On the Long Run

Overheard in my house

2010-08-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

The ranch on my pizza makes me feel like I'm eating a salad.

- Aaron

Who knew Snake Diesel had so much to say?

2010-07-03T09:55:00.001-07:00

and he says it all here

SF Vid

2010-05-13T21:31:00.000-07:00

Check out this video.

From the email I got about it:

Amazing old video of San Francisco. This film was "lost" for many years. It was the first 35 mm film ever. It was taken by camera mounted on the front of a cable car. Look at the ladies dresses and the old cars alsoThe amount of automobiles is staggering for 1906. The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcadero wharf is still there ( the Ferry Building ). This film, originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles CA Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly when it was shot. From New York trade papers announcing the film showing to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall & shadows indicating time of year & actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars were registered (he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!).. It was filmed only four days before the quake and shipped by train to NY for processing. Amazing but true.

Where dem bloggers at?

2010-04-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

As Rihanna asks us, where the bloggers at? And by bloggers, I mean blogger and by blogger, I mean me.

The M.I.A. we all love (and missed) is back and pissing people off with this poignant video.
NPR, seriously? If you're going to extol Nicki Minaj as "the first woman in several years to penetrate hip-hop's hyper-masculine mainstream," please do not also put her in a pop music and cultural phenomena category with a 16 year-old kid who has to cancel his concerts when middle school girls get out of hand (and inspires blogs like this).
Republicans hate it when the government mandates health care, but they love mandating certain medical procedures for pregnant women, even if that woman was impregnated through rape or incest.

Overheard in the neighborhood

2010-04-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

Woman carrying yoga mat to other woman carrying yoga mat: No Way! I could go get pregnant tomorrow.

Other woman in response: Do it!

More old things that are new again

2010-03-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

San Francisco sandwich guide. I couldn't find it online, but the hard copy version has a note on page 14 about Arguello market, our fabulous little neighborhood grocer. World-famous turkey sandwiches are made there. They really are delicious. This one makes the list because it really just lists out the best sandwiches in SF, many of which we already knew about.
Anthony's cookies. A dear friend brought me far too many of them today and I was reminded of how good these cookies are. They kind of melt in your mouth and then you taste some other spice or flavor afterward that is also really delicious.
Just when we all finally stopped making jokes about Ricky Martin being gay, he actually comes out! I read about here first and was a little touched to hear what he said. It seems like something we all knew, but I think that it's probably a bigger deal than we realize since he couldn't come out and tell the public who he really is. I'm happy for him.

Hello Wheels, Gail Reid's book and other (new and old) discoveries

2010-03-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

New exciting things:

John Shaw's band in Austin, Hello Wheels
Gail Reid (my friend Rose's mom) came out with the book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Low-Cost Startups this past month. You can find her blog here.

Old things that I've rekindled my affections for:

Google Reader. Some of my more intellectual friends were singing its praises this past week and it reminded me of the days B and I would share articles and links with each other in the most efficient way possible. It's pretty awesome. If you also use it, let me know so I can follow you if you share interesting bits, or avoid you if you don't.
Comforts' Chinese Chicken Salad
The polenta recipe in B's New Basics cookbook. I made this recipe this week and the leftovers never seemed to get old. Polenta is delicious.
Four Tet. I was never a huge fan, but this song makes me like him again.

hurts so good

2010-03-19T19:20:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for She and Him to put out more... por fin!

Other places you can review on Yelp

2010-02-24T21:58:00.000-08:00

- Churches
- Golden Gate Park
- The tennis courts at my high school

Funny

2010-02-23T22:29:00.000-08:00

Can you really review a prison on yelp? check it out here.

Also, Julia's YouTube debut

Overheard in my favorite café

2010-02-15T14:07:00.000-08:00

Man to his friend: I really like my neighborhood, but it's getting a little too bro-ed out, so we're thinking about moving.

His friend: Do people say douchbag anymore or has bro taken its place?

Man: I've been saying bro since I was a kid.

Overheard in the Mission

2010-01-30T13:16:00.000-08:00

Girl to her friend: You know how on Jersey Shore they talk about how in groups of hot girls there's always one girl who's kind of gross and not hot at all? They call her the grenade. I'm really afraid that I'm the grenade.

Her friend: No, like I think that poncho just isn't very form fitting so you can't really see that you're hot.

M.J. at Summer Jam, Obama on the text

2010-01-23T11:16:00.000-08:00

For those of you who may not have quite the love affair I have with hip-hop, the title of this post is a line in Jay-Z's song, "On To The Next One" on his newest album, The Blueprint 3.

As I was walking around in D.C. last weekend with my dear friend Scott, I asked him if he thought President Obama and Jay-Z really exchange text messages. After all, Scott did work for the Obama campaign. From there, we opined on possible texts between the two. This begins a (hopefully) weekly post on President Obama's text messages to Jay-Z.

"Man Jay, Scott Brown sure is giving Kanye a run for his money when it comes to putting foot in mouth."
"I know everyone thinks I'm being a wimp lately. People need to realize that I'm not a countryman, I'm the country, man." (courtesy of AP)
"Hey, is Beyonce available this weekend? I'd love it if she could teach Michelle some of her dance moves."

Overheard - Obie dinner edition

2009-12-28T21:30:00.000-08:00

you're such a speciesist.

Gawker is better than facebook

2009-12-21T20:32:00.000-08:00

I started reading Gawker pretty regularly. It's so great it makes Facebook seem very boring, if it wasn't already. Hearing about how everyone is super excited that finals are almost over this year made me realize that it's really time to give up.

I like to read Gawker at work, especially. Normally I just check NY Times for the news updates, but whenever I mentioned some piece of news, like unemployment rate changes or the healthcare bill, no one would acknowledge my comment. So many things are off limits for discussion, I think that people just like to talk about celebrity gossip and sports. Luckily, Gawker is great for both. I broke the news on every Tiger update there was a couple of weeks ago. The only problem was when they asked me where I read it. Then I would wait for NY Times to update their "sports" blog and send the link around. They respect my news if it comes from there or SF Gate even. Except that no one respects SF Gate. Not even SF Gate.

Feliz día de Acción de Gracias

2009-11-26T14:23:00.000-08:00

Here is an email from my Spanish host mom. I wanted to share it because she's so sweet - she emailed me on a holiday she doesn't even celebrate because it's one that means a lot to me and my family.

Feliz día de Acción de Gracias., En estas fechas tan familiares me acuerdo mucho de mi hija americana. Un fuerte abrazo y recuerdos a todos los tuyos. Que disfrutes este día y seas muy feliz en todo lo que emprendas. Con muchísimo cariño. Tu madre española.

California Love?

2009-11-25T14:23:00.000-08:00

Not too surprisingly, UC students have been protesting the 32% tuition hike UC Regents approved last week with huge demonstrations involving drums and chants about injustice. It's a tough situation undoubtedly: students who are barely scraping together the money for tuition in addition to all of the other college expenses could be overburdened by the increase, while the state of California is floudering financially and slashing spending anywhere possible, including of course, higher education.

A study my sister worked on is cited this article from UC Davis' The Aggie saying that, "Nearly 90 percent of Californians are "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" about student fee hikes." Yet, 56% said they would not be willing to pay higher taxes to deal with the state budget problems. So who do they want to pay for it?

Personally, I agree with this view of the situation outlined by Ian Ayres for the Freakonomics Blog - the people who should pay for it are the ones who have the money. If you can afford the higher tuition, you'll pay it and if you can't then you'll get help. The UCs are high caliber schools that still are not that expensive, relative to private institutions. The wealthier students will pay the tuition, the poorer students will get financial aid and the ones in the middle? That's where I think the burden will be placed and where some kind of assistance is needed... manna from heaven sounds like a good plan.

BeyonceBeyonceBeyonce

2009-11-14T11:51:00.000-08:00

amazing video. I can't get enough.

