Friday, December 21, 2007

I'm So Sick of Numbers!!!!

Okay, so this is going to be a rant that I was not planning on blogging out, but I just can't keep it in. Recently I had several discussions with a good friend who happens to be a Libertarian.  Every single discussion came to a stalemate because 1) we're both smart enough to actually have reasons for what we believe and aren't easily dissuaded and 2) we're speaking COMPLETELY different languages.  Take our discussion about gentrification... Said friend wanted me to explain my complaint about the loss of diversity in my neighborhood in terms of market, in capitol.  I kept saying, "Yes, I get that landlords have the right to raise rent.  Yes, I get that things shouldn't just be an automatic privilege... but you're talking money and I'm talking about community and access and people."  There's more to someone's contribution to a neighborhood than just their rent and if someone has libertarian leanings, I don't know if I will ever be able to articulate in their language what that is 'cause what they believe often precludes counting those things in the equation.  There are so many other arguments against libertarianism (like, for example, how can you pull up your bootstraps, if you don't have any boots in the first place?) but this is neither here nor there.  In the end, I love and respect my friends.  Our political differences just means we sometimes see different problems in the world around us and don't use the same ways to solve them.  In the end, we both hate the religious right and really, what more in common do you need?

On the other hand, Pat Robertson and I will NEVER have anything in common.  This 700 Club news segment on the introduction of LGBT acceptance/understanding curriculum into West Coast schools really got my goat, for more than the obvious reasons of homophobia, blind trust in a book, lack of understanding of different people, fear of change, general ignorance, and hatred.  No, Robertson upset me because he, like my friend, buttressed his argument by valuing numbers over people.  Pat Robertson argues that the LGBT community has an unreasonable amount of cultural influence in comparison to its very small amount of the population.  Robertson states that LGBTs are only 2-3% of the US population, but clearly are unduly affecting mainstream American culture.  Legislation that asks schools to teach 5-year-olds to respect and understand their peers (regardless of if they have 2 mommies or 2 daddies or a daddy that used to be a mommy) obviously proves how entrenched this unreasonable influence is.

Okay, whatever, 2-3%* doesn't seem like much when you look at it statistically.  But when you do the math and look at the amount of people, Robertson begins to look like more of a jerk than normal, if that's even possible.

So, here go my 6th grade math skills... If the population of the United States is around 312, 000, 000 let's times that by .03.  What do you get? 

9,360,000



9,360,000 people is hell of a lot of people, regardless of race, orientation, or gender...  Hell, I personally believe we should be teaching our children respect and understanding (not toleration--I hate that condescending term) for any person that's different, even if there aren't 9, 359, 999 others.  But I guess that's cause I'm a crazy believer in social justice.  Silly me, living in a world of capital and statistics!

PS  Hey, all you right-wing nutters out there!  Why don't you stick to spouting Bible verses and leave the numbers and science to us that actually know how to use it!!!


*
which is actually a really low estimate--most sources put it at around at least 10%.... but I'm using his stats for the sake of argument.

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Merry Christmas, Thomas Jefferson

So, not to ride on the coattails of someone else's well written disgust of the current local disgusting carol, but seriously, these are the WORST LYRICS EVER!

It's snowing tonight in the Blue Ridge
There's a hush on the Chesapeake Bay
The chimneys are smoking in Georgetown,
And tomorrow is Christmas Day.

The Tidal Basin lies quiet
The tourists have found their way home
Mr. Jefferson's standing the mid-watch
And there's a star on the Capitol Dome.

It's Christmas Eve in Washington,
America's hometown
It's here that freedom lives,
And peace can stand her ground


While "googling" the song, though, I came up with one I say we vote to replace it... It's a protest song on a 1997 Steve Earle album called Christmas in Washington. Give a listen and you'll find that though it doesn't have the pretty vibrato of the current radio repeat, it's REAL MUSIC!


Christmas In Washington
(Steve Earle)
It's Christmastime in Washington
The Democrats rehearsed
Gettin' into gear for four more years
Things not gettin' worse
The Republicans drink whiskey neat
And thanked their lucky stars
They said, 'He cannot seek another term
They'll be no more FDRs'

I sat home in Tennessee
Staring at the screen
With an uneasy feeling in my chest
And I'm wonderin' what it means

Chorus:
So come back Woody Guthrie
Come back to us now
Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow
If you run into Jesus
Maybe he can help you out
Come back Woody Guthrie to us now

I followed in your footsteps once
Back in my travelin' days
Somewhere I failed to find your trail
Now I'm stumblin' through the haze
But there's killers on the highway now
And a man can't get around
So I sold my soul for wheels that roll
Now I'm stuck here in this town

Chorus

There's foxes in the hen house
Cows out in the corn
The unions have been busted
Their proud red banners torn
To listen to the radio
You'd think that all was well
But you and me and Cisco know
It's going straight to hell

So come back, Emma Goldman
Rise up, old Joe Hill
The barricades are goin' up
They cannot break our will
Come back to us, Malcolm X
And Martin Luther King
We're marching into Selma
As the bells of freedom ring

Chorus


Now that's the Washington that gives me buzzies in my stomach....

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Ah, To Be Young...

I came across this great feature on Jezebel.com today and it made me very happy.  It's a review (apparently a regular feature) of beloved young adult and children's literature.  I'm excited because I hope it will bring up books I've forgotten about as I continue my recent (non-blogged about) obsession with the very same thing!  Since the summer of 2006, I've been trying to read more Newbury Award Winners or children's classics to break up the "high end literature" and academic crap.  So far, I've made it through The Giver, Witch of Blackbird Pond, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Numbers the Stars, His Dark Materials, Chronicles of Narnia (yes, even the Last Battle), Wrinkle in Time, Swiftly Tilting Planet, Anne of Green Gables, Jacob Have I Love (I totally identified with Louise, being a brunette and socially awkward fraternal twin myself) and The Last Unicorn.  It's not a super huge list yet, but I'm hoping to expand it.  Perhaps I can finally start another book club and we can focus on non-threatening and time consuming books like these...

