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

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?!

I know, right?

Dish

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.

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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.

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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...

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

Overheard in Berkeley (in yoga class)

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

"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?

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

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)

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

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.