Twitter is only good for finding food

2009-11-14T11:04:00.000-08:00

So Twitter is really only good for finding food, right? Scream sorbet is my favorite to follow. They seriously have amazing sorbet that doesn't use any dairy. The best part of their sorbet though is that it actually tastes exactly like whatever they claim it to be. Hard to explain, just try it. I'm in LA right now where the Kimchi taco truck tweets their location and then everyone swarms. I want to try them while I'm here, but I don't want to have to drive really far. Maybe they will be around the corner this afternoon or something.

What else is Twitter good for? Please, tell me if you know.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T18:39:00.001-07:00

Why do people say that? It's not a particularly joyous holiday, but it's fun to say it since everyone is so excited to dress up.

It says a lot about a person what they dressed up as throughout their lives, right? Maybe not one year in particular, but all the years together do.

Here are mine(not necessarily in order... if my mom read this blog, she would correct me) :
- clown
- gypsy (i know, totally un-pc, but i didn't know better)
- witch (not too scary)
- little red riding hood
- mime
- Charlie Chaplin (full on, no talking, waddling with cane)
- Phantom of the Opera
- Princess Leia
- Marilyn Monroe
- figure skater from the 80's

and this year?

Family Thievery

2009-10-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

I have a HUGE family, a family that I really like being around, even if they are a little insane at times. Since I moved to California, and my family is all in West Virginia and Ohio (more or less), I have been stealing families. It's a very good idea if you decide to move somewhere without any family. Luckily I moved to a city where I already knew a good deal of people from school, some of whom actually grew up here. This means they have families nearby, families you can steal. Money!

First, I stole Alex's family. Her Mom, Linda, and her sister, Sonja, are great. The beginning of my thievery was probably on Alex's birthday last year, when the four of us went to brunch, then to a 6 year-old's birthday party. There we played with other 6 year-olds and watched a live reptile show - the guy doing the show made Alex touch something since it was her birthday, too. That night I got to meet Alex's brother, Gabe, and his family for the first time (they just had their second baby!). Shortly after that, Alex and I went to Sonja's house for Thanksgiving; Sonja's partner Jim was also there and he is great fun. It was the first time that Sonja had cooked a full Thanksgiving dinner by herself and boy, did she do a good job. I also got to meet their other brother, Anthony, at that holiday.

Now I am on a crusade to steal Julia's and Kim's families. On the day that Kim, my former coworker but now friend, and I decided to put in our joint letter of resignation, I had to take care of some stuff in the East Bay that was going to be very difficult to do by bike. Kim and her Mom were so great - they picked me up at the Lafayette BART station, drove me to my appointment, then we got coffee together and Kim's Mom took us to work all the way in Berkeley. It was so nice to have a Mom to talk to before we made such a stressful career move.

I recently met Julia's parents when we had our Monday Night Dinner Club at her house. We are going to her house for happy hour on Thursday and I am going to put plan Steal-Julia's-Parents into action. Wish me luck!

Fall playlist aka I am trying to make a comeback.

2009-09-29T21:09:00.001-07:00

Life has been pretty busy for me since June, which is when I started studying for the LSAT. After having taken the test last Saturday, and also having rid my life of other distractions like a horrible boss and philandering boyfriend, I am back on track. I am making a career move, waiting for the LSAT score to arrive so I can start applying to law school, and just generally enjoying life. I got a new camera, so maybe some pictures will show up on here more often. Also, Unca D, too bad you aren't in town this weekend to enjoy this: http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/
I'm also going to represent my WV roots tomorrow at the SF premier of "Coal Country."
I will make my foray back into blogging by starting out easy and working off of ap's last post.
With such transitions in life comes a new soundtrack, so here is how I am starting out the fall:

Disappear by Mazzy Star
Sodom, South Georgia by Iron & Wine
the only king by the everybody fields
On to the Next One by Jay-Z
Be So Happy by The Heartless Bastards
Cry, Cry by Mazzy Star

I've also decided that Jay-Z will never top "Reasonable Doubt," no matter how hard he tries.

Lastly, now that I've finally finished the LSAT, I can get back to reading for pleasure. I started with The Night of the Gun by David Carr, which I ended up quitting about 90 pages in (not common for me). This book is basically an extension of an article he wrote a year ago, which I really liked then. That said, I could not handle an entire book of it. The book is a memoir, but written in the investigative genre of a journalist, because Carr was so out of it during these years, he had to interview those involved to actually write a memoir. Sounds interesting, you say? I agree. What I could not get down with was the level of humor Carr felt like he should insert. Being addicted to coke is not funny, especially when you're a privileged, educated white male who could have easily made some better choices. I understand that addiction can be a powerful disease, but Carr did not need to approach the subject in this memoir as though it was actually funny to find out that at one point he owned a gun of which he has no recollection. My coworker, who recommended it to me, insisted that the story redeems itself in the second half, when Carr speaks with impressive candor about his rehab attempts, as well as about his inability to meet a "normal" (i.e., not a prostitute or junkie) woman after he cleans up. Perhaps, but when you've been reading nothing but logic questions for four months, you really want your first book back to be one that you simply do not want to put down - which is why I am now reading The Bonfire of the Vanities, by Tom Wolfe. I'll let you know how it goes, but so far so good.

End/Beginning of Summer Playlist

2009-09-22T20:57:00.001-07:00

Since summer weather comes late to us here, it's kind of like a summer playlist. I find myself listening to them and sipping iced tea, reading Fitzgerald and lingering with everything I do. Here goes:

This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) by Talking heads
Dos Gardenias by BVSC
Naked if I want to by Cat Power
Essence by Lucinda (B has the live version which is new to me and I LOVE it)
Life to Me (Love Me) by Hi-Tek feat. Estelle
La La by Lil Wayne

oh, saturdays

2009-09-05T15:51:00.001-07:00

I thought today would be a pretty typical Saturday. Turns out it wasn't at all! First, I went to volunteer at the SF Food Bank and just when I was having a great time and decided to come back on a regular basis, the food bank workers came in and announced that a couple of photographers from the NY Times were there to take pictures. They took pictures of us boxing up apples. Apparently grocery stores reject produce that is completely edible but aesthetically unpleasing and the food banks snatch it up. I thought the apples looked delicious.

The second unusual thing that happened was my espresso from the cafe in the title photo of this blog. It was incredible, entirely notable Blue Bottle espresso, prepared to perfection. I sipped it while reading Fitzgerald and came across this quote from Gloria Patch that I identify with immensely at the moment:

Everything I do is in accordance with my ideas:
to use every minute of these years, when I'm young, in having the best time I possibly can.

Lastly, I was running in Golden Gate park and smelled something, um, chronic. That's not so unusual. In fact, I probably smell that every time I go to the park. What was so unusual though, was that it was coming from a middle-aged man who was walking with his middle-aged wife and what looked like his teenage son. THEN, he passed it to the boy! They were just sharing a joint walking down Stanyan along the park like that's completely normal. Whatever brings a family together, I guess.

The day's not over and I can't even imagine what else this city has in store for me...

sending flowers

2009-07-29T22:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a useful guide for sending flowers to someone you care about:

Carnations are tacky. Unless the person specifically says, "I love carnations! They're my favorite flower!" you will come across as cheap if you send them. SATC ruined it for carnations.
Tulips are a fantastic flower to send.
Daisies are cute, but you know, a little boring.
Baby's breath went out with shoulder pads.
Lilies are risky if the person is allergic to them, which a lot of people seem to be. I think they're pretty though...
Roses are tacky. Especially red roses. Be very careful when giving them.

There are a lot of amazing flowers to send, obvi, but these were the highlights from a conversation at work we had about it. Apparently guys, the ones who send them the most, thought it didn't matter what kind of flowers are sent. Fail.

summer fog

2009-07-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

I've been in a blog fog - not a ton of inspiration, but here are some updates and tidbits until there's something really great to write about.

I ran my first post-collegiate race last weekend. Can't really say I "raced" but I did run hard and have a lot of fun doing it. If you're planning on doing Hood to Coast and somehow get in and then need another team member, let me know.

