This guy rocks. He's been in office for three days, and already, he's signed an order to close Guantanamo, cleaned up ethics, and the best one right now, REPEALING THE GLOBAL GAG RULE!! How awesome is that?
He's making good decisions so far and moving quickly to do stuff - I'm impressed almost as much as I was emotional when he was inaugurated. Seriously, so proud, so happy, so... hopeful.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
A New Year, A New Post
Well, I have been more than derelict in my blogging lately. We have this problem in our apartment... the internet cannot find us there. It is very sad indeed. Thus, here I am, sitting at work after hours and writing a blog post.
Anyway, Happy New Year to the reader - I'm channeling Car Talk's hosts, Click and Clack because I noticed I only have one follower of my blog. California January weather officially wins. I haven't put on more than a sweatshirt so far this winter, and it's only going to get warmer. Even while we were running to catch the fireworks at midnight on the Embarcadero in San Francisco it was warm! Perhaps it was just me running that made it warm, but it couldn't have been very chilly if I had to peel my clothing off upon the return to my friend's place to sleep that night. This was the best New Year's celebration I had ever had. Yes, there was drinking, but there was also stimulating conversation and discussion. It was not all revelry, but it was fun.
Still searching for a full-time job for the "missus," but all in all, we are happy. My parents are coming to visit the Bay Area for the first time (ever for my mom, in 40-odd years for my dad), so I am trying to come up with interesting travel plans to keep them busy and happy. It won't be too hard because I live in one of the most beautiful places in the country.
Work is good. As can be expected in a workplace full of women, there is never a dull moment, and rarely a moment goes by without some degree of drama. Today was almost entirely drama-free, however, so hooray for small miracles. I sat upstairs, all by my lonesome, while employees with whom I have little contact scurried around the building unseen and largely unheard, and I worked my bum off. Now I am satisfied, no longer stressed, and barely ahead of the curve. Every day is a struggle for me to take things slower and do them better, but this is my cross to bear and I am glad to be employed.
What else can I say? Saw The Last King of Scotland on Tuesday and had nightmares about it. Yesterday, I watched the gf cry during Charlie Wilson's War. We had both had wine and were upset about the state of the world and the universality of hate. Why, truly, can we not all get along? Tomorrow, The Savages arrives, and I will have to watch that by myself, for the gf is not yet at the point where she can be at peace with a movie about nursing homes. This past weekend, we received Don't Mess with the Zohan, which I encourage you all to see. It is an entertaining, if not somewhat crude, take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And it's very funny. Perhaps now is not the best time to watch it - or maybe it's just the right time, I'm not sure. I'll let you be the judge. All in all, to sum up: Netflix is awesome.
Finally, here is a photo (from the NY Times) for your thoughts. Think - I dare you.
Anyway, Happy New Year to the reader - I'm channeling Car Talk's hosts, Click and Clack because I noticed I only have one follower of my blog. California January weather officially wins. I haven't put on more than a sweatshirt so far this winter, and it's only going to get warmer. Even while we were running to catch the fireworks at midnight on the Embarcadero in San Francisco it was warm! Perhaps it was just me running that made it warm, but it couldn't have been very chilly if I had to peel my clothing off upon the return to my friend's place to sleep that night. This was the best New Year's celebration I had ever had. Yes, there was drinking, but there was also stimulating conversation and discussion. It was not all revelry, but it was fun.
Still searching for a full-time job for the "missus," but all in all, we are happy. My parents are coming to visit the Bay Area for the first time (ever for my mom, in 40-odd years for my dad), so I am trying to come up with interesting travel plans to keep them busy and happy. It won't be too hard because I live in one of the most beautiful places in the country.
Work is good. As can be expected in a workplace full of women, there is never a dull moment, and rarely a moment goes by without some degree of drama. Today was almost entirely drama-free, however, so hooray for small miracles. I sat upstairs, all by my lonesome, while employees with whom I have little contact scurried around the building unseen and largely unheard, and I worked my bum off. Now I am satisfied, no longer stressed, and barely ahead of the curve. Every day is a struggle for me to take things slower and do them better, but this is my cross to bear and I am glad to be employed.
What else can I say? Saw The Last King of Scotland on Tuesday and had nightmares about it. Yesterday, I watched the gf cry during Charlie Wilson's War. We had both had wine and were upset about the state of the world and the universality of hate. Why, truly, can we not all get along? Tomorrow, The Savages arrives, and I will have to watch that by myself, for the gf is not yet at the point where she can be at peace with a movie about nursing homes. This past weekend, we received Don't Mess with the Zohan, which I encourage you all to see. It is an entertaining, if not somewhat crude, take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And it's very funny. Perhaps now is not the best time to watch it - or maybe it's just the right time, I'm not sure. I'll let you be the judge. All in all, to sum up: Netflix is awesome.
Finally, here is a photo (from the NY Times) for your thoughts. Think - I dare you.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
It's Never Too Late... Or Is It?
I hope you all read this blog post. Mostly because I don't think anyone is, but especially for this post.
I found this positively HILARIOUS video mini-musical about gay marriage created by tons of Hollywood actors and very clever directors. It is amazing... but I wish they had done it like 4 weeks ago. Then we could have all moved on with our lives. It stars Jack Black as Jesus, Neil Patrick Harris as himself, and hippies doing battle with religious zealots in the form of actors and actresses from Saturday Night Live, the West Wing, and of course, Dewey Cox. I hope you all enjoy it!
I found this positively HILARIOUS video mini-musical about gay marriage created by tons of Hollywood actors and very clever directors. It is amazing... but I wish they had done it like 4 weeks ago. Then we could have all moved on with our lives. It stars Jack Black as Jesus, Neil Patrick Harris as himself, and hippies doing battle with religious zealots in the form of actors and actresses from Saturday Night Live, the West Wing, and of course, Dewey Cox. I hope you all enjoy it!
