Odd, I thought I would be much happier about it being Friday.
I think I am just really quite exhausted with this week.
It feels weird how the events have completely wiped me out.
And I am not just referring to the election, either.
Though thanks to Borsch and his challenge, I have still managed a workout everyday (except for the day after the Megathon - can I get a break on that?)
So I guess that's something.
Here's to a relaxing weekend for everyone - I suspect mine will include some dinner-for-one sushi, and take-home movies.
Later.
Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts
Friday, November 7, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Aftermath
Believe it or not, my absence today was not because I was in some sort of mourning for the events of last night. While the elections may not have gone the way I voted, I can still respect the historical significance of what happened.
I did, however, think about the ways in which this post would go. I thought about a lot of things that I can’t yet write about here because with emotions still so raw I would be inviting misinterpretations.
I thought about how McCain’s concession speech made me more sure of my choice for President – that he is the epitome of humility, grace and honor. And that even though Oprah chided those “not on the right side of history,” I nonetheless took part in the most historical election in history and made my voice heard.
And yes – to those that commented – I take back my comment that my vote didn’t count – my vote will always count. I was just overwhelmed in the moment with these last few months coming to a head – but I absolutely agree with you.
I thought about how curious (and sad) it was that people were oddly still shit talking McCain and Palin (and families) on Facebook, at the very moment Obama was calling on us as Americans to put aside our differences and unite.
I wondered if we would all be holding hands and swaying to a warm and fuzzy folk song if the election had gone the other way, or if we would instead be hearing screams of racism and voter fraud.
And while I listened to (celebratory?) gun shots go off, I was appreciative, in that moment, that I wouldn’t have to find out the answer to that question.
But – as I mentioned on Comm’s FB page - for all the things I saw and thought, I also saw many McCain and Obama supporters (many of whom I have gone toe-to-toe with) pause and reflect on the impact of last night, and truly take to heart the belief that we are witnessing something huge.
And I can appreciate their Hope. And hope, clearly, is a powerful thing.
And for all the debate in the last few months (and anxiety, and sleepless nights), in my heart of hearts, I truly hope– regardless of who won last night - that for the good of this country, things will start to turn around – not just in terms of the economy, but in terms of how we treat each other, how we see and overcome our perceived obstacles, how we far we push ourselves to dig down and “be better.”
After all, we constantly push ourselves to be better triathletes/runners, and now is our wake up call to be better Americans – keep paying attention, keep challenging, keep asking and expecting MORE of the people we elect.
I know for me personally – my education has just begun. I, like many, started to care this year. I started to rid myself of the belief that “ignorance is bliss.” I wanted to know about things like tax cuts and capital gains – I started to care about the direction of my future.
I hope that Obama's words stick with and inspire people longer than the Grant Park rally, and that if he can run a campaign based on Unity, then we as Americans can behave in ways that represent that.
After all, Obama is one man, and we are a nation of millions. Obama alone can't eradicate racism, he can't eliminate hate, he can't increase ethnic/racial/gender/sexual tolerance.
We, as Americans, can.
So while Obama may sign the bills into laws, we as citizens own the responsibility to "change" ourselves.
I did, however, think about the ways in which this post would go. I thought about a lot of things that I can’t yet write about here because with emotions still so raw I would be inviting misinterpretations.
I thought about how McCain’s concession speech made me more sure of my choice for President – that he is the epitome of humility, grace and honor. And that even though Oprah chided those “not on the right side of history,” I nonetheless took part in the most historical election in history and made my voice heard.
And yes – to those that commented – I take back my comment that my vote didn’t count – my vote will always count. I was just overwhelmed in the moment with these last few months coming to a head – but I absolutely agree with you.
I thought about how curious (and sad) it was that people were oddly still shit talking McCain and Palin (and families) on Facebook, at the very moment Obama was calling on us as Americans to put aside our differences and unite.
I wondered if we would all be holding hands and swaying to a warm and fuzzy folk song if the election had gone the other way, or if we would instead be hearing screams of racism and voter fraud.
And while I listened to (celebratory?) gun shots go off, I was appreciative, in that moment, that I wouldn’t have to find out the answer to that question.
But – as I mentioned on Comm’s FB page - for all the things I saw and thought, I also saw many McCain and Obama supporters (many of whom I have gone toe-to-toe with) pause and reflect on the impact of last night, and truly take to heart the belief that we are witnessing something huge.
And I can appreciate their Hope. And hope, clearly, is a powerful thing.
And for all the debate in the last few months (and anxiety, and sleepless nights), in my heart of hearts, I truly hope– regardless of who won last night - that for the good of this country, things will start to turn around – not just in terms of the economy, but in terms of how we treat each other, how we see and overcome our perceived obstacles, how we far we push ourselves to dig down and “be better.”
After all, we constantly push ourselves to be better triathletes/runners, and now is our wake up call to be better Americans – keep paying attention, keep challenging, keep asking and expecting MORE of the people we elect.
I know for me personally – my education has just begun. I, like many, started to care this year. I started to rid myself of the belief that “ignorance is bliss.” I wanted to know about things like tax cuts and capital gains – I started to care about the direction of my future.
I hope that Obama's words stick with and inspire people longer than the Grant Park rally, and that if he can run a campaign based on Unity, then we as Americans can behave in ways that represent that.
After all, Obama is one man, and we are a nation of millions. Obama alone can't eradicate racism, he can't eliminate hate, he can't increase ethnic/racial/gender/sexual tolerance.
We, as Americans, can.
So while Obama may sign the bills into laws, we as citizens own the responsibility to "change" ourselves.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Just Another Tuesday
World of Hurt
Three days later, and I still struggled to get out of bed. My quads just don't want to get with the program.
Maybe it's because I have one kidney, or maybe it's because I am not 25 anymore, but gosh, it sure is taking me considerably longer to recover from these little events.
Go Bother Someone Else
Knock- knock.
Who’s there?
Wedding.
Wedding? Fuck you, no one’s home.
And so goes the planning….
My Voice
So I rocked the vote today – P. Diddy would be proud.
But I have to admit that I was oddly emotional.
Maybe it was because today was one of the most (weather-wise) beautiful days, and those always make me a little more sappy.
Or because my polling place is next door (literally) to the house I grew up in, called home for 30 years, and haven’t seen since we sold it last year. And it looks so different…
Or because I forgot how truly breathtakingly beautiful my old neighborhood is, more so with all the colorful leaves.
Or because when the officials pulled my name, it was right next to my dad’s name, and I had to tell the polling people he was dead (and yes, I stood there and made sure they wrote "deceased" and his death date on it - I may be emotional but I am no fool).
Or because as I cast my vote, I knew that, in the state of Illinois, it didn’t really matter.
Or because all of this is really happening, and on the day I should feel so powerful a US citizen, I feel so powerless.
Whatever it was, I certainly had a reaction today.
And as I drove away (only after I peeked in the backyard of my old home), I took comfort in the fact that at least I cared this year, at least I paid attention, at least I didn’t just sit on my ass and let everyone else make the decision for me, and then complain afterwards.
My right as a US citizen is to vote, and I used it today.
And THAT, my friends, is Patriotic.
(UPDATE: I am really quite disturbed that the Chicago media - and a lot of national media- have already declared Obama a victor - and it's only 430pm here in Chicago, with several hours left to go before polls close. Moreover, they refer to his Grant Park rally as his victory celebration. But yeah, I mean, the media hasn't really been in the tank at all so I am sure this is a just a slip of the tongue).
Three days later, and I still struggled to get out of bed. My quads just don't want to get with the program.
Maybe it's because I have one kidney, or maybe it's because I am not 25 anymore, but gosh, it sure is taking me considerably longer to recover from these little events.
Go Bother Someone Else
Knock- knock.
Who’s there?
Wedding.
Wedding? Fuck you, no one’s home.
And so goes the planning….
My Voice
So I rocked the vote today – P. Diddy would be proud.
But I have to admit that I was oddly emotional.
Maybe it was because today was one of the most (weather-wise) beautiful days, and those always make me a little more sappy.
Or because my polling place is next door (literally) to the house I grew up in, called home for 30 years, and haven’t seen since we sold it last year. And it looks so different…
Or because I forgot how truly breathtakingly beautiful my old neighborhood is, more so with all the colorful leaves.
Or because when the officials pulled my name, it was right next to my dad’s name, and I had to tell the polling people he was dead (and yes, I stood there and made sure they wrote "deceased" and his death date on it - I may be emotional but I am no fool).
Or because as I cast my vote, I knew that, in the state of Illinois, it didn’t really matter.
Or because all of this is really happening, and on the day I should feel so powerful a US citizen, I feel so powerless.
