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September 29, 2005
Time Machine--WEbring #9
The topic this week is from Mr. Prize In Every Box: If you had a time machine you could use only once, what would you do with it? Would you go to the past or the future? Whom would you want to meet or what would you want to see?
I've always been very leery of the whole time travel thing. When people approach me saying, "Hey Ms. Write Again Soon, would you like to try out our fantastic time travel machine?", I always gracefully decline. Who knows what disaster I might wreak on the universe if I could go back and forth (even just once). If I went back, I might change something that would alter my life's course--and I might not find myself here. And frankly, here is pretty good, even if that means sitting in my parents' house in front of the computer.
And if I went forward, I think we can agree (based on all the sci-fi literature in the public domain) there are really only two possibilities: 1) the world would be a disaster, thus sapping me of the will to make it better once I returned to the present time, or 2) the world would be exactly the same, thus sapping me of the will to make it better once I returned to the present time. Basically, I like the mystery--I find it motivating.
On a side note, I would like to point out that in some cosmic g-love thing happening here, there has been a lot of talk about time travel recently. I refer you to the recent Dilbert "corporate time travel" machine series September 19-21. And then the Defective Yeti's review of The Time Traveler's Wife, and an ensuing critique of the problems with time travel in literature and film. And then there's the...well, I guess that's about it. But it seemed like a lot.
All that said, if I could use a time machine only once, I would probably go back to yesterday morning and tell myself not to read Ms. NYC Rouge's web entry of the day. That was a mental image I did not need.
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For other commentary on this topic, see:
I'd Rather Be Traveling
Post No Bills
A Prize in Every Box
Bad Apologies
Wish to See
A Little Maryment
September 28, 2005
Redemption
Father forgive me for I have sinned. It's been six months since my last hair cut.
I'm off to do something drastic, I think. If I have the nerve. Or perhaps just a trim to get this unruly beast under control. And then it's off for a work meeting (light at the end of the tunnel, perhaps?), and a coffee break with former colleagues. And then, a softball game, where I will get to test the aforementioned hair cut on the field!
UPDATE: After a DRASTIC haircut (about 6 inches of hair are now swept up in some dumpster), I am happy to report that this morning I still have bed head. We'll see if I can successfully replicate the chic style that I walked out of the salon with, after I take a shower.
September 27, 2005
Torn
I'm torn, oh so very torn.
On the one hand, I'd like to give last night's trip down to the Regal Cinemas for the pre-screening of Serenity a thumbs down. The PR people were non-existent (except for the DC101 people, who were very nice to THEIR people) after all those requirements for PERHAPS getting a seat at the screening, and Ms. Rather Be Traveling and I arrived 2 hours early for NOTHING. Instead, we enjoyed some time at H&M, where we were both sorely disappointed by the overall lack of attractive fall clothing. As she so eloquently put it, "strange colors, strange textures".
On the other hand, once we went back to the theatre and met up with Ms. Wish to See, Mr. Bad Apologies, and others, the whole thing went rather smoothly. We were checked off against a list of names, and were ushered into the theatre, which looked to have seats to spare (although by the time the movie actually started I believe it was filled to the brim).
And the movie itself?
Well, I'd never seen the show Firefly--upon which the movie is based--so I came at the movie with fresh eyes. Overall I was pleased. It was entertaining, with plenty of witty banter (I am told it was par for the course, reminiscent of Josh Whedon's other work--namely Buffy and Angel), including the following exchange:
Mal (captain): [In outrage at the insolence of his crew.] You want to run this ship?
Jane (crew member): Yes.
Mal: [Awkwardly] Well...you can't.
The special effects were tastefully done, and the characters--while not exactly well developed--managed to retain their individuality. On the negative side, without any previous experience, I was blindsided by the semi-old-fashioned language the crew employed. For example, when complaining about their lonesome life aboard the wayfaring starship:
Kaylee (crew member): It's a year since anything been betwixt my nethers that ain't run on batteries.
Giggles from the audience, but only after a second or two of mental activity devoted to translation into yon modern-day English.
Still, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I'll probably see the other two (Whedon got a 3-movie deal), but mostly because my friends are rabid fans. If it were just me, I might just add it to the Netflix account.
Posted by madchen at 10:09 AM | Comments (0)
September 25, 2005
Publicity Stunt
I'm always on the lookout for cool new things to do in D.C. Firmly entrenched in the suburbs, I made a commitment this summer to be more hip and urban. This has resulted in very good things.
