A place to vent my frustrations about living in a effed up white male dominated, ableist, capitalistic society. And if you're mean, misogynistic, or in any other way effed up I will delete you. And yes, it is at my discretion. Whine about it elsewhere.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
Memememememe
DO YOU SNORE?
Occasionally...I have an eternally stuffed up nose, but not as bad as certain people *cough*ex-possible unicorn*cough*
ARE YOU A LOVER OR A FIGHTER?
Both.
AS A KID, WERE YOU A LEGO MANIAC?
Lincoln Logs and building blocks were more my speed, but I liked legos ok.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF “REALITY” TV?
Unless it's So You Think You Can Dance I hate it. (A WCS (west coast swing) dancer won! Go Benji!! WOOT!! I do WCS, btw.)
DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS?
I chew on almost anything.
WERE YOU A CUTE BABY?
Is there a such thing as a cute baby?
IS THE SINGLE LIFE FOR YOU?
Spinster in training, yo.
WHAT COLOR IS YOUR KEYBOARD?
Silver. Go IntelMac
DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER?
I sing everywhere.
HAVE YOU EVER BUNGEE JUMPED?
No.
ANY SECRET TALENTS?
I'll never tell.
WHAT’S YOUR IDEAL VACATION SPOT?
Herland
CAN YOU SWIM?
Competing since the age of 7, and currently playing water polo.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE DONNIE DARKO?
I own it.
DO YOU GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE OZONE?
Well what kind of Earth First!er would I be if I didn't?
HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP?
3.
CAN YOU SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS?
No. Only people who plan to drive drunk learn how to do that.
DO YOU PREFER ELECTRIC OR MANUAL PENCIL SHARPENER?
I prefer mechanical pencils, mostly because there are no sharpeners anywhere on campus. (Or at leat ones that work)
WHAT’S YOUR STAND ON HUNTING?
I'll give hunters a 10 minute head start...but I assume you mean animals and I am firmly against it.
IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE?
SPINSTER IN TRAINING. Do I need to spell it our for you?
DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Sometimes
WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?
Dogs, mold, mushrooms, and a bunch of other crap I don't know about.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID, “I LOVE YOU” ?
To my cat? 10 minutes ago.
DO YOU CRY AT WEDDINGS?
No.
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS?
Poached in red wine.
ARE BLONDES DUMB?
No.
WHERE DOES THE OTHER SOCK END UP?
Magic sock land.
WHAT TIME IS IT?
12:04...time for the Daily Show!
DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME?
which one?
IS MCDONALD’S DISGUSTING?
I can't believe people call that food.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN A CAR?
An hour ago, coming home from water polo.
DO YOU PREFER BATHS OR SHOWERS?
Baths. So if anyone wants to get me a bathtub or teach me how to install one I'll love you forever.
IS SANTA CLAUS REAL?
Sandy Claws? Of course, haven't you ever been to Christmasland?
DO YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR NECK KISSED?
mmmm hmmm
ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?
Only after watching Ringu.
WHAT ARE YOU ADDICTED TO?
cats, blogs, math, Buffy, Veronica Mars, the Sims 2, Kevin Spacey, comic books with teenage girls with superpowers, chocolate, alone time, BOOKS, old time radio shows
CRUNCHY OR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER?
Creamy.
CAN YOU CRACK YOUR NECK?
Only when I'm starting to get muscle spasms in it.
HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN IN AN AMBULANCE?
yes
IS DRUG FREE THE WAY TO BE?
i don't do them, but I did and I know some people like them. So....to each their own.
ARE YOU A HEAVY SLEEPER?
Sometimes, like this past weekend.
WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES?
Red. Water Polo practice.
DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE?
Sometimes. Now, yes. My PTSD, no.
ARE YOU PSYCHIC?
I'm a good sender.
HAVE YOU READ CATCHER IN THE RYE?
No.
DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS?
Alto Sax and washboard. But play may be too loose a term for these: banjo, washtub bass, and accordion.
HAVE YOU EVER STOLEN MONEY?
When I was younger. From my parents.
CAN YOU SNOWBOARD?
No. I don't get it. Now sledding is something I can get behind.
DO YOU LIKE CAMPING?
I lived in a tree for months, what do you think?
DO YOU SNORT WHEN YOU LAUGH?
No.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?
In a young girl's heart.
ARE DOGS A MAN’S BEST FRIEND?
Cats.
YOU BELIEVE IN DIVORCE?
I have to save Clare's line b/c it was so damn good: It's not the fucking tooth fairy, is it?
CAN YOU DO THE MOONWALK?
I haven't tried it since high school, so I don't know.
DO YOU MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES?
Everything I do is part of the master plan.
IS IT COLD OUTSIDE TODAY?
Kind of, but I have all the windows open. It's nice. I like it cold.
WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
String cheese.
DO YOU WEAR NAIL POLISH?
Sometimes.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU LIKE RIGHT NOW?
A few.
WHAT’S THE MOST ANNOYING TV COMMERCIAL?
I have to pick just one???? How about all.
DO YOU SHOP AT AMERICAN EAGLE?
Where do you find that at? The mall?
FAVORITE SONG AT THE MOMENT?
Oh god, just one? "Work Song" by Nina Simone
WHAT’S YOUR WORST FEAR?
that the world will never change.
Occasionally...I have an eternally stuffed up nose, but not as bad as certain people *cough*ex-possible unicorn*cough*
ARE YOU A LOVER OR A FIGHTER?
