So, I have mixed feelings on Oprah. Sometimes I like her show because she has interesting topics. And she's pretty self-aware, which is nice to see in people. Most of the time, though, that self-awareness rears it's ugly head as "I'm Oprah. I've found a good way to live. You should do it how I do it too." The first time it really got my goat was when she acted as if James Frey had personally offended her and how wrong that was. Please!!! As if she is the only person in the world. But whatever, if I'm home, I'll watch her and probably buy some skin cream she's suggested. I'm fairly easy to please.
But this, this is going too far and clearly displays her lack of respect for other people, her self-aggrandizing, and her obliviousness.
Do you see how she forces herself on these objects? The rules are actually for the American people--these shoes are not props and they are invaluable and they belong to us all with the Smithsonian acting as their steward. Her actions show a serious lack of respect towards 1) The Smithsonian Institution (or any museum) as a repository of sacred American cultural artifacts and 2) the professionals whose job is to protect them ( this includes a minimum of a hand-courier, a conservator, armed transport personnel, and the friggin' director of the museum! Museum professionals are just that (well most of the time), professionals. It's our job to keep these treasures for future generations, to house them, to interpret them, to display them... not to let Oprah do whatever she wants with them. Sure, he could have walked off or done a smack-down, but he's trying to raise awareness for the Smithsonian. Believe it or not, it's not some sort of awesomely funded and well-kept place. Like other cultural institutions, its budget is shrinking and its collections need money to keep them preserved and housed properly. Plus, they don't charge admission, a huge source of income for other institutions. So, giving in a little to Oprah is a bit understandable, though clearly dumb. But the way that she responded to his kindness and handled those objects like she would her own friggin' shoes is so disrespectful... It's like it was all a big joke to her. I am seriously aghast.
Luckily, so are many of her viewers, who realize just how wrong it was for Oprah to act as if she is above the rules set in place for everyone else. Oprah needs to realize that just because she's famous, successful, and millions of people look up to her gives her no more right to touch the ruby slippers than anyone else. This is symptomatic of a major attitude problem she has and I hope the public outcry will wake her up. There's nothing that says being a powerful woman means losing the ability to be humble.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Can Someone Tell Her She Is Not The Center of the Universe, People?!
Failure #5, #6... Oh Christ, I give up...
So once again socially imbibing was my downfall to healthy eating this weekend. But, I have to say I feel pretty good about the whole thing because I've cut way back and am not drinking at all during the week. Also, I've been working out nearly every single day and have lost a couple of pounds. Not all is lost and every day is a new chance to make better choices.
Now I just have to find the time to go the eye and lady doctors. Maybe if going to the doctor were more fun I'd be more inclined to do it?
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Exactly
So, 23/6 has drawn a flow chart speculating an answer to what the fuck was going through Mary-Kate Olsen's head when she advised Heath's masseuse to call private security people instead of 911.
It was only 9 minutes, you say. He was probably dead anyhow... Well, I've watched someone die and nine minutes is an eternity when someone's heart is stopping and they can't breath. Always always always always call 911. Just do it, don't wait, don't think twice, for any reason, call 911.
Because really, do you really want to spend your life assuming that those nine minutes wouldn't have mattered anyway or would you rather know that you did everything that you could as quickly as you could?
Gah...
...another reason to be wary of her. Hawks playing with other hawks bodes more war people. Tread lightly.
Friday, January 25, 2008
TMI!
Okay, so there's this beta website where you can leave comments about your neighbors... DC doesn't have a lot of posts yet, but there is apparently an adulterer near me. 'Cause I care? 'Though the former cokehead at 16th and Penn does kinda bug me....
I don't talk about my career that much...
...but this is a really upsetting story about LA museums collecting illegally smuggled cultural artifacts. I almost considered (and might still) going into cultural property law because of the far-reaching (and often ignored) effects of museums choosing the "curatorial" and "authoritative" value of an object over the human rights violations of this sort of "ownership." When US museums professionals, who KNOW better, continue to accept objects with clearly fuzzy provenance, raiders will continue to loot and destroy important sites in developing countries for the much-needed money. This cycle will forever destroy that culture's chance to restore, preserve, and collect their own history. Now, this isn't saying that Western museums can't appreciate, display, or educate with the artifacts of other peoples---of course that's important to better understanding not only our own cultures, but also the thousands of others throughout time. It's just that this way is not the way to do it. We need to not only respect the integrity of other peoples, but also that of our own profession.
