Urban creativity

Almost-fuzzy guerilla art that's been "popping up" all over the city: 

The Times has a sometimes graphic art blogger who has been posting some fabulous interpretations of life in New York on his column, Abstract City. His life in legos is particularly funny, and I find this picture particularly ticklish:

What-Ho, Jeeves!

I've long endeavored to be a lively and fascinating person -- the type who by nature gets up to "assorted hi-jinks" and stumbles sideways into feats of derring-do. An enterprising character perfectly suited to P.G. Wodehouse novels, one who is a welcome guest at all parties guaranteed to relieve the monotony by regaling the crowd with wry and pithy tales of spirited adventure is the goal, I suppose. However, in this realm, like many others, I find that life too often gets in the way of living.

It's hard to cleverly disentangle one's self from amusingly sticky situations or to be a boffo sleuth in cracking unexpected conundrums when one does the usual daily work grind and the most interesting quandaries of one's life come in the form of deciding between pasta and sushi for dinner. Spending all day in an office leaves precious little time for tripping into chance predicaments or adding a dash of spice to a routine that has at some point worn a bit thin.

And while a little boredom can be a good thing--certainly better than being caught spying on foreign totalitarian regimes or fleeing modern day pirates (experiences that, though sound excitingly droll on the surface, are likely harrowing in a very non-Gilbert and Sullivan sense)--too much boredom is obviously a precursor to some sort of predatory malaise. Despite my best efforts, the myriad activities I over-scheduled myself with in March, though leaving me with practically no free time at all, were rather tame -- attending community organizing meetings was just a bit too, well, organized, and even volunteering at the Animal Shelter had a patina of desperate sadness to it. Besides, while unbelievably cute and cuddly, walking puppies does not exactly scream "Intrigue!"

Those worthwhile, yet decidedly docile extra-curriculars, coupled with my reticence to schedule activities in light of my impending bone marrow donation, have led me to conclude that I am not nearly far enough along in achieving my goal of becoming a Very Interesting And Much Sought-After Person. Ordinarily, I'd take it in stride and pledge to make better use of living in New York this summer than I have in years past (somewhat of an April ritual, if I'm going to be perfectly honest), but I've spent the winter reading remarkable works of fiction and non that have acutely highlighted my shortcomings. Not the least of them is the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which in addition to being the most incredibly wonderful piece of literature I've possibly ever read, makes it seem so natural that average people can and do lead out-sized lives. I'm starting to think it's about attitude, rather than circumstance, and that I'm about due for an adjustment.

As such, here is an impromptu list of activities in which I would like to engage this summer with the hope that it will lead to Wooster-worthy exploits:

1. Paddle-boating in Central Park: Aside from catering to my affinity for boats and water, there is something rather mysteriously promising about this activity--maybe that with a very good imagination it could conjure up feelings of being Captain of one's own vessel.
   
2. Trip to the Bronx Zoo: A feast for the imagination! And what better place to encounter minor peril than a preserve of semi-dangerous animals and wholly-frightening reptiles. Certainly not for the faint-of-heart. Besides, camel rides are always a pleaser.
   
3. Going to as many (hopefully free or ridiculously cheap) concerts: New York is a music mecca and I, for one, have been woefully delinquent in exploring The Scene. No more! My horizons await expansion, and the Time Out and other New York Guide-like web pages are dutifully bookmarked.
   
4. Plan an expedition through Central Park: It's been far too many years since I've made any meaningful voyage into the depths of the great park's foliage and pathways. If memory serves, there is much to see--including marionette shows, NYC-style vistas and Summerstage, which would take care of Activity #3 as well.

A short list, to be sure, but one I will add to, and then hopefully cross off as time goes on. Adventure Awaits!

Snow Is Gone

This week definitely falls into the category of "Best Week Ever" -- and it's only Wednesday! Here's why:

1. The incredible Rangers game Liz and I attended last night, where the Boys in Blue served up a ferocious second period to beat the Canadiens and hold on to the last playoff spot. And we spent the third period sitting in the most incredible seats (two rows behind the glass, near-center ice).
   
