12.22.2006
Religious discrimination?
Were Women Fired for Praying at Work?
By Cheryl Thomas
CBN News
December 20, 2006
CBN News.com - DALLAS - Two former University of Texas-Arlington employees say they were fired after praying over another staff member's cubicle and anointing it with olive oil.
The two women, Evelyne Shatkin, an administrative assistant, and Linda Shifflett, a development funds assistant, had joined in quiet prayer with a male coworker after employees had left for the weekend.
The male coworker was having problems with another employee and had agreed to prayer.
Later, both women received a termination notice from the university. The male coworker remained employed.
Shatkin says the dismissal caught both she and Shifflett by surprise.
They then filed a federal lawsuit citing religious discrimination. And since both women are over 40 years of age and the male coworker under 40, they included age and gender discrimination in the lawsuit.
In subsequent hearings by the Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Shatkin said she and Shifflett were both accused and rebuked, but never given a chance to present their side of the story.
More here.
Can I take this moment to puke my brains out? Okay, cool. Now that I'm done with the excessive vomiting, what would on earth would possess someone to even THINK about "blessing" a co-worker's cubicle?
The mind boggles.
Link snagged from Pandagon.
<3<3<3<3<3 yay i less than three kucinich!
He not only believes in sustainability, he practices it. Congressman Kucinich is one of the few vegans in Congress, a dietary decision he credits not only with improving his health, but in deepening his belief in the sacredness of all species. In the 106th Congress, his call for labeling and safety testing of all genetically engineered foods provoked a $50 million advertising campaign by the biotech industry. Kucinich hosted an international parliamentary session, attended by officials of 18 countries, on the social, economic, political and health impact of genetic food technologies. More recently he was one of the principal speakers at an international conference on water rights, where he called for governments to reserve public ownership of water resources.
Fabulous. Of course, he won't have a chance in hell of winning the primaries over Clinton or Obama (both of whom I think are crappy choices) because the Democrats think losing is hot and they enjoy taking the wimpy stance on friggin every damn thing. I had a conversation with a friend (a PoliSci major & hardcore Dem) who even admitted that the midterms were NOT a victory for the Dems, they were a loss for the Repubs. Keep that in mind, folks. Did we not learn from Kerry? People didn't want to vote for Kerry because he was a freakin' putz who did not clearly and concretely come out against the war. His whole platform might as well have been "No really, I'm better than Bush!"
Anyway, Care2.com and newsnet5.com are both running informal polls for progressive candidates. Go support Kucinich on them!
http://www.care2.com/news/member/249683893/246965 (req's signing up with the site)
http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/10511595/detail.html
11.08.2006
:D
Due to Senator Doofus's pummelling of Ricky, I was able to vote with my conscience and can avoid douchebags whining about how I am a Green SPOOOOIIIIIILLLLLLERRRRRRRRR who hates democracy.
The polls closed at 8 pm. I think that Rendell's win was called at, like, 8:06. *teehee* Sestak's win was called right around 11 pm, so I'm in a wonderful mood.
The Democrats have taken back the House and will likely take back Senate. I'm not that happy - because it's Democrat controlled - but if I've got to choose between the two, I guess I'd rather have Dem control over Republican control. (Though I'd so much rather deal with a moderate Republican than a moderate Democrat for a million reasons that I'm way too exhausted to write about right this second.)
Oh, and in other election news.. It appears that the South Dakota abortion ban was defeated. I bet that makes Senator Bobby Doofus cry big, fat crocadile tears for all the poor baby fetuses.
Feeling a little snarky and sleepy. Time to get some rest.
The polls closed at 8 pm. I think that Rendell's win was called at, like, 8:06. *teehee* Sestak's win was called right around 11 pm, so I'm in a wonderful mood.
The Democrats have taken back the House and will likely take back Senate. I'm not that happy - because it's Democrat controlled - but if I've got to choose between the two, I guess I'd rather have Dem control over Republican control. (Though I'd so much rather deal with a moderate Republican than a moderate Democrat for a million reasons that I'm way too exhausted to write about right this second.)
Oh, and in other election news.. It appears that the South Dakota abortion ban was defeated. I bet that makes Senator Bobby Doofus cry big, fat crocadile tears for all the poor baby fetuses.
Feeling a little snarky and sleepy. Time to get some rest.
11.07.2006
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
"Politics is the Art of Controlling Your Environment"
That is one of the key things I learned in these years, and I learned it the hard way. Anybody who thinks that "it doesn't matter who's President" has never been Drafted and sent off to fight and die in a vicious, stupid War on the other side of the World -- or been beaten and gassed by Police for trespassing on public property -- or been hounded by the IRS for purely political reasons -- or locked up in the Cook County Jail with a broken nose and no phone access and twelve perverts wanting to stomp your ass in the shower. That is when it matters who is President or Governor or Police Chief.
That is when you will wish you had voted.
--Hunter S. Thompson
In honor of Election Day (US), I'm going to do a very small political link dump:
Anti-Santorum posters (downloadable pdfs)
Crooks and Liars
Poll closing times
Electoral Vote
2006 Key Political Races (MSNBC)
Campus Progress
Vote Smart
Green Party
Socialist Party USA
Legalize Marijuana Party/"NJ Weedman" (NJ candidate for US Senate)
The National Voter Protection Hotline (NOTE - THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO democrats.org. I intentionally left the Democrats & the GOP off of the above links because they're overexposed as it is.)
Please don't forget to get out there and vote!
11.02.2006
"No" apparently doesn't mean "no."
Another disheartening article:
Court: Woman Can't Say No After Start Of Sex
Awesome. So if I get drunk beyond belief, say "yes" and pass out, apparently raping my unconscious body is totally groovy in Maryland. If I go out on a date, say yes and my otherwise charmer suitor turns into a raging asshole - I'm not implying these two things are connected in any way - I'm shit outta luck. If some other circumstance happens and the "yes" turns into a "no," I'm beat. If, say, I'm with an otherwise charming suitor who does something triggering or insists on doing something I'm not comfortable with, thereby changing my previous "yes" to a "no," I shoulda considered every weird circumstance beforehand.
