Monday, May 10, 2010
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Women's Rights = Boredom. Women in Bikinis = Awesome.
Regardless whether or not State Senator Mike Bennett was looking at pornography - on his state issued computer during a floor debate - he admitted to being bored.
Bored.
Americans need representatives who will not get bored doing their job; we all need governmental representatives at every level who are interested in working for us.
Especially when the topic at hand is as laden and controversial as abortion and reproductive rights.
Many states have a law requiring ultrasounds be administered before an abortion. But the bill that passed in Florida is similar to Oklahoma's new, more severe law, and it's a worrying trend. The bill requires ultrasounds be given to women who want an abortion - not only is the ultrasound unwanted, the woman has to pay for it, and sit through an explanation of the findings by a doctor with the ultrasound image in her line of sight.
I don't understand people who think abortion is taken lightly. Serious thought and major emotions go into the decision. Adding an ultrasound, and having a doctor describe the fetus gives a woman extra stress on top of an already tense situation. That level of excess is unnecessary. And uncalled for. In Oklahoma, even though women went through with the ultrasound procedure, and became extremely emotional as a result, not one changed her mind about getting an abortion.
Why implement a bogus law that does more undue harm than good? Maybe if our representatives listened to their constituents, and spent more time in meaningful debate (and not opening questionable online attachments) we would have better laws that protected people. Laws that protect women's reproductive freedoms. Laws that respect women as capable human beings, not just baby incubators. Or bikini models.
Bored.
Americans need representatives who will not get bored doing their job; we all need governmental representatives at every level who are interested in working for us.
Especially when the topic at hand is as laden and controversial as abortion and reproductive rights.
Many states have a law requiring ultrasounds be administered before an abortion. But the bill that passed in Florida is similar to Oklahoma's new, more severe law, and it's a worrying trend. The bill requires ultrasounds be given to women who want an abortion - not only is the ultrasound unwanted, the woman has to pay for it, and sit through an explanation of the findings by a doctor with the ultrasound image in her line of sight.
I don't understand people who think abortion is taken lightly. Serious thought and major emotions go into the decision. Adding an ultrasound, and having a doctor describe the fetus gives a woman extra stress on top of an already tense situation. That level of excess is unnecessary. And uncalled for. In Oklahoma, even though women went through with the ultrasound procedure, and became extremely emotional as a result, not one changed her mind about getting an abortion.
Why implement a bogus law that does more undue harm than good? Maybe if our representatives listened to their constituents, and spent more time in meaningful debate (and not opening questionable online attachments) we would have better laws that protected people. Laws that protect women's reproductive freedoms. Laws that respect women as capable human beings, not just baby incubators. Or bikini models.
Etsy: Turned into Reality
Artwork Inspiration
Wearable Pieces (Traditional)
Wearable Pieces (Modern)
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Not-So-Weekly Recipe
What The Fuck Should I Make For Dinner?
Because, sometimes, I just don't fucking know.
(via A Cup Of Jo)
Because, sometimes, I just don't fucking know.
(via A Cup Of Jo)
Friday, April 30, 2010
Book Club
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
This is my much loved copy. It's worn, the cover is faded, and the pages are falling out.
Two of my favorite passages come at the end of the story:
"There was a silly damn bird called a phoenix back before Christ, every few hundred years he built a pyre and burnt himself up. He must have been first cousin to Man. But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we're doing the same thing, over and over, but we've got one damn thing the phoenix never had. We know the damn silly thing we just did. We know all the damn silly things we've done for a thousand years and as long as we know that and always have it around where we can see it, someday we'll stop making the goddamn funeral pyres and jumping in the middle of them. We pick up a few more people that remember every generation."
"Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there. It doesn't matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away."
And perhaps the best one-liner: "Stuff your eyes with wonder."
Fahrenheit 451 is a bleak story of the future, but Bradbury gives you such hope in the midst of it all. Hope that mankind is really better than war, death, and crime. Hope that even when things seem impossible to change, we can change them.
This is my much loved copy. It's worn, the cover is faded, and the pages are falling out.
Two of my favorite passages come at the end of the story:
"There was a silly damn bird called a phoenix back before Christ, every few hundred years he built a pyre and burnt himself up. He must have been first cousin to Man. But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we're doing the same thing, over and over, but we've got one damn thing the phoenix never had. We know the damn silly thing we just did. We know all the damn silly things we've done for a thousand years and as long as we know that and always have it around where we can see it, someday we'll stop making the goddamn funeral pyres and jumping in the middle of them. We pick up a few more people that remember every generation."
"Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there. It doesn't matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away."
And perhaps the best one-liner: "Stuff your eyes with wonder."
Fahrenheit 451 is a bleak story of the future, but Bradbury gives you such hope in the midst of it all. Hope that mankind is really better than war, death, and crime. Hope that even when things seem impossible to change, we can change them.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Reality
"Rather than congratulating women for being lovely human beings and rewarding men for being hard-charging winners, or making an effort to send the opposite messages to each, it might do everyone a bit of good to be taught healthy self-confidence alongside responsibility, cooperation and civility -- impulses that should not be gender-coded, and that might serve us all well, in life and at work."
A nice girl's guide to getting ahead
(via Salon)
A nice girl's guide to getting ahead
(via Salon)
Friday, April 23, 2010
Book Club
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Ok. So I read this book forever ago, and recently re-read it. And oh. My. God.
Apparently I either completely forgot the entire thing, or was at such a different point in my life that I didn't think twice about how offensive and painful Lolita truly is. Who allowed this to become so ingrained into our society? How did this novel get to be so literarily predominate? Who thinks this is important in any way?
I've come across arguments in favor of this work, saying it's a love story. Umm. No it's not. Anything based on furtive sex with a minor who cries during and afterward is not love. Especially when the narrator doesn't care. Selfish indulgence.
Apparently I either completely forgot the entire thing, or was at such a different point in my life that I didn't think twice about how offensive and painful Lolita truly is. Who allowed this to become so ingrained into our society? How did this novel get to be so literarily predominate? Who thinks this is important in any way?
I've come across arguments in favor of this work, saying it's a love story. Umm. No it's not. Anything based on furtive sex with a minor who cries during and afterward is not love. Especially when the narrator doesn't care. Selfish indulgence.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
WANT
I would love to be able to do my eye makeup exactly like Julianna Margulies' character in "The Good Wife."
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Unfriended
Kelly: I think I might have upset some people on Facebook.
Mom: What? Why?
Kelly: Well, I just couldn't take it anymore. I said some things ... I got tired of tip-toeing around. Of not saying what I thought. I played nice for so long. It got ridiculous. I'm finally saying what I think, how I feel. I just got tired of worrying about what other people thought of me.
::laughs:: Maybe I'm getting too old to worry about what other people think.
Mom: You shouldn't feel that way until you're 50!
Mom: What? Why?
Kelly: Well, I just couldn't take it anymore. I said some things ... I got tired of tip-toeing around. Of not saying what I thought. I played nice for so long. It got ridiculous. I'm finally saying what I think, how I feel. I just got tired of worrying about what other people thought of me.
::laughs:: Maybe I'm getting too old to worry about what other people think.
Mom: You shouldn't feel that way until you're 50!
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Book Club
Dude, Where's My Country? by Michael Moore
Up until about a year ago, if it's even been that long, I was not a fan of Michael Moore. I didn't have any particular reason. I was a Republican, thought things should be a certain way, and considered Moore a 'Hollywood liberal' with a big mouth but nothing to say. I should mention that I had never read any of his books or watched any of his movies. The only time I ever really saw him was at the Oscars in 2003, where he spoke out against President Bush and the Iraq war. And then was subsequently booed off stage.
But one day Joe came home from work, where he was able to see bits and pieces of "Fahrenheit 9/11" and told me we had to watch it.
And we did.
And everything changed.
Of course it was a little heavy handed, but it was true. It was brutally honest. It was eye opening.
Moore has written a couple books, this one is the first I've picked up to read. I can't express how much I want everyone I know to read his work. No matter what you think about Moore, or what political party you belong to, or even if you don't care about politics at all, I promise you will see things differently after reading Dude, Where's My Country?
In my photo, the little torn paper bookmark is stuck in a page that I couldn't forget, and want to share with you now:
"The Bush administration did not like the protections contained in the House bill [Patriot Act] and, with the speaker of the house, worked through the night to strip it of all the civil rights protections the House Committees had voted for. It was finally submitted at 3:45 a.m. When Congress showed up a few hours later to vote on it, they thought they were voting on the language agreed to the previous day. Instead, they voted on the bill whose few protections were gutted by Attorney General John Ashcroft the night before. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, few members of Congress actually read the final version of the act. It was perhaps the most reckless and irresponsible action our Congress has ever taken."
