On this most recent visit to D.C., I realized what a crazy city it is. Just bizarre. I don't know how else to explain it. Maybe it is the mix of people there. So here are some various funny people and happenings that I encountered while in D.C:
-a man with a t-shirt saying "The South Will Rise Again," confederate flag logo on front, and naked blonde with the flag draped around her on the back of the t-shirt. man was around 55 or 60
-D.C. has streets going one direction by numbers (First Street, Second, etc..) and by letters the other direction, many of those signs are actually known as units (e.g. A Unit), well we spotted the street G Unit right near Union Station
-we met a guy on the Metro around my age with a t-shirt that said "Caucasia knows how to party" and he told us that he was visiting his brother who "manages skyscrapers," proceeded to say "I think he's really a receptionist because I went to visit him and he was sitting in the front office."
-Metro again, behind these teenagers on the escalator who start going into this monologue about how "escalators never can break, they just become stairs" and they looked back at me, and I told them that was funny so one of them informed me it was Mitch Hedberg (i think that was the name).
Monday, April 26, 2004
Were you at the March?
This weekend was absolutely wonderful. I was one of the million+ who attended the March for Women's Lives. [The numbers are in dispute. For example, The Chicago Tribune has chosen to report the conservative estimates of the event, saying that there were 500,000-800,000 marchers. If one compares photos of this march with photos of the Million Man March, which had 800,000 marchers, the March for Women's Lives is noticably larger.]
The March for Women's Lives
The Million Man March
When my mom, sister and I arrived at the mall at around 11, we proceeded to walk west towards where the speakers were, and it was incredible: There was no end to the amount of people. If one looked down on us from above, we would have appeared a sea of pink, purple, and yellow (the three main colors of the signs). Many of the organizations who were at the march had made signs. Most prominent were the Planned Parenthood, NOW, and Ms. Magazine signs. There were many other creative homemade signs and other great sights, like the giant set of mock ovaries that some people were holding. My mom made several, one that said "Democracy not Theocracy," and she got many requests to be in pictures with the sign.
About halfway down the mall, my mom and sister and I rested for a bit and I found a sign that said Students for Planned Parenthood, which I liked and decided to use. A bit later, once we had begun walking, I found a Free Martha sign which I also picked up. That sign was the source of many comments.
We started marching, and it really went by pretty quickly. There was a small amount of anti-choice protestors who periodically stood at the outside of the march's boundaries holding up horrid signs that were incredibly exploitative. One family even had a poster hanging above their child, using him in their protest. Everyone was pretty astounded and angry by the way they were exploiting their baby.
Still, the anti-choice marchers were really a blink compared to the incredible showing that we had. We marched past the White House, though we were not able to get very close to it, symbolizing the anti-democratic attitude of the current administration.
The march has been reported as being for the abortion cause, but it was very underplayed that us women who marched support access to contraceptives and Planned Parenthood, which lowers the need to make the abortion choice. On the other hand, the anti-choice protestors are against both (some at the march were against oral contraceptives!!), and access denied of course leads to a greater number of pregnancies.
We finised up back at the mall where people such as Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Gloria Steinem, Gloria Feldt, Hillary Clinton, and so on spoke. I should also say that like the women of all ages and races who were there, there were men of all ages and races there, and they were great. Some were wearing t-shirts that said "This is what a feminist looks like." It was all very phenomenal.
There not too many things that I will use the word "amazing" to describe because I think that the word has become trivialized by overuse among people of my generation, but this march was definitely one of the most amazing things I have partaken in in my life. I would do it a hundred times more!
The March for Women's Lives
The Million Man March
When my mom, sister and I arrived at the mall at around 11, we proceeded to walk west towards where the speakers were, and it was incredible: There was no end to the amount of people. If one looked down on us from above, we would have appeared a sea of pink, purple, and yellow (the three main colors of the signs). Many of the organizations who were at the march had made signs. Most prominent were the Planned Parenthood, NOW, and Ms. Magazine signs. There were many other creative homemade signs and other great sights, like the giant set of mock ovaries that some people were holding. My mom made several, one that said "Democracy not Theocracy," and she got many requests to be in pictures with the sign.
About halfway down the mall, my mom and sister and I rested for a bit and I found a sign that said Students for Planned Parenthood, which I liked and decided to use. A bit later, once we had begun walking, I found a Free Martha sign which I also picked up. That sign was the source of many comments.
We started marching, and it really went by pretty quickly. There was a small amount of anti-choice protestors who periodically stood at the outside of the march's boundaries holding up horrid signs that were incredibly exploitative. One family even had a poster hanging above their child, using him in their protest. Everyone was pretty astounded and angry by the way they were exploiting their baby.
Still, the anti-choice marchers were really a blink compared to the incredible showing that we had. We marched past the White House, though we were not able to get very close to it, symbolizing the anti-democratic attitude of the current administration.