Whatever it was, I certainly had a reaction today.
And as I drove away (only after I peeked in the backyard of my old home), I took comfort in the fact that at least I cared this year, at least I paid attention, at least I didn’t just sit on my ass and let everyone else make the decision for me, and then complain afterwards.
My right as a US citizen is to vote, and I used it today.
And THAT, my friends, is Patriotic.
(UPDATE: I am really quite disturbed that the Chicago media - and a lot of national media- have already declared Obama a victor - and it's only 430pm here in Chicago, with several hours left to go before polls close. Moreover, they refer to his Grant Park rally as his victory celebration. But yeah, I mean, the media hasn't really been in the tank at all so I am sure this is a just a slip of the tongue).
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Red
Today was one of those days where my rage far surpassed any type of rage I may have ever had towards anybody.
Ever.
I mean, there was probably not a single person I didn't hate today for some reason or another.
(okay fine, except for the girl I interviewed that just came into foster care - I just wanted to give her a big hug, and hi-five the foster mom who just loves the pants off this kid)
But then it was right back to rage.
Blood red.
And to make it worse, every turn I made in my car, every decision I made about things as insignficant as where to get my next cup of coffee - EVERY SINGLE thing- just was wrong.
Things I Hate Today:
My clothes that don't fit
The traffic I spent four hours in
Parents that can't take care of children and fuck them up
This election
People that think they are the Pope
The food damage I did over the last few weeks
Swimming
The fact that I am doing everything I can to waste all those months of fitness
Ignorant people
Bad skin
People that don't do their work or half-ass it because they have a supervisor (me) to clean up
Having to work twice as hard because of those people, and thus working until 3am every night, but yet still making the same shitty pay
The fact that this isn't going to change anytime soon
That I had to actually think about it when the foster mother asked me today if my degree was worth the money put into it
Yeah, I know I should be counting my blessings and making lists of all the things I love - blah, blah, blah. But I can't. Not today.
And at the heart of this anger isn't really anger at all - it the snowball effect of a lot of a things to just really make me feel hopelessness.
Fucking hopeless.
Sobbing-from-worry-and-anger-type hopeless.
The kind of hopeless where it seems that - no matter how much I stick with it, no matter how hard I work, I am simply never going to move forward.
That we collectively aren't moving forward.
And the feeling that I have very little control over that.
Well, on that happy note, I'm off to make some more coffee. It's 10:54pm, I am about to embark on my 14th hour of work, and will be up through tomorrow morning, just to turn around and do it all again.
Ever.
I mean, there was probably not a single person I didn't hate today for some reason or another.
(okay fine, except for the girl I interviewed that just came into foster care - I just wanted to give her a big hug, and hi-five the foster mom who just loves the pants off this kid)
But then it was right back to rage.
Blood red.
And to make it worse, every turn I made in my car, every decision I made about things as insignficant as where to get my next cup of coffee - EVERY SINGLE thing- just was wrong.
Things I Hate Today:
My clothes that don't fit
The traffic I spent four hours in
Parents that can't take care of children and fuck them up
This election
People that think they are the Pope
The food damage I did over the last few weeks
Swimming
The fact that I am doing everything I can to waste all those months of fitness
Ignorant people
Bad skin
People that don't do their work or half-ass it because they have a supervisor (me) to clean up
Having to work twice as hard because of those people, and thus working until 3am every night, but yet still making the same shitty pay
The fact that this isn't going to change anytime soon
That I had to actually think about it when the foster mother asked me today if my degree was worth the money put into it
Yeah, I know I should be counting my blessings and making lists of all the things I love - blah, blah, blah. But I can't. Not today.
And at the heart of this anger isn't really anger at all - it the snowball effect of a lot of a things to just really make me feel hopelessness.
Fucking hopeless.
Sobbing-from-worry-and-anger-type hopeless.
The kind of hopeless where it seems that - no matter how much I stick with it, no matter how hard I work, I am simply never going to move forward.
That we collectively aren't moving forward.
And the feeling that I have very little control over that.
Well, on that happy note, I'm off to make some more coffee. It's 10:54pm, I am about to embark on my 14th hour of work, and will be up through tomorrow morning, just to turn around and do it all again.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Clearing the Air
Back from vacation.
Lots of fun, lots of pictures, lots of stories (did anyone else know Key West was like, a naked-peoples paradise? Good lordy.)
But before I post them, I have to clear the air about something.
I probably could have let a lot of this go, but because all blog comments get sent to my Blackberry, I was still getting a few while in Florida.
And the shit pissed me off.
Listen, I love the comments - I love the ones that raise counterpoints, make me think, challenge me just as much as I love the ones that agree with me.
But the Sarah Palin post was not a post to argue her qualifications. It was a not a post of persuasion for your vote.
It was a post about personal decorum in this election.
By Saturday, it seemed that several of the comments (though not all the comments - some were quite thoughtful and nice), sort of missed the point, or misinterpreted what I was trying to say. Those comments left me wondering if people actually read the post or just shut down once they read the words “Sarah Palin.”
I say this because it became very clear that, despite anything I wrote or point I tried to make, certain words/beliefs/thoughts/actions became ascribed to me – and incorrectly so.
The most common of inaccuracies?
Based on the comments, it is clear that a number of people:
1.)Think I told you vote for Sarah Palin
2.)Think I told you to vote for SP because she’s a woman (my personal fav)
3.)Believe I was endorsing or arguing for her competence
4.)Think I believe she is right for the VP
5.)Believe me to have no sense of humor.
If you have read me long enough, you would know that not a single one of those items is accurate or correct.
In fact, I have emphatically stated, over and over, that I personally do not jive with a lot of what she says.
And not to point any fingers, but I think this one comment pretty much sums it up:
“Anything that I would have to say would be framed by the assumption that you could see that SP is a dolt….you don’t seem to see that, so let’s move on.”
The reason I picked out this comment is because I think it truly speaks to these misconceptions about me. I NEVER said she was competent, and again, I never argued that she was appropriate for the job. In fact, I believe I said – numerous times in the post and comments section – that I do not support her. But I did say that as adults, we can believe someone to be not right for a job, and not have to engage in name calling or insults to get our point across.
Moreover, I don’t support Obama either, but I would never belittle his gender or race as reasons for why I don’t feel his policies are right for this country either.
I should also point out that I NEVER said we shouldn't examine the issues, or just ignore certain these and vote soley on personal traits (i.e. AGAIN - I NEVER said we should vote for SP because she is a woman, or Obama because he is biracial, or McCain because he is white or a war veteran) But I also realize that it is unrealsitic to assume that everyone in the nation is voting based on policy issues.
I also received the following arguments:
1.)Why don’t I get pissed off when people call Obama “terrorist?”
2.)It’s unfair to argue that all Democrats or woman behave this way towards SP.
To the first argument, I respond: I am a woman. I was speaking from a woman’s perspective about the treatment of women. I had the same reaction when people were bagging on Hillary when she almost started to cry and it was said that, as a woman, she wasn’t “tough” enough to be President (and no, I wasn’t voting for – or suggesting people vote for - Hillary because she was a woman either). That is why I spoke of the SP issue, and not Obama. Having said that, I don’t think this sort of behavior is appropriate on EITHER side, so while I didn’t post on it (again, I was speaking from the woman’s perspective) I do not feel it is appropriate to call Obama names like terrorists either – or any other name for that matter. Or Biden, or McCain.
To the second item, I never once said ALL Democrats or women are doing this stuff. The post was towards people that WERE doing it, and if you find yourself not to be in this category, let it go. Similarly, when Obama supporters make sweeping generalizations that all conservatives are money-grubbing, poor-people-hating racists – well, considering my entire professional career is structured around the advancement of the “disadvantaged,” I can confidently say that those kinds of comments don’t include me.
Is this a free country and you can say what you want about any candidate? Yes. Is it your right to name call and ridicule based on personal traits? Yup, it is. And our country allows for this – the freedom to do this is one of the things that make us different and great.
My point was about personal decorum.
And those are my final words about that.
Once I load up the all the pictures, it will be beach and bikini posts from here on out.
Or at least for the next few days.
Or maybe even for the next two weeks.
Because seriously, aren't stories about naked painted people and swingers more fun than this election anyways?
Lots of fun, lots of pictures, lots of stories (did anyone else know Key West was like, a naked-peoples paradise? Good lordy.)
But before I post them, I have to clear the air about something.
I probably could have let a lot of this go, but because all blog comments get sent to my Blackberry, I was still getting a few while in Florida.
And the shit pissed me off.
Listen, I love the comments - I love the ones that raise counterpoints, make me think, challenge me just as much as I love the ones that agree with me.