Anybody have any "must read" suggestions from their childhood for me?

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Thursday, December 20, 2007

Pull That Thermometer Out, Pa, That Turkey's Done!

I finished my Christmas shopping!!!!!!!!  And I bought almost all of it from locally owned DC stores, so extra high five to me! 

I can't post all of what I got here cause, well, the five people who read this blog are the people I got presents for, but I can't resist showing you what I got the boy for his stocking stuff.  Don't worry, he can't read anyhow so he won't know!



It's a MOUSE CHEESE GRATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I love animals of all kinds, commodified, functionalized, anthropomorphized, I don't care!  Monkeys, kittens, fishies, hippoty-hops, puppies, mouses are guarenteed to make me smile.

And help me grate cheese :)

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Things I Love About the Green Line

  1. Getting all of my XMAS shopping done in one night and at all locally owned stores
  2. Feeding my tired self chicken roti and chala at the Islander
  3. Observing the regulars at Wednesday Karaoke at the Islander
  4. Really super excited passerby clapping and smiling and giggling with adoration for singer from OUTSIDE the restaurant
  5. Running into a friend that I don't see often in Metro station
  6. Being guilted into getting a drink at the Wonderland with said (drunk) friend even though I should be sleeping/wrapping presents
  7. Running into some other friends at bar, drinking a lovely beer, making some new friends and still getting to bed by 11:00pm because I live two blocks away!

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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Don't Stand So Close to Me

Well, my coworkers and I decided to go to lunch today and as we were driving back, we were not 100 feet from the opening of the work gates when a police car jumps in front of us and proceeds to stop all traffic...foot included.  Apparently something was going on at the government hospital across from us that involved the Big Cheese or the Man Behind the Big Cheese because 3 government helicopters fly over, men with guns stand guard, and traffic is stopped.  I had had three diet cokes and that was seriously not cool.  This is one of those pretentious Washington D.C. things that really irks me.

Boo. 

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Seriously, Have We Time Traveled?

Are we back in the 1950s or something where a smart, successful young woman dreams only of getting knocked up?  Seriously, Jessica Alba, Britney Spears, and now, Lily Allen?  I am honestly in shock at trend for young baby-makin'!  As a feminist, I totally believe it's everyone's personal choice... and these woman certainly have the financial and professional ability to have babies at 22 years old, versus most of us. 

But I do have to admit, I'm a bit confused.  I might even admit that I'm a little judgemental, even if my politics don't want me to be.

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Zoey 101 + 1

It is sad that when I heard that Jamie Lynn Spears was pregnant, I giggled?  I mean, who didn't see this coming?  Apparently Jamie Lynn herself, who said "It was a shock for both of us, so unexpected."  What?!  "Oh, so I decided to have sex (which I've been told by both my fancy private tutors and my church is how we reproduce in our species) and you know what, I couldn't even believe it, but out of NOWHERE, for some insane unrelated reason, I got pregnant!" 

Unexpected is not the correct word, Ms. Spears.  I think the "un" word you mean is "unplanned."

Seriously, didn't anyone in the Spears brood learn about condom use!?!

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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Like It's a Surprise?!!

So the New York Times had a recent article about how the rich are getting richer faster than ever before.  More disturbingly, it says that increase in incomes alone for the wealthiest people is greater than the poorest 20% annual income. I mean, maybe I'm not good at math or something, but it certainly doesn't seem like "trickle down" is working.  More like, "holding everything I can get in a bucket instead of sharing," if you ask me.

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Monday, December 17, 2007

XMAS funk

So, I normally am brimming at the top with XMAS ideas for the fam. I really get along with my peeps, so I usually can find them fun things that they really appreciate. This year, NOTHING. I have some ideas, but haven't had the time to get to follow through. Seriously, I am not stressed at work and pressed for time everywhere else. I have friends in town practically every weekend (not complaining, but it does mean commitment) and I've been cooking dinner and working out more. And trying to get more sleep. Know what that means? About -1.5 hours free time every night. I don't understand how people do it. Must be cocaine cause my " diet coke" ain't cuttin' it....

Bitch bitch moan moan complain....

Merry Christmukkwanzayulesolstice!!!

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There's nothing like...

... getting a new Mac! I'm writing this on our new iMac. Sure it took some arm wrestling, but I got the boy the next best thing to a G5 tower. Course maybe if the G5 towers didn't have wonky DVD slots and insane jet-loud fans, they'd be worth the extra $1500. Seriously, Apple, get a move on already!

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Sunday, December 02, 2007

Old School Sesame Street

So, with the new (and mildly pornographic) Tickle Me Elmo commercials, I've been thinking about how glad I was pre-fuzzy red & cute generation. I mean, check the commercial out--what is he doing behind those blurry cubes?




To cleanse our pallet here's some Old School Street celebrating (in the words of a recent NY Times review) a place where "the masonry on the dingy brownstone at 123 Sesame Street, where the closeted Ernie and Bert shared a dismal basement apartment, was deteriorating. Cookie Monster was on a fast track to diabetes. Oscar’s depression was untreated. Prozacky Elmo didn’t exist."

Here's Grampa Manslaughter's fave



And my fave



So, here's to pre-helicopter parents and dingy brownstones and a world without perpetually happy Elmo! Without Oscar the Grouch, my anxiety and depression would never had been normalized and thank god for that.

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I'm an idiot...

Because I took so much time off to visit my now-deceased grandfather, I have to work about an extra 24 hours to take off the full week of Christmas. So, I get up early on Saturday, trek 45 minutes up to work, ready to put in a full day before settling down to drink some beer and head out for a party... and I don't have my keys to my office. I'm an idiot.

So what did I do next? I trekked back home, got in my pajamas, opened some beer and felt sorry for myself. That's right, beer solves everything.

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Monday, November 26, 2007

ooooo...