Geeze. Why don't we silly women learn? Afterall, it's our faults if our skirt is too short, if we're wearing too much makeup, if we've been drinking, if our hair is too short, if we're wearing jeans, if we look too masculine, if we haven't experienced heterosexual sex, if we're prudes, if we're easy, if we're married, if we're in a relationship, if we're in a "bad part of town," if we're out by ourselves, if we're out late a night, if we go to a bar alone, if we go on a blind date alone, if we don't have a gun cocked at every man we encounter, regardless of our relationship to him and so on and so on and so on. Why shouldn't we prepare for every strange situation possible? If we want to keep ourselves out of these situations, apparently we need to keep ourselves locked at home, away from everyone in the world.
Oh, but then I'm sure we should have anticipated burglarizing rapists.
I have to wonder how much of this "protecting men from false rape charges" decision is meant to actually keep women from ever consenting to sex. How much of it is simply a fear of the dreaded female sexuality and how much of it is actually about men losing control over women?
Court: Woman Can't Say No After Start Of Sex
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- An appellate court said Maryland's rape law is clear -- no doesn't mean no when it follows a yes and intercourse has begun.
Awesome. So if I get drunk beyond belief, say "yes" and pass out, apparently raping my unconscious body is totally groovy in Maryland. If I go out on a date, say yes and my otherwise charmer suitor turns into a raging asshole - I'm not implying these two things are connected in any way - I'm shit outta luck. If some other circumstance happens and the "yes" turns into a "no," I'm beat. If, say, I'm with an otherwise charming suitor who does something triggering or insists on doing something I'm not comfortable with, thereby changing my previous "yes" to a "no," I shoulda considered every weird circumstance beforehand.
Geeze. Why don't we silly women learn? Afterall, it's our faults if our skirt is too short, if we're wearing too much makeup, if we've been drinking, if our hair is too short, if we're wearing jeans, if we look too masculine, if we haven't experienced heterosexual sex, if we're prudes, if we're easy, if we're married, if we're in a relationship, if we're in a "bad part of town," if we're out by ourselves, if we're out late a night, if we go to a bar alone, if we go on a blind date alone, if we don't have a gun cocked at every man we encounter, regardless of our relationship to him and so on and so on and so on. Why shouldn't we prepare for every strange situation possible? If we want to keep ourselves out of these situations, apparently we need to keep ourselves locked at home, away from everyone in the world.
Oh, but then I'm sure we should have anticipated burglarizing rapists.
I have to wonder how much of this "protecting men from false rape charges" decision is meant to actually keep women from ever consenting to sex. How much of it is simply a fear of the dreaded female sexuality and how much of it is actually about men losing control over women?
11.01.2006
No.. This isn't inherently fucked or anything
Inmates help bring tourism to Wilson.
Well, gee golly! $1 an hour! These are jobs that would have typically paid AT LEAST $7/hour pre-extreme outsourcing. I've worked in call centers before. $7 an hour was the worst rate I've ever been paid. It is stressful, aggravating work that - believe it or not - requires a degree of skill. I'm not going to trying to argue that call center reps require a college degree, but Christ...this isn't exactly envelope stuffing. You work answering phones for a few hours and tell me you'd happily work for a buck an hour.
Oh, but I forgot, they're all a bunch of "animals" and "monsters" who get what they deserve, right?
Oh yes. What monsters. *rolls eyes*
At least I'll have something to look forward to if I ever am in an abusive situation again. I, too, can make a whopping $1 an hour!
I can't even write about this anymore.
(Article link courtesy of a Livejournal friend.)
It is the highest-paid job at the prison, starting at $1 a day, said Olivia Jordan, supervisor of the call center. Inmates must take a tourism class taught at the prison through Wake Technical Community College before they can apply.
Well, gee golly! $1 an hour! These are jobs that would have typically paid AT LEAST $7/hour pre-extreme outsourcing. I've worked in call centers before. $7 an hour was the worst rate I've ever been paid. It is stressful, aggravating work that - believe it or not - requires a degree of skill. I'm not going to trying to argue that call center reps require a college degree, but Christ...this isn't exactly envelope stuffing. You work answering phones for a few hours and tell me you'd happily work for a buck an hour.
Oh, but I forgot, they're all a bunch of "animals" and "monsters" who get what they deserve, right?
About 80 percent of the women in the call center are there for either first-degree or second- degree murder, usually of an abusive husband or boyfriend, she said.
Out of the prison's approximate 1,300 population, "all of it boils down to a man — about 90 percent of them."
Oh yes. What monsters. *rolls eyes*
At least I'll have something to look forward to if I ever am in an abusive situation again. I, too, can make a whopping $1 an hour!
I can't even write about this anymore.
(Article link courtesy of a Livejournal friend.)
10.31.2006
OH NOES TEH ATHEISTS ARE TAKING OVER!!!
Oh Texas.
Oh. The. Horrors.
It doesn't look like Ben Franks is taking donations, but man oh man, if I find a place, I'm so tossing him $20. It might not be much, but it's the damn principle of the matter.
On the subject of atheists in office, this article (by Edward Tabash) is an interesting read, but I think some parts of it are a little simplistic. I'm a little conflicted because in some respects, he seems to pit atheists against women and people of color. I don't think that's necessarily his intention, and I certainly understand the reasons for his frustration, but I don't think he articulated himself in a manner that will gain sympathy. (For example, comparing oppressions. I understand why it's done. He's reframing the arguments. Aside from small pockets of the population, most people will not actively admit to be sexist or racist; he's trying to frame atheism in the same manner. But, it still has the potential to people off, which is the last thing we - us dirty filthy atheists - need. There is a reason fundamentalist Christians do so well with getting out their message. They know how to subtly work the people.) But at the same time, I'm all "WOO HOO NON-BELIEVERS."