   
2. My first shift volunteering at Animal Haven, a no-kill shelter on Centre Street downtown. It's a great institution, with lots of room for the dogs and cats to play, and they train, vaccinate and spay/neuter all the animals that come through. I really lucked out--I got to walk the unbelievably (almost painfully) adorable puppies. I took them each out for a good long romp around the neighborhood--which was great excercise for both of us, but also excellent advertising for the shelter. Each dog wears an "adopt me" vest when they go out, so all the passers-by know they are available to take home. I know that I wanted to take all of them home with me. How could you not? This is Molly, an 8-month chihuahua mix:
   


3. Sunday night's Josh Ritter Concert at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Certainly the best concert EVER, by far (and I've been to some pretty damn good shows). My sister and I took Metro North up to Tarrytown (where Washington Irving wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow) and grabbed a fantastic Italian dinner and homemade ice cream before heading to the Hall. I've been wanting a Josh Ritter T-shirt for quite some time and was hoping to find one with the current tour's name or maybe this one that I've had my eye on for a while. Sadly, there were only two shirts on display; I immediately took a liking to one (the image from which is at left, it looks far better on the shirt) -- I'm always a fan of maritime art, and the Josh Ritter poster I currently have framed in my room is from the European tour and prominently boasts a similar ship, so I thought it would be nice to have a shirt with the same theme. I dished out the $25, proudly donned the shirt (easier than carrying it around the rest of the night) and excitedly awaited the start of the show. It wasn't until two hours later that I realized the shirt was from the opening act band, The Low Anthem. And before you say, well, duh, the band's name is right on the shirt, I purchased it before I even knew there was an opening act, much less the name of it. In all my excitement, I guess my mind just glossed over the fact that I didn't recognize the words "the low anthem" in connection with Josh Ritter. Oh, well.
   
   The upside is that it's very cool looking, very comfortable, and I really liked the band. The lead singer, Ben Knox Miller, has an incredibly wide vocal range, on full display in the first four tracks (the link to listen is on the right) of their most recent album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin (which is quite possibly one of the best album titles I've heard).
   
   But while that was a funny moment that ended up being kinda cool, once Josh Ritter took the stage, this week's status as BWE was solidified. Josh skipped out and didn't stop smiling the whole way through. Every song was perfect, and sounded just as amazing live as on the albums. The audience was widely varied, but everyone, and I mean everyone, knew and loved the music, singing along and spontaneously jumping up to dance. I can't stop thinking about the energy and intense appreciation for such a musical genius that was strumming through the Music Hall. I think everyone there transcended as I did to a different plane, that place to which only the best music can transport you. I'm still riding high, and frantically checking for updates on his promised appearance at Summerstage in June. Everyone go listen to Josh Ritter. There are no words to fully capture his ability and talent, though many have tried.

Passover Perk

The management at my firm just sent out this email with the subject line "Passover Perk":

Once again, the firm is kind enough to provide boxes of matzoh in each pantry on each floor. Matzoh will be available as of this evening and throughout the holiday. All boxes should be Kosher for Passover. Please keep in mind that quantities are limited and that many of your co-workers partake in keeping Passover.

I have to admit, I was somewhat disappointed. I was hoping the perk would be something like getting out of work early today, or at least some Kosher for Passover cookies. But Matzah? It's not like we're not all swimming in it already. I suppose I can appreciate the sentiment, however.

Sad to say, the Passover humor on YouTube is, well, as flat as a loaf of Matzah. But the Facebook Haggadah is pretty clever.

People Who Write and Talk Better Than I Do:

Once again it's been ridiculously long since I last blogged and as a result I have 13 emails in my inbox of articles and videos, etc I sent myself as a reminder to blog about them when I had the time. Clearly this system needs improvement. Most of these things need no explanation, they're just worth checking out, particularly this adorable Times article about a 12 year old burgeoning food critic. It's one of those people stories I love. And I just want to give the kid a hug -- you can't look at the picture of him without wanting to pat him on the head and pinch his cheeks. 

Dahlia Lithwick, Slate's resident awesome Supreme Court Reporter, has outdone herself with her recent report on the oral arguments presented last week in the somewhat odd free speech/ freedom of religion case concerning the quirky Summums in a righteous battle for equal "monumental" representation. The implications are interesting to say the least, and Lithwick's playful prose adds significantly to the enjoyment. 

