction attempts to fill, or know how to address it. But bestselling writer and physician Gabor Mat (In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts), who has worked with the severely addicted on Vancouver's Skid Row, explains the phenomenon by describing its root causes - a complex interplay of personal history, emotional and neurological development, brain chemistry, and Western culture.

Norm Stamper, former chief of the Seattle Police force, will introduce Dr. Mat. Presented as part of Town Hall?s Future of Health Lecture Series with Elliott Bay Book Company. Series sponsored by Bastyr University and PCC Natural Markets. Tickets are $5 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. info http://www.townhallseattle.org

RAJ PATEL PRESENTS HIS NEW BOOK, 'THE VALUE OF NOTHING'

RAJ PATEL PRESENTS HIS NEW BOOK, 'THE VALUE OF NOTHING'
Town Hall Seattle - 1119 8th Avenue
Monday, January 18, 2010, 7:30 PM

In an era when the gears of the economy have ground to a virtual halt, writer, activist, and academic Raj Patel (2008's bestselling Stuffed and Starved) says we all need to start asking the fundamental but baffling question of why things cost what they do. His latest work, The Value of Nothing, uses some fundamental but forgotten economics and cutting-edge neuroeconomics to show how the price we pay for everything is systematically distorted. Patel clearly explains why the question 'How much?' means far more than the price on the sticker. Presented by the Town Hall Center for Civic Life, with Elliott Bay Book Company. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Check out the book trailer by Scott Hamilton Kennedy (of Academy award-nominated The Garden fame), listen to an NPR interview here, and watch Raj on The Colbert Report on January 12th! [probably available online now]

On Seattle Announcements Calendar.

What about an Unemployed Discount? Think outside the box people!

I do appreciate what some businesses are doing to assist the economy by offering discounts for students and seniors.  I believe these discounts should stay in place and what I have to say has nothing to do with knocking students as I too have been one twice and am still paying off hefty loans and I am closer to a senior discount than being a student again. 

What I wish is that the folks making the decisions would take into account the full picture of the unemployed at home right now.  If you want people at your events and perhaps even build yourself some long time customers, offer an 'unemployed discount'.  People that are unemployed have more social time on their hands, are often looking for things to do but cannot afford to pay the full price of events.  I believe they will remember you when they become employed again.  If they have not been coming to your events before you may have just found yourself a new loyal customer.  It IS a Win Win.

In the general Seattle area the unemployment rate has been hovering around 10% and many of these jobs I bet brought people to your events before.  Get those people back to your events too.  It seems a bit lame to me to just keep doing the same old student and senior discounts.

Someone has to be first to do it!  Come on...I can't wait to post who it is!

As a last note, the 'how' is not hard.  Depending on the event they could show their unemployment stub, resume or any number of other things that could be thought of to ensure that the business doesn't feel they are getting ripped off for the discount they are offering for event entry.

Speaker Mollena Williams on BDSM and issues facing minorities who play

Mollena Williams will be speaking on 'Being a person of color in the BDSM community' which will be 'a class for everyone, covering some of the issues faced by minorities in our community.  It will be Saturday, January 16th at CSPC in the annex.  Looks like a not to miss event.

When:          1:30 PM to 3:30 PM

Where:        In the CSPC annex

Who:            18+.

Cost:            $20

Presenter:   Mollena Williams

Description:

While some kinksters embrace their Leather lifestyle with ease and nary a look back, others of us face difficult paths towards the leather lifestyle that are fraught with many pitfalls. One's religious, cultural and racial heritage can add myriad layers and nuances to the process. Though some may view the Leather Community as a utopian, egalitarian enclave, it actually is a microcosm, full of all of the twists, turns, fears and hopes that haunt and inspire the rest of the world.

In this class, we will discuss some of the issues facing minorities as their numbers grow within the public BDSM community. Stereotyping? Racism? Classism? 'Not in our Community!' you say? Think again. The instructor will share her own experiences in coming to terms with being a black female with submissive and slave tendencies, and still reconciling those feelings with feelings of isolation, guilt, desire, loss and an intense need to be true to her path.

EVERYONE is encouraged to attend; share your experiences or learn about the experiences of others in an open, accepting environment.

About the educator, Mollena Williams

Mollena is proud to have been awarded the title of Ms. SF Leather 2009!  She looks forward to serving the San Francisco Leather Community to the best of her ability, and to bringing honor to the amazing leather lifestyle.