B's little brother wrote a fantastic Op-Ed Piece in the Charleston Gazette.

Brüno ! Not as funny as Borat, but has a great message. Baron Cohen is the man. B and I went to see it at the Kabuki. Fun.

My mom joined Facebook. B's mom had joined a while back, so I added her as a friend. She didn't sound too happy when I wrote on B's wall saying, "I'm friends with your mom. no joke." Oh well, I think it's fun, but also funny how our worlds are meshing.

B and I are going to kill our TV! Celebration details to follow. . .

Eminent Domain and Art in SF

2009-05-31T11:50:00.000-07:00

77 Natoma Street will be demolished in October 2009 unless people at this party can stop it. In all fairness, it sounds like a great show with works from 200+ artists and a handful of people, musicians and artists in attendance. If only Matt Gonzalez hadn't run with Ralph Nader in 2008 for the White House ticket, I might be impressed that he'll be there.

This past Friday I met this guy, Mr. Lucky. He was wearing exactly what he's wearing on his website and told us he got his hat in the 1960's (maybe 1950's. Long time ago, that's the point) in Oakland. A little eccentric, but I always appreciate an artist who's serious about it.

I also met the owner of Grasp, a gallery in North Beach. Intriguing but I need to learn more, so there will be more about that later.

Finally, yesterday at SFMOMA yesterday I saw the new Georgia O'Keefe/Ansel Adams exhibit. It was truly fantastic. The juxtoposition of painting and photography of some of the most beautiful images in our natural world was done exquisitely. Five stars for sure. I also finally got up to the rooftop garden and liked all the sculptures, with the execption of that weird spider. Ugly. There's also a very cool trailer on that top floor that's super retro and fun to daydream about taking a road trip in like the people in the video that's alongside the actual trailer. I took a few minutes to see William Kentridge's exhibit one more time before it was gone and didn't regret it. He always blows my mind.

Overheard in Russian Hill

2009-05-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

"Ugh, my boyfriend's getting mad at me."

-Man mooning/flashing us from a neighboring balcony while at a rooftop BBQ.

Overheard on Arguello

2009-05-17T11:56:00.001-07:00

"We need to get some weed."

This morning AP and I decided to venture out a little early to look for a birthday present for her niece. It was not a normal morning in SF as Bay to Breakers is taking place today. As we left our apartment, we passed a group of kids dressed in neon green and yellow spandex shirts. One guy was wearing a huge straw hat around his neck and was speaking very loudly about the group's agenda. I hope they were successful.

Bette Davis Eyes

2009-05-17T11:51:00.001-07:00

AP and I are pretty much obsessed with this song at the moment and found this AMAZING video of Kim Carnes singing it live in 1981. Pay careful attention to her hands.

Ode to Robots

2009-05-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

T4 is opening next week, so to get excited I want to honor robots with the following:

Robot in front of a Pac Heights neighborhood house.

The Positronic Man was one of my favorite books as a child. I absolutely loved the idea of having a robot that learned to feel and be friends with. I would highly recommend reading it. Now it's kind of like our Governator is like that robot/man.

Giant Robot is a store near where we live in SF. I've actually never been there, but have seen some pretty unique knick knacks people have picked up there.

We need a theme!

2009-05-09T12:43:00.001-07:00

B, another friend and I are going to run Bay to Breakers next weekend and we are brainstorming themes. This is what we have so far:

- Jonas Brothers
- Three Stooges
- What you would get if you combined the Jonas Brothers and the Three Stooges

Please kindly give us suggestions so we don't end up looking like one of these

Sunday Strolls

2009-05-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

On a Sunday walk through the Mission, I ran into some awesome spots. First, coffee and donuts from Dynamo Donut and Coffee, then exploring Valencia Street's adorable shops. I love the signs in the Mission, not just because they're mostly all in Spanish, but they seem to have a style all their own, whether they're a little dated or not.

The sun was so wonderful and although the rain is nice once in awhile, I'm definitely wishing I could stroll again today...

I <3 this city

2009-04-23T21:16:00.001-07:00

Varnish

Park Life

Hayes Valley

Bi-Rite

Enthralled with the good ones. . .

2009-04-23T20:44:00.001-07:00

I was accepted into Summer Search when I was a 6th grader at Davidson Middle School in San Rafael. The program absolutely changed the trajectory of my life not only with summer trips but with a support system that continues to make me feel connected and part of something truly amazing and change-inducing. This past week was their annual fundraising Leadership Luncheon where current students, alumni and staff told their stories and inspired many to give to the program. This speech by Niles Lichtenstein left me speechless. Coincidentally, John Osterweis, the co-Founder of Summer Search works in my building and when chatting with him in the elevator about the program he summed it up well when he said, "I can't think of a better way to spend money." Neither can I.

My adorable friend Evie is finishing up her second year at UC Hastings and in connection with her studies there, helped organize an event about femicide in Guatemala. I had no idea how prevalent violence against women is there. What's even worse is that our government gives theirs millions for their justice system, which allows these crimes to go unpunished. Although Guatemala lacks many tools for investigating crimes, there are also problems deep in the system that perpetuate these human rights violations. The fact that we're basically funding that is letting them know it's acceptable, so Evie and her group at Hastings is working to educate our local representatives so actions can be taken in Washington and hopefully make some real change.

5ft2in

2009-04-16T22:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight I met Sunny, the woman who started this company - clothes for women 5ft2in and under that aren't like the dowdy petite stores that cater to that market. I liked the idea of her company, but what's even more compelling, is that she started it with a microfinance loan from a Bay Area based organization called Opportunity Fund. Starting off with less than desirable credit, the loan from Opportunity allowed her to get out of debt, get organized and eventually start her company. Her idea for 5ft2in came from having so many women ask her to hem their pants after she graduated from fashion school that she realized there was actually a niche there. Being one that fits in that category, I certainly like the idea.

Microfinance has gotten a lot of press in relation to its impact on developing countries, mainly because smaller loans can be extremely helpful to entrepreneurs in places where capital simply doesn't flow. California on the other hand has a huge economy, but a growing number of both immigrants as well as unemployment rates. Small loans along with financial education for people attempting to get their ideas off the ground is a fabulous way to help our local economy at any time, but especially in the current climate everyone is faced with. If you have any experience or knowledge about microfinance, domestic or otherwise, I'd love to hear about it!

How I feel about New York, the city

2009-04-09T22:19:00.001-07:00

I always used to think New York would be the ultimate city to live in, but after my most recent visit, I realized it's really just mean and dirty (see picture above for example of "mean"). Everything is a lot dirtier than San Francisco too. What really gets me is how everything, especially in Brooklyn is painted black. If it's not black, it's some other dark color. I understand dressing in black, but it seems like they take it a little too far out there.

In other news, B and I had dinner last night for the first time in exactly one week (whew!). I tried making a recipe from my Moosewood cookbook my sister gave me. It was essentially spinach leaves topped with this dressing of canned tomatoes, hot sauce, onions, peanut butter and cilantro then topped again with hard-boiled egg and sweet potato fries. It looked really strange but tasted surprisingly good. The ambiance was even better - candlelight and L.L. Cool J to really get us in the mood for 30 Rock.

Overheard on the 33 (to Potrero)

2009-03-29T00:43:00.000-07:00

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???

2009-03-25T20:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-19T09:59:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

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

my parents were on to something.

2009-03-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-13T19:02:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-07T18:54:00.000-08:00

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.

