Ann E. Dunwoody is the first woman nominated to be a four star general in the United States. They say she's broken the brass ceiling. When asked if she ever thought she'd make it this far she replied
"There is no one more surprised than I — except, of course, my husband. You know what they say, `Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man.' "
UG.
Nov 15, 2008
Nov 13, 2008
Bombadee's Trading Club
In 5th grade we did the stock market unit where we all picked some stocks and followed them in the newspaper every day for a month. I looooooved this unit and I was good at it. For ages when asked what I was going to be when I got older my answer was a stock broker.
Years ago, I actually had a chance to work for a broker named Brad at Stiefel Nicholas. I worked as a sales assistant for him and it was alot of fun, this was during the 90s, the Clinton years, when the technology bubble was just being blown up and investors were asking if they should be "doing that Wahoo stuff" (Yahoo.)
My job was great, I had the pleasure of orchestrating luncheons for hundreds of people (included sampling the menu and picking napkins as well as hand addressing 500 invitations and calling people for RSVP.) as well as being a general executive assistant, pulling files, fund info and managing the schedule. Towards the end of my time there Brad asked if I would like to get my licence and sent me home with books where I spent weeks reading about IPOs and Mutual Funds.
Why didn't I stick with it? I had just ended one high stress well accomplished career and honestly I really wasn't ready to jump right into the next, I moved to a nice small heating company where I just answered the phone and filed things and knew I wouldn't feel torn when I was ready to quit and stay home with a baby.
So the other day I was thinking of the day traders I used to know and the brokers I used to listen to go on and on and the days we spent just watching CNN for the ticker (there was a TV in every office) and that 16 year old kid that used to hang around at the office and ask the brokers a million questions and then do the opposite of their advice by making his mother buy two and three shares of tech stock every week with his paycheck. He was making a killing, wherever that kid is now... I wish I knew, I'd ask him what to invest in.
Well, anyway when I mentioned investing in Hasbro and I got on Google and found Google Finance and created a portfolio. I pretend bought one of each of the stocks I would invest in if I had $501.00 laying around. So far I've lost $40.00. Instead of doing anything I learned at Stiefel Nicholas by looking at safe diversified funds, I went with my 5th grade self and picked these based on the upcomming holidays, companies I like and a hunch:
- Hasbro HAS because I like them and Christmas is coming. Bought at 26.41 it's now at 25.63
- Sears Holding Co. SHLD they are the parent company of K-mart and K-mart is offering layaway again this holiday and I think it will do well this year. bought at 49.78 it's now at 40.21
-Google GOOG because I like them, use it every day and I always wished could've gotten in on that IPO. Bought at 307 it's now at 285.29
- Tupperwear TUP because when the economy goes down, left overs go up. Bought at 21.92 it's now at 19.06
-Molson Coors Brewing co. TAP because again when the economy is down people buy beer and drink it at home over board games instead of martinis at the sushi bar. Bought at 42.20 it's now at 40.12
- Visa Inc. V Because everyne has a Visa, it's the easier credit card to get and lots of people will be using them in the comming months. Bought at 54.66 it's now at 51.12
Clearly it hadn't hit bottom before I bought them and that irks me alot (ever the optimist) but I intend on hanging on to these (and loosing my pretend ass or kicking myself for not really investing) until at least Christmas. I'll keep you updated if I add anything. If you have any tips or product you would invest in let me know, maybe I'll buy a pretend share and track it with my other five.
Years ago, I actually had a chance to work for a broker named Brad at Stiefel Nicholas. I worked as a sales assistant for him and it was alot of fun, this was during the 90s, the Clinton years, when the technology bubble was just being blown up and investors were asking if they should be "doing that Wahoo stuff" (Yahoo.)
My job was great, I had the pleasure of orchestrating luncheons for hundreds of people (included sampling the menu and picking napkins as well as hand addressing 500 invitations and calling people for RSVP.) as well as being a general executive assistant, pulling files, fund info and managing the schedule. Towards the end of my time there Brad asked if I would like to get my licence and sent me home with books where I spent weeks reading about IPOs and Mutual Funds.
Why didn't I stick with it? I had just ended one high stress well accomplished career and honestly I really wasn't ready to jump right into the next, I moved to a nice small heating company where I just answered the phone and filed things and knew I wouldn't feel torn when I was ready to quit and stay home with a baby.
So the other day I was thinking of the day traders I used to know and the brokers I used to listen to go on and on and the days we spent just watching CNN for the ticker (there was a TV in every office) and that 16 year old kid that used to hang around at the office and ask the brokers a million questions and then do the opposite of their advice by making his mother buy two and three shares of tech stock every week with his paycheck. He was making a killing, wherever that kid is now... I wish I knew, I'd ask him what to invest in.
Well, anyway when I mentioned investing in Hasbro and I got on Google and found Google Finance and created a portfolio. I pretend bought one of each of the stocks I would invest in if I had $501.00 laying around. So far I've lost $40.00. Instead of doing anything I learned at Stiefel Nicholas by looking at safe diversified funds, I went with my 5th grade self and picked these based on the upcomming holidays, companies I like and a hunch:
- Hasbro HAS because I like them and Christmas is coming. Bought at 26.41 it's now at 25.63
- Sears Holding Co. SHLD they are the parent company of K-mart and K-mart is offering layaway again this holiday and I think it will do well this year. bought at 49.78 it's now at 40.21
-Google GOOG because I like them, use it every day and I always wished could've gotten in on that IPO. Bought at 307 it's now at 285.29
- Tupperwear TUP because when the economy goes down, left overs go up. Bought at 21.92 it's now at 19.06
-Molson Coors Brewing co. TAP because again when the economy is down people buy beer and drink it at home over board games instead of martinis at the sushi bar. Bought at 42.20 it's now at 40.12
- Visa Inc. V Because everyne has a Visa, it's the easier credit card to get and lots of people will be using them in the comming months. Bought at 54.66 it's now at 51.12
Clearly it hadn't hit bottom before I bought them and that irks me alot (ever the optimist) but I intend on hanging on to these (and loosing my pretend ass or kicking myself for not really investing) until at least Christmas. I'll keep you updated if I add anything. If you have any tips or product you would invest in let me know, maybe I'll buy a pretend share and track it with my other five.
Nov 11, 2008
Reminder!
I just read that if you want to send a package to a service member over seas that they'll get before Christmas, you'd better get it in the mail by Thursday November 13th.
Plain Tuesday
At first I posted a meme, 31 questions with 31 short answers. The only answer mildly (And I do mean mildly) amusing was this one:
What does your watch look like? A cell Phone.
So I figured it could not get any worse than telling you what my day looks like. It's grey outside, washed out and clouded over. The trees and vines outside of my windows are old crooked lines against the grey sky, the leaves blew away last week with the last of the warm weather. Ella is sitting on the rug in front of the TV with the space heater on her toes. She is ignoring the grilled cheese I made her and instead eating as many pickles as I'll let her (that's 3, because I'm pretty sure you can get a stomach ache from eating a whole jar and inevitably she'll ask for more pickles at least four more times today.) I'm still sipping the same mug of watered down coffee from this morning. I'm trying to quit caffeine all together, it's slow going on purpose. It really doesn't go with grilled cheese very well and I'm wishing I would've poured myself an apple juice while I was in the kitchen.
I really need to bundle myself and Ella up and make it to the grocery store a few blocks away today, but it's one of those days that I could really pull dinner out of a little bit of this and that and it's not dire that I go yet. Plus the car never warms up when only driving a few blocks and the thought of carrying groceries in while my knuckles are freezing and Ella is dragging her feet up the stairs and the dog bouncing up and down onto my legs at the door sounds horrid. That means I really really have to shop tomorrow or we'll have to put the roll of paper towels in the bathroom and have left over chili for breakfast on Thursday.
That is all.
TOTALLY EXCITING UPDATE1:06PM:
A few weeks ago I was cleaning up the front hall closet and found our Dora Sit and Spin. Barely used I pulled it out figuring Ella's old enough to get the actual spin part now and so it'd be fun. We put it away last spring because we thought Ella just didn't get how to do it, and instead sat next to it pushing the annoying Dora song part over and over. Really after pulling it out again I discovered why it was so frustrating. The bottom piece was catching in a way that made the it more of a sit and drag instead of a sit and spin. I got a screw driver out and meddled with it loosening the sit part to no avail. In the end I told Ella, this toy was better when I was a kid and when could spin until you couldn't see straight but now it is safer and it as a result no longer fun anymore. In short this toy stinks. Ella griped with me "Yeah, this toy stinks 'cause it's safe."
Anyway, I never like griping without a solution so I flipped over the Dora sit and drag and found the Hasbro logo, located their 800 number online and called them to tell them their toy stinks. Ready to rant, I was greeted with the most cheerful helpful nice operator I've ever spoken with. She explained that they no longer sell that toy but she would like my address because they hate to imagine a little girl in IL with a sit and drag to play with and she'd like to do something nice for her. I gave her our address and forgot about it, content to know I told them thier toy didn't spin.