I know a 5th blogger---how could I forget my favorite dude, Erik? Tag, you're it!

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Sunday, November 25, 2007

My might wins!

We officially and successfully hosted our first Thanksgiving in DC. We tried back in 2003, but unfortunately that was interrupted by my Nana's funeral, so I don't really count that one. This one had (alive) family, fresh crab and oysters to celebrate my Eastern Shore heritage, and, best of all, me winning the wishbone!!! Take that, boy! I kicked your wishbone pulling ass!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

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Mizzou-Rah!

So, I have officially watched my first full football game not featuring the Razorbacks! Go Tigers! Course, I do have to say that the Hog game was equally as exciting and our whooping of LSU certainly affected the rankings. Also, what in the hell is the Mizzou fight song...for the life of me I think I'll only ever know Arkansas's!

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Tag, I'm it!

So, Jennipher tagged my blog and I'm going to play along for the sake of holiday spirit. Now that I've been tagged I'm supposed to:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog.
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post and link to their blogs.
4. Let them know they've been tagged.


Now, to the interesting part, my five facts:

  1. I almost had my belly button removed as an infant because it wouldn't heal
  2. I am currently obsessed with Lupin/Tonks fanfiction... and no it's not for an article
  3. I collect antique piggy banks... sadly they have no money in them
  4. I have almost always worn my hair short--in second grade I was teased and called the "boy in the dress." I'm only slightly scarred by that experience. Thank god for my therapist...
  5. I had a massive crush on Scott Bakula when I was in Junior High. Must have been Sam Beckett's good deeds.
So, tag, blogger friends, you're it (even though most of you only post sporadically (or only when traveling!) ... and you only equal four. I can count, I'm just cyberspace friendless.

1. Mike
2. Robin
3. James
4. Emily

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Sunday, November 18, 2007

My dream shags...

I'm watching "Presumed Innocent" right now and have officially decided that as much as I love me some floppy-haired, smirking Han Solo, Mr. Harrison Ford with a short crop circa Blade Runner is #3 on my dream shag celebrity list. Course, I still want him to act like Han Solo, just with a fresh haircut. He could even crack wise about it...


If the beautiful, young Ford is #3, who rounds out the top five you ask?

#5 doesn't have a traditionally pretty mug--but when she's onscreen, I can't help but want to kiss her. And have her type letters for me.


#4 is none other than the most predictable leading men of leading men, Mr. Darcy. I love how Pride and Prejudice teaches us to pine for an emotionally unavailable, haughty man. But you know what? I'd take those stormy eyes and that austere face over emotional availability anytime.


#3 you already know

#2 I know there are a lot of people out there who really really hate this woman. Not me. Since the first time I watched Hackers with my junior high boyfriend Adam, I realized I was way more interested in kissing Ms. Jolie than him (or nearly anybody). Course Adam was a clarinet player, so it's not totally his fault.


And finally, #1. Not many woman of my generation understand my undying love and lust for this person (save Sara), but how can you not want to have sex, marry, and have babies with Mr. Jimmy Stewart. I mean, how sexy is his integrity, his long and lean frame draped in 3 piece suits, and his undying loyalty to democracy? Color me smitten.


So folks, good night and dream well!

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Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Will this never end?!!

So another two months and more drama... seriously, I don't understand how the past 4 years have been some of my best and some of my worst. The boy's dad just had a stroke and is part of the Great American Uninsured. I caught bronchitis, I have a huge deadline at work, I still can't lose those last five pounds before Jenn's wedding, and I always feel like I'm broke. Sometimes life without school seems more stressful because I have time to think about it.

On the other hand, I officially curated my first exhibition at my job and it was a huge hit---might even become a travelling exhibition! I'm seriously contemplating going back to get my PhD at my work's encouragement. My partner is both infuriating and the biggest muffin-head in the whole world. I have lost those first 10 pounds. And I'm partially broke cause I'm always going out and doing shit.

Basically it's been nothing but ups and downs, one one hour, another the next. And yet, my blog's basically dead. I was so into it for a while, but then again I wonder if that wasn't partly because it was new and then because I knew certain people were reading it... wanted to make sure those anonymous "friends" knew exactly how rockin' my life was. Of course, then it's just filtered, isn't it and is a waste of internet space... Not to mention really petty on my part.

Of course, when have I ever been filtered?!

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Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Twenty Things I've Done Lately...

  1. came home to an apartment with no electricity... on a massive heat warning day
  2. went to arkansas to see my grandpa...
  3. buried my grandpa :(
  4. bought clothes i can't afford
  5. went to vegas for my girl's bachelorette party
  6. partied with a very rich sheik from dubai while there
  7. helped sara move to atlanta
  8. petted a shark while there
  9. got a tattoo while there
  10. made an appointment to get another tattoo--i'm addicted now!
  11. read the final harry potter
  12. immediately started rereading the first one
  13. curated an exhibit on harry potter and the history of medicine.
  14. drank too much at chincoteague
  15. drank too much in vegas
  16. drank too much in atlanta
  17. ate too much in arkansas
  18. definitely ate too much crab... well, is there ever too much crab?
  19. started running again
  20. and, finally--confirmed how amazing my girlfriends are-- woo! anal ponyz rule!

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Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Dead as a Doorknob?

Is this blog dead? I don't seem to have the time or impetus to update it anymore. I've been very busy with work, orchestra, friends, and sleep to have 15 minutes to sit down, much less sit down and write. I'm behind on my DVR recordings, my books, my social obligations. How in the world can I be expected to also blog? Sure, other people do it easily, but they are writers. I am not a writer, not really. I write academic and exhibit text, which is not off-the-cuff, quick-thought, journalism style. It's thesis, point point point, footnotes out the waaa-zoo. I just don't think I have it in me to be one of those "bloggers" with constant opinions and updates about the world out there.

So, I'm not saying that I'm never going to start this back up and update again, because inevitably there will be something that pisses me off so much I have to write about it... and maybe this summer I'll get reinspired to write more... but as my philosophy lately has been, less talking and more doing. So if you come knockin', don't be surprise if I don't answer the door... figurative door, that is.