The White Stripes - Ball and Bis
Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man
Wilco - Jesus, etc.
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.)
Timbaland ft. OneRepublic - Apologize (I've tried, I really have, but I just can't help it.)
Rilo Kiley - The Moneymaker
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.)
The Knife - Heartbeats (I know some stupid folk singer did this song, too, but it was The Knife's first.)
Atmosphere - The Rooster (I can't get enough of him.)
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

2009-03-04T18:51:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-03-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

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

+

2009-02-25T22:44:00.000-08:00

SO AMESOME

B's Book Picks

2009-02-23T22:23:00.000-08:00

I recently finished What is the What, by Dave Eggers (author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius), and would definitely recommend it. What is the What is a fictionalized, though still biographical, account of Achak Deng's early life as one of Sudan's Lost Boys. Eggers befriended Deng and wrote the novel based on Deng's story. The best part is that Eggers was at that point a best-selling author, meaning his book would presumably draw much praise (read: attention) and money. All the proceeds from this book went to Deng's foundation, which is currently building a school in his village in Sudan.

Eggers is a very unique author, mixing humor with grief in a way that can be simultaneously difficult and understandable for one who has been through a prolonged period of hard times. For anyone who has read A Heartbreaking Work, you probably understand what I mean when I say that at times I wanted to throw the book at the wall. While What is the What sometimes had that feeling (mostly in the beginning), it was easier to sink into Achak's sadness. I think this was partly because I knew the story was based on mostly true events, thus allowing me to convince myself of the importance of reading the story. Also, when beginning this book, I think I felt as though it was a repeat, albeit a fictionalized one, of Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone, which in some ways it was. I soon realized that this was not the case, and would actually recommend reading them both. Beah's account is a memoir about being a child soldier in Sierra Leone, focusing solely on his time there. The book ends just as he is arriving in America, where he would soon attend Oberlin College. Deng's story is one of a refugee, and the book goes back and forth between his time in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya and America, highlighting that this Lost Boy remains lost, even when he has been given a new lease on life in the US.
Both books are generally about war-torn Africa and the effects these various conflicts have on young people, young people who are now part of this country. Yet, it is also important to understand the variety of conflicts and reasons for them, as well as experiences had by those involved. These stories are told by very different voices, but ultimately, are told to shed light on a world that too often we consider to be farther away and more separate than it really is.

Overheard in GG Park

2009-02-21T12:12:00.000-08:00

Daddy, Andy Warhol has weird hair

- Small child to father

Strrreaming Radio

2009-02-21T10:21:00.000-08:00

I keep getting sick of my own music and wanting to hear something that might not necessarily come up on Pandora or Last.fm, but have only found a few good ones out there. SomaFM is an interesting one with ambient music that might be good for the background. WOBC will always have a special place in my heart and be my go-to when Car Talk comes on NPR, but when the folk shows come on, I can't really take it. Casbah Radio and Oh-la-la were recommended to me by a coworker, and are pretty great but I want more! Send me your tips, please.

Top Ten

2009-02-08T14:20:00.000-08:00

Now that I have an hour+ commute (one-way), I spend a lot of time reading the paper and listening to my iPod.
Here's my Top Ten of what I'm listening to right now. My iTunes library is huge (especially now thanks to Al), but this is just a current list. It will probably change in about two days. It is also in no particular order.

Drive-By Truckers: Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife (Unca D - if you don't have this song, or this band, get it now; I guarantee you'll like it.)
T.I. ft. Rihanna: Live Your Life
Arrested Development: Mr. Wendal (a throw-back to when I was about 8, but still great)
Dolly Parton: Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?
Atmosphere: The Skinny
M. Ward: Poison Cup
Hi-Tek: Tired
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Y Control (Obie alums!)
Ryan Adams ft. Emmylou Harris: Oh My Sweet Carolina
Lupe Fiasco ft. Jill Scott: Daydreamin'

Changing BMIs: Playboy v. McDonalds

2009-02-08T13:42:00.001-08:00

My coworker, Kim, alerted me to a Wired article about the history of Playmates' changing B.M.Is. In a nutshell, the article shows how one woman plotted every Playmates' BMI against the average woman's BMI for that same year. Not surprisingly, the average woman has gotten larger while Playmates have gotten smaller. But, there is one surprise: while Playmates' BMIs have gotten smaller (including their overall chest measurement), their cup size has remained rather large. So, not only is Playboy selling an unrealistic ideal of a woman, they are promoting plastic surgery to partly obtain this ideal.
This article also made me think about the fact that the average woman is getting BIGGER (as is the average male). It seems pretty likely that we can blame this on fast food, hormones in our meat and dairy, and ridiculous dieting and surgery being promoted more than exercise and eating normally.

As Kim and I discussed, the original ideas of men like Hugh Hefner and Larry Flynt were not all that dispicable. Hefner began Playboy as a response to the idea that women had to be asexual, and that sex was solely a means for reproduction - an idea that made talking about sex for pleasure as an extreme taboo, especially for women. In the beginning, Playboy was a space where that "average" secretary or nurse could be photographed in a way that showcased her unexpected sexiness and femininity. Flynt, who grew up in a poor family in smalltown Kentucky, created Hustler for similar [pornographic] reasons, but also as a response to Playboy's focus on white, upper-class men, offering articles that weren't about golf and expensive gizmos.
I have little beef with either of these magazines from that point of view - yet, they both have seemingly evolved into publications that value unrealistic and unobtainable bodies. I also have little patience for those that argue that these are men's arenas, that they should be able to just look at what they want without people nagging at the inappropriateness of it. I do realize that part of the allure is the fantasy, but does fantasy have to mean fake? Further, how much of it is actually what men want to look at, and how much of it is what they are being told is attractive?

The problem is two-fold: 40 years ago, women were, on average, smaller and presumably healthier. These days, people are fighting obesity at appalling rates for various reasons, yet to be considered attractive, women (more than men) must morph themselves into an almost impossible form. It would be nice to think we could get back to the middle ground of healthy weights and proportions as not only the ideal, but the reality.

2009-02-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

Chris Motz, this senior at Oberlin put this picture as his fb picture. Although I would pretty much NEVER compare Ray to Obama, it's still pretty funny. Props Chris.

I love Craigslist

2009-02-06T07:19:00.000-08:00

Last weekend B and I bought a lot of furniture from people on Craigslist and now I wish I still needed things I could find on Craigslist because I love Craigslist so much. I did find this posting, which I may or may not have seriously considered replying to. Best part of the posting, "Movie presskits are promotional items and very rare. May be of gay interest." In case it gets taken down and you can't see it, the posting title is, "PRESS KIT for the movie SLEEPOVER with SEAN FARIS Rare - $10 (downtown / civic / van ness)"

Where do your drugs come from?

2009-01-24T08:19:00.001-08:00

Santiago Meza Lopez put the bodies of the people he captured in acid so they would dissolve and be disappeared forever. The 300 people he did this to were all primarily against the narcotic industry in Mexico and posed some sort of opposition. Ciudad Juarez is teeming with violence all surrounding the drug cartels, but also harming innocent people not related to the drug industry at all. There have been countless news stories lately about the increasing violence in Mexico and around the border, but no one has connected it to our country and what role we play in it.

The violence is happening because there's money involved. A lot of money for an impoverished country with millions of desperate people. Where does the money eventually come from, or rather, who's buying the drugs at the last stop? I'm sure they're going across seas and to Canada, but there are also plenty of Americans fueling the violence with their dollars. This connection seems so obvious to me, but so many of my peers seem to have no problem with their habit.

Kidnapping for ransom and other atrocious crimes against totally innocent people is probably one of the best reasons to boycott a product, especially one as destructive and unnecessary as this one.

+

2009-01-19T18:22:00.000-08:00

This song by Little Dragon.

Brussels Sprouts (roasted, not steamed).

People just being nice instead of trying.

Branches.

change we can now see

2009-01-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I've posted (ap even posted under my name recently to try and fool you), but it's time for a change. As the country welcomes a new president and we welcome a new home, I am welcoming a new commitment to posting on the blog I was once so intense about.

My first post back is this picture of a plant in Golden Gate park that has graffiti on it. This was a first for me, and it seemed fitting that I captured it on my first full day living in the city.

It's good to be back.

We Moved

2009-01-18T19:13:00.000-08:00

Not there, but closer by.