A very specific passage that bugs me is this:
I agree that everyone needs to compromise on one or two issues during election season because it is so rare that we will find one candidate who truly represents every view we hold. However, the tone implies that I should - for example - vote for a candidate who is an atheist, yet promotes racist or sexist ideologies. I'm not going to turn my back on feminism or the anti-racism movement just so I can say "YAY ATHEISM!!!" Maybe it's just me or I'm being a little overly sensitive, but I doubt that I am. I'd bet that most people want legislators who represent them as much as possible and don't want to concede on very strong ideologies. (And in my case, are ones that humorously do not conflict at all, yet the way certain people would have you believe, I'm the one whose nuts.)
I think I might try to keep up on ye ol' public blog, especially through the midterms this year. (What a difficult goal. I'll have to keep posting for a whole week!)
Candidate for the Sixth Court of Appeals, Ben Franks, is reported to be a professed atheist and apparently believes the Bible is a “collection of myths.”
During debate over a plank in the State Democrat Platform, members of the Platform Committee debated dropping “God” from a sentence on the first page of the document. The plank stated: “we want a Texas where all people can fulfill their dreams and achieve their God-given potential.”
According to an article published in the El Paso Times, Ben Franks states: “I’m an atheist…”
Oh. The. Horrors.
It doesn't look like Ben Franks is taking donations, but man oh man, if I find a place, I'm so tossing him $20. It might not be much, but it's the damn principle of the matter.
On the subject of atheists in office, this article (by Edward Tabash) is an interesting read, but I think some parts of it are a little simplistic. I'm a little conflicted because in some respects, he seems to pit atheists against women and people of color. I don't think that's necessarily his intention, and I certainly understand the reasons for his frustration, but I don't think he articulated himself in a manner that will gain sympathy. (For example, comparing oppressions. I understand why it's done. He's reframing the arguments. Aside from small pockets of the population, most people will not actively admit to be sexist or racist; he's trying to frame atheism in the same manner. But, it still has the potential to people off, which is the last thing we - us dirty filthy atheists - need. There is a reason fundamentalist Christians do so well with getting out their message. They know how to subtly work the people.) But at the same time, I'm all "WOO HOO NON-BELIEVERS."
A very specific passage that bugs me is this:
Each of us must decide on what issues we can compromise our otherwise existing requirements of a political candidate, if that candidate is an Atheist or is uncommonly Atheist-friendly, like Governor Ventura. I cannot tell any of you what issues, that are otherwise important to you, should now take a back seat, if a viable Atheist or Atheist-friendly candidate is running, who may not agree with you on such issues. I do hope, however, that we will all at least think about the issues on which we can let an Atheist or Atheist-friendly candidate slide, if that candidate has a real chance of winning a given election. Each of us will have a different threshold, where compromise will be permitted, in order to support one of our own, or a candidate supportive of our interests as non believers.
For me, I can say that I will go very far in supporting a candidate that I may not agree with on a variety of issues, in a contested election, if that candidate is the most fervent supporter of the separation of church and state.
I agree that everyone needs to compromise on one or two issues during election season because it is so rare that we will find one candidate who truly represents every view we hold. However, the tone implies that I should - for example - vote for a candidate who is an atheist, yet promotes racist or sexist ideologies. I'm not going to turn my back on feminism or the anti-racism movement just so I can say "YAY ATHEISM!!!" Maybe it's just me or I'm being a little overly sensitive, but I doubt that I am. I'd bet that most people want legislators who represent them as much as possible and don't want to concede on very strong ideologies. (And in my case, are ones that humorously do not conflict at all, yet the way certain people would have you believe, I'm the one whose nuts.)
I think I might try to keep up on ye ol' public blog, especially through the midterms this year. (What a difficult goal. I'll have to keep posting for a whole week!)
10.26.2006
Testing
Testing testing one two three.
I just set up a feed for Livejournal. I'm hoping this will work okie dokie.
I'm a little concerned, though. The feed name is "da_public_blog." As in "DA Public Blog." As in, short for "drunkenatheist public blog." Not as in "da" public blog. I'm not straight outta the late 80s/early 90s and I have no need to act like some dumb white kid who thinks it's really cool to continually screech "I'M RICK JAMES, BITCH!"
I bet people won't get it. That makes me so frowny faced. :(
I just set up a feed for Livejournal. I'm hoping this will work okie dokie.
I'm a little concerned, though. The feed name is "da_public_blog." As in "DA Public Blog." As in, short for "drunkenatheist public blog." Not as in "da" public blog. I'm not straight outta the late 80s/early 90s and I have no need to act like some dumb white kid who thinks it's really cool to continually screech "I'M RICK JAMES, BITCH!"
I bet people won't get it. That makes me so frowny faced. :(
Yeah.
I have so much shit going on right now.
I'm trying to organize a donation drive with The Feminist Forum for Common Ground Collective. So far, I've gotten some responses on it. I'm hoping we can send down a nice-sized donation because I really want the community to get more involved with activism, even if is pretty much slacktivism.
Speaking of slacking, good god, I haven't done jack shit in the past few months. Grades are slipping (for my standards), friends are getting ignored, posts that need to be made aren't getting posted and I haven't gone out gone out in forever. However, Best Friend and I brainstormed on what kind of smear campaigns would be run against us if we ever went into politics. We came up with some winners involving throwing bottles of Bombay against the wall.
The dog and cat tried to play with one another this evening. It was a milestone in Beagle-Orange tabby relations. Poor beagle got thwapped on the head by the cat shortly after he started sticking his butt in the air and baying at the kitty. Boyfriend and I almost choked when this happened.
I have so many things I want to write about, but everytime I sit down to write, I'm overwhelmed with the feeling that what I have to say will suck. Which is funny, because the last time I posted something I was shaky about on the LJ, I received a bunch of really positive comments, included one that reaffirmed that I was making a whole shitload of sense. Tonight, I sat down and started writing about power dynamics in platonic relationships, felt that it turned into a ton of gibberish, so I posted it private and posted a video clip of the Temple preachers instead. I think I understand the reasons why; from what I can tell, they are directly related to the topic of my post o' gibberish. Because of the power dynamics and the way women are not only crushed in terms of education in co-ed settings, but also socialized to interact with others, I'm constantly feeling stifled like I might make the men uncomfortable. Which is totally silly because what I have to say is just as valid as the dominant views. (In my most humble opinion, it's actually more valid.)
