Issuu

About our Contributors...

The Betty Pages - June 2013 Betty’s Corner

Page 3

By Betty Desire, The Betty Pages

In The Mix

By Bridget Adams

E B 13D O E T AT 14 D 15 P U 16

102 Years of Sky to Sea

Hollywood & Bollywood Vs Independance By Bishoo Vrischik

5 5 7

TripMadam - Letting it all hang out Panhandler Bob

Community Events For the Love of Tarot By Kevin Walder

Sun time at last By Marcy

The Comics!

Miss Betty Desire has been entertaining anyone who would listen in Bellingham for nearly 10 years, and is proprietor of The Betty Pages, the monthly publication that you are reading at this very moment. It is her hope that your perusal of the Betty Pages will enrich your life one chuckle at a time. Writer Bridget Adams currently resides in Washington State but that is always subject to change. Lucky enough to be a full-time, if poor, writer, she is most likely somewhere in front of her computer with a cup of coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Queer Film Historian Bichoo Vrishchik (Scorpio Scorpion) has published in Film Quarterly Sight and Sound, International Film Guide, Filmfare, Youth Times, and Manshots. With a BA from Pacific Lutheran College (1959) and a MA from San Francisco State College (1968), he has also taught film at Western Washington University. Naomi graduated Whatcom Community College with an Associates in Visual Communications -Graphic Design but prefers more hands on tinkering such as wire craft & random projects (of which she has many still to finish). She believes that everyone has a right to pursue their happiness as long as it doesn’t harm others

Staff Photographer John Phillip, after 40+ years of television production work John has settled down in B’ham to semi retirement. He now drives late night shuttle for WWU and has revised his love of photography. His education touched on Theology, pre-med, law enforcement, fire protection engineering and film production. John likes to keep broad horizons. “Don’t Dream It, Be It”

The Bellingham Alternative Library is an educational cooperative and lending library which is run by and for its members. We work to support any manifestation of a counter-culture and maintain a space free of oppression. Open Tuesday-Saturday: Noon-5:00pm www.altlib.org & www.bhamaltlib.tumblr.com 306 Flora St. Bellingham, WA 98225

1323 Railroad Ave

(360) 734-3884

Betty’s Corner Betty Desire, The Betty Pages

May is here and with it flowers and blossoms and beauty everywhere, but with the beauty comes weeds and crabgrass. Consider the antics of Republican State Senator Sharon Brown from Kennewick. She and 9 of her Senate cohorts have introduced a bill that would “allow businesses the right to deny services or goods if they felt doing so was contrary to their sincerely held religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs, or matters of conscience. This bill would not apply to people protected from discrimination by Federal law such as race or religious preference....who does that leave? You guessed it! “The Gays! Senator Brown says she wants to protect people and religious organizations from legal persecution. She says “there is a glaring lack of protection for religion in State law” Really? Citizens of Kennewick will you please explain why you send this woman to represent you in Olympia? Do the majority of you actually agree with her?

This all stems from a lawsuit against a florist in Richland who refused to sell flowers to long time patrons of her store because the flowers were for that gay couples wedding. Washington State added sexual orientation to its civil rights statute in 2006 meaning that it is against Washington State law to refuse to sell goods to someone based solely on their sexual orientation. Even though marriage is legal for same sex couples in Washington the florist in Richland doesn’t want her flower arrangements to be a part of a ceremony she doesn’t believe in. She will sell to her gay patrons if the flowers are for the dining room table but not if they are for their wedding. Really? Remember this gay male couple WERE long time customers of hers. If your a Gay and your shopping there will you have to sign an affidavit stating that the lavender begonias you are purchasing are for the sitting room and not an alter? Will you have to swear that the tulips you purchase are for a dinner party and not a wedding reception? Why does it matter how the flowers sold are used? There are Pagans in Richland. Oh yes there are! Are they going to be refused flowers? Wait no they will be protected from that because Paganism is a Federally protected Religious choice. It’s just the Gays who will have to shop somewhere else, if there is somewhere else. There are those in our community who are saying drop the lawsuit and go to another florist shop in Richland for your wedding flowers I say no. If you are going to sell to the public in this state you must not discriminate period. This bill to legalize refusal to sell goods and services based on “religious belief, philosophical belief, or matters of conscience won’t get a hearing unless a special session is called, which seems very likely. Here are the names of the other Senators who have signed on to this bill Janea Holmquist Newbry, Mike Hewitt, Jim Honeyford, Don Benton, Barbara Bailey, Mike Padden, John Braun, John Smith, Ann Rivers, and Linda Evans Parlette. If you live in their district let this “gang of 10 ”know you are paying attention don’t let them water down Washington’s civil rights law by pandering to radical fundamentalist Christian businessmen. When I buy goods from a store what I do with the items after I leave that store is none of the shopkeepers concern. OK enough about weeds and crabgrass let’s talk beauty! Ski to Sea is upon us! Read about it here in the Betty Pages. I will be walking with PFLAG in the grand parade. I am so looking forward to the festivities! Catch me at the block party....I think I will decorate Taylor’s bike for the kids parade on Saturday the 18th It is wonderful to live in an accepting inclusive city. We are spoiled here you know. I am proud to be numbered among the ‘hamsters! Take care all!

Betty Desire

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

E B D O E T AT D P U

Page 3 Model

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

Get it where you want it!

The Betty Pages are available at these fine local establishments.