Just Do It (yourself)

2009-01-09T18:11:00.000-08:00

Arts and crafts are so much fun (obviously) but making things that you can actually use is really more than just fun. Etsy, a website that connects people who make cool things with people who want to buy them is the perfect example of how something your grandma used to do is now cool. The site also has a lot of recycled items for the frugalistas. I like how you can find items that are not only great, but inexpensive and pretty much totally unique.

Overheard in Berkeley (Oakland, technically)

2009-01-02T16:41:00.000-08:00

Mommy, can I have a vegan doughnut?

- small child to his hip mom, who promptly replied, "of course, sweety!" I'm pretty sure that just because it's vegan doesn't mean it's not still fried dough with lots of sugar.

Our Resolutions

2009-01-01T17:54:00.000-08:00

- Eat less sugar. Scary. I really don't want to end up being a crazy catlady.

- Be nicer and friendlier. I started this a few months ago, but it's an ongoing goal of mine.

- Start being thrifty. This is really hard.

- Stop driving so much. Oh wait, I don't drive at all because I hate cars and don't even own one.

- Go to yoga. This is where we do it.

- Go running. I know that's everyone's, but we used to do it a lot and now we don't.

- Find a boyfriend. One that's cool and normal. That site probably won't help.

- Finish crossowords in one sitting.

- Painting stuff gold. I love painting stuff gold.

Britney and Circus Animals - Who's Kingdom is more Tragic?

2008-12-15T22:06:00.000-08:00

I know, a lot of pop music news, but it's oh so good. Apparently PETA has called Spears out on her use of circus animals in her new video called, suprisingly, "Circus." They say in the previously linked article that,

“Animals are ripped away from their mothers at a young age, kept in chains and prodded with electric shock devices to make them perform.”

All I have to say is, so was Britney. Give the lady a break and let her enjoy a comeback.

Rihanna and Kanye?!

2008-12-12T20:59:00.000-08:00

I know, right?

Dish

2008-11-30T17:52:00.000-08:00

When I was in 3rd grade my elementary school Gallinas (now called Venetia Valley, which was a a horrible name-change) put out a school newspaper with a "What's hot and what's not" column. Since kids are mean, the "what's not" part soon got out of hand and suddenly the girls who wore hot pink leggings were going home crying after finding out that it had been social suicide to go to school in them that day. Because I'm not in elementary school anymore, I can write about what's hot and will definitely let you know what's not and not be sent to detention. This is the first of a series of posts on coolness, dished up fresh from the bay to your screen via the interweb.

+

Donating to charity as a gift to someone for Christmas. Instead of buying crap for all the usual recipients, find an organization that will be helping people (or the earth) during the bad economy and donate the same amount you would have spent to it. Sure, the economy needs us to spend this year, so my idea is to go for something small for your closest family members and friends and then using the rest to give to something you think could use the money more than someone who gets something they didn't want anyway.

-

Blue tooth(s). I was walking down College Avenue in Oakland recently and saw a rather young, attractive man sitting at a cafe who appeared to be having a complete conversation with himself. I thought it was weird that someone who looked so put-together was so crazy, so I knew there must be an electronic piece attached to him on the other side of his head. As I walked past, I peered past to see his right side blinking blue with the stupid ear piece. I don't particularly like them even while driving (nor do I like cars and driving), but while sitting at a cafe?! So lame. If you must talk on the phone while in the car, pull over. If you must talk on the phone outside, use the freaking phone so we all know you're not crazy.

You know you watch too much Golden Girls When...

2008-11-27T22:00:00.000-08:00

Your female roommate asks if it looks like she's wearing shoulder pads.

Overheard in Berkeley (in yoga class)

2008-10-21T22:05:00.000-07:00

I can see Jon Stewart in the ceiling

- Man to instructor, after which she replied, "everybody's different. "

It ain't over til it's over

2008-10-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

"He's done. This thing is over"

I hear people saying that almost every day. People at work, on the street, friends and family alike agree that Obama has pretty much already won and this election has already been decided. Political polls show Obama leading in all the usual left-leaning states, but also in some that usually go red. What do you think at this point? Is it really over?

Palin made an appearance on SNL last night in a last-ditch effort to charm the American people in voting for her and McAngrypants. Unfortunately for them, she was not charming or funny. Lorne Michaels was smart enough not to make her look good so close to election day, but rather let Alec Baldwin rail on her while standing right next to her and then of course had Tina doing the usual bit. Dudes for Sarah might have been happy just to see her on tv, but I'm pretty sure no one else was impressed. The Republicans are getting desperate and this last move couldn't have gone as they had hoped.

Here we are, so close to electing our first African-American president with people turning out in droves to rallies and donating every last extra penny to get him in the White House. Even Colin Powell supports him! What could go wrong? Could anything turn the tides at this point? Voter fraud is what scares me the most, but others are predicting secret racism that seems to show its ugly head once people get in the voting booth. This one doesn't seem as threatening to me, but then again I've really only lived in the most liberal and open of places. Other than that, I just don't know what could happen to reverse the force that has taken the country in favor of Obama.

I guess all we can do is go to calling parties, wear our buttons and well, of course vote on election day. It's not over yet, but god I hope it's ends well.

Has it hit you yet?

2008-10-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

If you haven't realized yet that the economy is tanking, you're probably not very smart or in tune with current events. It really is and it's effects have already started permeating everyday life for some people. Our neighborhood in Berkeley, on the edge of Oakland started suffering from more thefts and crime this summer in restaurants and bars along College Avenue, perhaps a symptom of job loss and fear for what lays ahead in the coming months. I had my purse stolen the just a couple of nights ago and the only charge that got through before it was canceled was at a gas station, where of course it's ridiculously expensive to fill up a tank these days. By the way, I think it's pretty much common knowledge that driving is out, so trade in your SUVs and even Priuses people, because bikes are sexy and the bus still isn't, but it's getting there.

Ebay just layed off 10% of its workforce, retailers didn't see the numbers they were hoping for in September and pretty much no one can get credit now. I've heard rumors on the business school front that application rates will be out the roof this year as people turn to education as a way to avoid the hyper-competetitive job market. What rumors are you hearing or has it actually affected you?

On the Streets of Berkeley

2008-10-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

Last night B and I went to see Vicky Christina Barcelona in downtown Berkeley. We definitely found it pretty funny and were particularly giggly when we came out. A guy on the street who was asking for money asked us who would win in a fight: God or Chuck Norris, to which I replied, "your mom." He was pretty happy about that response, so later on when we saw him as we were waiting for the bus to go home, we asked him if he wanted any updog. He totally got it. Then he tried to get us to smoke pot with him in his sleeping bag. We got on the bus instead.

We haven't been updating lately, but we've been having a great time, except for last night when a cracked-out looking woman stole my purse in Oakland. But really, other than that we're having fun. Dinner parties and fresh tomatoes and roses from the garden make it oh so sweet to come home after work, or in B's case to have me home after I'm at work.

p.s. The movie was really entertaining and our favorite Woody Allen movie of late.

Overheard in Berkeley (at the Bowl)

2008-09-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

I think if we just took the trash out more often we wouldn't have as much of a fly problem. . . I'm not putting it on you, I'm just saying.

- Man to woman at Berkeley Bowl

overheard in berkeley

2008-09-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

For the first time, ap and b are blogging from the same place!! No more talking via g-chat to recount the night's events - now they can share them over waffle-making and the Sunday NY Times.
Our first co-post is a new series, inspired by our adventures around Berkeley, that will let our readers know just how many absurd things one hears when riding the bus or walking around here.
On Saturday, ap and b took the bus to Berkeley Bowl for some groceries. While riding in mostly silence, another passenger broke that when she said to her friend:
"I can't wait until I have my own room to smoke in...but I just need to focus first before I start smoking. Like get a job first, then I'll start smoking."
At least she has her priorities straight.

