Of Chanting Muscovites and Theremins

I've now read some more detailed accounts of the demonstration/ action/ violence and arrests in Moscow. The participant account I read noted that of the 50 people participating (pro-gay) *most* of them were Westerners. So great. The Russian conservatives can point to this fact and say this was Western provocation. This is exactly the thing that could make this dreadful event into a setback instead of a Stonewall. Now, on the other hand, the organizer says he's very satisfied with the results and has a court case he can now take to the European Court for Human Rights. That could very well help the movement in Russia. I hope it does. I was sickened by the accounts of the protestors-- in a few cases specific people I know-- getting their faces bloodied by fascists or forced face-down onto pavement by brutal police. I think everyone will continue to wonder if this was absolutely necessary to bring the human rights situation in Russia to the international stage.

The non-worrying-about-Moscow parts of my weekend have been much more fun. So far this weekend...

- I went to the local SF LGBT Center's queer open mic and actually read something;

- I went to a house party featuring the last performance of the original crew of Nappy Grooves, an Oakland original-- an African-American drag king troupe with a political edge;

- I fell asleep stretched out in the grass and sun- to the tune of lapping waves- while drying out the cache log at the geocache site Ashby Spit/ Point Emery- I only got a little sunburned;

- I went to a showing of experimental super-8 / 16 mm black and white short films by Bill Basquin - rural themes in a queer context- very cool;

- At drinks after the Bill Basquin screening, A., one of our party, taught us about something he learned about at a Dorkbot gathering-- the strange new art of molecular gastronomy aka "food hacking." G. told us about his recent meal at one of the Bay Area's private restaurants --run by renegade chefs bucking the tyranny of the restaurant system-- and the "slow food" movement (an outgrowth of the "slow cities" movement, or, as A. said, "a bifurcation of the meme")-- nerds amok in the kitchen, hooray!

- I went riding in Montara- beautiful ocean, beautiful sky, good horses;

- and most recently I went to a house party hosted by a couple of dear friends who are DJ's and breakdancers. One of their friends brought over a theremin and we all got to learn how to play it. This was an old Moog theremin, actually signed by Bob Moog. I really enjoyed how easy this instrument was on my tendonitis. When I remarked on this the owner of the Moog theremin said the thing was first invented to be used by Clara Rockmore, a theremin virtuoso who had MS. Well, that's sort of true. She became a thereminist because of physical difficulties that developed because of early childhood malnutrition. The theremin wasn't invented *for* her. But Mr. Theremin (a Russian, by the by) was in love with her, and did make some modifications on the instrument for her. Ah love. Trying to win a woman by perfecting her theremin...