Both.
AS A KID, WERE YOU A LEGO MANIAC?
Lincoln Logs and building blocks were more my speed, but I liked legos ok.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF “REALITY” TV?
Unless it's So You Think You Can Dance I hate it. (A WCS (west coast swing) dancer won! Go Benji!! WOOT!! I do WCS, btw.)
DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS?
I chew on almost anything.
WERE YOU A CUTE BABY?
Is there a such thing as a cute baby?
IS THE SINGLE LIFE FOR YOU?
Spinster in training, yo.
WHAT COLOR IS YOUR KEYBOARD?
Silver. Go IntelMac
DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER?
I sing everywhere.
HAVE YOU EVER BUNGEE JUMPED?
No.
ANY SECRET TALENTS?
I'll never tell.
WHAT’S YOUR IDEAL VACATION SPOT?
Herland
CAN YOU SWIM?
Competing since the age of 7, and currently playing water polo.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE DONNIE DARKO?
I own it.
DO YOU GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE OZONE?
Well what kind of Earth First!er would I be if I didn't?
HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP?
3.
CAN YOU SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS?
No. Only people who plan to drive drunk learn how to do that.
DO YOU PREFER ELECTRIC OR MANUAL PENCIL SHARPENER?
I prefer mechanical pencils, mostly because there are no sharpeners anywhere on campus. (Or at leat ones that work)
WHAT’S YOUR STAND ON HUNTING?
I'll give hunters a 10 minute head start...but I assume you mean animals and I am firmly against it.
IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE?
SPINSTER IN TRAINING. Do I need to spell it our for you?
DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Sometimes
WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?
Dogs, mold, mushrooms, and a bunch of other crap I don't know about.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID, “I LOVE YOU” ?
To my cat? 10 minutes ago.
DO YOU CRY AT WEDDINGS?
No.
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS?
Poached in red wine.
ARE BLONDES DUMB?
No.
WHERE DOES THE OTHER SOCK END UP?
Magic sock land.
WHAT TIME IS IT?
12:04...time for the Daily Show!
DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME?
which one?
IS MCDONALD’S DISGUSTING?
I can't believe people call that food.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN A CAR?
An hour ago, coming home from water polo.
DO YOU PREFER BATHS OR SHOWERS?
Baths. So if anyone wants to get me a bathtub or teach me how to install one I'll love you forever.
IS SANTA CLAUS REAL?
Sandy Claws? Of course, haven't you ever been to Christmasland?
DO YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR NECK KISSED?
mmmm hmmm
ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?
Only after watching Ringu.
WHAT ARE YOU ADDICTED TO?
cats, blogs, math, Buffy, Veronica Mars, the Sims 2, Kevin Spacey, comic books with teenage girls with superpowers, chocolate, alone time, BOOKS, old time radio shows
CRUNCHY OR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER?
Creamy.
CAN YOU CRACK YOUR NECK?
Only when I'm starting to get muscle spasms in it.
HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN IN AN AMBULANCE?
yes
IS DRUG FREE THE WAY TO BE?
i don't do them, but I did and I know some people like them. So....to each their own.
ARE YOU A HEAVY SLEEPER?
Sometimes, like this past weekend.
WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES?
Red. Water Polo practice.
DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE?
Sometimes. Now, yes. My PTSD, no.
ARE YOU PSYCHIC?
I'm a good sender.
HAVE YOU READ CATCHER IN THE RYE?
No.
DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS?
Alto Sax and washboard. But play may be too loose a term for these: banjo, washtub bass, and accordion.
HAVE YOU EVER STOLEN MONEY?
When I was younger. From my parents.
CAN YOU SNOWBOARD?
No. I don't get it. Now sledding is something I can get behind.
DO YOU LIKE CAMPING?
I lived in a tree for months, what do you think?
DO YOU SNORT WHEN YOU LAUGH?
No.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?
In a young girl's heart.
ARE DOGS A MAN’S BEST FRIEND?
Cats.
YOU BELIEVE IN DIVORCE?
I have to save Clare's line b/c it was so damn good: It's not the fucking tooth fairy, is it?
CAN YOU DO THE MOONWALK?
I haven't tried it since high school, so I don't know.
DO YOU MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES?
Everything I do is part of the master plan.
IS IT COLD OUTSIDE TODAY?
Kind of, but I have all the windows open. It's nice. I like it cold.
WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
String cheese.
DO YOU WEAR NAIL POLISH?
Sometimes.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU LIKE RIGHT NOW?
A few.
WHAT’S THE MOST ANNOYING TV COMMERCIAL?
I have to pick just one???? How about all.
DO YOU SHOP AT AMERICAN EAGLE?
Where do you find that at? The mall?
FAVORITE SONG AT THE MOMENT?
Oh god, just one? "Work Song" by Nina Simone
WHAT’S YOUR WORST FEAR?
that the world will never change.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Only Men can stop rape.
from: I'm Not a Feminist, But
A lot has been said about how to prevent rape. Women should learn self-defense. Women should lock themselves in their houses after dark. Women shouldn't have long hair and women shouldn't wear short skirts. Women shouldn't leave drinks unattended. Hell, they shouldn't dare to get drunk at all. Instead of that bullshit, how about:
If a woman is drunk, don't rape her.
If a woman is walking alone at night, don't rape her.
If a woman is drugged and unconscious, don't rape her.
If a woman is wearing a short skirt, don't rape her.