Happy Amish Thursday

2008-08-21T21:27:00.002-07:00

In honor of Amish Thursday I thought I'd share a bit of information about the midwestern natives that seem to be growing at unbelievable rates. Even though they seem rare and fascinating to us, their population is growing at 130 percent and has expanded to a total of 28 states (new states include Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraksa, Washington, and West Virgina).

This is exciting for a number of reasons, the most important being that more people will be exposed to their communities and culture. My favorite part of Amish culture is the delicious cheese and dairy products. Ohio has a large Amish population and much of our dairy in Oberlin was bought from Amish farms.

Let us know if there's an Amish enclave near you and how they are incorporated in the greater community!

we are valueless

2008-08-15T07:20:00.002-07:00

So, on JDB's blog he posted about his blog's worth. Apparently, this site allows you to put in your blog's URL and find out how much it's worth. JDB's was worth around $10K, so I was interested to find out what this one is worth. Well, here are the results....

I was really curious as to how this could be, so I tried to read up on this site to see how a value is determined. Initially I assumed it had to do with traffic and/or number of comments(ers); then I thought, well maybe it's that plus how often (or not) one updates the blog. When I finally found the site's "research", I admit, I was pretty confused. I think, but am not sure, that it simply has to do with how often (or not) you link to a set list of other sites and blogs, which seemed kind of lame. Maybe because the sites on that list have a certain value according to their advertising base...? The page says mostly techy words that I don't understand at all, but this is just the assumptive conclusion I came to. If anyone can read this research page and come to another conclusion, let me know. Anyways, just thought it was interesting. I can't decide if I'm disappointed or pleased that we are worth nothing, because, technically, couldn't that also mean we're priceless?

Mooney in the Blogosphere

2008-08-11T21:01:00.003-07:00

I met Kate Mooney on the plane coming to Oberlin as freshman back in '04. Then in '06 we went abroad on the same program in Cordoba, Spain. Over the years I've begun to realize what a creative genius she is and now that I live 3,000 miles from her it pains me to have to witness that genius through the world wide web. But I will endure it and read her blog with dedication, because not only do I have a fondness for her, but also because the girl makes me laugh.

Kate also has a couple of successful brothers, one of which wrote The Republican War on Science and has his own blog that can be found here.

Lastly, her version of "New Soul" was better than Yael's. Just sayin'.

Overheard in Berkeley

2008-08-04T10:20:00.002-07:00

This dress would be perfect for Burning Man

- Woman to man as they check out a tattered dress on a mannequin used as a sign for a garage sale.

pic of the day: yay edition

2008-07-31T07:50:00.002-07:00

ap moves in this weekend, b joins her in a month. So much excitement, we cannot handle it.

beyond reproductive freedom: violence against women and controlling our bodies

2008-07-24T08:10:00.005-07:00

Not that victim blaming or lack of response to sexual assault claims are really that uncommon, but lately, it seems there have been quite a few instances of both. The variety of the following stories really illustrates the spectrum of how women's bodies and privacy are constantly being violated.
This widely publicized story of a doctor who, during surgery, put a temporary tattoo on a female patient below the underwear line has received a lot of response. Not surprisingly, the woman's choice to sue the doctor has been talked about very negatively. The general feeling is that she should suck it up and take a joke. Ah, another silly feminist, anti-humor rant, right? Except that during surgery on a herniated disk, you're on your stomach and there really is no reason for your doctor to have you turned over, let alone be pulling your panties down. Personally, if I were going into surgery where I was going to be put completely under and had a male doctor, I'd be slightly worried about what was going to happen, and something like this just proves that fear justified. One blogger has a really good analysis of how being nice and having a sense of humor does not necessarily equal complacency when it comes to defending autonomy over our own bodies.
Sexual assault on college campuses has long been a significant issue, especially at larger institutions with a large fraternity/sorority culture. While sometimes claims against perpetrators of said abuse is taken as a serious threat to not only the victim's well-being, but also to the well-being of an entire student body, often when the accused of if a certain importance to the college or university, it becomes a different story. Recently, the University of Iowa has come under heat for its potential cover-up of an assault on a female student by two football players. The student was encouraged not to report the incident to police and nothing was done about the incident by the school for three weeks. One of the accused was even allowed to move in down the hall from the victim. This kind of "celebrity" protection college athletes get for criminal behavior is a familiar story, and creates hostile and dangerous environments for all students on campuses. The woman at UW actually had enough courage and, it seems, family support to report her rape to the authorities, but was still refused justice due to the player's status as one of the football team's most valuable. This brings up another issue: once a woman who has been assaulted actually reports it, which is so often not the case, what happens to her, the evidence, and the accused?
Sarah Tofte wrote a very good column in Tuesday's Washington Post about rape kits and what happens to them after they are performed on women. While states are given federal grants to pay for these kits (they run about $800 each and are free for victims), often the money goes unspent and evidence is shelved, sometimes forever. So, first a woman goes through the emotional and physical pain of being assaulted. If she is able to go to the ER, she is still often refused a kit, and then sometimes, nothing is even done with the kit. I know that in West Virginia, ER workers used to have to obtain a prosecutor's permission before being able to do a rape kit. This is absurd, especially when you think about the fact that many assaults happen in the middle of night and on weekends. By the time someone could get a prosecutor to sign off, the evidence was gone or unusable. State law has changed and now the only thing needed to perform a rape kit when a victim comes to the ER is her consent. From my training as a rape crisis advocate, many ER workers don't know about this change, forget, or simply don't care. Often, the advocate has to step in and get the nurse to do a rape kit, which is so ridiculous.
It really is sad how much we have to fight to prove that it is we, and we only, who control our bodies. And when this autonomy is violated, why is it our fault? And why is it so hard to get someone to care, pay attention, and do something about the accused?

enough said.

2008-07-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

I stole this from Feministing, but I couldn't resist...

revisited: mccain is a dumbass

2008-07-23T12:13:00.002-07:00

Raging Red has a nice, link-filled post about what an idiot the Republican party nominee really is. There's also a nice compilation here of some of McCain's many blunders related to his supposedly superior foreign policy experience. Still not convinced that no one in their right mind should vote for this guy? What about the fact that with rape, sexualized violence, and military coverups horrifically prominent in the US Forces, the guy who thinks rape is funny wants to be the commander in chief. Gross.

we can have fun, too

2008-07-17T13:10:00.003-07:00

Just so no one gets too worried about mine and ap's stress levels, check out some of these great sites that continually make me laugh.

Man Babies!!

Please never buy any of these for your baby.

FAIL!

John was kind of a weirdo.

fear-mongering doesn't work if you don't make any sense, idiot

2008-07-17T06:28:00.004-07:00

You can talk freedom of speech all you want on this issue, I have no problem with some asshole using his own money to BE COMPLETELY STUPID. That said, can someone please remind him that Bush was president during 9/11?? Ok, thanks, that is all.

there probably shouldn't even be a foreign policy debate

2008-07-16T13:50:00.002-07:00

So we all know that McCain's big thing against Obama is to say he's not experienced enough, especially with foreign policy matters. With the debate raging about US presence in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, you'd think we'd want our future president to at least know which countries still exist in the world. Yea, well, guess which one doesn't. Seriously. I'd rather have someone with slightly fewer years experience as long as he is somewhat aware of what is going on outside his precious US borders.

just in case you need more proof that we have a huge struggle ahead of us

2008-07-16T12:52:00.003-07:00

If you've been keeping up with the comments on our recent post regarding racism, you probably have developed a picture of where ap and I come from. Responding in the comment section has really fired me up lately (yea, because I'm not already in a somewhat perpetual state of anger at society, but whatever) and there have been a slew of articles, studies, and posts on other sites regarding what it is like to be a woman in this world. Read on.

Ah, now if I just had a really empowering song by an awesome woman to get me through this....or even just my favorite song by her.

picture of the day

2008-07-15T10:48:00.003-07:00

Just read the comments under the previous post to know why this is my pick for today. Sorry, but in the end, that's pretty much the way ap and b think about the world.