The march has been reported as being for the abortion cause, but it was very underplayed that us women who marched support access to contraceptives and Planned Parenthood, which lowers the need to make the abortion choice. On the other hand, the anti-choice protestors are against both (some at the march were against oral contraceptives!!), and access denied of course leads to a greater number of pregnancies.
We finised up back at the mall where people such as Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Gloria Steinem, Gloria Feldt, Hillary Clinton, and so on spoke. I should also say that like the women of all ages and races who were there, there were men of all ages and races there, and they were great. Some were wearing t-shirts that said "This is what a feminist looks like." It was all very phenomenal.
There not too many things that I will use the word "amazing" to describe because I think that the word has become trivialized by overuse among people of my generation, but this march was definitely one of the most amazing things I have partaken in in my life. I would do it a hundred times more!
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Today I scheduled an appointment with my CAS (College of Arts and Sciences) advisor to discuss the possibility of changing my major. Encouraged by some helpful conversations and e-mails with several people, I am taking action on this "major life crisis" (pun intended!). I gave myself some time to complain about academics in general and about my current major in particular, which is always good as long as it is followed by someting constructive.
I don't even know if I want to switch, but it's worth looking into.
P.S. If anyone has some good suggestions for a major, let me know.
I don't even know if I want to switch, but it's worth looking into.
P.S. If anyone has some good suggestions for a major, let me know.
Friday, April 16, 2004
#F8F8FF |
Your dominant hue is blue, making you a good friend who people love and trust. You're good in social situations and want to fit in. Just be careful not to compromise who you are to make them happy. Your saturation level is very low - you have better things to do than jump headfirst into every little project. You make sure your actions are going to really accomplish something before you start because you hate wasting energy making everyone else think you're working. Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation. |
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Funny
arthie13: i'll be working on the raper tonight, but can always use a break, especially with my cool as ass, ballz to the wallz older sis. elaine
(AIM Conversation with Arthur, 4.13.04)
Wei Lin Q. Penis
(write in vote for ASG elections, 4.13.04)
(AIM Conversation with Arthur, 4.13.04)
Wei Lin Q. Penis
(write in vote for ASG elections, 4.13.04)
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Oh, how soon we forget!
Tonight as I was skimming over some of my older blog postings, I stopped to linger on a couple of recent ones about California and how much I missed it, and I suddenly realized how significantly these feelings have dulled in the last couple of weeks since being back.
On the one hand, it is good to be rid of these feelings of longing, since they really do not get me anywhere nearer to happiness or satisfaction--after all, I have no prospects of going to California in the near future, and a persisting desire to go back would thus be more agonizing than anything else. On the other hand, isn't it sometimes so exciting and validating to love a person or place so much that when it's gone, it becomes the source of such pain? I think it's satisfying because it indicates that one has a source of meaning in one's life.
Although I don't consider my longing for California and for being on vacation a truly tragic tale of separation, I still think it's a good example of how we so quickly lose touch with the immediate feelings we had for something or someone as a result of being separated from them, and it makes me question, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." Does it really? Or is the phrase "how soon we forget" perhaps a more apt way to address this issue of separation?
On the one hand, it is good to be rid of these feelings of longing, since they really do not get me anywhere nearer to happiness or satisfaction--after all, I have no prospects of going to California in the near future, and a persisting desire to go back would thus be more agonizing than anything else. On the other hand, isn't it sometimes so exciting and validating to love a person or place so much that when it's gone, it becomes the source of such pain? I think it's satisfying because it indicates that one has a source of meaning in one's life.
Although I don't consider my longing for California and for being on vacation a truly tragic tale of separation, I still think it's a good example of how we so quickly lose touch with the immediate feelings we had for something or someone as a result of being separated from them, and it makes me question, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." Does it really? Or is the phrase "how soon we forget" perhaps a more apt way to address this issue of separation?
Sunday, April 11, 2004
I think that one of the most brilliant advertising campaigns of all time is the United Airlines use of George Gershwin's beautiful piece "Rhapsody in Blue" because of the symbolism of the title and the air of elegance, beauty, and worldliness that the piece conveys for United Airlines.
Please, I implore you to view their newest series of brilliant commercials. Fucking best ads I've seen in a long time!
Also check out their cool print ads that I reckon will be considered art gems somewhere down the road. Also, notice the Expressionistic/Modernist style of the UA art that I have included in this post.
Monday, April 05, 2004
"California is a place in which a boom mentality and a sense of Chekhovian loss meet in uneasy suspension; in which the mind is troubled by some buried but ineradicable suspicion that things had better work here, because here, beneath that immense bleached sky, is where we run out of continent." -- Joan Didion
Sunday, April 04, 2004
Salon.com has an interesting article this week on how Suzanne Somers and the huge success her home-shopping ware empire has been overlooked by the cultural writers at large because she flies below their "upscale" radar:
"Because while we have all thoroughly mulled more upscale lifestyle/spiritual pashas like Martha, Oprah and Dr. Phil, Suzanne Somers has gone about her business largely unnoticed -- that is, except to the millions who have, in some way, bought into her brand."