Also, I've been talking for a while about all the dastardly things Lame Duck Bush may get up to while everyone is (rightfully) distracted by the President Elect and his administration-building. Well, looks like the Times was paying attention as well (again, this is over a week old, but still very relevant); they scratched the surface of the likely and current goings-on, and will hopefully keep poking around. 

And for the truly important thing: The frankly insulting and devastating passage of four anti-gay (anti-American, more like) ballot measures. First, it's important to note (though its been ably debunked by many already) that the increased black voter turnout is not what doomed Prop 8 to passage in California. As Nate Silver of my favorite site fivethirtyeight.com explains, it's really all the old fogeys' fault, and luckily were looking at inevitable and eventual success (though I'm the first to say that any success is long overdue). Dan Savage corroborates hilariously on Colbert:

Dan Savage also talked about the oft-overlooked Arkansas ballot measure, which strikes an egregious blow against the rights of a significant chunk, if not the majority, of adults in Arkansas and almost certainly spells disaster for the foster care system in the state. Savage explains it far better than I, but it's just flat out disgusting what millions of people voted in favor of this past election day. We're talking about people and families and love. I leave you with Keith Olbermann and his words of wisdom. Right on!

It's Done.

I feel a little bit like Frodo at the end of Lord of the Rings, when he's finally cast the One Ring into the lava and destroyed the evil power that has taken over Middle Earth. Instead of elation, he feels spent and tired. Maybe it's just that I came down with a cold immediately following the election, but I think that I'd feel this way (just not as congested) if I were perfectly healthy. It's been a battle being a liberal surviving the Bush years. Trying my hardest not to give in to cynicism and hate for the uber-right, and maintaining hope that sanity and goodness will prevail was not easy, and admittedly at times I failed terribly. But now that the end is near, now that we're Frodo and Sam clambering back from the precipice, waiting for the rescue we initiated to be executed, and to be delivered back to good, it's time to collapse into our relief. It's time to take a few days or even weeks to recover, to learn what the new reality means for us and to recalibrate how we interact with the world, what we expect from it.

Everything, starting now and solidifying on January 20th, with be different. Everything. Not just that we have a black president (which is remarkable and fantastic enough), but that, as Judith Warner talks about in her recent post, we have someone who speaks to all of us, who values intelligence and curiosity, pragmasism and consideration, who believes in the goodness of people and that we are all of worth. He's the president we've wanted, we've craved for eight years. And now that he's here, the joyous celebration that I expected has not come. It is a quiet and desperate relief instead. It's the reaction of the team that's given all they've got and survived, wrung-out, and needs to collect itself for the next game. But all the same, as I've been saying since they called it:

These are my Days of Jubilee.

I cried.

I'm not ashamed to say that I started to tear up, right here in the office, as I read (for the second time this year) the last paragraphs of Obama's speech, quoted in this particularly perceptive post on fivethirtyeight.com. Maybe it's because I'm searching for my own way to serve, or that just wrote a dvar torah for my meeting at Central tonight about connecting to others and working together to simultaneously make a better world and preserve our humanity, but I can't help but think, Obama gets it. He has more than intellect and judgement and ideas. He has heart, he has soul, and he is connected to others. He believes in being his brother's keeper (unlike a certain sibling in last week's Torah portion); he lives the line in Ephesians (a book in the New Testament that I've always liked): be subject to one another. He has a perceivable humanity, and rather than voting for him because I'd like to grab a beer together, I'm voting for him because I'd like to make the world a better place together. And I like that he asks me, each of us, to join him. So I cried in hope, I cried in anticipation. I cried in desperation to get started. I cried because I want to connect, and move forward--together.

Oui On Peut!

Two of the stories in this past weekend's Metropolitan Diary capture exactly what I always dream New York can be (but so rarely is). In particular, I like the first story about the impromptu block party surrounding a couch being put out to pasture. I wonder if something similar would ever happen in my neighborhood... I somehow suspect not. 

And in current events, Rolling Stone Magazine this week has a scarily illuminating article (co-written by RFK Jr.), Block the Vote, about the voter suppression that is apparently occurring across the country -- in a more widespread manner than in 2000 or 2004. Talk about voter fraud that is destroying the very fabric of our country's democracy. Similarly, Bob Herbert's column, The Real Scandal, lambasts McCain's efforts at scaring up controversy around ACORN when his own campaign is tainted (corroborated by Olbermann's wrly angry segment on his show Countdown, tonight). 