If a woman is jogging in a park at 5 am, don't rape her.
If a woman looks like your ex-girlfriend you're still hung up on, don't rape her.
If a woman is asleep in her bed, don't rape her.
If a woman is asleep in your bed, don't rape her.
If a woman is doing her laundry, don't rape her.
If a woman is in a coma, don't rape her.
If a woman changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don't rape her.
If a woman has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don't rape her.
If a woman is not yet a woman, but a child, don't rape her.
If your girlfriend or wife is not in the mood, don't rape her.
If your step-daughter is watching TV, don't rape her.
If you break into a house and find a woman there, don't rape her.
If your friend thinks it's okay to rape someone, tell him it's not, and that he's not your friend.
If your "friend" tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.
If your frat-brother or another guy at the party tells you there's an unconscious woman upstairs and it's your turn, don't rape her, call the police and tell the guy he's a rapist.
Tell your sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends it's not okay to rape someone.
Don't tell your women friends how to be safe and avoid rape.
Don't imply that she could have avoided it if she'd only done/not done x.
Don't imply that it's in any way her fault.
Don't let silence imply agreement when someone tells you he "got some" with the drunk girl.
Don't perpetuate a culture that tells you that you have no control over or responsibility for your actions. You can, too, help yourself.
If you agree, re-post it. It's that important.
-Author unknown.
A lot has been said about how to prevent rape. Women should learn self-defense. Women should lock themselves in their houses after dark. Women shouldn't have long hair and women shouldn't wear short skirts. Women shouldn't leave drinks unattended. Hell, they shouldn't dare to get drunk at all. Instead of that bullshit, how about:
If a woman is drunk, don't rape her.
If a woman is walking alone at night, don't rape her.
If a woman is drugged and unconscious, don't rape her.
If a woman is wearing a short skirt, don't rape her.
If a woman is jogging in a park at 5 am, don't rape her.
If a woman looks like your ex-girlfriend you're still hung up on, don't rape her.
If a woman is asleep in her bed, don't rape her.
If a woman is asleep in your bed, don't rape her.
If a woman is doing her laundry, don't rape her.
If a woman is in a coma, don't rape her.
If a woman changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don't rape her.
If a woman has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don't rape her.
If a woman is not yet a woman, but a child, don't rape her.
If your girlfriend or wife is not in the mood, don't rape her.
If your step-daughter is watching TV, don't rape her.
If you break into a house and find a woman there, don't rape her.
If your friend thinks it's okay to rape someone, tell him it's not, and that he's not your friend.
If your "friend" tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.
If your frat-brother or another guy at the party tells you there's an unconscious woman upstairs and it's your turn, don't rape her, call the police and tell the guy he's a rapist.
Tell your sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends it's not okay to rape someone.
Don't tell your women friends how to be safe and avoid rape.
Don't imply that she could have avoided it if she'd only done/not done x.
Don't imply that it's in any way her fault.
Don't let silence imply agreement when someone tells you he "got some" with the drunk girl.
Don't perpetuate a culture that tells you that you have no control over or responsibility for your actions. You can, too, help yourself.
If you agree, re-post it. It's that important.
-Author unknown.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Oh Canada...
Our home and native land. You kick ass. Seriously. In the past week, two different parts in the Anti-Terrorism Acts passed after 9/11 were struck down by two different courts because they violated Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The first were three provisions of the Security of Information Act challenged after the RCMP used it to secure search warrants for a reporter's home. A little recap:
In her ruling Thursday, Justice Lynn Ratushny said all three provisions are unconstitutionally vague and overly broad, violating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee of fundamental justice.
Ratushny also said the sections contravened the constitutional right of press freedom.
"They have not been well-tailored to suit their purpose . . . they arbitrarily and unfairly and with a blunt club of criminal sanction restrict freedom of expression, including freedom of the press," the ruling said.
David Paciocco, a lawyer for O'Neill, said the judgment was "a powerful reaffirmation of how central the role of the media is in protecting democracy."
HA! She was reporting on someone who had been deported by the US to Syria and then tortured into confessing ties to the al-Qaida network. But of course the cops go after the reporter, but fortunately it is not 1984 yet in Canada. Wish I could say the same about the US.
The three provisions of the Security of Information Act struck down Thursday by the Ontario Superior Court:
-4. (1) Every person is guilty of an offence under this Act who, having in his possession or control any secret official code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information that relates to or is used in a prohibited place or anything in a prohibited place, or that has been made or obtained in contravention of this Act, or that has been entrusted in confidence to him by any person holding office under Her Majesty, or that he has obtained or to which he has had access while subject to the Code of Service Discipline within the meaning of the National Defence Act or owing to his position as a person who holds or has held office under Her Majesty, or as a person who holds or has held a contract made on behalf of Her Majesty, or a contract the performance of which in whole or in part is carried out in a prohibited place, or as a person who is or has been employed under a person who holds or has held such an office or contract,
(a) communicates the code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information to any person, other than a person to whom he is authorized to communicate with, or a person to whom it is in the interest of the State his duty to communicate it . . .
-4. (3) Every person who receives any secret official code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information, knowing, or having reasonable ground to believe, at the time he receives it, that the code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information is communicated to him in contravention of this Act, is guilty of an offence under this Act, unless he proves that the communication to him of the code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information was contrary to his desire.