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Tuesday, May 22, 2007

My Dad's Rules for Life

1) Never trust anything my cousin says
2) Never invade Russia in the winter
3) Don't Let You Friends Vote Republican
4) Don't Buy Roses at Wal-Mart

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Saturday, April 28, 2007

Screw Rock Stars!

I just met and shook the hand of Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr! That may not mean much to y'all but go to his wikipedia page and you'll see how awesome he is. Basically, I met one of the coolest and most important medical professionals around... not to mention someone who has an unwavering commitment to social justice. His talk was amazing and not at all what my institution is used to hearing. He was frank about the rampant racial health disparities in our country and about how being "liberal" is what got him about of Montgomery, Alabama. Oh yeah and there was a backing gospel choir, something I can guarantee my institution is not used to experiencing!

I seriously haven't felt so inspired and rejuvenated in my work for social justice in a long time. Sometimes the cynicism just wins out. But then you get to experience the presence and wisdom and advice of someone who REALLY fought to change the world and despite setbacks, still REALLY fights to change the world...and honestly it just swells my heart.

Also, I know it sounds totally geeky, but after I shook Dr. Watkin's hand I realized that I had shook the hand of someone who had saved thousands and thousands of lives. And changed the lives of other people of color through his commitment to diversity. And changed the perspectives of the medical establishment and America. And inspired people... I have to admit that the geekiest thought I had was that I had shaken the hand of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. mentor, friend, and fellow activist to Dr. Watkins. Well, I guess it's more that both I and Dr. King have shaken the same hand, but you know what I'm saying...

I mean, I know it was just a handshake, but to think of whose arm it was attached to and all the things it had done in this country...

It was seriously cool.

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Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Babies on Spikes

And of course, instead of living in a country where I have thoughtful and inspiring leaders to help me make sense of what's happened, I have Bush. At the same time Bush is voicing his "deep concern" for the victims and families of Virginia Tech, he also feels it necessary for his puppets to tell the American public that "the president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms..." To buttress this heart-warming display of "compassionate conservatism," our lovely president came out supporting his Supreme Court's upholding of the partial birth ban, which has no clause to protect a women's health in any instance. All in the spirit of "building a culture of life in America." The day after the shootings!

Am I only one that finds the ways in which Bush builds his "culture of life" a little, well, fucked up? Seems like to me that laws that fail to protect the health of women and that allow easy access to semi-automatic weapons align more with a culture of death. But what do I know? I'm just a baby-hating, gun-hating, god-hating, illegal-immigrant loving, bleeding-heart liberal. And a woman on top of that!

Mmmm, tastes of chicken.

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Out Like a Lamb, My Ass

Well, it's been nearly a month since I've last posted. I actually hate this, because I like blogging. I think about snarky comments all day long. But I can't post at work because 1) I don't have the friggin' time and 2) I work for "the man." Couple this with the fact that I refuse to get a Crackberry and participate in the Verizon/Metro Love Fest and you get no time for posting.

Other than this damn flu I got (thus the title of the post) and moved-up deadlines for stuff at work, life has been pretty nice. It's weird, though, that I can simultaneously feel like I am both never home and always home. I've been having people over for dinner a lot and have also been getting up for the gym at 5:30am (dear lord!), not to mention I'm still going to orchestra. I actually had to sit first stand during a sight reading last week because noone came. That was painful. Very painful. For everyone, in fact. So I have all of these regular, weekly things taking up my time... then there's all the last minute movies or shows or happy hours or whatever and it's just go go go go. When am I supposed to blog? I guess it's just not as important to me now? I want to write and I want to vent, but I don't want to be a public writer for a living and I'd rather get a chance to actually read about the things that are annoying me. You know, in my attempt to be a well-informed, open-minded citizen instead of just a knee-jerk leftist. So instead of blogging I read my Mother Jones or I have a conversations with someone or I learn something new about this world I'm in. Maybe I can start making more time for this blog, make it a priority. Then again I've also starting painting again, so maybe this creative writing spurt is over and I'm needing a different form of expression in my life? I don't know. We'll see if this "once a month" update thing becomes regular once May is over since I won't be here for a lot of it. I'm off to Cleveland for a friend's masters recital and then to Chicago for a conference and then, well, I know I have somewhere I'm supposed to be...

Regardless, I didn't just get on here to get all philosophical about my blog. I actually have been rather bothered by the events of last week, but haven't quite known what to say. The Virginia Tech tragedy is really an awful thing and I can't believe that people are using the fact that someone, anyone, can get access to semi-automatic weapons and slaughter 30+ people as some sort of proof that we need MORE guns. Whatever, I'm from the South where lots of people have guns to go hunting, protect their "vast" properties of broke-down trucks and paranoid worldviews, and cause their daddies had them. I grew up in a gun culture. I know how guns work--my Grandpa had them and showed us what a safety was and how to load and clean so we wouldn't accidentally shoot ourselves or someone else.

That said, I don't like guns. I don't think they should be legal anywhere. I think that guns were created to exert violence and I don't think anyone can argue with that. There is no other use for a gun than to shoot something, be it alive or not.* And even though I know that, I also know that getting a gun-free culture is a losing battle in a country founded on a violent uprising. That doesn't mean we shouldn't work for it and it certainly doesn't mean we shouldn't all come together to ban certain weapons. If that kid had used a non-assault class gun* (or hell a knife), it would have taken him a hell of a lot longer and very good aim to kill all those people as he loaded and reloaded and cocked each round. Instead he had all the time in the world and all the ammunition he needed to murder en masse.

I'm sorry, but what happened at Virginia Tech does nothing to convince me that the American people need an assault weapon to keep the "ci-yotes" from their livestock or to stop a burglar or a rapist or even a school shooter. It just convinces me that we need to do something about the fact that we live in a culture where this happens again and again and again.


