The Dangerous Poet

April 26, 2007 By

I wanted to bring to your attention an incident that happened last week on a college campus here in the United States. It didn’t involve murder or guns – but it certainly involved fear. The poet/professor affected was a classmate of mine when I was in graduate school. I am extremely confident that this man could not hurt a fly, let alone inflict the danger imagined.

Poetry is Dangerous, by Kazim Ali.

This issue is very, very complicated, especially given the world we live in today – but I thought it was important and I felt I needed to share it with you.

Filed Under: Life, politics and other crap, Protest

There’s A Little Bit of Justice in the World….

October 5, 2005 By

Remember this post (at the bottom)? Well, not a moment to soon:

NBC said this Friday’s airing of the new fertility clinic drama, “Inconceivable,” was being yanked in favor of a “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” rerun. It’s not officially a cancellation, but given that only 4.5 million people saw “Inconceivable” last week, its prospects are dim.

Full AP article here.

Filed Under: politics and other crap

Foliage

September 30, 2005 By

For La and anyone else starved for fall colors….

All pulled from the archives – the leaves haven’t really changed much here yet. But it’s cold today, so soon….

Have a great weekend! Can you believe it’s October already? YAY!

ETA: Found over at Norma’s:

1) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, liposuction and air conditioning.

2) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

3) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

4) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn’t changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can’t marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

5) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britney Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

6) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn’t be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren’t full yet, and the world needs more children.

7) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

8) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That’s why we have only one religion in America.

9) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That’s why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven’t adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans…
—

Re-post this if you believe in legalizing gay marriage

———-

Last night I watched a PBS show on the Sixties and I was thinking about what issues would get me out on the street marching. No doubt about it, gay marriage is one of them. To me, it has nothing to do with love – it has to do with civil rights, property, legal status as Americans. Marriage, as defined by the laws in this country, have nothing to do with love. Any man and woman can marry regardless of their personal feelings for each other – it’s about MONEY, people. That’s it. And everybody should just share the fucking wealth.

Filed Under: Photographs, politics and other crap

the clean linens…the shining knives…the flames

September 20, 2005 By

Sharon Olds sends a letter to Mrs. Bush.

I attended NYU’s Creative Writing Program where Sharon Olds teaches poetry. While I never took her class, I did meet her and hear her read. Her poems are personal and powerful. I’ve also been to readings by Goldwater Students (the program she refers to in the letter) and each time the readings were beyond profound, awesomely inspiring and exceedingly entertaining.

Filed Under: politics and other crap

Ends

September 6, 2005 By

I set myself some big-ass goals this weekend and guess what? I MET THEM! Yahoo! First up on the list: DON’T BE CRAZY! And I wasn’t too crazy. Really. There were a few moments here and there of bad thoughts but successful thought-stopping ensued which may or may not have included jumping on a trampoline screaming “I LOVE YOU!” at the top of my lungs. Actually, just thinking about doing it made me smile which stopped a bad thought. Did you know it’s scientifically impossible to have bad thoughts while jumping on a trampoline? It’s true. Don’t believe me? Try it yourself.

Second goal: EXERCISE! Which I did! I actually got off my ass and went out this weekend to run, not once but TWICE! Granted, I started my beginner running program from the freaking beginning AGAIN, but it felt so good to be out there and the weather was glorious. I was a little sad though because my running route is basically the same as my flower route – the path along the development behind my building is the source of most of my flower pictures. I basically missed the whole season. Literally. And what’s out there dying is pretty much TOO dead for my tastes. I do like to take pictures of flowers on their last stem, but these babies are already gone. A trip to the botanical gardens may be in order very, very soon. My little sister will be coming to stay with me next week for a little bit while G is away (AGAIN!) and hopefully we’ll make a trip up to the Bronx.

Third goal: EAT! Yeah. Too much of that. I’m already putting back on the gloriously lost crazy pounds. You knew it was going to happen. But for two days I looked thin again. Hopefully the running will keep things in check. I was back in pants I couldn’t wear since LAST summer. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I always look my best and mentally I feel my worst. It’s a sad truth.

Fourth goal: KNIT!

