It's raining, which normally I would like except Mom and I were planning on riding our bikes tonight. Ah, well.

Today this adorable, old British man came to my work. The office is closed to the public, but I heard him knocking on the door, so I let him in and asked, can I help you? He said something like, "I hope you can. I was wondering if there's anything left of (name of famous short story author from my town), here, about his life."

I recognized the name of the author, but I doubt many people around here know who he is. His family actually started the place where I work, I believe. We read some of his short stories in high school, and I think one of his homes is still standing.

Anyway, I told the man how to walk to the library, because that would prob. be the most helpful place for him to go.

So off he went, and I was left wondering if the library was any help! It was near the time I got off from work, so I finished up and went to the library to see if he was still there, ha. He was - he was sitting at a desk with one of the librarians, and they were pouring over several books, looking stuff up. I don't think these books are normally on the shelves. Anyway, I asked, so they were able to help you? And he was happy and said they were getting along fine, or something to that effect.

Anyway. I guess that was a rather pointless retelling, but I was curious to find if he was able to find information on the author! It would have bothered me. So often we don't find out the results of things.

Yesterday I bought a print of "Girl at Mirror" by Normal Rockwell (see here).

Blank stares at blank pages.

(Copying some older entries from my Xanga account. This one is from March...)

The bad news.

I've been without power for four days! Stupid ice storm.

The good news.

it's back - and I finally get to use the fast Internet that we had installed!

Yes, fast, cable Internet is now in the boonies!

Yes, finally the phone line is free and two people can be on the Internet at once!

Except someone is still constantly whining about it slowing his down. Whine, whine, whine.

Whoah.

I finally understand what the heck people mean when they say someone is their so-and-so cousin, once removed.

I've been calling people my second cousin when I meant my first cousin, once removed.

I don't know who is considered my second cousin, though.

The site that made me understand!

Rocky Mountain climbing.

I want to go skydiving.

"If you're really such a celebrity then where's your posse? Where's your hybrid? Where's your inappropriately named baby?" - Marc, Ugly Betty

My brother has finally applied for a job! Fingers crossed! Seriously, seriously, fingers crossed.

Xanga annoys me because it couldn't find the artist I'm listening to in its little database, so I can't put anything in the "currently listening" to section, because Xanga doesn't think they exist. Well, they do. Because I am listening to them right now.

Ashtar Command - "Blister of the Spotlight"

Wino.

Okay. I loved this week's episode of Ugly Betty so much that I had to watch it twice. I <3 Betty and Gio. Lots of tingly moments. I like Betty with Gio because she has fun with him; with Henry it's just too stressful. Plus, he's so uptight.

Mom says I need a "Gio." Ha. I am rather like Betty, though.

Today, the parents and I visited several wineries. First, we went to Debonne Vineyards, where a model airplane show was going on. We didn't sample there, but we bought a bottle of 2005 vintage Pinot Gris. Debonne has a line of bottles that feature artwork celebrating various neighborhoods in Cleveland, like University Circle, Warehouse District and Tremont. We bought the one with the East 4th Street label, but only because that one was on sale!

Debonne holds a hot air balloon festival June 6-7, so we'll be going to that.

Our next stop was Virant Family Winery in Harpersfield Township. This winery is now my favorite winery. We sampled six wines here and had an appetizer.

Their wine, White Silk? Amazing. It smells like you've stepped out into a vineyard, and it tastes just like you're eating green grapes off of the vine. I had a bottle of that wine already at home, so I bought Blazzin' Blackberry (which you can only buy at the winery or online) and a bottle of Chiffon.

At every other winery, there's usually at least one wine where that first sip makes you pull a face at the acid, where the first sip is rough. Especially red wines. But not at Virant. Every wine was pleasing to taste. I even liked - heck, loved, their Red Silk, and I don't normally like red wines.

But I also liked the relaxing, unpretentious atmosphere. It's a family-owned winery; well, that's not any different than the other wineries, but it's a lot smaller than the others in the area. I think the wine is better for it, because there's so much care that goes into each bottle. Their wine is made in more of the old-fashioned way.

The people also were nice. We chatted about the wines and Geneva, and it was a pleasant visit.

Completely unlike the horrible visit at the next winery, Harpersfield Winery.

I will never go back to this winery. Oh, don't get me wrong - the winery is beautiful inside. Huge fireplace to sit around, etc., etc. But the woman who greeted us was rude and pushy. She basically forced samples of wine on us. I felt uncomfortable. The wine wasn't that bad - it was made from a grape that not many other wineries use. My mom hated the wine, though. Just bad customer service.

Anyway, buy Ohio wines! Especially from Virant.

Since the bluegrass festival will not be held this year, I am definitely going to Vintage Ohio, which is August 1-2.

Free camera tripod!

Found out about a free camera tripod through freestuff over at livejournal.

From an entry there (it is friendslocked):

This deal is contingent on certain factors. You have to be a new Google Checkout customer and must live in the continental United States to qualify for budget shipping.

Buy.com is selling a KraftTech 60" Adjustable Camera Tripod w/ Nylon Carry Bag for $10. If you are a new Google Checkout customer and use that as your payment option you get $10 off. Then choose budget shipping (7-9 days) as your shipping option to get shipping for free.

