"Statehood for Puerto Rico?"
Let me just go on the record with one big "hell to the no" on this one.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Thank God my parents never tried to raise my self-esteem
It's not just in your head … The LAT reports that a new study reveals what many of us have suspected for some time: the new generation of college-age students is, for the most part, more narcissistic than its predecessors. The authors of the study titled "Egos Inflating Over Time" say all the effort put into raising children's self-esteem appears to have brought some undesirable consequences. According to researchers, increased egos could lead to personal and social problems.
Mama and Papa Moxie would have never thought to raise my self-esteem. Instead they instilled in me the great ability to distrust others, judge them and shut out anyone who doesn't agree with me.
Thanks, Mom and Dad. *tear*
Mama and Papa Moxie would have never thought to raise my self-esteem. Instead they instilled in me the great ability to distrust others, judge them and shut out anyone who doesn't agree with me.
Thanks, Mom and Dad. *tear*
Monday, February 26, 2007
Vice/Versa
Interesting juxtapositions on babies:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6397135.stm - covers a story about the government of Cyprus giving women "bonuses" for having 3 or more children to encourage a population surge.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4813590.stm - talks about the new "wave" of western women who are deciding to be "childfree".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6397135.stm - covers a story about the government of Cyprus giving women "bonuses" for having 3 or more children to encourage a population surge.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4813590.stm - talks about the new "wave" of western women who are deciding to be "childfree".
But what about my brain???
“Honey, I’ve been sober for 20 years, but that tattoo girl and the black girl with those big tits made me thirsty."
We's cousins!
The WP fronts, while the LAT and NYT go inside with, a genealogical study released yesterday by the New York Daily News that revealed Rev. Al Sharpton is a descendant of a slave owned by relatives of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond. Sharpton called a news conference and said the revelation "was probably the most shocking thing of my life." Although he had often suspected his ancestors were slaves, Sharpton says he never knew for sure. And, of course, the fact that he's connected to one of the most famous segregationists made the finding even more incredible for the civil rights leader.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The Rape Crisis Center of Iraq's newest volunteer
USAT does some man-on-the-street interviews and one 29-year-old Sunni tells the paper he has doubts about the rape allegations. "We don't have such a culture. We might kill, behead or do torture, but rape—I don't think so."
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
{Red} in the face
So...I'm so late with this post.
Last Friday, Moxie Lady had the pleasure of hearing/seeing {Red} An Orchestra. First, though, I went to Cool Cleveland's party thingy before seeing {Red} An Orchestra's "Importance of Being Zappa" concert. It was my first time seeing {Red} and I was impressed. The conductor, Johnathan Sheffer, was quite the showman and of course the music was good.
HOWEVER, I cannot stress how uncool Cool Cleveland has become. It is single-handedly turning my city into Parma...or Rocky River (which is way worse) and it scares the shit out of me. The party sucked, filled to the brim with pretentious people priding themselves on being cool and unpretentious. I recognize the importance of sharing Cleveland with the region and inviting those from the suburban landscapes into the municipal boundaries, but must this include every clueless yuppie, poser, and scenster? *sigh* These are the same people who will come to see the Cavs play, but if any Black man who looked like any of the Black men playing ball on the court was walking down the street towards them at night, they would tighten the grip on their purses or wallets and quickly cross the street.
These are the same people who think neighborhoods where Blacks live are dangerous yet populate equally - if not MORE - dangerous neighborhoods like Tremont and Ohio City.
These are the same people who complain about Cleveland schools, yet do nothing about it; instead sending their kids to Ignatius and Magnificant.
These are the same people who constantly misuse the word, "ghetto".
These are the same people who try to make anything in this city like, same as, or equal to the LA, NYC, and Chicago social scenes.
These are the same people who have Bush/Cheney stickers on their bumpers, or worse yet, are limosine liberals.
Thank heavens the concert didn't suck.
Last Friday, Moxie Lady had the pleasure of hearing/seeing {Red} An Orchestra. First, though, I went to Cool Cleveland's party thingy before seeing {Red} An Orchestra's "Importance of Being Zappa" concert. It was my first time seeing {Red} and I was impressed. The conductor, Johnathan Sheffer, was quite the showman and of course the music was good.
HOWEVER, I cannot stress how uncool Cool Cleveland has become. It is single-handedly turning my city into Parma...or Rocky River (which is way worse) and it scares the shit out of me. The party sucked, filled to the brim with pretentious people priding themselves on being cool and unpretentious. I recognize the importance of sharing Cleveland with the region and inviting those from the suburban landscapes into the municipal boundaries, but must this include every clueless yuppie, poser, and scenster? *sigh* These are the same people who will come to see the Cavs play, but if any Black man who looked like any of the Black men playing ball on the court was walking down the street towards them at night, they would tighten the grip on their purses or wallets and quickly cross the street.