Additionally, two Ivy-League finance/ econ professors have an Op-Ed in today's Times, This Bailout Doesn't Pay Dividends, about how the current bailout plan is far from strict enough when dealing with the recalcitrant banks that are benefitting. It really does make one wonder just how bad things have to get before we're able to pass a measure that has no loopholes, and gets the job done with sufficient, comprehensive oversight? We really need to get this right, and it looks like we're stumbling around, trying to clean up the messes inch by inch, debacle by debacle. 

And now I leave you with this, your moment of Zen:

Smart Girls Have More Fun

I think this is probably true because smart people can appreciate humor on multiple levels. (Spoken like a true smart person, if I do say so...) Amy Poehler has a new web-based show, Smart Girls at the Party, that celebrates girls being intelligent, constructive and confident. Scarily, this is probably one of the few reality-based shows that depicts girls as both having working brains AND being awesome people you want to hang out with. Is it too much to ask that this start a new trend? Since when is intelligent boring? Why is stupid, drunk and blindly promiscuous ratings-grabbing? I surely don't know. 

So today I officially scheduled myself to sleep in and recharge. I haven't done so in ages, and seriously needed the rest. Of course, that meant that one of the four construction projects within a 1-block radius of my house decided that jackhammering at 7am this morning was a must. I was dumbfounded. Rudely awakened by mind-splitting noise at the crack of dawn on a Saturday is perhaps the most brutal thing to experience (in a non-combat sense). I was barely coherent, not at all awake, and yet incredulous. I hauled out of bed, with a fire in my eyes that could kill and stomped to the other bedroom on the other side of the apartment, whose window thankfully looks out away from the construction, thus dulling the noise. I managed to get in another couple hours of sleep but I had to have still been hearing the jackhammering because I woke up with a migraine. Not at all what I had been planning for this day of recuperation. I'm still in a residually foul mood, but it's been helped enormously by catching an airing of Bill Cosby's fantastic stand-up show in Canada circa 1981. The whole thing is sidesplitting, but his bit on the dentist is particularly irreverent:

My big plan for the rest of the day: Grocery Shopping. I have a recipe for chicken salad that I'm itching to try out. I seriously miss the culinary genius of Open City's chicken salad sandwich. Now I just have to get dressed. Groan.

F is for Friday

A few days ago I wrote a particularly awesome post, but then the blogger system didn't work and said post (with excellent hyperlinking and all) was lost. Not even the back button could recover the precious work. But this explains, in part, the mini hiatus of the last two weeks.

Gawker has provided yet more proof of America's unassailable superiority and evidence that righteous jingoism is entirely justified. We are truly a country to be universally proud of. [Note that my sarcastic tone doesn't mean that I believe the opposite of what I just said, but rather that some national introspection might be called for before unilaterally and unqualified-ly labeling the US the single greatest nation on earth, with no need for progress or betterment.]

Also, because most of my posts of late have been distinctly political in nature, I felt it was time to comment on something less election related. Let's see how far I get: (cue musical effect of spinning a choices wheel a la Wheel of Fortune) tick, tick, tick... tick. Ah, the economy! Warren Buffet's contribution to the New York Times (ok, so I'm having trouble breaking out of set patterns) today has added to the growing urgency I feel to buy stocks. As Warren explains, now is the time to get great deals on the perennially stable companies with solid futures whose stocks are now going for something near book value (which my uncle explained to me as the amount of money a shareholder would be entitled to per stock should the company be forced to liquefy--distinctly gooey sounding).

I have a few good recommendations, which I am not going to share because I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by driving up prices -- except to say that my cubicle-mate spent most of last week shouting "Fertilizer, buddy, I'm telling you po-TASH!" I believe he is referring to a Saskatchewan-based chemical company that has been defying the current market trends. What I really ought to be doing right now is setting up an account with E-Trade. It seems distinctly less formal than getting on the horn with the likes of Charles Schwab, and in the current market environment, who wants to go through the trouble of getting all set up with a company that may need to get bailed out. Not that I've heard anything, but would it really be surprising at this point? Not to mention that I'm hardly a lucrative client. I highly doubt an account manager would get all excited over my 20 requested shares in anything. And despite my recent entry to the for-profit world, I have yet to substantially accumulate the benefits of my increased pay-grade.

