Overheard on the 33 (to Potrero)

Tons and tons of Britney coming from the ipod of the guy sitting next to me. I happened to glance at his playlist at one point, but later on he turned it up so loud you could hear My Prerogative word for word. I <3 San Francisco.

OUR Fault???

No way. Clinton not only admits that demand for drugs in the US feeds the drug-related violence in Mexico, but also blames our country's loose gun laws. Finally, an American politician is admitting complicity in a situation in Latin America. Hopefully some kind of action will be taken. . .

Spring's Top Ten

This article in the SF Chronicle on 3/17 talks about procrastination and goals for not doing it. One of the tools to get away from putting things off is making your surroundings pleasant. It's kind of weird, but sad, depressing music makes me feel good. Always has, since I was little and frequently picked the songs in minor keys to practice before all the other happy ones. On that note, here are my current Top Ten:

10. Iron Lion Zion - Bob Marley
9. What's the Difference - Dr. Dre
8. Son of a Preacher - Dusty Springfield (maybe this one will help me get my stuff done)
7. If I ruled the World - Nas
6. Creep - TLC
5. Heartless - Kanye West
4. I'm Good, I'm Gone - Lykke Li
3. Speak for Me - Cat Power
2. You Know What it is - T.I.
1. New York - Cat Power

crispy.

Perhaps it's hard to understand if you didn't grow up where I did, but this is HILARIOUS. In my teenage years, I was always one the few girls in my high school who didn't go tanning. At my junior prom, I wore a dress that was very low in the back, showing off my sports bra tan (what serious runner wouldn't have one??), and a friend of mine kept making fun of me. Finally, I simply replied to her, a fellow redhead, "At least I won't get cancer", which promptly shut her up.
Seriously, tanning booths are so gross. At least cigarettes, which also give you cancer, have things in them that make you chemically addicted, which makes a tad bit more sense. Tanning booths are simply a product of vanity and our society telling us what is ideal. I find it funny that white women insist on going to great lengths to be tan, while dark skinned women are marketed skin bleaching creams (not really in this country, but still) -- so "perfection" is not too white, but not too dark, I guess. Just be happy with yourself and quite giving yourself cancer. Gross.

B's Book Pick

I recently finished Eva Luna, by Isabel Allende. She is one of my favorite authors, and her ability to weave intricate, multi-generational tales full of twisted love and fate without seeming sappy or over the top has always attracted me to her books. I especially liked this story, for Eva is a character whose magical ability to tell stories brings her through a series of tough situations with a positive and sometimes even funny outlook on life. As with most of Allende's books (much like her male counterpart, Gabriel Garcia-Marquez), Eva Luna is sexually and politically charged, juxtaposing adolescent exploration with a country's struggle for revolution. This quick read offers a story in which one can easily become immersed and distracted from the real world, and I really recommend it if you need a novel in which to escape for a few hours every day.

in my backyard

Apparently one is an Obie alum. No matter, I like them.

my parents were on to something.

Now this I could dig. Marriage = religious, and therefore should not be recognized by the state (or have anything to do with the government, frankly), no matter who is marrying each other.
Ban marriage for all, allowing religious organizations to have them, but not giving them any special governmental treatment. Allow civil unions for all, and give all the SAME protection under the law.

We can all agree on this, yea??

The Bible

My Bible arrived today, in the form of a beautiful, feminism critiquing-filled magazine. I have four favorite times of year, and those are my quarterly Bitch arrivals. They are fighting budget problems just like the rest of the world, which is why you'll now find more on their site than in the actual mag, so check them out. Amazing. Even my onerepublicanfriend will most likely find something ze likes.
(See, I used ze so no one knows how you identify, ORF, therefore protecting your anonymity even more.)
I think I feel in love (again) today when reading their responses to letters and comments on last quarter's issue. Last issue was the Noir issue, and featured comics by progressive artists, many that dealt with body issues and pasts full of sexual violence. Lots of readers wrote in about their disgust at a certain comic, calling Bitch out for their supposed "safe-space" place in the publishing world. The editors responded by apologizing, but then also explaining that Bitch was never and is not now meant to be a "safe-space", as it is a place for critical review of a variety of pop culture media. They emphasized the fact that publishing something is not an automatic endorsement, and, duh, feminism encompasses a WIDE range of views, an idea that once the entire movement embraces, we will see more willing to [explicitly] identify as feminists.
I also agree with this since I hate the term "safe-space". To me, that term implies being able to create a space, ideal, or thought with which a multitude of people completely agree, which seems impossible to me and also leads to complacency and lack of critical thinking. Agreeing to disagree is the foundation of intelligent discourse, right ORF?

Top Ten, Round 2

So, today Lorin told me she really appreciated my last playlist. It also sparked quite a political convo (who would have guessed?), so here's another. Again, they are in no particular order.

1. The White Stripes - Ball and Bis
2. Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man
3. Wilco - Jesus, etc.
4. Britney Spears - Break the Ice (I've been using the bike at the gym a lot lately, and this song really helps me on the hills. Just sayin.)
5. Timbaland ft. OneRepublic - Apologize (I've tried, I really have, but I just can't help it.)
6. Rilo Kiley - The Moneymaker
7. The Roots - Guns are Drawn (The thing about The Roots is that they have SO much music, since they make their live shows free. I have a TON of it and that makes it hard to keep track of and sometimes I get so overwhelmed by it, I just stop listening to them for a bit. Luckily, AP found this song when making a mix for a coworker. I love it.)
8. The Knife - Heartbeats (I know some stupid folk singer did this song, too, but it was The Knife's first.)
9. Atmosphere - The Rooster (I can't get enough of him.)
10. Lucinda Williams - Fruits of My Labor (One of my faves of hers, especially the live version.)

Why I Should be the Today Show's Marketing Director

I wouldn't put ads for ways to get a flat stomach and plumper lips in the MIDDLE of an article about a West Virginia politician wanting to ban Barbie - guess why he wants to ban Barbie?

"The Barbie Ban Bill, proposed by Democratic Delegate Jeff Eldridge (D) Lincoln County, says such toys influence girls to place too much importance on physical beauty, at the expense of their intellectual and emotional development."

People are so dumb.

on smiling

B just said that it's not totally out of the question that she would smile at a stranger, but that she normally just smiles at bums so they know she's not judgmental.

i'm good, i'm gone

Steppin', stormin'
I'm all gone
Give me a tone and I'm all gone
Yeah, I'm walkin' by the line
I hear that in my mind

I'm workin' a sweat
But it's all good
I'm breakin' my back
But it's all good
'cause I know I'll get it back
Yeah, I know your hands will clap

Yeah, I'm workin'
Yeah, I'm workin'
To make butter for my piece of bun

And if you say I'm not OK
Then that's the goal
If you say there ain't no way that I could know
If you say I aim too high from down below
Well, say it know 'cause when I'm gone...
You'll be callin' but I won't be at the phone

And you're hanging around 'til it's all done
You can't keep me back once I've had some
Wasting time to get it right
And you will see what I'm about

Yeah, I'm workin' a sweat
But it's all good
I'm breakin' my back
But it's all good
'cause I know I'll get it back
Yeah, I know your hands will clap

And if you say I'm not OK
Then that's the goal
If you say there ain't no way that I could know
If you say I aim too high from down below
Well, say it know 'cause when I'm gone...
You'll be callin' but I won't be at the phone