It's funny to me that I'm posting this here, where anyone can stumble upon it and immediately know it is me. Practically every website I join has the login of "drunkenatheist" or some variation thereof. Yet, I feel too awkward posting this on a limited view in my Livejournal. I guess it's because I'm pretty certain that not a lot of people have the inclination to read this blog, yet Livejournal kind of forces you into reading your friends list. (Unless, of course, you read only certain filters on a regular basis.)
I want to keep on this blog, but I keep thinking "what direction do I want it to go in." I don't want family stumbling upon anything super personal, but I don't know if I really want to - or can - make this a totally impersonal sounding board type of thing. Oh, what a conundrum I'm having!
I'm trying to organize a donation drive with The Feminist Forum for Common Ground Collective. So far, I've gotten some responses on it. I'm hoping we can send down a nice-sized donation because I really want the community to get more involved with activism, even if is pretty much slacktivism.
Speaking of slacking, good god, I haven't done jack shit in the past few months. Grades are slipping (for my standards), friends are getting ignored, posts that need to be made aren't getting posted and I haven't gone out gone out in forever. However, Best Friend and I brainstormed on what kind of smear campaigns would be run against us if we ever went into politics. We came up with some winners involving throwing bottles of Bombay against the wall.
The dog and cat tried to play with one another this evening. It was a milestone in Beagle-Orange tabby relations. Poor beagle got thwapped on the head by the cat shortly after he started sticking his butt in the air and baying at the kitty. Boyfriend and I almost choked when this happened.
I have so many things I want to write about, but everytime I sit down to write, I'm overwhelmed with the feeling that what I have to say will suck. Which is funny, because the last time I posted something I was shaky about on the LJ, I received a bunch of really positive comments, included one that reaffirmed that I was making a whole shitload of sense. Tonight, I sat down and started writing about power dynamics in platonic relationships, felt that it turned into a ton of gibberish, so I posted it private and posted a video clip of the Temple preachers instead. I think I understand the reasons why; from what I can tell, they are directly related to the topic of my post o' gibberish. Because of the power dynamics and the way women are not only crushed in terms of education in co-ed settings, but also socialized to interact with others, I'm constantly feeling stifled like I might make the men uncomfortable. Which is totally silly because what I have to say is just as valid as the dominant views. (In my most humble opinion, it's actually more valid.)
It's funny to me that I'm posting this here, where anyone can stumble upon it and immediately know it is me. Practically every website I join has the login of "drunkenatheist" or some variation thereof. Yet, I feel too awkward posting this on a limited view in my Livejournal. I guess it's because I'm pretty certain that not a lot of people have the inclination to read this blog, yet Livejournal kind of forces you into reading your friends list. (Unless, of course, you read only certain filters on a regular basis.)
I want to keep on this blog, but I keep thinking "what direction do I want it to go in." I don't want family stumbling upon anything super personal, but I don't know if I really want to - or can - make this a totally impersonal sounding board type of thing. Oh, what a conundrum I'm having!
3.29.2006
PRAISE THE LAWD
We are going to try to sell the house within the next year.
We're looking at renting until I am done with school. I'm trying to talk Other Half into the Ivory Towers of Fantabulous Center City, specifically Washington Square West. He's been pretty receptive to the idea thus far. All we have to do is put a little bit of money into some relatively minor repairs and then we can list this hellhole.
PRAISE THE DEITIES I DO NOT BELIEVE IN!
We're looking at renting until I am done with school. I'm trying to talk Other Half into the Ivory Towers of Fantabulous Center City, specifically Washington Square West. He's been pretty receptive to the idea thus far. All we have to do is put a little bit of money into some relatively minor repairs and then we can list this hellhole.
PRAISE THE DEITIES I DO NOT BELIEVE IN!
1.23.2006
Not so much, Dubya.
So I didn't do Blog for Choice, mainly because I didn't think I'd remember or get a chance to do it. I know myself so well! Since I neglected to do it, I'll leave you with these wise words from the good King George:
I present to you Hurlfest 2006.
I present to you Hurlfest 2006.
1.13.2006
Vincent
We found an absolutely adorable orange and white male kitty around 5:30 am on New Year's Eve. After about a week and a half, no one claimed him and he was getting along great with Oswald and Ichabod, so we considered him ours. We named him Vincent and set up to have him declawed yesterday. (This was primarily for our older pets' safety; Oswald liked poking him with his nose and Ichabod would chase him around late at night.)
Everything went fine with the declawing itself, but he unfortunately had an allergic reaction while he recovered in the vet's. He died last night less than an hour out of surgery. Boyfriend (who spoke to our vet's office both times) said his doctor was really broken up when she called back to give him the news. We're going to have him cremated.
I feel a little guilty about it because I'm really opposed to declawing cats. (I wouldn't have gone along with it if I thought Oz and Ick could have been trusted to not get him riled up.)
This sucks.
Everything went fine with the declawing itself, but he unfortunately had an allergic reaction while he recovered in the vet's. He died last night less than an hour out of surgery. Boyfriend (who spoke to our vet's office both times) said his doctor was really broken up when she called back to give him the news. We're going to have him cremated.
I feel a little guilty about it because I'm really opposed to declawing cats. (I wouldn't have gone along with it if I thought Oz and Ick could have been trusted to not get him riled up.)
This sucks.
11.14.2005
Hihi stress.
In just over a month from now, I will be done this semester. I'm a bit nervous. I have a presentation, two large (12-15 page) papers, three finals and about six essays to turn in before then.
I really hope I don't bomb my classes (and I'm hoping against hope that my History professor will not hold my excessive recitation period absences against me). Ok, so even though I am afraid about absences for that class, I'm being a smidge melodramatic. All day Tuesday and all day Thursday is fucking murder, especially when I am supposed to be in class by 8:40 on Friday mornings. This was not my most well-thought out plan. If the absolutely worst case scenario happens and I fail the class, I can always just retake it with one of my professors for this semester. Even with one failure, I should certainly have high enough grades in the rest of my classes to keep me at above a C.