At least...
...no one listens to the crazy Wichita Phelps. This guy is paid by Murdoch to say shit like this.
Completely inappropriate and blatantly homophobic. I guarantee you if Ledger had starred in "family friendly" (aka crazy Christian appropriate) fare, his death would not have been treated so callously by this fucktard.
UPDATE: Oooo, he apparently feels bad that Ledger died, but not about taking this great chance to make a "Brokeback" joke. Asshat.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
I remember...
Tee hee hee heee
So I just got news that Ms. Rowling herself knows about my exhibition and wants to swing by D.C. to come say "thanks" for us doing it!
Seriously, I just peed my pants a little bit.
Failure #3 and #4, otherwise known as "Oi, I should know better..."
Well, this is posted a little later than planned because 1) I was in such shock over Heath Ledger-- I saw Knight's Tale and the Patriot on opening nights 'cause I was totally in love with him. Also, he was perfect as Enis even though I was really nervous as I love that short story... and 2) work. Surprise!
But on to my confession with three hail mary's for my two tequila shots--alright alright, it was more like 10 beers over the weekend :) Saturday I bought some beer to have with pizza the boy and I had and you know, it wasn't that much fun. Think I'm kinda over just sitting around after work or whatever and having a beer. What's the point? Monday, though, I was with the Jackster and Samwise again and we had way too much fun saying goodbye to Dr. Dremo's. So sad, especially considering another condo building is taking it's place in the middle of a real estate glut. Last I heard there wasn't a beer-drinking glut, so I'm not sure on the logic. Anywhooo, then we watched the Dem Debate and I'm still a total blob of indecision, though I was screaming at Hillary the whole time. And then at myself the next morning as I got ready for work.
I failed my resolution again, but at least it was fun... and civically minded!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
What Not to Wear...
... or how I was shamed into dressing in a way that makes other people less embaressed and me less happy.
I'm currently watching What Not To Wear on TLC and I've decided that it is an evil evil show. Family and "friends" who are embaressed by someone they love (but clearly only conditionally) film a plea for TV fashion experts to come and change their friend's form of self-expression. The thing that gets me the most is that so many of these people LIKE what they wear... it isn't until they are shamed on national television and being told "you do realize that people are laughing at you" that they begin to go, oh well, maybe everyone else is right. Then they buy new clothes and feel all better about themselves because now everyone feels better about them.
Maybe we could have a culture where our friends and family learn to love us for who we are and how we chose to express ourselves and complete strangers from television stay the hell out of it.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Sciento-waaa?
I'm pretty sure I'm an SP, so why not just seal the deal? Go ahead, watch this funny mash-up of Crazy Tom's sciento-bullshit video with homoerotic stares from Top Gun, be an SP with me!
I honestly don't think my husband has ever been more right than when he said this to me yesterday:
"Scientologists seem like the sort of people that are all going to one day drink some Kool-Aid."
Pause.
"No, I take that back. They seem like they are going to make the rest of us drink Kool-Aid."
Friday, January 18, 2008
Glad I'm Fat...
How Did I Not...
-747202.jpg)
Apparently VA is trying to ban them...
Oh, and pic snagged from linked DCist article. Props.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Yippee!
More crazy Tom Cruise! This time he saved all of the firefighters after 911 with his new-fangled LHR technology...
Diary of a Mad Juror Woman
I spent all of today surviving the jury selection for a two week trail. Here's the sporadic log I kept since I couldn't live blog--I know, so antiquated.
7:50am
Wandering around to find entrance to large gov't building that has diferent names of different "important" people I don't know on each side. How the hell do you find it?
7:58am
Courthouse bathroom has no vending machines for "feminine hygience products"--can I claim "lady trouble" to get out of this or does that go against my anti-sexism rules?
8:05am
Waited in line to fill out my phone #--some people only asked to put SS# on a diff't form--what's the deal? Which form decides what? Gas chamber versus work crew?