These are the same people who think neighborhoods where Blacks live are dangerous yet populate equally - if not MORE - dangerous neighborhoods like Tremont and Ohio City.
These are the same people who complain about Cleveland schools, yet do nothing about it; instead sending their kids to Ignatius and Magnificant.
These are the same people who constantly misuse the word, "ghetto".
These are the same people who try to make anything in this city like, same as, or equal to the LA, NYC, and Chicago social scenes.
These are the same people who have Bush/Cheney stickers on their bumpers, or worse yet, are limosine liberals.
Thank heavens the concert didn't suck.
It's hard being easy
An interesting book review and commentary of college hook-ups and its impact on women.
http://www.slate.com/id/2159995/fr/nl/
http://www.slate.com/id/2159995/fr/nl/
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Setting the movement back one breast at a time
I want to be angry. I really do. I want to fire off strongly worded letters to anyone who will listen, buuuuuuut I'm not. In fact, I'm smirking and slightly scoffing.
The BBC News reports today about a woman who was demoted and subsequently resigned from her post in the US Air Force. She resigned because she was demoted as punishment for posing in Playboy magazine. Further probes into related articles show that she is not the only military woman to have been punished for her appearance in the magazine: two women serving in the Navy were discharged early or dishonorably in 1998 and 2000.
On one hand, she can certainly do what she wants with her body. However, when she thought it was a good idea to pose nude or provocatively bearing the seals and symbols of the US military, I think she should have known there would be some problems. Now, of course, I am curious as to how her superiors discovered her feature in the first place. I mean one can only wonder how these men stumbled upon this magazine *gasp*...
I have a love/hate relationship with Playboy and its creator, Mr. Hefner. I wonder how much at fault they can be for letting this woman pose with her uniform, knowing that two of her predecessors were discharged for the same thing. A simple, "Hey, Michelle, by the way, a couple of other women did this and were discharged, just so you know," would have been nice. At the end of the day she made her own decision, but still.
Is this the kind of shit that women in the military need to be dealing with? How could she have felt good knowing that her fellow airmen would be ogling her goodies and yet still expected them to respect her around the base? Ms. Lady is all about the "women can be sex agents" line of thought, but sometimes a woman has to put the needs of the entire gender above herself. Especially when you are talking about a field like the military where woman still suffer extreme abuse and discrimination. AND if you take a look at her picture, you have to be disappointed just looking at her bangs. *sigh*
The one part of me that is angry is that a woman can pose nude for a magazine and she is swiftly dealt with, yet male military personnel can get away with rape and in some cases murder. That makes me sad. That is probably when I am angry with this woman for not making a better decision. She was probably a good soldier. She was probably on her way to more promotions. She was probably a role model to some girl somewhere in her life. Now she's known as "that one chic that posed naked and got demoted".
Talk about setting the movement back...not to mention her child-like decision to resign when she was only demoted. I'm almost forced to say she should have taken it like a man...all the way to the ACLU, to the Supreme Court, to NOW. Then her gaping legs, pouty lips and gratuitous breast shots would actually mean something to the rest of us.
The BBC News reports today about a woman who was demoted and subsequently resigned from her post in the US Air Force. She resigned because she was demoted as punishment for posing in Playboy magazine. Further probes into related articles show that she is not the only military woman to have been punished for her appearance in the magazine: two women serving in the Navy were discharged early or dishonorably in 1998 and 2000.
On one hand, she can certainly do what she wants with her body. However, when she thought it was a good idea to pose nude or provocatively bearing the seals and symbols of the US military, I think she should have known there would be some problems. Now, of course, I am curious as to how her superiors discovered her feature in the first place. I mean one can only wonder how these men stumbled upon this magazine *gasp*...
I have a love/hate relationship with Playboy and its creator, Mr. Hefner. I wonder how much at fault they can be for letting this woman pose with her uniform, knowing that two of her predecessors were discharged for the same thing. A simple, "Hey, Michelle, by the way, a couple of other women did this and were discharged, just so you know," would have been nice. At the end of the day she made her own decision, but still.
Is this the kind of shit that women in the military need to be dealing with? How could she have felt good knowing that her fellow airmen would be ogling her goodies and yet still expected them to respect her around the base? Ms. Lady is all about the "women can be sex agents" line of thought, but sometimes a woman has to put the needs of the entire gender above herself. Especially when you are talking about a field like the military where woman still suffer extreme abuse and discrimination. AND if you take a look at her picture, you have to be disappointed just looking at her bangs. *sigh*
The one part of me that is angry is that a woman can pose nude for a magazine and she is swiftly dealt with, yet male military personnel can get away with rape and in some cases murder. That makes me sad. That is probably when I am angry with this woman for not making a better decision. She was probably a good soldier. She was probably on her way to more promotions. She was probably a role model to some girl somewhere in her life. Now she's known as "that one chic that posed naked and got demoted".
