By now, you all likely know that Sen. John McCain has selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.
What you may not know is that Gov. Palin is the mother of five children, aged 18 years to 5 months old.
The 5-month-old is a son named Trig who happens to have Down's Syndrome. This fact motivated some people (women especially) to comment that Gov. Palin should stay home with her baby.
Are you kidding me? It is this type of attitude that has hurt ambitious, successful women for years. Not only do ambitious women have to fight to get where they are, but in my experience, they have to face scrutiny and negativeness from their own gender.
For shame, for shame, ladies.
When I see a woman in a position of power, I celebrate. Kickass, I think, because I know how hard she has fought to get there.
But let me promise you this, as a woman myself with my own ambitions, I can promise you that a woman who is in a position of power and is a mother has made the commitment to herself and her children to take care of herself and her children.
If it means going without sleep, she will go without sleep.
Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean that it's not "right," in your view. And of course, in Gov. Palin's case, she has a great support network surrounding her, including a husband who is willing to be home with the baby. She also has a support network of aunts, uncles, and her own parents.
So judge not, lest ye be judged.
Celebrate, for Pete's sake.
A woman has made it onto the Republican ticket. And a woman who has made it there has figured out how to take care of her children and make sure their needs are met.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Beyond Her Looks
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been picked as the vice president to McCain's president.
Up until now, most people didn't know the name "Sarah Palin," and for the masses of men out there, she's not "Sarah, Plain and Tall."
She's "Sarah, Sexy Mother of Five."
I listened to comments from men around me from Friday morning up through today. Our friend in Iraq claimed to his wife, "I'm in love!"
He's in love with Sarah Palin.
I admit, she's very nice looking, and if that gets men excited (and some women, too), then that's OK.
But beyond her looks, she's been picked in a very historic moment for the Republican Party when they had to find a way to take the spotlight off Obama.
Palin is 44; she gave birth to a baby with Down's Syndrome in April, choosing not to abort even though she knew the baby would be born this way; her husband is a member of a union and a part-time oilfield worker (hello, drilling!); her oldest son is headed off to Iraq.
And let's face it, she's a woman and the Republicans want to court the women in the Democratic party who had supported Hillary Clinton.
It's an amazing combination, and a very smart political move on McCain's part.
Now let's hope there aren't too many skeletons, and that McCain properly vetted this seemingly perfect vice presidential candidate.
Up until now, most people didn't know the name "Sarah Palin," and for the masses of men out there, she's not "Sarah, Plain and Tall."
She's "Sarah, Sexy Mother of Five."
I listened to comments from men around me from Friday morning up through today. Our friend in Iraq claimed to his wife, "I'm in love!"
He's in love with Sarah Palin.
I admit, she's very nice looking, and if that gets men excited (and some women, too), then that's OK.
But beyond her looks, she's been picked in a very historic moment for the Republican Party when they had to find a way to take the spotlight off Obama.
Palin is 44; she gave birth to a baby with Down's Syndrome in April, choosing not to abort even though she knew the baby would be born this way; her husband is a member of a union and a part-time oilfield worker (hello, drilling!); her oldest son is headed off to Iraq.
And let's face it, she's a woman and the Republicans want to court the women in the Democratic party who had supported Hillary Clinton.
It's an amazing combination, and a very smart political move on McCain's part.
Now let's hope there aren't too many skeletons, and that McCain properly vetted this seemingly perfect vice presidential candidate.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Reading. Lots and Lots of Reading.
That's what the semester will be for me.
More reading this semester than last semester, let me tell you.
And what is it with idiots? Let me explain.
So I have this Business Ethics class. The prof is spectacular, very engaging, very funny, etc.
Most students in the class bring laptops to take notes, but on that note, the prof asked everyone to please, please, please, don't spend your time in class e-mailing or reading the newspaper online or doing other things on the computer that distract from learning.
It's just a courtesy, and it's a simple thing called respect.
Silly me, I just thought that everyone in the class would respect what the prof was asking for, but there was that one student who had to raise his hand and argue with the prof about e-mailing in class.
"If you don't know that I'm doing it, what does it matter?"
I have a feeling the prof is going to find out.
More reading this semester than last semester, let me tell you.
And what is it with idiots? Let me explain.
So I have this Business Ethics class. The prof is spectacular, very engaging, very funny, etc.
Most students in the class bring laptops to take notes, but on that note, the prof asked everyone to please, please, please, don't spend your time in class e-mailing or reading the newspaper online or doing other things on the computer that distract from learning.
It's just a courtesy, and it's a simple thing called respect.
Silly me, I just thought that everyone in the class would respect what the prof was asking for, but there was that one student who had to raise his hand and argue with the prof about e-mailing in class.
"If you don't know that I'm doing it, what does it matter?"
I have a feeling the prof is going to find out.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Doing Away With Plastic Trays
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,409783,00.html
University cafeterias apparently are doing away with those plastic trays, for green reasons, largely.
When we were in undergraduate at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, we used these trays as sleds in the winter on memorial hill outside Taylor Hall. You better stash some trays so that more people can fly down memorial hill!
University cafeterias apparently are doing away with those plastic trays, for green reasons, largely.
When we were in undergraduate at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, we used these trays as sleds in the winter on memorial hill outside Taylor Hall. You better stash some trays so that more people can fly down memorial hill!
Michelle's Speech
She was passionate and very well-spoken. I am a fan of pundit Juan Williams, an African American journalist and historian, and I watched him turn somewhat emotional over seeing a 44-year-old African American woman in the running for First Lady of the United States.
It is at moments like this that my pride swells for this country.
I knew we could get here, and I am so proud that we are here.
We had the hokey parts, of course, including the story of how Barack asked her to go for ice cream.
But they need to show that they're just like ordinary Americans, and I guess that this makes up for his arugula comment early in the primaries.
As Pundit Charles Krauthammer said, "It had all the hokem elements, and it worked." He opined that the two girls talking to their father who was there via satellite was "cuteness squared."
Michelle also has to make up for the earlier comment that this was the first time in her adulthood that she was proud of her country. Hence, the, "I love this country," comments in her speech.
All that aside, I may not always agree with their positions, but I do celebrate where they are.
"If I stand beside you, it's because I have risen with you."
It is at moments like this that my pride swells for this country.
I knew we could get here, and I am so proud that we are here.
We had the hokey parts, of course, including the story of how Barack asked her to go for ice cream.
But they need to show that they're just like ordinary Americans, and I guess that this makes up for his arugula comment early in the primaries.
As Pundit Charles Krauthammer said, "It had all the hokem elements, and it worked." He opined that the two girls talking to their father who was there via satellite was "cuteness squared."
Michelle also has to make up for the earlier comment that this was the first time in her adulthood that she was proud of her country. Hence, the, "I love this country," comments in her speech.
All that aside, I may not always agree with their positions, but I do celebrate where they are.
"If I stand beside you, it's because I have risen with you."
Pointing Out Hypocrisy
Of course, the DNC conference in Denver was going to give me a lot to write about.
But the only thing I have to say right now is that can you imagine if Republicans opened their convention in this way?
It's amazing to me how in general, liberal Democrats have mocked and chided President Bush for his faith.
But alas, Obama and Biden need to court the conservative Christian vote. So now, it's OK to pray in public and be open about one's religious views.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080825/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_democrats_faith
Watch another side to this: Michelle Obama has invoked use of the phrase, "Ready to roll," which one can point out is a variation of the phrase, "Let's roll," from the heroes who were on the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania on 9-11.
Just pointing out a bit of political psychology, that's all. (To put it more bluntly, I am saying that's she's using a psychological tactic to appeal to voters), as in, "No matter what happened with 9-11, we'll take charge."
But the only thing I have to say right now is that can you imagine if Republicans opened their convention in this way?
It's amazing to me how in general, liberal Democrats have mocked and chided President Bush for his faith.
But alas, Obama and Biden need to court the conservative Christian vote. So now, it's OK to pray in public and be open about one's religious views.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080825/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_democrats_faith
Watch another side to this: Michelle Obama has invoked use of the phrase, "Ready to roll," which one can point out is a variation of the phrase, "Let's roll," from the heroes who were on the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania on 9-11.
Just pointing out a bit of political psychology, that's all. (To put it more bluntly, I am saying that's she's using a psychological tactic to appeal to voters), as in, "No matter what happened with 9-11, we'll take charge."
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Obama's Veep
I deleted my poll because Obama has made his choice for veep, and it's Delaware Sen. Joe Biden.
See the story here http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D92NVG7G0&show_article=1
See the story here http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D92NVG7G0&show_article=1
Friday, August 22, 2008
Are We Fat?
OKC Mayor Mick Cornett put the whole city on a diet, but it's not working. It's now August and collectively, we've only lost (roughly) 138,000 pounds. His goal was 1 million pounds.
I will be the first to tell you what the problem is:
A. We're very isolated here; there isn't much to do, so we eat. And drink. 'Nuff said right there.
B. We don't have access to good, fresh foods (fresh fish, really good fruits, etc.). We just don't. I pray for the day that we get a Whole Foods, but that's unlikely to happen because of the strict liquor laws. Although Tulsa did convert a Wild Oats to Whole Foods, so there is a teeny bit of hope.
C. FRIED foods and GOOD food. It's true. Southern comfort food abounds here on the Great Southern Plains, and they are beyond yummy. I didn't know Mexicans could make lasagna, and then I moved here. I hesitated to try it, and when I did, I ate half of the casserole dish of lasagna. And then my co-workers make these breakfast casseroles that are just out of this world.
I've always been a sucker for pies, anyway, and dang, they can make them here better than anything you'd believe. And really, it's rude not to partake in the cuisine of a culture, so we're partaking.
So the collective weight problem is understandable. Really.
Growing Up Youngstown
http://newsok.com/article/3285452/?print=1
The University of Oklahoma football coach, Bob Stoops, and I share a common thread. We're both from Youngstown, Ohio.
The Oklahoman, interestingly enough, ran a story this week on Stoops' roots. I've linked to it above. It's all about Youngstown. (Thanks for sharing this, Arnella!)
As the story points out, on Nov. 1, two kids from Youngstown's south side will be slugging it out as head coaches of two of college football's most storied programs.
Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Stoops and Bo Pellini will face off then.
Stoops now is heading into his 10th season as coach for the Sooners.
It's nice to see Youngstown getting some positive attention, but the truth of the matter is that Youngstown is an economic mess, and that cannot be forgotten. The most successful people are FROM Youngstown, not in Youngstown.
The old soldiers of that city's development and growth are dying. I include among those my grandmother, who at age 90 is still one of the toughest people I know.
She and my mother raised us (basically) in Youngstown. Both women represented the grit, determination and ambition of the city at one time.
We grew up multi-culturally, but we never called it that. We just knew we had neighbors who were as poor as we were and in a pinch, we'd help each other out. Arthur and his family would grow tomatoes; the Pratts who lived behind us would offer popsicles on hot summer days and bread; we had pasta and rice, representing the combination of our ethnic Italian background and our adopted Puerto Rican family.