What's the best '80s band of all time - or, at least, of that decade?

The Clash. Duh.

   

I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!

The other's shy and quiet.

I can't even remember why I started suddenly thinking of Sweet Valley High, of all things, but I found this awesome site that recaps (with quite a bit of snark) most of the Sweet Valley High books. There's also this site and this one.

Ahahaha. I love it. Love, love, love it.

I loved those books when I was younger. I loved Sweet Valley University more, but there's not many recaps of them on the site.

I was actually a bit frowny at some of the recaps...they're quite snarky, like I said. They pick on my poor Liz too much!

But then I dug out some of my Sweet Valley books and read a few pages...and, wow. They really were quite bad and melodramatic! I still love them, though. I was definitely not into The Babysitter's Club, by the way. Sweet Valley High owns them.

Honestly, though, they did deal with some heavy issues at times, when they weren't being ridiculously campy and soapy and promoting an unrealistic existence. Anorexia, suicide, attempted rape, death, uh, attempted murder times 1,000?

Really, I definitely would not encourage any daughter of mine to read them. They're is so much under-reaction to the violence and the many near date rapes. And the boyfriends are usually sexist jerks, I can see now.

I used to have almost all of the Sweet Valley High and University books (I bought them for $.25 in bin sales, never new). Then I gave most of them away to my first cousin, once removed (see last post at my joy of finally understanding what that means). Damn it! I only have 14 Sweet Valley High books left in my possession...no University :(, about one Sweet Valley Kids and a handful of Sweet Valley Twins.

I do have some classics, though. Two out of the werewolf arc. The first book that started it all: Double Love. And some from the Margot arc (awesome, awesome). I don't know why I gave some of my favorites away, though, like Dear Sister, where Elizabeth is in a coma! That was my all-time favorite. And Kidnapped!...in which Elizabeth is kidnapped.

I also loved the Little House on the Prairie Books, the American Girls series, the Phantom in the Tollbooth, and Sideway Stories from Wayside High!

But this post does have a point.

The Sweet Valley High books are being re-released with a "modern" look.

These modern changes include the Wakefield girls now being a "perfect size 4." In the old versions, they were a "perfect size 6."

This change bothers me. It's, like, why? What is the point of this change, except to give even more girls an eating disorder? I guess I should be glad they aren't a perfect size 0.

I mean, why do they have to make a mention of their size at all? And that "perfect size 6" was emphasized in every book, in every description of the twins. Just get rid of it, mmmkay? There's no need for it.

And remember the TV show? Yes. You can watch most of season four on ABC Family. Oh, it's so bad it's awesome.

Epic.

Blake Lewis, why couldn't you have had this level of awesomeness on your album?!?

WTF.

This video is the most bizarre thing I have ever watched in my life.

Crafty.

Okay, this site, Instructables, is awesome. We always say we want to make our own little crafts, and this site gives instructions - complete with pictures - for lots of little odd and fun do-it-yourself things, like wallets made of floppy disks and other random stuff. Coolness.

Jump.

"There's only so much you can learn in one place
The more that I wait, the more time that I waste

I haven't got much time to waste
It's time to make my way
I'm not afraid of what I'll face
But I'm afraid to stay
I'm going down my road and I can make it alone
I'll work and I'll fight 'till I find a place of my own

Are you ready to jump?
Get ready to jump
Don't ever look back oh baby
Yes, I'm ready to jump
Just take my hand
get ready to jump"

Whew (American Idol).

OMG.

Was that David Cook in the Risky Business-esque commercial for Guitar Hero?

I am dying for laughing. That commercial is one of the best. things. ever.

I need to watch it on You Tube now!

...They should have shown that last night...HOT.

EDIT: Way to ruin a good song, David Archuleta. Get off the effing stage with OneRepublic.

EDIT: I am so happy for you, David Cook! You so deserve it. Top Shelf kind of guy.

Yea for YouTube!

For years I've been trying to locate this movie I loved as a child in the '80s. It's been difficult to find it because the only thing I could remember about the movie was this:

"It was animated, the characters were animals, and I believe there was a cat who was a witch. The main animal could be transported by the wind, I think there was east wind and a west wind. I remember a scene in the beginning where there is either some sort of deer or unicorn lying in the forest, maybe. I think the main character meets some sort of hedgehog character on an island."

I was reminded of the movie again when Whitney at Pop Candy Blog (a v. cool site) posted a link to a collection of forgotten animated movies.

It wasn't on there, but I posted the above description in the comments.

It turns out that this movie is more popular than you might think, because someone posted this comment a few comments before mine: "My favorite animated and forgotten film that was not on the list: UNICO!!! That was one great movie."

After seeing my vague description, the person wrote: "@turtle: zomg! see my previous post! I think you're talking about UNICO!!! I <3 Unico. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unico"

And indeed we were thinking of the same movie! How random.

I had found it before that person's comment, though, because I searched YouTube for "witch cat." That was my exact search. And the first link that popped up? Unico - "Witch Cat Chao" (aka Katy), which is a scene from the movie!

I can't believe so many people loved this movie!

AND YOU CAN WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE!: Fantastic Adventures of Unico!