But the Sarah Palin post was not a post to argue her qualifications. It was a not a post of persuasion for your vote.
It was a post about personal decorum in this election.
By Saturday, it seemed that several of the comments (though not all the comments - some were quite thoughtful and nice), sort of missed the point, or misinterpreted what I was trying to say. Those comments left me wondering if people actually read the post or just shut down once they read the words “Sarah Palin.”
I say this because it became very clear that, despite anything I wrote or point I tried to make, certain words/beliefs/thoughts/actions became ascribed to me – and incorrectly so.
The most common of inaccuracies?
Based on the comments, it is clear that a number of people:
1.)Think I told you vote for Sarah Palin
2.)Think I told you to vote for SP because she’s a woman (my personal fav)
3.)Believe I was endorsing or arguing for her competence
4.)Think I believe she is right for the VP
5.)Believe me to have no sense of humor.
If you have read me long enough, you would know that not a single one of those items is accurate or correct.
In fact, I have emphatically stated, over and over, that I personally do not jive with a lot of what she says.
And not to point any fingers, but I think this one comment pretty much sums it up:
“Anything that I would have to say would be framed by the assumption that you could see that SP is a dolt….you don’t seem to see that, so let’s move on.”
The reason I picked out this comment is because I think it truly speaks to these misconceptions about me. I NEVER said she was competent, and again, I never argued that she was appropriate for the job. In fact, I believe I said – numerous times in the post and comments section – that I do not support her. But I did say that as adults, we can believe someone to be not right for a job, and not have to engage in name calling or insults to get our point across.
Moreover, I don’t support Obama either, but I would never belittle his gender or race as reasons for why I don’t feel his policies are right for this country either.
I should also point out that I NEVER said we shouldn't examine the issues, or just ignore certain these and vote soley on personal traits (i.e. AGAIN - I NEVER said we should vote for SP because she is a woman, or Obama because he is biracial, or McCain because he is white or a war veteran) But I also realize that it is unrealsitic to assume that everyone in the nation is voting based on policy issues.
I also received the following arguments:
1.)Why don’t I get pissed off when people call Obama “terrorist?”
2.)It’s unfair to argue that all Democrats or woman behave this way towards SP.
To the first argument, I respond: I am a woman. I was speaking from a woman’s perspective about the treatment of women. I had the same reaction when people were bagging on Hillary when she almost started to cry and it was said that, as a woman, she wasn’t “tough” enough to be President (and no, I wasn’t voting for – or suggesting people vote for - Hillary because she was a woman either). That is why I spoke of the SP issue, and not Obama. Having said that, I don’t think this sort of behavior is appropriate on EITHER side, so while I didn’t post on it (again, I was speaking from the woman’s perspective) I do not feel it is appropriate to call Obama names like terrorists either – or any other name for that matter. Or Biden, or McCain.
To the second item, I never once said ALL Democrats or women are doing this stuff. The post was towards people that WERE doing it, and if you find yourself not to be in this category, let it go. Similarly, when Obama supporters make sweeping generalizations that all conservatives are money-grubbing, poor-people-hating racists – well, considering my entire professional career is structured around the advancement of the “disadvantaged,” I can confidently say that those kinds of comments don’t include me.
Is this a free country and you can say what you want about any candidate? Yes. Is it your right to name call and ridicule based on personal traits? Yup, it is. And our country allows for this – the freedom to do this is one of the things that make us different and great.
My point was about personal decorum.
And those are my final words about that.
Once I load up the all the pictures, it will be beach and bikini posts from here on out.
Or at least for the next few days.
Or maybe even for the next two weeks.
Because seriously, aren't stories about naked painted people and swingers more fun than this election anyways?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Female
I am not going to discuss the debate.
The way I see it, John McCain could have stepped on that stage, sat at that desk, and pulled out the solution for World Peace from his back pocket, and yet the mainstream media and 50 % of the population would have said, “Yeah, well, he didn’t look presidential.”
But what I have spent that last day considering is why this whole Palin thing has really pissed me off.
It’s crazy, because, while my economics are conservatives, my social beliefs are liberal, and thus, I don’t even really agree with a lot of what Palin represents.
So why do I feel so defensive when I see so many degrading personal attacks?
Because I feel like I have spent the last three months in the basement of a frat house around 3am, when the air is rich with judgment, superficiality, and gender degradation.
Since the announcement of Palin's VP candidate status, the Internet, television broadcast, and office conversations have been overwhelmed with inappropriate behavior towards her – slamming her feminism under the guise of attacking her intellect or policy.
It's crazy that those who are the first to stand up and scream about the government “keeping your hands off my ovaries!” are also the first to giggle about and email YouTube videos of Palin in a beauty pageant.
The hypocrisy of this is that (for those guilty of Palin slurs), on one hand, you turn to your daughters/sisters/nieces/student and tell them, “You can do ANYTHING in the world you want! You can even be President!” But on the other hand, you turn around and post videos of busty girls imitating Palin’s life, call her “dolt” or a "twat," say she's had the IQ of a house plant, or suggest that men would only vote for her based on the size of her breasts.
(This “dolt” slam, by the way, is even more ironic considering the fact that, point-by-point, Palin outspoke Biden during that debate, with Biden making significantly more mistakes, inaccurate statements, and outright lies – while Palin only got credit for “not fucking up as bad as we thought” and a couple random comments of her high heels – yeah, and Palin’s the dolt).
Because what you are really saying to the female youth is, “Yeah, you caaaan be anything you want, but just as long you believe and follow the popular thought....aaaaaand, even then you should expect to be degraded, ridiculed and dragged through the mud.”
I mean, we are basically reversing everything our mothers taught us when we went through high school – we are teaching our girls that it’s more important to follow the crowd, to be popular, to say the right things, as opposed to standing up for what you really believe in, having principles and speaking out, even if it means the popular group won’t accept you.
We are teaching them that, by doing the unpopular, you should EXPECT maltreatment.
And the worst offenders seem to be females. It’s truly unbelievable that in an effort to support one side, you have actually encouraged the backslide of a gender. Think back to every slam you make against Palin personally – I mean, ANYTHING not associated with her actual politics. And think about whether or not you would/did say that in front of a ten-year-old girl, or how you would respond if that had been said ABOUT your ten-year-old daughter/sister/niece/student.
You call yourself feminist, but then you lower yourself to the level of that basement frat boy with these antics. You ride the gender equality train as it roars into the station, but then you question whether or not Palin can have a family and hold office. You scream about equal education, but then riducle the schools where she earned her degrees. You yell, "Equality! Diversity!" but then make fun of her accent, choice of words, and hobbies.
So basically, you believe a woman CAN be President (or Vice President), but just as long as she's liberal, only moderately attractive, and of immaculate educational/geographical background.
I’ve said it a million times – you don’t like her, don’t vote for her. But take a second to think about the words that come out of your mouth, think about the emails you forward, think about ears of the young girls that surround you. Think about what it was like for you in high school, and how insecure you felt under the superficial judging eyes and hurtful words of the jocks and popular kids - and then ask yourself how your own behaviors are any different.
I was told once by a blogger that I "shouldn't take it so personally" when people engage in this behavior against Palin. But why shouldn't I? More importantly, why don't you, female blogger? Because, as a young female in a supervisory position, I hear way too often insinuations regarding my ability given my age and gender.
I sit at meetings where I am dismissed, but my male supervisor is acknowledged.
I AM offended because my I am a daughter of a family - of a mother - who worked her life to ensure that I had and took advantage of opportunities to succeed that she din't have as a female growing up in the 50s.
And here we are, in 2008, ensuring that we "keep the woman in her place."
So again - why aren't you offended?
The way I see it, John McCain could have stepped on that stage, sat at that desk, and pulled out the solution for World Peace from his back pocket, and yet the mainstream media and 50 % of the population would have said, “Yeah, well, he didn’t look presidential.”
But what I have spent that last day considering is why this whole Palin thing has really pissed me off.
It’s crazy, because, while my economics are conservatives, my social beliefs are liberal, and thus, I don’t even really agree with a lot of what Palin represents.
So why do I feel so defensive when I see so many degrading personal attacks?
Because I feel like I have spent the last three months in the basement of a frat house around 3am, when the air is rich with judgment, superficiality, and gender degradation.
Since the announcement of Palin's VP candidate status, the Internet, television broadcast, and office conversations have been overwhelmed with inappropriate behavior towards her – slamming her feminism under the guise of attacking her intellect or policy.
It's crazy that those who are the first to stand up and scream about the government “keeping your hands off my ovaries!” are also the first to giggle about and email YouTube videos of Palin in a beauty pageant.