We lived in a house on Oak Street on the city's East side, just down the street from the house where my mother had been born in 1938. My sister, brother and I walked to Lincoln Elementary School each day and participated in sock hops and other social events.
We didn't want to give up that house, but crime moved in hard and fast. So we left that area and moved out to a more rural place, where I ended up graduating high school.
In today's economy, Youngstown has been on the losing end. It's a shame that a once-vibrant city has to be characterized as that.
The University of Oklahoma football coach, Bob Stoops, and I share a common thread. We're both from Youngstown, Ohio.
The Oklahoman, interestingly enough, ran a story this week on Stoops' roots. I've linked to it above. It's all about Youngstown. (Thanks for sharing this, Arnella!)
As the story points out, on Nov. 1, two kids from Youngstown's south side will be slugging it out as head coaches of two of college football's most storied programs.
Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Stoops and Bo Pellini will face off then.
Stoops now is heading into his 10th season as coach for the Sooners.
It's nice to see Youngstown getting some positive attention, but the truth of the matter is that Youngstown is an economic mess, and that cannot be forgotten. The most successful people are FROM Youngstown, not in Youngstown.
The old soldiers of that city's development and growth are dying. I include among those my grandmother, who at age 90 is still one of the toughest people I know.
She and my mother raised us (basically) in Youngstown. Both women represented the grit, determination and ambition of the city at one time.
We grew up multi-culturally, but we never called it that. We just knew we had neighbors who were as poor as we were and in a pinch, we'd help each other out. Arthur and his family would grow tomatoes; the Pratts who lived behind us would offer popsicles on hot summer days and bread; we had pasta and rice, representing the combination of our ethnic Italian background and our adopted Puerto Rican family.
We lived in a house on Oak Street on the city's East side, just down the street from the house where my mother had been born in 1938. My sister, brother and I walked to Lincoln Elementary School each day and participated in sock hops and other social events.
We didn't want to give up that house, but crime moved in hard and fast. So we left that area and moved out to a more rural place, where I ended up graduating high school.
In today's economy, Youngstown has been on the losing end. It's a shame that a once-vibrant city has to be characterized as that.
Crazy Night Kayaking
There is no better feeling in life than being in a kayak.
So, together with my friends Leann and Kim, I went out on Lake Hefner in OKC last Friday night to take on the lake night life (lots of flying fish and some drunks falling off their boats) and the wavy lake.
The kayak company owner Dave Lindo shot this picture. I had been duped by Lindo, who decided to tell me that my zipper was down as he was shooting the picture.
My zipper wasn't down.
Leann and Kim sure got a kick out of it, though.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
How old is your brain?
This is cool.
Usually, when a co-worker forwards an e-mail, I cringe, but this is a cool game of numbers to test your brain.
http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html
1. Pay no attention to the writing because it's in Asian script, and you probably can't read it.
2. Press start.
3. Memorize the numbers you are shown.
4. Click on each circle in order of the smallest number to the highest number.
5. When you are done, the screen will show you your brain age.
Usually, when a co-worker forwards an e-mail, I cringe, but this is a cool game of numbers to test your brain.
http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html
1. Pay no attention to the writing because it's in Asian script, and you probably can't read it.
2. Press start.
3. Memorize the numbers you are shown.
4. Click on each circle in order of the smallest number to the highest number.
5. When you are done, the screen will show you your brain age.
Editorial on Tubbs Jones
http://www.cleveland.com/editorials/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1219307576150810.xml&coll=2
Every day, I pass a sign on my way to work that says, "Believe in something better."
This year, we've lost a host of people who embodied that spirit, the most recent being U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
This editorial I've linked to is very nicely written. It's from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
I'm saddened not only for her death, but the loss of leadership that my home state and its city on the lake desperately needed.
There is a saying that diamonds are made under pressure, and Tubbs Jones embodied pristine clarity as a gem representing the Buckeye State, which was no natural wonder given her life experience and the hard work and spirit she put into her job every day.
Every day, I pass a sign on my way to work that says, "Believe in something better."
This year, we've lost a host of people who embodied that spirit, the most recent being U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
This editorial I've linked to is very nicely written. It's from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
I'm saddened not only for her death, but the loss of leadership that my home state and its city on the lake desperately needed.
There is a saying that diamonds are made under pressure, and Tubbs Jones embodied pristine clarity as a gem representing the Buckeye State, which was no natural wonder given her life experience and the hard work and spirit she put into her job every day.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tubbs Jones' Death Confirmed
http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2008/08/hospital_confirms_us_rep_steph.html
The Congresswoman's death has been confirmed.
She was a leader and a force for minorities.
She was only 58.
The Congresswoman's death has been confirmed.
She was a leader and a force for minorities.
She was only 58.
A Headline You Don't Want to See
"Dog Sex Tapes Lead to Arrests"
Oh, yes, it is what it sounds like. A human being had sex with dogs and then videotaped it.
Who does that? Who sits there and thinks, "Hmmm, Fido is just laying there, and I'm just laying here ... why not?"
I had asked ya'll to guess where this story ran.
NOTE: This story ran recently in The Oklahoman. The offenders were from Tulsa.
OK, so there are some pretty disburbing aspects to this story, of course, but one of the more disturbing sides is that a son of one of the people involved found the tapes.
He and the dogs will be in therapy together.
No wonder pets are starting to need anti-psychotic medications. Now it's all making sense. And the "pet psychiatry" profession is growing, too, it's no wonder.
Had this gone undiscovered, we would have eventually seen the headline, "When good pets go bad..." and be left to ponder, "What happened to Fido?"
Well, it turns out, Fido was being exposed to some stuff that scarred Fido for life and the dog was just defending itself.
Oh, yes, it is what it sounds like. A human being had sex with dogs and then videotaped it.
Who does that? Who sits there and thinks, "Hmmm, Fido is just laying there, and I'm just laying here ... why not?"
I had asked ya'll to guess where this story ran.
NOTE: This story ran recently in The Oklahoman. The offenders were from Tulsa.
OK, so there are some pretty disburbing aspects to this story, of course, but one of the more disturbing sides is that a son of one of the people involved found the tapes.
He and the dogs will be in therapy together.
No wonder pets are starting to need anti-psychotic medications. Now it's all making sense. And the "pet psychiatry" profession is growing, too, it's no wonder.
Had this gone undiscovered, we would have eventually seen the headline, "When good pets go bad..." and be left to ponder, "What happened to Fido?"
Well, it turns out, Fido was being exposed to some stuff that scarred Fido for life and the dog was just defending itself.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
As School Begins
It's a bittersweet time for me, starting another semester of school but my mom won't be around to nag me, "How are your classes going?"
And when, upon learning that I was studying economics, she groused, "What the hell for?" But she knew an advanced degree had been my goal, so she supported me.
I remember her waving to me from the parking lot of her apartment building as I drove the car away last September, the car loaded with my things as I was heading back to Oklahoma. She had a grimace on her face and the phone in her hand, prepared to call me as soon as my car disappeared from her sight.
She'd be nagging me about the same things.
"Why are you driving back alone? Can't Dante come and ride with you? You should get a dog. Get a dog to ride with you, at least then you won't be alone."
And then I'd have to scream back, "I'm fine, Mom, fine."
(In case you didn't recall, she was deaf and wore hearing aids. She could technically talk on the phone with proper volume control, but it still was very difficult).
"You've been the victim of a crime?" She'd yell back.
"No, Mom, No. I said I'm fine."
Oye vey. She'd always imagine the worst.
No matter my age, my mother never stopped worrying about me. I was the most independent of her children, taking off at any opportunity to fly in a plane, to hike a mountain, to run after elk in order to get the best photograph.
Unbeknownst to me (discovered as we were cleaning out her things) she'd built up a library of a lot of my writing, including the notes from my Pastor in high school who encouraged me to write, write, write. So of course it was baffling to her that I was going to study economics and not entering some type of writing program.
I have all that now in a room in our house, along with her dancing photos and other memorabilia.
I've built a memorial garden in the backyard of our house in Edmond, and pray for the day when things feel normal again.
And as I look forward to another semester, I close the door on a critical summer of healing. Someone told me that it takes at least three years to regain a sense of normalcy after your mother dies. I think each person is on his or her own pace; trust me, you never view the world the same again. Your world view is permanently altered.
It's the strangest feeling I could ever imagine.
But I wanted to take this moment to say thank you to everyone who has prayed for me and my family, and for all the wonderful support everyone has provided. I've sent out Thank You cards to everyone, I believe, but I wanted to take this last opportunity to say how meaningful it all was.
And when, upon learning that I was studying economics, she groused, "What the hell for?" But she knew an advanced degree had been my goal, so she supported me.
I remember her waving to me from the parking lot of her apartment building as I drove the car away last September, the car loaded with my things as I was heading back to Oklahoma. She had a grimace on her face and the phone in her hand, prepared to call me as soon as my car disappeared from her sight.
She'd be nagging me about the same things.
"Why are you driving back alone? Can't Dante come and ride with you? You should get a dog. Get a dog to ride with you, at least then you won't be alone."
And then I'd have to scream back, "I'm fine, Mom, fine."
(In case you didn't recall, she was deaf and wore hearing aids. She could technically talk on the phone with proper volume control, but it still was very difficult).
"You've been the victim of a crime?" She'd yell back.
"No, Mom, No. I said I'm fine."
Oye vey. She'd always imagine the worst.
No matter my age, my mother never stopped worrying about me. I was the most independent of her children, taking off at any opportunity to fly in a plane, to hike a mountain, to run after elk in order to get the best photograph.
Unbeknownst to me (discovered as we were cleaning out her things) she'd built up a library of a lot of my writing, including the notes from my Pastor in high school who encouraged me to write, write, write. So of course it was baffling to her that I was going to study economics and not entering some type of writing program.
I have all that now in a room in our house, along with her dancing photos and other memorabilia.
I've built a memorial garden in the backyard of our house in Edmond, and pray for the day when things feel normal again.
And as I look forward to another semester, I close the door on a critical summer of healing. Someone told me that it takes at least three years to regain a sense of normalcy after your mother dies. I think each person is on his or her own pace; trust me, you never view the world the same again. Your world view is permanently altered.
It's the strangest feeling I could ever imagine.
But I wanted to take this moment to say thank you to everyone who has prayed for me and my family, and for all the wonderful support everyone has provided. I've sent out Thank You cards to everyone, I believe, but I wanted to take this last opportunity to say how meaningful it all was.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
A New Level of Stupidity
I was in our local Wal Mart Super Center over the weekend (yes, I shop at Wal Mart, and for that, friends, I will not apologize); anyway, there was a table set up with the single-serve sizes of Jif peanut butter.
On the table, there was a sign that screamed, "WARNING."
I thought perhaps there had been a product recall.
No.
The sign actually said, in smaller print, "This product contains peanuts. Those who have allergies to peanuts should not consume this product."
Did you know peanut butter contains peanuts? How dare it!
What have we come to as a society?