-4. (4) (b) Every person is guilty of an offence under this Act who: allows any other person to have possession of any official document issued for his use alone, or communicates any secret official code word or password so issued, or, without lawful authority or excuse, has in his possession any official document or secret official code word or password issued for the use of a person other than himself, or on obtaining possession of any official document by finding or otherwise, neglects or fails to restore it to the person or authority by whom or for whose use it was issued, or to a police constable.
(read the full article here.)
The second struck down a clause in the Anti-Terrorism Act. The part it struck down was the idea of motive. Because a lot of the 'anti-terror' arrests are made on potential ideological motive this would change the way that the law was enforced. The judge sums it up succinctly: "While the hate motive may be an aggravating factor at sentencing, in the traditional criminal law, motive — the reasons 'why' someone commits a criminal act — neither establishes nor excuses a crime." While some people are talking about how this will not affect arrests or charges I believe it will have a big impact on racial and religious profiling, making it impossible to arrest someone merely because they are muslim, etc. I'm so happy at Canada's judges right now (this is the first terror related arrest to make it to trial). You can read the entire article here.
The first were three provisions of the Security of Information Act challenged after the RCMP used it to secure search warrants for a reporter's home. A little recap:
In her ruling Thursday, Justice Lynn Ratushny said all three provisions are unconstitutionally vague and overly broad, violating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee of fundamental justice.
Ratushny also said the sections contravened the constitutional right of press freedom.
"They have not been well-tailored to suit their purpose . . . they arbitrarily and unfairly and with a blunt club of criminal sanction restrict freedom of expression, including freedom of the press," the ruling said.
David Paciocco, a lawyer for O'Neill, said the judgment was "a powerful reaffirmation of how central the role of the media is in protecting democracy."
HA! She was reporting on someone who had been deported by the US to Syria and then tortured into confessing ties to the al-Qaida network. But of course the cops go after the reporter, but fortunately it is not 1984 yet in Canada. Wish I could say the same about the US.
The three provisions of the Security of Information Act struck down Thursday by the Ontario Superior Court:
-4. (1) Every person is guilty of an offence under this Act who, having in his possession or control any secret official code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information that relates to or is used in a prohibited place or anything in a prohibited place, or that has been made or obtained in contravention of this Act, or that has been entrusted in confidence to him by any person holding office under Her Majesty, or that he has obtained or to which he has had access while subject to the Code of Service Discipline within the meaning of the National Defence Act or owing to his position as a person who holds or has held office under Her Majesty, or as a person who holds or has held a contract made on behalf of Her Majesty, or a contract the performance of which in whole or in part is carried out in a prohibited place, or as a person who is or has been employed under a person who holds or has held such an office or contract,
(a) communicates the code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information to any person, other than a person to whom he is authorized to communicate with, or a person to whom it is in the interest of the State his duty to communicate it . . .
-4. (3) Every person who receives any secret official code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information, knowing, or having reasonable ground to believe, at the time he receives it, that the code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information is communicated to him in contravention of this Act, is guilty of an offence under this Act, unless he proves that the communication to him of the code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information was contrary to his desire.
-4. (4) (b) Every person is guilty of an offence under this Act who: allows any other person to have possession of any official document issued for his use alone, or communicates any secret official code word or password so issued, or, without lawful authority or excuse, has in his possession any official document or secret official code word or password issued for the use of a person other than himself, or on obtaining possession of any official document by finding or otherwise, neglects or fails to restore it to the person or authority by whom or for whose use it was issued, or to a police constable.
(read the full article here.)
The second struck down a clause in the Anti-Terrorism Act. The part it struck down was the idea of motive. Because a lot of the 'anti-terror' arrests are made on potential ideological motive this would change the way that the law was enforced. The judge sums it up succinctly: "While the hate motive may be an aggravating factor at sentencing, in the traditional criminal law, motive — the reasons 'why' someone commits a criminal act — neither establishes nor excuses a crime." While some people are talking about how this will not affect arrests or charges I believe it will have a big impact on racial and religious profiling, making it impossible to arrest someone merely because they are muslim, etc. I'm so happy at Canada's judges right now (this is the first terror related arrest to make it to trial). You can read the entire article here.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Hey my friend made a movie for the 48 hour film contest. Mike Jackson / Steam Powered Films. (You may recognise him as the guy who's butt I kicked in the pillow fight pictures that i posted about here.)
Enjoy. Oh and you can vote too.
Enjoy. Oh and you can vote too.
Friday, October 20, 2006
*sniff sniff*
I couldn't forget kitty blogging. No matter how out of it I am, I can never forget kitty blogging.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Temporary problems
My zoloft got put up to 150 mg, and it caused a mixed manic state. I am not excited about it at all. So I have a medical leave from classes for the rest of the week including one test and one quiz tommorrow, but it's all moot I'd flunk them anyway because I have been in a fog for the past week and a half. I feel so much for people who are bipolar that have these states often. I definitely like my depression and anxiety seperate. So we're going to gradually reduce my dose and hope that that fixes the problem, because the zoloft was doing sort of good for me before this. Now I'm off to bed (have slept most of the day b/c I was taking my Xanax.)
I'll be back when my brain starts working again.
I'll be back when my brain starts working again.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Reading assignment
Who needs a brain when you have these? (Abercrombie and Fitch shirt...do they ever stop with the insults?)
The disrespectful, degrading, contemptuous treatment of women is so pervasive and so mainstream that it has just about lost its ability to shock. Guys at sporting events and other public venues have shown no qualms about raising an insistent chant to nearby women to show their breasts. An ad for a major long-distance telephone carrier shows three apparently naked women holding a billing statement from a competitor. The text asks, “When was the last time you got screwed?”