-- With the help of Mr. Bad Apologies, I have seen a spate of local theatre (some terrific, like The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, and some mediocre like the all-male production of Les Liaisons Dangereues).
--I've attended a meeting of the Amnesty International USA D.C. Women's Human Rights Action Team (DC-WRAT), where I felt smug about being "an activist" but was ultimately bored. Nevertheless, I'm signed up to go to the Amnesty International's regional conference in Philadelphia in October.
--This weekend I worked as a volunteer at the 2005 Green Festival, a two-day party with a serious purpose: to accelerate the emergence of a new economic paradigm that is life-affirming and life-restoring.
Together we are cultivating a culture of sustainability and social equity that honors our interdependence with all life. Green Festival unites green businesses, social and environmental groups, visionary thinkers and thousands of community members in a lively exchange of ideas, commerce and movement building fun.Learn: Attend lectures and workshops by thought leaders, business visionaries and community activists shaping the green movement.
Network: Connect with like-minded individuals and organizations who are committed to the possibility of a better world. See Network.
Get Involved! Learn about organizations effecting positive and sustainable change in our region, our country, and the around the planet.
Socialize: Have fun interacting with others, for the sheer joy of it. Meet interesting people who share common interests. Spend some time at the food court and listen to local musicians. Parents, find a place to relax in the Family Rest Stop.
Eat: Sample delicious, healthy, organic, and sustainable produced food prepared on site. ALL FOODWARE IS BIODEGRADEABLE - COMPOST! WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO BRING YOUR OWN FOODWARE TO THE EVENT.
Anyway, it was a fun mix of super-hippies, socially responsible investment, organic food (SUCH good vegan food!), and fair trade crafts. It was a little "Bush-hating" for my taste, but overall it was quite a love-fest, without being too touchy-feely. I even purchased some fun fair trade items, which I will discuss more in another post.
On Saturday night, in my mad dash from the Convention Center to the Lisner Auditorium, I noticed that there were swarms of African-Americans--dressed to the nines--all converging on the Convention Center. I had to traverse almost of the entire length of the building to get to my car, so I had ample time to recognize many prominent members of the community, member of Congress, and other famous black faces. In fact, I passed within 6 inches of Omarosa, who was chatting into a cell phone while surrounded by a bunch of friends. I couldn't quite figure out what everyone was up to, since they seemed a little dressed up for the Green Festival (where a shocking number of women did not deign to wear bras), but it turns out that the Convention Center was also hosting a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation event. That's one of the reasons I love DC--there's always a good chance you'll see someone famous.
-- As I mentioned, on Saturday night I went to the fabulous GW Lisner Auditorium (by myself, no less) to see Madeleine Peyroux with Martha Wainwright). It was AWESOME. I had never heard of Martha Wainwright, but was utterly delighted, and Madeleine Peyroux lived up to her excellent reputation as a live performer.
--I've also gotten up to date with the local internet media, specifically DCist, Metroblogging DC, and Upcoming.org. That way, even if I'm not exactly rushing to cross the Maryland/DC border, I at least know what I'm missing.
Thanks to the magic of DCist, I've now discovered the joy of "Serenity Bloggers Bonanza". Or at least, what would be joy if they weren't being such punks about it. Let me explain.
The original notice went like this:
The PR folks for the forthcoming Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, etc.) science fiction movie Serenity are inviting bloggers to advance screenings. (List of cities here via an Excel document that didn't quite format right, but it's legible). It's free, and all they ask is that you blog something, good or bad, about it.
I went to the website and signed up. So far, so good. After submitting my information, the website gives you a nice little blurb about "don't stand in long lines, you have a special seat with The Press". If you have any trouble, find XXX XXXXX and she'll help you get situated. Lovely. I passed the word to all my local blogger friends, and we're planning on making a date of it.
BUT THEN...I got the following email:
From: Anne Leininger [mailto:anne@gracehillmedia.com]Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 10:15 PM
To: 'Anne Leininger'
Subject: Serenity Blogger Bonanza - Washington, DC
Congratulations! You are one of the lucky bloggers to be chosen and confirmed for the screening of SERENITY for the time, date and the number of guests that you have requested. Please note, this confirmation DOES NOT guarantee you a seat at the screening.