The hypocrisy of this is that (for those guilty of Palin slurs), on one hand, you turn to your daughters/sisters/nieces/student and tell them, “You can do ANYTHING in the world you want! You can even be President!” But on the other hand, you turn around and post videos of busty girls imitating Palin’s life, call her “dolt” or a "twat," say she's had the IQ of a house plant, or suggest that men would only vote for her based on the size of her breasts.
(This “dolt” slam, by the way, is even more ironic considering the fact that, point-by-point, Palin outspoke Biden during that debate, with Biden making significantly more mistakes, inaccurate statements, and outright lies – while Palin only got credit for “not fucking up as bad as we thought” and a couple random comments of her high heels – yeah, and Palin’s the dolt).
Because what you are really saying to the female youth is, “Yeah, you caaaan be anything you want, but just as long you believe and follow the popular thought....aaaaaand, even then you should expect to be degraded, ridiculed and dragged through the mud.”
I mean, we are basically reversing everything our mothers taught us when we went through high school – we are teaching our girls that it’s more important to follow the crowd, to be popular, to say the right things, as opposed to standing up for what you really believe in, having principles and speaking out, even if it means the popular group won’t accept you.
We are teaching them that, by doing the unpopular, you should EXPECT maltreatment.
And the worst offenders seem to be females. It’s truly unbelievable that in an effort to support one side, you have actually encouraged the backslide of a gender. Think back to every slam you make against Palin personally – I mean, ANYTHING not associated with her actual politics. And think about whether or not you would/did say that in front of a ten-year-old girl, or how you would respond if that had been said ABOUT your ten-year-old daughter/sister/niece/student.
You call yourself feminist, but then you lower yourself to the level of that basement frat boy with these antics. You ride the gender equality train as it roars into the station, but then you question whether or not Palin can have a family and hold office. You scream about equal education, but then riducle the schools where she earned her degrees. You yell, "Equality! Diversity!" but then make fun of her accent, choice of words, and hobbies.
So basically, you believe a woman CAN be President (or Vice President), but just as long as she's liberal, only moderately attractive, and of immaculate educational/geographical background.
I’ve said it a million times – you don’t like her, don’t vote for her. But take a second to think about the words that come out of your mouth, think about the emails you forward, think about ears of the young girls that surround you. Think about what it was like for you in high school, and how insecure you felt under the superficial judging eyes and hurtful words of the jocks and popular kids - and then ask yourself how your own behaviors are any different.
I was told once by a blogger that I "shouldn't take it so personally" when people engage in this behavior against Palin. But why shouldn't I? More importantly, why don't you, female blogger? Because, as a young female in a supervisory position, I hear way too often insinuations regarding my ability given my age and gender.
I sit at meetings where I am dismissed, but my male supervisor is acknowledged.
I AM offended because my I am a daughter of a family - of a mother - who worked her life to ensure that I had and took advantage of opportunities to succeed that she din't have as a female growing up in the 50s.
And here we are, in 2008, ensuring that we "keep the woman in her place."
So again - why aren't you offended?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Lemons but No Lemonade
I am bluesy.
I am just sick of everything and everyone right now.
I am sick of politics mostly- of people being asses to each other, of the state of this country, of the media, or the hypocrisy.
I am sick of reading how people that I once respected personally attack others while blatenly ignoring the full truth of things.
I am sick of politician's half-truths, and of a populace that collectively and consciously ignores the truth that is actually in front of them.
I am sick of worrying about what all this means for my future - maybe everything, maybe nothing.
I am sick of worrying about the potential of living in a country in which I can't build a private practice (as a SECOND job, nonetheless) because working THAT hard might mean I would owe the government almost HALF my money. Where's the motivation to improve my lot in life? To benefit frmo the degree I busted my ass to get?
I have been coming home from work, keeping the tv off, turning the computer off, and just reading - anything to shut it all out.
And it's not just the actual election- rather (and I said this before), it's what it has all come to reveal about our world, about us as Americans.
All a bunch of finger-pointers, blame-passers, hate-breeders, liars.
And how can we expect politicans to behave any differently if we ourselves encourage this environment?
Ironic, but they really do end up being our "representitives."
Being "passionate" about this election has turned into an excuse for people to be nasty, ugly, and hypocritical. I get that people are really dedicated to their "side," but at what cost to your integrity? How does one pride oneself on being "well informed" when the only information they seek out and promote is one-sided?
I am starting to remember why I just stayed out of all this to begin with.
What else?
My job is extremely stressful right now - I seem to have found myself supervising people who have no desire to improve themselves as clinicians, but instead are satisfied with being told what to do, what to write, how to think.
And when they are not trying to claim disability for made-up injuries, they are ditching work and lying about it.
And I miss my BF.
I really, really miss him.
And there are times when he hurts and I can't help.
This is the stuff that eat at me, that keeps me up at night.
That is why I am blusey.
I am just sick of everything and everyone right now.
I am sick of politics mostly- of people being asses to each other, of the state of this country, of the media, or the hypocrisy.
I am sick of reading how people that I once respected personally attack others while blatenly ignoring the full truth of things.
I am sick of politician's half-truths, and of a populace that collectively and consciously ignores the truth that is actually in front of them.
I am sick of worrying about what all this means for my future - maybe everything, maybe nothing.
I am sick of worrying about the potential of living in a country in which I can't build a private practice (as a SECOND job, nonetheless) because working THAT hard might mean I would owe the government almost HALF my money. Where's the motivation to improve my lot in life? To benefit frmo the degree I busted my ass to get?
I have been coming home from work, keeping the tv off, turning the computer off, and just reading - anything to shut it all out.
And it's not just the actual election- rather (and I said this before), it's what it has all come to reveal about our world, about us as Americans.
All a bunch of finger-pointers, blame-passers, hate-breeders, liars.
And how can we expect politicans to behave any differently if we ourselves encourage this environment?
Ironic, but they really do end up being our "representitives."
Being "passionate" about this election has turned into an excuse for people to be nasty, ugly, and hypocritical. I get that people are really dedicated to their "side," but at what cost to your integrity? How does one pride oneself on being "well informed" when the only information they seek out and promote is one-sided?
I am starting to remember why I just stayed out of all this to begin with.
What else?
My job is extremely stressful right now - I seem to have found myself supervising people who have no desire to improve themselves as clinicians, but instead are satisfied with being told what to do, what to write, how to think.
And when they are not trying to claim disability for made-up injuries, they are ditching work and lying about it.
And I miss my BF.
I really, really miss him.
And there are times when he hurts and I can't help.
This is the stuff that eat at me, that keeps me up at night.
That is why I am blusey.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Because It's His JOB
"Arguably the worst financial crisis in the history of America," says Cafferty (and hundreds of others), of CNN news.
So given the state of affairs:
Why are people questioning McCain’s intentions to STOP CAMPAIGNING (read: putting aside his presidential ambition), and not the fact that Obama’s avoiding actually going to Washington AND DOING THE JOB WE PAY HIM FOR?????
‘Cause God forbid he actually show up and vote on something.
Why is arguing the foreign policy more important then trying to pass or block legislation to help address the “worst financial crisis?”
My personal favorite statement of the day? Obama’s claim that it was his idea to issue a joint statement – and that this statement was adequate, as it was important to “keep communicating with the American people.”
And call me Master of the Obvious, but it seems like the last thing we need right is more talk, more statements, more rhetoric, and less problems solving.
In fact, when asked about sidelining his campaign to address this head-on in Washington, his response was, (exact quote), “I feel it’s most important to let everyone know that this is a sufficient problem…and we need to deal with this problem.” He added, “This is why it is most important at this time that we present ourselves and describe where we want to take this country and this economy.”
Uh, Barak?
I don’t think anyone is arguing this.
And, uh, I don’t think we need you or McCain standing up there, telling us who’s to blame, and that it needs to be fixed, and where YOU want to take this country.
We've already heard it.
How about stepping up and actually taking that first step in that direction?
How about leading, instead of just talking about leading?
Why don’t you balls up and actually put a plan on the table? Make a decision? Have an opinion? Pass some actual legislation?
Let me remind Obama of something that McCain (though old as dirt) hasn't forgotten: Before you are a Presidential candidate, you are a Senator. My Senator. A Senator elected by the people to fight for the people, to give them a voice, and now being given an opportunity to actually make a statement through your actions. Not a man elected/paid to campaign for President.
So given the state of affairs:
Why are people questioning McCain’s intentions to STOP CAMPAIGNING (read: putting aside his presidential ambition), and not the fact that Obama’s avoiding actually going to Washington AND DOING THE JOB WE PAY HIM FOR?????