* So shove that stupid statistic about "cars killing more people than guns" up your butt because I happen to think that the fact that cars weren't created solely to kill is an important variable in this equation, k?
* yes, I know, I know, there's lots of debates about what these words mean... I don't want to get into it... In general, I mean the sort of guns that allow someone to put over a 100 rounds in 30 victims with little to no effort.

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Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Flirt versus Leer

As some of you may recall, I wrote a post where I was somewhat excited to live in an area where my type of physique is considered attractive. Now it didn't mean that I thought that sexually objectifying women was fine, cause it's not. And it also didn't mean that sometimes it crossed an unexplainable line that made me feel, well, harassed. Lately, that line as been crossed so much that I'm constantly pissed walking down the street or going to my staff cafeteria. Seriously, at a library, I'm getting bullshit like, "You're so beautiful, oh you're married, he won't mind," or "Are you German?" (what does that even mean?) or "You must be a Capricorn because of all the earth tones you're wearing" (for the record, I'm a Pisces). Now, these sound fairly harmless, but when accompanied by that little something creepy--slowing down a car, standing too close, following me to my office--it takes on that "other" quality that makes me feel icky instead of, well, secretly flattered.

And then, this week, it totally hit me. The "line" is totally in the meaning behind the eyes. Sure, street harassment is a sign of rape culture, but sometimes the person doing it just seems like what I'm calling, "The Flirt." "The Flirt" is where the man will cajole me and smile or charm or say silly things like "Do you have an apple because you make eating that one look so good" until I finally give him my number, take his, smile, or just say hello. Or I walk away without any contact. But I do feel like I can walk away.

The other, which I'm now calling "The Leer," is the complete opposite. He turns my stomach, makes me feel trapped (even if the person is in a car 20 feet away), makes me feel unsafe, and, to put it mildly, makes me feel like an receptacle for his penis. These are the multiplying moments where I feel like I might not have the choice to walk away. Unlike "the Flirt" who would just beg for my number, "the Leer" would assault me if given half a chance.

Let's just say that sort of attention from men doesn't make me feel pretty. In fact, it doesn't make any woman feel pretty. Or, for that matter, safe.

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Sunday, March 25, 2007

DC Rollergirls Expo Checklist


  1. Feministy girls of all shapes and sizes-- check
  2. Friends to go along for the ride, even if it is out in assfuck Virginia-- check
  3. Love of concession stand hotdogs-- check
  4. Inexplicable presence of really overly familiar bikers seemingly not related to anyone on the team-- check
  5. Amazingly (and area appropriate) punny team names like Scare Force One and Demoncats-- check
  6. Short skirts and hot pink (or blue) wheels-- check
  7. Halftime show that made me sorta want to (re) watch Roll Bounce-- check
  8. Mmmm, hot dogs... oh wait did that one already--- check again
  9. 2 hours of speed, falls, pushing, obscene finger gestures, tights and skates--check
  10. The above making me want to join-- check

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Thursday, March 22, 2007

Second Class Citizen

The voting rights bill stalled... stupid Republicans. I especially love how they want to force democracy on the rest of the world, but there are half a million people here in our capitol city who don't have the right to vote. Fuck. Does that mean I don't have to pay federal taxes and can throw tea into the nearest harbour?

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Sunday, March 18, 2007

Another One Bites the Dust...

Another year, another birthday, another festivity where I eat chicken with my hands. Yes folks, Andrew and my joint bday party this year involved our requisite libations, show, and hand-held chicken. This time we ate at the famous Moroccan restaurant Marakkesh and along with a sparkler-topped birthday baklava, we ate up the undulating stomach of their nightly belly dancer. Seriously, the balance, stamina and muscles on that lady! Of course, if my job was to dance practically naked (covered only in sparklies and silk) I would probably work extra hard to have a flat stomach. Good thing I work in a museum and wear head-to-toe business casual--my belly can be as wobbly as my sweater set can cover!

The rest of my birthday was also great--the boy took me shopping for some new rugs, a new modern chair and some wall hangings. We spent yesterday walking around U street in the post wintry-mix (also known as "God's tired of me saying he doesn't exist birthday punishment") of the day before. We also had lunch at Cafe Saint-Ex (finally!) and found this gem of a thrift store, Ruff N Ready. We walked in assuming that it would be a flea market and it was...a flea market on crack. Stuff was piled to the ceiling in three buildings and you could barely walk through it. You couldn't even see half of the stuff they were selling! The final building had holes in the ceiling and buckets catching water to save the stash. This place had everything from old stoplights to victorian armoires to rotting doors. And all surprisingly overpriced for what it was (45 dollars for an old Mexican feather picture? Really?) Of course, I'm sure that the owners would barter just to make space for more stuff they took from the local dumpsters. It was seriously an awe-inspiring experience.*

So, another year in my life bites the dust and I have to say that 25 was definitely better than 24. Got my dream job, found a new place in the city, didn't have anybody die and finished grad school. Can't wait to see what happens this year. Especially if it ends with a party where I eat chicken with my little grubby hands.

*I took pictures with my new camera phone, but the bluetooth isn't recognizing my Mac. I'll keep trying.

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Thursday, March 08, 2007

Oh...

...and I will be performing on my violin for the first time in 5 years this Sunday. Let's just say it's not quite like riding a bike.

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Always Low Price...Except When It Adds Up

So, had a great time at home and spent way too much money, as is ought to happen in AR. Bought 29 new books at the used book store (brought a suitcase just for this) and spent gobs at Wal-Mart. See the $5 movies seem great and cheap when you're putting them in the cart, but when you get to checkout, those 15 new movies add up. Oh well, at least I have books and movies and new shirts galore, right? Ah, gotta love consumer culture!

Oh and seeing Grandpa was good too. :)

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Thursday, March 01, 2007

Defrosting...