This is likely due to all the donating I've been doing to various funds -- none of which I now discover are tax-deductible because they are all partisan. How ridiculous! I think I deserve a "Defending America's Liberty" tax credit because my dollars are going directly to combating the far right's strangle hold on Constitutional politics. If the government could keep those people on a leash, I could have given that money over to something unquestionably tax-deductible, like loosing money in the stock market.

I've gotten to the point where I am so embarrassed by my hideous picture on my work ID that I may go downstairs and beg them to re-take it. I look like a marm.

They Make It So Easy!

1-2 page flyers to download that outline the basics of Obama's positions on a variety of issues. So brilliant!

So, of course talk turned to politics at the family dinner tonight, and I can't be more disturbed. One of my cousins is still deciding who to vote for. Clearly, those of you who know me know that I went berserk. Not only was it just 3 days ago that I was calling any undecided stupid for clearly not knowing what issues matter to them because anyone with a value system has to know the difference between the candidates and have found their man by now. But also because his big issue is that his taxes are too high. Well, sir, (to quote 1776) so are mine. But as Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "I like paying taxes. With them I buy civilization." How can you care more about that (especially when even after taxes you're earning more money than I can even dream of) when 45 million children in the US go hungry every year? When women are being denied access to reproductive health care, equal pay and recourse after being victimized by abuse and sexual assault? When our rights are being stripped right from under our feet? When his own cousin is not allowed to marry his lifelong partner? Who is this person? Where is his compassion? Where is his understanding that a McCain win is tantamount to the literal death of thousands who die from illegal abortions both at home and abroad? That his own family is directly affected by the social policies? Who is he? I cannot understand. 

In other news, Americans are racist. Not just racism without racists (which may be the single biggest threat to Obama's win), but full out racism. Rally attendees hurled racist epithets at a black camera man and another shouted "kill him!"  referring to Obama. That's just the beginning. Comments on you tube videos refer to shooting "rioting blacks" and "nappy hair." I feel like I've been punched. I know intellectually that racism exists, but to be confronted with such unapologetic, such unabashed, vitriolic hatred and ignorance is beyond appalling and nauseating. I don't know what to do with myself tonight. I find myself ashamed of too many Americans. 

!

I'm kind of in disbelief, to see justice served so rationally and methodically: Judge Orders 17 Detainees at Guantanamo Freed. Whether or not the defendants turn out to be terrorists, this is America, and I have been told that in America we have certain inalienable rights. It's nice to see them being put into practice.

When conundrums save the world

As Kate (and other employees of the RAC) has already heard, I found $20 in the bathroom this morning, which sparked a philosophical quandry: Do I track down the unfortunate owner? Do I keep the money? Give the time of year, I was feeling particularly guilty about just pocketing the bill, but sending out an email to everyone on the floor (most of whom I have yet to -- and very likely never will -- meet) asking if they misplaced their money felt distincly embarassing and even less appealing than the guilt I would assuredly be carrying about. Then, Kate and Daphne to the rescue! Charity! That's the answer! So I added the $20 to the contributions I had been meaning to make for some months now, and just to make sure it actually happened, I used my down time at work to make the donations online. Now, women everywhere can rest a little easier because the mystery money is going to make them safer.

Clearly, I can't just leave it at that. I have to make a plug for my favorite foundations (and former coalition partners). So, here goes:

Planned Parenthood's Action Fund: responsible for nifty ads in the swing states that finally address how egregiously horrific a McCain/ Palin executive would be for the reproductive health of America. And we're not just talking about abortions (though they are, clearly, very important as a fundamental privacy right and health care option); we're talking about access to other reproductive health services like birth control, neo-natal care and comprehensive sex education. The Action Fund is also sponsoring a 1 million strong campaign and they're looking for volunteers to help them mobilize 1 million pro-choice voters. Very awesome stuff.