I am so excited.

Standing in the way of control.

Are you effing kidding me?

I have just been banned from making comments at AMERICAblog. Rarely have I ever been so flabbergasted.

I've read and followed AMERICAblog faithfully for years.

But, lately, the blog has gone downhill.

First, there was John - showing himself to be the ex-Republican he is - whining about poor little rich him, making $75,000 a year, not getting that upcoming tax rebate! Of course, he deleted that post after liberals every where blasted him for it.

And now there's his blatant bias toward Obama, as he twists and blasts everything Hillary says/does. I don't care if he likes Obama. I'm undecided with my vote. But it's the fact that he pretends to have no preference, that he's "reporting." Yeah, right. I know what reporting is, and you're not doing it. This headline from a post: "You all voted for Obama, but the Superdelegates put Hillary in the lead"? Completely untrue and misleading, as many of the headlines on AMERICAblog are recently. It's like I'm at Fox News.

And so people have called him on his inaccuracy lately, and he posted this truly hysterical post about how Hillary supporters are getting bent out of shape, whine, whine, whine, and he didn't create the fact that, bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. I mean, it's a complete hissy fit of a post. So I posted a harmless comment, really, that it looked like he was the one who was getting bent out of shape and couldn't handle criticism. And boom - the comment was deleted and I was banned! I guess I was right. And other comments are disappearing, too, every comment that doesn't kiss his ass and proclaim him always right.

It's disgusting. I will be glad when these stupid primaries are over, so Democrats can stop attacking each other. I'm truly disturbed at the incredibly sexist comments on a so-called liberal blog, too.

Time to find a new blog to read.

The Big Picture.

Corbis
An undated photograph of Hillary Rodham, center, during her days as a student at Wellesley College, from 1965 to 1969.

This Hillary I want to vote for as president. I don't know if she's still in there somewhere, though. Some of her comments in this article make me hopeful that she's waiting, though.

From Wikipedia:

College

In 1965, Rodham enrolled in Wellesley College, where she majored in political science. She served as president of the Wellesley Young Republicans organization during her freshman year. However, due to her evolving views regarding the American Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, she stepped down from that position;she characterized her own nature as that of "a mind conservative and a heart liberal."

In her junior year, Rodham was affected by the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., and became a supporter of the anti-war presidential nomination campaign of Democrat Eugene McCarthy. Rodham organized a two-day student strike and worked with Wellesley's black students for moderate changes, such as recruiting more black students and faculty.

In that same year she was elected president of the Wellesley College Government Association. She attended the "Wellesley in Washington" summer program at the urging of Professor Alan Schechter, who assigned Rodham to intern at the House Republican Conference so she could better understand her changing political views. Rodham was invited by Representative Charles Goodell, a moderate New York Republican, to help Governor Nelson Rockefeller’s late-entry campaign for the Republican nomination. Rodham attended the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami, where she decided to leave the Republican Party for good; she was upset over how Richard Nixon's campaign had portrayed Rockefeller and what Rodham perceived as the "veiled" racist messages of the convention.

Rodham returned to Wellesley, and wrote her senior thesis about the tactics of radical community organizer Saul Alinsky under Professor Schechter (which, years later while she was first lady, was suppressed at the request of the White House and became the subject of speculation as to its contents).

In 1969, Rodham graduated with departmental honors in political science. Stemming from the demands of some students, she became the first student in Wellesley College history to deliver their commencement address. According to reports by the Associated Press, her speech received a standing ovation lasting seven minutes.

She was featured in an article published in Life magazine, due to the response to a part of her speech that criticized Senator Edward Brooke, who had spoken before her at the commencement; she also appeared on Irv Kupcinet's nationally-syndicated television talk show as well as in Illinois and New England newspapers.

That summer, she worked her way across Alaska, washing dishes in Mount McKinley National Park and sliming salmon in a fish processing cannery in Valdez (which fired her and shut down overnight when she complained about unhealthy conditions).

By the by, HRC's thesis, "'There is only the Fight...': An Analysis of the Alinsky Model" can be read online, but you'll have to search for it yourself.

"I fly like paper, get high like planes."

Anyway, I couldn't explain why I'm pro-choice better than Jill at http://www.feministe.us, so read her entry instead: Why I’m Pro-Choice - Blogging for Choice Part 2.

And, for some levity, this artist is my new hero: Guerilla Artist Bombs Spanish Steps With Plastic Balls.

Excerpt:

Mad-hatter artist Graziano Cecchini has struck again. The public-art prankster who filled the Trevi Fountain in Rome with blood-red dye last October released 500,000 brightly colored plastic balls Wednesday from the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome.

The balls, similar to the ones you can jump into at a Chuck E. Cheese pizza parlor, "represented a lie told by a politician," Cecchini told the Italian press.

“Leave it all to me - I will do the right thing.”