I'm waiting for my chicken to defrost (I'm making Peanut Chicken for dinner...yum yum) and watching the ice and snow from the past two weeks melt with the warm rain and just feeling really good. Things are really on the up and up for me. I got a handle on my workload (which is allowing me to do really fun stuff, like blog at work about work for our upcoming exhibition website), I have an ever-growing group of amazing friends in DC, I've been cooking and working out nightly, I like my husband most of the time, and I just got some awesome new spectacles (the one benefit of being blind is the chance to accessorize). I know that last plus is super shallow but whatever.

Anyhow, I'm off to Arkansas for the weekend. Part of me wishes I were using my vacation time for exciting things like New York or SF or something, but home is where I need to go. I want to see my family and I really need to spend time with my Grandpa while he's cognizant of what's going on. Seriously, I have my entire life to ignore my family... But really, I do love Arkansas. I'm not one of those people who left because I hated it there and I certainly won't say that the roads I take won't lead me back (Head Curator of the Clinton Library would be pretty sweet, don't you think?)...

Well, time to cook some rice noodles and pack for my trip.

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Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Shoosh

Sorry for the time between posts... I've been out nearly every night for the past month. My "drink less" attempt during February was completely shot, but then again, I'm doing better on my "enjoy the city more" goal, so it's all even. Don't have much to report, just hanging out, going to museum lectures, going to shows, working... Well, did have something interesting happen at the Richard Buckner show last night. In the middle of making a new friend, looked back and saw someone I used to go to college with. Sure, I was at the show with someone I went to college with so it's not totally weird for a Mizzou kid to be in DC, but this was the ex-boyfriend of an ex-friend... I wasn't sure if that made us friends or enemies... All I was thinking was that running into anyone you used to know from home in a metro area of millions, no matter your feelings towards them, is an occasion to say "hi," right? Next time, I'll be sure to remind myself why I didn't stay in touch with a person before I get so optimistic and sentimental. The dude was taciturn, antisocial, and well, even though he was always sorta that way, I kinda wished I hadn't wasted the time going across the room just to get this confirmed. Oh well. I'm sure he's not even the least bit concerned with the incident, but I always obsess about chance encounters with people I'm not sure if I like and I'm not sure like me. I want to make sure I made it completely clear how amazingly successful and happy I am. Oh admit it, people, you do it too!

To top the night off, though, I got shooshed. At a show! This pointy-nose bitch shooshed me, like I'm five or something! I was talking to some guy next to me about how Buckner always seems to play these non-melodic musical interludes between songs instead of waiting for clapping or speaking a bit. Sorta transitions so he can go from song to song but still take a bit of a pause... Anyhow, I said this during one of these interludes and the twat patted my arm very condescendingly and said, "some of us are trying to listen to the music." I was like, "Dude, it's the pause. Get a grip." Okay, I didn't say that to her face, but I did give her death eye. And talked very rudely about her when she was in hearing distance. Also I told one of Buckner's band members and he confirmed that the "lady" needed to chill out, so ha! I win! I'm way more immature than she'll ever be! Na na na na naaaaaaa

Anyhow, I will probably be spotty blogging over the next couple of weeks because I have more musicians to talk over and health goals to fail... Oh and I just found out (like, literally as I was writing this) that Sara is moving a block away from me! Yippee!!! And Em just moved the neighborhood south (about 10 minute walk). Woohoo!! Friends everywhere!

Now I'm never going to have time to blog.

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Sunday, February 11, 2007

Love Gone Wrong

Four years ago, the day before Valentine's Day happened to be Friday the 13th. I got the bright idea to throw an anti-Valentine's Day party, compleat with horror movies and booze. Thus, Love Gone Wrong was born.

This year's theme was friendship gone wrong, with Single White Female and Carrie as the film selections. The highlight of the night, however, was the crafts. I wasn't sure how popular the craft table would be, but that's because I temporarily forgot how geeky my friends are... I mean that as a compliment, of course. Here is the link to pics from the shindig and a collection of guests' anti-Valentine's. Below are two of my favorites from the night.

This was to Sara, from Emily. Sadly, the message is taken nearly verbatim from a very awkward compliment I was trying to give Sara. And now it's immortilized on construction paper. Forever. Thanks, Em.
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Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

This anti-Valentine was a group effort. I think that it's one of the funniest things I've ever read and I'm positive we have a future in what I predict is a burgeoning anti-Valentine market. I've just put all my money into construction paper, glitter glue, and scissors.
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Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Long live, Love Gone Wrong!

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Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Deathmatch!

So, the battle between Philly and DC is over and DC won!!! Of course, this is based on four years in DC and about 36 hours in Philly. Balanced and fair, people, balanced and fair.

Here's a recap:

Atmosphere: Tie

I have to admit, I really liked the vibe in Philly. It was really nice to be around people who don't take themselves so friggin' seriously. I mean, they take themselves too seriously in the "hipster, I listen to better music and live in an awesome city" way, but not in the "if I don't get up this morning and get to the Capitol building, world peace will never happen" sort of way.

On the flip side, I'm one of those people that takes themselves too seriously. I kinda like living in one of the most important cities in the world (of course, this is partly because of America's global colonialism, but whatever...). Sure, being around the original area where the United States was made is nice and all, but DC is the place where that stuff is currently happening. There's something about the Washington Monument that the Liberty Bell just doesn't have.

Housing: Philly, although I like DC's Victorian turrets better than square Federals...

My friend lives in Fish Town and has a 3 bedroom, 4 floor federal with a backyard, three blocks from the train for $50 dollars more than I pay for a small one bedroom three blocks from the train. Dude, we could totally BUY in Philly if we wanted to... Philly wins on this one, hands down. Well, wallets down at least.

Food: slight edge to Philly...very slight...cheez whiz slight

Philly has great fine dining apparently, but what I liked the most about it was the local food culture. The market was amazing and bustling with people even though it was cold enough to give your hands frostbite while eating your tasty treats. Sure, DC has some wonderful and unique restaurants, local establishments with lots of history, and a cool indoor market, but Ben's Chili Bowl is no Cheesesteak. It's close (mmmm... half smoke), but it's no Whiz With.