Today in the middle of our gray afternoon someone knocked at the door and as I grabbed the dog up in one arm and stepped outside I saw the FedEx truck pulling away. I picked up the box on the porch and Ella and I carefully opened it. Inside a brand new kitten surprised us purring and mewing (batteries included!) Ella filled out the adoption papers and named her new kitty Julia and is just itching to know if Santa sent and early present because she's been so good lately, or if the adoption agency just needed a good mom for this little kitty. I say Yay Hasbro, yay for a company with great customer service, if I had any money to invest I'd buy a share or two of Hasbro right now while it was low. It's wonderful to find a company that understands what it means to keep a customer. Great job in keeping happy kids on your list of high priorities.
What does your watch look like? A cell Phone.
So I figured it could not get any worse than telling you what my day looks like. It's grey outside, washed out and clouded over. The trees and vines outside of my windows are old crooked lines against the grey sky, the leaves blew away last week with the last of the warm weather. Ella is sitting on the rug in front of the TV with the space heater on her toes. She is ignoring the grilled cheese I made her and instead eating as many pickles as I'll let her (that's 3, because I'm pretty sure you can get a stomach ache from eating a whole jar and inevitably she'll ask for more pickles at least four more times today.) I'm still sipping the same mug of watered down coffee from this morning. I'm trying to quit caffeine all together, it's slow going on purpose. It really doesn't go with grilled cheese very well and I'm wishing I would've poured myself an apple juice while I was in the kitchen.
I really need to bundle myself and Ella up and make it to the grocery store a few blocks away today, but it's one of those days that I could really pull dinner out of a little bit of this and that and it's not dire that I go yet. Plus the car never warms up when only driving a few blocks and the thought of carrying groceries in while my knuckles are freezing and Ella is dragging her feet up the stairs and the dog bouncing up and down onto my legs at the door sounds horrid. That means I really really have to shop tomorrow or we'll have to put the roll of paper towels in the bathroom and have left over chili for breakfast on Thursday.
That is all.
TOTALLY EXCITING UPDATE1:06PM:
A few weeks ago I was cleaning up the front hall closet and found our Dora Sit and Spin. Barely used I pulled it out figuring Ella's old enough to get the actual spin part now and so it'd be fun. We put it away last spring because we thought Ella just didn't get how to do it, and instead sat next to it pushing the annoying Dora song part over and over. Really after pulling it out again I discovered why it was so frustrating. The bottom piece was catching in a way that made the it more of a sit and drag instead of a sit and spin. I got a screw driver out and meddled with it loosening the sit part to no avail. In the end I told Ella, this toy was better when I was a kid and when could spin until you couldn't see straight but now it is safer and it as a result no longer fun anymore. In short this toy stinks. Ella griped with me "Yeah, this toy stinks 'cause it's safe."
Anyway, I never like griping without a solution so I flipped over the Dora sit and drag and found the Hasbro logo, located their 800 number online and called them to tell them their toy stinks. Ready to rant, I was greeted with the most cheerful helpful nice operator I've ever spoken with. She explained that they no longer sell that toy but she would like my address because they hate to imagine a little girl in IL with a sit and drag to play with and she'd like to do something nice for her. I gave her our address and forgot about it, content to know I told them thier toy didn't spin.
Today in the middle of our gray afternoon someone knocked at the door and as I grabbed the dog up in one arm and stepped outside I saw the FedEx truck pulling away. I picked up the box on the porch and Ella and I carefully opened it. Inside a brand new kitten surprised us purring and mewing (batteries included!) Ella filled out the adoption papers and named her new kitty Julia and is just itching to know if Santa sent and early present because she's been so good lately, or if the adoption agency just needed a good mom for this little kitty. I say Yay Hasbro, yay for a company with great customer service, if I had any money to invest I'd buy a share or two of Hasbro right now while it was low. It's wonderful to find a company that understands what it means to keep a customer. Great job in keeping happy kids on your list of high priorities.
Nov 10, 2008
Nov 8, 2008
Nov 7, 2008
What A Wild Friday Night is Like Now.
So instead of going out and drinking beer until our faces are numb and dancing until our feet hurt and then hitting Denny's before sleeping it off, we're having pals over for board game night. There may be beer and dancing but it more than likely involve Yo Gabba Gabba videos and something much darker and thicker than Bud Light and we won't be downing as many as possible. What are we going to play? Maybe a little Redneck Life and then perhaps some FLUX or a little Settlers of Catan and if we're really feeling crazy we may bust out the poker table and play for Halloween candy.
Nov 6, 2008
blah
As of yesterday I've got Explorer pop up problems. I'm annoyed, I've runs scans and scrubbers and cookie erasers and there they are still. I most certainly will come out of this exclusively using Firefox, I know, I know alot of you are probably think "What took you so long?!" and the answer is I don't know.
***
It's cold and rainy, Ella has snot, I've got parent teacher conference today, I have to bring her with.
***
***
It's cold and rainy, Ella has snot, I've got parent teacher conference today, I have to bring her with.
***
Nov 5, 2008
Come Hope, Sit! Now Stay.
Yay for yesterday. Yay for knowing that the majority of the people in the United States agree with me and I no longer have to walk around wondering if I am really so far out there for feeling so passionately about sharing our crayons/food/blessings/burden/etc. Jane put it perfectly when she said:
"...My faith is in people, in humanity. When you go as long as I have, steadily losing faith in humanity, the hopelessness and desperation permeates everything. To spend so much time watching the world, wondering if you're the only person feeling this way, it makes a person grow unreasonably pessimistic.
But the flip side of the coin is that when the bulk of the faith in your life is invested in your fellow humans, moments like last night, like this election as a whole, are ten times more meaningful. Because while I stood in the midst of those 65,000 people, or 240,000 people, or 1 million people, or whatever they are reporting the attendance at now, I felt saved. I felt re-born. It's not that I believe Obama is my savior, it's more that I finally believe in my fellow man again."
I'm looking forward to what we will do with the momentum. Will President Obama ask us to recycle, conserve, ration, volunteer? I'm sure it won't be as fun as the last request... "shop", but more involved than "be on orange terrorist alert" forever and remember once upon a time when we were told "buy duct tape and plastic?" Whatever it is I'm ready.
PS I think the Obamas should name their new puppy Hope. How about you?
"...My faith is in people, in humanity. When you go as long as I have, steadily losing faith in humanity, the hopelessness and desperation permeates everything. To spend so much time watching the world, wondering if you're the only person feeling this way, it makes a person grow unreasonably pessimistic.
But the flip side of the coin is that when the bulk of the faith in your life is invested in your fellow humans, moments like last night, like this election as a whole, are ten times more meaningful. Because while I stood in the midst of those 65,000 people, or 240,000 people, or 1 million people, or whatever they are reporting the attendance at now, I felt saved. I felt re-born. It's not that I believe Obama is my savior, it's more that I finally believe in my fellow man again."
I'm looking forward to what we will do with the momentum. Will President Obama ask us to recycle, conserve, ration, volunteer? I'm sure it won't be as fun as the last request... "shop", but more involved than "be on orange terrorist alert" forever and remember once upon a time when we were told "buy duct tape and plastic?" Whatever it is I'm ready.
PS I think the Obamas should name their new puppy Hope. How about you?
Nov 4, 2008
Making History
I'm all full of nervous excitement today. I haven't voted yet, but I will be shortly after lunch. Ella will go with me and I'll have to explain that she can't walk around the polling place talking about why she likes and doesn't like each candidate. I wonder if there will be a line, usually there isn't, but you never know. In the next city over there have been lines for early voting since last week. I've CNN dialed into my phone so I can get updates whever I am tonight, and I'll be putting my local races in my little phone as well. Yes, I am close enough to Chicago to have taken the train in and been in Grant Park tonight and I really considered it, Ella and Dan and I standing in the City on the edge of Lake Michigan with thousands of fellow Americans, under the stars, watching history unfold live but... lots of walking through crowds late at night on a chilly autumn evening is no place for a 4 year old. My pal Jane is going and I'll get to see it through her eyes. We will remember this night well enough watching from the giant party at the UAW Hall downtown in the next city over with throngs of people we know and lots of them who are predicted to win local seats themselves. I also want to remind everyone (accept Mike) to get out and vote today.
Nov 2, 2008
I Was a Moose Hunting Maverick for Halloween
Went out with my skatey ladies last night for a little Halloween fun. 
Oct 31, 2008
Pretty Scary!
Stroller Derby ran a story this morning about this Republican who has no idea why using pornified illegal robocalls might be offensive. Can you imagine your kids standing next to the answering machine when you hit play in this? I'm pretty sure injecting BDSM porn into your congressional campaign isn't a winning choice. He defends his vast ignorance with this:
"...various issues including in passing the so called "Patriot Act". This is simply appalling. And if a message needs to go out that is "appalling" in a sense in order to get the discussion going, than I believe it is a worthy cause.
Let’s think outside the box, let's not be scared, let's talk about the issues that really matter. I am here to listen. I am here to take responsibility and to be accountable to the District..."
Way to stay classy Zane.