‘Cause God forbid he actually show up and vote on something.
Why is arguing the foreign policy more important then trying to pass or block legislation to help address the “worst financial crisis?”
My personal favorite statement of the day? Obama’s claim that it was his idea to issue a joint statement – and that this statement was adequate, as it was important to “keep communicating with the American people.”
And call me Master of the Obvious, but it seems like the last thing we need right is more talk, more statements, more rhetoric, and less problems solving.
In fact, when asked about sidelining his campaign to address this head-on in Washington, his response was, (exact quote), “I feel it’s most important to let everyone know that this is a sufficient problem…and we need to deal with this problem.” He added, “This is why it is most important at this time that we present ourselves and describe where we want to take this country and this economy.”
Uh, Barak?
I don’t think anyone is arguing this.
And, uh, I don’t think we need you or McCain standing up there, telling us who’s to blame, and that it needs to be fixed, and where YOU want to take this country.
We've already heard it.
How about stepping up and actually taking that first step in that direction?
How about leading, instead of just talking about leading?
Why don’t you balls up and actually put a plan on the table? Make a decision? Have an opinion? Pass some actual legislation?
Let me remind Obama of something that McCain (though old as dirt) hasn't forgotten: Before you are a Presidential candidate, you are a Senator. My Senator. A Senator elected by the people to fight for the people, to give them a voice, and now being given an opportunity to actually make a statement through your actions. Not a man elected/paid to campaign for President.
How have people forgotten this?
The fact that Obama “talks to Paulson nearly every day and twice this afternoon” soothes me none.
And John McCain?
“I don’t feel the plan on the table is adequate, and needs action.” And then he steps up and does just that.
The guy shows up.
And before you say that he's avoiding a debate, it should be pointed out that he's also suspending all campaign appearences and fundraising (holy shit - a politician rejecting money? What would Tony Rezko say? Here's a quarter - get his number from Obama and call him in prison to find out).
And why is it that this crisis is make-or-break for McCain (and ultimately no-win, because even if the plan is needed, no one really wants to say it or own it because the backlash will be incredible, yet if McCain knocks it down, and shit storm intensifies, well then, its all McCain’s fault), but Obama doesn’t seem to have that same pressure? No one is pinning him to the wall, saying that he needs to make a decision, take a vote, pass some legislation.
And despite the risk to his campaign, either way, McCain is still stepping up, doing something, speaking his mind - he is going beyond "strategy," in a way that says, "Hey, this might lose the election for me, but for the worst financial crisis in American history, I am chosing to do something."
I find it interesting that, for someone who has structured his campaign around rhetoric akin to buying every 5-year-old in the world a pony for their birthdays (sounds all warm and fuzzy but the reality is ridiculous and impossible), his whole “financial plan” that he soooo loves to talk about can’t seem to light his way out this mile-deep shit hole the nation is in.
In fact, his whole financial plan and tax policies are already be challenged in the face of this.
Promises are one thing, practicality and action is another.
The first real test – the first crisis, and even before they are in office – and this is how these two candidates respond.
Now is a GREAT time to put all your campaign promises into actions.
It's a sad fucking day when people call it a "gimmick" when a Senator actually wants to do his job.
Well, if nothing else, this is giving a nice, clear window into what the next four years are going to look like.
Vote accordingly.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Clear as Mud
This whole financial crisis stuff had my head spinning yesterday - I was trying to figure it all out - how it started, what it means, etc. And I first came across these Democratic soundbites:
“The turmoil on Wall Street is further evidence that Republican economic policies have failed. During eight years of control in Washington, Republicans put in to practice their belief that markets should be allowed unfettered freedom and drastically weakened oversight,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said in a statement.
“In the midst of a dire economic situation, President Bush this morning characterized recent market developments as an ‘adjustment’ that can be painful for investors and employees of the firms, while Senator McCain said the ‘fundamentals of our economy are strong,’” Pelosi said.
“President Bush, Senator McCain, and their Republican Party are out of touch and apparently ill-equipped to get our economy back on track.”
“I certainly don’t fault Senator McCain for these problems, but I do fault the economic philosophy he subscribes to,” Obama said, adding, “It’s a philosophy we’ve had for the last eight years - one that says we should give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else.”
But then I saw this, as stated by the NY Times in September 2003:
The Bush administration today recommended the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago.
Under the plan, disclosed at a Congressional hearing today, a new agency would be created within the Treasury Department to assume supervision of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that are the two largest players in the mortgage lending industry.
The new agency would have the authority, which now rests with Congress, to set one of the two capital-reserve requirements for the companies. It would exercise authority over any new lines of business. And it would determine whether the two are adequately managing the risks of their ballooning portfolios.
The plan is an acknowledgment by the administration that oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — which together have issued more than $1.5 trillion in outstanding debt — is broken. A report by outside investigators in July concluded that Freddie Mac manipulated its accounting to mislead investors, and critics have said Fannie Mae does not adequately hedge against rising interest rates.
Wait. So it there was a proposal for tighter regulations, what happened?
Among the groups denouncing the proposal were the National Association of Home Builders and Congressional Democrats who fear that tighter regulation of the companies could sharply reduce their commitment to financing low-income and affordable housing.
”These two entities — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — are not facing any kind of financial crisis,” said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. ”The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.”
Representative Melvin L. Watt, Democrat of North Carolina, agreed.
”I don’t see much other than a shell game going on here, moving something from one agency to another and in the process weakening the bargaining power of poorer families and their ability to get affordable housing,” Mr. Watt said.
Well, now, I haven't heard this part of it on CNN....
The fraudulent accounting that allowed Enron executives to enrich themselves and led the company to bankruptcy and the loss of $68 billion in employee and investor assets is dwarfed by that at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac whose loses to investors will top $103 billion. Fannie Mae’s accounting fraud was $11 billion, 19 times larger than Enron’s $567 million accounting restatement.
Both Franklin Raines and James Johnson, CEO’s of Fannie Mae, who played key roles in previous Democrat administrations were fired, but later went to work for the Obama campaign. Clinton Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick also was a highly paid executive at Fannie Mae but left to join the 9/11 Commission (she was chiefly responsible for the wall that prevented law enforcement and intelligence agencies from sharing information). Gorelick is considered as a possible Attorney General in an Obama Administration.
News organizations which ran daily stories linking the Bush Administration to Enron executives have been nearly silent on the direct, long term political connections between the Fannie Mae disaster and Democrats.
Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac used $174 million, to pay for lobbyists to insulate them from the tightened regulation and oversight that might have avoided this crisis. And it won’t surprise many readers to learn that Obama received over $126,000 in campaign contributions since first running for the Senate in 2004. Obama ranked #2 on the list which includes mostly Democrats. By comparison, McCain received $21,550. Other top Democrats on Fannie Mae’s money list include Senator Chris Dodd, who received a favroable loan from a related mortgage company, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.
Now, I'm no financial analyst, and I am just starting to weed my way through all of this. But this information makes me wonder why, if the largest financial crisis in the United States was triggered by the Democrats and actually rooted in the Clinton administration (though good intentioned to help low income families obtain housing, but poorly executed), why do they keep pointing the finger at Bush and the Republicans? Moreover, how come no one is really talking about this part of it?
Wouldn't Obama, then, be "more of the same?"
“The turmoil on Wall Street is further evidence that Republican economic policies have failed. During eight years of control in Washington, Republicans put in to practice their belief that markets should be allowed unfettered freedom and drastically weakened oversight,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said in a statement.
“In the midst of a dire economic situation, President Bush this morning characterized recent market developments as an ‘adjustment’ that can be painful for investors and employees of the firms, while Senator McCain said the ‘fundamentals of our economy are strong,’” Pelosi said.
“President Bush, Senator McCain, and their Republican Party are out of touch and apparently ill-equipped to get our economy back on track.”
“I certainly don’t fault Senator McCain for these problems, but I do fault the economic philosophy he subscribes to,” Obama said, adding, “It’s a philosophy we’ve had for the last eight years - one that says we should give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else.”
But then I saw this, as stated by the NY Times in September 2003:
The Bush administration today recommended the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago.
Under the plan, disclosed at a Congressional hearing today, a new agency would be created within the Treasury Department to assume supervision of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that are the two largest players in the mortgage lending industry.
The new agency would have the authority, which now rests with Congress, to set one of the two capital-reserve requirements for the companies. It would exercise authority over any new lines of business. And it would determine whether the two are adequately managing the risks of their ballooning portfolios.
The plan is an acknowledgment by the administration that oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — which together have issued more than $1.5 trillion in outstanding debt — is broken. A report by outside investigators in July concluded that Freddie Mac manipulated its accounting to mislead investors, and critics have said Fannie Mae does not adequately hedge against rising interest rates.