"We forthwith acknowledge our awareness of the sensitive and emotional nature of the abortion controversy, of the vigorous opposing views, even among physicians, and of the deep and seemingly absolute convictions that the subject inspires. One's philosophy, one's experiences, one's exposure to the raw edges of human existence, one's religious training, one's attitudes toward life and and family and their values, and the moral standards one establishes and seeks to observe, are all likely to influence and to color one's thinking and conclusions about abortion. In addition, population growth, poverty, and racial overtones tend to complicate and not to simplify the problem."
--U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmum, Jane Roe, et. al. v. Henry Wade, District Attorney of Dallas County, Jan. 22, 1973

Today marks the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Roe v. Wade - that landmark case that legally granted women the right to have an abortion but failed to account for all of the restrictions that states have thrown up in the ensuing years. Restrictions that have made abortions technically legal yet still unavailable for many girls and women in the United States.

At the moment, I am reading Choice: True Stories of Birth, Contraception, Infertility, Adoption, Single Parenthood, and Abortion, edited by Karen E. Bender and Nina de Gramont.

I am only half way through, but already I can state without reservation that all women should read this book.

It's a collection of personal essays by a variety of women, and by the title, I'm sure you can tell that the stories are not just about choosing to have an abortion. The stories are about a wide range of choices - and non-choices - the authors have made, from abortion - legal and illegal, to adoption, to surrogacy, to choosing *not* to have an abortion, even when a physician recommends one, to fertility issues, etc., etc.

These essays...

While reading the first essay, "The Ballad of Bobby Jo" by Jacquelyn Mitchard, I was torn between sadness and anger.

Bobby Jo Arness chooses to act as a surrogate mother for Mitchard, and the decision leads to Arness’ divorce, her being ostracized from her town, and a judge allowing her to visit her own children only on every other weekend.

And why? Why such horrid treatment to such a selfless woman, who only wanted to help another family? Because people are ignorant. Because they’re afraid of things they don’t understand or are different. And if *this* is what happens to women who should be applauded for their decisions, who helped create a life and gave it to someone else, then heaven help the rest of us.

Sometimes, most of the time, I think this world is moving backward.

Remembering MLK, Jr.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.

Since I'm on vacation, I was going to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today, since it's a free admission day. But it's too cold and snowy, so I don't feel like driving all the way up there. Today will be a day spent reading, hopefully.

Norman Rockwell.

"The commonplaces of America are to me the richest subjects in art. Boys battling flies on vacant lots; little girls playing jacks on the front steps; old men plodding home at twilight-all thse things arouse feeling in me." - Norman Rockwell

Suddenly I am in love with Norman Rockwell's artwork.

That is all.

From the Deep.

Hello. I have not updated in quite a bit, if you hadn't noticed. Life changed unexpectedly, and I haven't had many moments to think.

I have a new job!

But who would have thought I would be here?

To reward myself, I bought myself a new MacBook, which I am typing on right now as I use the wireless Internet at a library. Lovely stuff. I'm updating my software, and there are a lot of updates...

I...obtained the new Kanye West album, Graduation, and I must admit I greatly prefer his two previous albums. There are some good songs on the new album, but mixed in are some truly horrendous songs, such as "Drunk and Hot Girls."

I'm close to getting a hold of the new Rilo Kiley album, Under the Blacklight, and I'm a bit nervous about it because, well, I've heard they've changed their sound significantly, in an effort to be more "mainstream," I presume, and that worries me. Rilo Kiley is my favorite band, and I prefer them just the way they are.

"How do you dream, when you can't fall asleep?"

My mom and I watched Becoming Jane in the movie theater today. All of my favorite authors in those times, Jane Austen, the Brontes, led such tragic lives. Of course, I'm sure most of this movie is speculation, but there were letters in Jane Austen's real life, leading me to think the basis of this movie isn't entirely radical, and she did die rather young, at least by our standards.

I hope no one ever makes a movie of the three Bronte sisters - that would be too depressing for words. All three of them die young, and within several years of each other (and their brother). Emily died shortly after she published Wuthering Heights. God, can you even imagine what else she could have written?

Anyway, the movie was good. Of course, I love those old England period pieces. I'm in the middle of watching the BBC's Persuasion miniseries from...geez, probably the '70s. I can't wait until the new adaptions air - sometime this year! I heart the BBC.

"How do you dream, when you can't fall asleep?"

My mom and I watched Becoming Jane in the movie theater today. All of my favorite authors in those times, Jane Austen, the Brontes, led such tragic lives. Of course, I'm sure most of this movie is speculation, but there were letters in Jane Austen's real life, leading me to think the basis of this movie isn't entirely radical, and she did die rather young, at least by our standards.

I hope no one ever makes a movie of the three Bronte sisters - that would be too depressing for words. All three of them die young, and within several years of each other (and their brother). Emily died shortly after she published Wuthering Heights. God, can you even imagine what else she could have written?

Anyway, the movie was good. Of course, I love those old England period pieces. I'm in the middle of watching the BBC's Persuasion miniseries from...geez, probably the '70s. I can't wait until the new adaptions air - sometime this year! I heart the BBC.

Like Christmas.

Ahahahaha.

I love it.

Michigan lost to a little I-AA team! At Ann Arbor! Oh, that is hilarious. Poor little Michigan, who was supposed to be better than The Ohio State this year, who was supposed to win the national championship. Hahaha. Their season is DONE. They might as well pack it up and not even play another game this season.