Talk about setting the movement back...not to mention her child-like decision to resign when she was only demoted. I'm almost forced to say she should have taken it like a man...all the way to the ACLU, to the Supreme Court, to NOW. Then her gaping legs, pouty lips and gratuitous breast shots would actually mean something to the rest of us.
Not-so-bitter, party of one? Your table is ready
Very cool column by a writer/producer from Sex in the City...
A Rant Against the Valentine's Day Rant
By Cindy Chupack
Last weekend I confessed to a friend that I don't have a valentine this year. On cue, he launched into The Rant: The holiday makes more people unhappy than happy. It puts too much pressure on relationships by making romance mandatory, so even if you like doing something sweet and surprising for your loved one, it can't be surprising because it's expected. Why can't we each just pick our own Valentine's Day? he went on to ask. His could be, say, May 5—a day when he might actually get into his favorite restaurant.
I know The Rant. I've done The Rant. I had a fresh rant last year when I was so busy I somehow forgot it was Valentine's Day until I wandered into a Duane Reade to buy detergent and under the unflattering fluorescent lights, I came face to face with one of those white teddy bears holding a red foil heart balloon. I wasn't sure what was worse—the fact that the guy in front of me was buying the Duane Reade bear for his girlfriend, or the fact that nobody was buying one for me. That was the year I announced that I was going to think of Valentine's Day like Kwanzaa—a holiday we should all acknowledge, but one that only some people in this country celebrate.
I'm 35 and still single, I spend my days writing about dating, sometimes writing about writing about dating, and this year I realized I'm tired of The Rant. I don't feel angry at the holiday. Instead, I'm angry at the people who are angry at the holiday.
I remember in my junior high school in Oklahoma, you could have carnations delivered to your valentines—white for friends, pink for people you had a crush on, red for the person you made out with at recess. We didn't overthink the carnation system. Back then we didn't even know carnations were bad flowers.
Now I can't even scrounge up an anti-valentine. A guy I've been corresponding with online (it's not as pathetic as it sounds) won't even pass on information about a few Anti-Valentine's Day parties—the latest trend for single people—because he didn't feel like that would be a good first meeting for us. What's a single heterosexual to do? I finally decided to have a party for my "single but optimistic" friends, not to be confused with an Anti-Valentine's Day party, since as of this posting, I am still pro-valentine. And I invite you to join me—not at my party—but in adopting a more hopeful, inclusive stance. We all have people we love, or at least people we'd like to send a white carnation … why not celebrate them? Do the expected. That can be romantic, too.
A Rant Against the Valentine's Day Rant
By Cindy Chupack
Last weekend I confessed to a friend that I don't have a valentine this year. On cue, he launched into The Rant: The holiday makes more people unhappy than happy. It puts too much pressure on relationships by making romance mandatory, so even if you like doing something sweet and surprising for your loved one, it can't be surprising because it's expected. Why can't we each just pick our own Valentine's Day? he went on to ask. His could be, say, May 5—a day when he might actually get into his favorite restaurant.
I know The Rant. I've done The Rant. I had a fresh rant last year when I was so busy I somehow forgot it was Valentine's Day until I wandered into a Duane Reade to buy detergent and under the unflattering fluorescent lights, I came face to face with one of those white teddy bears holding a red foil heart balloon. I wasn't sure what was worse—the fact that the guy in front of me was buying the Duane Reade bear for his girlfriend, or the fact that nobody was buying one for me. That was the year I announced that I was going to think of Valentine's Day like Kwanzaa—a holiday we should all acknowledge, but one that only some people in this country celebrate.
I'm 35 and still single, I spend my days writing about dating, sometimes writing about writing about dating, and this year I realized I'm tired of The Rant. I don't feel angry at the holiday. Instead, I'm angry at the people who are angry at the holiday.
I remember in my junior high school in Oklahoma, you could have carnations delivered to your valentines—white for friends, pink for people you had a crush on, red for the person you made out with at recess. We didn't overthink the carnation system. Back then we didn't even know carnations were bad flowers.
Now I can't even scrounge up an anti-valentine. A guy I've been corresponding with online (it's not as pathetic as it sounds) won't even pass on information about a few Anti-Valentine's Day parties—the latest trend for single people—because he didn't feel like that would be a good first meeting for us. What's a single heterosexual to do? I finally decided to have a party for my "single but optimistic" friends, not to be confused with an Anti-Valentine's Day party, since as of this posting, I am still pro-valentine. And I invite you to join me—not at my party—but in adopting a more hopeful, inclusive stance. We all have people we love, or at least people we'd like to send a white carnation … why not celebrate them? Do the expected. That can be romantic, too.
Al Capone did Valentine's Day better than this...
