Friday, October 30, 2020

The Dogs of the Goddess: El Negro Matapacos

 


Today a post about another of the Goddess's dogs, El Negro Matapacos, which translates as The Black Cop Killer.

A black Chilean stray dog has again become a talking point as protests across the United States continue over the death of a black man in police custody. El Negro Matapacos, the black Chilean dog, has lately become a symbol of protests who, in 2011, started showing up at demonstrations in Chile and turned aggressive against police.

 

On November 26, Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Chile's national police of committing serious human rights violations including the use of excessive force on the people in the streets and abuses in detention. The face of the Chilean dog which had fought valiantly against the police in the past was spray-painted onto the side of buildings and printed on t-shirts during the protests. The heroic protest has again become relevant as Black Lives Matter matter got rejuvenated after the custodial death of George Floyd and protests flared across the United States. Source

I am already in love with this dog, but then I'm a tart.

A black Chilean dog wearing a red bandana made his mark during the New York City subway protests beginning in November 2019.

The protests were ignited by videos documenting police assaults on black and brown youth in the subways. For example, in one, an officer punches a 15-year-old unarmed African American teenager in the face.

Stickers bearing the dog’s image jumping a turnstile appeared on subway walls and trains. They also surfaced in social media illustrations announcing his arrival in New York City.

 Negro Matapacos – a name the dog received as he attained notoriety – literally translates to “Black Cop Killer.” In Latin America, it is not uncommon to use an animal’s color as their name. “Matapacos” has a specific local meaning, referencing the infamous brutality of the Chilean police. Negro Matapacos never killed anyone, but snarled, lunged and barked when the police threatened and assaulted the protesters.

Going international
Negro Matapacos died of natural causes in 2017, surrounded by caregivers. However, he continues to represent indignation against oppression.

In October 2019, massive protests erupted in Chile, sparked by a 4% subway fare increase. The demonstrators want socioeconomic equality and free education and health care. They oppose the right-wing president, Sebastián Piñera.

Negro Matapacos’ image has appeared throughout the protests, gracing banners, posters, decals, murals and papier mâché and metal sculptures.

The Chilean demonstrators’ hashtag, #EvasiónMassiva, references subway fare evasion. Stickers appearing in New York City depict a smiling Negro Matapacos jumping a turnstile atop the word “evade.”

 In a documentary about him, sociologist Jaime Rodriguez observed that the Chilean demonstrations beginning in 2011 responded to the absence of a social safety net. Chile’s free-roaming dogs epitomize exposure to harm: “There is nothing more precarious than a dog in the street,” Rodriguez said.

One student protester speculated to director Víctor Ramírez about why dogs like Negro Matapacos joined the students. He speaks to the shared vulnerability of free-roaming dogs and students to institutional violence. Source

 Not only is this environment of oppression and conflict the exact sort of environment which grows witches, but El Negro showed great discernment in only attacking police. He has even achieved the ultimate witchy thing of becoming semi-divine, or at least a folk Saint:






Sunday, October 4, 2020

Turds: Peter's Pence

 Recently a cardinal has been given the heave for a dodgy property deal misusing funds given by the credulous faithful through the Peter's Pence collection. With incredible arrogance the collection is taking place again this weekend.


Of course I could have decided to do a turds post about the orange weirdo having the hoax virus but the replies to that tweet are too good to pass up. So much is coming home to roost this year so enjoy these comments from faithful Catholics!



















Thursday, September 17, 2020

A Rare Political Post

 You will know that I rarely get involved in politics. My own are firmly anarchist, and my concern is usually the higher planes. That said there is a saying that Witches Meddle and so I will post some memes to remind readers from the US to do the Right Thing.




Saturday, September 5, 2020

Spirit of Place: the Lord Mayor of Birmingham opens Joe Lycett's Kitchen


In the words of Joe himself:
Today is one of the greatest days in the history of the City of Birmingham. It is officially one year since the opening of my kitchen extension, The Mosquito Wing, by The Lord Mayor of Birmingham.
In March 2019 I emailed the office of The Lord Mayor Yvonne Mosquito asking if she would open my kitchen extension. Her people said no because it is a private event and she doesn’t do private events. And also presumably because it’s a kitchen extension. 
Furious, I suggested that perhaps I could make it a public event, raffle off tickets for members of the public to join, and give the proceeds to the Lord Mayor’s charity. She agreed and the event was set. Thousands of people applied to win just four tickets. 
Then a year to the day the Lord Mayor came and opened my kitchen. She cut a ribbon, made a speech, unveiled the plaque and stayed for drinks and canapés. 
Many local and international celebrities attended, BBC Radio 1 were the official broadcast partner and local BBC News did the weather live from the kitchen. We raised £3000 and later that year I presented a massive cheque to the Mayor outside the town hall.
Thank you for reading and may I wish you a very Happy Mosquito Wing Day.

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Comments on my May is Masturbation Month Post


Some kind soul, well no, tell a lie, some bot has left some comments on my post about Masturbation Month. They are so funny that I will repost them without the links:

Your clothes would look nice on my bedroom floor. 

Is sex dirty? Only when it’s being done right. Click here and check me out.

Shut up and kiss me. 

These comments have made me laugh so much that in a good mood I am doing a giveaway. I don't show my face on this blog (although I am out as a witch at work) mainly because I do use this blog to pour out some angst, but anyone who leaves a comment with their email address will get a non-nude pin up of me.

Come on, queue in an orderly fashion!

What a Month


I have had...

I honestly don't go around looking for trouble, but it seems to find me. There is a pattern whenever this happens, that allies also come out of the woodwork at the same time. Obviously I'm a very convincing psychopath.

I have sold my mother's house to someone who is (to quote the estate agent) 'exactly the kind of buyer you want, he is honorable and doesn't go back on his word'. I don't think estate agents often tell their customers about offers in those words, and I can tell when witchy values are in the air.

Work continues to be interesting. I like the team I am in, and the grievance I put in some time ago, which has been on hold because of coronavirus, is going to be heard in September.

I have since then whistle blown about something. I seem genuinely to have reached the point where I am so done with shit. I heartily concur with this quote.