On the table, there was a sign that screamed, "WARNING."
I thought perhaps there had been a product recall.
No.
The sign actually said, in smaller print, "This product contains peanuts. Those who have allergies to peanuts should not consume this product."
Did you know peanut butter contains peanuts? How dare it!
What have we come to as a society?
Friday, August 15, 2008
More on Bigfoot
Oh, this is too much for me.
Unbeknownst to me, SE Oklahoma is a hotbed of Bigfoot activity. I learned this little factoid this morning as we in the Graduate College were standing around because we had no electricity for about two hours.
I'd like to point out that SE Oklahoma also is a hotbed for meth labs. I'm not saying that there's any correlation, but I would just like to point out the facts.
I'd also like to point out, as pointed out to me by several of my Okie friends, that normal, emotionally healthy people don't go to SE Oklahoma on purpose.
So, I had to share this with you, dear readers, because this quote is absolutely priceless. It appeared in today's Oklahoman. (I must admit, I would have loved to be the reporter covering this story).
It takes me back to the days of being the reporting intern at the Beaver County Times in Beaver, Pa., when my editors would make me take the calls of the people reporting squash shaped like Elvis or Jesus and clouds that looked like the Virgin Mary, and ooh, look, this one is crying.
"Uh, isn't that rain?"
And then they would yell at me.
You know what Judge Judy said, "When you encounter crazy, proceed in the opposite direction."
So now there's all this controversy because these two men from Georgia (again, the U.S. state) are holding this press conference today that apparently proves the existence of Bigfoot. These men, too, apparently are using a Las Vegas promoter to help them with the press conference. (A quick aside, for the record, these men also will take you on a tour for the cheap, cheap price of $499 to look for leprechauns, too.)
And of course, this has the Bigfoot Support Network in Oklahoma all upset.
"I'm gonna be very disappointed in these men for bringing this to the public's attention if this is a hoax,” said DW Lee, who founded the Mid-America Bigfoot Research Center. "It's gonna make the Bigfoot community look real bad.”
AS IF ...
I don't know what's funnier to me (and Lord knows I was laughing so hard my yummy raspberry Earl Grey tea went out my nose), that there actually is a person who heads up the Mid-America Bigfoot Research Center, or that he believes that someone can actually make the Bigfoot community look worse than the participants themselves.
This is what the abuse of prescription drugs has done to brains, my friends. Let this be a warning to you.
Unbeknownst to me, SE Oklahoma is a hotbed of Bigfoot activity. I learned this little factoid this morning as we in the Graduate College were standing around because we had no electricity for about two hours.
I'd like to point out that SE Oklahoma also is a hotbed for meth labs. I'm not saying that there's any correlation, but I would just like to point out the facts.
I'd also like to point out, as pointed out to me by several of my Okie friends, that normal, emotionally healthy people don't go to SE Oklahoma on purpose.
So, I had to share this with you, dear readers, because this quote is absolutely priceless. It appeared in today's Oklahoman. (I must admit, I would have loved to be the reporter covering this story).
It takes me back to the days of being the reporting intern at the Beaver County Times in Beaver, Pa., when my editors would make me take the calls of the people reporting squash shaped like Elvis or Jesus and clouds that looked like the Virgin Mary, and ooh, look, this one is crying.
"Uh, isn't that rain?"
And then they would yell at me.
You know what Judge Judy said, "When you encounter crazy, proceed in the opposite direction."
So now there's all this controversy because these two men from Georgia (again, the U.S. state) are holding this press conference today that apparently proves the existence of Bigfoot. These men, too, apparently are using a Las Vegas promoter to help them with the press conference. (A quick aside, for the record, these men also will take you on a tour for the cheap, cheap price of $499 to look for leprechauns, too.)
And of course, this has the Bigfoot Support Network in Oklahoma all upset.
"I'm gonna be very disappointed in these men for bringing this to the public's attention if this is a hoax,” said DW Lee, who founded the Mid-America Bigfoot Research Center. "It's gonna make the Bigfoot community look real bad.”
AS IF ...
I don't know what's funnier to me (and Lord knows I was laughing so hard my yummy raspberry Earl Grey tea went out my nose), that there actually is a person who heads up the Mid-America Bigfoot Research Center, or that he believes that someone can actually make the Bigfoot community look worse than the participants themselves.
This is what the abuse of prescription drugs has done to brains, my friends. Let this be a warning to you.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Check out the New Feature!
Scroll to the bottom of my blog and see what I've brought to you, my dear readers.
News headlines!
Yes, that's right. It's a new and exciting feature straight from your friend on the Prairie!
News headlines!
Yes, that's right. It's a new and exciting feature straight from your friend on the Prairie!
The Bigfoot Press Conference
Sometimes, something comes along and absolutely trumps any other poll questions I was going to post, and that is the case with Bigfoot, whose corpse apparently has been discovered by some people in Georgia (the U.S. state whose capital is Atlanta, not to be confused with the country that is at war with Russia).
Does it surprise anyone that the "discovery" was made in a Southern state? As if the South needed more to embarrass the region ...
They are going to hold a press conference Friday in Palo Alto, California.
But of course, this was all over the radio station, with disc jockeys having listeners call in to weigh in on the existence of the hairy 7-foot beast.
One guy swears he had a sighting in Choctaw, Oklahoma. So the disc jockey says, "How much were you drinking?"
I view Bigfoot like I view ghosts: If they exist, I will not believe it until I actually see either with my own eyes. Then, I won't even necessarily believe it unless it's verified by several scientists, and then maybe they'll have me slightly convinced. Just maybe.
Hoaxes have decorated history, some even with the support of scientists.
Do any of you remember the hoax of the Piltdown Man in England? This was the infamous fake skull. Piltdown Man was discovered in a gravel pit in England in 1912 and some anthropologists spent their entire careers examining this thing. Scientists even gave it a scientific name, Eoanthropus dawsoni. The skull was exposed as a forgery in the 1950s.
This is why I love to observe humanity. Truth is stranger than fiction.
Does it surprise anyone that the "discovery" was made in a Southern state? As if the South needed more to embarrass the region ...
They are going to hold a press conference Friday in Palo Alto, California.
But of course, this was all over the radio station, with disc jockeys having listeners call in to weigh in on the existence of the hairy 7-foot beast.
One guy swears he had a sighting in Choctaw, Oklahoma. So the disc jockey says, "How much were you drinking?"
I view Bigfoot like I view ghosts: If they exist, I will not believe it until I actually see either with my own eyes. Then, I won't even necessarily believe it unless it's verified by several scientists, and then maybe they'll have me slightly convinced. Just maybe.
Hoaxes have decorated history, some even with the support of scientists.
Do any of you remember the hoax of the Piltdown Man in England? This was the infamous fake skull. Piltdown Man was discovered in a gravel pit in England in 1912 and some anthropologists spent their entire careers examining this thing. Scientists even gave it a scientific name, Eoanthropus dawsoni. The skull was exposed as a forgery in the 1950s.
This is why I love to observe humanity. Truth is stranger than fiction.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Great Athlete Debate
I've been glued to the television for these Olympics. Something has just drawn me in this time.
And, of course, Michael Phelps' performance has fueled the debate, Who is the greatest athlete of all time? (I'm going to use this on my poll when the last poll expires). But it is interesting to think about.
Is it Tiger Woods? Babe Ruth? Wayne Gretsky? (Dante would probably say it's Gretsky). Michael Jordan? (I'm partial to Jordan, but that's also because I like basketball more than any other sport). Who else belongs on the list for the Great Athlete Debate? Should there even be a Great Athlete Debate by looking at athletes across sports, or should you just select the Greatest Athlete per sport?
And, if you don't consider golf a sport, can Tiger Woods be considered?
And, of course, Michael Phelps' performance has fueled the debate, Who is the greatest athlete of all time? (I'm going to use this on my poll when the last poll expires). But it is interesting to think about.
Is it Tiger Woods? Babe Ruth? Wayne Gretsky? (Dante would probably say it's Gretsky). Michael Jordan? (I'm partial to Jordan, but that's also because I like basketball more than any other sport). Who else belongs on the list for the Great Athlete Debate? Should there even be a Great Athlete Debate by looking at athletes across sports, or should you just select the Greatest Athlete per sport?
And, if you don't consider golf a sport, can Tiger Woods be considered?
Funny Celebrity News
OK, I have to laugh out loud at some of the things in celebrity news lately. I told you, all the flakes fall together.
Ali Lohan got a boob job, apparently. (For those of you who don't know this Special Frosted Flake, she is the sister of the Wreck Known as Lindsay "Now I'm a Lesbian" Lohan).
Ali's best claim to fame is that she is a reality star with her mother, Dina Lohan.
(A goose wakes up to a new day every day, never learns its lessons). Dina Lohan is a goose.
P. Diddy has declared that he could be a Sex Olympian.
And Britney Spears' mother, Lynne Spears, has published a book on what it's like raising stars in a tabloid world.
I know all of you will be running to pick up that book and take Lynne's mothering advice.
Ali Lohan got a boob job, apparently. (For those of you who don't know this Special Frosted Flake, she is the sister of the Wreck Known as Lindsay "Now I'm a Lesbian" Lohan).
Ali's best claim to fame is that she is a reality star with her mother, Dina Lohan.
(A goose wakes up to a new day every day, never learns its lessons). Dina Lohan is a goose.
P. Diddy has declared that he could be a Sex Olympian.
And Britney Spears' mother, Lynne Spears, has published a book on what it's like raising stars in a tabloid world.
I know all of you will be running to pick up that book and take Lynne's mothering advice.
Looney Clooney Clears Himself
Do I believe People magazine's story that George Clooney now says he is not advising Obama?
I don't know.
Apparently, he's offering $1 million to anyone who can prove that he is advising Obama.
See the story here
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20218790,00.html
In all fairness, though, I have to post the fact that now Clooney says that he's not advising Obama because I posted that he was advising Obama.
Just remember, all the flakes fall together. It's a rule of nature. I didn't make the rule, I just know it's true.
I don't know.
Apparently, he's offering $1 million to anyone who can prove that he is advising Obama.
See the story here
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20218790,00.html
In all fairness, though, I have to post the fact that now Clooney says that he's not advising Obama because I posted that he was advising Obama.
Just remember, all the flakes fall together. It's a rule of nature. I didn't make the rule, I just know it's true.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The Russian-Georgian Conflict
Dear Readers:
I love fresh perspective. I love learning from people of different cultures, and in my work at the University of Oklahoma, I am able to work with people from all over the world. One of those people is Max (Maksym) Kovalov, who is from the Ukraine. Max sent this e-mail about the Russian-Georgian conflict; coming from that part of the world, he has an extremely unique perspective on the situation and I thought you all would benefit from the information Max provides in this writing. This is the e-mail in its entirety; I have not changed anything. Max is working on his Ph.D. in political science.
Sincerely,
Angie
You might have heard about the Russian-Georgian conflict over the last several days.