To significantly increase your chances of getting into the screening, you MUST do the following:• You MUST include the film’s synopsis on your blog (synopsis below) and you MUST link your blog to the SERENITY website (which has the trailer and production notes) http://www.serenitymovie.com and featured artwork. After you have screened the film, please discuss it on your blog. Please provide us the links to all of your blog posts on SERENITY at serenity@gracehillmedia.com
• Print out and bring a copy of this confirmation.
• Arrive at the theater AT LEAST 45 minutes before the show begins.
• Upon arrival at the theater, please find a UNIVERSAL PICTURES representative and inform him or her that you are part of the SERENITY BLOGGER BONANZA. The Universal rep will then instruct you as to what to do next.
• DO NOT bring in a camera or a cellular phone that takes pictures. They WILL be confiscated, and you will NOT be allowed into the screening.
• Have a great time!Warmest wishes,
Your friends at Grace Hill Media
I've never watched Buffy or Angel, or the ill-fated (yet with a cult following) Firefly--and to be quite blunt, I'm not that crazy-excited about seeing Serenity. But in my quest to be hip and urban (and still stay fiscally solvent) a free movie screening seemed like a fun thing to do. Now it's becoming mired in "you must dos" and "to help get you a seats". Bah! Warm wishes indeed.
But since they were so helpful (although I would like to point out that this "Blogger Bonanza" is a stroke of PR genius--they get free publicity in hundreds of blogs--potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of people--all for the price of a "potential" seat at the screening), here's the synopsis.
Joss Whedon, the Oscar® - and Emmy - nominated writer/director responsible for the worldwide television phenomena of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE, ANGEL and FIREFLY, now applies his trademark compassion and wit to a small band of galactic outcasts 500 years in the future in his feature film directorial debut, Serenity. The film centers around Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family –squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal.
I'll be reviewing the movie in detail after I see in tomorrow evening. I'd better get a seat.
Posted by madchen at 08:41 PM | Comments (5)September 21, 2005
Miracles
In a feat of cunning skill, I have taught Madchen the Wonder Cat to roll over. And when I tried "play dead", she just lay there, looking pitiful. Success! Now I just have to determine how to parlay this amazing trick into the millions I so richly deserve.
Posted by madchen at 05:05 PM | Comments (0)Reason Number 117 I Want To Work For Myself
I was up all night working on various project for work--both my current consulting job and the Big Idea. It was just after 5 a.m. when my dad came downstairs repeating over and over and over (in a rather loud voice):
GOD DAMN IT
GOD DAMN IT
GOD DAMN IT
GOD DAMN IT
The scary thing was that he wasn't particularly angry (growing up, we heard him occasionally utter a swear word--an "in the heat of the moment" sort of thing), just frustrated and at the end of his rope. Apparently, he couldn't find his magic all-in-one-cell-phone-pager-email-thing and was going to be late for a meeting. I ended up helping him scour the house for it, only to have him remember that it was in the car from the night before.
The stress in his voice emphasized that he hates his job. REALLY hates it. In fact, has hated it for longer than I can remember. I honestly don't know why he still does it. I guess its the reason that Jess and I are always getting into trouble with our bosses, teachers, and other "figures of authority". We like to take on a challenge, to fight the good fight.
But jeez. Sometimes you just have to say, screw the magic cell phone, I'm calling in sick. And by sick, I mean:
I QUIT.
Posted by madchen at 07:00 AM | Comments (1)September 20, 2005
A Conversation With Myself--WEbring #8
I don't really think I understood what I was getting myself into when I suggested the following topic for this week's webring assignment:
Write a topic of your choosing using ONLY lyrics from songs. You must cite the songs (with artist) at the bottom of your entry. Entries must be at least 200 words long (or use 20 songs). There must be a recognizable story line (not just "here are 20 songs I like").
But here goes. Please note that there is some obscenity, which I blame on the shocking social mores of the music industry. But damn do they make catchy songs.
My life's a trial. (1)
I know what you're saying. (2)
Everyday I fight a war against the mirror. (3)
I've been depressed and I get so stressed. (4)
Don't get so down on yourself. (5)
It's a problem, that I'm not solving
Don't mind admitting I feel like quitting. (6)
Take the dreams that should have died
The ones that kept you lying awake
When you should've been all right
And throw 'em all away. (7)
I live my life all by myself. (8)
And you can do what you want
Do what you like. (9)
I don't need no reasons or excuses for myself
I laugh to keep from cryin' like everybody else. (10)
The future still looks good
And you've got time to rectify
All the things that you should. (11)
I feel fine enough, I guess
Considering everything's a mess. (12)
I've got a word or two
To say about the things that you do. (13)
I love you,
But you're boring, you know. (14)
I don't know how I'm gonna live my life this way.