 Mollena has over 12 years of experience in the BDSM and Alternative Community.   She's blessed enough to occasionally travel nationally, teaching Leather Lifestyle classes.  Mollena has taught classes on Leather Lifestyle issues on many subjects and the list is always evolving ~ check out her BDSM Class Listings page.  She has conducted classes (by invitation) to BDSM and Leather Groups in Michigan, Oregon, Washington DC, Missouri, Illinois, New Jersey, Arizona, California, Wisconsin, and Florida.

Track where she's been and where she's heading on the Twisted Teachings Page, and keep your eyes peeled for a dungeon near you! Contact Mollena if you want to discuss the possibility of having her present for your group, organization, or whomever.

In addition, Mollena has had her work published by the Society of Janus Newsletter, The Eulenspiegel Society's magazine, Prometheus, as well as the online magazine at ALT.COM and Bondage.com. She was interviewed for The Bottoming Book, ColorLines Magazine, and the award winning documentary 'Vice & Consent'.  She also got all tied up in the instructional video,'Jay Wiseman Teaches Rope Bondage'.  She's been interviewed by Sharon Glassman for The Huffington Post and by Angela Plaid for Racialicious. Her blog, The Perverted Negress, has been a featured blog on Fleshbot (not once but TWICE!) as well as the pick of the week for The Sugasm. And boy howdy, the venerated Jane's Guide thinks The Perverted Negress' Blog  is pretty rad!

She is pleased that her essay entitled 'BDSM and Race Play' will be appearing in the upcoming 'Best Sex Writing 2010' ~ check it out!

Beyond teaching and writing, Mollena has appeared on or moderated panel discussions on various topics including 'Issues of People of Color in the Leather Community', 'Negotiation', and 'Submissive Women's Issues.'

Mollena has studied the fields of interpersonal communications and conflict moderation extensively. She proudly bears the scars from being featured as 'Stunt Sub' for countless BDSM workshops and demonstrations, and has worked with many acclaimed teachers and educators, including Celeste Devenaux, Teramis, Mistress Heart, Cleo Dubois, Fakir Musafar, Midori, Evil Mommy Tina, David El, Janet Hardy, Domina 'The Frugal Domme', Graydancer and Jay Wiseman.
From the CSPC Website and on the Seattle Announcements Calendar

We've got Talent! Neighbors on Jan 31st will prove it!

American Idol was wrongo-dongo saying Seattle was talentless and Neighbours Nightclub in Seattle will be hosting a ONE NIGHT ONLY event to prove that YOU HAVE TALENT. That's Right. Not only is there a $100 CASH PRIZE or MORE! The show is open to all performers of all kinds. Singers, Dancers, Bellydancers, Groups, Soloists, Jugglers, Drag Queens, Drag Kings, Comedians. Anything that falls under a TALENT will be in the show! This is gonna be a HUGE Smash Hit!

Here is how it will work:
On Sunday, January 31st, 2010 Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway - Enter in the Alley) will open its doors at 7pm for 'Seattle's Got Talent!' there is a $5.00 Cover. Upon paying that you will recieve ONE vote. The Contestant Sign ups are on a First Come-First Served Basis. They will only have 10 slots open, So get there early! There will be a standby list for those who wish to wait and see if there is enough time to get into the competition.

Then what will happen is there will be a panel of judges introduced. These judges will watch the contestants perform and tell them if they are in or if they are out. Then there will be a very short break. The contestants chosen to move forward will then compete in front of the judges. As this occurs, you the audience will be able to vote for your favorite talent. You may also purchase additional votes after the break for $2.00 per vote. (this will go towards the cash prize). Then at the end of the evening, the votes will be tallied and totalled together with the judges scores to determine who will be Seattle's Most Talented performer.

The show will feature three special guest judges. One of which you may remember for a previous show at Neighbours known as Seattle Drag Idol. Dominatrix Roxy, will return as our Paula Abdul for the evening. :) This is gonna be one hot night! The Evening will be hosted by Local performance artist, Mr. Ryan Hazy who is thrilled to be a part of this new adventure.
if you are interested in performing and being a part of this competition, all i have to say is Doors are at 7pm and registration is at 7:30pm so show up early! OPEN TO ALL PERFORMERS!! !

NOTE: All Contestants Must prepare TWO performances/ songs. First for the preliminary in Front of the Judges and TWO for the Competition should they get chosen to compete. PLEASE LIMIT SONGS/PERFORMANCES TO NO LONGER THAN 5 MINUTES IN LENGTH. THANK YOU!

Good Luck Seattle!  Join us at Neighbours Nightclub for this fun ONE NIGHT ONLY EVENT!!!