"...various issues including in passing the so called "Patriot Act". This is simply appalling. And if a message needs to go out that is "appalling" in a sense in order to get the discussion going, than I believe it is a worthy cause.
Let’s think outside the box, let's not be scared, let's talk about the issues that really matter. I am here to listen. I am here to take responsibility and to be accountable to the District..."
Way to stay classy Zane.
Oct 30, 2008
Project Runway the Bombadee Edition - Season Two (Fall)
Ella picked something from the dress up closet for tomorrow. Feeling a little bad that she didn't get anything new for her costume I went and got some white fur (fake of course) and spent the afternoon sewing some nice little warm bits for her to add. What is she going to be? Tune in tomorrow to see.
Oct 29, 2008
Oct 28, 2008
Remember Getting Your Candy X-Rayed for Razor Blades? Ahh the Good Old Days.
Ohio.com had this to say today:
"While the FDA has not recalled any candy from an American maker, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled Sherwood Brands Pirate's Gold Milk Chocolate Coins, which were made in China and sold at Costco stores in Canada, after they tested positive for melamine.
Sherwood, located in Rockville, Md., has numerous China-made candies on local store shelves, including Lolli Pups, bone-shaped lollipops, and Spooky Eyes Bubble Gum, the package of which states, ''May contain milk.''
Sherwood company officials did not return a phone call seeking comment."
The San Franscisco Chronicle had this advice:
"Any tips on avoiding tainted candy? You need to look through all the candy before the kids eat any of it. If it has any Chinese lettering on it, toss it. Some Chinese candies have been identified as containing melamine. That's what Formica counter tops are made of, and you don't want your kids eating that. You can find out about recalls by going to fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html. "
Just buy American this Halloween!
"While the FDA has not recalled any candy from an American maker, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled Sherwood Brands Pirate's Gold Milk Chocolate Coins, which were made in China and sold at Costco stores in Canada, after they tested positive for melamine.
Sherwood, located in Rockville, Md., has numerous China-made candies on local store shelves, including Lolli Pups, bone-shaped lollipops, and Spooky Eyes Bubble Gum, the package of which states, ''May contain milk.''
Sherwood company officials did not return a phone call seeking comment."
The San Franscisco Chronicle had this advice:
"Any tips on avoiding tainted candy? You need to look through all the candy before the kids eat any of it. If it has any Chinese lettering on it, toss it. Some Chinese candies have been identified as containing melamine. That's what Formica counter tops are made of, and you don't want your kids eating that. You can find out about recalls by going to fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html. "
Just buy American this Halloween!
Oct 27, 2008
Richard Trumka
I read alot of political blogs and watch alot of political videos and and sometimes I stumble across something I can't let go, something that I keep telling people "I wish you could see this," something I wish I could put on my phone and make everyone watch when we start talking about the election. I don't remember where I originally saw it so thanks for positing it internet and now I will share it with you my dear bloggies:
AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka blasts racism and underlines why workers should vote Obama in 2008. Excerpt of speech given at Steelworkers convention July 1, 2008, sponsored by USW President Leo Gerard.
Entire speech at http://www.usw.org/multimedia/video Mr. Trumka formerly served as president of the United Mine Workers of America.
IF THIS VIDEO WON'T LOAD CLICK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QIGJT...
Oct 26, 2008
Games All Day
Yesterday, me and some of my skatey mates put our uniforms on and went out to Rock-Con (Rockford's big game convention) and taught strangers how to play "Roller Derby Mayhem" the board game. Dan and I wrote the rules with lots of help from skatey mate DD Hunter and we used those little happy meal my scene roller girls for skaters and we gave away a t-shirt to one lucky winner. It was complete fun. We did alot of yelling "Hit someone!" followed by "Roll a one!" It was particularly nice to be able to direct out of town gamers to their local roller derby leagues. So the kid from Iowa will definitely be going to see a Mid Iowa Rollers bout and the fellas from Chicago were happy to hear about the Chicago Outfit and the Windy City Rollers (who had free beer at the UIC pavilion last night WOO HOO!) Lots of players asked if the game was for sale, it's not but in a couple weeks we'll be posting those same rules on the SRDD Blog.
After the mayhem cleared we packed up and went out for sushi followed by bowling. The bowling alley had a Halloween event and so we got to see zombies, army guys and batman, Ella was very excited about that. She also beat me 72 to 65 (with bumpers that is, I would've totally beat her if we had gutters - so there!) Ella had a little 5 pound ball and every time she ran down the alley and stopped at the line to roll it she'd let out a war cry that was cracking me up. "YA!" she'd yell and then she'd jump up and down and clap while the ball crawled it's way to the pins.
After the mayhem cleared we packed up and went out for sushi followed by bowling. The bowling alley had a Halloween event and so we got to see zombies, army guys and batman, Ella was very excited about that. She also beat me 72 to 65 (with bumpers that is, I would've totally beat her if we had gutters - so there!) Ella had a little 5 pound ball and every time she ran down the alley and stopped at the line to roll it she'd let out a war cry that was cracking me up. "YA!" she'd yell and then she'd jump up and down and clap while the ball crawled it's way to the pins.
Oct 23, 2008
I'm Subliminally Selling you Obama Right Now
I was going to be Sarah Palin for Halloween but I can't afford Prada or Dior so I'm considering Christmas sweater Palin, or evening gown Palin or camouflage Palin.
***
Babble recently asked the question When the Times Call for Frugality, What Goes? What Stays? and people are talking about giving up their lattes and cleaning ladies. That's real nice and all, and I realize we haven't suffered much in this climate though we are still cutting back alot, I can't help but think of my pals that have lost jobs and are wondering how to buy gas to get to the next interview. It has me thinking about what I'll give up and in what order. I've already given up the daily paper, new clothes, 8 degrees on the thermostat as well as weekly trips to the city, and cable may be next, but the internet is staying. If I have to sell pencils on e-bay to pay for my internet then so be it. What won't you give up?
***
I'm addicted to The Pickup Artists. It's a show on VH-1 where this fella Mystery (yes, that's really his name) teaches totally nice guys how to be meatheads. Ok, ok, he really is helping these fellas find some self confidence and become more socially adept, so they can pick up chicks but the discussion of women as "targets" and the science of it all is both offensive and riveting. I am really interested in marketing and the sociology of how to sell things. Subliminal marketing, the use of color, smell, design and product placement to evoke feelings of want and worth is fascinating. So to hear Mystery talk about how to stand and what to say when trying to make a first impression so that you are selling your worth to a person in the first three seconds is marketing gold. It takes a good hard look at women as the consumer and breaks down to a science how to market men to women. Deceptive? maybe, but alot of times if you don't like someone in the first five seconds you aren't gonna spend any more time getting to know them. Does anyone else watch this or am I the only one trying to justify my crap television addiction?
***
The view from my desk today.
***
Babble recently asked the question When the Times Call for Frugality, What Goes? What Stays? and people are talking about giving up their lattes and cleaning ladies. That's real nice and all, and I realize we haven't suffered much in this climate though we are still cutting back alot, I can't help but think of my pals that have lost jobs and are wondering how to buy gas to get to the next interview. It has me thinking about what I'll give up and in what order. I've already given up the daily paper, new clothes, 8 degrees on the thermostat as well as weekly trips to the city, and cable may be next, but the internet is staying. If I have to sell pencils on e-bay to pay for my internet then so be it. What won't you give up?
***
I'm addicted to The Pickup Artists. It's a show on VH-1 where this fella Mystery (yes, that's really his name) teaches totally nice guys how to be meatheads. Ok, ok, he really is helping these fellas find some self confidence and become more socially adept, so they can pick up chicks but the discussion of women as "targets" and the science of it all is both offensive and riveting. I am really interested in marketing and the sociology of how to sell things. Subliminal marketing, the use of color, smell, design and product placement to evoke feelings of want and worth is fascinating. So to hear Mystery talk about how to stand and what to say when trying to make a first impression so that you are selling your worth to a person in the first three seconds is marketing gold. It takes a good hard look at women as the consumer and breaks down to a science how to market men to women. Deceptive? maybe, but alot of times if you don't like someone in the first five seconds you aren't gonna spend any more time getting to know them. Does anyone else watch this or am I the only one trying to justify my crap television addiction?
***
The view from my desk today.
Oct 22, 2008
Who Buys This Crap Part III
From Feministing this morning; a picture taken at a Target in St. Paul, Minn. It seems Target really has a problem understanding what's appropriate for young children. This isn't the first time they've thought projecting sexual body images onto babies was funny. The first time was with the pink onsie "I'm to sexy for my diaper." (ew!) 
JC Penny's had the same problem but wised up under pressure from letters by shoppers;
"Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your comments about the Onesie that we offered for sale. Very specifically, we attempt to avoid themes that would be considered offensive to JCPenney Customers. We sincerely regret that we have offended you. It was not our intent.Based on concerns such as yours and our re-evaluation of the item we have decided to remove it from sale. Although we can not change our catalog we will no longer accept orders the "Too Sexy for my Diaper" onesie through our catalog or our Internet site."