Wait. So it there was a proposal for tighter regulations, what happened?
Among the groups denouncing the proposal were the National Association of Home Builders and Congressional Democrats who fear that tighter regulation of the companies could sharply reduce their commitment to financing low-income and affordable housing.
”These two entities — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — are not facing any kind of financial crisis,” said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. ”The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.”
Representative Melvin L. Watt, Democrat of North Carolina, agreed.
”I don’t see much other than a shell game going on here, moving something from one agency to another and in the process weakening the bargaining power of poorer families and their ability to get affordable housing,” Mr. Watt said.
Well, now, I haven't heard this part of it on CNN....
The fraudulent accounting that allowed Enron executives to enrich themselves and led the company to bankruptcy and the loss of $68 billion in employee and investor assets is dwarfed by that at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac whose loses to investors will top $103 billion. Fannie Mae’s accounting fraud was $11 billion, 19 times larger than Enron’s $567 million accounting restatement.
Both Franklin Raines and James Johnson, CEO’s of Fannie Mae, who played key roles in previous Democrat administrations were fired, but later went to work for the Obama campaign. Clinton Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick also was a highly paid executive at Fannie Mae but left to join the 9/11 Commission (she was chiefly responsible for the wall that prevented law enforcement and intelligence agencies from sharing information). Gorelick is considered as a possible Attorney General in an Obama Administration.
News organizations which ran daily stories linking the Bush Administration to Enron executives have been nearly silent on the direct, long term political connections between the Fannie Mae disaster and Democrats.
Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac used $174 million, to pay for lobbyists to insulate them from the tightened regulation and oversight that might have avoided this crisis. And it won’t surprise many readers to learn that Obama received over $126,000 in campaign contributions since first running for the Senate in 2004. Obama ranked #2 on the list which includes mostly Democrats. By comparison, McCain received $21,550. Other top Democrats on Fannie Mae’s money list include Senator Chris Dodd, who received a favroable loan from a related mortgage company, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.
Now, I'm no financial analyst, and I am just starting to weed my way through all of this. But this information makes me wonder why, if the largest financial crisis in the United States was triggered by the Democrats and actually rooted in the Clinton administration (though good intentioned to help low income families obtain housing, but poorly executed), why do they keep pointing the finger at Bush and the Republicans? Moreover, how come no one is really talking about this part of it?
Wouldn't Obama, then, be "more of the same?"
Monday, September 15, 2008
I Need To Stop Working From Home
Things that Are Good About Being Home Alone
1.Eating popcorn in bed
2.Sleeping diagonal
3.Riding my trainer whenever I feel like it
4.Drinking as much coffee as I want without anyone making a comment about it
5.Going to bed without the glare of the TV in my face
6.Not having to share the quilt
7.Eating yogurt and ice cream for dinner.
8.Sitting in my favorite recliner for hours on end
Things Not Good About Being Home Alone
1.Being home alone without him.
Blech
So as I mentioned the other day, I haven’t really been on the ball about working out lately. And low and behold, it has actually resulted in some poundage. In a recent post, I estimated six pounds. Turns out – it exactly ten, since IM (damn scale).
Now, before I get any sassy comment about being “fucked in the head” or having a bad body image, let me say this: this is not about how I look, necessarily. I think we all know what it feels like to carry an extra ten pounds – we all know how uncomfortable it can be, and how discouraging it is when you have to rely soley on the black elastic yoga pants for weeks on end because nothing else fits. It sucks.
And I feel like shit about it. I feel heavy and soft. While I not necessarily trying to be skinnier, I just want to be in better shape.
So to that end, I have started back on the training program. Three days in, and feeling good. In fact, to mix it up a bit today, I put on one of the Spinnerval DVDs I had from last training season.
Holy Ass Kicking, Troy!
I actually had to stop pedaling halfway through to catch my breath because I was lightheaded and about to pedal myself right out the front window. By the end, I vowed to keep doing the DVD every week until it becomes easy. And then once that happens, I will start the other DVD, and work it until THAT one becomes easy.
Well, at least that’s the plan. I’m comin’ to get ya, skinny jeans!
Yikes! Ike!
Good gosh. Have you seen the footage from Ike? Oh my. Talk about devastation. My least favorite network in the world, CNN, was showing aerial views of different cities, like Bolivar, with literally nothing left of these places but sticks coming out of the ground (houses used to be on the sticks). When they said “certain death,” they meant it. It honestly looks like when that tsunami hit a couple years ago.
Cheese is in the heart of it all. I worry about him – about him being safe, about his stress level, about the chaos he is standing in, about the total devestation he has to make sense of. It sounds like, from the view of the company, this might be their biggest storm ever, bypassing Katrina in terms of widespread destruction.
Hang in there, baby. You're doing good out there.
And Why, You Ask?
I have decided that, for as much as people want to bitch about how biased Fox is, CNN (the Clinton News Network) is officially above and beyond the most biased network I have ever watched.
For example, twice in the last few days, people have stated that both McCain and Obama are guilty of things, but oddly, CNN only posts the sound bites about McCain. Rove made statements about both candidates fighting unfair (I know – pot and the kettle, right?) but the only part of his interview that gets broadcasted or written about is the part where he says McCain has crossed the line.
Similarly, Greenspan made statements about both candidates proposed tax policies, but you have to dig all the way to the bottom of the article to find out that, yes, in fact, he was talking about both, not just McCain. In fact, the title of the article was something to the effect of “Greenspan says McCain tax policies miss the mark.” Four paragraphs later…..”Oh yeah, and by the way, he said Obama’s aren’t great either….”
And don’t EVEN get me started on the eye-bleaching trash known as The View. While Elizabeth Hassl-whateverhernameis is by no means an appropriate political commentator, those bitches make it seem like every conservative is the reincarnation of Evil. They will spend 60 minutes kissing the asses clean of certain politicians and their wives, but can’t even put aside their own biases for 15 minutes to conduct a “fair” interview. Give me a fucking break, Whoopi and Joy.
And before you all jump down my throat, I am simply making a comment on the bias of reporting. If it was skewed in McCain’s favor, I’d call bullshit on that too. But at this point, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a news report skewed in McCain’s favor.
Seriously – why is it so fucking hard for people/politicians/analysts/commentators to simply stick to the issues? Just list the facts – and have faith that the American people will choose what is best for them. Why are we constantly being fed commentary on what the networks WANT us to believe?
I’d like to believe that most people, by this point, know how they are going to vote. If you don’t, what the heck are you waiting for? The information is out there – the truth (not the CNN version) is a click away, you just need to read it.
Both politicians are simply repeating themselves at this point. I think both parties need to close up shop, go on vacation, and see where the chips fall in November.
Enough already.
1.Eating popcorn in bed
2.Sleeping diagonal
3.Riding my trainer whenever I feel like it
4.Drinking as much coffee as I want without anyone making a comment about it
5.Going to bed without the glare of the TV in my face
6.Not having to share the quilt
7.Eating yogurt and ice cream for dinner.
8.Sitting in my favorite recliner for hours on end
Things Not Good About Being Home Alone
1.Being home alone without him.
Blech
So as I mentioned the other day, I haven’t really been on the ball about working out lately. And low and behold, it has actually resulted in some poundage. In a recent post, I estimated six pounds. Turns out – it exactly ten, since IM (damn scale).
Now, before I get any sassy comment about being “fucked in the head” or having a bad body image, let me say this: this is not about how I look, necessarily. I think we all know what it feels like to carry an extra ten pounds – we all know how uncomfortable it can be, and how discouraging it is when you have to rely soley on the black elastic yoga pants for weeks on end because nothing else fits. It sucks.
And I feel like shit about it. I feel heavy and soft. While I not necessarily trying to be skinnier, I just want to be in better shape.
So to that end, I have started back on the training program. Three days in, and feeling good. In fact, to mix it up a bit today, I put on one of the Spinnerval DVDs I had from last training season.
Holy Ass Kicking, Troy!
I actually had to stop pedaling halfway through to catch my breath because I was lightheaded and about to pedal myself right out the front window. By the end, I vowed to keep doing the DVD every week until it becomes easy. And then once that happens, I will start the other DVD, and work it until THAT one becomes easy.
Well, at least that’s the plan. I’m comin’ to get ya, skinny jeans!
Yikes! Ike!
Good gosh. Have you seen the footage from Ike? Oh my. Talk about devastation. My least favorite network in the world, CNN, was showing aerial views of different cities, like Bolivar, with literally nothing left of these places but sticks coming out of the ground (houses used to be on the sticks). When they said “certain death,” they meant it. It honestly looks like when that tsunami hit a couple years ago.