Culture: DC

Both Philly and DC have good indie music scenes. And great symphonies. DCs fashion is a little lacking, but not in all parts. Philly has more indie bookscenes, but gay culture is thriving in both. So why DC?

Because DC has the Smithsonian Museums (all 15 or so), the National Gallery, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, the Corcoran, the Phillips Collection, independent galleries, etc. etc. etc. And almost all free. Every day of the week. Let's all say it: Free. Free. Free. Free.

Sure, Philly has some cool places, some with free days... but it's just not the same. Free free free all the long day! I guess I've definitely been spoiled here in DC--even as a museum professional whose wages depend on it, I balk at paying to get into a museum. Even if it is the Mutter and there are babies in jars. And Grover Cleveland's tumor. But, did I mention 15 of the most respected museums in the country, all free and within a 45 minute walk from my house?

Yep, free.

Public Transportation: DC

Okay, so Philly has lots of buses. That's nice. It also has a train system. That goes E-W and N-S. So if you live along those lines, great.... but if not, well, you drive. Or bike. Or, egads, bus.

And that's why DC wins. Because you can metro almost everywhere in the city, bus where you can't, and bike if you really feel like it. I haven't driven a car in DC once. In four years. Have never needed too. And I work in a completely different state. Now that's public transportation.

Jobs: DC, because I said so.

This one is hard because from my perspective, DC wins hands down. DC, other than New York, is the only city that has the diversity in museums that I want and need for my career. After I get my PhD, I want to work in a 20th century cultural history collection and DC has multiple institutions where I can do this. Philly is mainly colonial and early federal history. That's great and all, but I'm a post-Victorian era girl myself.

For the boy, however, Philly is way better. Its industry is not based around the government, but around business, which means a more creative and diverse design community. DC has a great underground art movement, but little in commercial, product, or print work that isn't for some sector of the federal government. Sure, there's a plethora of museum work, but it's harder to come by and that's a little too much inbreeding in the family career pool for my liking. So, Philly wins for the boy.

However, since my job is a lot more specialized and harder to come by (and this is my deathmatch), DC wins!

All in all, we had a great time in Philly. Takes just over two hours to get there and we met some cool new people, ate some yummy food, saw the King Tut exhibit and had a relaxing weekend not thinking about how important we are saving the world and living in the most important city in the world.

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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Consumption

I have another lung ailment--the third this year! Seriously, I think it must be an occupational hazard. When I was in preservation and working in a sterile, pristine environment, the moldy dusty disintegrating artifacts were brought to me. But now that I'm back in exhibitions, I'm working among the stuff again, breathing in 500-year-old mold. Bleck.

Hope I'm better by this weekend because the boy and I are driving up to Philly with a friend and his partner. Another friend decided to move back to Philly (apparently the coolest city man every created) after about a year in DC (which he thinks is the lamest). He's throwing a party to celebrate his homecoming and providing us Philly neophytes with a special guided tour. I haven't been to Philly since I was wee old and my parents did the Great Tour of New England 1993 in our '78 Chevy Impala with blue vinyl seats.* We've been meaning to go up to the other east coast cities more than we have since moving to DC, but with money and grad school, it just never happened... Philly better live up to all my expectations, as they were delayed by the most expensive school in the country. This trip better be worth $80,000 or else I'm boycotting it forever. Nay, I will do more than that for you ole beloved Capital town, much more! Philly-centric friend and I will enter into a death match using nothing but medieval weaponry. I swear I'll win for you DC and for your overpriced private university! I swear!

Anyhow, I should go take more 'Tussin now and sleep a peaceful sleep... it's very clear I'm not getting enough oxygen to my brain right now.

*If I have these years wrong Mom/Dad, it only proves that your memory is still better than mine...

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Monday, January 29, 2007

Normalcy Interrupted

Sometimes things are going so well, I forget that I have OCD and panic disorder. I mean, sure I try not to define myself by it, although I do "warn" people... you know, so they won't fuck with my post-it notes at work or tease me when I'm being irrationally obsessed with something somebody said... But those things happen so rarely now, after years of living with this "disease". I go weeks (or even months) with normalcy--getting up, going to work, going to the grocery store without fear or panic or severe obsessive/compulsive behaviours--I begin to get out of the habits that help keep me healthy... and then BAM!

Nope, kid, sorry. The world doesn't work that way for you. Messy ethernet cords immobilize you... You're obsessed with how the scatters of magazines lay just right in your magazine holder (you spend at least an hour arranging and rearranging and arranging and rearranging)... You're positive that your friends were giggling about you during the movie Saturday--you dream about it and can't move because of it. I know it totally seems like melodramatic silly stuff, and it is. That's what sucks about it. It is stupid stuff, like if my pages are paginated or I have too much hair on my arms or my sweater has lint. Or if random stranger on the Metro has too much hair on their arms or too much lint or x or y or z ... Stupid-inane-everyday-nothing worth worrying about-stuff consumes me and takes over my brain and I can't feel or think about anything else.

I don't know, it's not like I think I'm special for this (oh, overly-educated middle class white girl has such a hard time a la Prozac Nation)... Bleck. And I sorta didn't want to write about it--I mean it's so incongruous to the post I wrote yesterday it seems like I'm making too big a deal, you know?
Of course, that's the thing: I can control what goes on my blog... I also fear that putting it out there is like I'm defining myself by it... but I guess it's ultimately cathartic for me to analyze it instead of just writing obsessive thoughts in my Moleskin journal like I normally do, forever captured on paper. Maybe talking about it publicly helps ease my secret shame? I don't know... I do know I'll probably obsess over this post for at least the next two days and maybe even delete it... Sigh.

In the end, the one thing days like this will always remind me is that this is normal for me and probably always will be. And that's okay. It has to be.

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Sunday, January 28, 2007

Well..