Don't want to have to try,
I'll just sit around and cry. (15)
I really do love you
But you're so particularly boring. (16)
Maybe, if I get lucky,
I'll just fuckin' die. (17)
Blah blah blah. (18)
You’ve got so many problems. (19)
Life sucks. What else is new? That’s tough. (20)
Feel so dry, I'm dead inside
I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. (21)
You gotta get up, get out and get something. (22)
Girl, all I got to say is - get a job bitch. (23)
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1 Kylie Minogue, In Denial
2 No Doubt, Don't Speak
3 Pink, Don't Let Me Get Me
4 Reel Big Fish, Cheer Up
5 Chris Isaak, Don't Get So Down On Yourself
6 Kylie Minogue, In Denial
7 Toad the Wet Sprocket, Throw It All Away
8 Bee Gees, All By Myself
9 Green Day, Tired of Waiting for You
10 The Badlees, Laugh to Keep from Cryin'
11 Beatles, Think For Yourself
12 Barenaked Ladies, Pinch Me
13 Beatles, Think For Yourself
14 Beautiful Soul, I Love You (But You're Boring)
15 A.F.I. Self Pity
16 Beautiful Soul, I Love You (But You're Boring)
17 A.F.I., Self Pity
18 Iggy Pop, Blah Blah Blah
19 Mxpx, Young and Depressed
20 Reel Big Fish, Cheer Up.
21 Disciple, Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired
22 Bone Thugs and Harmony, Get Up and Get It
23 Division, Get a Job Bitch
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For other commentary on this topic, see:
Post No Bills
A Prize in Every Box
Bad Apologies
Wish to See
A Little Maryment
September 16, 2005
Teenage Adventures
Yesterday, the Washington Post published an article entitled "Study: Half Teens Had Oral Sex". It should have been called "Things I Could Have Told You From Personal Experience".
(Note to readers, if you would prefer to live your life without knowledge of my past sexual history, I suggest you skip this entry altogether--although the article itself is a good read.)
The article opens:
Slightly more than half of American teenagers, ages 15 to 19, have engaged in oral sex, with females and males reporting similar levels of experience, according to the most comprehensive national survey of sexual behaviors ever released by the federal government. The report today by the National Center for Health Statistics shows that the figure increases to about 70 percent of 18- and 19-year-olds.
Is anyone surprised? Really, are you? And if you are suprised, is it in a horrified sort of way? The scientific authorities are all up in arms about it--and maybe I've mellowed in my pernicious judgements of late--but this statistic seems neither surprising nor terrible to me.
The article goes on to talk about girls and boys and how it now appears that they are equally active--unlike the past when boys were considered the "hunters" and girls were considered the "prey".
The data also underscore the fact that, unlike their parents' generation, many young people -- particularly those from middle- and upper-income white families -- simply do not consider oral sex a big deal."Oral sex is far less intimate than intercourse. It's a different kind of relationship," said Claire Brindis, professor of pediatrics at the University of California-San Francisco. "At 50 percent, we're talking about a major social norm. It's part of kids' lives."
Yup, that's how I remember it. (And here's where my parents want to STOP READING.) I started having oral sex when I was 16. Was I the prey, or was I the hunter? Neither, and both. I was in a committed (yet oh-so-immature) relationship with my high school boyfriend and we sort of stumbled into it together. I think he was probably helped along (from a logistics perspective) by his hand-me-down collection of 1980's porn, which was later ceremoniously passed to his younger brother. It was fantastic, and emotional, and intimate--but it didn't change my life like I thought it would. Yup, it was just a normal part of my life.
The newly released data, gathered in 2002, are sure to stir debate over abstinence-only sex education. Supporters of such programs say they have resulted in young people delaying intercourse, but opponents say they simply have led young people to substitute other risky behaviors, especially fellatio and cunnilingus. The new data tend to support the latter view, showing that nearly one in four virgin teens has engaged in oral sex.
To go back to my personal experience, duh! I was engaging in oral sex YEARS before I actually had intercourse. And it wasn't because of pregnancy issues (I was on the pill for medical, not contraceptive, reasons) but because I wasn't ready to be "having sex". Looking back, that was silly. Nowdays, it is MUCH more intimate to have oral sex than to just have intercourse. In fact, I probably had more oral sex in the 2 years before I had sex than in the decade afterwards. Hmm, that's quite sad for me.