2008-07-08T11:18:00.003-07:00

I wanted to make sure to write a post about what happened to me on Sunday night while I was out. It was disturbing, but rewarding in the end, and speaks a lot for the work society has made but also still has ahead of us.

Sunday two of my girl friends and I were out at a bar in Charleston, WV. All three of us are friends with the bartender, as well as an "off-duty" bouncer who was there. Both of these men were sitting and talking with us; when the bouncer and my friend would go outside to smoke (yay smoking ban!!), I would generally accompany them. On one of these occasions, the bouncer happened to give me a hug, for which he is well-known around town for doing. While this was happening, a man who had been in the bar and who knew my friend through work (but did not know her well) was watching from afar. As I would later find out, this man was not okay with a black man hugging a white woman.
After returning to the bar, the bouncer joined some of his friends and left us to continue talking at our table. The man from outside returned as well, and after seeing that I was not with the bouncer, used it as an opportunity to voice his opinion. This came in the form of some very offensive statements, beginning with the question, "Are you really okay F------ a black guy?" This not only offended me because of the obvious racism, but also because to him, a woman hugging a male at a bar is presumed to automatically lead to sex. He continued along this line of questioning, and also mentioned things like that just not being "right". He showed immediate disgust when I told him that I really saw no problem with the scenario he was presenting. My friend wasted little time in sternly telling him that it should not matter one's race in any type of relationship, whether it be platonic or intimate. When he continued to make offensive statements, my friend left to alert the bartender of the problem. He then alerted the owner of the bar, who was there at the time.
The offender had walked away by this time, and my friend and I went on to discuss the situation. After some time, we started to leave the bar only to find the exit blocked by what turned out to be a very satisfying sight. The bartender, owner, bouncer, and three of the other patrons were calmly confronting the man and explaining why what he said was not okay. They informed him that he needed to leave and not come back. One should also understand that the owner and bartender were white men and the bouncer and other patrons black men. While I was incredibly surprised, offended, and saddened at the remarks that were said, the sight of this group coming together to peacefully defy the remarks and actions of this man was relatively moving. I have been in bars in Charleston where offenses, albeit generally sexist ones, are overlooked because the person is a [well] paying customer. That was not the case in this situation; further, it illustrated the power of approaching such situations with words rather than punches.

b's random links

2008-07-08T07:03:00.002-07:00

McCain doesn't = Bush? Ya sure?
Because getting tested for HIV is such a sin
American track and field finally getting exciting again
Holla we want pre-nup, we want pre-nup, yea
Checks and Balance

which applies to you?

2008-07-03T12:47:00.003-07:00

Today I signed on to my facebook account, only to have a very interesting message waiting for me.
"Which applies to you?" was the headline. It went on to say something like, "Your mini-feed is confusing. Please select which applies to you." My choices were "Barrie edited her profile" or "Barrie edited his profile."
My instant reaction was to laugh out loud because I thought it ridiculous that the ambiguity of my name had even stretched to the facebook realm. Then, I began to wonder if facebook was confused because my gender is not listed on my profile, thus it didn't know which pronoun to use. Or, I thought to myself, what if normally when one does not list their gender on their profile, facebook assumes gender based on a name and mine was not clear? These thoughts, of course, began to make the obie in me a little disturbed.
First, it said my mini-feed was confusing, because I guess beforehand it would report things as "Barrie edited their..such and such" (I always wondered why it was doing that...). This is a lame attempt at gender neutrality because it's grammatically incorrect. "Their" implies more than one person. So, to be grammatically correct, one must use either the male or female pronoun. Herein lies the problem with a gender binary. What about those that feel as though they identify with both or neither? Not only does facebook force one to choose between only male and female if they wish to list gender (unlike the "religious views" section, one cannot write in an option not listed under gender), but if one opts to leave this section blank, they are later forced to clarify so their mini-feed is not grammatically incorrect or "confusing". One may argue here that facebook is asking for gender, not sex. Yet, forcing me to choose between "her" or "his" (yes, it gives me the option, which, arguably, is a step in the right direction), signifies to the world that you must be one or the other, even if it is letting you choose the one with which you identify. I am reminded of my days in class back at Oberlin, where we were asked to introduce ourselves (name, major, hometown, etc) on the first day, and many would take the time to tell people with which pronoun they identified. But there were still only two choices.
Having gone to a college that required at least one gender neutral bathroom per floor in dorms, had an annual event called Drag Ball, and was one of a handful of schools to begin offering coed dorm rooms recently, breaking the traditional system of gender dichotomy is important. Facebook, which some may call an unimportant aspect of pop culture, is a leading social networking site with incredible power to disseminate information and set standards for such things as gender identification.
This is obviously a very complicated issue: what are the differences between gender and sex? how can one not identify with either "her" or "him? how can one identify with both? where do we begin in changing this in mainstream society?
A discussion on the implications of asking one to choose between only two options (public restrooms, filling out forms, sports teams, etc) is required in pop culture before we can make any changes. Maybe getting facebook to make some changes would begin a much-needed awareness.

updates from the yay - june edition

2008-06-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

So now that I have a 9-5 I'm too important to post more frequently, so it'll probably be weekend posts from me from now on. I have a few things to share today. Here they are:

1. A coworker sent me this website that's supposed to be really funny. Check it out here.

2. It's really smoky here from the fires up north. I'm kind of afraid to go outside.

3. The rumors are abound about Madonna and Guy splitting up. I found out yesterday at work and my heart sunk. All I can hope is that they'll patch things up.

That's all from me for now. Happy Pride weekend!

no making eye babies, kids!!

2008-06-27T11:17:00.001-07:00

I mean, enough said.

legal musings

2008-06-27T07:45:00.003-07:00

The Supreme Court has been really busy lately with many interesting decisions. Here are a few stories of legal importance, including one that hasn't made it to court yet, but as an arrest, still could have far-reaching implications.

guest post: obama and the iraq war

2008-06-24T12:45:00.003-07:00

This is the debut post from Our One Republican Friend. Enjoy, and please, keep the commenting civil.

Before everyone lines up to drink the anti-war Kool-Aid that Barack Obama has been passing out since the beginning of his campaign, I thought I would point to a few indicators that maybe you should think twice before you dawn the bright blue jump suit, hold hands for a sermon about the promised peace on a spaceship behind the withdraw from Iraq and drink down that colorful promise of a speedy exit from the real world.

In the real world Iraq has improved and is improving dramatically. Let me say that again…Iraq has improved dramatically. The Iraqi army is securing its own country under the command and direction of its civilian government, and is doing it without American help. The government has been able to move its parliament toward important political progress on a variety of important initiatives. Last month was one of the most peaceful months in Iraq since the war began.

And yet…Barack Obama continues to tell anyone with a microphone about a 'third Bush term under Senator McCain,' '100 years this and 100 years that,' and 'home in 16 months' or whatever the time. Perhaps he is not reading the papers or maybe he knows that all things being equal, Americans prefer peace. Maybe he is betting that we will drink the Kool-Aid without asking too many questions; like what is going to happen in Iraq if we just up and leave immediately? or will our enemies "leave it at that" when we go?

I don't know about you but I am not ready to bet on a mystical spaceship behind a comet. I am not ready to assume that our enemies will suddenly change their minds, decide we are not so bad or call the whole thing off if we would just leave Iraq. I am not ready to drink the Kool-Aid because a first term Senator from Illinois promised me a spaceship.

Instead I will stick with a man whose strategy is working, a strategy, I might add, that he supported because he knew it was the right thing, even when it was unpopular. I will stick with the man who was fighting for our country and enduring years as a POW while Obama was learning to tie his own shoes and ride a bike without training wheels. I'll stick with another man who even democrats (and New Yorker's at that) are starting to agree will be vindicated by history.