Cheese is in the heart of it all. I worry about him – about him being safe, about his stress level, about the chaos he is standing in, about the total devestation he has to make sense of. It sounds like, from the view of the company, this might be their biggest storm ever, bypassing Katrina in terms of widespread destruction.
Hang in there, baby. You're doing good out there.
And Why, You Ask?
I have decided that, for as much as people want to bitch about how biased Fox is, CNN (the Clinton News Network) is officially above and beyond the most biased network I have ever watched.
For example, twice in the last few days, people have stated that both McCain and Obama are guilty of things, but oddly, CNN only posts the sound bites about McCain. Rove made statements about both candidates fighting unfair (I know – pot and the kettle, right?) but the only part of his interview that gets broadcasted or written about is the part where he says McCain has crossed the line.
Similarly, Greenspan made statements about both candidates proposed tax policies, but you have to dig all the way to the bottom of the article to find out that, yes, in fact, he was talking about both, not just McCain. In fact, the title of the article was something to the effect of “Greenspan says McCain tax policies miss the mark.” Four paragraphs later…..”Oh yeah, and by the way, he said Obama’s aren’t great either….”
And don’t EVEN get me started on the eye-bleaching trash known as The View. While Elizabeth Hassl-whateverhernameis is by no means an appropriate political commentator, those bitches make it seem like every conservative is the reincarnation of Evil. They will spend 60 minutes kissing the asses clean of certain politicians and their wives, but can’t even put aside their own biases for 15 minutes to conduct a “fair” interview. Give me a fucking break, Whoopi and Joy.
And before you all jump down my throat, I am simply making a comment on the bias of reporting. If it was skewed in McCain’s favor, I’d call bullshit on that too. But at this point, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a news report skewed in McCain’s favor.
Seriously – why is it so fucking hard for people/politicians/analysts/commentators to simply stick to the issues? Just list the facts – and have faith that the American people will choose what is best for them. Why are we constantly being fed commentary on what the networks WANT us to believe?
I’d like to believe that most people, by this point, know how they are going to vote. If you don’t, what the heck are you waiting for? The information is out there – the truth (not the CNN version) is a click away, you just need to read it.
Both politicians are simply repeating themselves at this point. I think both parties need to close up shop, go on vacation, and see where the chips fall in November.
Enough already.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Ramblings of a Tired Mind
How is Paris Hilton still relevant? And for a grown ass woman, why does she still talk like a baby?
I don’t know one single person outside of my brother Nolan who watches “The Real World.” So why’s it still on?
My skin has been revolting against me.
Celebrities need to shut the fuck up when it comes to politics. This goes for both Dem and Republican supporters. And yeah, I’m talking to you - Madonna, Matt Damon, Daddy Yankee, and Chuck Norris. Are they entitled to their own opinions? Sure, we all are. But still – they need to shut the fuck up. And especially that Russell Brand douche – he doesn’t even live in this country, yet MTV allows him to get his ass on stage and vomit verbal diarrhea all over the Music Awards. Apparently having a side part in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” gives him the commentary rights of a CNN broadcaster. Well, at least he biased like one.
I have run exactly three times in three weeks. Should come as no surprise that I have gained more than six pounds over that same time frame. Needless to say, I am not feeling so hot about myself. In fact, I feel much like a stuffed sausage most of the time.
On that note, I have somehow started drinking soda and eating cheese. I NEVER drank soda before. But some reason, I find myself drinking it with almost every meal. It really doesn’t make it any better that it is diet soda. And the cheese? Yeah, no idea what that’s about.
I have eaten more burritos in the last seven days then I have in the last seven years. Hmm.
My street is lined with maple trees or some type of tree that covers my car with this sappy syrup sticky stuff every morning. It’s like driving a Hyundai pancake, but without the pancake.
I now have the apartment to myself for the next three weeks….what should I do first?
I don’t know one single person outside of my brother Nolan who watches “The Real World.” So why’s it still on?
My skin has been revolting against me.
Celebrities need to shut the fuck up when it comes to politics. This goes for both Dem and Republican supporters. And yeah, I’m talking to you - Madonna, Matt Damon, Daddy Yankee, and Chuck Norris. Are they entitled to their own opinions? Sure, we all are. But still – they need to shut the fuck up. And especially that Russell Brand douche – he doesn’t even live in this country, yet MTV allows him to get his ass on stage and vomit verbal diarrhea all over the Music Awards. Apparently having a side part in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” gives him the commentary rights of a CNN broadcaster. Well, at least he biased like one.
I have run exactly three times in three weeks. Should come as no surprise that I have gained more than six pounds over that same time frame. Needless to say, I am not feeling so hot about myself. In fact, I feel much like a stuffed sausage most of the time.
On that note, I have somehow started drinking soda and eating cheese. I NEVER drank soda before. But some reason, I find myself drinking it with almost every meal. It really doesn’t make it any better that it is diet soda. And the cheese? Yeah, no idea what that’s about.
I have eaten more burritos in the last seven days then I have in the last seven years. Hmm.
My street is lined with maple trees or some type of tree that covers my car with this sappy syrup sticky stuff every morning. It’s like driving a Hyundai pancake, but without the pancake.
I now have the apartment to myself for the next three weeks….what should I do first?
Friday, September 5, 2008
Listen...
A while back I stated that I would not put up my political views on this blog, despite the fact that this blog is about me, my life and, well, my thoughts.
I knew that, given the political scope of things right now, it's a volitle subject.
But slowly, I started getting more and more frustrated with the things that I was hearing. Six months ago I was voting one way, then moved more towards the Undecided, and have now slowly moved towards the other direction. I felt that, in order to make the best decision for myself, I needed to know more, and the more I learned, the more my decision began to form.
I never assumed that anyone would actually hold the same beliefs as me. In fact, based on the profiles I view on Facebook, I pretty much assumed that my views were very much not the same.
There is something about this election that gets people really riled up, as Momo noted. And by the looks of some comments, people are pretty riled up.
But it's not my job to convince you who is better for YOU, who is better for YOUR future, and who is better for the future stability of this country. Like my own decision, this is a choice that is individual.
And I don't think that I was trying to do that - trying to change your minds. I honestly believe that by this point, your minds are pretty much made up, anyways.
So no more politics from this point on.
But I will say this - in this whole election stuff, I have never said that McCain was a better candidate that Obama. Nor did I say that Obama was better - like I said above, I started one way, then slowly moved to the other.
My point in all this was to vent my frustration that I was surrounded by people who simply listened to soundbites, didn't ask questions, accepted what their friends and CNN and Oprah were telling them, pointing hypocritical fingers, and spending so much time looking at bullshit issues instead of what the candidates policies might actually mean for you.
I am not insinuating that my readers do this - I was more just venting about things I hear on a daily basis.
I knew that, given the political scope of things right now, it's a volitle subject.
But slowly, I started getting more and more frustrated with the things that I was hearing. Six months ago I was voting one way, then moved more towards the Undecided, and have now slowly moved towards the other direction. I felt that, in order to make the best decision for myself, I needed to know more, and the more I learned, the more my decision began to form.
I never assumed that anyone would actually hold the same beliefs as me. In fact, based on the profiles I view on Facebook, I pretty much assumed that my views were very much not the same.
There is something about this election that gets people really riled up, as Momo noted. And by the looks of some comments, people are pretty riled up.
But it's not my job to convince you who is better for YOU, who is better for YOUR future, and who is better for the future stability of this country. Like my own decision, this is a choice that is individual.
And I don't think that I was trying to do that - trying to change your minds. I honestly believe that by this point, your minds are pretty much made up, anyways.
So no more politics from this point on.
But I will say this - in this whole election stuff, I have never said that McCain was a better candidate that Obama. Nor did I say that Obama was better - like I said above, I started one way, then slowly moved to the other.
My point in all this was to vent my frustration that I was surrounded by people who simply listened to soundbites, didn't ask questions, accepted what their friends and CNN and Oprah were telling them, pointing hypocritical fingers, and spending so much time looking at bullshit issues instead of what the candidates policies might actually mean for you.
I am not insinuating that my readers do this - I was more just venting about things I hear on a daily basis.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
A Lot of Mess for One Post
The Big Move is now over.
In summary - I packed and moved out BY MYSELF for most of Saturday and early Sunday. My brother-in-law and sister came by Sunday morning to help with the mattress, desk and tv. By 10AM Sunday, my entire life was sitting in my sister’s garage.
Then, a pleasant surprise – my new (crazy) landlord was able to check in on Sunday, so I immediately began moving myself out of the garage, and into the new place.