The disrespectful, degrading, contemptuous treatment of women is so pervasive and so mainstream that it has just about lost its ability to shock. Guys at sporting events and other public venues have shown no qualms about raising an insistent chant to nearby women to show their breasts. An ad for a major long-distance telephone carrier shows three apparently naked women holding a billing statement from a competitor. The text asks, “When was the last time you got screwed?”
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Who said that important things can't be said on youtube?
The thing they all have in common is the beauty myth. The first and third videos are teenage girls talking about their lives and the second is a really interesting ad. Enjoy, I did.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
More Fun Blogging
I kick SO much ass. I was fooling around with some quizzes and I got these results:
Most Comprehensive X-Men Personality Quiz 2.0
created with QuizFarm.com
HA! HahahahhahahahHHHAAAAhahahaHa!
Which X-Men character are you most like? |
You are Rogue!You are sexy and strong willed, and able to take on just about anyone. You long for a serious relationship, but whenever you begin to get close to someone things always seem to take turns for the worse. But you have dealt with this lack of closeness with an almost constant flirtacious behavior. Take this quiz! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code |
You scored as Wolverine. Wolverine is a loner, and a skilled fighter. He's got the hots for Jean Grey but a better fit for him would be Storm. He doesn't like to follow orders which pisses Cyclops off. He has terrible memories from the experimentation done on him at Weapon X. Even though he doesn't show it, he loves the X-Men. Powers: Fast healing and adamantium skeleton and claws. |
Most Comprehensive X-Men Personality Quiz 2.0
created with QuizFarm.com
HA! HahahahhahahahHHHAAAAhahahaHa!
Friday, October 13, 2006
Friday Fun Blogging
My little boy Logan is soooooooo cute. This was his first time outside.
If you run a mac, and love old radio shows (i.e. theatre/radio series) Then you MUST get this widget. I have been listening to it for hours. I love this thing so much. All these undiscovered (by me) radio serials with lovely period music in between shows. Ohhh...gotta go, Glenn Miller!
If you run a mac, and love old radio shows (i.e. theatre/radio series) Then you MUST get this widget. I have been listening to it for hours. I love this thing so much. All these undiscovered (by me) radio serials with lovely period music in between shows. Ohhh...gotta go, Glenn Miller!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Because I'm lazy...Girls Gone Wild
(and mainly because I don't want to create a login name, etc) I am responding here to the plea for help in the comments of my last post.
There seems to be a discussion going on here discussing Levy's Female Chauvinist Pigs.
I'll respond to some of the comments that struck my eye as I go along.
I get sick of "feminists" trying to say that there's essentially one way to be a woman. If we're going to say that women are free to be, do, say, think whatever they want, then that also includes being a "girl gone wild" as well as a Senator or CEO.
See, I have never said that. I know very few feminists that say that. I know rad fems who are spinsters and ones who are stay at home moms. I am so sick of hearing about how feminists tell women what they should do with their life. We don't even tell people to stop watching porn: we tell them that porn is harmful to women, give them evidence and examples, and hope upon hope that they will stop. (Every thinking person should be able to see that easily once awoken to the problems inherent in porn.)
This isn't true. There's a whole movement afoot among feminists who are distressed that educated women are leaving their careers in favor of staying home with their children. It's been said that these educated career women are doing a disservice to the femininst movement and are disrespecting those who came before.
Ok, who's saying this? I'm one of those "crazy" radicals, and I think that staying at home with kids is a noble cause. I want women (and men) to be compensated for staying home. They do as much work as anyone else and deserve to be paid. I'm not alone in this belief. (Especially among radical feminists.)
The last thing I expected this thread to be about was things like Girls Gone Wild. I view that as a sign of how hedonistic our society has become.
What did come into my head when I saw your title is women who have a low view of men. Women who treat their men like children. Women who expect certain treatment from their men but don't reciprocate. Women who want their freedom and choices but don't allow men theirs. There are a lot of them out there.
You're right, we want to be treated with respect and we're the horrible oppressors. Just look at how much freedom we have in this society!
Freedom to walk alone at night, freedom to have friends and acquaintences over without fear, freedom to be safe in our own home, freedom to earn pay equal to our skills, freedom to make laws that benefit our sex, freedom to choose, freedom to wear whatever we want and not be seen as pornography, freedom to be treated as an equal human being, freedom to go out alone and not be "asking for it", freedom from harrassment, freedom to be oblivious to our surroundings, freedom to walk away from a family without repercussions/actually being held accountable for repercussions......(you get the point.)
Oh wait! That's the freedom that MEN have that women don't! Shit! So, who's oppressing who here?
One of the examples give was that "...We are not pursuing the confident, self-determined, powerful, free ideal the women’s liberation movement would have dreamed for its daughters. Instead, our icons are porn stars and strippers and prostitutes. Paris Hilton and Jenna Jameson flaunt their successes in the pornography industry, and in doing so seem to earn our adulation."
Well perhaps when they stop selling the sleazy clothes and those whorish looking dolls for girls we won't have anymore Paris Hiltons!!
Actually it has more to do then just selling clothes. It's about what young women are taught by the media and their peers. They (as I was) are taught that women's worth is in how much sex appeal they have to men. The women and girls who appear in things like Girls Gone Wild have been taught this. Even women who don't flash a camera for male attention and approval are taught this. The fact is that now women are not valued for their ability to do anything. they are valued for their looks, and things like Girls Gone Wild understands and exploits this. The girls are compensated for becoming pornography by being given a hat or t-shirt that tells the men who weren't there they they are hip, with it, and most of all that they have bought in to the patriarchal ideal that women are pornography.