Bellingham

A Large selection of Micro Brews & Hard Alcohol Delicious Lunch & Dinner Menu Happy Hour 4pm - 6pm daily Sundays$2.50 Wells Noon - Close Mond Mondays3 Taqueria style Tacos $5.95 Industry Night Tuesdays9-Midnight $3 Tuesdays! PBR Pitchers, Micro Pints, Wells & Fry Baskets only $3 each Wednesdays6pm - 10pm Burger, Fries, and a Pint of PBR only $6 Thursdays 9 - Midnight $3 Rolling Rock Pitchers

*The Black Drop *Brandywine Kitchen *Casa Que Pasa *Film is Truth *Glow *Grand Avenue Ale House *Great Northern Books *Horseshoe Café *Mallard Ice Cream *Mod Socks *Old World Deli *Pizza Pipeline *Rumor’s Cabaret *Stella Allied Arts Agave The Archives Arlysis Avalon Music The Bagelry Bayou on the Bay Bellingham Alternative Library Bellingham Bar & Grill Bellingham Flea Market Bellingham Public Library Bellingham Public Market Bellingham Technical College Boundary Bay Cabin Tavern Cap Hansen’s Chameleon Ink Tattoo The Cobra Lounge The Copper Hog Daisy Café Evergreen AIDS Foundation Everyday Music Fairhaven Laundry & Cleaners Fairhaven Mt Bakery Fiama Burger The Gathering Hot Topic Koi Café

La Vie en Rose Lettered Streets Coffeehouse Looking Glass Lover’s Makeshift Art Space Merch Bot Mt. Bakery Nelson’s Market Old Town Café Pel’Meni Pickford Theater Pita Pit Rocket Donuts Royal Rudy’s Pizza The Shakedown The Stone Moon Studio Galactica The Sub Shop Tony’s Coffee House Tubbs Tavern Unknown Skate Shop Up’n’Up Village Books WWU Viking Union Building Whatcom Community College Whatcom Co-Op (Downtown) Wild Buffalo

Mt. Vernon

*1st Street Cabaret & Speakeasy The Dogghouse Draft Picks Lincoln Theatre Resroti Skagit Community College Skagit Co-Op Tattered Page Bookstore Tri Dee Burlington Hands On Clay

Everett

Bar Mix *Indicates our advertisers!

In The Mix Bridget Adams

PPPPPPJJJJ JJJJ PPPPPPP

PPPPPPJJJJ@@mmmm.ccc www...PPPPJJJJ.ccc

I sssss hhhh paaa 3 fff 2013.

ngg fff ’’

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

It’s Pride Month, Poppets! How did we get here already? Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were celebrating the winter holidays? Yet here we are: Pride. I’ve been thinking about that word, recently – Pride. What does it mean and how do we show it? Can you have pride and still be closeted? Can you have pride and reject labels? Can you have pride and accept someone who is closeted? The answer I have come to, for myself, is yes. Margaret Cho recently advocated outing people – specifically celebrities – because the only reason you wouldn’t out someone is if you thought there was something wrong with being LGBTQ. Let me tell you how much I love her mindset. Seriously. No snark or sarcasm here. I love this idea. This concept. I love the thought of being able to shout our orientations from the rooftops and having it simply not matter. Because, like so many other LGBTQ people I know, I want it to not matter. I don’t want cookies or kudos or praise. I want it to not matter, the same way my hair being brown and my dislike of mushrooms don’t matter. The problem is though, it does matter. Everyone I know who is still closeted is closeted for a legitimate reason. Not shame. Not concern that it “might” matter. Not embarrassment. Everyone I know who is still closeted has pride – in themselves, their partners, their orientations, their lives. And each one of them would face dangerous levels of discrimination if they were to come out. Or be outed. Being out is a privilege. Often it is a hard fought, hard earned privilege, and I will never minimize that. Coming out is not yet easy, regardless of how many feel good stories we read about wonderful, lovingly indifferent parents. I am not saying that people who came out had it easy. There was, however, something that made it possible for them to take that step, and not all of us have that something. Visibility does not equal acceptance. Ask women, or people of color, or the physically handicapped how well visibility has worked to erase the discrimination they face. Ask the teens and young adults who are bullied and beaten and tortured for their perceived orientation how visibility helped them. To blame the person is wrong. To out the person is wrong. And yes, I get that Margaret Cho was talking about celebrities, who live in a different kind of a world, a special bubble, which most of us don’t get to live in. But the concept is the same, and it’s still wrong. I long for the day when coming out or being outed is a nonevent. Where visibility matters. We aren’t there yet. Yes, I believe we are getting there and we are closer than ever before. But we aren’t there yet. Hurting each other – even risking that hurt – by outing each other isn’t the way to get there. That isn’t Pride. I don’t know what that is, but it isn’t Pride. Enjoy your month, Poppets. Enjoy your Pride. Have Pride. And if you can do so openly and without too much fear, be grateful and don’t judge others too harshly. Until next month, take care of you – and each other.