...I went to the March. It was a beautiful day and an amazing turnout. I didn't march for long: I mainly sat on the side as an ethnographer, observing those who came to protest. It was pretty amazing to see the diversity--there were people with walkers, strollers, and protest drums side by side. It was also really interesting how many people brought cameras--they not only want to be seen, but also wanted to record that they had been seen. 10 people literally took the same photograph of protest signs shoved into the trash can near where I was sitting. They all seemed to think that it was a creative and unique composition. I should google it and see how many times it shoes up on Flickr...

Not sure if my or anyone else's going will make a difference with our current obstinate president, but it was nice to see that so many people are against this war. Gives me hope that, when bad enough, people will turn off their televisions and stand up for what they believe.

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Thursday, January 25, 2007

What Really Counts?

This weekend is a large anti-war march in DC. I'm honestly not sure if I'm going. I have a lunch date with a friend who recently got out of the hospital and later, I'm hosting a Pride and Prejudice party. Does this mean that I care less about the war in Iraq ending? Does it mean that I am all talk and no action? Or does it mean that protests aren't the only form of political expression anymore? Does a person's blog count as much as a hundred marchers? I don't know, but I know that I honestly feel a bit like a schlub, living here in the nation's capital, in the shadow of the Capitol, and only going to a couple of protests a year. Shouldn't I be making hand-made signs and making up new protests songs weekly? Sure my job is activist related and I keep apprised of the news... I subscribe to Mother Jones and give money to Planned Parenthood. But with the current administration, is that enough? Or is this that moment in history where those who are doing shape the future and those who sat back passively benefit from it, never understanding the enormity of it all until it's too late? I've been reentering the world after about a year of hermithood, joining a volunteer orchestra and socializing more... but I feel like it's time to be more of a true activist. Activism used to be a large part of my life but has become more of something that happens to me, ending up on the steps of the Supreme Court because I was at work that day.

Anyhow, I am fully committed to volunteering more this year. Sure it's partly driven by guilt about being a huge liberal slug... But, I guess if you can't keep a lunch date you've been promising for weeks with a friend who has cancer, you aren't much help to the world anyhow, right? Right? Right?

We'll see...

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Saturday, January 20, 2007

Voyeurism...

So, I'm finally catching up on my telly for the week and I have to say, I think I'm a bit of a voyeur. My boy is asleep because he gets embarrassed easily (hi Allison!) and I insisted on watching my American Idol episodes after we finished our Smallville and Netflix choices (The Night Listener...kind of want to read the book now)... I don't know why, but I really love watching people embarrass themselves while attempting their dreams. Is this because I don't attempt mine? I'm not sure, because I love love love love my job and can't believe people (as in tax payers) actually give me money to make awesome exhibitions (haha, do I take off my clothes? heard it, dude).... or is it my secret long-standing desire to be a famous singer? Sure I was in advanced choir, but that wasn't because I have a nice voice, it was because of those years in piano and violin that I actually could sing in tune. And read notes. Is my love of talent shows because I want to watch others suffer the humiliation I am afraid I will face myself? While I watch safely from my couch, my singing fantasy untouched by reality? Since American Idol hasn't been back to DC, I guess I'll never know, will I?

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Friday, January 19, 2007

Dear Lord...

...it's been forever since my last post... and I was doing so well at the first of the year! The least of my resolutions to go to pot 3 weeks into 2007, I suppose. Life, I mean, work, got in the way. I sent the objects to the designers today... finality is a good thing in my eyes right now, even if it meant working until 10 pm some nights this week.

The more important interference with my virtual communication, though, has been that another good friend has moved to DC! My new motto seems to be: why bother making new friends when all your old ones move to you? In all seriousness, this is my 4th very good friend to move to the District and I'm super excited she's here. Why all the moves? Because I'm so fantastical, of course... Actually, I guess it's because I gravitate toward politically-minded people who don't just bitch about the way the world is, but actually attempt to change it...D.C. is definitely one of the places to do that. Movers and shakers or at least people who fancy themselves movers and shakers. Anyhow, I always love sharing my home with virgin D.C.ers and I especially love that Sara is here... I'm a bit of a schizo and different people bring out different aspects of my personality. Sara (along with my other bestest kittenist friends) brings out the weird and slightly inappropriate Elizabeth. I've been rejuvenated since she got here--I'd forgotten how much I liked letting go of all my worries and just taking life as it comes. Worrying more about what experiences I'll have this week than thinking about bills... Plus, she's living and working in Capitol Hill, which is a neighborhood I haven't spent much time in, so this will give us both a chance to explore something I've missed out on the last 4 years. I can share my little piece of this city and she can share hers. So far it appears that her block has more trees and white people than mine, but I'm a very judgemental person and jump quickly to conclusions. I'll have to do a tree count to confirm my suspicions and then I'll get back to you. No offense, hillers, right? It's just bitterness because your one bedrooms are so much more expensive than mine in Columbia Heights and thus, more desirable. I have low neighborhood self-esteem, amongst other insecurities.

My statistical tree count will have to wait, however, because right now I'm going to keep boozing and celebrating the end of this damn hard week. And sleep in tomorrow. Zzzzzzzzz.

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Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Virgil Goode Is an Idiot

Virgil Goode is all in a tizzy because House Representative-elect Keith Ellison will be swearing in on a Quran. Thomas Jefferson's Quran, no less. According to Goode (who probably also thinks God talks to him), without immigration overhaul "there will be many more Muslims elected to office demanding the use of the Quran."

Does that mean that Goode is cool with "the Mexicans"?!? I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've noticed a lot of Christian churches going bilingual the past couple of years. Now that's the American spirit Goode must be talking about! As long as those damn Buddhists and Hindus and Muslims stay out, he will welcome our Christian brethren to the South with open, hospitable arms. This will teach the Minutemen to think twice about which borders they patrol. Christian or Bust, Baby! Our doors are welcome!

Somehow, I don' t think that's quite what Goode means. I know, I'm such a cynic, but whaddya gonna do?

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