The effects of which not only affect these women, but the college age men (and younger) who believe that deep down every girl or woman who eschews the idea of being walking pornography really wants it.
And that's the heart of the matter.
The idea that men's exploitation, abuse, and oppression of women turns any of us, even the ones fighting against it, into their idea of who we are and what our real wants are. Say no? Well that guy thinks that you're just playing hard to get and really mean yes. What do we call this? Why is it any different then the ideas that push things like Girls Gone Wild on us? Because really that's what it boils down to. Men's beliefs in who we are and how we should act, which is always incredibly self serving.
What we are seeing is women exercising their sexual freedom.
I disagree with this. I think women are being exploited sexually more now than ever before, and it has nothing to do with sexual freedom but everything to do with the media portray of women's sexual freedoms. (somehow I don't think that makes sense as I've written it, but it makes sense in my head ). I'm saddened by how some women are being exploited and demeaned by the "still-male-dominated" corporate and media machine.
The women's lib movement was all about gaining the right of women to choose. Whatever path a woman takes in her life is OK - as long as she is legitimately making a free choice to do so. Anything short of that is a failure of the movement. As someone said "Stay at home mom or executive, saint or slut" - there are choices, but I still do not believe that women have suffient support systems out there - including support from other women who have made other choices - for us to be considered truly "liberated". Frankly, I think there is still a battle or two to be fought before we really win the women's rights war.
HALLELUJAH!! See I'm not alone. If women had true sexual freedom they would be able to express it in their own ways: not the ways that men have proscribed as women's sexuality. But alas, we aren't free. We have to operate within the patriarchal definition of sexuality, which (suprise, suprise) discounts women as beings with sexual agency, but as masturabatory material for men.
(Remeber, especially if you're coming from that forum that I'm talking about men as a group and that individual men can and do buck the patriarchal system.)
There seems to be a discussion going on here discussing Levy's Female Chauvinist Pigs.
I'll respond to some of the comments that struck my eye as I go along.
I get sick of "feminists" trying to say that there's essentially one way to be a woman. If we're going to say that women are free to be, do, say, think whatever they want, then that also includes being a "girl gone wild" as well as a Senator or CEO.
See, I have never said that. I know very few feminists that say that. I know rad fems who are spinsters and ones who are stay at home moms. I am so sick of hearing about how feminists tell women what they should do with their life. We don't even tell people to stop watching porn: we tell them that porn is harmful to women, give them evidence and examples, and hope upon hope that they will stop. (Every thinking person should be able to see that easily once awoken to the problems inherent in porn.)
This isn't true. There's a whole movement afoot among feminists who are distressed that educated women are leaving their careers in favor of staying home with their children. It's been said that these educated career women are doing a disservice to the femininst movement and are disrespecting those who came before.
Ok, who's saying this? I'm one of those "crazy" radicals, and I think that staying at home with kids is a noble cause. I want women (and men) to be compensated for staying home. They do as much work as anyone else and deserve to be paid. I'm not alone in this belief. (Especially among radical feminists.)
The last thing I expected this thread to be about was things like Girls Gone Wild. I view that as a sign of how hedonistic our society has become.
What did come into my head when I saw your title is women who have a low view of men. Women who treat their men like children. Women who expect certain treatment from their men but don't reciprocate. Women who want their freedom and choices but don't allow men theirs. There are a lot of them out there.
You're right, we want to be treated with respect and we're the horrible oppressors. Just look at how much freedom we have in this society!
Freedom to walk alone at night, freedom to have friends and acquaintences over without fear, freedom to be safe in our own home, freedom to earn pay equal to our skills, freedom to make laws that benefit our sex, freedom to choose, freedom to wear whatever we want and not be seen as pornography, freedom to be treated as an equal human being, freedom to go out alone and not be "asking for it", freedom from harrassment, freedom to be oblivious to our surroundings, freedom to walk away from a family without repercussions/actually being held accountable for repercussions......(you get the point.)
Oh wait! That's the freedom that MEN have that women don't! Shit! So, who's oppressing who here?
One of the examples give was that "...We are not pursuing the confident, self-determined, powerful, free ideal the women’s liberation movement would have dreamed for its daughters. Instead, our icons are porn stars and strippers and prostitutes. Paris Hilton and Jenna Jameson flaunt their successes in the pornography industry, and in doing so seem to earn our adulation."
Well perhaps when they stop selling the sleazy clothes and those whorish looking dolls for girls we won't have anymore Paris Hiltons!!
Actually it has more to do then just selling clothes. It's about what young women are taught by the media and their peers. They (as I was) are taught that women's worth is in how much sex appeal they have to men. The women and girls who appear in things like Girls Gone Wild have been taught this. Even women who don't flash a camera for male attention and approval are taught this. The fact is that now women are not valued for their ability to do anything. they are valued for their looks, and things like Girls Gone Wild understands and exploits this. The girls are compensated for becoming pornography by being given a hat or t-shirt that tells the men who weren't there they they are hip, with it, and most of all that they have bought in to the patriarchal ideal that women are pornography.
The effects of which not only affect these women, but the college age men (and younger) who believe that deep down every girl or woman who eschews the idea of being walking pornography really wants it.
And that's the heart of the matter.