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

A Lesbian Kiss - A GAY FILM BIBLIOGRAPHY Bishoo Vrischik

Alice Nellis’ TAJNOSTI (SECRET, or aka in English LITTLE GIRL BLUE, 2007) I chose because it references Nina Simone, the AfroAmerican jazz singer who had wanted to sing opera, but couldn’t get into Julliard School, the United States’ most prestigious music, dance and drama academy, because there were no Afro-American opera singers on American stages at that time. Turning to jazz, playing her own piano, Nina became an expatriate, living most of her life in France. In addition TAJOSTI parallels a fine French film on another singer, Cleo Victoire (Corrine Marchand) from 1962, Agnes Varda’s CLEO FROM 5 TO 7, unfolding in limited time -- CLEO in two hours, TAJNOSTI in one day. In CLEO, Cleo waits for the results of a biopsy; in TAJNOSTI Julie (Iva Bittova, who resembles Bonnie Hunt, one of David Letterman’s favorite guests) after she hears on TV that Nina Simone, her favourite singer, has died, asks for a piano, so that she can perhaps continue her own piano studies, breaks off with her lover and visits a doctor, finding that she is pregnant, and has a sonogram. Now she must decide if she will abort her second child, con-

ceived undoubtedly with that ex-lover. Late in the afternoon she visits a quirky music store, and from another potential lover does buy a piano -- but can it be delivered that evening to the old apartment where the family used to live? There are surrealistic touches throughout the film (a tango in traffic, dancing beggars, a skateboarder grabbing a plastic bag out of the air and returning it to its rightful, senior owner). Julie’s life is revitalized not by the men in it (rather, she tends to revitalize them) but when she becomes worried about her daughter and literally crashes into a party the girl is attending. The adolescent party-goers make their parents seem less mature by comparison. Finally, the husband comes to visit Julie in their old apartment and places a photo from the sonogram on the keyboard of the piano, and as the camera closes in on it the sonogram springs to life. Julie will have her second child, with or without any of the men in her life, where she used to live. Not only does Alice Nellis’ work resemble that of Agnes Varda, she kept me thinking of Antonioni. Yet this is a woman’s film rather than that of a typical Italian womb-seeker. If Antonioni had been a woman, with a taste for surrealism, humour, and music (just enough of Nina Simone is heard to keep her music from being repetitious) he might have come up with something like TAJNOSTI. In its traffic scenes, some shot from above, it also universalizes its subject, glorifying Julie’s decision with rain and street lamps seemingly exploding on her windshield. She ends up alone, but perhaps less lonely and dispirited than the real Nina Simone. As an example of how ordinary the films in this annual traveling festival can be, Regan Hall’s British FAST GIRLS (2011) takes no notice of the 2003 repeal of Great Britain’s notorious Section 28, demanding that anyone “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality.” In fact, these FAST GIRLS seem only interested in economic disparity, parental pressure, personal rivalry, one boy and winning a big relay race. A sort of feminist version of Hugh Hudson’s 1981 CHARIOTS OF FIRE, without its religious complications or the Olympics (erased from its script before production), FAST GIRLS clicks off its cliches right to the inevitable British win at the race. FAST GIRLS also resembles Gurinder Chadha’s 2002 BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM, dealing with two girl athletes, yet in BILB there is a relationship bordering on lesbianism (erased from its script just before production), and with football, i.e., British soccer. So FAST GIRLS can be said in more ways than one to lack balls. Whereas, Celine Sciamma’s French NAISSANCE DES PIEUVRES (THE BIRTH OF OCTOPI, or as known in English, WATERLILIES), four years older than FAST GIRLS, makes full use of the European Parliament’s 1994 Roth Report, according to Todd W. Reeser’s

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

The 2013 European Film Festival in India, devoted this year to women’s issues, traveling to ten different Indian cities, in Pune opened with perhaps one of its least interesting films, Pernilla August’s SVINALOANGORA (BEYOND, 2010; a Swedish film, the title is in Finnish), about a star swimmer raised by alcoholic parents, in flashback. The mother, in the present, is dying of emphysema while the daughter remembers her own abusive childhood. The structure is similar to Ingmar Bergman’s WILD STRAWBERRIES (1957), but this is more like Bergman without a brain. I hung my head as cliche after cliche common from the silent days about alcoholism, and now smoking, was thrown at us. By the time the drunk couple fought over whether to finish trimming a Christmas tree or to open Christmas presents first, I said to myself, “No, don’t knock over that tree!” But the drunk husband did, just as John Waters’ favorite transvestite Divine did under different circumstances (she didn’t receive the disco shoes she wanted) in his satirical FEMALE TROUBLE twenty-six years previously. Who wanted to press such an obvious moral, healthy message on an Indian audience, particularly on a festival opening night, is hard to imagine. Unless whoever selected SVINALOANGORA wanted to assure India that the festival would not be a radical one. All new Indian films must carry a warning against the ill effects of alcohol and tobacco, in the beginning and whenever they are consumed within the film. (The same warning does not appear in scenes of rash driving, cocaine use, bribery, theft or murder.) The nearly Housefull audience did sit in rapt attention for SVINALOANGORA, and there were very few walkouts except when one of the drunken parents vomited into a toilet. After SVINALOANGORA I chose my films in this 18th edition of the European Film Festival in India carefully, and in only one other case was I disappointed.

Continued on Page 11

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

EXPERIENCE enTerTainmenT american BandSTand

The Original STarS Of american BandSTand

Fabian • Brian Hyland • Chris Montez Merrilee Rush • David Somerville

SaT JUn 15th

Playing hits like “Turn me Loose,” “Let ’s Dance” and “Angel of the Morning”

Tickets Starting At

The ZOmBieS SAT AUG 31st

Playing their hits “Time of the Season” and “She’s Not There” $ .50

Tickets Starting At

rUmBle aT The reef XiX

SAT SEPT 14th Tickets Starting At $29.50

24/7 acTiOn

EXPERIENCEeVerYThing

S i l v e r R e e f C a s i n o. c o m • ( 8 6 6 ) 3 8 3 - 0 7 7 7 I-5 Exit 260 • 4 Min. West • Haxton Way at Slater Road Events subject to change without notice. Management reserves all rights. Must be 21 or over to play. ©2013 Silver Reef Casino

If You’re Reading This... then so are your customers. E-mail advertiseinthebettypages@gmail.com for more information on advertising.

then so are your customers. E-mail advertiseinthebettypages@gmail.com for more information on advertising.