/end panicky melodrama
Although next semester will be a heavier load, the schedule will be so much easier. I'm excited about it. I'll have three wmst/history courses, a wmst/philosophy course, one (easy) math course and a wmst/American culture course. I'm taking one of my professors again, so I'm pretty excited about that. I just need to get a little more excited about working my ass off for the remainder of this semester. Ugh.
I really hope I don't bomb my classes (and I'm hoping against hope that my History professor will not hold my excessive recitation period absences against me). Ok, so even though I am afraid about absences for that class, I'm being a smidge melodramatic. All day Tuesday and all day Thursday is fucking murder, especially when I am supposed to be in class by 8:40 on Friday mornings. This was not my most well-thought out plan. If the absolutely worst case scenario happens and I fail the class, I can always just retake it with one of my professors for this semester. Even with one failure, I should certainly have high enough grades in the rest of my classes to keep me at above a C.
/end panicky melodrama
Although next semester will be a heavier load, the schedule will be so much easier. I'm excited about it. I'll have three wmst/history courses, a wmst/philosophy course, one (easy) math course and a wmst/American culture course. I'm taking one of my professors again, so I'm pretty excited about that. I just need to get a little more excited about working my ass off for the remainder of this semester. Ugh.
10.23.2005
Personal/political, blah blah
I'm really fucking annoyed with people who spread -ist nonsense all over the place. I realize that I don't come off anyone near as hardcore in person as I really am, but HELLO...WOMEN'S STUDIES MAJOR. HELLO?!?!?!? I know, I know, I'm acting like a whiny fuck. (Or, if you feel like being omg ironic, substitute "stupid bitch" or "humorless feminazi" for "whiny fuck.") But it really bugs the shit out of me.
I've been thinking a lot about doing my part to change things or certain habits that I am morally opposed to (even though I still take part in them). It pisses me off that others who are in comparable positions to myself just don't give a flying fuck. Who knows- maybe I'm becoming more of a hippie in my old age. I don't know what the point of this mess is; I can't really go into it without naming names or pointing fingers and goodness knows that will just start a big ol' queenfest on my fucking blog.
Anyway.
I was in the ER twice this week. Once on Tuesday for sharp stomach pains and once on Friday for bronchitis. I'm feeling so-so today and hoping that this will improve a bit by tomorrow (day three of Zithromax, the wonder-antibiotic). This means I am going to have to quit smoking again very soon and I will probably need to cut way back on going to the bar. (Another rant for another time. No, it's nothing really personal against anyone who may stumble across this blog- have you noticed that people only put that disclaimer up when it really IS something personal against someone who could stumble across their blog?)
I definitely need to cut way back on the bar because:
Ok, so 5 isn't a reason reason, but I'm using it to illustrate the fact that the crowd has definitely shifted a lot since the first time I went there. Also, it was really icky. *shudders*
I feel like crap. I had a point earlier with the personal is the political stuff, but the more I blabbered, the more I realized I couldn't really articulate it and I got annoyed.
I've been thinking a lot about doing my part to change things or certain habits that I am morally opposed to (even though I still take part in them). It pisses me off that others who are in comparable positions to myself just don't give a flying fuck. Who knows- maybe I'm becoming more of a hippie in my old age. I don't know what the point of this mess is; I can't really go into it without naming names or pointing fingers and goodness knows that will just start a big ol' queenfest on my fucking blog.
Anyway.
I was in the ER twice this week. Once on Tuesday for sharp stomach pains and once on Friday for bronchitis. I'm feeling so-so today and hoping that this will improve a bit by tomorrow (day three of Zithromax, the wonder-antibiotic). This means I am going to have to quit smoking again very soon and I will probably need to cut way back on going to the bar. (Another rant for another time. No, it's nothing really personal against anyone who may stumble across this blog- have you noticed that people only put that disclaimer up when it really IS something personal against someone who could stumble across their blog?)
I definitely need to cut way back on the bar because:
1- I can't afford it every weekend.
2- Smoky atmosphere while trying to quit smoking and because of chronic bronchitis: not a good idea.
3- I really don't want to fuck up my health or risk putting on an excessive amount of weight in a short period of time. I know I'd be in better shape/health if I cut out more career drinking nights.
4- I need to better prioritize my goals and work on my schoolwork a lot more than I have been. It took me years to get myself out of community college misery and I do NOT want to fuck myself up now.
5- Last time I was there, I think I was getting hit on. By a GUY. (No thanks, that's why I prefer the gay bars.)
Ok, so 5 isn't a reason reason, but I'm using it to illustrate the fact that the crowd has definitely shifted a lot since the first time I went there. Also, it was really icky. *shudders*
I feel like crap. I had a point earlier with the personal is the political stuff, but the more I blabbered, the more I realized I couldn't really articulate it and I got annoyed.
10.02.2005
Grudges
When I was younger, I would hang onto crazy obssessive grudges. Like, I'd damn an enemy's entire family tree, laugh with glee at the thought of awful things happening to them, waste entire evenings prank calling them - you get the drift.
I don't do this anymore. I was thinking about it earlier and trying to piece together if it's because I'm happier now or if I realized that being happy about their misfortune doesn't change who they are. While I know these things come to play, I think it was some weird way of self-preservation. If I did or thought all kinds of awful things to or about someone and they still wanted to patch things up later, then it proved that they weren't a sorry sack of crap. Also, let's be realistic: trumping someone up into a horrible monster who is damned no matter what the hell they do is a nice way of keeping yourself from talking to them again.
Fucked up, isn't it?
Yeah, so I don't do this crap anymore. (Although I admit to getting my jollies when EvilExFromHell was fired from his job and forced to move back home with Mommy and Daddy.) If I don't like someone, the only time really effects anything is if I'm forced to be around them. It really bothers me when others trap me into hanging out with someone who makes me want to gargle glass shards. (But that's due more to a line of respect between me and my friend[s] than an ability to act like an adult.) Otherwise, I'm fine with ignoring someone. I'll keep a running commentary, but snippy words are just snippy words and I'd like to think that I know when it's inappropriate to run my mouth off at someone else.