The idea that men's exploitation, abuse, and oppression of women turns any of us, even the ones fighting against it, into their idea of who we are and what our real wants are. Say no? Well that guy thinks that you're just playing hard to get and really mean yes. What do we call this? Why is it any different then the ideas that push things like Girls Gone Wild on us? Because really that's what it boils down to. Men's beliefs in who we are and how we should act, which is always incredibly self serving.
What we are seeing is women exercising their sexual freedom.
I disagree with this. I think women are being exploited sexually more now than ever before, and it has nothing to do with sexual freedom but everything to do with the media portray of women's sexual freedoms. (somehow I don't think that makes sense as I've written it, but it makes sense in my head ). I'm saddened by how some women are being exploited and demeaned by the "still-male-dominated" corporate and media machine.
The women's lib movement was all about gaining the right of women to choose. Whatever path a woman takes in her life is OK - as long as she is legitimately making a free choice to do so. Anything short of that is a failure of the movement. As someone said "Stay at home mom or executive, saint or slut" - there are choices, but I still do not believe that women have suffient support systems out there - including support from other women who have made other choices - for us to be considered truly "liberated". Frankly, I think there is still a battle or two to be fought before we really win the women's rights war.
HALLELUJAH!! See I'm not alone. If women had true sexual freedom they would be able to express it in their own ways: not the ways that men have proscribed as women's sexuality. But alas, we aren't free. We have to operate within the patriarchal definition of sexuality, which (suprise, suprise) discounts women as beings with sexual agency, but as masturabatory material for men.
(Remeber, especially if you're coming from that forum that I'm talking about men as a group and that individual men can and do buck the patriarchal system.)
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
And here we get to the point
“If I get my dick in you, you lose.” -thelmyc in the comments at Twisty's.
Really I don't know what to say, except, for most men this is true. I don't understand it and I'll never understand it, but I still need to ask why? How can you think that? How can you live life like that? What is wrong with you?
We'll never know, but I hope feminism stops this thinking dead in it's tracks and makes it an unfortunate "comma"* in the history of the world.
(Bush said that in the history books Iraq will be nothing but a comma. It's a funny.)
Really I don't know what to say, except, for most men this is true. I don't understand it and I'll never understand it, but I still need to ask why? How can you think that? How can you live life like that? What is wrong with you?
We'll never know, but I hope feminism stops this thinking dead in it's tracks and makes it an unfortunate "comma"* in the history of the world.
(Bush said that in the history books Iraq will be nothing but a comma. It's a funny.)
Monday, October 09, 2006
From the "But I didn't know it was a crime" files
BC Teacher arrested in child porn scandal.
Video here where he admits that he downloaded the child porn images and that he "didn't know it was a crime." Because obviously only the western world is so sex-phobic that we are the only nations without child pornography laws. But no, unlike our horrible country, Turkey's first offence for child pornography carries a 5 to 10 year jail sentence. Rot in jail, asshole. That's about all I have to say.
Except, he's an elementary school teacher. He's around children all the time. Must be why he choose his profession, but can you really weed out the scum like him when we underpay and overwork our teachers. Not saying that better pay would solve the situation, but I'm not looking to become a teacher because of the low pay, and I'd rather just do pure math. Not that I don't think teaching wouldn't be great and rewarding, but it ain't gonna pay off my student loans. But there is a profile for pedophiles. If we decided to take seriously misogyny and porn addiction in our culture I think that we should be able to solve the problem of having school teachers who aren't downloading child pornography. We can start by getting rid of regular pornography. But what do I know, I'm just a hairy legged prude.
Video here where he admits that he downloaded the child porn images and that he "didn't know it was a crime." Because obviously only the western world is so sex-phobic that we are the only nations without child pornography laws. But no, unlike our horrible country, Turkey's first offence for child pornography carries a 5 to 10 year jail sentence. Rot in jail, asshole. That's about all I have to say.
Except, he's an elementary school teacher. He's around children all the time. Must be why he choose his profession, but can you really weed out the scum like him when we underpay and overwork our teachers. Not saying that better pay would solve the situation, but I'm not looking to become a teacher because of the low pay, and I'd rather just do pure math. Not that I don't think teaching wouldn't be great and rewarding, but it ain't gonna pay off my student loans. But there is a profile for pedophiles. If we decided to take seriously misogyny and porn addiction in our culture I think that we should be able to solve the problem of having school teachers who aren't downloading child pornography. We can start by getting rid of regular pornography. But what do I know, I'm just a hairy legged prude.
No, really, I'm a feminist*
As you all should know by now (I rarely blog about these things as I feel the people who read my blog read all the blogs on my sidebar and know this all ready) Amp from Alas, has sold his domain to some guy who has used it to post reviews of porn: seen here (could be triggering). Alas, I have stayed away from Alas (no pun intended) for a long ass time now, because my idea of a pro-feminist man is not someone who allows anti-feminists to beat up feminists on his blog. I think that Heart does a great job discussing it at her post.
I hate to say it, because in cases like this I'd prefer to be wrong, but I told you so.
edited to add: Witchy-Woo's take on the whole debacle.
