Category: Ecstasis

by jad

New Year’s Eve, 2019

You’re probably sick of my rituals by now, but decades don’t come by every day, and there’s something satisfying about symmetry—it’s almost 2020, and just like in 2010, I’m standing at the threshold of something that feels new and energizing. I’m excited to step into this confluence, but I want to do so with a lot more intention & mindfulness than I ever have before. I’m not usually one for New Year’s Resolutions, but I have some in mind this year. I have goals, but more importantly, I seek an orientation. I want to “face up” to this future; à … Continue reading “New Year’s Eve, 2019” →

by jad

November in the October Revolution

I’d been fighting back tears all October long, and had managed, quite successfully, to keep the tempests in their tiny bottles despite the highs and lows of this eventful month. Then some footage of a young man from Sidon emerged. This man is a metalhead, from what I could glimpse of his t-shirt in the aggressively framed video; the cinematography directs your eyes elsewhere—to his bloodstained teeth, to the fear in his eyes. “I didn’t mean it,” they have him say. Once more, with feeling. And the bottles fell off their shelves. And here they are, still falling—for this young … Continue reading “November in the October Revolution” →

by jad

#LebanonProtests in Seattle, Part 2

Seattle stands with the #LebanonProtests for the second Sunday in a row. Back home, a human chain was formed earlier today connecting cities across Lebanon’s coast in a show of unity, as the fissures begin to manifest on day 11 of the revolt. Pro-President friends and family have started to speak out after days of silence; moods swings in people once exuberant and supportive are more noticeable—maybe due to the daily inconveniences to ordinary lives, maybe thanks to pro-government agitprop, I don’t know. Tempers are flaring on the other side as well; the vanguards are in tension, with some raising … Continue reading “#LebanonProtests in Seattle, Part 2” →

by jad

Reflections on Bus Map Project in the October Revolution

Bus Map Project emerged just before the last wave of protests in 2015, and part of its DNA was a desire to see “less talk, more action.” We were tired of hearing the question: “where is the state?” At first, this alienated some of our potential allies. What we wanted was to see more people stepping into their rightful place as “the people.” At the end of the day, we are “the state,” because: 1) people are its source of legitimacy, 2) and people are what make it all function, through everyday “doing.” It’s so heartening to see the current … Continue reading “Reflections on Bus Map Project in the October Revolution” →

by jad

#LilWatan in Seattle

Today I visited Kurt Cobain’s memorial bench, in a park by his old house, to break the late morning quiet with a song in support of @mashrouleila & @_lilwatan. The experience was a lot sweeter than I expected; I saw two other “pilgrims” paying their respects, and the neighbors seemed totally fine with a bunch of sentimental weirdos milling around the area. Yeah, I wore flannel. I walked up to what I figured was number 171, and saw a hummingbird hovering by the gate, looking straight at me. I want to think that it was Kurt’s spirit saying “hey.” After … Continue reading “#LilWatan in Seattle” →

by jad

Riders’ Rights: Registered!

In July of 2015, @farajchadi and I started something in Lebanon that we called @BusMapProject. We wanted to ask a simple question: “Do you know that there are buses in this country?” For four years, we came up with new ways of asking that same question; making friends, building alliances, pushing forward, falling behind—but always, always supported by so many companions along the way. We’ve finally managed to register our NGO in the National Gazette, after several attempts. This means that we can finally build a sustainable platform for our rider-led transit advocacy. We almost stopped believing that this would … Continue reading “Riders’ Rights: Registered!” →

by jad

Neighborhood Exegesis: Little Saigon/Atlantic, Seattle

I did a quick “walkabout” yesterday, around the peripheries of Little Saigon and Atlantic, down to the edge of Hiawatha Place and back to St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish on S. King St, as part of our parish visioning process this year. I took dozens and dozens of photos, and soaked in the sights, sounds, smells and sensations along the way. I turned corners for the first time; I felt my body tense up and relax as it passed through jarring disparities—my sense of walking in the midst of colliding pressure systems heightened by the gathering storm clouds overheard. I saw … Continue reading “Neighborhood Exegesis: Little Saigon/Atlantic, Seattle” →

by jad

‘Ethics of Coffee’ Event, July 25

Coffee is the quintessential “thing” that even dictionaries will reach for when thinking of a definition of “commodity.” From farming, to sourcing, to trading, to roasting—coffee makes the very idea of a supply-chain more concrete for the discerning consumer. It’s also just damn delicious ☕️ That’s why I’m excited to be co-organizing ‘Ethics of Coffee,’ a @ypinseattle event at @lamarzocco.usa in Ballard, on July 25. We’ll taste yummy roasts in an intimate setting while delving into the ethics of coffee production, from bean to barista. Featuring: @atlas_coffee, @boonboonacoffee, @olympiacoffee, @ondaorigins, @seattlecoffeeworks, @zokacoffee and @coffeeatlarge, who will help us think about … Continue reading “‘Ethics of Coffee’ Event, July 25” →

by jad

‘We Won’t Build It’

“We won’t build it.” A statement from Amazon workers in solidarity with #NoTechForICE, read out in front of Amazon HQ in Seattle. Yes, “in the belly of the beast,” as Katie Wilson of the Seattle Transit Riders Union put it, and yes, on #PrimeDay. This was before the delegation attempted to deliver a petition signed by over 200K to @AmazonWebServices’ CEO. They said no… Support migrant justice. Support local businesses. Join the #PrimeDayStrike.

by jad

Say Hi to Riley!

This adorable ball of fluff is Riley, our rambunctious little rescue from the @seattleanimalshelter. Someone found this kitten in the jaws of a coyote (!) somewhere in North Seattle; thank goodness, that blasted rascal dropped her and scurried away.. 😾 I’m a sucker for stories like that, but I was already in love with her long before I even heard about her heroic escape. She’s been with us for a couple of days now, and her sweet and spunky personality is really showing. Our much older kitty likes her too! It’s incredible how quickly they’ve adapted to each other… So … Continue reading “Say Hi to Riley!” →