Unbelievable, right?
There's so much more. And it's all documented. There's sources - actual newspaper articles, books, credible information. It makes me curious to know where was all of this at the time? Why wasn't America told? Why did the majority of news outlets simply keep repeating governmental lies? Lies that were proven to be lies!
Insane.
But there's hope. There's always hope. As Moore says:
"...We love our country and we care about the world in which our country exists. There is no reason to sink into some self-centered despair or cynicism. There is every reason to put this book down right now, pick up the phone, walk out the door, and make a difference."
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Mind Goggling
I pulled up Goggle to find out more about Sarah Palin's latest effort. Apparently Fox News gave her an interview-format show. But for the premier episode, old interviews were used, and Palin was simply dubbed in.
How's that integrity thing workin' out for ya?
Anyway. I Googled "fox news" to get to the network site. This is what came up:
Why pander to the lowest level like that? Why would a news source go that route?
I've always maintained that 24 hour news networks aren't the best idea. Actually, they could be great ... if they were run in a way that provided NEWS and not COMMENTARY. All these cable news channels do is allow for certain news snippets to be endlessly chewed over by talking heads. All these networks want are events that only make "good tv" so they can get their advertising money.
When is journalistic integrity gonna make a comeback? When are American people gonna stand up and demand to know facts - not what some blowhard's opinion is? When are Hollywood celebrities gonna realize that they can never leave their house without lipstick on?
Also, Fox News still uses the tag line "Fair & Balanced."
HA!
Good one.
How's that integrity thing workin' out for ya?
Anyway. I Googled "fox news" to get to the network site. This is what came up:
Notice anything that stands out? Like maybe Stars Without Makeup? Really. Honestly.
It's a link that takes you to a slideshow in their entertainment section. A slideshow with 99 photos. 99! And I scrolled through them all. Because I was so pissed off. Out of all those pictures, there was only one man. (Tom Cruise, if you wanna know.)
But that's not my point.
My point is that when you search for Fox News, one of their own links - given the same importance as their biggest stars' own shows - is literally tabloid level fodder. I'm not sure if this particular link changes daily, but why not simply keep up a generic "entertainment" link to the entertainment section?
Other top news networks do:
Why pander to the lowest level like that? Why would a news source go that route?
I've always maintained that 24 hour news networks aren't the best idea. Actually, they could be great ... if they were run in a way that provided NEWS and not COMMENTARY. All these cable news channels do is allow for certain news snippets to be endlessly chewed over by talking heads. All these networks want are events that only make "good tv" so they can get their advertising money.
When is journalistic integrity gonna make a comeback? When are American people gonna stand up and demand to know facts - not what some blowhard's opinion is? When are Hollywood celebrities gonna realize that they can never leave their house without lipstick on?
Also, Fox News still uses the tag line "Fair & Balanced."
HA!
Good one.
Friday, April 02, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Options
I'm getting ready to redo the bedroom. The whole deal. New everything. Did I mention how last summer was so hot and humid, that one of the cheap-o K-Mart fake wood dressers fell apart? Fell. To. Pieces. The weather literally destroyed the furniture.
No, seriously.
So, onward to better quality.
There will be pictures. I promise.
But for now, I'm searching for a rug. Something bright, colorful, and fun. Something unexpected.
I've fallen in love with a couple different rugs at Anthropologie. The thing is, they're crazy expensive. No surprise. And. And. They company doesn't ship big ticket items to Hawaii.
Just take a look though, and tell me you don't love them too:
Beautiful, right?
Totally makes my actual options a bit, umm, drab:
Ok...extremely depressing.
Suggestions?
No, seriously.
So, onward to better quality.
There will be pictures. I promise.
But for now, I'm searching for a rug. Something bright, colorful, and fun. Something unexpected.
I've fallen in love with a couple different rugs at Anthropologie. The thing is, they're crazy expensive. No surprise. And. And. They company doesn't ship big ticket items to Hawaii.
Just take a look though, and tell me you don't love them too:
Felt Pixel Rug (absolute favorite)
Gloria's Garden Rug (stunning! and possibly my true absolute favorite)
Beautiful, right?