I wanted to send you an email of awareness that might shed a light on what’s going on from my, possibly biased point of view.
To my (and I am sure to millions of other Russian-speaking families around the world) great concern, the war that was launched by Russia against Georgia has already resulted in thousands of people dead or wounded, the partition of the Georgian territory, and a loss of the international image of Russia.
The cause of the conflict is the small territory of South Osetia. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, dozens of territories in the former Soviet Union proclaimed their independence. So did South Osetia - the region under the Georgian jurisdiction. However, officially, S. Osetia was recognized by almost none of the countries in the world. Today, the area is considered to be a zone of an ethnic conflict by the world community. Over the last several years, the parties have been conducting peaceful negotiations. The negotiations halted on August 8, 2008 when Georgia launched an offensive claiming that the Osetian separatists opened fire on Georgian villages. Russia moved its troops into Osetia and started rapidly moving through the Georgian territory. They also launched the airstrikes on Georgian villages, towns and its capital.
This is the short summary. There is a lot of speculation and very biased information among the Russian, Ukrainian (they support the Georgian side) and Western media. The official Russian position sustains that Georgia is the aggressor and Russia seeks to protect the ethnic Russians living in Osetia. From the western position, Russia launched one of the first post-Cold war attacks as a sign of zero-tolerance of the former Soviet states’ aspirations to join NATO, the EU and other western institutions. In other words, after trade, gas and other Russian policies did not work in regards to Georgia, Russia used Osetia as an excuse to launch an attack. I am not saying that this position is not biased. I am not taking either governments’ sides. But the military aggression of the second (arguably) most powerful military machine in the world on the state with the population of 5 million people is a disgrace.
The war is a special sadness for me because the peaceful citizens – both Russian and Georgia are dying because of the empirial aspirations of one (Russia) and/or of the so-called constitutional order-campaign by another (Georgia). These and other 13 states (including Ukraine) have co-existed for centuries. We share the same language, and to the extend culture and traditions, we trade with each other and share problems.
My email does not have any secret agenda other than to let you know about what’s going on. I am sure there are tens of war-like conflicts that erupt around the world every day and some last for years and decades. It’s very hard to heal the wounds that have an ethnic origin. Unfortunately, we pay attention to the events that are close to our geography, culture, and mind… I hope that this conflict will be over soon and people on both sides will come back to their normal life. At least those who remained alive. If you can call normal doing what you usually do after losing a family member - a father, a son, and a child.
May peace be with all of us.
I love fresh perspective. I love learning from people of different cultures, and in my work at the University of Oklahoma, I am able to work with people from all over the world. One of those people is Max (Maksym) Kovalov, who is from the Ukraine. Max sent this e-mail about the Russian-Georgian conflict; coming from that part of the world, he has an extremely unique perspective on the situation and I thought you all would benefit from the information Max provides in this writing. This is the e-mail in its entirety; I have not changed anything. Max is working on his Ph.D. in political science.
Sincerely,
Angie
You might have heard about the Russian-Georgian conflict over the last several days.
I wanted to send you an email of awareness that might shed a light on what’s going on from my, possibly biased point of view.
To my (and I am sure to millions of other Russian-speaking families around the world) great concern, the war that was launched by Russia against Georgia has already resulted in thousands of people dead or wounded, the partition of the Georgian territory, and a loss of the international image of Russia.
The cause of the conflict is the small territory of South Osetia. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, dozens of territories in the former Soviet Union proclaimed their independence. So did South Osetia - the region under the Georgian jurisdiction. However, officially, S. Osetia was recognized by almost none of the countries in the world. Today, the area is considered to be a zone of an ethnic conflict by the world community. Over the last several years, the parties have been conducting peaceful negotiations. The negotiations halted on August 8, 2008 when Georgia launched an offensive claiming that the Osetian separatists opened fire on Georgian villages. Russia moved its troops into Osetia and started rapidly moving through the Georgian territory. They also launched the airstrikes on Georgian villages, towns and its capital.
This is the short summary. There is a lot of speculation and very biased information among the Russian, Ukrainian (they support the Georgian side) and Western media. The official Russian position sustains that Georgia is the aggressor and Russia seeks to protect the ethnic Russians living in Osetia. From the western position, Russia launched one of the first post-Cold war attacks as a sign of zero-tolerance of the former Soviet states’ aspirations to join NATO, the EU and other western institutions. In other words, after trade, gas and other Russian policies did not work in regards to Georgia, Russia used Osetia as an excuse to launch an attack. I am not saying that this position is not biased. I am not taking either governments’ sides. But the military aggression of the second (arguably) most powerful military machine in the world on the state with the population of 5 million people is a disgrace.
The war is a special sadness for me because the peaceful citizens – both Russian and Georgia are dying because of the empirial aspirations of one (Russia) and/or of the so-called constitutional order-campaign by another (Georgia). These and other 13 states (including Ukraine) have co-existed for centuries. We share the same language, and to the extend culture and traditions, we trade with each other and share problems.
My email does not have any secret agenda other than to let you know about what’s going on. I am sure there are tens of war-like conflicts that erupt around the world every day and some last for years and decades. It’s very hard to heal the wounds that have an ethnic origin. Unfortunately, we pay attention to the events that are close to our geography, culture, and mind… I hope that this conflict will be over soon and people on both sides will come back to their normal life. At least those who remained alive. If you can call normal doing what you usually do after losing a family member - a father, a son, and a child.
May peace be with all of us.
Out and Proud
In my experience, there are two types of people in the world. People who will admit that they like celebrity gossip or read their astrologies, and liars.
I'm out and proud about my fascination with astrology and the fact that I buy copies of People magazine and other celebrity gossip rags.
Hell yes.
And I don't make excuses. One time, I was standing in line, waiting to board a plane and I overheard two people talking about how they'd never buy "those" magazines.
They were staring at me as I stood there, sorting through the Special Double Issue of People magazine to find out who got liposuction and who didn't.
Inquiring minds want to know!
Their stares started to burn a hole in my magazine cover, and I was quite perturbed. How dare they try to read over my shoulder!
So I did the only thing any self-respecting Celebrity Gossip Queen can do. I stared right back and said, "I don't pretend not to love these things. I buy all I can. I read it all."
They stared at me in disbelief. Then I got the last laugh when they borrowed my copies of People and US magazine on the plane ride.
The knowledge I have gained has more than once benefitted me in my life, thankyouverymuch. For example, any of my friends or family know who to call for a Phone-A-Friend if they ever happen to be on the "Millionaire" game show and need a phone-a-friend to answer a question about England's Royal Family.
I saw Diana and Charles' wedding. I sobbed when the boys were born and when Diana died. I know Fergie's name isn't really Fergie (and we're not talking about the woman who sings with Black Eyed Peas). We're talking the former Duchess of York.
I mean, do you know the last name of England's Royal Family?
I predicted Britney would go crazy at the time she appeared on Star Search.
I am a vast Encyclopedia for Useless Celebrity Information. It is my useless skill, albeit very, very entertaining.
When Dante is working his NYTimes crossword puzzles, who does he go to for celebrity information?
I don't believe all the stuff I read, thank goodness. God gave me a brain for a reason. But today, I was astounded at the accuracy of a horoscope I read. (I'm a Scorpio, by the way).
And all of you who know me know that this describes me to a T! Admit it!
"Taking care of business is a major theme where your emotional orientation is concerned now. You crave organization and practicality, and you want to get things accomplished. You aim to have a place for everything and everything in its place - and anything that gets in the way gets on your nerves."
(If you want to know the source of that horoscope, I will keep your secret. Because you know you want to look up your own. Unless you're a Scorpio. Then I've done it for you.)
I'm out and proud about my fascination with astrology and the fact that I buy copies of People magazine and other celebrity gossip rags.
Hell yes.
And I don't make excuses. One time, I was standing in line, waiting to board a plane and I overheard two people talking about how they'd never buy "those" magazines.
They were staring at me as I stood there, sorting through the Special Double Issue of People magazine to find out who got liposuction and who didn't.
Inquiring minds want to know!
Their stares started to burn a hole in my magazine cover, and I was quite perturbed. How dare they try to read over my shoulder!
So I did the only thing any self-respecting Celebrity Gossip Queen can do. I stared right back and said, "I don't pretend not to love these things. I buy all I can. I read it all."
They stared at me in disbelief. Then I got the last laugh when they borrowed my copies of People and US magazine on the plane ride.
The knowledge I have gained has more than once benefitted me in my life, thankyouverymuch. For example, any of my friends or family know who to call for a Phone-A-Friend if they ever happen to be on the "Millionaire" game show and need a phone-a-friend to answer a question about England's Royal Family.
I saw Diana and Charles' wedding. I sobbed when the boys were born and when Diana died. I know Fergie's name isn't really Fergie (and we're not talking about the woman who sings with Black Eyed Peas). We're talking the former Duchess of York.
I mean, do you know the last name of England's Royal Family?
I predicted Britney would go crazy at the time she appeared on Star Search.
I am a vast Encyclopedia for Useless Celebrity Information. It is my useless skill, albeit very, very entertaining.
When Dante is working his NYTimes crossword puzzles, who does he go to for celebrity information?
I don't believe all the stuff I read, thank goodness. God gave me a brain for a reason. But today, I was astounded at the accuracy of a horoscope I read. (I'm a Scorpio, by the way).
And all of you who know me know that this describes me to a T! Admit it!
"Taking care of business is a major theme where your emotional orientation is concerned now. You crave organization and practicality, and you want to get things accomplished. You aim to have a place for everything and everything in its place - and anything that gets in the way gets on your nerves."
(If you want to know the source of that horoscope, I will keep your secret. Because you know you want to look up your own. Unless you're a Scorpio. Then I've done it for you.)
Obama and Clooney
This is why the McCain campaign is running so many commercials (expect more to come) of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois) and the celebrity status.
It should be a concern to voters that Obama is getting style and oratory advice from actor George Clooney.
Apparently, according to recent reports, the two of them have become great buddies.
I wasn't impressed when former President Bill Clinton played his saxophone with great fanfare and became one of the top celebrity presidents.
I certainly am not impressed that Obama is courting the Hollywood elites. I think Hollywood is the Land of Narcissists, where what you say has no meaning. And Clooney is the King.
And it doesn't impress me that Michelle Obama has been named one of Vogue's best dressed.
This is like a job interview, and if I was interviewing each of them, I would be more interested in tangible results than in a bleached, large-toothed smile.
Can they run a country that is at war and handle foreign policy issues that will forever shape the United States' role in the world?
Who can get the results this country needs, especially on domestic issues?
I implore each and every one of you to critically think through who gets your vote this November.
It should be a concern to voters that Obama is getting style and oratory advice from actor George Clooney.
Apparently, according to recent reports, the two of them have become great buddies.
I wasn't impressed when former President Bill Clinton played his saxophone with great fanfare and became one of the top celebrity presidents.
I certainly am not impressed that Obama is courting the Hollywood elites. I think Hollywood is the Land of Narcissists, where what you say has no meaning. And Clooney is the King.
