Starting Your Dreams Later In Life and Embracing the Detour

Jenee Darden speaking at Creative Mornings I know it's been a while since I've posted anything but that's because of my job. I'm working as a reporter covering Oakland and I host an arts segment on the radio where I get to interview amazing artists from around the Bay Area. Plus I'm publicizing my book  and building my speaking career!  You know what's funny? I thought this would all happen by the time I was 27-30.  Nope. That wasn't God's plan for me. I'm finally beginning to do the things I've wanted to do and I'm almost 40 years old. Some people reading this who are 40 will say 40 is still young. But some younger people reading may think 40 is nearly ancient. But I'm writing this post for those who like me, thought their career and personal dreams would come true much early in life. I'm here to tell you not to give up.  You know, death inspires life. A number of my relatives and friends have passed away, ranging in

Have Sex, Save the Planet

I know you're looking at the picture to the left and thinking "what in the world?"

I was looking for something to watch on TV the other night. Ya'll know the economy is hurting a sista so I went On Demand to the FREE MOVIES section. Can't go wrong with Sundance flicks, right? I scrolled through the titles stopping at Green Porno. I had to watch. Actress Isabella Rossellini stars in this series of one-minute films where she explains and acts out animals mating. In the first season of Green Porno, Rossellini portrayed insects--snail, spider, worm, mantis, ets. The movie shorts are funny, interesting, creative and a bit erotic. What makes it really interesting is that Rossellini plays the male creature and her acting is good. Green Porno premiered on Sundancechannel.com last year and the second season just began a few days ago. In the second season she explores how underwater animals get their freak on. You can watch both seasons on Sundancechannel.com. I know it sounds crazy but you really do a learn a lot from this series, which is what Rosellini told the Washington Post was her goal.

"My hope is that people laugh watching my film and then say, 'Hmm, I didn't know that about a fly or an earthworm," she said.

I learned that snails have both a penis and vagina. Female bees do all of the work and male bees chill around the hive until they find a female to impregnate. And did you know a whale's erection can grow as long as 6 ft?

Rosselinni may be in acting in Green Porno, but there are some people who are actually doing green pornography. A few years ago the San Francisco Chronicle ran a story on a couple in Norway, Leona Johansson and Tommy Hol Ellingsen. They started a sex site called F--k for Forest or FFF. The videos and photos are of people from around the globe doing it (some in trees). This is not just about getting turned on. The images come with information on environmental issues such as loss of vegetation in rain forests. Viewers donate money and get access to eco-friendly porn. The money goes to orgs helping to protect the planet. The website says what they're doing is "sexual activism." Here's the kicker, the Norwegian government gave the couple money to launch the site because Tommy and Leona said they were starting an "alternative environmental organization." Here's another kicker, at the time of the article, Tommy and Leona's site raised over $100,000 but they've have had a hard time giving the money away. Environmental agencies aren't feeling they're freaky nature.




After literally learning about the birds and the bees, it was time to get schooled about my own species. I stumbled onto the Discovery Channel and watched a documentary called "The Science of Sex Appeal." You can watch clips from the documentary on Discovery.com. The scientists broke down what happens in our brain when we are attracted to someone and in love. And I learned women are more appealing to men when ovulating. They also did experiments with various faces and people had to choose which faces were more attractive based on how feminine and masculine they looked. The producers interviewed couples of different races about what attracted them to their mates. I wanted to see people of other races in the actual experiments. Especially in the study where scientists concluded men are naturally attracted to a certain hip to waist ratio on a woman's body. From what I saw, the men they polled were white. They should've included Black and Latino male subjects. I know many of my Black and brown brothas like their love handles a little wider than "the norm."

There's nothing like discussing snail sex and getting freaky in the evergreens. What a way to start the week. Happy Monday!

Photo Credits:
1. Sundance.com
2.SF Chronicle
3. Discovery Store

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