Child Trend's analysis breaks down the federal data by age, race and ethnicity, mother's education, family structure and income. Combined, these breakdowns show that oral sex is most common among white families in the higher-income brackets.
Damn, I've been profiled.
Anyway, my real issue with this whole study is that it's asking the wrong questions (or the Washington Post is writing about the wrong results). The question is not whether teenagers are having sex, or oral sex, or whatever. It's whether they are doing it in a dangerous way. For me, I was in a committed relationship with a fellow virgin. We didn't have sex AND I was on the pill. Aside from the fear of someone walking in on us, we were pretty safe about it--both physically and emotionally. That, I think, is the big issue with teen sexual exploration.
I encourage everyone to leave comments (you can do it anonymously--the request for name, email, and website are purely optional) with your take on this issue. Am I totally off base? Note that you may not be able to post a comment with the word "sex" in it--so you can just write s*x, or something. It's irritating, but it prevents spam.
Posted by madchen at 02:50 PM | Comments (1)September 14, 2005
Supreme Court Hearings
After thinking long and hard about the John Roberts hearings (ya know, the guy nominated for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?), I have this to say:
YAWN.
That yawn is not even worthy of an exclamation point. The problem is that the Supreme Court is SO BORING. I mean, they're old, practically unimpeachable, and very, very solemn. Come to think of it, even the ABC network and Sally Fields couldn't make the Supreme Court interesting.
Which is all very sad, because the Supreme Court is so important. So very, very important. But honestly, I tried to listen to an audiocast of a Supreme Court hearing and just about fell asleep at the wheel. It's lucky we have people like Mr. Bad Apologies to get enthused about this branch of government for us.
Now this is what a confirmation hearing should be like.
I look to Mr. Fliven for confirmation of my point.
Posted by madchen at 12:06 AM | Comments (5)September 13, 2005
Magic Baby Powers--WEbring Assignment #7
From Ms. Rather Be Traveling comes this installment of the Webring: Assuming you will have a child in the future, what one attribute or personality characteristic or natural ability would you like to secure for that child (assuming the magic Baby Genie (not to be confused with the Diaper Genie) gives you One Wish). Also, the attribute can not be exemption from a specific disease/disability.
While granting my baby super powers a la Mr. Fliven, or giving birth to a child with determination like Ms. Wish To See, or even raising a child with artistic and cultural appreciation like Ms. Post No Bills would be grand, I have different plans for my wunderkind.
If there were no restrictions on this wish, I would grant my child freedom from mental illness. It seems to run in the family, and I know from personal experience how depression and anxiety can make everything seem dull, sad, and insurmountable. It's impossible to doggedly seek your goals when it's too much of a burden to get up in the morning, and even the best museum or bottle of wine seems like a waste of time when you can't imagine going out of the house. And although I don't know it, I strongly suspect that even super powers lose some of their flair when the wielder of such power is racked with sobs at unexpected points during the day.
But I do believe I am specifically prohibited from giving my child an "exemption from a specific disease/disability", so instead, I will grant my baby the following characteristic:
While brains can get you far, and emotional maturity can helpful, I feel like many of the problems humanity faces are derived directly from a lack of articulacy. The ability to say what you mean, to make a persuasive argument, to present your facts in a meaningful way--it makes things so much smoother in so many aspects of life.
Plus, it would make my job easier as a parent.
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For other commentary on this topic, see:
Ms. Rather Be Traveling
Post No Bills
A Prize in Every Box
Bad Apologies
Wish to See
A Little Maryment
The Playground
For your viewing pleasure, may I present some pictures taken from last week's adventure in Baltimore--including the near-emergency towards the end. Click on the picture to see the whole album.
Posted by madchen at 12:59 AM | Comments (1)September 12, 2005
News Round-Up
As usual, going from the most personal to the most global (or wait, do I usually go the other way around?):
#1
I have lost all desire to blog. I think it's a combination of 1) the soul-sucking nature of the basement, where my computer usually resides, and 2) nothing really to say. It's all the same-old, same-old: new business, contracting, blah, blah, blah. How to resolve this? Well, I could just declare a hiatus from the blog, or call it quits altogether. Or, I could set aside some time specifically for writing, which I found very helpful in Sweden. Or, I could make an effort to do more fun things that would encourage blogging. Does anyone have strong feelings one way or the other about a hiatus? I'm not sure anyone even reads this anymore...