And it doesn't impress me that Michelle Obama has been named one of Vogue's best dressed.
This is like a job interview, and if I was interviewing each of them, I would be more interested in tangible results than in a bleached, large-toothed smile.
Can they run a country that is at war and handle foreign policy issues that will forever shape the United States' role in the world?
Who can get the results this country needs, especially on domestic issues?
I implore each and every one of you to critically think through who gets your vote this November.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Hunan Province and the AIDS Epidemic
As we watch the spectacular Olympics in Beijing, we have to also look at the human rights abuses in a country that, for all its economic prosperity, has done much to conceal horrors such as the AIDS epidemic in its Hunan Province.
I've known about this for some time, but was reminded of it again as I listened to the program "The Story" which broadcasts on National Public Radio. "The Story" focused its August 11 program on a doctor who had to leave China under heat for the work she had done to help AIDS victims in Hunan.
The reason the peasant population of that province is suffering from AIDS is because of the government, who convinced poor farmers to donate their blood, from which officials extracted the plasma, then officials pooled the blood communally (never testing it for any disease, let alone HIV) by blood type and then, here, come here, get your blood back.
This has been practiced through blood collection centers.
If you want to read more about the doctor and her fight, click on this link here.
It's an extremely interesting story.
http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-3-26/53326.html
I've known about this for some time, but was reminded of it again as I listened to the program "The Story" which broadcasts on National Public Radio. "The Story" focused its August 11 program on a doctor who had to leave China under heat for the work she had done to help AIDS victims in Hunan.
The reason the peasant population of that province is suffering from AIDS is because of the government, who convinced poor farmers to donate their blood, from which officials extracted the plasma, then officials pooled the blood communally (never testing it for any disease, let alone HIV) by blood type and then, here, come here, get your blood back.
This has been practiced through blood collection centers.
If you want to read more about the doctor and her fight, click on this link here.
It's an extremely interesting story.
http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-3-26/53326.html
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Cheering with the United States
By now, the United States has impressed in several categories at the Beijing Games.
Michael Phelps took the gold in men's 400-meter swimming. That doesn't surprise anyone, most likely.
Dara Torres pushed the women to a silver medal position in the 4X100 meter relay. That's significant for Torres, who at age 41 has had to answer more questions about taking performance-enhancing drugs because of her ability to perform at her age.
(For the record, she says she hasn't taken any drugs. She feels she has to be a role model for people her age and to be pure in her performance).
And if you aren't into watching fencing or fencing-related sports, the United States scored all three medals in women's sabre, which is a fast-paced fencing form where nothing is off guard, even the head.
Now, we're enjoying watching LeBron take on Yao Ming. This is when you appreciate the triumph of the individual spirit, especially when you watch someone like LeBron. I don't even have to write his last name. That in and of itself is powerful.
Michael Phelps took the gold in men's 400-meter swimming. That doesn't surprise anyone, most likely.
Dara Torres pushed the women to a silver medal position in the 4X100 meter relay. That's significant for Torres, who at age 41 has had to answer more questions about taking performance-enhancing drugs because of her ability to perform at her age.
(For the record, she says she hasn't taken any drugs. She feels she has to be a role model for people her age and to be pure in her performance).
And if you aren't into watching fencing or fencing-related sports, the United States scored all three medals in women's sabre, which is a fast-paced fencing form where nothing is off guard, even the head.
Now, we're enjoying watching LeBron take on Yao Ming. This is when you appreciate the triumph of the individual spirit, especially when you watch someone like LeBron. I don't even have to write his last name. That in and of itself is powerful.
Will Power
I've long been a fan of columnist George Will, who I believe is one of the more intelligent writers of our time.
His column this week holds particular appeal, because he writes about progress.
Sounds like potentially boring topic, right? Unless you look at American history and watch the progress over the last 100 years of how United States society has treated blacks.
Then you see the progress when you look at the 2008 United States presidential race.
(Link to Will's column here http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/will081008.php3)
He encourages the reader to remember Springfield, Illinois, race riots and killings in 1908.
It provides an interesting perspective. No matter how messy the presidential race gets over these next few months, remember, we're still making progress.
His column this week holds particular appeal, because he writes about progress.
Sounds like potentially boring topic, right? Unless you look at American history and watch the progress over the last 100 years of how United States society has treated blacks.
Then you see the progress when you look at the 2008 United States presidential race.
(Link to Will's column here http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/will081008.php3)
He encourages the reader to remember Springfield, Illinois, race riots and killings in 1908.
It provides an interesting perspective. No matter how messy the presidential race gets over these next few months, remember, we're still making progress.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
The Spectacular Olympics
Dante and I sat at a sushi bar in Edmond on Friday evening, caught up in discussion about our weeks at work and what yard projects we would tackle over the weekend.
And then it mesmerized us on the 32-inch flat screen behind the sushi bar. It was the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
I've never been to China, but I've been blessed to know many people who have come from that country and I wouldn't expect anything less than perfection in executing opening ceremonies for an event that would welcome the whole world.
It's a country that very much has worked to make economic and political gains. Obviously, right? Otherwise, we wouldn't worry about teaching our children Mandarin and universities wouldn't be offering courses called, "How to do business in China."
This past week, we were asked to participate in a survey at the University of Oklahoma, where officials were gauging our attitudes toward China.
"Do you believe China deserves to host the 2008 Summer Olympics?"
Yes, of course.
Then they gauged our attitudes on other areas, including how we feel toward working with Chinese folks, etc.
Then, the question that I couldn't wait to answer: Do you trust the Chinese government?
No.
Furthermore, I do not believe nor will I ever believe that a communist structure is best for the long-term gain of a nation's people.
The irony of the Communist Country host is that China is welcoming the world's athletes who embody the power of the individual spirit, and the gains made when people work together, of course, but the glory that is achieved through each human being who has been given the right to pursue his or her personal best.
If this isn't the ultimate hallmark of humanity, I don't know what is.
And then it mesmerized us on the 32-inch flat screen behind the sushi bar. It was the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
I've never been to China, but I've been blessed to know many people who have come from that country and I wouldn't expect anything less than perfection in executing opening ceremonies for an event that would welcome the whole world.
It's a country that very much has worked to make economic and political gains. Obviously, right? Otherwise, we wouldn't worry about teaching our children Mandarin and universities wouldn't be offering courses called, "How to do business in China."
This past week, we were asked to participate in a survey at the University of Oklahoma, where officials were gauging our attitudes toward China.
"Do you believe China deserves to host the 2008 Summer Olympics?"
Yes, of course.
Then they gauged our attitudes on other areas, including how we feel toward working with Chinese folks, etc.
Then, the question that I couldn't wait to answer: Do you trust the Chinese government?
No.
Furthermore, I do not believe nor will I ever believe that a communist structure is best for the long-term gain of a nation's people.
The irony of the Communist Country host is that China is welcoming the world's athletes who embody the power of the individual spirit, and the gains made when people work together, of course, but the glory that is achieved through each human being who has been given the right to pursue his or her personal best.
If this isn't the ultimate hallmark of humanity, I don't know what is.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Oklahoma City Revisited
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/travel/escapes/08American.html?scp=1&sq=Oklahoma%20City&st=cse
The New York Times has run a story today about the boom of Oklahoma City.
Dante and I have owned our home in the OKC suburb of Edmond now for three years. That in itself is hard to imagine. OKC is its own quirky place and I remember my first 18 months here.
I hated it, and hate for me is a very difficult thing. The wind grates against you, especially in the winter, like an unsolicited rub from an irritating stranger who won't stop drumming his fingers along your skin.
The culture was, at best, very bizarre. In two years' time, I saw horses grazing alongside my bank's drive-thru ATM machine; I had fought aggressive Thug Christians who were more interested in saving my soul than they were in looking at the man or woman in the mirror.
(Unbeknownst to them, my soul doesn't need saving. I gave my life to God a long, long time ago, more than 15 years ago, and I can't imagine a day that my heart isn't with the Man Upstairs).
I was fed up with the question (which came from many, many people): "How did your husband get that job in Oklahoma? It should have gone to an Okie."
It took me a long time to put this place into perspective, especially when Rep. Sally Kern's face showed up on the Ellen DeGeneres Show for Kern's assertion that gays are worst than terrorists.
As the saying goes, things happen for a reason and as I've believed all my life, God has a plan for me. I was all prepared to move to Texas to get my master's degree. But it didn't happen that way. The University of Oklahoma made me an offer I couldn't refuse, so, as one friend put it, "You must make hay while the sun is shining."
And so I'm making hay. I have come to know so many people here in Oklahoma City, and it's grown on me more than I like to admit. Oklahoma is its own quiet place, where the wind blows harder than it should and the pace may not be what some people like.
But for me, it serves more of a purpose now and I'm glad to see that OKC is getting some national attention that isn't about Rep. Kern or the silly county commissioner with such a controversial comic book.
The New York Times has run a story today about the boom of Oklahoma City.
Dante and I have owned our home in the OKC suburb of Edmond now for three years. That in itself is hard to imagine. OKC is its own quirky place and I remember my first 18 months here.
I hated it, and hate for me is a very difficult thing. The wind grates against you, especially in the winter, like an unsolicited rub from an irritating stranger who won't stop drumming his fingers along your skin.
The culture was, at best, very bizarre. In two years' time, I saw horses grazing alongside my bank's drive-thru ATM machine; I had fought aggressive Thug Christians who were more interested in saving my soul than they were in looking at the man or woman in the mirror.
(Unbeknownst to them, my soul doesn't need saving. I gave my life to God a long, long time ago, more than 15 years ago, and I can't imagine a day that my heart isn't with the Man Upstairs).
I was fed up with the question (which came from many, many people): "How did your husband get that job in Oklahoma? It should have gone to an Okie."
It took me a long time to put this place into perspective, especially when Rep. Sally Kern's face showed up on the Ellen DeGeneres Show for Kern's assertion that gays are worst than terrorists.
As the saying goes, things happen for a reason and as I've believed all my life, God has a plan for me. I was all prepared to move to Texas to get my master's degree. But it didn't happen that way. The University of Oklahoma made me an offer I couldn't refuse, so, as one friend put it, "You must make hay while the sun is shining."
And so I'm making hay. I have come to know so many people here in Oklahoma City, and it's grown on me more than I like to admit. Oklahoma is its own quiet place, where the wind blows harder than it should and the pace may not be what some people like.
But for me, it serves more of a purpose now and I'm glad to see that OKC is getting some national attention that isn't about Rep. Kern or the silly county commissioner with such a controversial comic book.
School Days
Before the new semester rush starts and things get really chaotic, I have to take a moment to reflect on what it's like to be 32 and facing the first day of school for a new school year, as a student, and watching freshman kids race around in new-found freedom as they discover what it's like to be away from home for the first time.
In a lot of cases, it's not pretty. The coming-of-age experience is not one that I would want to live over.
As I've left my office each day this week to go home, I made the realization that my office happens to be across the street from the very big, very crowded Delta Gamma sorority house.