From Slate's daily news summary:
The NYT is alone in pointing out a strange scene that took place in the courtroom yesterday when all but one of the jurors wore "red T-shirts with a white valentine heart over their clothes." The paper says the judge became "visibly anxious" as one juror rose to speak and wished a happy Valentine's Day to those in the court. (Slate's John Dickerson says this could be good news for Libby).
WTF?
The NYT is alone in pointing out a strange scene that took place in the courtroom yesterday when all but one of the jurors wore "red T-shirts with a white valentine heart over their clothes." The paper says the judge became "visibly anxious" as one juror rose to speak and wished a happy Valentine's Day to those in the court. (Slate's John Dickerson says this could be good news for Libby).
WTF?
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Say what? Say who?
"In all we do, we must remember that the best health care decisions are made not by government and insurance companies, but by patients and their doctors." - State of the Union 2007
Is this from the same President who feels a woman's right to choose is not her decision, but up to lawmakers?
Is this from the same President who feels a woman's right to choose is not her decision, but up to lawmakers?
Monday, February 12, 2007
Hi, Hell? Is there a snowball down there?
The NYT fronts, and the rest of the papers go inside with, the weekend campaigning by Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, where Iraq was the central issue. Clinton was questioned about her vote to authorize the war, while Obama said his rivals for the White House should put forward specific plans to get U.S. troops out of Iraq. At one point, Obama said that thousands of lives had been "wasted" on the war but later said he regretted using those words. As could be expected, Obama drew large crowds, but the LAT wasn't impressed saying "there was little that was really new or different" about the issues he raised and he offered "little in the way of concrete solutions."
Two people representing two of America's favorite oppressed groups actually think they have a chance. I mean if either one of them makes it past the primaries, slap me.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Full of It
Moxie *hearts* Sam Fulwood.
Inaction is a recipe for a nightmare
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Sam Fulwood III - Plain Dealer Columnist
For two weeks, I've shared in this column a dream to fix Ohio's juvenile justice system.
Actually, it's been my hope to avoid a nightmare.
I worry that at some point the law-abiding and tax-paying public will reach its limit.
These good citizens will become fed up with multiple generations of teens having children they can't afford or care for. Large numbers of voters will become weary of seeing their taxes spent on problems they don't think affect them.
Enough, these good citizens will shout. They will demand public officials do something to quell their fears for once and for all of time.
And I'm frightened by the potential for a politically appealing backlash against troubled youths and their families.
As it stands now, we have no public policy regarding parenting and too few policies to support distressed families.
Laws to control intimacy and family life are contrary to our notions of individual liberty. We assume that consenting adults have a right to reproduce and, as parents, they have the right to raise their children as they see fit. Or not, as it increasingly seems.
Indeed, many parents aren't equipped to raise their children. Some are children themselves. But the law doesn't discriminate in these matters.
If a pattern of family deterioration continues without intervention, it's easy to imagine an angry public's call to action.
What if gangs of young people commit some horrendous mishap or series of incidents - a riot, multiple murders or a string of unsolved rapes? For sure, citizens expect to be safe.
But I fear the easy, quick and popular response could toss aside our notions of family autonomy and privacy.
Should it be public policy that some women (poor, under-educated and unmarried) be required to undergo birth control or sterilization? Should some men be neutered? Who decides?
Some social observers argue for a return of orphanages to hold the babies of irresponsible mothers and reckless fathers. Why not have public or private agencies take and raise the children born to children?
Maybe voters will embrace a plan to establish boundaries or containment areas to restrict where scary youths are permitted to assemble? Already some libraries and shopping malls have such policies. Do we need more?
Or should communities crack down harder with jack-booted policing in ghettos and housing projects, while building more prisons and keeping youth offenders in them longer as adults?
I've heard versions of these solutions from sober and well-meaning people at all levels of our community. Mostly, they parrot a mantra of making parents fix the problem, as if it were just that simple.
To hear them, bad behavior by young people is a major reason (or excuse?) for middle-class flight from Cleveland. But the challenges are everywhere, even in the most affluent suburbs. Nobody can move far enough away to escape completely.
Unless every concerned citizen takes a proactive, non-crisis response to the issues affecting troubled children and their parents, there will be no peace anywhere for any of us.
Our community's inaction and denial frighten me. The future cure could be worse than the current disease.
To reach Sam Fulwood III:
sfulwood@plaind.com, 216-999-5250
Inaction is a recipe for a nightmare
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Sam Fulwood III - Plain Dealer Columnist
For two weeks, I've shared in this column a dream to fix Ohio's juvenile justice system.
Actually, it's been my hope to avoid a nightmare.
I worry that at some point the law-abiding and tax-paying public will reach its limit.
These good citizens will become fed up with multiple generations of teens having children they can't afford or care for. Large numbers of voters will become weary of seeing their taxes spent on problems they don't think affect them.
Enough, these good citizens will shout. They will demand public officials do something to quell their fears for once and for all of time.
