Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Big Picture.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
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.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

"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.

Blog for Choice Day

Monday, January 21, 2008

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.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

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.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

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.

Monday, September 03, 2007

"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.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

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.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

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.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

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.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

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.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

"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.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

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.

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

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?

Monday, August 06, 2007

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.

Sunday, August 05, 2007

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.

Friday, August 03, 2007

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.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

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.

Saturday, July 07, 2007

#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.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

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.

Monday, June 25, 2007

And my point is so made.

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

Saturday, June 23, 2007

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?

Sunday, June 17, 2007

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?

Friday, June 15, 2007

: (

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.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Smart Women...

Last weekend, while we were at a bookstore in Legacy Village, I saw an absolutely darling collection of office products called "Smart Women." All of them had retro drawings of women and slogans like, "Smart Women Read between the Lines," "Smart Women..."etc.

Smart Women Store

I realize that this company is more or less using a marketing ploy, but I just love the products anyway.

And I won't feel guilty because:

"Capitalism isn't about welcoming women into the fold, or using our newfound economic clout to make changes in the way the system works. It's about making money. It's about tapping into what really is a very new and powerful phenomenon - the woman who makes enough to pay the rent and several credit card balances, but is young enough to be free of major money-sucking responsibilities - and channeling her for its own ends. So go on, go buy cute things. Buy cute things you want. But make sure you know why you want them. Retail therapy works only if you know what you're trying to cure." - Rita Hao, "And Now a Word from Our Sponsors - Feminism for Sale," BITCHfest: Ten Years of Cultural Criticism from the Pages of Bitch Magazine.

I know why I want to buy the products: because they are cute, not because I'm under any delusion that the company cares more about feminism than it does money.

Anyway, I think Smart Women actually is -at least partly - more than a marketing ploy, because they are affiliated with the League of Women Voters, and that's something, and they have rather decent links on their Web site. But they're still trying to make a profit.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Bitch!

"There is a dangerous myth going around this country that sexism doesn't exist anymore, that we have gotten past it and that 'alarmist' feminists are an outdated nuisance. Warnings like 'Oh, watch out - here comes the feminazi!' abound in our culture, as if for a woman, entitling yourself to an opinion puts you on a par with followers of the Third Reich." - Margaret Cho, from her foreword to BITCHfest: Ten Years of Cultural Criticism from the Pages of Bitch Magazine

I am only past the introduction, but already I am in love with this book! Something modern, finally! Plus, the loveliness of picking and choosing which articles I want to read, if I don't have time to read it cover to cover (although, I think I will have time, since it's fabulous).

"I believe that a thinking person in today's society can be driven mad by isolation." - Margaret Cho, same as above.

So needs to be a caption for something of mine.

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Eastern Conference Champs!

!!!!!!!

LeBron has lived up to the hype


I am excited, but I also can't believe it. Oh, LeBron, you have the hopes of an entire city on you now (as always, but now more than ever before).

It's hard to believe LeBron is only 22 years old most of the time, but then you see him smile and celebrate after a victory, and there it is.

Friday, April 27, 2007

And yet it isn't in the "news"...

John Kerry: Building 7 Was Deliberately Demolished

    At a recent speaking engagement in Austin Texas, Senator John Kerry responded to a question about WTC Building 7 by concluding that according to his information, the building was brought down as a result of a controlled demolition, directly contradicting the official line that the structure fell as a result of fire and debris damage.

    WTC Building 7 was a 47-story building in the WTC complex that collapsed at 5:20pm on September 11. The building had been structurally reinforced and was not hit by a plane yet collapsed in a uniform implosion within its own footprint in a matter of seconds after sustaining relatively light debris and fire damage following the collapse of the twin towers.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Diane Warren.

I am a bit of a music snob. But even I love to sing along to those
sappy, pop love songs. The other day, while watching Oprah, I
learned that most of these "classics" are written by one person:
Diane Warren! Dude. Check out her Wikipedia page for
a (partial!) list of her songs. I can’t believe how many hits she has
had! And for a (somewhat) variety of artists, pop, country, R&B,
rock, etc. And I thought some of these artists wrote their own
songs, but nope.

"Most of Warren's songs deal with romantic themes. In spite of
that, she has never been married and says she has never been in
love and does not enjoy dating."

Huh!

But seriously. "Because You Loved Me"? I admit it. I love that song. And she wrote it about her dad, who always supported her, especially when her mom didn’t.

Some others:

-Several songs for the Pussycat Dolls and Milli Vanilli! (hilarious)
-"Can't Fight the Moonlight," recorded by LeAnn Rimes
-"Don't Turn Around," recorded first by Tina Turner and later by Ace of Base
-"How Can We Be Lovers?" recorded by Michael Bolton
-"I Get Weak," recorded by Belinda Carlisle
-"I Learned From The Best," recorded by Whitney Houston
- "If I Could Turn Back Time," recorded by Cher (Again, I admit to loving to sing along to this song)
- "Numb," recorded by Pet Shop Boys
- "There You'll Be," recorded by Faith Hill
-"Un-Break My Heart," recorded by Toni Braxton
-"When I See You Smile" by Bad English

Apparently she’s writing Whitney Houston’s comeback song. I hope it’s awesome, in that pop-ish, mainstream way.

Monday, April 16, 2007

"And the world spins madly on..."

Gunman kills 21 on Virginia Tech campus

    A White House spokesman said President Bush was horrified by the rampage and offered his prayers to the victims and the people of Virginia.