They're welcoming all the "Dee Gees" back this week and Elm Street is teeming with young girls in tank tops and shorts, chanting group-think sayings and mind-washing songs. They're getting ready to start their own "rush," which will include ushering in a new class of "Dee Gees."
I thought someone was playing a prank on me and I was going to be told I was on Candid Camera.
The young men, of course, don't know what to do with themselves. One or two fraternity houses are on either side of the Dee Gee house. It's like a G-Rated version of the Playboy Mansion, at least the part that we see on the street.
I try to understand the need for sororities and fraternities, but I'm just not the type. If it helps freshmen adjust, then I guess the groups play their part.
I wouldn't want to go back to those days. When we were freshmen and underage, we hung out in the fraternity houses because the beer was free and no one carded us.
We all grow up, thank goodness.
Admittedly, I like where I am, but I am also the first one to admit how hard it is. At 32, I'm exposed to the mischief of freshmen on a college campus in the middle of No Man's Land. Unless they're going to drive to OKC or Dallas or find some cows to tip, they're trapped in this college town until their parents see their first semester grades and decide if the investment is worth it or not.
In a lot of cases, it's not pretty. The coming-of-age experience is not one that I would want to live over.
As I've left my office each day this week to go home, I made the realization that my office happens to be across the street from the very big, very crowded Delta Gamma sorority house.
They're welcoming all the "Dee Gees" back this week and Elm Street is teeming with young girls in tank tops and shorts, chanting group-think sayings and mind-washing songs. They're getting ready to start their own "rush," which will include ushering in a new class of "Dee Gees."
I thought someone was playing a prank on me and I was going to be told I was on Candid Camera.
The young men, of course, don't know what to do with themselves. One or two fraternity houses are on either side of the Dee Gee house. It's like a G-Rated version of the Playboy Mansion, at least the part that we see on the street.
I try to understand the need for sororities and fraternities, but I'm just not the type. If it helps freshmen adjust, then I guess the groups play their part.
I wouldn't want to go back to those days. When we were freshmen and underage, we hung out in the fraternity houses because the beer was free and no one carded us.
We all grow up, thank goodness.
Admittedly, I like where I am, but I am also the first one to admit how hard it is. At 32, I'm exposed to the mischief of freshmen on a college campus in the middle of No Man's Land. Unless they're going to drive to OKC or Dallas or find some cows to tip, they're trapped in this college town until their parents see their first semester grades and decide if the investment is worth it or not.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Detroit's Mayor Has Been Put in Jail
It's true.
Check this out, then respond to my poll!
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/17120142/detail.html
Check this out, then respond to my poll!
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/17120142/detail.html
The Paris Video
I don't like to give any compliments to Paris Hilton, but she deserves huge kudos this time.
She made an ad in response to McCain's use of her image in his campaign ads.
You can link to it here, if you haven't seen it.
http://www.funnyordie.com/
It's really clever. Moreover, she is FOR offshore drilling. If you haven't been paying attention, though, so now is Sen. Obama.
She made an ad in response to McCain's use of her image in his campaign ads.
You can link to it here, if you haven't seen it.
http://www.funnyordie.com/
It's really clever. Moreover, she is FOR offshore drilling. If you haven't been paying attention, though, so now is Sen. Obama.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
I've Done It
I've completed my rigorous 6-week athletic training.
I'm proud to say that I've lost 3 percent body fat and at least 5 pounds.
My core is stronger than it's ever been, and hopefully, this will all help me as I focus on getting the final tumor removed from my leg and go through more rehabilitation.
During the training, I had to stick with a strict high protein (60 grams per day), lean, lean, lean diet.
I do have to say, the dietary changes were extremely helpful. I don't crave sugary stuff anymore, so I can tell you that is a permanent change.
Onward and upward ...
I'm proud to say that I've lost 3 percent body fat and at least 5 pounds.
My core is stronger than it's ever been, and hopefully, this will all help me as I focus on getting the final tumor removed from my leg and go through more rehabilitation.
During the training, I had to stick with a strict high protein (60 grams per day), lean, lean, lean diet.
I do have to say, the dietary changes were extremely helpful. I don't crave sugary stuff anymore, so I can tell you that is a permanent change.
Onward and upward ...
Monday, August 4, 2008
T. Boone Pickens and the Energy Crisis
Oilman T. Boone Pickens was (is) on Larry King Live as I am writing this.
As I said in my previous post, we obviously need answers to the "Energy Crisis" in the United States.
While we're discussing this, hand Sen. Barack Obama another pair of flip flops. He has changed his mind on offshore drilling. If you didn't watch any of the coverage of his speech in Lansing, Mich., he's using the energy crisis to ensure that part of the Rust Belt that automobile manufacturing will come back in the form of meeting demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
He's doing this so Ohio will vote for him. (Be warned, Ohio).
About Pickens, he said at 85 million barrels a day, oil has peaked.
"Oil is getting old and I am, too. There's plenty of wind in the wind corridor for everybody."
The "Wind Corridor" runs from Sweetwater, Texas, to Canada. I've seen plenty of these wind farms, and I've even reported on it for OKCBusiness.
Business and government are working to come up with solutions; in the case of business, it has an incentive to act more quickly. Obama's proposed $150 billion plan will spread over 10 years.
Where will the money come from for this?
Obama will be out of office by the time the results come around from his plan, even if he does end up winning and serving two consecutive terms.
As I said in my previous post, we obviously need answers to the "Energy Crisis" in the United States.
While we're discussing this, hand Sen. Barack Obama another pair of flip flops. He has changed his mind on offshore drilling. If you didn't watch any of the coverage of his speech in Lansing, Mich., he's using the energy crisis to ensure that part of the Rust Belt that automobile manufacturing will come back in the form of meeting demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
He's doing this so Ohio will vote for him. (Be warned, Ohio).
About Pickens, he said at 85 million barrels a day, oil has peaked.
"Oil is getting old and I am, too. There's plenty of wind in the wind corridor for everybody."
The "Wind Corridor" runs from Sweetwater, Texas, to Canada. I've seen plenty of these wind farms, and I've even reported on it for OKCBusiness.
Business and government are working to come up with solutions; in the case of business, it has an incentive to act more quickly. Obama's proposed $150 billion plan will spread over 10 years.
Where will the money come from for this?
Obama will be out of office by the time the results come around from his plan, even if he does end up winning and serving two consecutive terms.
The Energy Crisis
United States Presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois) and Sen. John McCain (R- Arizona) are talking a lot about solving the energy crisis today.
Anyone is fooling themselves if they believe there is a short-term fix to this problem. Any "fix" is going to require a concerted effort from government AND business.
Watch Larry King Live tonight as oilman T. Boone Pickens is interviewed. (CNN, 9 p.m. EST)
Americans, especially those who plan to vote in November, need to pay attention to this critical issue.
Anyone is fooling themselves if they believe there is a short-term fix to this problem. Any "fix" is going to require a concerted effort from government AND business.
Watch Larry King Live tonight as oilman T. Boone Pickens is interviewed. (CNN, 9 p.m. EST)
Americans, especially those who plan to vote in November, need to pay attention to this critical issue.
Skip Caray has died
The son of Harry Caray, himself a legend, has died at age 68.
But Skip's sons (two of them) will carry on the family legacy.
Skip Caray had been announcing home games only for the Atlanta Braves this past season as he struggled with his health.
Little known fact: Skip Caray started his career in 1963 with the Tulsa Oilers.
But Skip's sons (two of them) will carry on the family legacy.
Skip Caray had been announcing home games only for the Atlanta Braves this past season as he struggled with his health.
Little known fact: Skip Caray started his career in 1963 with the Tulsa Oilers.
Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man
Just as I thought I could add this to my "Only in Oklahoma" file, this incident happened in Twinsburg, Ohio (my homestate).
A naked man, wearing only sunglasses, was arrested attempting to burglarize a convenience store in Twinsburg, Ohio.
Apparently, he started off wearing shorts, but Lord only knows what happened to his shorts in the process. The security camera showed authorities escorting the man off the premises, obviously with certain parts blanked out.
News reports said that he was taken for "psychiatric evaluation."
NOOOOO....
A naked man, wearing only sunglasses, was arrested attempting to burglarize a convenience store in Twinsburg, Ohio.
Apparently, he started off wearing shorts, but Lord only knows what happened to his shorts in the process. The security camera showed authorities escorting the man off the premises, obviously with certain parts blanked out.
News reports said that he was taken for "psychiatric evaluation."
NOOOOO....
Welcome Home, Chonny Pelosi
Rachel and George Pelosi had a delightful surprise at their home in North Canton, Ohio, on Saturday.
George has lizards. They added Chonny to their home in May; a backyard disaster occurred at the Pelosi home, and the lizard treehouse was disrupted by some other animal, and Chonny ran away from home.
Needless to say, Chonny was considerd gone for good.
George came home on Saturday and found Chonny sunning on the mailbox.
We're happy that he was safely returned to the loving arms of Rachel and George.
We're amazed that he survived, alone, in the yard in the climate of Ohio for several months.
George has lizards. They added Chonny to their home in May; a backyard disaster occurred at the Pelosi home, and the lizard treehouse was disrupted by some other animal, and Chonny ran away from home.
Needless to say, Chonny was considerd gone for good.
George came home on Saturday and found Chonny sunning on the mailbox.
We're happy that he was safely returned to the loving arms of Rachel and George.
We're amazed that he survived, alone, in the yard in the climate of Ohio for several months.
It's Hot Here
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26010409/
Have you seen the story about the heat in Texas and Oklahoma?
It's a scorcher.
As I'm writing this, the cats and I are sitting in a kiddie pool in the backyard that's filled with ice.
Actually, truth be told, I haven't had to resort to that yet, but the cats are tempted.
I do think it's hotter in Phoenix, where my sister lives. She called me yesterday to brag about the remote start on her new car.
Dante and I are still driving our old cars, and we've been OK so far.
Have you seen the story about the heat in Texas and Oklahoma?
It's a scorcher.
As I'm writing this, the cats and I are sitting in a kiddie pool in the backyard that's filled with ice.
Actually, truth be told, I haven't had to resort to that yet, but the cats are tempted.
I do think it's hotter in Phoenix, where my sister lives. She called me yesterday to brag about the remote start on her new car.
Dante and I are still driving our old cars, and we've been OK so far.
I'm on Facebook Now
It's true, Angela Mia DeRosa Giancola has joined 2008.
After talking to several of my friends or hearing from them via e-mail, I am now on Facebook (Melissa and Rachel, you know you're responsible for this.)
So now, I'm on Facebook and MySpace.
Who would have thought?
After talking to several of my friends or hearing from them via e-mail, I am now on Facebook (Melissa and Rachel, you know you're responsible for this.)
So now, I'm on Facebook and MySpace.
Who would have thought?
About The Poll
One of my dear readers asked about the poll on my blog.
I'm glad ya'll enjoy it, and yes, I do create the poll questions, based on lots of things, but mostly, stuff that's happening in pop culture, or, my own curiousity.