#2
The one interesting thing I've done lately is see Sigur Ros perform at Strathmore Hall on Sunday night. I had never been to that venue, and was quite impressed with the lovely outdoor seating. (Mr. Bad Apologies mis-read the ticket and we found ourselves there an hour early, giving us PLENTY of time to peruse the accommodations.) Inside was beautiful as well, with rich wood paneling in a tasteful way that I hope won't make patrons shudder in 30 years. Once we finally found our seats, we were even impressed by the small vent under each seat--perfect for maintaining proper body temperature during a performance. Unfortunately, it also meant that--used improperly--the temperature controller wielded absolute power over the audience. With a positive torrent of frigid air issuing from each vent (I swear, it was like sitting on top of an icebox), the girls' bear legs were numb, and I suspect that poor Mr. Bad Apologies' charming rear end was also bitterly chilly.
Even if we had managed to achieve perfect temperature control, however, the opening act was atrocious--although you'd never know from this article:
amina is four, small girls. edda, hildur, maría huld, and sólrún are entirely unassuming and forthright, considering the world tours and enormous recognition they have been exposed to over the past four years. as the string quartet composing songs and touring with sigur rós, they have been indoctrinated into the world of big-name bands, but they remain remarkably grounded and demure despite all the celebrity surrounding them. now they have taken a summer to see what they can do on their own. amina are stepping out from behind their stringed instruments and exploring the endless permutations of unconventional and invented instruments, computer sampling and composition, and general cavorting and carousing in the recording studio. the little darlings of sigur rós are all grown up and cooking up something good.
In my humble opinion, scientists concerned with the connection between whale beachings and the Navy's use of sonar would better spend their time investigating the potential effect of Amina's music on our poor oceanic mammal friends. I knew it would be bad when Mr. Bad Apologies, in response to my look of horror, leaned over and assured me that "they were just warming up". You know, like classical orchestras do. But no, after several minutes, it became obvious that this dissonance was, in fact, what we had paid to see. As Mr. Bad Apologies noted, "Cacophony is the new mellifluousness." Actually, I believe he said "mellifloudy", but I take the liberty of correcting his vocabulary.
Suffice it to say that I did not enjoy the opening act, and was a little worried about the main act. I had studiously avoided listening to any of Sigur Ros's music, although much of it is available for download from their website. I spent most of the intermission debating whether I ought to stay, since the others in my group noted that the main act was much like the opening one. I took the rest of that time and found a group of ushers, including the "head" usher, and inquired about the possibility of turning off the under-seat vents, since I could now only identify my legs by sight, as all other feeling had left them. (They were polite, but ultimately the air stayed on. I will be sending them a stern note explaining my inability to enjoy the concert in the next day or two.)
Fortunately, Sigur Ros was MUCH better than Amina--which is why, I suppose, they are the main act while Amina opened for them. It was rather dissonant at times, but the interesting montages played on a giant screen behind the band offered a little solace in the face of too-loud music and freezing body parts. Not all was to be enjoyed, however, as there was a scary selection that involved a close-up panning of old dolls. It was generally agreed to be one of the creepiest things the audience had ever seen.
My overall review? Not worth the $50. Perhaps $25, and a pair of sweatpants to keep my poor gams warm.
#3
I finally got my software issue resolved, and can fully proceed with my new business. (Yawn, I know that everyone is tired of reading about the Big Idea. In fact, I'm a little tired of it myself.) The next step is to meet with the existing clients (who, by the way, are not paying me, but have agreed to provide feedback on the process in exchange for a preview of the product), and write "pitch" letters to a new group of targets. Goal: finish this phase by the end of the week.
#4
My current consulting project involves a review of the social and environmental impacts of the international media industry. When I started it three weeks ago, I had no idea it was going to be so complicated. But with huge media conglomerates representing both angelic and satanic companies, and portraying both the best and the worst of humanity, it's hard to decide who is "good" and who is "bad". Already I find myself disagreeing with a LOT of the decisions made by the previous analysts, just because I value consistency over the "truth". If we're going to get it wrong, at least let's be consistent about our decision-making process, right? At least, that's the way I'm going to pitch it at the end of September, when the project will be complete.
#5
I received Lost: Season One in the mail today from Amazon. Since I was in Sweden, I didn't see any of the episodes, and it was a pure pleasure to watch it from the beginning tonight. My mom and I watched the first 4 episodes, figuring we need to average about 3 episodes a night in order to be caught up for the season premiere on September 21. (Note to self: perhaps all this television is another reason why the blogging has tapered off.)