DIAMOND FANTASY SHAWL

I’m really enjoying this lace project. I’ve put markers at all of the 12 stitch repeats and it’s been fast going that way. I’ve barely had to tink back – I think maybe once so far. I’ve got one purl row to go on the fourth repeat. I’m planning on doing all ten – for the shawl. Those girls that can do the scarf and call it a shawl are much more petite than I. I may actually go even farther – depends on the yarn situation. I’m liking the yarn too – at least the color. The variegation seems to be working really well with the pattern. Each diamond has some blue, some green, some darker blue. It’s looking lovely. As I knit it I’m thinking it will be beautiful to wear to synagogue this year, should I go for the High Holy Days. With a nice navy skirt and a crisp white blouse. I always loved High Holy Days clothes. Almost as much as I love the prayers said this time of year. They’re mournful and melodic and I often catch myself singing them year round. Anyway, I’ve been enjoying the DFS and I highly recommend it!

WALKING ON SUNSHINE SOCKS

Yes, I completed a sock. I very much like it – it’s bright and cheery and it fits well. The heel isn’t perfect – I need to tighten up some almost holes, but in the end I think I like the gusset/flap heel best. I tried two different kinds of short rows and didn’t like either. I still have to try an afterthought heel – next pair of socks – but for now this works well for me. Nice to know that, you know? I haven’t cast on for the second – but I will today. And I want these clogs. Especially for Rhinebeck.

And last but not least….

SHORT ROWS


Yes, my friends, it’s a FINISHED back AND FRONT of the now infamous Short Row Sweater. This was the MAJOR goal of the weekend – I want this sucker done! Of course, in succeeding at said goal, I kind of made pretend that there weren’t 3,681,207 ends.


Just for kicks, you know, to see if this thing will actually, one day, miracle of miracles, BE a sweater, I pinned the back and front together.


WHAHOOO! This might actually WORK! I’m very happy with it so far. Here are some close-ups on the zigzags:


So all I’ve got left are the sleeves – which should be a breeze since they’re all one color. I’m planning on doing both at the same time – and I still haven’t decided yet if I’m going to even cast on for them BEFORE I attend to those ENDS. Ugh. I see myself wearing this sweater for the High Holy Days too. With the same navy skirt. It’s nice to have goals. 😉

~+~+~+~

Lest you think it was all fun and games and knits here this weekend, there were still tears and sadness. Some of it personal, some of it global. The more I read and see of the tragedy on the Gulf Coast the more disillusioned I am with the human race as a whole. People are just SO MEAN. I’m sick to death of the finger pointing and name calling and who did or did not do what. I’ve never had any love (or even like) for the current administration, but now I’m even disgusted with the people I supposedly AGREE
with. Now is the time TO SHUT THE FUCK UP and ACT! It’s not the time for who’s right and who’s wrong. It seems to me that the political atmosphere in this country is directly to blame – which means BOTH SIDES. BOTH SIDES. NO POLITICIAN OR PUNDIT IS INNOCENT.

[ETA: If I hear one more “person” say how everything would’ve been handled so wonderfully if Ghouliani had been mayor – I’m going to start screaming and not stop. There is NO WAY that the disaster in NOLA can be compared to 9/11. After the towers fell, the event was pretty much over, except for the clean-up. The whole tragedy affected (physically) a very small part of the city. There was no recovery. By the end of the day, things were back to “normal” in terms of people getting food, shelter, communicating with each other. Sure, some people were homeless – but those people had the means (by virtue of where they lived) to find other shelter. Ghouliani didn’t have to hold the physical well-being of the city together. This may seem harsh – but it’s the truth as I see it.]

I watched the Sunday news programs this weekend – it’s something G usually does and occasionally I tune in. When I saw Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard on Meet the Press, I was beyond horrified. Then I read about shoe shopping and slack jaws and I wonder, where is our collective conscience? And even if you don’t really care about what’s happened here, where is your INTELLIGENCE to keep your mouth shut? We can’t even make it LOOK like we care. (And isn’t it so much worse that these WOMEN can’t seem to gather up any real sympathy?)

All weekend long I’d pop on over to Margene and Susan’s site and gain a little bit of hope back.

Knit on through all crises. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Filed Under: Diamond Fantasy Shawl, politics and other crap, Short Rows, Socks, Sunshine Socks

Sox in the Bronx

August 10, 2005 By

The White Sox won 2-1. Apparently excellent pitching makes for a boring game, and of course we missed the two big homers in the 9th because we left. Oh well.

Now that’s not to say there wasn’t a bit of excitement. G and I go to, on average, one baseball game every year and a half. Mainly to the Bronx, but they’re ALWAYS full of excitement. The last one we went to tied for the biggest shutout in baseball since 1900. Then there was the bench clearing brawl in 1998 when Benitez hit Tino between the shoulders because he was pissed he gave up a two-run homer to Bernie. I’m normally a peaceful person, but what a fucking good brawl. And we were about to leave that game too.