The Natural Setting for Your Perfect Wedding • Peaceful, Wooded Grounds • Ideal for Indoor or Outdoor Celebrations • Convenient Access with Plentiful Parking • Full Kitchen, Banquet Tables and Linens • Officiant, Audio Technician and Wedding Coordinator Services Available Dr. Andrea Asebedo, Senior Minister Rev. Elizabeth Olson, Staff Minister Rev. Donna Smith, Staff Minister 2224 Yew Street Road • Bellingham 360.734.4160 • info@csl-bellingham.org www.csl-bellingham.org

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

If If You’re You’re Reading Reading This... This...

We are an inclusive and affirming spiritual community. w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

300 W. CHAMPION STREET, DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

A Gay Film Bibliography continued “Representing Gay Male Domesticity in French Film of the Late 1990s,” in QUEER CINEMA IN EUROPE (University of Chicago Press, 2008), recommending “that equality between homo- and heterosexual couples be considered by members of the EU [European Union]. Debate on the legalization of same-sex partnerships had begun in the 1980s and PACS (Pacte civil de solidarity) were adopted in 1999.” Although homosexuality had been treated earlier in France, as in Gerard Blain’s 1971 LES AMIS (THE FRIENDS), the subject became “more visible” after 1994. Typically French, these films had less to do with orientation than with coupling and domesticity, acquiring a space both visible and invisible for the lovers. Reeser lists a dozen of them, at least two involving North African immigrants: “sexuality no longer has to be the central element,” to him, “rather an assumption of domesticity can be its culminating point.

Or so it seems to me. The EFFII in Pune presented its least daring films first, attempting to assure its audience that nothing upsetting was going to happen, and then sprang its surprises toward the end. in Pune, WATERLILIES was the last film of the penultimate day. Anyone else, however, might come up with an different conclusion. Yet I saw only three and one-half of the festival’s twenty-four films from as many countries. Maybe only one was gay.

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

NAISSANCE DES PIEUVRES provides an adolescent girls’ locker room as a semi-domesticated space. Here, girls half a decade younger than the FAST GIRLS learn synchronized swimming and have more varied sexual experiences. The youngest, Marie (Pauline Acquart, resembling an adolescent Kalki Koechlin, one of Hindi cinemas most original actresses), as a sort of mascot, joins the team only because she is attracted to the more mature, straight-acting Floriane (Adele Haenel), while Anne (Louise Blachere) lusts after the male swimmer Francois (Warren Jacquin), who in turn lusts after Floriane. Their parents are never seen, and barely heard: almost the entire film exists in semi- or private places where pairings can almost always remain private. More shakily structured than the same director’s later TOM BOY (2011, on a ten-year old girl who masquerades as a boy), here eventually Florine has her hymen broken by Marie so that she will appear sexually experienced to Francois when he comes to spend the night with her, Yet Anne sleeps with Francois, who never breaks down Florine’s heterosexual inhibitions, and Marie receives her first, lesbian kiss from Florine. The second time Francois tries to sleep with Anne she spits in his mouth; Florine ends up gyrating by herself on a dance floor; Santiago Fouz-Herandez in “School Is Out: British ‘Coming Out’ Films in the 1990s” (in the above volume) claims “diving” is “a symbol of (homo) sexual liberation” and, fully-clothed, Marie and Anne dive into the swimming pool, inventing their own head-to-head synchronization. Here we have anti-gender stereotyping, for “Adolescence as a key moment in the development of one’s gender and sexual identity.” It may be “unrealistically positive,” but it is perhaps more true to life than FAST GIRLS. While there is no homosexuality in FAST GIRLS, there is homophobia in WATERLILIES. Young women can do just fine without men, it seems to say, in private spaces: young women can love themselves or each other in a locker room, abandoned building, dance floor or at home while their parents are away.

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

McKay's '4* TapHouse w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

/<+ ;9/) <+8? .;89*'?! 5)'2 8:/9:9 '4* +2:/) ;9/) /4* ;9 54:

++89 54 '6... 58+ 53/4- 554! 5<+8 ++89 :5 ).559+ ,853! 5::2+* ++89 '4* #/4+ 5 5

/@@' â€¢ ;(9 â€¢ #/4-9 â€¢ 358+

McKay's TapHouse

'9: '62+ :8++: â€¢ +22/4-.'3 â€¢ -

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

TripMadam - Letting it all hang out Panhandler Bob

E B D O E T AT D P U

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

When I woke up this morning under the bridge behind Kyoto’s, I didn’t know I was going to spend the afternoon away from collecting cans and panhandling for spare change, to interview the musicians of TripMadam. The life of Bellingham’s homeless is not easy but nothing in that life prepared me for this. I first heard this band while trying to bum cigarettes (a term I take offense to) in front of Tubbs in Downtown Bellingham (by my favorite downtown alley, a category not in the Cascadia weekly’s best of ). I decided then and there that I would finally put my English degree from Western Washington University to work and write about this band. When a week later I ran into a guitarist busking by the horseshoe café by the name of T Slammer, his guitar licks sounded oddly familiar as did his vocals. Later over a brown bag shrouded bottle of whiskey he told me he had been the guitarist for the band I had heard in Tubbs, we spoke about my idea of writing a piece about them and he said he would talk to the band. Local rock band TripMadam has been playing since 2009, but only since November 2012 with their present line up. The band fronted by panty melting singer / Guitarist (Jared) J. Fox, who started the band originally with Ryan (the loveable Meerkat) Holland, who returned after a two year break, Bassist Mike (The Honey Badger) Honeycutt, a fairly recent addition and newest member guitarist and backup vocalist Taylor (T-Slammer) Galley, (who requests we don’t ask how he got his name) replaced Akon/ Aaron Kirby currently of Amish Warfare. They’re hard driving Seattle sound is tempered by there a strange combination of self-deprecating humor and professionalism. “We feed off the energy of the crowd at shows, and they feed off ours on stage. It creates a weird synergistic feedback loop,” says oddly philosophic Taylor (T-Slammer), something that his scruffy long hair and disheveled appearance does its best to mask. Who then launched into a surreal diatribe about Cambodian lady/boys, and freaking out about bras in salad bowls (apparently a problem that comes up often with him?). “We want to take this to the next level!” says front man J Fox. “We’re musicians, it is a calling. It isn’t like we got up and said we want to play music, it is something in us, and we need to do I, we don’t have a choice.” Jared lit a cigarette and leaned forward, “I played with Taylor in another project, Ryan was there in the beginning and Mikey was a happy accident,” he said blowing Mike a kiss. “If I swung that way man, that would have done it for me.” Mike winked back. “I feel like this is where I need to be, these guys are like my dysfunctional family.” “What dyslexic family?” Ryan Manically chimed in. “that’s weird.” “No, dysfunctional, Ryan.” “Oh that makes more sense…. Oh look shiny” Ryan then began playing with the dog near him.

“And that was Ryan,” Mike stated. “I think drummers have to have ADHD.” “What? Me?” Ryan said grinning, looking disturbingly like Quagmire from Family Guy. “Ryan likes shiny things,” said J Fox. “We like to call his condition ADOS which stands for attention deficit oh shiny, he has the attention span of a fruit fly when he isn’t on the drums. It is worse when he is nervous.” The rest of the interview followed along the same lines, with discussions of everything from the possible causes of the loss of the American honey bee populations, the ineptitude of Washington state politicians to develop any real policies for marijuana regulation, to waxing poetic about the inner politics of Bellingham’s’ vagrant community. They plan to be touring this fall, “because we couldn’t get our own reality TV show,” said J Fox. Something I feel is a true loss to the genre, due to the pain in my ribs from interview. Though I think they could only be aired on HBO, or one of the porn networks due to content. Their comedy behind the scenes is completely lost to the fans when they are on stage. The strange dysfunction somehow morphs into a carnival of sound and showmanship, which leaves the crowd panting and damp, with the sheen of post orgasmic sweat. Ryan’s ADHD, makes him a machine of a drummer with a stage personality that seems to be a cross between curious George and Animal from the Muppet Show that the moniker Meerkat seems to fit. Mike the introspective Bassist pounds out his bass lines with his ubiquitous lollipop in his mouth, almost in his own world, his boyish grin the only hint of the pure bliss he feels when on stage. T-Slammer tears up the chords with a mathematical precision that speaks to his classical musical upbringing, and strict self-discipline with all things musical (even if in no other part of his life). J Fox, who seems to be at home in most environments, truly shines on stage as if it is his true habitat. Singing with the soul of a fifties blues musician, but with a Seattle style gravel growl, and evangelical charisma. Their songs though very much their sound which has been said to be similar to Alice in Chains, with a pearl jam like resonance that bellies their Pacific Northwest upbringing. Ballads like Ashes (he wrote for a Indy movie score), and I know (that has a video on their web site) speak to the pain and hope where songs like Love and Bullet and Long Island State of Mind whip up the crowd into a pulsing mass of pumping fists and bouncing heads. I left the flophouse that the band uses in Ferndale as their base of operations, in the steady drizzly mist of April. As I walked through the streets on my way home, in an alcohol induced haze, I reminisced on the events of the past few hours. I relived the music, the stories, and the laughter, took another drag from a rolly I made from the bands butts and realized: my drinking problem had a band.

Community Events “Tribute to David Marshall Exhibit” Sculpture Northwest and the Sculptors’ Society of British Columbia is sponsoring an outdoor sculpture exhibit in Big Rock Garden Park in Bellingham, Washington. Big Rock Garden Park is the city sculpture garden set in 2-1/2 acres of rhododendrons, azaleas and Japanese Maples. It is beautiful any time of the year but is in full bloom at the time of the opening Thursday, May 9. Big Rock Garden Park has a 32 year history in Bellingham. The City of Bellingham purchased the property from the Drake family 20 years ago. After the city purchased the property a volunteer committee developed the annual sculpture exhibits. Sculpture Northwest, a non-profit organization of individuals committed to the promotion of outdoor sculpture, has received permission of the City of Bellingham Park and Recreation Department to develop a sculpture exhibit for the 2013 season. The 2013 exhibit is a “Tribute to David Marshall”, a Canadian sculptor who died in 2006. David lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was one of the founders of the sculpture exhibits at Big Rock Garden Park and an avid supporter of it as a venue for showing sculpture by Canadian artists. At least 10 of David’s Canadian colleagues are expected to submit works for the tribute exhibit. SEBASTIAN, the great Mexican sculptor with enameled steel works in 27 nations is participating with two works. He will speak at the opening ceremony on May 9. In years past he and David Marshall exchanged exhibits and visits between Mexico City and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In all 35 sculptures will be exhibited in the exhibit in addition to the 36 already in the permanent collection and we guarantee this will be an impressive art event. The Sculpture Northwest web site www.Sculpture Northwest.org feature the artists showing works in the “Tribute to David Marshall” sculpture exhibit.