#6
eBay is buying Skype. I *heart* Skype, and I'm not sure how I feel about this acquisition. No word yet on if eBay plans to significantly change the way Skype operates (like charging a fee). I hope it stays exactly the same, as it is my new best friend.
That's about it, I think. Adios, para ahora.
Posted by madchen at 11:22 PM | Comments (4)September 07, 2005
Another Giraffe
Oh f***. Of all that is holy and right with the world, why me? I was one sentence away from finishing what was possibly the most witty, most entertaining, most wordy (but in a good way) entry of the entire year when Firefox decided to freeze up and die. After a year of being perfectly happy with the program, the freeze-and-die problem has happend twice in the last week and I now question whether it really is superior to Internet Explorer.
Anyway, to recap in a summarized and less-than-thrilling way, I was trying to explain why I haven't been blogging lately. It basically came down to four reasons:
1. Starting my own business. Between all the actual work and the headache of legal technicalities (damn federal laws and state regulations!), it has been more work than I anticipated. I tend to think of myself as so organized that success is virutally guaranteed. On the other hand, there has been forward progress, since my new website is up and running, thanks to Mr. Fliven, Ms. Post No Bills and Mr. Bastish.
2. My existing contract work. Until the end of October, I'll be working a 40-hour week as an independent consultant to my previous employer. I actually thought that I'd be going part-time through the middle of next year, but--as is par for the course--the company has declined the whole project on the basis of cost. Silly them--by deciding to forego this project, they are basically left with no major advocacy campaign for the year.
3. The nice weather. After sweating through the month of August, over the weekend the weather turned glorious and I'm determined to enjoy the next two months. September and October are arguably the best time of the year in the D.C. region, and I'll be damned if I'm going to sit inside. I may, however, need a serious dose of Claritin, as the fall allergies have already begun to kick in. This week, I'm snotty in more ways than one.
To celebrate the nice weather, I took Janie to the zoo on Sunday. It turns out that I was more interested in the animals than she was. What a jaded 4-year old.
On the other hand, I have to admit that the zoo isn't what it used to be. Because of the ongoing renovation, combined with poor oversight and negligence, many of the best animals are now at other zoos, or dead. We didn't stay long.
4. Tennis. I'm completely and unashamedly addicted to the U.S. Open. In fact, right at this very minute I am tempted to run upstairs (the TV in the basement having been given unceremoniously to Jess last weekend) to check on the status of the Mary Pierce/Amelie Mauresmo quarterfinal.
And speaking of tennis, how funny are those American Express commercials where Andy Roddick has lost his mojo? It's particularly ironic, since Roddick lost spectacularly to a nobody in the first round of the Open last week. If it weren't so unheard of in tennis, I would swear he was paid to "take a dive".
That's all from me. In the original post, I had some random examination of the overall weirdness that is Carlos Santana designing shoes. But I have a feeling that trying to link to that site was what crashed the program in the first place, so you'll have to go track it down yourself.
(The unspoken, and barely acknowledged reason #5 I haven't been blogging is because I'm lazy. But you knew that without me saying it, right?)
Posted by madchen at 03:24 PM | Comments (2)September 06, 2005
My Gang - WEbring Assignment #6
Courtesy of Mr. Bad Apologies, the topic this week is:
If you were to form a gang right now, what would it be called? What would it do? What would your personal nickname be? What would you be known to be especially "hard core" at in your gang?
After giving this topic some serious thought, I have decided that my gang will be known as the ASPs. As in, the "Anti-Stupid People" Gang. Nothing irritates me more than stupid people--which I realize is an almost absurdly broad category. But I can't help it. I hate them. And I'm not alone.
My street name will be Ms. Madagascar--for reasons that remain shrouded in mystery to all but my closest friends--as a reminder that even normally brilliant people can also act stupid sometimes.
I will specialize in extrajudicial maneuverings, fiscal smackdowns, and--above all--social exclusion. In the good cop/bad cop scenario, I'm the bitch with the stiletto heels.
(Although right now I've decided to forego the stiletto heels in favor of "lounge wear", which I find very condusive to elitism and petty judgement.)
Check out the usual suspects (Mr. Bad Apologies, Ms. Maryment, Ms. Post No Bills, Mr. A Prize In Every Box, and Ms. Wish to See) on the blogroll (to the right) for more on this scintillating topic. Ooh, also please welcome Ms. Rather Be Travelling to the WEbring.