See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Studs Terkel and This American Life
I am listening to a This American Life episode with Studs Terkel interviews. He was adept in getting great stories from people. This particular episode is dealing with the Great Depression, his most famous topic. The production was "A Gathering of Survivorsr: Voices of the Great American Depression."
One of the last women he interviewed was talking about how she found out President Roosevelt had 80 cufflinks; some ruby, some emerald, some diamond. How could one person have so much while so many people are starving, she thought. Amazing. There are so many people like that out there, that feel that way, especially now, and yet socialism is still a bad word. "Sharing the wealth" is such a bad thing.
I think it was the same woman who was later talking about how she came to understand that Black people were the same as White people. She said that after the Great Depression, there was a lot of propaganda dividing Americans. Yeah, you all went through all this terrible poverty, but you're white, so you're better. One of her realizations was of gender. She saw a huge white man slam the door in the face of a grocery clerk, a black woman, as she took his groceries to his car for him. She cursed him off, and it was one step towards this realization that a certain kind of people aren't different or inferior or superior than another kind.
I love This American Life. I cannot help thinking that if more people listened to this show, we would live in a different world. Maybe that's not true. Maybe people could divorce what they hear from what they live. But maybe, just maybe, it would make one person change their behavior towards those less fortunate or in positions where they have no power to change their situations, controlled by a machine much larger than themselves.
Maybe that will be one of the lessons of this "minor" economic downturn. People are losing their homes, their livelihoods, their cars... do you think that they will realize that the important thing to do is to stick together?
One of the last women he interviewed was talking about how she found out President Roosevelt had 80 cufflinks; some ruby, some emerald, some diamond. How could one person have so much while so many people are starving, she thought. Amazing. There are so many people like that out there, that feel that way, especially now, and yet socialism is still a bad word. "Sharing the wealth" is such a bad thing.
I think it was the same woman who was later talking about how she came to understand that Black people were the same as White people. She said that after the Great Depression, there was a lot of propaganda dividing Americans. Yeah, you all went through all this terrible poverty, but you're white, so you're better. One of her realizations was of gender. She saw a huge white man slam the door in the face of a grocery clerk, a black woman, as she took his groceries to his car for him. She cursed him off, and it was one step towards this realization that a certain kind of people aren't different or inferior or superior than another kind.
I love This American Life. I cannot help thinking that if more people listened to this show, we would live in a different world. Maybe that's not true. Maybe people could divorce what they hear from what they live. But maybe, just maybe, it would make one person change their behavior towards those less fortunate or in positions where they have no power to change their situations, controlled by a machine much larger than themselves.
Maybe that will be one of the lessons of this "minor" economic downturn. People are losing their homes, their livelihoods, their cars... do you think that they will realize that the important thing to do is to stick together?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
From the Annals of "Duh" Science...
Thank goodness for stories such as this one from NPR's Talk of the Nation Science Friday. "Happy Tunes Make for Healthy Hearts." Apparently, listening to upbeat, "joyful" music releases endorphins and dilates the blood vessels, allowing for better blood flow to the heart, much like exercise. Woah, really?! Happy music makes you happier and therefore healthier?? You just freakin' blew my mind! Who woulda thought?
In other news, this afternoon, I signed this pledge to repeal Prop 8. It won't happen, but it's apparently being decided by the California Supreme Court even as we speak, so something will happen indeed. The post includes a comment from Keith Olbermann that he recited on his show last week that was really quite amazing. I have embeded the video from YouTube. Feel free to check it out. I nearly cried. Had I not been at work, I would have done so.
In other news, this afternoon, I signed this pledge to repeal Prop 8. It won't happen, but it's apparently being decided by the California Supreme Court even as we speak, so something will happen indeed. The post includes a comment from Keith Olbermann that he recited on his show last week that was really quite amazing. I have embeded the video from YouTube. Feel free to check it out. I nearly cried. Had I not been at work, I would have done so.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Happy, With Caveats
I'm so psyched for Barack Obama. Really, I am. And I'm very optimistic about the direction of the country with Democratic control of House, Senate, and the Presidency. Plus, the defeat of all of the anti-choice ballot initiatives and bans is icing on the cake of a great night.
I am, however, perturbed by the idea that a rich few can take away the civil rights of so many. This time, it's the rights of gays and lesbians in California. How long will we have to wait to have marriage equality? 10 years? 20? 50? Why do people care? Have gays been running around killing or destroying property after they took their vows? Homosexuality isn't a disease, it's not getting into the water, and it's not destroying the institution of marriage. DIVORCE IS.
My new motto is: "Protect traditional marriage. STOP DIVORCE."
And no, I don't mean no one should get divorced. There are plenty of people who have and should be allowed to do so. It's just crazy that people can be so afraid of something they cannot even see, touch, or hear. "Oh no, not another married gay couple! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!"
Thus, my happiness for President-Elect Barack Obama is heavily tempered by my disgust with intolerant Americans.
I am, however, perturbed by the idea that a rich few can take away the civil rights of so many. This time, it's the rights of gays and lesbians in California. How long will we have to wait to have marriage equality? 10 years? 20? 50? Why do people care? Have gays been running around killing or destroying property after they took their vows? Homosexuality isn't a disease, it's not getting into the water, and it's not destroying the institution of marriage. DIVORCE IS.
My new motto is: "Protect traditional marriage. STOP DIVORCE."
And no, I don't mean no one should get divorced. There are plenty of people who have and should be allowed to do so. It's just crazy that people can be so afraid of something they cannot even see, touch, or hear. "Oh no, not another married gay couple! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!"
Thus, my happiness for President-Elect Barack Obama is heavily tempered by my disgust with intolerant Americans.
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