Don't drink the Kool-Aid without some answers. Peace, but peace through strength.

pic of the day

2008-06-23T14:14:00.002-07:00

Because who doesn't need a Mermaid Parade?

b's random links

2008-06-23T13:53:00.002-07:00

Mixed bag: Fun, Anger, Bittersweet victories

"don't pollute my air space, and i promise not to piss on your desk"

2008-06-23T10:41:00.005-07:00

My friend Alan recently reminded me that our county's health department passed a resolution last year that would ban smoking in bars and gambling parlors (it is already prohibited in restaurants, effective in 2003); the ban is scheduled to go into affect July 1. Many bar owners in Kanawha County, WV are pretty upset and irritated over the ban, as well as many of the rules that go along with building outside smoking pavilions (even though they were previously warned of said rules).
With many states, counties, and cities across the country passing similar bans within the last few years, the debate over fairness of such bans is raging. Personally, I agree with public smoking bans, and believe that the moral/philosophical as well as practicality arguments for why they are unfair are not effective.
The "No" side in the Guardian's article has many flaws, not even counting the fact that his commentary includes a lot of personal attack against one pro-banner, which is never a good way to argue a point.
First, he mentions the concern for bar/restaurant workers and their rights, saying that they could always work somewhere else, should expect smoke as part of the job, and in fact, one choosing to work at a place like this should be "suited" to a smoky environment. This is a pretty ignorant argument. It is problematic to assume that anyone has a choice to work, whether at all or at a certain place. Generally, people working at bars or restaurants are doing so out of necessity, at least to an extent, due to lack of education or skills for something else or as a second job.
Second, his argument that bars and restaurants are more akin to places of hospitality and that customers are more guests and the owner more of a host seems pretty ridiculous to me. While bars are selling and offering a different setting and product than a grocery store, it is still a public, confined space that wants customers and wants those customers to buy a product and enjoy a service. If cigarette smoke is impossible to escape in said public space, it should be effectively prohibited, no matter what kind of relationship proprietor and customer have.
Third, Hitchens points out that a committee decides to implement these bans, effectively forcing all to practice no smoking like them. Why don't non-smokers just go somewhere else? he asks. Again, he is missing many a point. By allowing smoking in public and confined places, are we not then asking non-smokers to participate in inhalation of smoke? Further, asking non-smokers to simply go somewhere else to enjoy people, a drink, maybe even some dart-throwing, is effectively denying them the services and products of a bar. Pubs were not established for the sole reason of smoking inside; rather, they encompass many aspects and smoking seems to be at the bottom of the list. It makes more sense to me to ban smoking inside, allowing all to enjoy drinking and socializing, and ask the smokers to take the smoking somewhere else. He complains that these committees put "private pleasures" under scrutiny; what is this private nature he speaks of? Smoking at a bar seems pretty public to me, especially if others are forced to breathe the smoke without even putting a cigarette to their own mouths.
Lastly, the opponent of bans moves to government regulation and infringement of rights, likening it to drug laws. This "slippery slope" argument that someday they will take smoking from us all together (!!) is misinformed. He dances around the fact that drugs are illegal, thus even prohibiting use in one's own home. If he disagrees with this and wants it changed, that should be an entire other piece. Smoking in a public space is not similar to being able to smoke a joint in your own house. Let's be real; smoking in bars is bad for EVERYONE, not just yourself. Bottom line.
AP and I went to a school with a lot of smokers, but only one [real] bar downtown. When Ohio (or was it just Lorain County??) passed a smoking ban that went into affect January of my senior year, people did not stop going to the Feve. Yes, there is merit in the argument that of course people are not going to stop attending the only bar in town. Yet, if a county-wide ban goes into affect, people are not going to be able to choose the bar across town that does let you smoke there. And no, people are not going to drive to another county just to go to a bar. Seriously. If anything, smoking bans raise your customer base because smokers still want to have a drink and socialize (did people stop eating out when they banned smoking in restaurants??), but non-smokers will be more likely to come out if they don't have to breathe in toxic smoke. And those of us who have the really bad habit of social smoking can rest assured we aren't going to venture outside for that habit that isn't really a habit. So, in essence, it is good all around. Plus, think about it: those jeans you wore to the bar last night, you really can wear for four more days in a row and not smell like an ashtray.

People Say

2008-06-21T10:37:00.002-07:00

When I was in probably 6th grade or so I started writing down my ideas in these one page entries called, 'People Say.' I must have given them to my sister because she kept them and took them out to show me recently. I thought I would share the brilliance that was going on in my 11 year old head. For some reason I signed it as noted at the bottom. (It starts with #3 and I tried to preserve the spelling and grammar)

People Say # 3
People say religion is important. So Catholics get married and divorced 8 times. People say family values are important. So they let their kids watch South Park. People say things they want to do and believe. But untill they know, they can't really say.

Farla Caine
Age 11
N.Y.

People Say #4
People say they are tired when they get home from work. When really all they did was go around talking about nonsense with co-workers. I've noticed you could talk with a group of 11-year-olds or a group of people in the their forties about a stupid sitcom and the 11-year-olds would be more intellectual! Kids are like all the other superficial people in society.

Farla Caines
Age 11
N.Y.

random links

2008-06-19T07:43:00.002-07:00

Some more random links for those people, who like me, have nothing to do at work today.

photo of the day

2008-06-19T07:21:00.004-07:00

The latest issue of Italian Vogue is about to hit European newsstands (and American ones soon after) and features all black models and stories related to black people in the arts. This is pretty cool, albeit kind of random coming from Italy of all places. Though it would be nice if all fashion magazines regularly featured many minority models (in a good way) instead this being a novel idea.
Preview some of the images before the mag comes to the states!

On the Long Run

Overheard in my house

Who knew Snake Diesel had so much to say?

SF Vid

Where dem bloggers at?

Overheard in the neighborhood

More old things that are new again

Hello Wheels, Gail Reid's book and other (new and old) discoveries

hurts so good

Other places you can review on Yelp

Funny

Overheard in my favorite café

Overheard in the Mission

M.J. at Summer Jam, Obama on the text

Overheard - Obie dinner edition

Gawker is better than facebook

Feliz día de Acción de Gracias

California Love?

BeyonceBeyonceBeyonce

Twitter is only good for finding food

Happy Halloween!

Family Thievery

Fall playlist aka I am trying to make a comeback.

End/Beginning of Summer Playlist

oh, saturdays

sending flowers

summer fog

Brüno! Not as funny as Borat, but has a great message. Baron Cohen is the man. B and I went to see it at the Kabuki. Fun.

Eminent Domain and Art in SF

Overheard in Russian Hill

Overheard on Arguello

Bette Davis Eyes

Ode to Robots

We need a theme!

Sunday Strolls

I <3 this city

Enthralled with the good ones. . .

5ft2in

How I feel about New York, the city

Overheard on the 33 (to Potrero)

OUR Fault???

Spring's Top Ten

crispy.

B's Book Pick

in my backyard

my parents were on to something.

The Bible

Top Ten, Round 2

Why I Should be the Today Show's Marketing Director

on smiling

+

B's Book Picks

Overheard in GG Park

Strrreaming Radio

Top Ten

Changing BMIs: Playboy v. McDonalds

I love Craigslist

Where do your drugs come from?

+

change we can now see

We Moved

Just Do It (yourself)

Overheard in Berkeley (Oakland, technically)

Our Resolutions

Britney and Circus Animals - Who's Kingdom is more Tragic?

Rihanna and Kanye?!

Dish

You know you watch too much Golden Girls When...

Overheard in Berkeley (in yoga class)

It ain't over til it's over

Has it hit you yet?

On the Streets of Berkeley

Overheard in Berkeley (at the Bowl)

overheard in berkeley

Happy Amish Thursday

we are valueless

Mooney in the Blogosphere

Overheard in Berkeley

pic of the day: yay edition

beyond reproductive freedom: violence against women and controlling our bodies

Brüno ! Not as funny as Borat, but has a great message. Baron Cohen is the man. B and I went to see it at the Kabuki. Fun.