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

For additional information contact: Al Zimmerman - Sculpture Northwest Public Relations Director - 360.733.1997 az@zimgroup.com

E B D O T ATE D P U

Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham, WA is proud to present comedian Paula Poundstone in concert Saturday, May 18th at 8pm. It’s impossible to attend a Paula Poundstone performance without marveling at her ability to interact spontaneously with audience members in conversations bound to garner riotous laughter. Armed with nothing but a stool, a microphone and a can of Diet Pepsi, Paula’s ability to create humor on the spot has become the stuff of legend. Little wonder people leave Paula’s shows debating whether the random people she talked to were “plants” – which, of course they never are, and complaining that their cheeks hurt from laughter. Paula continues to be the National Spokesperson for (ALTAFF), The Association of Library Trustees Advocates Friends & Foundations, a national network of enthusiastic library supporters who believe in the importance of libraries as the social and intellectual centers of communities and campuses. Paula is supporting libraries on a local level by partnering with promoters and the local Friends organization in cities where she performs. The local Friends group receives tickets for use in fundraising or promotions and Paula makes herself available for book signings of her book after the show. Says Poundstone: “It’s funny that we think of libraries as quiet demure places where we are shushed by dusty, bun-balancing, bespectacled women. The truth is libraries are raucous clubhouses for free speech, controversy and community. Librarians have stood up to the Patriot Act, sat down with noisy toddlers and reached out to illiterate adults. Libraries can never be shushed. If you haven’t been to your library lately, you’re over-due.” Poundstone's razor-sharp wit makes her a perfect fit as a regular panelist on NPR’s popular weekly news quiz show, “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me.” (2008 winner of the prestigious Peabody Award for broadcasting excellence) Her first book, "There’s Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say," (with foreword by Mary Tyler Moore) is out in paperback and also is now available on audio. (Highbridge) Paula is hard at work on her second tome for the same imprint. (Harmony Books, a division of Ran-

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

dom House) Paula’s commentaries have been heard on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and her blogs appear in the Huffington Post, and 23/6, as well as the NPR Opinion Page. Paula was recently inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame. Chief Archivist of the Hall said she was unanimously chosen for “Her wit, insights, intellect and fantastic capacity to improvise helped to set the bar for all artists in stand-up in the modern era. Simply put, No literate history of comedy could be told without Paula’s voice. She also was just named to a list of top Unconventional People to Follow on Twitter. Awards and distinctions: First woman to perform at the White House correspondent’s dinner; first woman to win a cable ACE for Best Standup Comedy Performance. Paula is also an Emmy and Ace Award winner for Best Program Interviewer. TV appearances include several standup comedy specials (HBO, and Bravo), her own show on HBO and ABC, and all the major talk shows. In 2010 Paula was invited to serve as judge in the humor category of this year's Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The Awards are the largest, longest running recognition and scholarship program for teenage artists & writers. Paula has been recognized as one of Comedy Central’s 100 greatest stand ups of all time! Poundstone also released her first comedy CD: I HEART JOKES: Paula Tells Them In Maine, 60 minutes of hilarious comedy recorded live at the sensational Stone Mountain Arts Center – because as Paula says, “It’s very hard to do it any other way.” GET A LAUGH with Paula’s newest comedy CD: I Heart Jokes – Paujla Tells Them In Boston available at www.cdbaby.com and Itunes Find Paula on Youtube, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and on her website http://www.paulapoundstone.com Showtime: 8:00PM / Tickets: $39 / Call: 360-734-6080 / Visit: www.mountbakertheatre.com Mount Baker Theatre is located at 104 North Commercial Street Bellingham, WA 98225

For The Love of Tarot

ThisWalder article is the beginning of a column which will deal with Tarot in Kevin

tion and a lot of intuition and an open mind and heart the Tarot can be a valuable friend. In the coming weeks we will explore the Tarot together. We will learn the differences and the similarities between decks. So grab your favorite Tarot deck and get ready for some fun, it doesnâ€™t have to be work, it can be the most entertaining and fulďŹ lling exercise you do. ÂŠ2013 Kevin Walder - All Rights Reserved - www.kevinwalder.com

E B D O E T AT D P McKay's U TapHouse

Kevin Walder is available for phone and email Tarot consultations and may be contacted by email at: kevin_walder@me.com. Please check Kevinâ€™s schedule at: http://kevinwalder.com/calendar

'4*

/<+ ;9/) <+8? .;89*'?! 5)'2 8:/9:9 '4* +2:/) ;9/) /4* ;9 54:

++89 54 '6... 58+ 53/4- 554! 5<+8 ++89 :5 ).559+ ,853! 5::2+* ++89 '4* #/4+ 5 5

/@@' â€˘ ;(9 â€˘ #/4-9 â€˘ 358+

McKay's TapHouse

'9: '62+ :8++: â€˘ +22/4-.'3 â€˘ -

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

all its aspects. We will talk about the many uses of a Tarot deck. We will discuss what Tarot is and what Tarot is not. We will demystify this tool without making it vulgar or common. Other common forms of divination currently in use include the Runes the I-Ching Ogham sticks, Tea Leaves, and Divining Rods. All have evolved over centuries of use into modern tools which are used today to access our inner wisdom and guidance from beyond. The Tarot is a form of divination known as Cartomancy, or the use of cards. A Tarot deck consists of 78 cards and this differentiates a Tarot deck from other Oracle decks which may contain any number of cards. The ďŹ rst Tarot decks appeared early in the 15th century in Italy. As the Renaissance began many cultural advances were being made. During this period of history most of society was still illiterate so symbolism and art were used to communicate and express ideas. A Tarot deck would deďŹ nitely have been a luxury which could only have been available to the nobility or the rising merchant class. One aspect that I always enjoy remembering when reading the Tarot is that at this point in history most of the world was an agrarian society. People understood life and time in a very different way than we do today. People in that period of time did not live by deadlines and with a concept of linear time, they dealt with cyclical time advancing from planting season to harvest to winter to planting season to harvest and so forth. When I ďŹ rst began to explore the Tarot I was advised to ďŹ nd a deck that resonated with me, a deck whose artwork spoke to me and upon purchasing it to pull out the little white book inside toss it in the garbage and never look at it again. Fortunately I did not do that or I would probably have never advanced beyond the total frustration I felt for the ďŹ rst week or two of owning a Tarot deck. If the thought of memorizing 156 meanings for every deck you own turns you off then having a simple system will help. When I approach the Tarot I am seeking guidance and answers that are available to my higher self but not yet in a form I might consciously comprehend. I am more interested in being open to the story that is being told by the cards than I am in forcing a particular meaning on the cards themselves. The joy of reading the Tarot is that moment when the layers are peeled away and allow us to glimpse the answers that lie beneath. It is my hope that with some basic informa-

A Gay Ole Time

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

Marcymark

Yes June is here and it’s time to enjoy as much sun as our schedule and weather allows us. We should all get out there and have a gay ole time. Ooo….. Did I miss use the meaning of the word gay? Isn’t that what the word means? Lets go have a gay time! Well depending on what century we are in. The word was created to mean happy, carefree, Bright and showy. Gay today has a whole different meaning. I remember watching the Flintstones and listening to the title intro song telling me that I was “going to have a gay old time”. I can tell you right now that seeing Fred and Barney getting together in bed never went through my mind. Or how about in Britain “The Times” newspaper saying that the Beatles new LP “Sergeant peppers lonely hearts club band” was gay. No matter where the word came from we all know what it means to us today. S.S.A. (Same Sex Attraction) Personally I’d like to see this word go back to it’s original meaning (happy & carefree) and keep its new meaning (SSA). Gay: To be happy, carefree, free to love whom ever you chose regardless of gender. -----Lesbians Though the word “Gay” reflects both genders it is considered more toward the male gender. Thus we dub the term “Lesbians”. Lesbians: Females attracted to other females. But do you know where this word came from? It was derived from the Greek island of Lesbo’s where women where sent for “Cultural edification” under the watch of a poet named Sappho. Sappho’s poetry states her attraction towards the women. Though I could not find evidence of the lack of men on this Greek island of Lesbo’s I’m going to guess there wasn’t any. Well heck. If you’re going to be on an island for cultural edification I’d be doing some exploring too. I feel these labeling words we use are necessary for understanding one another but I hope the importance that we have for them today diminishes to a point where they are nothing more than extra conversational topics. Heck look at me comin up calling myself a “Hybrid”. I feel I’m more than a cross dresser but I’m not a transsexual either so I came up with my own term “Hybrid” but do you know where this word came from? Most people might think “car” for half electric and half gas but the word is actually a Latin term for half pig and half boar. O.K. so I’m using it for half man and half woman. Gimme a break. All this labeling brings me to a story I’d like to share with you. -----Redneck A friend of mine came up to me and told me a funny story. He just got off the phone with his wife saying his daughter just got home from school and asking about her nationality. Mom: “ You have German in you from me and you have some Cherokee Indian also.” Daughter: “ Aren’t I part redneck?” Mom: “where did you hear that?” Daughter: “ some one told me dad was redneck.” Mom: ”Do you know what a redneck is?” Daughter: “ ya its some one who talks funny and does funny things.” My friend and I both laughed about the conversation including my friend

which made me realize he was cool with being a redneck, or at least he didn’t show he was embarrassed. I got to thinking about redneck and it’s true background. Yes the sunburn on the back of the neck forms the name due to long extensive hard work out in the fields. Did you hear that? Long hard worker. That’s a trademark we should all remember for a redneck. We all have our strength and weaknesses. A redneck is no different. O.k. so there referred to not being the sharpest tool in the shed. And yes the majority probably does have a southern drawl to their speech but I’ll let you in on a secret. Some of the best marksman are rednecks. A handy man. They are usually second to none. And you don’t want to get into a fight with a redneck. For some , that skill is second nature. And they don’t give up. Just like Rednecks we all have our strength and weaknesses. Their expertise is what really should be noticed or at least mentioned. Oh and yes, I personally have witnessed the kindness of hearts from rednecks. So the next time you come across some one who appears to be part or all redneck. Remember, they have their strengths too. If you don’t believe me ask the redneck pro’s themselves. Kid Rock, Larry bird, Dale Earnhardt. I’m not redneck but I wouldn’t mind haven a little bit in me for some of the cool skills they have. Gay, lesbian, straight, tran, redneck, black, white, short, tall, smart, not so smart, does it really matter? Variety is the spice of life. How about we just enjoy life and our differences together. As my son put it: “we are all ice cream. There are so many different flavors to chose from but we are all still ice cream.

The Comics!