I like to keep things exciting on my blog, making sure that there is some way for readers to participate.
If you have any suggestions for questions, please send those my way!
aderosa@att.net or aderosa@ou.edu
I'm glad ya'll enjoy it, and yes, I do create the poll questions, based on lots of things, but mostly, stuff that's happening in pop culture, or, my own curiousity.
I like to keep things exciting on my blog, making sure that there is some way for readers to participate.
If you have any suggestions for questions, please send those my way!
aderosa@att.net or aderosa@ou.edu
The Meaning of a Quote
It would take a lot for me to change my banner quote from Flannery O'Connor, "I write to discover what I know."
But alas, I have come across another quote that sums up quite nicely my entire life view.
"Life is short and the art long, the occasion instant, experiment perilous, decision difficult."
Indeed.
But isn't life fun?
But alas, I have come across another quote that sums up quite nicely my entire life view.
"Life is short and the art long, the occasion instant, experiment perilous, decision difficult."
Indeed.
But isn't life fun?
OKC and the NBA
If ya'll didn't know by now, OKC (Oklahoma City) has its own NBA team now.
This is a city for which a professional sports team is long overdue.
The city hosted the Hornets after the 2005 hurricanes, remember?
But now, thanks to the decision of local businessmen, OKC has a team to call its own.
The first home game will take place Oct. 29 and OKC will host 41 games in the 82-game season.
This will be an excellent boost for the city, both economically (you know I'm always thinking economically), but also for the morale of the population.
This is a city for which a professional sports team is long overdue.
The city hosted the Hornets after the 2005 hurricanes, remember?
But now, thanks to the decision of local businessmen, OKC has a team to call its own.
The first home game will take place Oct. 29 and OKC will host 41 games in the 82-game season.
This will be an excellent boost for the city, both economically (you know I'm always thinking economically), but also for the morale of the population.
The Case Against Plastic
What is Time magazine's pre-occupation with the so-called "green" movement including phasing out plastics?
(Disclaimer: For seven years, I was a full-time reporter for Plastics News. I spent time in plastics factories, reporting on everything from vinyl siding to Tupperware containers to those pesky plastic grocery bags that have every city on the Left Coast and some Midwest cities like Chicago in an uproar. Ban them, they say.)
Needless to say, I know more than anyone would want to know about plastics. I loved it. I enjoyed the industry and its people. It's a fascinating world.
Back to Time.
In a recent issue,
(or link to it here http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1821664,00.html)
it ran an article called, "The Truth About Plastic." I would have thought the author would at least have interviewed someone from the American Chemistry Council or someone who could offer the "other side."
Nope.
They interviewed a 28-year-old marketing coordinator from Chicago who has started her own grassroots effort to ban plastics from her life.
Here's the lead line to the story:
"If you know where to find a good plastic-free shampoo, can you tell Jeanne Haegele? Last September, the 28-year-old Chicago resident resolved to cut plastics out of her life."
The story recycles the tired cliche from The Graduate and then interviews a biologist from the University of Missouri who is set on proving that plastics products are harmful to humans.
How responsible of Time. Find a 28-year-old who started a blog (http://www.lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/) who makes her toothpaste from vodka, cinnamon and baking soda, and let her voice her uneducated opinion on the harmful effects of plastics.
That's priceless.
On a philosophical front, there is no "truth." There is only opinion.
I encourage all of you to follow these steps in decision-making about plastics products:
1. Do your research. When it comes to plastic bags, check out the other side of the story, too.
http://www.savetheplasticbag.com/
The case for the "environmental" friendliness of plastic bag manufacturing can be made, too. Some people argue that it is more environmentally friendly to make a plastic bag than it is to make a paper bag.
2. Follow your own gut. If you are not comfortable using plastic in the microwave, then don't. If you are not comfortable using a plastic baby bottle for your son or daughter, then don't.
PLEASE RECYCLE.
I cannot ask this enough. Those plastic bags that you do get at the grocery store can be reused by you in so many ways, but also, you can reuse them to bag your groceries.
Or, you can return them to recycle bins at some large grocery stores.
Churches also have recycling drives.
We are lucky in our community in Oklahoma because we do have curbside recycling. Does your community have curbside recycling? If so, take full advantage of it.
DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ.
That's my last bit of advice. Analyze everything with a critical eye, and have confidence in your own ability to make the decision that's best for you and your family.
REMEMBER, SO MANY THINGS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT PLASTICS.
It's like anything else in life: there's good and there's bad. It's all a balance. I remember watching all the tubes that went into my mother as she lay on the hospital bed. It was all plastics!
Also, plastics is considered "green" in the bird-watching industry on certain fronts. Milk gallons and other post-consumer plastics are used to make plastic "lumber," which is then used to make birdhouses.
As I said, read everything with a critical eye and God forbid, don't rely on hype.
(Disclaimer: For seven years, I was a full-time reporter for Plastics News. I spent time in plastics factories, reporting on everything from vinyl siding to Tupperware containers to those pesky plastic grocery bags that have every city on the Left Coast and some Midwest cities like Chicago in an uproar. Ban them, they say.)
Needless to say, I know more than anyone would want to know about plastics. I loved it. I enjoyed the industry and its people. It's a fascinating world.
Back to Time.
In a recent issue,
(or link to it here http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1821664,00.html)
it ran an article called, "The Truth About Plastic." I would have thought the author would at least have interviewed someone from the American Chemistry Council or someone who could offer the "other side."
Nope.
They interviewed a 28-year-old marketing coordinator from Chicago who has started her own grassroots effort to ban plastics from her life.
Here's the lead line to the story:
"If you know where to find a good plastic-free shampoo, can you tell Jeanne Haegele? Last September, the 28-year-old Chicago resident resolved to cut plastics out of her life."
The story recycles the tired cliche from The Graduate and then interviews a biologist from the University of Missouri who is set on proving that plastics products are harmful to humans.
How responsible of Time. Find a 28-year-old who started a blog (http://www.lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/) who makes her toothpaste from vodka, cinnamon and baking soda, and let her voice her uneducated opinion on the harmful effects of plastics.
That's priceless.
On a philosophical front, there is no "truth." There is only opinion.
I encourage all of you to follow these steps in decision-making about plastics products:
1. Do your research. When it comes to plastic bags, check out the other side of the story, too.
http://www.savetheplasticbag.com/
The case for the "environmental" friendliness of plastic bag manufacturing can be made, too. Some people argue that it is more environmentally friendly to make a plastic bag than it is to make a paper bag.
2. Follow your own gut. If you are not comfortable using plastic in the microwave, then don't. If you are not comfortable using a plastic baby bottle for your son or daughter, then don't.
PLEASE RECYCLE.
I cannot ask this enough. Those plastic bags that you do get at the grocery store can be reused by you in so many ways, but also, you can reuse them to bag your groceries.
Or, you can return them to recycle bins at some large grocery stores.
Churches also have recycling drives.
We are lucky in our community in Oklahoma because we do have curbside recycling. Does your community have curbside recycling? If so, take full advantage of it.
DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ.
That's my last bit of advice. Analyze everything with a critical eye, and have confidence in your own ability to make the decision that's best for you and your family.
REMEMBER, SO MANY THINGS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT PLASTICS.
It's like anything else in life: there's good and there's bad. It's all a balance. I remember watching all the tubes that went into my mother as she lay on the hospital bed. It was all plastics!
Also, plastics is considered "green" in the bird-watching industry on certain fronts. Milk gallons and other post-consumer plastics are used to make plastic "lumber," which is then used to make birdhouses.
As I said, read everything with a critical eye and God forbid, don't rely on hype.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
This.Is.Funny.
This is a very funny, fantastic editorial about Crocs (you know, those plastic and rubber Dutch-looking shoes that are poked full of holes). They come in every possible color you can imagine, including Oklahoma State University orange here in Oklahoma. Thanks for sending it, Arnella!
For all you readers, I'm sorry if you own these. If you do, You.Should.Stop.
Make. It. Stop.
The case for ending our long national nightmare.
Steve Tuttle
Newsweek Web Exclusive
Updated: 12:42 PM ET Aug 1, 2008
I like to play a game with my son, Joseph. We sit on a bench in touristy Old Town, Alexandria, Va., and we're not allowed to get up until we see a dozen pairs of Crocs. It usually doesn't take long. But the other day we were stuck at eight after a few minutes, and I was getting a little concerned. Just then my boy leaned over and said, "Don't worry, Dad. A family of dorks will come along any minute." To paraphrase Hank Hill, if he wasn't my son, I would have hugged him right then, I was so proud.
I know what you're thinking: what kind of sick father lets his impressionable young son call people dorks because of the shoes they wear? Well, who else will teach him that wearing sweaty bright purple clown shoes in public is not OK? He certainly won't learn that lesson at school. Teachers seem to be some of the biggest abusers of this horrid fad.
I know what else you're thinking: "I like Crocs … they're so comfortable. I'll tell you who the dork is … the guy writing this story, that's who! And who died and made him the fashion authority anyway?" Well, no one. I own pitted-out T shirts that are more than a quarter of a century old, and I've been known to strut around town in some pleated khaki Dockers. I own one belt. A female colleague even told me once I'd be a "perfect candidate for 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'." I think she was trying to be helpful. My complete lack of fashion sense actually supports my theory, because even I know these things are an abomination.
Yes, I'm really, really late to the Crocs-bashing party. Really late. Plenty of fashionistas have written screeds over the years. But the damn things are still here, so this is no time to stop fighting. To quote the great John Belushi: "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell, no!"
I've been following the good work of Web sites like I Hate Crocs Dot Com for some time, even going so far as to submit a photograph of a stuffed skunk spraying a pair of pink Crocs. The fantastic Best Page In The Universe posted a hilarious rant a while back joking that people who bought Crocs on Amazon.com also bought frozen corn dogs, Pabst Blue Ribbon Light and trucker balls, as well as the CD single "Hey There, Delilah" by the Plain White T's. The rant's author, Maddox, writes: "People who wear Crocs go on and on about how comfortable they are, and how it's supposedly odor resistant because it's made out of some kind of anti-bacterial foam … You know what else it's resistant to? You getting laid."
A popular YouTube video called "Dorcs" parodies the trend: "Wow, but they're so ugly," says an office worker to her friend. "That's how you know they're comfortable," he says. By the end, she's a convert: "I've given fashion the finger, and joined the Dorcs revolution!" The Crocs Empire is acutely aware of us haters. Even their own commercials make fun of the irrational and over-the-top rage their shoes instill in people like me. In one, an unshaven lunatic holds a neon blue Croc in front of his face and screams, "Why are you wearing these!" for 30 seconds. I only wish I'd known about the tryouts for this commercial.
Crocs's stock price has cratered of late, so there is hope. According to the Rocky Mountain News, the shoes, "which were once so popular that the company couldn't keep pace with demand, are now piling up in warehouses." Maybe the company's just a victim of its own success. If practically every person in the U.S. already has a pair and they're indestructible, how many more can you sell? The same thing happened to Wham-O back in the 1950s with the Hula Hoop.