From Sept. 10 issue of ESPN the Magazine:

NFL 2007
14% believe the Browns have finally found a way to stop Jamal Lewis

Haha. Poor Browns.

A book.

I'm reading Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body by Courtney E. Martin, and I am incredibly disappointed. I'm not going to finish reading it, because I don't like having a scowl on my face the entire time I'm reading something. I was so looking forward to reading this book, but it's such a failure at what I assume the author was trying to accomplish. Here's this young woman, writing about eating disorders and the emphasis on women to be "perfect." I would think that I would come away from this book feeling as though beautiful women come in all shapes and sizes, but I don't. I would think that I wouldn't encounter sizest language and comments, but I do (however unconscious they may be). I can't imagine how this book would be helpful to anyone. Every women she mentions is divided into "thin" and "fat" - I wonder why there is no in-between, what her divisions are based on, and why can't a woman just be? She doesn't challenge what is considered beautiful or healthy, and when she makes some half-assed attempt, I don't believe her. There are much better books on weight issues out there that aren't written by someone who seems to want to make both "fat" and "thin" women feel ashamed and worthless.

Books Read, 2007 (#16 - 17)

# We Don't Need Another Wave: Dispatches from the Next Generation of Feminists by Melody Berger (Editor)
I love feminist books that are modern and have a collection of articles on a variety of topics written by different people, and this book is no exception. Having said that, though, I do have a minor quibble. A lot of the articles seemed v. "me me me" orientated, and there's nothing wrong with that, per se, but I (mostly) would rather read about more than just one person's experience in something. Like, I don't care how someone started her Web site or sticker-selling business.

...and His Lovely Wife: A Memoir from the Woman Beside the Man by Connie Schultz
I complained about this book a post ago, but it got better and I finished it. I prob. exaggerated, but there definitely is still quite the feeling of "oh, we love each other so much," blahblahblah, which, really, shouldn't we be happy that there is a happy marriage out there? She adores her husband. Lucky her.

Books Read, 2007 (#16 - 17)

# We Don't Need Another Wave: Dispatches from the Next Generation of Feminists by Melody Berger (Editor)
I love feminist books that are modern and have a collection of articles on a variety of topics written by different people, and this book is no exception. Having said that, though, I do have a minor quibble. A lot of the articles seemed v. "me me me" orientated, and there's nothing wrong with that, per se, but I (mostly) would rather read about more than just one person's experience in something. Like, I don't care how someone started her Web site or sticker-selling business.

...and His Lovely Wife: A Memoir from the Woman Beside the Man by Connie Schultz
I complained about this book a post ago, but it got better and I finished it. I prob. exaggerated, but there definitely is still quite the feeling of "oh, we love each other so much," blahblahblah, which, really, shouldn't we be happy that there is a happy marriage out there? She adores her husband. Lucky her.

Disappointing.

I've been reading ...and His Lovely Wife by Connie Schultz.

I adore her. I really do. But I don't know if I can finish this book! It's too much, oh, I love my husband, oh, our lives are just perfect, oh, he never does a wrong thing. Okay. She doesn't express it quite that way, but those are definitely impressions a reader gets. And it's unbearable, really.

I'll give it a few more chapters, but if it doesn't improve, I'm done.

P.S. This computer is so slow.

Zzz.

I started to write an entry about the winery tour I went on today (and all of the wonderful food, smothered in wine sauces...) but I am too tired. I will write this tidbit: never eat grapes that aren't ripe! I knew unripe grapes caused stomach aches, as it has happened to me before, but I couldn't help myself. I paid for it, though. Possibly it wasn't the grapes, though, as I have had stomach cramps for 24/7 for about two days now.

Well, I'm going to read some of ...And His Lovely Wife by Connie Schultz now.

"I walk on concrete / I walk on sand / But I can't find / A safe place to stand."

Linked from The Daily Telegraph:

Man cleared of sleepwalk sex with 15-year-old

August 08, 2007 01:00am

A BRITISH RAF mechanic who claimed he was sleepwalking when he had sex with a 15-year-old girl has been cleared of rape.

Senior Aircraftsman Kenneth Ecott, 26, wept after a jury took two hours to find he was not responsible for his actions.

Mr Ecott did not deny having sex with the girl, but said he had no memory of it happening.

Instead he insisted he had a condition known as sexsomnia in which sufferers carry out indecent acts in their sleep.

It was this affliction that made him climb naked on top of the girl at a friend's birthday party sleepover in Poole, Dorset, the Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

The girl screamed when she awoke.

Mr Ecott was said to have confessed to the girl's family and apologised for having sex with her.

But when he was arrested in his barracks at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, he told police he was prone to sleepwalking.

He claimed to have been in a state of automatism while with the girl, meaning he was not aware of his actions.

His girlfriend told the court that he had fondled her in bed while asleep.

I'm only posting this article because look at how often this shit happens. Also, this account is so incomplete. Was there a, I don't know, doctor who said there's even such a thing as "sexsomnia"?

And, okay, he's cleared of "rape," but what about the fact that the girl was underage? I believe the age of consent in the U.K. is still 16. But, wait, let's not forget about the judge who thinks it's okay to rape 10-year-old girls as long as they look 16. So just par the course for the legal system there, I reckon.