So what am I gonna say now? Let's drop Target a line and tell them to get their heads out of their butts on this one. E-mail them at GuestRelations@Target.com and let them know that even though they are trying to be funny it's not ok to make sexist comments especially when it involves children.
JC Penny's had the same problem but wised up under pressure from letters by shoppers;
"Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your comments about the Onesie that we offered for sale. Very specifically, we attempt to avoid themes that would be considered offensive to JCPenney Customers. We sincerely regret that we have offended you. It was not our intent.Based on concerns such as yours and our re-evaluation of the item we have decided to remove it from sale. Although we can not change our catalog we will no longer accept orders the "Too Sexy for my Diaper" onesie through our catalog or our Internet site."
So what am I gonna say now? Let's drop Target a line and tell them to get their heads out of their butts on this one. E-mail them at GuestRelations@Target.com and let them know that even though they are trying to be funny it's not ok to make sexist comments especially when it involves children.
Oct 21, 2008
Stuff we don't have room to store anymore
I think I'm ready for the giant project I've been putting off. I'm going to start going through clothes. The one's that no longer fit and the one's that are for summer and then I need to get them put in the proper places. Then I'll start the great E-bay project. Maybe I'll open a little e-bay store and call it "Stuff we don't have room to store anymore." I think I'm going to have to get Ella to sort through toys too. The holidays and her birthday are in the coming months and if I try to fit one more toy into this house, it might pop and all our socks and books and Legos will spill out onto the street and then the neighbors will have to help me clean so that the traffic can get through town.
Oct 20, 2008
The Infinite Possibilities are Making My Head Hurt
I looked at the whole internet today and was bored. I thought about blogging my whole existance, I tried to paint the universe, I surfed 1500 cable channels, I looked at a library full of paper, I stared into space.
I have no idea what to write... Feminism, Momming, Roller Derby, Art, Liberal Politics... Blah Blah Blah.
I have no idea what to write... Feminism, Momming, Roller Derby, Art, Liberal Politics... Blah Blah Blah.
Oct 19, 2008
Guest Blogger
I asked Ella what I should tell the internet about our day, she dictated this:
"We went to the pumkpin patch. And we saw the J. family and we rided some rides and didn't get a pumpkin but we did fling pumpkins. We putted them in the little bag and pulled it and pulled it and pulled it and then let it go and it went really far. Mine didn't even break but Dan's breaked and flobbered all over the ground. And then we ate at a resturaunt next to the pumpkin patch. Now we're at home."
"We went to the pumkpin patch. And we saw the J. family and we rided some rides and didn't get a pumpkin but we did fling pumpkins. We putted them in the little bag and pulled it and pulled it and pulled it and then let it go and it went really far. Mine didn't even break but Dan's breaked and flobbered all over the ground. And then we ate at a resturaunt next to the pumpkin patch. Now we're at home."
Oct 17, 2008
3 Million Dollars
Who in the hell thinks wasting money on education when you could be giving tax breaks to rich people is a good idea? I mean a projector at the planetarium... get real. It might make kids want to be scientists or astronauts instead of stock brokers and pimps. When I was a kid we had commies to inspire us to go to the moon and that was good enough! Besides learning about the universe just leads to understanding the big bang theory and we all know what a crack pot idea that is.
Oct 16, 2008
"Health"
I want a president that treats women like they are people who deserve all the human rights American's enjoy. That means privacy and resepct when it comes to making desicions about their health. Does McCain really believe women have late tearm abortions all willy nilly just for the heck of it? Really?! Like a medical desicion like that isn't excrutiating and complicated enough for parents and the doctors already? And how can he say that he wouldn't apply a Litmus Test to supreme court justices before he appointed them and then, in the same breath, say judges who uphold Roe vs. Wade would not meet his qualifications for the role of justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. That's what applying a Litmus-Test means!
Oct 14, 2008
FTW
US and NATO forces killed at least 60 Taliban troops trying to take seize the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah of Helmand province in three waves of attacks over the weekend. Anytime I hear about shooting there it worries me, our neighbor and Pal, Dave is still there. But Dan thinks it's good news; if the Taliban is attempting grand gestures before winter to capture a moral victory than they are getting desperate, and there were no civilian casualties or US/NATO casualties. So yay for stopping the Taliban from advancing their control and here's hoping Obama can pull some troops out of Iraq to help my buddy in Afghanistan.
Oct 13, 2008
Oct 12, 2008
The Fastest Women in the East
Yesterday I was in Madison at Derby in Dairyland watching Roller Derby Eastern Regionals and today I will be sitting at my desk watching the championship. You can too. There's live broadcasts all day but the championship is at 4:00pm CST just CLICK HERE. Amazing skating, just amazing.
Oct 10, 2008
Amazing Orionids
On the way home from practice last night I was blessed to witness the closest shooting star I’ve ever seen in my life. Its tail was a bright three inches long trailing across the sky with a green sparkle flinging off to the East rapidly turning yellow and then orange. From the time it came into sight to when it rocketed behind the line of trees about three seconds passed. Pretty slow for a shooting star. I said to DD who was driving but still maganed to also see the spectacular display, that it could’ve been fireworks but she assured me fireworks don’t really look like that on the way to the ground and it was much farther away than a bottle rocket. I had to agree and then later on the way home after much discussion about UFOs and other unexplained phenomenon I saw another shooting star off in the dark distance over a field. This one was more the very far away white streak accross the sky kind, not the previously seen in the middle of a city filled with light pollution and looking like fireworks kind. But it still confirmed that indeed we had not seen a crash alien landing. Dang.
What was it actually? According to Mediatrix P. Cristobal in Bits of Halley's comet spark up October sky
"The Orionids meteor shower is capable of producing interesting activity from October 17-25," the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in its monthly astronomical diary, said.
The Orionids are fast meteors and can produce fireballs. At maximum rates, the shower may reach 10 meteors per hour that may be observed at favorable sky condition, but sometimes there are lulls even during the traditional maximum peak nights of October 21-22.”
What was it actually? According to Mediatrix P. Cristobal in Bits of Halley's comet spark up October sky
"The Orionids meteor shower is capable of producing interesting activity from October 17-25," the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in its monthly astronomical diary, said.
The Orionids are fast meteors and can produce fireballs. At maximum rates, the shower may reach 10 meteors per hour that may be observed at favorable sky condition, but sometimes there are lulls even during the traditional maximum peak nights of October 21-22.”
Oct 8, 2008
Drink!
I had roller derby practice, Dan had a meeting. We both raced home directly after to see the recorded presidential debate. I popped a bag of kettle corn and grabbed two beers on the way to the couch. Dan put head phones on Ella and plugged her into Mulan on the computer. We all stayed up late watching intently. Dan and I were glad we didn't go with the plan of doing a shot every time someone said "Fundamental," we had things to get done today.
Oct 7, 2008
Fun with Color
Check it out, I was at this website for hours experimenting with color. I don't feel like it's something I fully understand yet. I studied the color wheel and love to use color and can put things together pretty well but here's what I really don't understand... what colors to use while painting to make skin/people look vibrant. I think I should be layering purples and greens and yellows but I'm not exactly sure, and it's not something I learned in three years of painting classes. Really we all just did a painting a week and then we all showed up to discuss it in a group, there wasn't really an emphasis on the classic styles or discussion about methodology. I mean one chick just smeared paint and ranted on about her ex-boyfriends for a whole semester while critiques became a little navel gazing group therapy for her every week. I guess I'm just saying I wish I would've learned a little more classic methodology instead of being accepting of any angst expressed on canvas, but I didn't run the class. Perhaps an illustration course would've given me more. I mean how did Maxfield Parish do it?! So anyway, I'm playing with this website and thinking I'd like to smear some paint around and see if I can accomplish something. The website might give me a good starting point for what tubes of paint to squeeze first.
Oct 6, 2008
Too Soon For This?
Ella: I can't go to school today because I'm a little sick.
Me: Oh no, I'll call the doctor and we'll get you a shot so you can feel better.
Ella: I don't wanna get a shot!
Me: Honey, I want you to get better.
Ella: But I'm not gonna be sick all day.
Me: How long are you gonna be sick?
Ella: When school is done I'm not gonna be sick anymore.
Me: Oh no, I'll call the doctor and we'll get you a shot so you can feel better.
Ella: I don't wanna get a shot!
Me: Honey, I want you to get better.
Ella: But I'm not gonna be sick all day.
Me: How long are you gonna be sick?
Ella: When school is done I'm not gonna be sick anymore.
Oct 4, 2008
Oct 3, 2008
6 Frustrating Things about the Debate
1. Just answer the question that was asked!
2. I'd like to say "Hi" to some 3rd graders who are stying up late and getting extra credit for this? (what? Who gives a shout out to 3rd graders during a serious debate about the future of health care, war, economy and the lives of millions of Americans? Thanks for taking it seriously.)
3. It's pronounced "New Clear" NOT "New Q Lur."
4. Only been at this for 5 weeks.
5. "Maverick" count 8.