8:18am
Room beginning to fill up--sitting in uncomfortable chair and doing Harry Potter exhiit research since I haven't had time in weeks and well, I'm not doing much else here. Some people have computers, some have Soduku... CNN is on telly. I have to report there are no pineapples... seriously, that's the ONLY joke people have when I mention I have Jury Duty--even the boy! Either jury duty is way less important a storytelling device or there's seriously nothing better on anymore than that damn show... maybe it's just cause I hate those episodes with Berger... whatever.
8:20am
Everyone looks so bored and we have until 4:30pm. Hmmm, CNN says a plane missed the runway in Heathrow, that rents are down in DC (yay!) and that Obama and Hillary are bickering... surprise.
8:22am
Someone sneezed.
8:40am
Have text conversation with Sara about how ATL is so silly about snow.
8:46am
Sanjay Gupta mentiones Medline Plus--there was once I had no idea what that was. Sigh.
8:54am
CNN just called boy who attacked buglar w/ bat as "smart" and praised him for taking matters into his own hand--fucktard could have gotten shot--jesus, always praising that singular American individualism, no matter how dumb, especially with boys. Ick.
9:00am
My knees already hurt and as these entries show, I'm bored.
9:05am
Something's happening, finally! Ooo, orientation, with a random video, "Called to Serve". This thing is for all US courts, so no specific informatino and it's totally trying to convince us this is worth it, blah blah blah, went to bathroom, blah blah blah...
9:30ish am
Had to turn off cell phone so no clock... called for Jury selection. Sitting. Sitting. Sitting. Answering lots of questions and getting requistite, American duty speech, which I totally agree with, though two weeks is a long time... Answer yes on some question. Oh and a bit miffed about the "solemnly swear under God" crap but decide not worth complaining...
10:45am
Released from above...call and complaing to boy and mom. Worried about one of my answers, because I really don't want to talk about how I have "medical or psychological condition"...
11:30am
Scarfed down sandwhich and fretted some more...
12:00-12:15pm
Sit. Then dismissed again...
12:30-1:30pm
Sit. Read. Peed. Sit.
1:30pm
Go back to courtroom. Sit some more.
1:35pm
SERIOUSLY, dismissed AGAIN!!!
1:35-2:30pm
Stayed in courtroom, sat, read, napped, had weird dreams... fretted.
2:30-3:45pm
Sat in back jury room, waiting to go before judge and court for jury interview...
Some lady had number called and was so moronic and didn't know what her number was...
3:45pm-3:55pm
Ooop, my turn. Sat on stand, so weird. Did fine 'till asked about my medical condition. I felt totally lame saying it would affect me, having OCD. I fixate and can't concentration. And sure, I'm functioning, but I've never had someone's fate in my hands. I feel responsible for other people when their fate isn't in my hands... I feel like a coward... like I should be stronger and try and do it, but I don't know how my anxiety or my obessing will affect me. I cried a little--you know, Hillary style, though I meant it. Well, that is, I know I meant it, not sure if she did...only she knows that.
Seriously, the fretting I'm doing is totally indicitive of how I'd be, but it still makes me feel lame. I've never used my OCD as an excuse for trying or not trying or doing or not doing something... but I just don't know what would happen and I don't want to burdern the justice system with something that is so unpredictable... sigh...
4:00pm
Walk in gross winter sludge... no civic duty for me.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Suck it up, Lizzy...
That'll Be The Day...
... that you make me cry, work! Today was insanity, just like yesterday. It wasn't bad, per se--not like I got chastised or messed up or anything, just thing after thing after thing after thing thrown at me without being able to take a breath. Everyone kept asking if I was okay because even though I don't complain, I have no poker face.
I spent most of the day dealing with money and government contracts and math... ick. The other half of the day was meetings and getting new task after new task put on my plate. Oh yeah, and being asked to drive to Philly to pick up the former Surgeon General of the US tomorrow and then finding a way around that... though that would have been a pretty cool interruption to my work week, I admit.
To add insult to injury, I'm on call for jury duty for two weeks. So everyday I have to scramble to finish all of my work in case I get called in the next day. Not that I'm against civic duty, I love civic duty, it's just I'm already behind for Wednesday and it's only Tuesday night.