Totally makes my actual options a bit, umm, drab:
Ok...extremely depressing.
Suggestions?
Monday, March 29, 2010
Digital Art Warm Up
Quick sketch to work with the airbrush tool. Based on the cover image of Mark Twain's Letters from Hawaii.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Painted Food
No ways!
Edible spray paint for food.
Most awesome, totally unnecessary, rub the collective faces of the hungry in it, thing ever.
But how great would it be for parties?!
Edible spray paint for food.
Most awesome, totally unnecessary, rub the collective faces of the hungry in it, thing ever.
But how great would it be for parties?!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Book Club
Seriously by Lucia Nevai
I chose this one simply based on the cover. That, and "seriously" is one of my favorite words.
But skip this book.
Seriously.
Taken Back
I have an intense visceral reaction during the starting credits to HBO's newest miniseries, The Pacific.
It's someone drawing with charcoal, and the stick keeps breaking from the pressure being applied.
You guys, I can FEEL IT.
I know it.
I know the slight stumble the hand makes when the charcoal stick cracks and breaks. I know that sensation of charcoal smoothly moving over charcoal. But also feeling the littlest ridges and dips when on the surface of the paper. All that graininess.
Without hearing it, I know the sound the charcoal makes while it moves. Almost high pitched. Somewhere in-between nails on a chalkboard and nails on sandpaper. Registering enough to create goosebumps.
And all the loose used up charcoal bits that outline the drawing. Just waiting there. Begging to be blown away.
I can hardly take it, just sitting, watching the tv.
It's someone drawing with charcoal, and the stick keeps breaking from the pressure being applied.
You guys, I can FEEL IT.
I know it.
I know the slight stumble the hand makes when the charcoal stick cracks and breaks. I know that sensation of charcoal smoothly moving over charcoal. But also feeling the littlest ridges and dips when on the surface of the paper. All that graininess.
Without hearing it, I know the sound the charcoal makes while it moves. Almost high pitched. Somewhere in-between nails on a chalkboard and nails on sandpaper. Registering enough to create goosebumps.
And all the loose used up charcoal bits that outline the drawing. Just waiting there. Begging to be blown away.
I can hardly take it, just sitting, watching the tv.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
In Memoriam
Earlier this month, Susan, my mother-in-law, passed away.
She was such a loving and caring woman. I wish I could've known her longer.
She was an artist, painted as much as possible, and talked with me about jewelry making. I wish we could've shared more.
But everyday I'm thankful for what she had always shared with me from the start - her son, Joe.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Not-So-Weekly Recipe
This isn't as much of a recipe as it is a recipe hack. Delicious delicious hack. Mmm.
Blueberry Banana Muffins
ingredients
1 package of blueberry muffin mix (I used Betty Crocker for these, but I also like Jiffy's)
Water (or milk and eggs - whatever the mix calls for)
1 or 2 overripe bananas
1/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
directions
1. Mash bananas in a medium sized bowl. Press up onto sides.
2. In center of the bowl, prepare muffin mix as directed.
3. Add in extra flour and vanilla. Throughly combine banana with mix.
4. Pour into greased or lined muffin tins.
5. Bake according to package instructions.
6. But add a few extra minutes.
7. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
Enjoy!
Blueberry Banana Muffins
ingredients
1 package of blueberry muffin mix (I used Betty Crocker for these, but I also like Jiffy's)
Water (or milk and eggs - whatever the mix calls for)
1 or 2 overripe bananas
1/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
directions
1. Mash bananas in a medium sized bowl. Press up onto sides.
2. In center of the bowl, prepare muffin mix as directed.
3. Add in extra flour and vanilla. Throughly combine banana with mix.
4. Pour into greased or lined muffin tins.
5. Bake according to package instructions.
6. But add a few extra minutes.
7. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
Enjoy!
Book Club
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
Funny. But not as funny as I thought it would be.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Extremely Pathetic Personal Confession #3
It's been a year since getting the new car, but I still loose it in parking lots because I can't remember what it looks like.
It's All Those College Life Drawing Classes, I Swear
Oh-so morbid, but I'm totally digging this:
Skeleton renderings of cartoon characters by Michael Paulus.
Skeleton renderings of cartoon characters by Michael Paulus.
Monday, February 22, 2010
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