Heads up!

I think it's time to contact my representatives, yep.

From The New York Times:

Ohio Pushes Added Leave for Maternity

By BOB DRIEHAUS
Published: August 12, 2007

CINCINNATI, Aug. 11 — The Ohio Civil Rights Commission is pushing for a broad expansion of benefits for pregnant workers.

If its proposals are adopted, Ohio would join 18 states that require employers to offer maternity leaves that exceed those mandated by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. That law offers workers at businesses with 50 or more employees 12 weeks of unpaid leave for infant care.

Expectant mothers must have worked for a business for a year, or 1,250 hours, to be eligible.

The Ohio commission has proposed that businesses with four or more employees offer 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave to pregnant employees, regardless of how long they have worked for the businesses.

Workers not eligible under the federal law would need a doctor’s orders to qualify.

The commission is revising its proposal after business groups said the rules would hurt small businesses and the state’s economy. The revisions are expected to go next month to a State Senate and House committee that could approve the rules without further action by the Legislature.

Jeanine P. Donaldson, who this year became the first woman to lead the commission, said the law on maternity leave needed to ensure that more women were protected against discrimination.

Ms. Donaldson said she was willing to bend on the number of weeks of guaranteed leave but hoped to preserve the stipulation that length of service would not affect eligibility.

“I don’t think a woman can decide when to get pregnant,” Ms. Donaldson said. “To choose motherhood over livelihood, I don’t think that is what the legislators had in mind.”

Business groups say the expanded leave would damage the economy. “There’s really no reason to change the current law,” said Tony Fiore, director of labor and human resources policy for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

Requiring small businesses to hold open positions would be a hardship, he said, as would the immediate eligibility for new workers at large corporations.

Ty Pine, legislative director for the Ohio branch of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, said the market was doing a good job of establishing reasonable maternity leaves for workers and businesses.

“We would like to maintain the current practice of reasonable time off without mandating specifically,” Mr. Pine said.

Various musing.

The other day I encountered an information booth run by an anti-women’s rights group (they proclaimed themselves as "pro-life," or some other rot).

Shock of shocks, the only people sitting at the booth were four old, white men. I’m glad they’re on top of the whole making-my-decisions-for-me thing.

Ugh. I would love to start some sort of feminist group in this county, to counter this bullshit, but I have no idea what we would do. Also, while I firmly believe there would be women who would want to join, I think it would be hard to reach them and hard to inform them and get them to actually come to events/meetings. I wouldn’t want to run this group, but I want to be a member of it. I think we have a League of Women Voters, though. And Zonta, of course. But they aren’t really the same thing as a "feminist" group. It's really not such a bad idea; I could create a Web site and facebook group...

***

I had intended to register as an Independent in the next primary election, but, as usual when I try to make this decision, something stops me. I want to be part of a community! I want to attend events like Yearly Kos. I want to volunteer for someone’s campaign. But I can’t if I’m an Independent (well, I can, but..). There’s no sense of community if you’re an "Independent" - it’s inherent in the word. Yes, I am disappointed in the (majority) of the current crop of elected Democrats. But declaring myself as an "Independent" isn’t going to change anything (well, it is taking a stance, though, and declaring my frustration). The most prominent Democrat activists, such as the bloggers at AMERICAblog and DailyKos, are liberal. It’s just hard to elect someone who is as liberal or progressive as us, because most people - Democrats and Republicans - are moderate. They don’t like extremes. The conservatives are better at getting extremists elected. They know how to band together, how to motivate their base. So, for now, I think it’s more important to stick together. Maybe.
 
***

P.S. Who knew? Someone to aspire to: Eleanor Smeal.

Reprehensible.

From Daily Feminist News:

Air Force Woman Could Be Convicted in Her Own Rape

8/10/2007 - A woman airman in the US Air Force who was allegedly raped by three of her male counterparts is being charged with indecent acts, according to an AP report. If convicted, the woman could face a year in prison, a pay cut, a bad-conduct discharge, and would even be registered as a sex offender, the woman's defense lawyers told the AP.

Cassandra Hernandez, who was stationed with the Air Force in North Carolina, was allegedly assaulted six months ago while in another airman's room; she fled partially clothed, she said. After reporting the attack she received a medical examination, but declined to testify after she was allegedly interrogated by an Air Force defense attorney without her lawyer present. "The pressure of the judicial process was too much for me, and I felt like no one was looking out for my interests," Hernandez wrote to the AP. She was subsequently charged with one count of consuming alcohol as a minor (she admittedly was drinking the night in question) and one count of committing indecent acts.

The Air Force Public Affairs division said that its investigation did not find sufficient evidence to support the woman's claims of sexual assault, reported KVUE, a Houston television station. The accused men were granted immunity from the sexual assault charges for their testimony against Hernandez in the US Air Force's case against her, KVUE further reported.

Hernandez worries that the handling of her case will impact others in the Air Force as well. "Will other women come forward after a rape when they hear that this is how they may be treated?" she wrote in a letters to the US Congress and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, according to KVUE. "The process has almost been as painful as the rape."

Hernandez is scheduled to begin court marshal on September 24.