And I'm frightened by the potential for a politically appealing backlash against troubled youths and their families.
As it stands now, we have no public policy regarding parenting and too few policies to support distressed families.
Laws to control intimacy and family life are contrary to our notions of individual liberty. We assume that consenting adults have a right to reproduce and, as parents, they have the right to raise their children as they see fit. Or not, as it increasingly seems.
Indeed, many parents aren't equipped to raise their children. Some are children themselves. But the law doesn't discriminate in these matters.
If a pattern of family deterioration continues without intervention, it's easy to imagine an angry public's call to action.
What if gangs of young people commit some horrendous mishap or series of incidents - a riot, multiple murders or a string of unsolved rapes? For sure, citizens expect to be safe.
But I fear the easy, quick and popular response could toss aside our notions of family autonomy and privacy.
Should it be public policy that some women (poor, under-educated and unmarried) be required to undergo birth control or sterilization? Should some men be neutered? Who decides?
Some social observers argue for a return of orphanages to hold the babies of irresponsible mothers and reckless fathers. Why not have public or private agencies take and raise the children born to children?
Maybe voters will embrace a plan to establish boundaries or containment areas to restrict where scary youths are permitted to assemble? Already some libraries and shopping malls have such policies. Do we need more?
Or should communities crack down harder with jack-booted policing in ghettos and housing projects, while building more prisons and keeping youth offenders in them longer as adults?
I've heard versions of these solutions from sober and well-meaning people at all levels of our community. Mostly, they parrot a mantra of making parents fix the problem, as if it were just that simple.
To hear them, bad behavior by young people is a major reason (or excuse?) for middle-class flight from Cleveland. But the challenges are everywhere, even in the most affluent suburbs. Nobody can move far enough away to escape completely.
Unless every concerned citizen takes a proactive, non-crisis response to the issues affecting troubled children and their parents, there will be no peace anywhere for any of us.
Our community's inaction and denial frighten me. The future cure could be worse than the current disease.
To reach Sam Fulwood III:
sfulwood@plaind.com, 216-999-5250
At least she doesn't harass congressional pages
From Slate.com:
Yesterday, the LAT put it on Page One, and today, the NYT, WP, and LAT all have stories on the latest insignificant kerfuffle out of Washington that TP was trying to avoid. Basically, this "non-story" (LAT editorial) is all about how House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gets to fly home to California and whether or not she gets to use a big, fancy military plane that would make sure the flight is nonstop. Republicans are accusing her of everything from being an elitist to not actually caring about global warming. Even the White House spokesman characterized it as "a silly story" but, as the NYT points out, the "attention to the dispute illustrates that politicians are acutely aware that a jet-setting image can be dangerous."
I can totally see them getting mani-pedis together in heaven
[Anna Nicole] Smith always said she wanted to be the next Marilyn Monroe, and "though she never gained the acting
credibility of Monroe, her death …. Poignantly echoes that of her idol," says the LAT.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
One Way Fare
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070208/ap_on_fe_st/honest_cabbie
So the above is a link to an incredible story about a NYC cabbie returning a passenger's lost diamonds. It really renews my faith in the human spirit and reaffirms my belief that we all have the potential to be good people.
HOWEVER, the story also details how the passenger initially left the driver only a .30 tip on a $11 fare. For her gratitude, she rewarded him with a check for a mere $100, which he humbly accepted. $100 for a case full of diamond jewelery. This man saved her ass and she gives him $100. What a fucking bitch. Had the Moxie L been driving the cab, undoubtedly she would have returned the diamonds, but she would have done so throwing the case at the woman's head as she sped by in her cab. Not that I can't use $100, but she could have kept that AND her .30 tip. It's the principal.
I'm glad good people like the cabbie exist, because I certainly aint one of them.
So the above is a link to an incredible story about a NYC cabbie returning a passenger's lost diamonds. It really renews my faith in the human spirit and reaffirms my belief that we all have the potential to be good people.
HOWEVER, the story also details how the passenger initially left the driver only a .30 tip on a $11 fare. For her gratitude, she rewarded him with a check for a mere $100, which he humbly accepted. $100 for a case full of diamond jewelery. This man saved her ass and she gives him $100. What a fucking bitch. Had the Moxie L been driving the cab, undoubtedly she would have returned the diamonds, but she would have done so throwing the case at the woman's head as she sped by in her cab. Not that I can't use $100, but she could have kept that AND her .30 tip. It's the principal.
I'm glad good people like the cabbie exist, because I certainly aint one of them.
www.icouldhavetoldyouthat.com #1
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6340993.stm
I wonder how much money was wasted on Amnesty coming to that conclusion.
I wonder how much money was wasted on Amnesty coming to that conclusion.
My name is Moxie Lady, and I'm a....