Jewish Women International: JWI is one of the most active anti-Violence Against Women (and primarily domestic violence) national organizations in the US. In addition to lobbying for better funding of a myriad of programs that provide services to survivors, help law enforcement combat violence and focus on eliminating violence in the first place, JWI helps to raise awareness about this all too often forgotten issue that affects far more people than you might think. Their Agents of Change campaign is aimed at getting voters to consider Violence Against Women issues when pulling the lever (or punching the chad) this November.



I encourage everyone to check out these fabulous organizations, and the many others that focus on the important issues behind the political idologies we espouse. These are the real things that affect real people (and as Biden said last night, John McCain ain't no maverick when it comes to the real stuff). Obama, on the other hand has a great plan.

Vote Obama/ Biden in '08!

News Clearinghouse

Many are a few days old because I haven't gotten around to posting, so they've been sitting bookmarked on my computer. But, still great reads if you missed them, and though all political in nature, cover a variety of election sub-topics. Some are more infuriating than others, but seriously, it's no wonder I've been having election day-related nightmares.

No Laughing Matter: Judith Warner attends a McCain/ Palin rally and discovers there's much to be worried about. 

Mississippi's Ballot Trick: some insanely insidious efforts by conservative power-players down south to brazenly fix an election.

The Palin-Whatshisname Ticket: What the choice of Palin says about the ticket, in a political theory sense.

 

Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes: Everything you need to know to know Palin.

Will Palin Get the Same Scrutiny Hilary Got?: Of course she won't. The people who "scrutinized" Hilary (and let's be clear again for the record, it was less scrutiny, and more downright hostile sexism) are the very people who are Palin's biggest supporters. The conservative talking heads are the most hypocritical vicious critics I've ever seen. I genuinely feel personally hated and disparaged. 

Sigh. 44ish days to go. 

Actually, THIS is the Must-Read

An Open Letter to Governor Palin on Women's Rights by Lynn Paltrow, from the National Advocates for Pregnant Women. It makes a rare and compelling case. So worth the read. 

A Must Read (yes, this too)

Gloria Steinem's OpEd in the LA Times on Palin, politics, and women. I have to remember some of these lines to use in everyday conversations. 

Status Update: Watching A Few Good Men. One of the best films ever made. 

Despite my efforts, I have simply not been able to watch the Republican Convention for more than a few seconds at a time. I admit it. I'm weak. I cannot stomach the hypocrisy, the lies and the belittling of all that I feel to be good and admirable about our country and the Democratic ticket. How dare they laugh at community organizing, as if people seeking to take an active role in their neighborhoods and local politics is anything other than exactly what this nation is supposed to be about and encourage among its people. How dare they! 

They use and exploit, as well. This video is a so-called tribute to 9/11 (why one was necessary, I certainly don't know considering it wasn't an anniversary) as well as Keith Olberman's reaction to the film. I agree with his assessment; I'm so offended, not just as a New Yorker who knows firefighters who risked their lives and lost life-long friends on that day and who watched her hometown burn and be overwhelmingly traumatized, but as an American who cannot imagine the use of any horror to evoke and stir up fear. It's disgusting. 

The Daily Show and the Colbert Report are still on a roll. Samantha Bee's bit tonight about the Republicans extolling Bristol Palin's personal family decision to keep her baby and getting them to see (slowly) what incompatibility that might have with the stated Republican platform is just brilliant and sadly not yet up online (granted, it just aired 45 minutes ago). Definitely worth checking out when it's up. 

In other news, the cable/ internet people came yesterday to install a wireless router among other things. We made an interesting discovery. There seems to be some sort of metal in the walls around the bedrooms which blocks the wireless "waves" if you will. So, currently, no wireless in my bedroom where my desk is. This is problematic for several reasons. And, I'm fearing it is not easily fixed. A supervisor is scheduled to come on Saturday to assess. I'm crossing my fingers there is a simple solution that doesn't cost obscene amounts of money, like everything else in this city. Do you know that I paid $1.25 for a tomato the other day! And it was a small tomato. I am going to go broke simply by eating. What a sad state of affairs. 

I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself

Judith Warner's Walking the Abortion Plank. The bit on the DNC platform is especially good. 