Where the hell did this come from? I read a post from a friend. No, seriously. It wasn't a particularly deep or meaningful post. On the contrary, I almost choked to death from laughing so hard. Other people's perceptions made me think of the whole "grudge" thing.
No, really, this poorly written, grammatically incorrect rambling mess has a point.
I promise.
Anyway. The gears started turning in my head. I started to think about how some people are more than willing to joke about giving enemies a second chance. As one who believes that there is a smidge of truth in every joke, this bugs me. I mean, sheesh, there are legitemate reasons that I don't want to be around someone! Even though I don't hold onto many grudges anymore, I know that there's nothing wrong with not hanging out with someone I can't stand and not every falling out needs to turn into a "cooling off" period.
I know that my insecurities were what drove me to hold grudges. I know that they drove me to drop those grudges with little to no thought because I missed the good things about hanging out with someone. I don't need more people around to enjoy myself, which is what a lot of this boils down to.
I think this post mutated into something totally out there. I'll probably read it tomorrow and scratch my head while wondering why I think I'm so much deeper than I am.
I don't do this anymore. I was thinking about it earlier and trying to piece together if it's because I'm happier now or if I realized that being happy about their misfortune doesn't change who they are. While I know these things come to play, I think it was some weird way of self-preservation. If I did or thought all kinds of awful things to or about someone and they still wanted to patch things up later, then it proved that they weren't a sorry sack of crap. Also, let's be realistic: trumping someone up into a horrible monster who is damned no matter what the hell they do is a nice way of keeping yourself from talking to them again.
Fucked up, isn't it?
Yeah, so I don't do this crap anymore. (Although I admit to getting my jollies when EvilExFromHell was fired from his job and forced to move back home with Mommy and Daddy.) If I don't like someone, the only time really effects anything is if I'm forced to be around them. It really bothers me when others trap me into hanging out with someone who makes me want to gargle glass shards. (But that's due more to a line of respect between me and my friend[s] than an ability to act like an adult.) Otherwise, I'm fine with ignoring someone. I'll keep a running commentary, but snippy words are just snippy words and I'd like to think that I know when it's inappropriate to run my mouth off at someone else.
Where the hell did this come from? I read a post from a friend. No, seriously. It wasn't a particularly deep or meaningful post. On the contrary, I almost choked to death from laughing so hard. Other people's perceptions made me think of the whole "grudge" thing.
No, really, this poorly written, grammatically incorrect rambling mess has a point.
I promise.
Anyway. The gears started turning in my head. I started to think about how some people are more than willing to joke about giving enemies a second chance. As one who believes that there is a smidge of truth in every joke, this bugs me. I mean, sheesh, there are legitemate reasons that I don't want to be around someone! Even though I don't hold onto many grudges anymore, I know that there's nothing wrong with not hanging out with someone I can't stand and not every falling out needs to turn into a "cooling off" period.
I know that my insecurities were what drove me to hold grudges. I know that they drove me to drop those grudges with little to no thought because I missed the good things about hanging out with someone. I don't need more people around to enjoy myself, which is what a lot of this boils down to.
I think this post mutated into something totally out there. I'll probably read it tomorrow and scratch my head while wondering why I think I'm so much deeper than I am.
8.24.2005
Drunken messages
I call our answering machine 3 out of every 4 times I drink. I don't know why I do it, I think I just enjoy annoying my sleeping boyfriend rambling to Boyfriend even though he's dead asleep. I never let him delete the messages. When I clean off the answering machine, I listed to my drunken messages and laugh hysterically.
The worst part is that even when I'm sober, they somehow make sense to me. I guess that doesn't say a whole lot for me.
The worst part is that even when I'm sober, they somehow make sense to me. I guess that doesn't say a whole lot for me.
8.15.2005
Food
We spent $280 on groceries between last night and tonight. :O
Since we bought so much, I've decided to make a cooking related journal on El Jay. It would be nice to be able to get pics and other documentation of especially proud vegan moments in my life, as well as have a place I could point my mom when she is having exceptionally domestically challenged moments. (Oh, the cooking scars my mother has inflicted upon my childhood. She can bake, but otherwise, Dad does all the real cooking...is it a shock that I'm a Women's Studies major now?)
I don't think I could ever go back to a non-vegan diet. I've been having cravings for non-veg*n food lately, but everytime I smell it cooking, I feel like I might vomit. Ick. My parents have, suprisingly, been very supportive and willing to try various food I eat. I even conned my mother into taking me to Kingdom of Vegetarians! They bought me Silk Nog during Christmas! My parents even wanted the carrot cake recipe from Garden of Vegan. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?!?!?
Since we bought so much, I've decided to make a cooking related journal on El Jay. It would be nice to be able to get pics and other documentation of especially proud vegan moments in my life, as well as have a place I could point my mom when she is having exceptionally domestically challenged moments. (Oh, the cooking scars my mother has inflicted upon my childhood. She can bake, but otherwise, Dad does all the real cooking...is it a shock that I'm a Women's Studies major now?)
I don't think I could ever go back to a non-vegan diet. I've been having cravings for non-veg*n food lately, but everytime I smell it cooking, I feel like I might vomit. Ick. My parents have, suprisingly, been very supportive and willing to try various food I eat. I even conned my mother into taking me to Kingdom of Vegetarians! They bought me Silk Nog during Christmas! My parents even wanted the carrot cake recipe from Garden of Vegan. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?!?!?
8.10.2005
Let's try this again.
The point of this is to make 101 goals you intend to complete in 1001 days. If you read through all of them, you'll see that getting my blog up and running is goal number #88. My personal deadline is May 9th, 2008.
I'll be honest. The first 45 or so were a piece of cake. I started reaching towards the end of the goals, but I think that even the silliest ones on here will also be difficult to meet. (Look at #45- you'd think it would be so easy, but lately I've been forgetting to put any of that stuff on.)
I really hope my parents don't read this. (Isn't that sad? I'm 26 years old and afraid of the crap my parents might give me for a handful of the items on this list.)