So the Moxster was feelin the itch to be social last night after work, but alas none of my compadres were available to revel in happy hour. So what does one with the moniker of "Moxie" do? Drink by herself! Initially, I was going to head over to the Corner Alley on Euclid Ave. I have been wanting to visit that place, but my fear of West 6th chas, blondes, and Young Republicans kept me away. Last night was going to be my night to step outside my comfort zone!
However, upon walking, I stumbled onto Hamilton's Bar at the P-Square. Moxie sometimes means lazy because I went in and plopped down. Now this wasn't my first time there, but it had been so long since my last visit, it was like new again. I was greeted with the stares of four men (one was the bartender) who wondered why someone with a vagina - and ALONE no less - was patronizing the establishment. They were chatting about New Orleans as the best 80s new wave and dance (mixed special by the bartender) piped through the speakers. I read my Scene mag (where was the Free Times?), and even played some "Name This Tune" with another boozer and the bartender. I guessed Talking Heads and was right! I even learned about the philosophical greatness of Fischerspooner. Indeed, you don't have to emerge.
The best part: I enjoyed two world-class martinis for ELEVEN DOLLARS. yes. A Strawberry Blonde (regular price) and some blueberry raspberry concoction that was on special and made with REAL blueberries. I was quite buzzed after just two drinks and bid adieu. I was in a hurry to: 1) eat; 2) watch Medium on NBC; and 3) escape the unfortunate cigarette smoke.
I'm now comitted to drinking at Hamiltons and I'm not afraid of the consqeuences that come with drinking alone.
However, upon walking, I stumbled onto Hamilton's Bar at the P-Square. Moxie sometimes means lazy because I went in and plopped down. Now this wasn't my first time there, but it had been so long since my last visit, it was like new again. I was greeted with the stares of four men (one was the bartender) who wondered why someone with a vagina - and ALONE no less - was patronizing the establishment. They were chatting about New Orleans as the best 80s new wave and dance (mixed special by the bartender) piped through the speakers. I read my Scene mag (where was the Free Times?), and even played some "Name This Tune" with another boozer and the bartender. I guessed Talking Heads and was right! I even learned about the philosophical greatness of Fischerspooner. Indeed, you don't have to emerge.
The best part: I enjoyed two world-class martinis for ELEVEN DOLLARS. yes. A Strawberry Blonde (regular price) and some blueberry raspberry concoction that was on special and made with REAL blueberries. I was quite buzzed after just two drinks and bid adieu. I was in a hurry to: 1) eat; 2) watch Medium on NBC; and 3) escape the unfortunate cigarette smoke.
I'm now comitted to drinking at Hamiltons and I'm not afraid of the consqeuences that come with drinking alone.
Murder on the Dancefloor
From Slate.com's daily news summary:
Why can't we solve things with good old-fashioned dance-offs? You got served, Senator! Second that!
And from the "Whoops, my bad files":
From: U.S. State Department
To: Iraq
Subject: Our bad
I.O.U. less debacles and more well-deserved executions
Democrats and Republicans spent the day blaming each other for failing to proceed with the Iraq debate. "The current stalemate is unacceptable to us and to the people of this country," says the letter signed by Sen. John Warner of Virginia and six others. Although Warner sided with most members of his party in voting to block debate on Monday, he is the author of a resolution that opposes the president's plan. The senators did not specify what they might do in order to ensure the debate takes place, but there are several measures at their disposal to basically slow down Senate business until they get what they want.
Why can't we solve things with good old-fashioned dance-offs? You got served, Senator! Second that!
And from the "Whoops, my bad files":
The WSJ goes inside with word that U.S. officials are trying to prevent the execution of Saddam Hussein's former vice president fearing that it will "damage the credibility" of the Iraqi government. At first, he was sentenced to life in prison, but the appeals court ordered his execution. Several legal experts say the change violated due process. "We've had two botched executions … we would like to prevent additional debacles," said one U.S. official in Washington.
From: U.S. State Department
To: Iraq
Subject: Our bad
I.O.U. less debacles and more well-deserved executions
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
In this case Cosmo isn't a dumb woman's mag or stereotypically gay martini
—Jorge Luis Borges, "Homage to Victoria Ocampo," in Borges en Sur"The great American writer Herman Melville says somewhere in The White Whale that a man ought to be "a patriot to heaven," and I believe it is a good thing, this ambition to be cosmopolitan, this idea to be citizens not of a small parcel of the world that changes according to the currents of politics, according to the wars, to what occurs, but to feel that the whole world is our country."
Funny, how Borges was so cool for school, that he refers to Moby Dick as "The White Whale". Regardless of this, these are some insanely relevant words. He was far ahead of his time, the intellectually popular book, Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers, was just released last year.
While I am apt to subscribe to Don Borges words, I find myself clinging to the "think globally, act locally" idealism. To clarify:
Right Thought: There are so many kids without homes.