2. I'd like to say "Hi" to some 3rd graders who are stying up late and getting extra credit for this? (what? Who gives a shout out to 3rd graders during a serious debate about the future of health care, war, economy and the lives of millions of Americans? Thanks for taking it seriously.)
3. It's pronounced "New Clear" NOT "New Q Lur."
4. Only been at this for 5 weeks.
5. "Maverick" count 8.
Oct 1, 2008
Overheard
While walking the kids to school yesterday:
Me: Wow, it's really chilly today!
Ella: Yes, I'm cold, my nose if freezing off.
Bouncing Boy: Yeah, I feel like Ice Man.
Cool Kitty: And I feel like Ice Girl.
Ella: I'm just regleear (sic) girl and cold.
Bouncing Boy: I'm using my Ice Man powers and shooting ice rays at you.
Ella: Stop it! You don't have powers.
Bouncing Boy: Yes I do. I drank Power-aid today.
Me: Wow, it's really chilly today!
Ella: Yes, I'm cold, my nose if freezing off.
Bouncing Boy: Yeah, I feel like Ice Man.
Cool Kitty: And I feel like Ice Girl.
Ella: I'm just regleear (sic) girl and cold.
Bouncing Boy: I'm using my Ice Man powers and shooting ice rays at you.
Ella: Stop it! You don't have powers.
Bouncing Boy: Yes I do. I drank Power-aid today.
Why So Serious?
Halloween costumes I'm considering talking Dan into this year...
McCain & Palin (ooooo Scary with a capital S!)
Blown up Racheal Daws & the Joker
Dancing With Stars Contestants
McCain & Palin (ooooo Scary with a capital S!)
Blown up Racheal Daws & the Joker
Dancing With Stars Contestants
Sep 29, 2008
Mid Iowa Rollers vs Omaha Rollergirls
First of all can I say the room MIR gave us was wonderful. I slept like a rock and I'm sure I would've even had I not had 3 beers and 2 shots, skated in a bout that evening and danced until I almost dropped at the afterbout party. We played hard and it was a fairly tight game with the score at 39 - 51 at the end of the first period. In the second period Omaha pulled ahead by quite a bit, we were serving penalties like crazy and had a few jams with our jammer in penalty. I bonked my cheek bone on the top of someone's helmet when we both went down and iced it in between jams but no mark, just a little tender to the touch and I kept playing anyway. Coach Big Truck gave us some solid advice and in the third period and C-Tal Fa-Tal (MIR jammer) grabbed lead jammer a couple of times scoring as well as holding off Omaha's jammer and stopping their rampant scoring. Final score was something like 82 - 140 (I'll have to double check on that.) It was a great match up, lots of passion (I think Disturb Ya #420 broke her thumb she was playing so hard), no major injuries and many smiles, bruises and high fives afterward.
Sep 26, 2008
Sep 25, 2008
Three Things
I have entirely too much reading and Teevoed viewing to catch up on. Tomorrow night, I am going to stay home and vegitate in front of the Presidential Debates, two weeks of Project Runway and the season premier of the Office. Then I'll put The Incredibles in for the kiddo and read blogs until my eyes scream for mercy. Then I'll put my head phones on and listen to two hours of This American Life and then I will colapse into one giant heap of entertained happiness.
***
Me and my skatey ladies Tally Turmoil, Redneck B. Yotch and Jackie O'No are traveling out to Des Moines this Saturday night to sub for the Mid Iowa Rollers against the Omaha Rollergirls. I'm excited to be bouting, I'm on my third season and Tally, Red and Jackie are beginning their second seasons so we are used to skating together and Mid Iowa played against us twice last season, we won one at home and they won one at their house, so the skill level is about the same. It's be especially nice because we have a slew of new skaters on the Divas this season and it'll be a few months at least before we are able to even scrimmage against each other even in practice. (I'll be fine Mom - I promise)
***
I am descending on WI in two weeks to walk door to door for Obama, his campaign called and asked me to and since I don't have any money to give, I'll give him my time. While we were in Florida we saw campaign commercials from both sides at every commercial break and yard signs galore even on the island. Even those t-shirt shops that have all the Lazy Lizard and Shark Bait shirts hanging under all the wind chimes made with shells had campaign shirts in the windows. Illinois is never a swing state, we just don't get any of the fun.
***
Me and my skatey ladies Tally Turmoil, Redneck B. Yotch and Jackie O'No are traveling out to Des Moines this Saturday night to sub for the Mid Iowa Rollers against the Omaha Rollergirls. I'm excited to be bouting, I'm on my third season and Tally, Red and Jackie are beginning their second seasons so we are used to skating together and Mid Iowa played against us twice last season, we won one at home and they won one at their house, so the skill level is about the same. It's be especially nice because we have a slew of new skaters on the Divas this season and it'll be a few months at least before we are able to even scrimmage against each other even in practice. (I'll be fine Mom - I promise)***
I am descending on WI in two weeks to walk door to door for Obama, his campaign called and asked me to and since I don't have any money to give, I'll give him my time. While we were in Florida we saw campaign commercials from both sides at every commercial break and yard signs galore even on the island. Even those t-shirt shops that have all the Lazy Lizard and Shark Bait shirts hanging under all the wind chimes made with shells had campaign shirts in the windows. Illinois is never a swing state, we just don't get any of the fun.
Sep 24, 2008
"If you find enough sand dollars you can buy a sand castle" - Ella
We spent a whirlwind three days at Disney Word and two and a half days winding down from Disney at the Sunburst Inn located on the softest, whitest, shell filled beach on the Gulf Coast. It was a week filled with princesses and pirates and fireworks and family and fresh grouper sandwiches and wild dolphins and sting rays and piña coladas and believe it or not on the last day we were home sick.
Sep 23, 2008
Micky Mouse and Soft White Sand
I'm back from a week in Florida today, checking my 400 e-mails and catching up on the world. I'll post soon.
Sep 15, 2008
Ms. Ogynist-Pig
Tell me what feminist does this?
"...Eight years ago, complaints about charging rape victims for medical exams in Wasilla prompted the Alaska legislature to pass a bill - signed into law by Knowles - that banned the practice statewide.
"There was one town in Alaska that was charging victims for this, and that was Wasilla," Knowles said
A May 23, 2000, article in Wasilla's newspaper, The Frontiersman, noted that Alaska state troopers and most municipal police agencies regularly pay for such exams, which cost between $300 and $1,200 apiece.
"(But) the Wasilla Police Department does charge the victims of sexual assault for the tests," the newspaper reported.
It also quoted Wasilla Police Chief Charlie Fannon objecting to the law. Fannon was appointed to his position by Palin after her dismissal of the previous police chief. He said it would cost Wasilla $5,000 to $14,000 a year if the city had to foot the bill for rape exams.
"In the past we've charged the cost of exams to the victims' insurance company when possible," Fannon told the newspaper. "I just don't want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer."..."
and then follows it up with this!
"Palin On Abortion: I'd Oppose Even If My Own Daughter Was Raped...
...the soon-to-be governor said she would fund abstinence-only education programs in schools. "The explicit sex-ed programs," she added, "will not find my support."...
in line with John McCain's own stances. The Senator is against federal funding of birth control and sex education. He has called for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and received a zero rating from NARAL.
Once, aboard the Straight Talk Express, McCain was asked if he supported the use of contraception or President Bush's abstinence-only education program to stem the spreading of AIDS.
"After a long pause, he said, 'I think I support the president's policy.'..."
"...Eight years ago, complaints about charging rape victims for medical exams in Wasilla prompted the Alaska legislature to pass a bill - signed into law by Knowles - that banned the practice statewide.
"There was one town in Alaska that was charging victims for this, and that was Wasilla," Knowles said
A May 23, 2000, article in Wasilla's newspaper, The Frontiersman, noted that Alaska state troopers and most municipal police agencies regularly pay for such exams, which cost between $300 and $1,200 apiece.
"(But) the Wasilla Police Department does charge the victims of sexual assault for the tests," the newspaper reported.
It also quoted Wasilla Police Chief Charlie Fannon objecting to the law. Fannon was appointed to his position by Palin after her dismissal of the previous police chief. He said it would cost Wasilla $5,000 to $14,000 a year if the city had to foot the bill for rape exams.
"In the past we've charged the cost of exams to the victims' insurance company when possible," Fannon told the newspaper. "I just don't want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer."..."
and then follows it up with this!
"Palin On Abortion: I'd Oppose Even If My Own Daughter Was Raped...
...the soon-to-be governor said she would fund abstinence-only education programs in schools. "The explicit sex-ed programs," she added, "will not find my support."...
in line with John McCain's own stances. The Senator is against federal funding of birth control and sex education. He has called for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and received a zero rating from NARAL.
Once, aboard the Straight Talk Express, McCain was asked if he supported the use of contraception or President Bush's abstinence-only education program to stem the spreading of AIDS.
"After a long pause, he said, 'I think I support the president's policy.'..."
Sep 14, 2008
Sep 12, 2008
Not the First Time
"Why is your hair all sticky? What is it your hair?"