    "The president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed," spokeswoman Dana Perino said
How completely inappropriate. How completely effing inappropriate. The blood isn't even dry yet, and he's spouting political bullshit.

32 people are dead. I don't understand the world.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Sex and the City! and #4 and #5

Okay. This post is mostly going to be about material objects, because I've had enough debates for the week (Rosie, of all people, standardized testing, Imus...etc.), and I just want to indulge myself.

So, good things.

I finally won the complete set of Sex and the City through E-Bay! Soon, I will joyously watch all six seasons whenever I want! I paid $82, and considering it retails for $200 - $300, not bad. It's supposed to be brand new and sealed and in English, so if I get some burned DVDs or some packaging from Japan, I will be pissed.

I was one of the first 5,000 to sign up for a tote bag filled with goodies from Oprah! Yes! I've never been so happy about a freebie. This one and the coffee pot, which I don't and probably will never use, are the two coolest ever.

I need to update my album collection, most notably with The Story by Brandi Carlile. I love her music. Listen to her!

***

I read the following novels lately, both for my book club:

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Time Traveler's Wife by by Audrey Niffenegger

Both novels had such great premises, but both fell flat, I think. Highly overrated, the both of them.

***

I received a letter from Congressman LaTourette in response to this e-mail. Same old, same old, but he at least pretends to listen to his constituents.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Oh, really?

Suspected Leader of 9/11 Attacks Is Said to Confess

Incidentally, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed also confessed to being the shooter on the grassy knoll, the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s baby, and the man who cut you off on the freeway yesterday. Bastard!

Awesome.

Valerie Plame is my hero.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Big Exit.

http://911scholars.org/

I don't know, but I just don't understand 7 WTC.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Seriously?

I was watching Paula Zahn's show on CNN last night...I don't know why I bother. I turned it off after the first discussion, because I was so disgusted.

Zahn was talking with three men--and I don't know what qualified any of them to speak on the topic--about the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and Pace's recent comments that homosexuality is "immoral."

One of the two black men on the "panel," after hearing some (probably) bogus statistic that 58 percent of people in the armed forces say they would be distracted or some rot by a gay person in their unit, said he was going to follow their opinion in this instance. He said if they thought homosexuals would hurt the cohesion of the armed forces, then homosexuals shouldn't be allowed in the armed forces.

Can he see the irony in his statements? Does he realize that the same thing was said about black
people--that at one point people tried to keep black people out of the armed forces because they would hurt its "cohesion"?

I can't stand it. I can't stand it when people who are discriminated against do the exact same thing to someone else. The pathetic excuse of "disrupting the cohesion" has been used against black people, women, and homosexuals.

Women still don't have the opportunity to have equal roles in the armed forces. Why can't we die for your lies, too, Bush?

Can you imagine how foolish I would look if *I*, as a woman, went around saying that homosexuals shouldn't be allowed to be "out" in the armed forces because it would hurt its "cohesion"? Do people ever think that maybe the people who are oh-so-distracted should be
the ones kicked out of the armed forces?

Monday, March 12, 2007

#3

I forgot to add this book I read in February:

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan

This book has so many details and names, they're hard to keep track of it. I did read it very quickly, though, which surprised me. This book would be a good read for history buffs. I don't remember learning about the Dust Bowl in school.

!

60 degrees tomorrow. I am wearing a skirt. Yea for no more icky winter clothes (although, apparently it's going to be colder again at the end of the week)!

Sorry for all of the posts. I'm B-O-R-E-D.

Brown.

I am so underwhelmed by Sherrod Brown.

Has he even spoke during his term yet? I just shot off an e-mail to him about it.

We can't become complacent.

Things from Work.

Just because it's legal for a government body to ban public comments during their meetings doesn't mean they should or that it's a good idea.

Just because it's your blog and you can do whatever you want doesn't mean you should delete all comments of opposing views.

Open government, open blogs. Same, same.

***

I accidentally referred to "post-partum depression" when I meant "post-traumatic stress disorder" today. It took me five minutes to realize it, and I corrected myself, v. embarrassed.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Acting.

From imdb.com:

    McAvoy Defends Hathaway Casting

    British star James McAvoy has defended Anne Hathaway's casting as Jane Austen in Becoming Jane - insisting "you find the actor, not the accent" for movie roles. Director Julian Jarrold was criticized for casting an American actress in the role of the iconic 18th century English author, but The Last King Of Scotland star believes Hathaway was the best choice for the part. He says, "I think (the criticism was) fairly expected, but I'm a Scotsman and it's really surreal playing two Scottish people in the last seven years, so I haven't got a leg to stand on. I think you find the right actor - you don't find the right accent - and she is undoubtedly brilliant. When you find a British person playing JFK or some real big American icon, nobody bats an eyelid here. We don't go, 'This is terrible - it should be an American man playing this part', so I don't know why we get so annoyed."
THANK YOU.

I don't who does it--I don't know if it's simply the media stirring up trouble or if actual citizens complaining--but whenever a non-British person is cast to play a "British" person, a huge stink is made about it (see Renee Zellweger in just about any role, Anne Hathaway in this role, no one but Brits allowed to be cast in Harry Potter, etc., etc.).

It's called ACTING. Please get over it. Non-Americans are cast as Americans all of the time (see Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Hugh Laurie, almost all everyone in the latest Batman movie, which is a hugely American franchise, etc., etc., etc.) and no one complains about it here. People here are HAPPY about it. We don't CARE. Maybe because we understand the concept of acting...?

So please, get rid of that chip on your shoulder. It's so tiresome.

Friday, March 02, 2007

Peace!



(Just a clip of it...)