Not-so-right action: Travelling across waters and time zones to adopt children just as brown as the ones here.
Right Thought: People all over the world need a democratic voice.
Not-so-right-action: Spending a month with the Zapatista rebels only to return and volunteer for America Votes door-knocking in places like Westlake.
Right Thought: Wal-Mart is Satan's outlet store.
Not-so-right-action: Shopping at Target, while blocking efforts for Wal-Marts to develop in low-income neighborhoods that lack basic shopping provisions. (For the record, Moxie Lady shamefully admits her love/hate affair with Target.)
And in the spirit of "cosmopolitan" here is the Carrie Bradshaw-esque question: In our quest to become worldly cosmopolitans, have we forgotten how to embrace our fellow metropolitans?
Choir of Angels
So the Moxie Lady has not had...how does one say this...the company of a gentleman caller in quite some time. To be exact, one year, one month, and seven days. So she is more than a little excited that a gentleman has taken a promiscuous interest in her. She reflects fondly on her college days spent with fair lads who shared coital pleasures with her so rich, it brought tears to her eyes and she could hear softly...faintly in the distance, a choir of angels singing.
The Moxie Lady has made it quite clear to the new man that while she respects his stature as a human being, she is much more interested in his animalistic abilities. Being a rather large, stocked man of muscular proportions - clearly from a lineage of durable field Negros on Mississippi's finest sugar plantations, the Moxie Lady notes his affiliations with possibly the military, and certainly a historically Black Greek-lettered organization. Being a proud woman of Greek association herself, she can attest to the quality of man that these types of organizations produce. She shudders at the mere thought of his outstanding sportsmanship, where she is sure he excelled in areas such as American football.
While being of the feminist/womanist persuasion, Moxie Lady, is wrought with the contradictions of desiring a man dripping with cultural and social stereotypes for the mere, sinful fulfillment of lost lust. She understands that she will have to reconcile this with God on Sunday. Sunday is not the only time she will be eager to hear a choir of angels.
The Moxie Lady has made it quite clear to the new man that while she respects his stature as a human being, she is much more interested in his animalistic abilities. Being a rather large, stocked man of muscular proportions - clearly from a lineage of durable field Negros on Mississippi's finest sugar plantations, the Moxie Lady notes his affiliations with possibly the military, and certainly a historically Black Greek-lettered organization. Being a proud woman of Greek association herself, she can attest to the quality of man that these types of organizations produce. She shudders at the mere thought of his outstanding sportsmanship, where she is sure he excelled in areas such as American football.
While being of the feminist/womanist persuasion, Moxie Lady, is wrought with the contradictions of desiring a man dripping with cultural and social stereotypes for the mere, sinful fulfillment of lost lust. She understands that she will have to reconcile this with God on Sunday. Sunday is not the only time she will be eager to hear a choir of angels.
Iran is so hot right now
From Slate.com's daily news:
"(regarding Iraq and Washington's desire to fix that whole "reconstruction" problem)...At the end of the article, the Times mentions a recent classified study that found violence in Baghdad falls when quality of life improves. "
Yet, when speaking of Iran..."But there appears to be some hints the current sanctions might be working to weaken Iran, at least economically. USAT says inside that figures have begun to show the "deepening economic isolation" of Iran as it faces increased inflation and unemployment."
OK, so....quality of life for Iraq, we want. Quality of life in Iran...eh, not so much. What kind of schizophrenic diplomacy is this?
"(regarding Iraq and Washington's desire to fix that whole "reconstruction" problem)...At the end of the article, the Times mentions a recent classified study that found violence in Baghdad falls when quality of life improves. "
Yet, when speaking of Iran..."But there appears to be some hints the current sanctions might be working to weaken Iran, at least economically. USAT says inside that figures have begun to show the "deepening economic isolation" of Iran as it faces increased inflation and unemployment."
OK, so....quality of life for Iraq, we want. Quality of life in Iran...eh, not so much. What kind of schizophrenic diplomacy is this?
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Stuff I think about #1
WASHINGTON -
President Bush unveiled a $2.9 trillion budget Monday that rewards the
Pentagon with a record $50 billion budget hike but pinches programs cherished by Democrats, including health research and heating subsidies for the poor.
So I have this picture in my head that involves Bush emailing the proposal with the budget as an attachment in Excel format and when Nancy Pelosi goes to open the document it is 'locked for editing' by user DCheney. Then Barbara Boxer replies all saying she can't access the document and could the President re-send it using plain text only.
President Bush unveiled a $2.9 trillion budget Monday that rewards the
Pentagon with a record $50 billion budget hike but pinches programs cherished by Democrats, including health research and heating subsidies for the poor.
So I have this picture in my head that involves Bush emailing the proposal with the budget as an attachment in Excel format and when Nancy Pelosi goes to open the document it is 'locked for editing' by user DCheney. Then Barbara Boxer replies all saying she can't access the document and could the President re-send it using plain text only.