While this may be a somewhat overbroad assessment, I love articles like this in which the author diagnoses a cultural phenomena. Read up if you're interested!
"Because while we have all thoroughly mulled more upscale lifestyle/spiritual pashas like Martha, Oprah and Dr. Phil, Suzanne Somers has gone about her business largely unnoticed -- that is, except to the millions who have, in some way, bought into her brand."
While this may be a somewhat overbroad assessment, I love articles like this in which the author diagnoses a cultural phenomena. Read up if you're interested!
Recommendations
Clothing color: bright blue
Movie: Jersey Girl (yes, I liked it ok, and what's more, Ben Affleck was hot)
Magazine Article: "The Case Against Perfection" by Michael J. Sandel in The Atlantic
Music: Barry White
Place: San Diego (what else?)
Candidate: Barack Obama
Movie: Jersey Girl (yes, I liked it ok, and what's more, Ben Affleck was hot)
Magazine Article: "The Case Against Perfection" by Michael J. Sandel in The Atlantic
Music: Barry White
Place: San Diego (what else?)
Candidate: Barack Obama
I have found my spots
According to a Find Your Spot quiz that I took, my top three ideal locations are Little Rock, Arkansas; Baltimore, Maryland; and Honolulu, Hawaii. I'm not sure how a southern city edged out the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and the West Coast regions as number one, but it's intriguing. Anyway, I'm just glad that San Diego, L.A., Washington D.C., Boston, and Orange County were also on my list, but where is San Francisco? Well the rents are pretty outta my league. I reccommend this quiz though. Pretty in depth and fun to think about, no?
Baltimore (near D.C. and Maryland has some good...crabs, but seriously, sweet)
Honolulu (wouldn't it be love-ly?)
Baltimore (near D.C. and Maryland has some good...crabs, but seriously, sweet)
Honolulu (wouldn't it be love-ly?)
Friday, April 02, 2004
Why do I like this sick, awful man
Oh Boston Rob, Boston Bob, B.ob, the Robfather, Rahb, you have played "Survivor Allstars" like an open book, blatantly winning every challenge through your fiercly competitive drive, and then, like the Grade-A asshole that you are, rubbing every one of your endless victories in. You have the most Boston of Boston accents and are as classic a Red Sox fan as can be--boastful, opportunistic, competitive, Yankees-hating-- and until tonight I thought you were a total douchebag.
However, even the toughest of men can show that they have a devotion to ...dare i say it...LOVE, over anything else. Yes, Boston Rob basically pulled out all of the stops to preserve his Survivor lover Amber in "Survivor" after she got thrown in with the opposing tribe. He went against the naturally amoral, it's-all-about-winning-the-game instinct in projecting that his biggest concern was staying in tact with Amber, even if he appeared to be an un-strategic pure fool in love. (Come to think of it, that's not such a bad strategy, but anyway).
(For anyone who cares, there are currently two tribes on "Survivor Allstars", Mogo Mogo and Chapera. Boston Rob and Amber were on Chapera along with a bunch of other misfits and southies, until tonight's tribe switcheroo which basically left the two tribes in tact save THE SEPARATION OF AMBER FROM THE REST OF HER TRIBE).
Anyway, Rob basically pulled a Godfather move, saying that he would get Lex's back if Lex, who was part of Amber's new tribe, had Amber's this round. Lex pulled through for Rob (but pretty much sunk his chanches of winning) by keeping Amber on and voting off the loyal and surprisingly likeable Jerri instead. All because Rob didn't want Amber to go. Geez, what's gonna happen if they're in the final two? That can't help a relationship. And wow Lex is stupid, b/c Rob has no one's back except his own and um...Amber's. Make of that what you will.
However, even the toughest of men can show that they have a devotion to ...dare i say it...LOVE, over anything else. Yes, Boston Rob basically pulled out all of the stops to preserve his Survivor lover Amber in "Survivor" after she got thrown in with the opposing tribe. He went against the naturally amoral, it's-all-about-winning-the-game instinct in projecting that his biggest concern was staying in tact with Amber, even if he appeared to be an un-strategic pure fool in love. (Come to think of it, that's not such a bad strategy, but anyway).
(For anyone who cares, there are currently two tribes on "Survivor Allstars", Mogo Mogo and Chapera. Boston Rob and Amber were on Chapera along with a bunch of other misfits and southies, until tonight's tribe switcheroo which basically left the two tribes in tact save THE SEPARATION OF AMBER FROM THE REST OF HER TRIBE).
Anyway, Rob basically pulled a Godfather move, saying that he would get Lex's back if Lex, who was part of Amber's new tribe, had Amber's this round. Lex pulled through for Rob (but pretty much sunk his chanches of winning) by keeping Amber on and voting off the loyal and surprisingly likeable Jerri instead. All because Rob didn't want Amber to go. Geez, what's gonna happen if they're in the final two? That can't help a relationship. And wow Lex is stupid, b/c Rob has no one's back except his own and um...Amber's. Make of that what you will.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