"Sucker."
"Why is there sucker in your hair?"
"Because I was coloring and I didn't have any place to put my sucker down and so I set it on my head."
"Where is it now?"
"I ate it."
Also see very short post from November 2005 called Savin' it for later.
"Sucker."
"Why is there sucker in your hair?"
"Because I was coloring and I didn't have any place to put my sucker down and so I set it on my head."
"Where is it now?"
"I ate it."
Also see very short post from November 2005 called Savin' it for later.
Sep 11, 2008
Oh Sweet Debate thy Essence is too Alluring, I Yield and Permit Myself to Find Fire in Your Company Again
My favorite Exceprt from the Salon article
Zombie feminists of the RNC
How did Sarah Palin become a symbol of women's empowerment? And how did I, a die-hard feminist, end up terrified at the idea of a woman in the White House?
By Rebecca Traister
"...It's true that the last time I had this kind of visceral yearning for a politician to save the day was on the evening of Sept. 11, when the only person whose face I wanted to see on my television was Bill Clinton's. Perhaps when the Clintons took office in my 18th year, they became imprinted on my brain as my presidential parent-figures, my ur-protectors. But it's hard not to notice that if that's the case, it's Bill I want to nurture and soothe me, and Hillary I want to show up, guns blazing Ripley-style, to surprise the mother alien just as she is about to feast on independent voters, protectively shouting, "Get away from them, you bitch!"
There I go again with the hyper-feminized anxieties. I think it's mostly that I want Hillary Clinton -- the imperfect history maker whose major selling points for "First Woman..." status, in retrospect, included the fact that she was not a Republican, not pro-life, did not believe in teaching creationism alongside evolution, had never inquired about the feasibility of banning books, understood the American economy, supported universal healthcare and did not kill wolves from planes -- to make Sarah Palin go away and stop threatening to make history I don't want to see made.
It is infuriating that Clinton, her supporters and, yes, also those Obama supporters who voiced their displeasure at the sexist treatment Clinton sometimes received, and also female voters, and also females full stop, are being implicated in feminism's bastardization..."
Also, yes I took down my new diatribe, from the other day. I'm still sorting out where I sit and how I feel about it. I suppose I'm not comfortable leaving it up because I keep flip flopping in my own mind on the subject depending on what day you ask me and what I read last and so I didn't feel like it was exactly fair for me to leave it up if I wasn't 100% behind it.
What I am 100% sure of is this, I am voting D, because I miss prosperity and peace and because I think we should help each other. If I have bread and you need some, have some of mine.
Zombie feminists of the RNC
How did Sarah Palin become a symbol of women's empowerment? And how did I, a die-hard feminist, end up terrified at the idea of a woman in the White House?
By Rebecca Traister
"...It's true that the last time I had this kind of visceral yearning for a politician to save the day was on the evening of Sept. 11, when the only person whose face I wanted to see on my television was Bill Clinton's. Perhaps when the Clintons took office in my 18th year, they became imprinted on my brain as my presidential parent-figures, my ur-protectors. But it's hard not to notice that if that's the case, it's Bill I want to nurture and soothe me, and Hillary I want to show up, guns blazing Ripley-style, to surprise the mother alien just as she is about to feast on independent voters, protectively shouting, "Get away from them, you bitch!"
There I go again with the hyper-feminized anxieties. I think it's mostly that I want Hillary Clinton -- the imperfect history maker whose major selling points for "First Woman..." status, in retrospect, included the fact that she was not a Republican, not pro-life, did not believe in teaching creationism alongside evolution, had never inquired about the feasibility of banning books, understood the American economy, supported universal healthcare and did not kill wolves from planes -- to make Sarah Palin go away and stop threatening to make history I don't want to see made.
It is infuriating that Clinton, her supporters and, yes, also those Obama supporters who voiced their displeasure at the sexist treatment Clinton sometimes received, and also female voters, and also females full stop, are being implicated in feminism's bastardization..."
***
Also, yes I took down my new diatribe, from the other day. I'm still sorting out where I sit and how I feel about it. I suppose I'm not comfortable leaving it up because I keep flip flopping in my own mind on the subject depending on what day you ask me and what I read last and so I didn't feel like it was exactly fair for me to leave it up if I wasn't 100% behind it.
What I am 100% sure of is this, I am voting D, because I miss prosperity and peace and because I think we should help each other. If I have bread and you need some, have some of mine.
Back to the normal junk I usually post about
I went and saw Disaster Movie last night. Mostly because we had already seen everything else that was playing that was of any interest. I went in expecting the movie version of a MAD Magazine and actually got the 6th graders version of the movie version of MAD Magazine. my advice... don't even rent it. It was soo bad I am nt even going to be bothered to link to it. But then again how bad can an evening out with your husband at the taco shop and the movies whilst Grandma is hanging out with the kid be? So I should be careful not to complain to much. (Thanks Mom.)
What I did see that was interesting is the first teen movie in a long time that looked "cool." Up until now the younger crowd has been easily been written off as totaly un-hip Justin/Brittany/Sponge Bob loving freaks that weren't around when the REAL cool stuff was happening and I never paid any mind. But suddenly there is a movie that gives me hope that some of these youngsters are cool, complcated, fresh and funny people.
This isn't the only part of my discovery, the other part is this: they all look like they are 14, making it painfully clear how far away I am from club hopping, running around town with my boyfriend and driving a beat up old hatchback full of shenanigans. I usually don't ever miss those days. I like dependable cars and the relative predictability of my saftey and I don't think you could pay enough me to go back to that uncertain age of 22, but something about this movie makes me want to be young now in 2008 with these people and now I am really looking forward to seeing Nick and Nora's Infinate Playlist.
While the movie American Teen promised to be the new Breakfast Club, new generations don't need the new and improved (fill in the blank of whatever was cool before.) That's like saying GenXers should get excited for the new and improved Easy Rider. Nope, just doesn't work. Each generation get's a new movie that we all fall in love with and I think this one may be it. Nick and Nora's Infinate Playlist opens in October 3rd.
What I did see that was interesting is the first teen movie in a long time that looked "cool." Up until now the younger crowd has been easily been written off as totaly un-hip Justin/Brittany/Sponge Bob loving freaks that weren't around when the REAL cool stuff was happening and I never paid any mind. But suddenly there is a movie that gives me hope that some of these youngsters are cool, complcated, fresh and funny people.
This isn't the only part of my discovery, the other part is this: they all look like they are 14, making it painfully clear how far away I am from club hopping, running around town with my boyfriend and driving a beat up old hatchback full of shenanigans. I usually don't ever miss those days. I like dependable cars and the relative predictability of my saftey and I don't think you could pay enough me to go back to that uncertain age of 22, but something about this movie makes me want to be young now in 2008 with these people and now I am really looking forward to seeing Nick and Nora's Infinate Playlist.
While the movie American Teen promised to be the new Breakfast Club, new generations don't need the new and improved (fill in the blank of whatever was cool before.) That's like saying GenXers should get excited for the new and improved Easy Rider. Nope, just doesn't work. Each generation get's a new movie that we all fall in love with and I think this one may be it. Nick and Nora's Infinate Playlist opens in October 3rd.
Sep 10, 2008
Confession of My Changed Mind & New Diatribe
And I have a total confession to make. I am judging Palin based on her personal life and her commitment to her family.
I should clarify, I've recently found I judge politicians based in two hemispheres the logical and the emotional totally contradicting my own post a few weeks back. Sometimes one outweighs the other. In Bill Clinton’s case the logical outweighed the emotional for me. The logical debate is easy to talk about and make, just read the Republican Party Platform (PDF) and the Democratic Party Platform and you can see the differences. The personal issues are much more delicate and need more explanation and are sometimes scary to talk about for fear that we are being unfair, bigoted or misogynistic.
The Logical half of me agrees with none of Palin’s policies, including her propensity to be against "earmarks." A very large earmark for $250,000.00 is what is keeping my water bill from doubling this year because Barak Obama and Dick Durbin earmarked the money for our tiny town's new sewer plant. It was an incredible feat for a town of 2,000 people to get that kind of windfall, but Durbin knows us and we already pay more for our water that people in AZ do. Our monthly bill is around $80.00 for a family of three. So we here in tiny town LOVE the earmarks. I won't even start to talk about abortion, foreign policy or the environment; we've all been there and know her policies are the same as 50 years of republican platform.
The emotional half of me sees a woman with five children, two of which need special care, a newborn with downs syndrome and a teen that is pregnant. Either of those things would require a lot of attention and dedication from the entire family. I fully understand when people have to work and need to get childcare so that can make their house payment and put food on the table, it's a choice they make to keep everyone afloat, I grew up in a dual income home. But I do not understand a parent ANY PARENT male or female putting their career in front of the well being of their children.
Let me say that when my brother got cancer both of my parents wanted to spend every minute with us children. The jobs they worked at reflected exactly what our family needed and when the travel to the hospital became too exhausting and the situation extreme, like the Obamas have done during campaign season, my parents had the good sense to send me to spend time with my Grandparents.