Media Resources: Associated Press 8/7/07; KVUE 8/1/07

Yes, because it's more important to bust a woman for underage drinking (!!!) than it is to prosecute two men for sexual assault! Immunity. Fucking immunity.

Disappointing, Apple.

"The new iMac. You can't be too thin. Or too powerful."

Possibly (probably/likely) they are trying to be satirical, playing on a cliche and whatnot, but I think they fail. The satire is weak. This ad feels out of place for Apple. Seriously, this is the best they could do?

The White Stripes, finally!

"White Americans, what?
Nothing better to do?
Why don't you kick yourself out?
You're an immigrant, too."
--The White Stripes, "Icky Thump"

I heart the White Stripes. I'm finally listening to their new album, Icky Thump. Yea! It's a bit strange, but that's par the course with the White Stripes.

I found my copy of Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards. It was in my dresser, with some other books from school. So, s0ja, you can borrow it, if you want. It's a must read, if only for the massive collection of feminist links and resources in the back. I've found a lot of great organizations through the list. Right now I'm going down the list, signing up for any free newsletters or mailing lists. For example, even though "we don't need another wave," ;), I just signed up at Third Wave Foundation. They have to be at the forefront of any news. I need to be more aware of current feminist activism. Disappointingly (for a number of reasons), a number of the links in the book are no longer active.

What, no auto save?

Damn it.

I wrote an entry, clicked to submit it, and lame Safari crashed.

Ugh. A rotten feeling to realize I spent upteen minutes typing something, only to have it disappear.

I'm not going to re-type it right now.

A total *non* rec.

I received a free copy of Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me? by Jen Lancaster in the mail today (courtesy of Bzz Agent), and it seemed decent enough, so I started to read it.

The beginning was...mildly entertaining. I write "mildly" because I found the author (it's a memoir) to be a tad immature, self-centered, spoiled, etc. etc. But also amusing at times.

Her constant bashing of Carrie Bradshaw (of Sex and the City) annoyed me, though, especially since the basis seemed to be she's a liar, life in the city's not like that, blah blah blah, but I took her opinions with a grain of salt because, hello, she didn't seem to have a problem with watching the so-not-realistic Desperate Housewives.

But a greater annoyance was still to come.

Brace yourself.

She's a Republican.

I felt a bit twitchy at the mention of the Drudge Report, but I felt I could handle a book about a Republican, as long as she didn't mention her politics too much.

But no. The utter inanities kept coming.

From page 99: "If I could endure the fraternity party otherwise known as the Clinton administration, you can deal with President Churchy McJesus."

The fraternity party...? Okay, I don't agree with everything Clinton did during his presidency, but, please, let's compare his accomplishments to Bush's. And also, let's compare their failures. Who drove our country into the ground and is responsible for thousands of deaths? I'm thinking, not Clinton.

It gets better. She's a fan of Ann Coulter, watches Fox News regularly, and believes Sean Hannity deserves a raise.

Also?

From page 122: "I quickly revise my I Dig Any Famous Pit Bull Advocate stance, which previously gave passes to Rosie Perez, Vin Diesel, Michael J. Fox, and Jon Stewart..."

Uh. What's Michael J. Fox done that he needs a pass for, other than being pro-stem cell research, which, you know, could save his life? I'm sorry if him having a disease offends you so much...

But wait.

There are some real fighting words.

From page 212: "I pushed through a pack of tourists from Cleveland while rushing to the register to purchase my prize. Out of the way, you slack-jawed yokels..."

Well, fuck you.

Frankly, though, even though she proclaims to be a Republican, I find that she has little understanding of politics. I think she's quite naive/ignorant about the world outside of her self-absorbed bubble.

Anyway, we don't have to worry too much about her inflicting her ignorance on the rest of us:

From page 222: "The worst part was I realized I was far more likely to vote for an American Idol contestant than a government official, as evidenced by my not walking next door to vote in the last local election because it was raining."

Super.

I'm so not finishing this book.

Movie recommendation!

I watched the most darling, movie yesterday: Miss Potter.

First off, it must be said that Renée Zellweger is the most talented actress of her era.

Second off, I never knew how fabulous Beatrix Potter was!

She was such a progressive, modern woman plucked down in the Victorian Era.

Britain owes her a great debt, because she donated 4,000 acres of land in the Lake District to a conservation group, having bought up all this farmland during her lifetime to protect it from developers. Can you imagine what this land would look like now if it weren't for her? Probably filled with shopping malls and McDonald's. Instead, it's a slice of beautiful nature for everyone to enjoy.

If you watch this movie, be prepared to cry (if you're a sap like me, that is). It's really quite a charming movie.

 

Books Read, 2007 (#11 - 15)

I haven't been updating my Books Read, 2007 list! I better write them down before I forget what I've read. I'm quite proud of my mix of fiction and nonfiction reads this year.

# The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader by Michael Moore
How can people ignore facts, is what I want to know.

Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert
I won ten copies of this book for my book club. It was a lot better than I expected it to be, actually, but it stills reads a bit like a male fantasy.

# The Assault on Reason by Al Gore
I agree with so much of what Gore wrote, but at times this book read like someone's dissertation, it's not always accessible to the every reader.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Finally! Ask my thoughts in person, if you want to know. Too long for here.

Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu by Lee Goldberg
This book was better than I expected it to be, because I think it's hard to translate Monk's behavior and quirks to text. I was leery about the book being from Natalie's point-of-view, because I'm not a huge fan of hers, but know I realize that it couldn't be done from any other way. An enjoyable mystery, but I don't know if I'd read another one in the series.

#6 - 10

The Pact: True Love Story by Jodi Picoult
We read this novel for my book club in May. I can understand why Picoult is such a popular writer, but she's not to my tastes. I find her v. manipulative, v. deus ex machina. Also, this novel is so not a "love story." It's about a teenage couple, and the girl is found dead with a bullet wound to her head. The boy is on trial for murder, and he claims it was a suicide pact. The girl is basically the only sympathetic character in the entire novel.

# BITCHfest: Ten Years of Cultural Criticism from the Pages of Bitch Magazine edited by Lisa Jervis and Andi Zeisler
Highly recommended. I love that it's filled with articles about different topics, like puberty to media to slash to gender roles to stereotypes to basically anything. I loved it to pieces. I don't want to read an entire book about just one topic. A caveat: I wouldn't recommend it to someone brand new to feminism, because I think you have to have some understanding about women's history plus some understanding and recocognization of issues. For someone new to feminism, I would recommend the first feminist book I ever read: Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards.

Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics by bell hooks
I am so disappointed in this book. Most feminists I know, whose opinions I trust, highly recommended it. I came away with nothing, though. I felt like it was a Cliff Notes version of feminism. Chapters were two to four pages long on each topic, and I just don't think it delved into enough detail about anything.

The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham
June's book club book. Nonfiction. It made everyone furious with the "justice" system.

Girls Rock!: Fifty Years of Women Making Music by Mina Carson, Tisa Lewis, and Susan M. Shaw
Yeah. I knew women have it hard in the music industry, but some of these stories were shocking. I found the book mostly boring, though. I don't care much about when people bought their first guitar, etc.

Books Read, 2007
Books Read, 2006
Books Read, 2005

I better start reading a heck of a lot more if I want to reach my goal of 50 books.

I hate the world today.

I thought nothing could upset me more than the article "Girl provoked pedophile - judge," but watching Bowling for Columbine for the first time comes close.

Did you know the NRA held a pro-gun rally in Denver, Co. ten days after Columbine? Yes, you have the "right" to meet, Mr. Heston, but it doesn't mean you have to let common decency fall by the wayside. How many years ago was Columbine, and gun control has gotten more lax?

Every day I hate the world more and can't see an end to this madness. It's okay to rape a 10-year-old if she looks 16, and it's okay to own automatic weapons that serve no purpose other than killing someone.

Nothing changes.

Anyway, I'm off to finish watching the movie now.

And my point is so made.

Can you distinguish pricey art from kids' paintings? A quiz.

Trojan.

A quiz!

On CBS and Fox, sex is not allowed to sell:

a) Hamburgers
b) Condoms
c) Cars
d) Cleaning supplies
e) Web sites
f) Beer

If you chose "b," you are correct!

CBS and Fox are refusing to air a Trojan condom ad.

Their reasoning (from this article in The NY Times)?:

Fox said that it had rejected the spot because, “Contraceptive advertising must stress health-related uses rather than the prevention of pregnancy.”

In its rejection, CBS wrote, “while we understand and appreciate the humor of this creative, we do not find it appropriate for our network even with late-night-only restrictions.”

Because a) preventing pregnancy isn't "health-related" and b) the Christian fundamentals are so dim they will forget that condoms also prevent pregnancy just because an ad doesn't mention it and thus they will forget why they don't approve of condoms?

Baseball.

Note to self: no day baseball games.

Except I'm going to another one today.

It was hot yesterday at the Indians vs. Braves game. The sun was shining right on us the entire game. I found it hard to concentrate. Everyone got free bucket hats, so they were nice and useful. The Indians need to get rid of that Chief Wahoo logo, though. Geez.

We had pretty good seats, though, right by the Braves bull pen and left field foul line. I enjoyed watching John Smoltz of the Braves warm up - he's such a legend. Only three players are left from when we saw them 12 years ago in Atlanta: Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, and Smoltz. Eddie Perez, who was always Greg Maddox's (another legend) catcher is now a bull pen coach. That's cool. When I waved to him, he waved back.

The Indians lost 6 - 2. : ( When the score was 2 - 2, the Indians second baseman fumbled the ball a bit on aan easy play, and the Braves hitter was safe at first. The guy sitting in front of us threw down his hat in digust. What an overreaction! My mom and I busted out laughing. The Indians got the third out on the next play, so come down. I get pissed at home watching a game, but it's not like this game is do-or-die.

There were a lot of Braves fans there. They both have the same colors, the red and blue, so it was hard to tell who was rooting for who at times!

And then our section was on the big Scantron for an uncomfortably long time! Smile and wave?

: (

There's always next year!: A Cleveland fan's mantra.

Seriously, though, the Cavs will be back in the Finals and eventually they will win. It took Jordan six years (also my mantra)!

I am going to the Indians game tomorrow, also prob. on Sunday, too.