Posted by madchen at 08:50 PM | Comments (0)September 01, 2005
Censorship in Turkey
One of the books I read in Turkey was My Name is Red, by Orhan Pamuk. I thought it was facinating for it's insight into Ottoman art, but could have done with about a hundred fewer pages.
I read today in the Washington Post that Pamuk has been charged with the "public denigrating of Turkish identity" and faces a possible prison sentence of three years.
The charge stems from an interview that Pamuk gave to a Swiss newspaper in February in which he said certain topics were regarded as off-limits in Turkey. As examples, he listed the massacre of Armenians in 1915 and the ongoing war between Turkish security forces and Kurdish guerrillas.
When in Turkey, I was surprised at how the country has managed to mix Islam with a completely secular government. But there are still topics that are VERY taboo--such as the Armenian genocide (which they claim was just a war where both sides sustained heavy casualties). In fact, Jess had several very interesting discussions on this very topic during our three weeks in the country.
Under Turkish law, people can be jailed for differing with the government's line on the deaths, as well as on the presence of Turkish troops in Cyprus, which Turkey invaded in 1974, and other "fundamental national interests."
In addition, if you say anything derogatory (like the fact that he died of alcoholism) about their esteemed former leader, Kemal Atatürk, you can be sent to jail. No kidding. And by law, all public buildings (think restaurants, banks, and retail establishments) must has a picture of Atatürk prominently displayed.
On the other hand, you can walk around in a tube top and stilleto heels. It's such a complex place.
Posted by madchen at 03:56 AM | Comments (1)Ideal Day - WEbring Assignment #5
From Ms. Maryment:
If you could spend tomorrow doing anything (the "ideal day"), what would it be?
AND
Compare/contrast this day with what your ideal day might have been 10 years ago.
This is a most difficult WEbring topic, which I find very unexpected. How hard is it to describe a perfect day? I suppose that, because I'm largely free to dictate my own schedule, every day should be my ideal day. The problem is that there isn't just one ideal day--there's an infinite number of them.
For example, today was an ideal day because I finally got to see a near-finished website for the Big Idea. And I finally sent off the reports to my very fist clients. It's an amazing experience to be starting my own business, and today I finally got to reap the benefits of my effort.
On the other hand, an ideal day is one where I wake up early (but not exhausted) and go shopping with friends. I find the perfect pair(s) of shoes and discover that I look stunning in every outfit I try on--AND everything happens to be on sale.
Then again, I think one of my favorite things is traveling--and that's an experience where every day is different. I would gladly skip the actual "traveling", since hours on an airplane isn't exactly fun, but the exploring new places, trying to speak to the locals in my broken phrases, and taking pictures of my adventures is one of the best times.
I guess I'm pretty happy with most days.
Now, 10 years ago...
I had just returned from a summer in Japan to live with a family friend and finish my senior year of high school in MD while my family stayed abroad. Little did I know that my winter of discontent was soon to arrive. Within two months, I would lose my best friend since 7th grade, get dumped by my boyfriend of 2 years, and fall into a deep and terrible form of clinical depression. I would miss almost half of my school days, go into intensive therapy, and eventually end up on antidepressants.
It was a hard year. During that time, an ideal day would have been my boyfriend arriving at my doorstep to announce that he still loved me, that it had all been a mistake, and that everything would be right from then on. Instead, he asked out a mutual friend (in fact, it was Ms. Maryment), placing all of the other school friends in a tough place. [Note to self: since all WEbring members are from that original group, might there be a topic for future detabe over senior year angst?]
Looking back, I am amazed at the kindness of my friends, the depths of my alienation and sadness, and the insight of my dad--who immediately knew that something was wrong when he visited from Japan in October. In fact, my real relationship with him began during that time, when he rescued me from myself by insisting that it was real and important and okay to be feeling this way.
Now, with ten years behind me, with both the boyfriend and Ms. Maryment happily married (although, thank heavens, not to each other), I realize what a silly and powerful thing that relationships are--how they have the potential to both create crisis and see us through the most difficult times.
Having been in such a dark place, it's easier now to see the "ideal day" in every day--even the sad ones. Because every day is unique and irreplacable, and once it's over it's gone forever. And because every day adds to the total of all my days, and I wouldn't be the person I am today without a single one of them.
Posted by madchen at 03:02 AM | Comments (1)