People make their own priorities and have to recognize their limits. Yes, at first it may seem like a double standard for the Obama’s to send the girls to live with Grandma during campaign season and that’s ok with me, versus Palin and her five kids. However, I think the situation is very different. The Obamas recognize Michelle needs help and they recruited another family member to help. The Palins have an extreme circumstance, they have five children and two with special needs and they keep insisting everything is hunky dory. In the mean time Palin’s driving around with her newborn in her lap and abusing her niece/nephew by making disparaging remarks to the children about their Dad. Even Joe Biden the Bulldog’s initial response was to put off his Senate seat when his children needed him most.
Now, one could argue that Plain’s children have the best care a Governor could pay for and a very capable stay at home Dad, but I stay home with one child and I can't imagine staying home with five and two of them with special needs. I demand the respect, help and support of my spouse and I mean very specific things by help and support, because saying you support someone and sharing your income with them isn't it. I mean, getting up in the middle of the night with the baby, coming straight home from work to be here for dinner and homework, giving me time off from my job to get out of the house, doing a few loads of laundry, playing board games with us all, being in the house when the baby poos in the tub and the dog needs to go out and the phone is ringing all at the same time, all of the wonderful tasks that make us a family and not just roommates who eat the same groceries and screw occasionally.
By no means am I suggesting I am the norm and because I couldn't handle it the Palins can't, but I am saying that I have lived in an extreme situation with a sibling that had special needs and I am a parent and these are the experinces I have to aid in my judgment.
So publicly I may not feel completely comfortable saying I don't think Palin is a good parent because I’m worried that the initial reaction may be calling me a misogynist, but if she had a penis I'm pretty sure I would be saying the same thing. My husband would and has passed on jobs that paid more, with better titles to be here, largely participating in raising his child because that's where our priorities are right now. Yes, he has ambition and goals and so do I. They are something that we have the luxury of putting off until we can and want to spend more time away from the house and family life.
Perhaps this is the inherent difference between me and Palin. To me children are something one plans* and enjoys spending time working at and it seems to me that Palin thinks children are something that happen to you, something God plans for you and something she copes with. This is not putting into question her love for her children; it is directly questioning her judgment and commitment. The way her children are prioritized in her life says something about her character, the same way finding out a politician is having an affair can say something about their character. I can't ignore it and I don't think it's fair for people to ask me too.
So there, I've confessed. I think Sarah Palin’s priorities are not in line with what I expect from a leader. I don’t think she upholds any of the same family values I have and I think she has poor judgment. I also think that if McCain can't see this he also has poor judgement.
*or in the case of an unplanned pregnancy somethng you have the good sense to adjust your plans for,
I should clarify, I've recently found I judge politicians based in two hemispheres the logical and the emotional totally contradicting my own post a few weeks back. Sometimes one outweighs the other. In Bill Clinton’s case the logical outweighed the emotional for me. The logical debate is easy to talk about and make, just read the Republican Party Platform (PDF) and the Democratic Party Platform and you can see the differences. The personal issues are much more delicate and need more explanation and are sometimes scary to talk about for fear that we are being unfair, bigoted or misogynistic.
The Logical half of me agrees with none of Palin’s policies, including her propensity to be against "earmarks." A very large earmark for $250,000.00 is what is keeping my water bill from doubling this year because Barak Obama and Dick Durbin earmarked the money for our tiny town's new sewer plant. It was an incredible feat for a town of 2,000 people to get that kind of windfall, but Durbin knows us and we already pay more for our water that people in AZ do. Our monthly bill is around $80.00 for a family of three. So we here in tiny town LOVE the earmarks. I won't even start to talk about abortion, foreign policy or the environment; we've all been there and know her policies are the same as 50 years of republican platform.
The emotional half of me sees a woman with five children, two of which need special care, a newborn with downs syndrome and a teen that is pregnant. Either of those things would require a lot of attention and dedication from the entire family. I fully understand when people have to work and need to get childcare so that can make their house payment and put food on the table, it's a choice they make to keep everyone afloat, I grew up in a dual income home. But I do not understand a parent ANY PARENT male or female putting their career in front of the well being of their children.
Let me say that when my brother got cancer both of my parents wanted to spend every minute with us children. The jobs they worked at reflected exactly what our family needed and when the travel to the hospital became too exhausting and the situation extreme, like the Obamas have done during campaign season, my parents had the good sense to send me to spend time with my Grandparents.
People make their own priorities and have to recognize their limits. Yes, at first it may seem like a double standard for the Obama’s to send the girls to live with Grandma during campaign season and that’s ok with me, versus Palin and her five kids. However, I think the situation is very different. The Obamas recognize Michelle needs help and they recruited another family member to help. The Palins have an extreme circumstance, they have five children and two with special needs and they keep insisting everything is hunky dory. In the mean time Palin’s driving around with her newborn in her lap and abusing her niece/nephew by making disparaging remarks to the children about their Dad. Even Joe Biden the Bulldog’s initial response was to put off his Senate seat when his children needed him most.
Now, one could argue that Plain’s children have the best care a Governor could pay for and a very capable stay at home Dad, but I stay home with one child and I can't imagine staying home with five and two of them with special needs. I demand the respect, help and support of my spouse and I mean very specific things by help and support, because saying you support someone and sharing your income with them isn't it. I mean, getting up in the middle of the night with the baby, coming straight home from work to be here for dinner and homework, giving me time off from my job to get out of the house, doing a few loads of laundry, playing board games with us all, being in the house when the baby poos in the tub and the dog needs to go out and the phone is ringing all at the same time, all of the wonderful tasks that make us a family and not just roommates who eat the same groceries and screw occasionally.
By no means am I suggesting I am the norm and because I couldn't handle it the Palins can't, but I am saying that I have lived in an extreme situation with a sibling that had special needs and I am a parent and these are the experinces I have to aid in my judgment.
So publicly I may not feel completely comfortable saying I don't think Palin is a good parent because I’m worried that the initial reaction may be calling me a misogynist, but if she had a penis I'm pretty sure I would be saying the same thing. My husband would and has passed on jobs that paid more, with better titles to be here, largely participating in raising his child because that's where our priorities are right now. Yes, he has ambition and goals and so do I. They are something that we have the luxury of putting off until we can and want to spend more time away from the house and family life.
Perhaps this is the inherent difference between me and Palin. To me children are something one plans* and enjoys spending time working at and it seems to me that Palin thinks children are something that happen to you, something God plans for you and something she copes with. This is not putting into question her love for her children; it is directly questioning her judgment and commitment. The way her children are prioritized in her life says something about her character, the same way finding out a politician is having an affair can say something about their character. I can't ignore it and I don't think it's fair for people to ask me too.
So there, I've confessed. I think Sarah Palin’s priorities are not in line with what I expect from a leader. I don’t think she upholds any of the same family values I have and I think she has poor judgment. I also think that if McCain can't see this he also has poor judgement.
*or in the case of an unplanned pregnancy somethng you have the good sense to adjust your plans for,
Sep 9, 2008
A First Class Screwing
Hello bloggies, I know I've been on a political tangent for some time and I can't help it. The conventions are over and now we just have the long slog up to the debates (I can hardly wait!) Today I'm going to try super hard to not check CNN 40 times and besides my family is scheduled to be make landfall in FL soon and so I should really start packing. Its cool enough here that we aren't wearing our shorts anymore so I it makes sense.
OH! My dear husband spent hours on the phone with Travelocity again yesterday. We ordered plane tickets through them in May and after the flight was changed around no less than three times the flights were cancelled all together as the airline stopped serving Orlando and get this... they haven't refunded our money yet. After much customer service arguing, Dan finally climbed the frustration ladder to the call center manager who informed Dan for the first time ever we didn't get a refund because we hadn't returned the paper ticket (that we never requested in the first place, who still uses paper tickets?! That's soo 1996.)
No one ever asked for the totally useless, there is no flight, paper tickets to be returned and the manager apologized for that and gave us $150.00 to use at Travelocity to make up for it. Which is real nice accept we can't use it for renting a car or getting a cheap flight or upgrading our current flight or anything that would be useful to us in the least. He might have well given us a three night’s stay on the moon but no way to get there so as far as I'm concerned Travelocity can go call itself.
In the mean time we overnighted the tickets back and our $700.00 is lost in red tape hell and is now money we will not be spending in FL. I called the credit card company and refuted the charge telling them the story they said they'd open an investigation and put a freeze on the amount and while they agreed it was some bull pucky I was being put through, it would still take 6-8 weeks to resolve the ticket dispute for items I bought in MAY! And the travel industry wonders why people aren't participating in their little S&M game anymore.
OH! My dear husband spent hours on the phone with Travelocity again yesterday. We ordered plane tickets through them in May and after the flight was changed around no less than three times the flights were cancelled all together as the airline stopped serving Orlando and get this... they haven't refunded our money yet. After much customer service arguing, Dan finally climbed the frustration ladder to the call center manager who informed Dan for the first time ever we didn't get a refund because we hadn't returned the paper ticket (that we never requested in the first place, who still uses paper tickets?! That's soo 1996.)