The most special, most amazing of amazing baseball moments for us will always be in Fenway (tut, tut) on our wedding night. On that fateful summer evening, the Texas Rangers, ARod in tow, played the BoSox. On his first at bat, Scott Hattenberg line drived into a triple play. On his next at bat he hit a grand slam. Probably the first and ONLY time that’s ever happened in the history of baseball. And we were there. Fate stepped up to the plate.

So what happened last night? Well, the excitement really wasn’t on the field, but in the stands. Sort of. Some complete and utter asshole competing for a Darwin award took a header into the net behind home plate. We were sitting two sections to the left.


Click for a better look.

So he had to crawl his way out of the net back to the stands where the cops were waiting with a loving embrace. Apparently his friends were taunting him to jump from the third level. If you want, you can read more about this stunning display of intelligence here. He may not have made ESPN, but by gawd he made the COVER OF THE POST! Impressive indeed.

I gotta say, my mind was changed about one aspect of America’s game. I’ve always hated what I’ve thought to be phony patriotism during the seventh inning stretch. Instead of a rousing rendition of Take Me Out to the Ball Game, the powers that be have decided to play God Bless America, followed up by a really goofy Take Me Out. To me, this always smacks of lip service and Ghouliani and profiting off of dead soldiers and civilians. I don’t know HOW they’re actually profiting – maybe in brownie points – but still. Insincere, maybe? At least that’s the feeling I’ve come away with. Especially when that Ronan Tynan guy does it. But last night they had a recording of Kate Smith – guaranteed to be from a fantastic Flyers game – and I was struck by the fact that HEY! We’re at WAR! Men and women are DYING FOR MY RIGHT TO BE AT THIS BALLGAME! Suddenly it all seemed very appropriate. God Bless Kate Smith. She really knew how to bring a point home.

Filed Under: politics and other crap, Socks, Sunshine Socks

The Bad Birthday Club

July 8, 2005 By

I wrote a story once called “The BBC” or The Bad Birthday Club. It grew out of a conversation I had with a friend after 9-11. 9-11 is her birthday and she was saying how she saw a friend a couple days after and mentioned this fact and he shook his head and said, Oklahoma Bombing. Thus a story was born in which each character is identified by the badness on their birthday. It’s a bit more complicated than that, of course, but the main gist is that the story is a commentary on how bad days always happen and always will. It ends with a little girl blowing out candles on her birthday cake – a harbinger of what might happen on her day as well. Yeah. Good times. (ETA: This story was published in the literary journal Fourteen Hills, Spring/Summer 2002.)

When I heard the news from London yesterday, I immediately thought of the date and all those people who now have a bad birthday.

Our phone started ringing around 7:30. It was G’s job – he went into crises mode trying to identify all of the people in the US that had traveled to London. Not an easy task, to say the least. Apparently one of the unexploded bombs was found under his company’s office in London. That’s what he said – I didn’t triple check it. I think he’s near the Liverpool stop. The day was so stressful for him he came home sick (and G never gets sick – or if he does – he stoically pushes through). He climbed into bed and I did my best Florence Nightingale impersonation all the while feeling my own craziness.

Let me tell you something world – you’re not making my decisions any easier! Do you hear me? Stop this nonsense NOW.

I wasn’t going to post again until FBS was done. Well, it’s done, but the weather here today mimics the tears of England and I don’t feel like taking pictures with a gray background. Hopefully the sun with be back out tomorrow and I’ll be in a brighter mood as well. In the meantime, my thoughts are with all those people terrorized yet again.

Filed Under: politics and other crap
July 4, 2005 By


https://januaryone.com/blog/post_1/

Filed Under: politics and other crap

Not from a Jedi….

May 25, 2005 By

May 24, 2005. Mark the date. A momentus day in the history of Georgie and Cara. Yes, folks. The rumors are true. We actually went to the movies.

And, honestly, it wasn’t that bad. For those keeping count, the last time we went to the movies was to see Bend It Like Beckham. The movie before that was My Big Fat Greek Wedding. (Which, surprisingly enough, were both out in 2002.)