But the company isn't giving up. They've been diversifying, sponsoring Olympic teams and veering off into sandals and other designs, trying to fool us. They've even gone so far as to create a high-heeled Croc. OMG, as the kids say. These have to be seen to be believed. I recommend only the strong of heart should attempt to Google "high-heeled Croc." The company Web site has this ominous warning for us: "Today, Crocs™ Shoes are available all over the world and on the internet as we continue to significantly expand all aspects of our business" (italics added). That sounds like a threat to me. They're even suing other companies like Skechers for allegedly stealing their great idea. Skechers says the lawsuit is "baseless," "outlandish," and "ridiculous." I'll tell you what's outlandish and ridiculous: that these things sell so much that another company would feel compelled to copy them, allegedly. Don't we have enough eye pollution with just the originals still out there? Don't be fooled, America! Soylent Green is CROCS!!!
If you think about it, the Crocs company should really be admired. P. T. Barnum would be proud. They've managed to separate money from the wallets of millions and millions of seemingly sane people who wake up, look in the closet, and actually decide: "Today I'll leave the house wearing these neon-green Dutch bubble shoes with Swiss-cheese holes in them. Maybe I'll even buy some little plastic strawberries or bananas and jam them in the sweat holes, just to jazz things up and make the bacteria incubate faster." That's fine. I say do whatever you want in the privacy of your own home. Let your Crocs freak flag fly. But don't make the rest of us watch.
I realize this article might not go down too well even in my own editorial office and certainly not in our ad sales department. My boss in Washington read an early draft and said it was funny, but that I had a "somewhat demented obsessiveness." At least he threw me a "somewhat." Another editor wondered aloud if I had perhaps been trampled by Crocs at some point in my life. I also worry about writing this because some of my best friends—and their sweet, innocent children—wear them. One of my dearest—the sister I never had—introduced me to the shoes years ago when she waltzed into a garden party in a pair of bright hot-pink Crocs. I couldn't stop staring at them. "What are those things?!" I whimpered nervously, hoping maybe she was rehabbing from some sort of strange Achilles mishap. "Oh, they're called Crocs … I got them for gardening," she said, so innocently.
Oh, if only we'd known what a tsunami of fashion idiocy was about to be unleashed, maybe we could have stopped it somehow, and they would have stayed in the garden where they belong, covered with manure, a trendy item to be featured on http://www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/. If only. Then they wouldn't be out there in the American mainstream, that big, vast, sweaty mainstream traipsing through our airports and over our beaches and around our great shopping malls. Plop, plop, plop, they go, stuffing their Crocs faces with ice cream and Doritos and giant sodas. Plop, plop, plop. Stuff, stuff, stuff. Yuck, yuck, yuck. And the rest of us have to watch. I spent eight hours waiting on a flight at Dulles over the 4th of July week and I was just minutes from tackling the next group of Crocs ploppers I saw. Luckily for me—and the ploppers—my flight finally arrived and I wasn't arrested for assault. Knowing my luck, I'd have shown up in court to find 12 pairs of Crocs sitting in the jury box.
It would have probably been better for my career if I just posted this as an anonymous Craigslist rant as CrocsHatah35 or something. Plenty of others have spouted off about Crocs there. And sure, I would have had a lot more readers. But Craigslist doesn't write my paychecks, and this is just too important to ignore another day. Some times you just have to make a stand, even if it's a few years late. Do we really think we're going to stop global warming if we can't even end this fashion Chernobyl once and for all? I think the U.S. government should institute a Crocs buyback policy, like they do in the inner city for guns. It would do more to beautify this great land than Lady Bird's highway beautification program ever did. So I'm begging you, America. Just stop. When you wake up tomorrow and look at your options, choose flip-flops. Go barefoot. Wear boots. Anything but Crocs. By next summer—if we all work together—we can have this plague of bad taste virtually eliminated. Yes! We! Can!
URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/150240
For all you readers, I'm sorry if you own these. If you do, You.Should.Stop.
Make. It. Stop.
The case for ending our long national nightmare.
Steve Tuttle
Newsweek Web Exclusive
Updated: 12:42 PM ET Aug 1, 2008
I like to play a game with my son, Joseph. We sit on a bench in touristy Old Town, Alexandria, Va., and we're not allowed to get up until we see a dozen pairs of Crocs. It usually doesn't take long. But the other day we were stuck at eight after a few minutes, and I was getting a little concerned. Just then my boy leaned over and said, "Don't worry, Dad. A family of dorks will come along any minute." To paraphrase Hank Hill, if he wasn't my son, I would have hugged him right then, I was so proud.
I know what you're thinking: what kind of sick father lets his impressionable young son call people dorks because of the shoes they wear? Well, who else will teach him that wearing sweaty bright purple clown shoes in public is not OK? He certainly won't learn that lesson at school. Teachers seem to be some of the biggest abusers of this horrid fad.
I know what else you're thinking: "I like Crocs … they're so comfortable. I'll tell you who the dork is … the guy writing this story, that's who! And who died and made him the fashion authority anyway?" Well, no one. I own pitted-out T shirts that are more than a quarter of a century old, and I've been known to strut around town in some pleated khaki Dockers. I own one belt. A female colleague even told me once I'd be a "perfect candidate for 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'." I think she was trying to be helpful. My complete lack of fashion sense actually supports my theory, because even I know these things are an abomination.
Yes, I'm really, really late to the Crocs-bashing party. Really late. Plenty of fashionistas have written screeds over the years. But the damn things are still here, so this is no time to stop fighting. To quote the great John Belushi: "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell, no!"
I've been following the good work of Web sites like I Hate Crocs Dot Com for some time, even going so far as to submit a photograph of a stuffed skunk spraying a pair of pink Crocs. The fantastic Best Page In The Universe posted a hilarious rant a while back joking that people who bought Crocs on Amazon.com also bought frozen corn dogs, Pabst Blue Ribbon Light and trucker balls, as well as the CD single "Hey There, Delilah" by the Plain White T's. The rant's author, Maddox, writes: "People who wear Crocs go on and on about how comfortable they are, and how it's supposedly odor resistant because it's made out of some kind of anti-bacterial foam … You know what else it's resistant to? You getting laid."
A popular YouTube video called "Dorcs" parodies the trend: "Wow, but they're so ugly," says an office worker to her friend. "That's how you know they're comfortable," he says. By the end, she's a convert: "I've given fashion the finger, and joined the Dorcs revolution!" The Crocs Empire is acutely aware of us haters. Even their own commercials make fun of the irrational and over-the-top rage their shoes instill in people like me. In one, an unshaven lunatic holds a neon blue Croc in front of his face and screams, "Why are you wearing these!" for 30 seconds. I only wish I'd known about the tryouts for this commercial.
Crocs's stock price has cratered of late, so there is hope. According to the Rocky Mountain News, the shoes, "which were once so popular that the company couldn't keep pace with demand, are now piling up in warehouses." Maybe the company's just a victim of its own success. If practically every person in the U.S. already has a pair and they're indestructible, how many more can you sell? The same thing happened to Wham-O back in the 1950s with the Hula Hoop.
But the company isn't giving up. They've been diversifying, sponsoring Olympic teams and veering off into sandals and other designs, trying to fool us. They've even gone so far as to create a high-heeled Croc. OMG, as the kids say. These have to be seen to be believed. I recommend only the strong of heart should attempt to Google "high-heeled Croc." The company Web site has this ominous warning for us: "Today, Crocs™ Shoes are available all over the world and on the internet as we continue to significantly expand all aspects of our business" (italics added). That sounds like a threat to me. They're even suing other companies like Skechers for allegedly stealing their great idea. Skechers says the lawsuit is "baseless," "outlandish," and "ridiculous." I'll tell you what's outlandish and ridiculous: that these things sell so much that another company would feel compelled to copy them, allegedly. Don't we have enough eye pollution with just the originals still out there? Don't be fooled, America! Soylent Green is CROCS!!!
If you think about it, the Crocs company should really be admired. P. T. Barnum would be proud. They've managed to separate money from the wallets of millions and millions of seemingly sane people who wake up, look in the closet, and actually decide: "Today I'll leave the house wearing these neon-green Dutch bubble shoes with Swiss-cheese holes in them. Maybe I'll even buy some little plastic strawberries or bananas and jam them in the sweat holes, just to jazz things up and make the bacteria incubate faster." That's fine. I say do whatever you want in the privacy of your own home. Let your Crocs freak flag fly. But don't make the rest of us watch.
I realize this article might not go down too well even in my own editorial office and certainly not in our ad sales department. My boss in Washington read an early draft and said it was funny, but that I had a "somewhat demented obsessiveness." At least he threw me a "somewhat." Another editor wondered aloud if I had perhaps been trampled by Crocs at some point in my life. I also worry about writing this because some of my best friends—and their sweet, innocent children—wear them. One of my dearest—the sister I never had—introduced me to the shoes years ago when she waltzed into a garden party in a pair of bright hot-pink Crocs. I couldn't stop staring at them. "What are those things?!" I whimpered nervously, hoping maybe she was rehabbing from some sort of strange Achilles mishap. "Oh, they're called Crocs … I got them for gardening," she said, so innocently.
Oh, if only we'd known what a tsunami of fashion idiocy was about to be unleashed, maybe we could have stopped it somehow, and they would have stayed in the garden where they belong, covered with manure, a trendy item to be featured on http://www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/. If only. Then they wouldn't be out there in the American mainstream, that big, vast, sweaty mainstream traipsing through our airports and over our beaches and around our great shopping malls. Plop, plop, plop, they go, stuffing their Crocs faces with ice cream and Doritos and giant sodas. Plop, plop, plop. Stuff, stuff, stuff. Yuck, yuck, yuck. And the rest of us have to watch. I spent eight hours waiting on a flight at Dulles over the 4th of July week and I was just minutes from tackling the next group of Crocs ploppers I saw. Luckily for me—and the ploppers—my flight finally arrived and I wasn't arrested for assault. Knowing my luck, I'd have shown up in court to find 12 pairs of Crocs sitting in the jury box.
It would have probably been better for my career if I just posted this as an anonymous Craigslist rant as CrocsHatah35 or something. Plenty of others have spouted off about Crocs there. And sure, I would have had a lot more readers. But Craigslist doesn't write my paychecks, and this is just too important to ignore another day. Some times you just have to make a stand, even if it's a few years late. Do we really think we're going to stop global warming if we can't even end this fashion Chernobyl once and for all? I think the U.S. government should institute a Crocs buyback policy, like they do in the inner city for guns. It would do more to beautify this great land than Lady Bird's highway beautification program ever did. So I'm begging you, America. Just stop. When you wake up tomorrow and look at your options, choose flip-flops. Go barefoot. Wear boots. Anything but Crocs. By next summer—if we all work together—we can have this plague of bad taste virtually eliminated. Yes! We! Can!
URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/150240
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