Oh well, it's just work. It's just one day. It's just one bad week out of lots of good ones... So, tomorrow, when it happens again, I'll go to another bad movie or take another run or call another friend and start all over, hoping for the best. I love my career, but for those people who work in exhibitions, we all know that days like this, well, are part of the job...
Monday, January 14, 2008
Space Time Continuum
If last week was the week of many lifetimes, this one seems to be the one of speedy gonazales. I felt like I lived three lifetimes (though I got a lot done) last week... but today the day's nearly over and I seriously feel like I just got here. I mean, I actually got here at 9, but I feel like the middle of my day when "zoom" through a wormhole or something.
Let's hope things slow down a bit tomorrow...
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Roll Bouncin' Baby
We finally celebrated the boy's bday with a belated roller skating party this Saturday. I hadn't skated in about 15 years and I had forgotten how much fun it is. My feet are super blistered and my pudgy butt is sore, but man was it gleeful. And I remastered the leg-over-leg turn! Woo hoo!
Here's a video of us embarrassing the boy as we skate around him and sing "happy birthday." Oh yeah, the other birthday party kids were about 8.
Enjoy!
In the Name of Two Used-to-Be Famous Actors...
... whose faces don't move anymore, seven almost famous actors who will never be, a slew of never-was secondary characters, and the entire First Nations tribe.
If you want a good laugh or, in my case, a diversion from a really long week, go see this awfully bad movie. You'll get to enjoy two hours of Burt Reynolds, Ray Liotta, the Transporter, Hellboy, The Terminator 3 aka Blond Tits, Matthew Lilliard, LeLe whateverhernameis, Jonathan Rys-Davies (Sala), Claire "Horseface" Forlani, some really bad (and LOTR derivative) special effects, and an insanely magical German Metal Rock entry for this year's Ren Faire.
I seriously laughed so hard I had asthma.
Friday, January 11, 2008
I Hate Chris Matthews...
First of all, I'm an undecided voter right now. I am not a Hillary supporter, even though I'm a feminist and I tend to support women in fields where men dominate, especially if they are clearly capable of the job. My physician, dentist, and tattoo artist are all female. So, my tepidness towards Hillary is completely based on policy and not gender issues.
That is, until everyone else clearly made it known their feelings about her gender. How quickly the TV pundits turned on her display of emotion not hours after still denouncing her lack of femininity. I mean, I'm not an idiot--I get how sexist people still are. I get how hard it is for a woman to run for president and how close one finally is... but seriously, it's like Christ Matthews is a junior high boy or something.
Check out this great Salon article about the anti-Hillary male TV pundit brigade.
I Like My Eggs with a Side of Easy Voting, Please
I really hope that the Supreme Court surprises me again, like with their recent ruling acknowledging the socio-economic prejudices in crack cocaine versus cocaine penalties, because these new voter ID laws are blatantly anti-Democratic.* Mother Jones has a pretty good summary of the whole deal, but basically a slew of states have new legislation requiring voters to have a government issued ID (like a driver's license). This essentially affects the elderly, the poor, and many city-goers. It also essentially amounts to a voting rights violation akin to poll taxes and literacy tests. The movement's impetus are Oh-Ye-Most-Reliable-Of-Truthiness Karl Rove and fellow Republicans' claims that there is rampant voter fraud that benefits Democrats. Pot calling Kettle, are you there?
Anyhow, check out the Mother Jones article and let's all hope that judicial integrity once again beats out partisan politics in our highest court.
*yes, both meanings
Thursday, January 10, 2008
This is why...
...I'm not on Facebook. I joined Friendster just 'cause I like talking about myself and MySpace 'cause I like spying on frenemies and judging how cliche and fat they are. Oh and keeping in touch with friends, blah blah blah. But Friendster with it's "groups" and "joining" just seems so... well, participatory. I just can't bring myself to do it. I might give in one day since it's becoming the only way to get people to respond to you or make plans, but since I can't obsessively check and update my profile at work (gov't employ and all...) what's really the point? Once I'm home I'd rather doing stuff in the real world instead of the cyber one.*
*Watch me join tomorrow... Ha!
Posts