We Can, We Will, and We Must

The Democrats put on one hell of a show this week, and I for one, could not be prouder, more excited, or more inspired. The ghosts of lost elections passed delivered knock-out speeches and finally put to bed the looming attacks that marred their campaigns while simultaneously deconstructing McCain and putting forth Obama - Biden as the ticket to tomorrow. It looks like the Dems ate their Wheaties, and that Obama and his team have inspired not just the everyday Americans but the top dogs in the Party as well. And while I still have the churning ball of desperate fear burning bright in my stomach, I say to the GOP, "Bring It On!"

However, to MSNBC, CNN and most especially Fox News, I say "bite me." Not eloquent, but it's practically Shakespeare compared to their commentary and coverage of the Convention. After five minutes my family and I (and many others we've chatted with) were plainly fed up with the lackluster attention they paid to the actual goings-on and the commentary they provided which made me feel distinctly like they weren't listening at all to the speeches and were on the secret payrolls of the GOP. I nearly threw tomatoes at the TV. C-SPAN was clearly the way to go as they actually covered (wait for the shock) the convention! I'll eat my boots if someone can show me just one clip of decent coverage given by the other news networks.

Continuing with news coverage, like any good liberal family, we preferred to get our de-brief from Jon Stewart and friends, who wonderfully lambasted all the goings-on (though sadly did not pick up on some trickster's idea to play the song Addicted to Love immediately following Bill Clinton's speech--clearly top on the list of things I am both wildly sorry while also profoundly grateful that everyone neglected to cover). Tonight we watch Bill Maher's HBO show, Real Time, which was equally good and Maher made some particularly intelligent points, though I certainly did not agree with everything he said, and found a number of his comments on Sarah Whosiwhatsits (new VP candidate for the right) to be more sexist than aptly critical.

And speaking of Sarah Palin, I think my sister had the best point of the night when she responded to the debate over whether criticisms of her experience are valid when Tim Kaine, who was in the running for the Democratic VP slot, has also had only 1.5 years of gubernatorial experience by saying, essentially, that it's not that Pallin only has 1.5 years in office, but that she's an unknown, who had done nothing till now to be thrust into the national spotlight, unlike the Democratic contenders. Or as I would rephrase, when Kaine was floated, the country reacted by being interested to see how he would fare, and by debating the pros and cons; whereas when Palin was announced, even the most experienced Washington pundits were scratching their heads, reaching for the GOP Who's Who guide and a map, and asking bewilderedly, "Who? Who?!?" 

Not to mention that she supports teaching creationism in schools, is staunchly anti abortion, and is a lifelong member of the NRA--a group that fights tooth and nail to make it as easy as humanly possible for crazies and criminals alike to obtain as many different kinds of guns as can be imagined by the manufacturers, including ones that rain bullets and no respectable hunter or sportsman would ever consider using. And as for abortion, at the end of the day, if you're interested in saving as many lives as possible, then know this: Before 1973, it was estimated that between 1.2 and 1.6 illegal abortions were performed each year (abortions were already legal in 17 states; the 1.6 number comes from extensive research my dad did in the St. Paul, MN library). Last year, the number was 1.4 (it has actually risen in the past few years, due, no doubt to the dubious sex education funded by Bush -- and don't be fooled by anti-abortion websites that claim upwards of 26 to 40 million abortions each year. That would be hard to achieve, seeing as only about 6 million women in America become pregnant each year) . It's exactly the same. Legality makes no difference, here. Where it does make a difference is in the number of women who die during the procedure. Before Roe, 7,000 women died every year from illegal procedures, in the vast majority of years after Roe, no women die from legally performed procedures. So if you're really looking to save lives, then I think the numbers are pretty clear. 

In closing, I'd like to mention just how good Obama and Biden look together. They are so presidential, so visually strong and compelling. They're people I have confidence in AND would love to hang with. And while I'd rather this didn't factor into the way people vote, it's so cosmetic, I know it does and I can't help feeling very encouraged by their combined charisma. Especially in the face of a Republican ticket that resembles more an over-the-hill grandpa proudly introducing his daughter at the latest DAR debutante ball than serious contenders for high office.

This is one woman who, though desperately awaiting the glass ceiling being smashed once and for all, would much rather not have it be done by a woman seeking to snatch away not only my rights and freedoms, but every last drop of what it means to be truly American.

FAVORITE SOMEECARD EVERRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!