What Black women just don't do
We'll straighten our hair, get weave, bleach our skin, wear blue contacts, but we don't kidnap the other woman. Hell to the no.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/ap_on_re_us/astronaut_arrested
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/ap_on_re_us/astronaut_arrested
You are what you wear?
So....I should be writing grants, but...
I just came out of yet another glorious staff meeting where the importance of appearance was stressed. again. we have a "blazer day" coming up tomorrow because we have some board members coming in, so we have to put our best foot (in polished stilletto pumps) forward. Then my boss makes this comment:
Boss Lady: Our new board member, Bob Da Man, is coming in on Friday to participate in new member orientation. Now, you don't have to wear a blazer, wear whatever you want, but remember that this-is-the-first-time-you-will-be-meeting-a-board-member-so-you-should-care-what-first-professional-impression-you-make-or-he-could-hate-you-for-life, but wear WHATEVER you want. OK, you can't wear jeans. *smile*
Staff: *blink*
Then I mention that I will be out of town for the organization's new associate training. (what kind of nonprofit is this? you ask) and some staff members note how excited I should be for the workshop on personal appearance. I ask why as I scratch my tattooed wrist. And they go off on this Anglo-saxon privileged tangent about how this guru tells you how colors work on you and how what you wear affects how people perceive you. I laugh my, "you white women is straight trippin'" laugh and strongly declare that I deal with my personal appearance in my own way and quite frankly could care less if someone takes my mid-brand khakis as some indication of a poor work ethic.
It amazes me, simply AMAZES me, that women (and men) today are stupid enough to believe that your Bergdorf skirt and Jimmy Choos will change the entire way people perceive you. Even if I wore that, some people would still walk away saying, "Now she is one of the most articulate people I have met lately." OR You could have been featured on the covers of Men's Vogue and inside the pages of Vanity Fair and have this said about you by a fellow politician: "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy." Then you would be Barack Obama, but hey, at least he looks good, no? He would be welcome to the office on any of our "blazer days".
I just came out of yet another glorious staff meeting where the importance of appearance was stressed. again. we have a "blazer day" coming up tomorrow because we have some board members coming in, so we have to put our best foot (in polished stilletto pumps) forward. Then my boss makes this comment:
Boss Lady: Our new board member, Bob Da Man, is coming in on Friday to participate in new member orientation. Now, you don't have to wear a blazer, wear whatever you want, but remember that this-is-the-first-time-you-will-be-meeting-a-board-member-so-you-should-care-what-first-professional-impression-you-make-or-he-could-hate-you-for-life, but wear WHATEVER you want. OK, you can't wear jeans. *smile*
Staff: *blink*
Then I mention that I will be out of town for the organization's new associate training. (what kind of nonprofit is this? you ask) and some staff members note how excited I should be for the workshop on personal appearance. I ask why as I scratch my tattooed wrist. And they go off on this Anglo-saxon privileged tangent about how this guru tells you how colors work on you and how what you wear affects how people perceive you. I laugh my, "you white women is straight trippin'" laugh and strongly declare that I deal with my personal appearance in my own way and quite frankly could care less if someone takes my mid-brand khakis as some indication of a poor work ethic.
It amazes me, simply AMAZES me, that women (and men) today are stupid enough to believe that your Bergdorf skirt and Jimmy Choos will change the entire way people perceive you. Even if I wore that, some people would still walk away saying, "Now she is one of the most articulate people I have met lately." OR You could have been featured on the covers of Men's Vogue and inside the pages of Vanity Fair and have this said about you by a fellow politician: "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy." Then you would be Barack Obama, but hey, at least he looks good, no? He would be welcome to the office on any of our "blazer days".
I WAS one of the last people on my block to get a DVD player
So...*breathe*. So here I am. I'm doing it! I. have. a. blog. I keep tapping the computer screen and pinching myself. For the record: I still HATE MySpace, but this blog thing has got to be cheaper than therapy. I'm not crazy - I just need to vent..and share my opinions. I just want to say things, I don't necessarily need to be heard.*
So, instead of sending people fiddy (read: fifty) emails a day (i might still), I can put a ton of thoughts into ONE space. How cool is that? Novel, I know.
Now, I won't make any promises to get all fancy and high-brow with the functions and settings, but I will play around with different fonts and make appropriate use of bold and italics.
*If a blogger makes a blog in cyberspace and there is no one to read it, does it make a point?
So, instead of sending people fiddy (read: fifty) emails a day (i might still), I can put a ton of thoughts into ONE space. How cool is that? Novel, I know.
Now, I won't make any promises to get all fancy and high-brow with the functions and settings, but I will play around with different fonts and make appropriate use of bold and italics.
*If a blogger makes a blog in cyberspace and there is no one to read it, does it make a point?
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