Physical:
1- Quit smoking for good.
2- Take off at least 20 lbs.
3- Diligently wash face/remove makeup and brush teeth EVERY night, even if I'm exhausted.
4- Stop eating so much processed garbage.
5- Start exercising (pref. yoga).
6- Drink more water.
7- Limit caffenated beverages to twice a day.
8- Get at least one good, real massage.
9- Get microderm abrasion.
10- Get tested.
11- Get a gyno exam and get back on birth control.
12- Get a tubal (which will probably happen closer to the 1001 cutoff).
13- Try a Divacup.
Mental:
14- Read the books and magazines I've accumulated over the past few months.
15- Significantly cut down TV & internet time.
16- Let go of old grudges against ex-boyfriends.
17- I am a badass, awesome, sassy hot bitch who people love talking to. Start believing it.
18- Become a nicer person without losing my edge.
Creative/Artistic:
19- Expand music tastes again.
20- Learn how to silkscreen.
21- Make one piece of clothing that I could wear in public without embarassing myself.
22- Learn how to knit.
23- Make a piece of jewelry (can be simple or complex) that is both unique and appropriate for wearing out of the house.
24- Let my hair grow out one last time.
25- Learn how to make good graphics for drunkenatheist.com.
26- Take more snapshots.
27- Help make a silly movie about the pets.
28- Collaborate with Boyfriend on an artistic project of some sort.
29- DIY one piece of clothing and wear it out in public.
30- Tweak a piece of furniture. (i.e., repaint or stencil it, decoupage, etc.)
31- Have more snapshots taken of me.
32- Learn how to do more artistic makeup (i.e., high fashion type of stuff).
Interpersonal:
33- Stop picking arguments and overreacting about stupid shit because I'm feeling rammy.
34- Make at least two real life friends who share some common interests or ideologies with me.
35- Make at least one casual friend at Temple.
36- Contact at least one old friend from high school.
37- Hang out with a group of online friends at least once a year.
38- Make more out of internet time by commenting to/emailing/IM'ing e & real life friends.
39- Go to NYC at least once before the end of the year.
40- Go to Atlantic City, stay until at least 8 or 9 am and have mimosas with breakfast.
41- Go to Canada at least once before graduation.
Activism/Charity work:
42- Get involved with the Temple Feminist group.
43- Donate as much as I can to various charities.
44- Join at least one more organization whose mission appeals to me.
45- Do one thing a week for one of my causes, even if it's just wearing a button or a bracelet.
46- Get involved with at least one non-Temple related community/local group.
47- Make more vegan food for my parents.
48- Scrutinize food and clothing labels more carefully.
49- Carry mini "companies that don't test on animals" lists at all times.
50- Write Letters to the Editor and remember to actually send them.
51- Submit my story to ins.
52- Thoroughly research candidates for the upcoming elections so I can make the most informed decision possible.
53- Eradicate gendered slurs from my vocabulary. (This is going to be difficult because I'm so in the habit of letting "bitch" or "cunt" slip out that I don't even realize I'm doing it.)
Financial:
54- Make a budget and stick to it for longer than a week.
55- Ebay everything that must go.
56- Get my damn car fixed.
57- Keep up on all the regular maintenance for my car.
58- Bite the bullet and get a tattoo.
59- Plan Christmas shopping (all three years) as early as possible.
60- Go six months without coming within $100 of my Visa limit.
61- Double the money in my ING account with each financial aid disbursement.
62- Hunt at thrift stores until I find at least one cute thing.
Domestic:
63- Make daily, weekly & monthly cleaning schedules. Stick to them for longer than a month.
64- Start planning meals for every week. Cook and freeze meals on weekends.
65- Train Oswald to stop acting like a dominant little peckerhead.
66- Create or master at least 10 recipes that can be used at anytime.
67- Fix the fucking toilet.
68- Get organized.
69- Hang artwork, posters and full length mirror.
70- Paint the hallway.
71- Scrape off popcorn finish on upstairs and ceilings.
72- Get extra sets of keys made for the cars and the house.
73- Recaulk kitchen and bathroom.
74- Help my parents get their Ebay stuff squared away.
75- Sort all of my recipes and collect ones from Vegetarian Times.
76- Try one new food every month.
Academic:
77- Improve vocabulary and writing skills.
78- Bone up on French enough to take the CLEP and not fail miserably.
79- Get the Women's Studies/English double major.
80- Pick a minor and earn that.
81- Keep a GPA at or above 3.25
82- Get accepted into a MA/PhD program.
83- Secure a bangin internship.
84- Make at least one connection that will benefit me later down the road.
85- Keep on top of reading and studying instead of waiting to the last second.
Interweb/Computer:
86- Do memories/tags for
The Feminist Forum.
87- Update http://www.myneighborhoodsucks.com on a regular basis.
88- Make a public, but more introspective blog for http://www.drunkenatheist.com.
89- Utilizemy abandoned writing journal again.
90- Get more content for Klaus and Oswald's websites.
91- Update http://www.drunkenatheist.com with real content instead of using it to host pics.
92- Get or make more usericons for my Livejournal.
93- UpdateAbortion Newsblog more often.
94- Learn how to use one program on Boyfriend's Mac.
95- Keep laptop and desktop as clean as possible. Organize files as often as possible and stop leaving crap all over the desktop.
96- Post at least one positive thing a week.
Miscellaneous:
97- Try at least one new thing every month.
98- Try one new restaurant every two months.
99- Work on my punctuality. Be on time for everything for one whole week.
100- Take a random car or regional rail/train trip to no real place for no real reason.
101- Go to a dog park with beagleface.
Now I am off to do a few of these things before bed.
I'll be honest. The first 45 or so were a piece of cake. I started reaching towards the end of the goals, but I think that even the silliest ones on here will also be difficult to meet. (Look at #45- you'd think it would be so easy, but lately I've been forgetting to put any of that stuff on.)
I really hope my parents don't read this. (Isn't that sad? I'm 26 years old and afraid of the crap my parents might give me for a handful of the items on this list.)
Physical:
1- Quit smoking for good.
2- Take off at least 20 lbs.