Lara Beth Carter

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

GLBT Organizations in Whatcom and Skagit Counties ISCEE The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Evergreen Empire is affiliated with the International Court System and has been actively raising money for charity for over 30 years by sponsoring drag shows and pageants. The group is open to all regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, seeking to provide social activities and community service opportunities for gays, lesbians, and their friends and allies in Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan Counties. Leather, Levi & Bear Social Monthly gathering of men who like Leather, Kink, and Unabashed Masculinity. Second Saturday of the month, Rumors Cabaret, 7:30 to 10:30. Info 360.380.6409 www.theslowlane.com This website includes a gay resource guide for Bellingham located at www. theslowlane.com/guide.html.

Triskeli Guild The Triskeli Guild is Bellingham’s BDSM group that promotes community and education for safe, sane and consensual play. They encourage participation by all sexual preferences, race and age 18 and up people. www.triskeli.org Queries—triskeli@ triskeli.org Evergreen AIDS Foundation Evergreen AIDS Foundation provides support services for people living with

Washington Gender Alliance A support and educational organization for anyone dealing with issues of gender identity or expression, and the people in our lives. We have weekly Open Support meetings in Bellingham and Everett. For more information, please write to us at info@WashingtonGenderAlliance.com or call 360-445-2411, or visit our web site at www.WashingtonGenderAlliance.com. Sean Humphrey House A housing unit for people who need assistance living with HIV/AIDS in Bellingham. For more information call 360-733-9357 PFLAG of Skagit County Support meetings for Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people and GLBT individuals are held at Central United Methodist Church, 1013 Polte Rd, Sedro-Woolley on the second Monday of every month at 7 PM. For directions and information all 360-856-4676 and for additional information and events check online at www.pflagskagit.org. Bellingham Radical Faeries Community of queerfolk interested in lifestyles celebrating queer sexuality, spirituality and sustainability of the natural world. 18+ recommended. Meets every Saturday at Noon at Trapeze in the Bellingham Market on Cornwall h t t p : / / g r o u p s . y a h o o. c o m / g r o u p / BellinghamRadicalFaeries/ Cascade Rainbow Community Cntr is a community of LBGQT people that enjoy each other’s company. We gather every Friday @ 6:30 PM for community, sharing of food, conversation, ideas, and current events. Each Friday is either game or movie night. The group has a lending library, Pride participation, and educational support. We are located at The Center for Spiritual Living @ 1508

N 18th St., Mount Vernon, WA. For information call (360) 840-8499 and for additional information checkout and subscribe to our Facebook Page. Whatcom County PFLAG Whatcom County Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays meets the 2ND Thursday of each month, 7pm at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham. For more information and events visit www. whatcompflag.com WCC’s Queer Straight Alliance is committed to supporting the GLBT community by promoting awareness of queer issues and entertaining and educating students and staff of WCC. We can be reached at wccqsa@gmail. com. Whatcom County KINK is a group to help organize events, munches, help if you have items to sell, or just a way for people to get to know each other. Meetings are the 1st Tuesday of the month at Rumor’s Cabaret. Happy Spankings! WWU LGBTA The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance at Western Washington University is a student organization which supports lesbians, gays, bisexuals, people who identify as transgender, and their allies; in the various stages of their coming out process, in the creation and affirmation of positive self identities, and in the promotion and defense of their human and civil rights. The LGBTA is located on Western’s Campus in Viking Union 515 and is open from the first day of Fall quarter until the last day of Spring

quarter. For information call 360-6506120. Mount Baker Planned Parenthood Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood proudly demonstrates its commitment to the LGBTQ community in all of our educational and service areas, by partnering with LGBTQ service organizations and through sponsorship and participation in Bellingham Pride. Our goal is to ensure that every individual has the information, services, and freedom to make healthy, responsible decisions about sex, sexuality, and parenthood. We offer comprehensive reproductive care, affordable STD testing and treatment and annual exams. Sliding scale available. Make an appointment on-line! http://www.mbpp.org Bellingham Clinic: (360)734-9095 Mount Vernon Clinic: (360)848-1744

Support Education Healing Advocacy counseling Safety planning Legal assistance Support groups Trainings and Workshops 24-hour helpline: 360.715.1563/877.715.1563 Talk to us in-person: 1407 Commercial St. Bellingham, WA

The Betty Pages Copyright Notice While The Betty Pages and/or its contributors generally reserve all rights and privileges of copyright, several parts of this publication are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. For more information and permissions, contact The Betty Pages at thebettypages@gmail.com or send a letter to The Betty Pages, c/o Desire Enterprises, PO Box 2724, Bellingham, Washington, 98227-2724, USA.

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

4th Corner Poly Polyamory is the practice or acceptance of having more than one loving, honest relationship at a time. We’re a friendly, welcoming group for people involved in or curious about polyamorous relationships. Our group consists of and welcomes diverse sexual and gender identities . This is a family, kid-friendly get-together for sharing experiences and desires—not a dating or swing scene. we meet every 4th Thursday evening at alternating locations. For more information: http://groups. yahoo.com/group/4thcornerpoly

HIV and AIDS who reside in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Snohomish counties. Bellingham: 115 Unity St. 360-671-0703, Everett: 2709 Wetmore Ave. 425-740-3000

Throw Back

MONDAY Karaoke

4 Jim Beam $ 2.75 Micros $

TUESDAY

9-11 $ 1 Wells 2.25 $

PBR

11-CL

Pitchers

1 HighLife

WEDNESDAY

1.25 PBR Pints $ 3.75 FireBall $

2 wells 9 - 11

DJ Postal

THURSDAY 80’s & 90’s $

1 Wells $ 2.25 Rainier 11-1 $ 2 Wells

9-11

Pitchers

FRIDAY

9-12 3 Long Island $

Short-wave &

Postal

SATURDAY DJ Mike

Tolleson