Anyway. My point being, we NEVER go to the movies. NEVER. EVER. We HATE going to the movies. But, you know, it’s Star Wars and all. At first, Georgie wanted to go to the theater where he saw the original but thankfully the times were bad. I’m pretty sure they haven’t renovated it or anything. We’re talking a lot of wear and tear on the seats people. So he came home from work a little early and we hit the 5:40 showing. The first nice surprise? That’s a matinee! It only cost us $9.00, for both of us, instead of for one ticket. Next nice surprise – when we took our seats there were only three other people in the theater. Three. Sorry George Lucas. (When the movie finally started, we agreed there were fifteen people total in the theater – including us.)

The seats weren’t bad. We were smack dab in the middle, a little closer to the front than the back. The theater was on an angle so people’s heads didn’t bother us. And you know, the movie ROCKED! Georgie’s favorite part was when Anakin asks where he can learn these super duper new powers and Palatine turns to him and says, “Not from a Jedi….” mwahahahahahahahaha! Yoda kicks ASS! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! Apparently Samuel L. Jackson told Lucas that he was fine with dying as long as he went out cool. And it was DAMN COOL! I didn’t think they used the Darth music to its full potential. I mean, c’mon, that’s why I was there! Padme was just a vessel to get us Luke and Leia. (almost wrote Laura! Hahahaha!)

My favorite parts were anything having to do with Anakin turing into Darth – although I thought he was a bit naive, especially considering he’s supposed to be the chosen one and all that. Anything with Yoda. And I love Ewan McGregor as Obi-Won – there’s a picture in the little playbill book they gave out in the theater that shows how McGregor’s face has the exact same symmetry as Alec Guiness.

What did I learn during the movie? That I don’t like going to the movies. I had to pee the whole time. My seat gave me hemmorhoids. I was dying – DYING – to rewind – it was driving me crazy! But all in all it was a wonderful date – we had a very nice dinner after – and I’m happy we went to see it. In the theater.

The best part though was coming home and popping in Revenge of the Jedi and watching Darth Vader die in baby Luke’s arms. Very, very cool. So in the end, I’m thanking George Lucas for endless hours of entertainment. We had fun!

Okay. Now I’m about to get really, really upset. Really upset. So be forewarned.

Speaking of people who provide entertainment, WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY THINKING!!!!!!!! NBC is bringing out a new show called Inconceivable. Here’s the description they provide for this bit of entertainment (and when you say that, say it like you’re saying FUCK YOU! WE DON’T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE – ONLY MONEY!)

This delightful ensemble drama concerns one of the most complicated questions: to conceive or not to conceive. The doctors of the Family Options Fertility Clinic are on a noble quest to help desperate couples give birth. Except these doctors are often distracted by their personal quests involving sex, deception and secrets. Navigating through ultrasounds and super-egos, missing frozen embryos and impending malpractice suits, it’s positively clear that life inside this clinic is anything but sterile. [Bold emphasis mine.]

(Please, make sure you watch the preview for the ultimate in fuck yous.) It’s about, get this, the fun to be had in a FERTILITY CLINIC! Clearly, and I mean this sincerely, no one, not the crew, not the maintenance people, not the writing staff, not the producers, not the actors, NO ONE INVOLVED WITH THIS SHOW, has EVER dealt with infertility. Since when do pain, misery, hurt, shame, guilt, frustration, heartache, anger (should I go on?) make for enjoyable television? Oh, yeah, when you can make jokes about implanting the wrong embryos, having sex and I’m sure getting pregnant when your patients can’t, and completely mis-educating the public about infertility. I’m laughing, this is so stupid. If you’d like to email NBC – do it here: nbcshows@nbcuni.com. I’ll be sending an email, but I think I need to let the anger steep a little before it’s good and ready to write what I need to write. I’m dumbfounded.

And if that doesn’t get you upset, check out their new show, Thick and Thin. NBC. Must Offend TV.

Thanks for the link from Karen, via mamacate.

On to happier subjects, here’s a mean ugly spider I hope bites Jeff Zucker in the ass:


Enlarge for super cool details.

Actually, this is for my rebel friend Kathleen who declared this week bug week. Who am I to argue? Look for a cuter, more friendly bug tomorrow! (Don’t worry about Ann, Kathleen, I got your back!)

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, Photographs, politics and other crap

Bad Librarian

May 19, 2005 By

Sometimes, I gotta admit, I’m real happy to be out of the library world (are you ever REALLY out?) because, honestly, I think my head would explode.

Links courtesy Bookslut.

Filed Under: politics and other crap
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