This week, I’ve been sick as a dog. I think that I had the same cold about 3 weeks ago, but this time it has lasted about 3 days longer (so far) and has been about 5 times as worse. I’m totally congested, coughing, light headed and slightly feverish. I thought that I could kick this death cold with a nap and then Screwdrivers and dancing on Saturday evening, but unfortunately, I only feel worse. I even had to miss out on hearing Cindy Sheehan speak in Evanston this weekend. Being sick is not very becoming of my lifestyle.

One of my personality traits is the inability to sit still for very long. I’m always moving about and doing at least two things at once. This trait becomes a skill when throwing parties – I can be a hostess, make sure drinks are filled, make sure appetizers are out, and just generally keep everything moving. When I’m sick, though, this trait becomes a flaw and makes my life miserable. Reading a book while watching TV even tires me out. So, all I have to say is, Thank God for the Internet and Thank God for Myspace.

Myspace is such a giant freak fest and I’m starting to like it more and more. After getting bored reading the normal blogs that I’m subscribed to, I started exploring the different groups that my “friends” belong to. My favorite group that I stumbled upon is the “Guys Who Act Liberal to Bang Artsy Hipster Type Chicks” group. Granted, I was also doped up on a bunch of Benadryl, Tylenol cold, Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold, and DayQuil (I don’t mess around when it comes to over the counter meds) but everything posted on this site cracked me up! So, GWALTBAHTC, just for making me laugh and feel better while suffering with the death cold, here’s some unsolicited advice for you – to act liberal, you should be aware of liberal, political, activist groups who do cool and artistic things.

I’m a big believer that being politically aware and politically active makes someone more sexually attractive (especially if their political beliefs coincide with mine). Now with that said, I want to highlight two of my favorite activist groups/project that I think all of you should all be aware of.

Jewish Women Watching
No, this is not a Hebrew voyeuristic site. A couple years ago, a co-worker of mine introduced me to this organization whose mission is to challenge sexist beliefs within the Jewish community. Mainly, they fight against conservative policies supported by the Jewish community in regards to sex education, sexual discrimination, and women’s reproductive rights. My initial exposure to Jewish Women Watching was with their “Strange Bedfellows” campaign in which they passed out condoms with little cards asking why the Jewish Community is politically in bed with the Christian right wing. Though I am not a part of the Jewish community, I thought that this was an amazing campaign. The part about the campaign that really reeled me in was the warning printed on the condom – “Warning: This condom will NOT protect you from the real intentions of the Christian right wing. ABSTINENCE FROM STRANGE BEDFELLOWS IS ADVISED.” Though I think that abstinence-only programs in schools are a load of bunk, this is an abstinence program that is right up my alley!

JWW’s latest project is called “Make a Buzz” – where they passed out vibrators at their NYC launch party on February 2nd at Babeland. This campaign highlights what we as citizens need to make a “buzz” about with our current administration’s policies. The campaign discusses how current sex and reproductive issues by Bush administration, such as abstinence only programs, birth control issues, and the global gag rule (among others) are things that “kill your buzz.” JWW is encouraging people to start making a “buzz” about the issues such as sex education, readily available birth control, women’s medical care, and the topic of abortion. To Jewish Women Watching - Ladies, I must say - I dig your vibe.

Mouths Wide Open
This is a new organization that was introduced to me again by a coworker. She called me up on the phone to tell me that her “toy soldiers” were on their way and asked if I wanted any. Completely oblivious to what she was talking about, I said, “Sure, I’ll take a couple.” A couple days later, she stopped by my office and delivered a small zip-lock bag filled with little, green, plastic army men all with stickers on the bottom that say “Bring Me Home mouthswideopen.org.” (I was originally hoping that the green in the bag was something else, but that’s another post for another day.) The idea of this project is to leave the little army men wherever you go in order to keep the war in the forefront of people’s minds. People are more likely to pick up a little toy that they used to play with as a kid, and then the sticker on the bottom will remind people that though the little army guy in their hand is just a toy, there are thousands of US troops fighting (and dying) overseas.

With the US media more concerned that it took 18 hours for the White House to release a statement about our VP shooting his hunting buddy, than with reporting daily that the number of US troops who have been killed in Iraq is over 2200, I think that this organization has the right idea.

Some friends have decided recently to take this idea to a new level and march these army men down 4.6 miles of Lincoln Avenue in Chicago in order to take a stand against the war in an artistic activism project called “March First: A Review of Troops.” I, of course, will be helping out – probably hopped up again on Benadryl and DayQuil and with a Kleenex box in tow. The idea is to gather a group of volunteers together on February 28th at 9:00pm and set up these little plastic soldiers, so that on March First, when people leave their homes to walk to the El or to their car, they’ll pick up the little green men and remember that there is a war going on and hopefully visit the mouthswideopen.org website to learn more about the toy soldier project. I know that March First is still looking for volunteers, so if you’re interested in participating, drop the ladies an e-mail at marchfirst2006@gmail.com. If you sign up and help out, I’ll buy you a beer afterwards. I still need some people for my troop!

So there you go, liberal minded (or poser-liberal minded) readers. Two ways to get politically involved and to look sexy while taking a stand. I’m hoping that this will be a new wave of activism – artsy and sexy stands against our current administration’s policies! Sign me up! I’m in!

Now, where’s the ‘tussin? I need to get better by next Tuesday!

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