3- Diligently wash face/remove makeup and brush teeth EVERY night, even if I'm exhausted.
4- Stop eating so much processed garbage.
5- Start exercising (pref. yoga).
6- Drink more water.
7- Limit caffenated beverages to twice a day.
8- Get at least one good, real massage.
9- Get microderm abrasion.
10- Get tested.
11- Get a gyno exam and get back on birth control.
12- Get a tubal (which will probably happen closer to the 1001 cutoff).
13- Try a Divacup.
Mental:
14- Read the books and magazines I've accumulated over the past few months.
15- Significantly cut down TV & internet time.
16- Let go of old grudges against ex-boyfriends.
17- I am a badass, awesome, sassy hot bitch who people love talking to. Start believing it.
18- Become a nicer person without losing my edge.
Creative/Artistic:
19- Expand music tastes again.
20- Learn how to silkscreen.
21- Make one piece of clothing that I could wear in public without embarassing myself.
22- Learn how to knit.
23- Make a piece of jewelry (can be simple or complex) that is both unique and appropriate for wearing out of the house.
24- Let my hair grow out one last time.
25- Learn how to make good graphics for drunkenatheist.com.
26- Take more snapshots.
27- Help make a silly movie about the pets.
28- Collaborate with Boyfriend on an artistic project of some sort.
29- DIY one piece of clothing and wear it out in public.
30- Tweak a piece of furniture. (i.e., repaint or stencil it, decoupage, etc.)
31- Have more snapshots taken of me.
32- Learn how to do more artistic makeup (i.e., high fashion type of stuff).
Interpersonal:
33- Stop picking arguments and overreacting about stupid shit because I'm feeling rammy.
34- Make at least two real life friends who share some common interests or ideologies with me.
35- Make at least one casual friend at Temple.
36- Contact at least one old friend from high school.
37- Hang out with a group of online friends at least once a year.
38- Make more out of internet time by commenting to/emailing/IM'ing e & real life friends.
39- Go to NYC at least once before the end of the year.
40- Go to Atlantic City, stay until at least 8 or 9 am and have mimosas with breakfast.
41- Go to Canada at least once before graduation.
Activism/Charity work:
42- Get involved with the Temple Feminist group.
43- Donate as much as I can to various charities.
44- Join at least one more organization whose mission appeals to me.
45- Do one thing a week for one of my causes, even if it's just wearing a button or a bracelet.
46- Get involved with at least one non-Temple related community/local group.
47- Make more vegan food for my parents.
48- Scrutinize food and clothing labels more carefully.
49- Carry mini "companies that don't test on animals" lists at all times.
50- Write Letters to the Editor and remember to actually send them.
51- Submit my story to ins.
52- Thoroughly research candidates for the upcoming elections so I can make the most informed decision possible.
53- Eradicate gendered slurs from my vocabulary. (This is going to be difficult because I'm so in the habit of letting "bitch" or "cunt" slip out that I don't even realize I'm doing it.)
Financial:
54- Make a budget and stick to it for longer than a week.
55- Ebay everything that must go.
56- Get my damn car fixed.
57- Keep up on all the regular maintenance for my car.
58- Bite the bullet and get a tattoo.
59- Plan Christmas shopping (all three years) as early as possible.
60- Go six months without coming within $100 of my Visa limit.
61- Double the money in my ING account with each financial aid disbursement.
62- Hunt at thrift stores until I find at least one cute thing.
Domestic:
63- Make daily, weekly & monthly cleaning schedules. Stick to them for longer than a month.
64- Start planning meals for every week. Cook and freeze meals on weekends.
65- Train Oswald to stop acting like a dominant little peckerhead.
66- Create or master at least 10 recipes that can be used at anytime.
67- Fix the fucking toilet.
68- Get organized.
69- Hang artwork, posters and full length mirror.
70- Paint the hallway.
71- Scrape off popcorn finish on upstairs and ceilings.
72- Get extra sets of keys made for the cars and the house.
73- Recaulk kitchen and bathroom.
74- Help my parents get their Ebay stuff squared away.
75- Sort all of my recipes and collect ones from Vegetarian Times.
76- Try one new food every month.
Academic:
77- Improve vocabulary and writing skills.
78- Bone up on French enough to take the CLEP and not fail miserably.
79- Get the Women's Studies/English double major.
80- Pick a minor and earn that.
81- Keep a GPA at or above 3.25
82- Get accepted into a MA/PhD program.
83- Secure a bangin internship.
84- Make at least one connection that will benefit me later down the road.
85- Keep on top of reading and studying instead of waiting to the last second.
Interweb/Computer:
86- Do memories/tags for
The Feminist Forum.87- Update http://www.myneighborhoodsucks.com on a regular basis.
88- Make a public, but more introspective blog for http://www.drunkenatheist.com.
89- Utilize
my abandoned writing journal again.90- Get more content for Klaus and Oswald's websites.
91- Update http://www.drunkenatheist.com with real content instead of using it to host pics.
92- Get or make more usericons for my Livejournal.
93- Update
Abortion Newsblog more often.94- Learn how to use one program on Boyfriend's Mac.
95- Keep laptop and desktop as clean as possible. Organize files as often as possible and stop leaving crap all over the desktop.
96- Post at least one positive thing a week.
Miscellaneous:
97- Try at least one new thing every month.
98- Try one new restaurant every two months.
99- Work on my punctuality. Be on time for everything for one whole week.
100- Take a random car or regional rail/train trip to no real place for no real reason.
101- Go to a dog park with beagleface.
Now I am off to do a few of these things before bed.
12.18.2003
Well, I've given this website address out to quite a few former co-workers, and thought it might be best to make a...sanitized version of my blog. I'm getting my webpage back together. If you've viewed it any time recently, you'll notice that I finally have a real index page up. I changed because I had the domain since August and never bothered to update and also because I no longer talk to the person who created that image for me.
Yeah, so here's a nice, generic first blogger post. I hope to have everything properly edited in the next day or two.
Yeah, so here's a nice, generic first blogger post. I hope to have everything properly edited in the next day or two.
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