No one ever asked for the totally useless, there is no flight, paper tickets to be returned and the manager apologized for that and gave us $150.00 to use at Travelocity to make up for it. Which is real nice accept we can't use it for renting a car or getting a cheap flight or upgrading our current flight or anything that would be useful to us in the least. He might have well given us a three night’s stay on the moon but no way to get there so as far as I'm concerned Travelocity can go call itself.
In the mean time we overnighted the tickets back and our $700.00 is lost in red tape hell and is now money we will not be spending in FL. I called the credit card company and refuted the charge telling them the story they said they'd open an investigation and put a freeze on the amount and while they agreed it was some bull pucky I was being put through, it would still take 6-8 weeks to resolve the ticket dispute for items I bought in MAY! And the travel industry wonders why people aren't participating in their little S&M game anymore.
Sep 7, 2008
Sep 6, 2008
Gross Anatomy
On Friday I walked the children to preschool school and on the way asked them what they brought for show and tell.
F: I brought a very cute stuffed animal mommy kitty cat and her kitten
N: I brought my bat man gloves
My kid: I brought my science book full of human body diagrams and my imaginary friend Shang.
I'm not sure what to say about this beyond thinking about Wednesday Adams.
F: I brought a very cute stuffed animal mommy kitty cat and her kitten
N: I brought my bat man gloves
My kid: I brought my science book full of human body diagrams and my imaginary friend Shang.
I'm not sure what to say about this beyond thinking about Wednesday Adams.
Sep 5, 2008
New Paint isn't Enough
Ok McCain you tell me which time were you lying? In these clips or last night?
He has no idea how right he was when he said "We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us." While I believe in the last few months McCain received the message loud and clear that this country is ready to for a change I hope the people screaming for it see that no matter how much new paint and pin-striping he throws on that old Studebaker it won't ever become a high-bred. Even if there's a cute young chick driving it, it's always gonna be slow, need lots of repairs and burn oil.
Sep 4, 2008
Say Mavrick One More &#&!@*$ Time!
In case you missed Palin's speech last night, you didn't miss much beyond cheap jabs and the usual retoric. Here's the condensed version:
Hi I'm Sara Palin, I'm normal just like you and so's my entire family wich I will now intorduce for 10 minutes. I support the miltary and am a fiesty maverick too. The guy I'm running against had big styrofoam collums at his speech, what a liberal eleitist jerk, plus he's gonna forfeit a war we are already winning, talk shit about you behind your back and raise your taxes alot, and that'll suck for my sister who just opened a gas station just like many of you other small business owners. In closing I'm mavericky and so is John McCain, we are the most mavricky mavricks that ever mavricked and that's a good thing... 9/11 and mavrick.
Keith Olberman put it perfectly after her speech last night when he said if she's gonna talk like a fighter then she shouldn't be surprised when the Democrats come out swinging. I can hardly wait for her and Biden to debate, he's going to chew her up. So I'm turning my attention back to McCain and going to make a prediction about the speech he'll give tonight. I bet it'll go like this:
I'm a regular dude just like you, all mavricky and regular getting in trouble at school and at the bottom of my class and stuff, oh accept for that part where I'm a war hero, and married to a blonde billionaire that's not so regular, but I feel mavricky and that's regular! I'm more experienced cause I've been working in Washington a longtime but wait!... but I'm totally new too. I never back down from a fight and don't play well with others, and that's mavricky. Besides, you don't want a president that can work well with the other branches that run the government, you want one who will totally be all like "What... What are you looking at nerd!" and then jump towards them with flexed muscles and make them flinch and then yell "Thought so beeyotch!" Plus, Obama's gonna totally call you a slut behind your back. I'm a stright talker I'll do it to your face! Cause I'm a mavrick and I'm gonna change stuff, win a war and give you money. Mavrick!
Hi I'm Sara Palin, I'm normal just like you and so's my entire family wich I will now intorduce for 10 minutes. I support the miltary and am a fiesty maverick too. The guy I'm running against had big styrofoam collums at his speech, what a liberal eleitist jerk, plus he's gonna forfeit a war we are already winning, talk shit about you behind your back and raise your taxes alot, and that'll suck for my sister who just opened a gas station just like many of you other small business owners. In closing I'm mavericky and so is John McCain, we are the most mavricky mavricks that ever mavricked and that's a good thing... 9/11 and mavrick.
Keith Olberman put it perfectly after her speech last night when he said if she's gonna talk like a fighter then she shouldn't be surprised when the Democrats come out swinging. I can hardly wait for her and Biden to debate, he's going to chew her up. So I'm turning my attention back to McCain and going to make a prediction about the speech he'll give tonight. I bet it'll go like this:
I'm a regular dude just like you, all mavricky and regular getting in trouble at school and at the bottom of my class and stuff, oh accept for that part where I'm a war hero, and married to a blonde billionaire that's not so regular, but I feel mavricky and that's regular! I'm more experienced cause I've been working in Washington a longtime but wait!... but I'm totally new too. I never back down from a fight and don't play well with others, and that's mavricky. Besides, you don't want a president that can work well with the other branches that run the government, you want one who will totally be all like "What... What are you looking at nerd!" and then jump towards them with flexed muscles and make them flinch and then yell "Thought so beeyotch!" Plus, Obama's gonna totally call you a slut behind your back. I'm a stright talker I'll do it to your face! Cause I'm a mavrick and I'm gonna change stuff, win a war and give you money. Mavrick!
Sep 3, 2008
Tell Us How You Really feel
Thanks Stroller Derby!
"Today on MSNBC, Peggy Noonan, WSJ columnist, and Mike Murphy, former McCain adviser, were caught with their mics on and their opinions on tape."
"Today on MSNBC, Peggy Noonan, WSJ columnist, and Mike Murphy, former McCain adviser, were caught with their mics on and their opinions on tape."
The Ministry of Truth Called
I watched the convention last night and heard the same ol' party platform accept they've thrown the word maverick in there. Here's what all the speeches I heard sounded like to me:
Fine young men and women serving this wonderful country, God, maverick, 9-11, drill for more oil, maverick, terrorists, tax relief, fine military, maverick, family values, surge, maverick, defend America.
Just because you throw the word maverick in there 400 bajillion times it doesn't make it a new platform or different ideas, these are traditional Republican ideals that McCain is trying to uphold while speaking to his base voters. Do we still require kids to read 1984 in school?
Fine young men and women serving this wonderful country, God, maverick, 9-11, drill for more oil, maverick, terrorists, tax relief, fine military, maverick, family values, surge, maverick, defend America.
Just because you throw the word maverick in there 400 bajillion times it doesn't make it a new platform or different ideas, these are traditional Republican ideals that McCain is trying to uphold while speaking to his base voters. Do we still require kids to read 1984 in school?
Sep 2, 2008
America First, then Alaska?
I've been barely able to step away from CNN for a week now. With all the getting to know Palin and the hurricane right on the tails of the DNC, I'm going to overdose on Anderson Cooper (what a way to go!) Despite my recent joking and video shenanigans I agree that some things are left untalked about and actually I wish the press would move on and pick up this story about Palin belonging to and promoting the Alaskan Independence Party. I think this little group goes beyond a neat little bunch of mavericks that love and promote the state of Alaska and moves more into that weird gun toting crazy militia territory. Ok yes, I am questioning the patriotism of the VP Candidate and I really wanted to move past that rudimentary portion of the debate but dangit if there isn't reason to ask for a response. If Obama has to confirm that he loves his country because he doesn't wear a lapel pin I think the GOP should have to answer to this!
Also: I heard this bit yesterday on CNN radio where Cambell Brown drills Tucker Bounds from the McCain campaign and wish I could've seen it live and today there is video!
BitchPHD posted today a link to a girl protesting at the RNC trying to give a cop a flower getting pepper sprayed. WTF?
Also: I heard this bit yesterday on CNN radio where Cambell Brown drills Tucker Bounds from the McCain campaign and wish I could've seen it live and today there is video!
BitchPHD posted today a link to a girl protesting at the RNC trying to give a cop a flower getting pepper sprayed. WTF?
Sep 1, 2008
Big Easy
Some places you vacation for the scenery and some places you visit for the people and the spirit of the place. New Orleans is one of those places. Yes, it has beautiful architecture and wonderful old houses and neighborhoods but what I remember most about being there was the people and the culture. We couldn't get a bad meal in New Orleans. I imagine any restaurant not serving divine fare closes up after the first meal is served. We felt like we danced through the daily while we were there, it seemed everywhere we walked jazz was ringing down the streets from musicians on the avenue or tucked into eateries serenading diners. It was a place where you could join any conversation that happened to be close to you and you could participate in any toast someone happened to give. Perhaps that's what was the best, we felt welcomed and included and cared for in every way, right down to the waitress in the diner who remembered us Yankees and had hash browns ready for breakfast instead of grits because we asked the day before.
As I type CNN reports the lower ninth ward is flooding again the levee has breached.
As I type CNN reports the lower ninth ward is flooding again the levee has breached.
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