Well known, male, ‘pro-feminist’ blogger and cartoonist of long standing with large and (mostly) loyal readership finds his site is beoming too costly to run and he’s in a bit of a financial pickle. What do you think he does? What would you do? Find a cheaper host? Go to your readership for suggestions and support, maybe. Or solicit advertising from feminist-friendly organisations, perhaps. There are a number of viable options to choose from - some more palatable than others.
and Sparkle*Matrix's take
Crocodile tears Mr Amp, you couldn’t give a flying fuck about how “Alas” readers may feel that you have “sold out” That’s a bog standard request for reassurance that events were out of your control. You want affirmations that you were not to blame for events.
and a follow up at Women's Space
*sarcasm, please.
I hate to say it, because in cases like this I'd prefer to be wrong, but I told you so.
edited to add: Witchy-Woo's take on the whole debacle.
Well known, male, ‘pro-feminist’ blogger and cartoonist of long standing with large and (mostly) loyal readership finds his site is beoming too costly to run and he’s in a bit of a financial pickle. What do you think he does? What would you do? Find a cheaper host? Go to your readership for suggestions and support, maybe. Or solicit advertising from feminist-friendly organisations, perhaps. There are a number of viable options to choose from - some more palatable than others.
and Sparkle*Matrix's take
Crocodile tears Mr Amp, you couldn’t give a flying fuck about how “Alas” readers may feel that you have “sold out” That’s a bog standard request for reassurance that events were out of your control. You want affirmations that you were not to blame for events.
and a follow up at Women's Space
*sarcasm, please.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Happy weekend!
I hope you all are having a good one. I am refinishing some furniture I just got off craigslist, and just got Season's 1 and 2 of Veronica Mars, so it's a Veronica Marsathon at my house! With kitties and gourmet food! Woot! Happy weekend!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
A Thought on Women and Sports
A few days ago I read Twisty's post on girl's sports and the ensuing comments which went on to argue back and forth about how men are stronger biologically, blah blah blah. I cannot emphasize how strongly I disagree. Look at Boxing champ Lucia Rijker:
Tell me that it's a matter of biological strength and not of training. Also there seems to be a side conversation about how women are shorter then men because of genetics. My own anecdotal evidence: all the women in my family are 5'5" or shorter. Dad's side; mom's side: everyone. My dad happens to be around 6 ft. I'm a little over 5'8". Now that is in no way linked to my mother's x chromosone or my father's. Ridiculousness abounds. Yeah, it's genetic. But I tower over all my relatives (the blood ones anyway). Various observations that women are always going to be short because their female relatives are has some relevance, yes, but anyone can draw the short straw in the height genetics game. When I said I tower over my relatives I also tower over all the (blood related) men in my family as well.
Muscle mass does build easier in men, but that doesn't mean that they are default stronger. Your average man was taught to try sports; to be atheletic. Your average woman, and it's definitely been my experience, is taught not to be stronger then the boys (or smarter, but that's another issue). There's still oodles of sexism in (oh for example let's take) the boxing industry. Watch Shadow Boxers and listen to the questions that the reporters ask the boxers: "What does your husband think?" "Why do you want to hit people?" Do they ask these questions of male boxers? Of course not. Even women that win Golden Gloves championships are seen as abnormal, unfeminine. And these are athletes that dedicate much of their time and lives to their sport.
Why am I using boxing? Could it be that the first boxing gym I joined the trainer was a lecherous hump who wouldn't stop making disgusting remarks to me? (Because I'm only boxing to sleep with old, disgusting boxing trainers! Right!) Could it be that I'm one of about 3 women who box in the gym I'm currently at? Could it be that as I feel stronger in my body, i.e. as I get more definition in my arms, am able to run farther and farther each week, and can't wait until the next time I spar people feel the need to either think I'm a) joking about being a boxer, or b) ask me why I do it. Sometimes they just stare at me with their mouths wide open, or giggle, or say something along the lines of "oh my god! Why?"
Tell me that it's a matter of biological strength and not of training. Also there seems to be a side conversation about how women are shorter then men because of genetics. My own anecdotal evidence: all the women in my family are 5'5" or shorter. Dad's side; mom's side: everyone. My dad happens to be around 6 ft. I'm a little over 5'8". Now that is in no way linked to my mother's x chromosone or my father's. Ridiculousness abounds. Yeah, it's genetic. But I tower over all my relatives (the blood ones anyway). Various observations that women are always going to be short because their female relatives are has some relevance, yes, but anyone can draw the short straw in the height genetics game. When I said I tower over my relatives I also tower over all the (blood related) men in my family as well.
Muscle mass does build easier in men, but that doesn't mean that they are default stronger. Your average man was taught to try sports; to be atheletic. Your average woman, and it's definitely been my experience, is taught not to be stronger then the boys (or smarter, but that's another issue). There's still oodles of sexism in (oh for example let's take) the boxing industry. Watch Shadow Boxers and listen to the questions that the reporters ask the boxers: "What does your husband think?" "Why do you want to hit people?" Do they ask these questions of male boxers? Of course not. Even women that win Golden Gloves championships are seen as abnormal, unfeminine. And these are athletes that dedicate much of their time and lives to their sport.
Why am I using boxing? Could it be that the first boxing gym I joined the trainer was a lecherous hump who wouldn't stop making disgusting remarks to me? (Because I'm only boxing to sleep with old, disgusting boxing trainers! Right!) Could it be that I'm one of about 3 women who box in the gym I'm currently at? Could it be that as I feel stronger in my body, i.e. as I get more definition in my arms, am able to run farther and farther each week, and can't wait until the next time I spar people feel the need to either think I'm a) joking about being a boxer, or b) ask me why I do it. Sometimes they just stare at me with their mouths wide open, or giggle, or say something along the lines of "oh my god! Why?"