I broke at 5pm to head downtown to run the Nike Human Race 10k (did anyone else do this race?) Despite the incredible muscles fatigue and 300-calorie day, I made it through almost 56:00 minutes, a few minutes off what I had hoped, but given the circumstance, I was cool with it.
Monday morning rolled around, and Cheese pulled into town.
And I SHIT YOU NOT – the man had AT LEAST 3x the stuff I did. As he rolled open the UHaul trailer, I almost choked him out after seeing the contents inside.
But alas, in the 92 degree weather, we got him moved in as well.
Tuesday I woke up, battered, terribly bruised and exhausted beyond anything I can remember (the only thing close was the day after Ironman). I took the day off to get stuff done, including a joint bank account (!) and unpacking.
So here we are.
Right now, things have been pretty much moving forward, getting used to the whole “there’s someone home when I get back at the end of the day.”
But the MAJOR thing that happened?
Part of being “all grows up” is having that discussion about “how not to waste money.” And after a long few days of, uh, ahem, “discussion,” it was decided that Ironman Madison ’09 would not be happening for me.
Cue the violins.
Apparently, there are BIG things planned for the ’09 year, and Ironman doesn’t quite fit into the plans. And as you can imagine, I pouted like a 5-year-old, cried, yelled, and threatened to break up if I didn’t get my way. At the end of the day, it was resolved, if not to my best liking, but I can accept it.
As for the rest of life – If you live in Illinois, then you have undoubtedly heard that the state’s child welfare department (AKA my job) just laid off 325 people (over 50% of my building alone). Not to mention the fact that they eliminate all funding of substance abuse programs (‘cause apparently these parents are going to get themselves clean – yeah right) - the fine governor is out to make a statement, and doing it at the expense of our children and their future.
And don’t even get my ass started on the ridiculous of this school boycott – honest to God it is just plain stupid. While you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who disagrees with equal education, some aldermen think that if you just throw more (of your tax) money at a problem (low graduation rate and high drop out rate), then we should have equal education. More money = problem solved, right? ‘Cause I mean, parental involvement, community poverty, and environmental stress of gangs and drugs surely had nothing to do with it.
But fuck personal responsibility - let’s just keep throwing money at an overly bureaucratic public school system so it can continue to be mismanaged, instead of addressing the wasteful spending, and putting the money towards more useful things, like CHILD WELFARE to help build and support communities and families – the same families that produce children that WANT to go to school and graduate.
I mean hell – who DOESN’T love to work more hours, just to have more of their money taken away and spent on programs that don’t work by individuals who are corrupt/dysfunctional/clueless/greedy?
Not you?
Huh.
(insert pause from me holding my tongue about November elections)
And a brief word before I head off to watch the RNC (and yes, I did watch the DNC too):
If your one of those people that are all, “Oh my god, Palin’s daughter is pregnant! How can she subject her daughter to the media? How can she ‘have it all’ by trying to be a mother and VP?”
Yo, seriously - Let it go.
First off, the girl’s pregnant. She had sex – oh holy shit. I mean, who out there wasn’t having sex as a teenager? Sure, she got herself knocked up, but is YOUR family perfect? Do you hold her mother responsible for the fact that her daughter has sex? Do you hold YOUR parents responsible for the fact that you had sex as a teen? Does it say anything about the character of YOUR own parents if you were having sex? Would you blame YOUR parents if you got pregnant? Probably not, I suspect.
Secondly, as for the “exposing” her daughter to the media – Obama brought his family to People magazine and ACCESS HOLLYWOOD.
Lemme say that again – ACCESS HOLLYWOOD.
Is nobody crying about Obama “exposing” his young young girls the flare of the media? He talks all, “Families are off limits,” but then splashes his family’s mugs all over tabloid media.
And finally – Can Palin do it all? Well, gee, I don’t know – can Obama? I mean, he has two young, young children as well – can he, as the potentially future leader of this country, be both a parent and leader?
Or any of the past Presidents, for that matter? Or was this question never raised because they were all men?
Isn’t that sort of a double standard?
Or do we still live in a world where a woman is the expected partner to stay at home and care for the family?
Well, that’s not really a progressive, liberal way of thinking, is it?
Just wondering.
In summary - I packed and moved out BY MYSELF for most of Saturday and early Sunday. My brother-in-law and sister came by Sunday morning to help with the mattress, desk and tv. By 10AM Sunday, my entire life was sitting in my sister’s garage.
Then, a pleasant surprise – my new (crazy) landlord was able to check in on Sunday, so I immediately began moving myself out of the garage, and into the new place.
I broke at 5pm to head downtown to run the Nike Human Race 10k (did anyone else do this race?) Despite the incredible muscles fatigue and 300-calorie day, I made it through almost 56:00 minutes, a few minutes off what I had hoped, but given the circumstance, I was cool with it.
Monday morning rolled around, and Cheese pulled into town.
And I SHIT YOU NOT – the man had AT LEAST 3x the stuff I did. As he rolled open the UHaul trailer, I almost choked him out after seeing the contents inside.
But alas, in the 92 degree weather, we got him moved in as well.
Tuesday I woke up, battered, terribly bruised and exhausted beyond anything I can remember (the only thing close was the day after Ironman). I took the day off to get stuff done, including a joint bank account (!) and unpacking.
So here we are.
Right now, things have been pretty much moving forward, getting used to the whole “there’s someone home when I get back at the end of the day.”
But the MAJOR thing that happened?
Part of being “all grows up” is having that discussion about “how not to waste money.” And after a long few days of, uh, ahem, “discussion,” it was decided that Ironman Madison ’09 would not be happening for me.
Cue the violins.
Apparently, there are BIG things planned for the ’09 year, and Ironman doesn’t quite fit into the plans. And as you can imagine, I pouted like a 5-year-old, cried, yelled, and threatened to break up if I didn’t get my way. At the end of the day, it was resolved, if not to my best liking, but I can accept it.
As for the rest of life – If you live in Illinois, then you have undoubtedly heard that the state’s child welfare department (AKA my job) just laid off 325 people (over 50% of my building alone). Not to mention the fact that they eliminate all funding of substance abuse programs (‘cause apparently these parents are going to get themselves clean – yeah right) - the fine governor is out to make a statement, and doing it at the expense of our children and their future.
And don’t even get my ass started on the ridiculous of this school boycott – honest to God it is just plain stupid. While you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who disagrees with equal education, some aldermen think that if you just throw more (of your tax) money at a problem (low graduation rate and high drop out rate), then we should have equal education. More money = problem solved, right? ‘Cause I mean, parental involvement, community poverty, and environmental stress of gangs and drugs surely had nothing to do with it.
But fuck personal responsibility - let’s just keep throwing money at an overly bureaucratic public school system so it can continue to be mismanaged, instead of addressing the wasteful spending, and putting the money towards more useful things, like CHILD WELFARE to help build and support communities and families – the same families that produce children that WANT to go to school and graduate.
I mean hell – who DOESN’T love to work more hours, just to have more of their money taken away and spent on programs that don’t work by individuals who are corrupt/dysfunctional/clueless/greedy?
Not you?
Huh.
(insert pause from me holding my tongue about November elections)
And a brief word before I head off to watch the RNC (and yes, I did watch the DNC too):
If your one of those people that are all, “Oh my god, Palin’s daughter is pregnant! How can she subject her daughter to the media? How can she ‘have it all’ by trying to be a mother and VP?”
Yo, seriously - Let it go.
First off, the girl’s pregnant. She had sex – oh holy shit. I mean, who out there wasn’t having sex as a teenager? Sure, she got herself knocked up, but is YOUR family perfect? Do you hold her mother responsible for the fact that her daughter has sex? Do you hold YOUR parents responsible for the fact that you had sex as a teen? Does it say anything about the character of YOUR own parents if you were having sex? Would you blame YOUR parents if you got pregnant? Probably not, I suspect.
Secondly, as for the “exposing” her daughter to the media – Obama brought his family to People magazine and ACCESS HOLLYWOOD.
Lemme say that again – ACCESS HOLLYWOOD.
Is nobody crying about Obama “exposing” his young young girls the flare of the media? He talks all, “Families are off limits,” but then splashes his family’s mugs all over tabloid media.
And finally – Can Palin do it all? Well, gee, I don’t know – can Obama? I mean, he has two young, young children as well – can he, as the potentially future leader of this country, be both a parent and leader?
Or any of the past Presidents, for that matter? Or was this question never raised because they were all men?
Isn’t that sort of a double standard?
Or do we still live in a world where a woman is the expected partner to stay at home and care for the family?
Well, that’s not really a progressive, liberal way of thinking, is it?
Just wondering.
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