Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Or the Crotch

The return of first year college students makes me want to punch the future of America in the face.*

*To be fair, these are Penn students evoking this.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

YES!!! YES YES YES!!!

I don't even mind that they stole my idea! Though this does not mitigate my fear that I will be on my deathbed, regretting missing a screening at the Philly Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, it does make me glad that my public sequin shimmying will find an acceptable outlet. Presenting sing-a-long Mamma Mia!

Monday, August 18, 2008

I'm not looking at his face!

I have not been following the Olympics very closely this year (excepting the abuse of foreign journalists that is), but it would be difficult to miss the juggernaut that is Michael Phelps, even if I hadn't had age-inappropriate thoughts about him in Athens and was therefore following his career with some interest. He was chatting with one of the sports dudes on NBC last night, and although I knew he had won the eight gold medals I hadn't realized that he had won a race, gaining the gold and breaking a world record, while he couldn't see. Apparently something went wrong with his goggles and they began filling with water upon his entrance to the pool and continued until he was blinded. He was counting strokes on I believe the last two laps, hoping he would hit the wall correctly. And the kicker? He was upset from a "personal best" stand point, because he thought he could have done much better. That's some hardcore shit right there. Several times I turned to Feanor last night and yelled "He couldn't see." I also mentioned, with apologies, that if given half a chance I would have sex with Michael, to which Feanor wrinkled his nose and said, but he's so goofy looking! Please see post title.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Is the Pope Catholic?

Just flipped on "The Bible Code: Predicting Armageddon?" on History, and it seems that, while opponents to the idea use sound science to refute the damn thing, proponents point to the case where the Code was used to actually predict events before they happened. Astounding right? Makes me think of Penn Jillette saying if Nostradamus predicted 9/11 or the Holocaust, any Nostradamus scholar should be put in jail for not warning people. Well, can't blame the Bible Code scholars for such a lapse!

So, the most famous event that was predicted before it happened even? The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. Huh. Prime Minister of Israel getting assassinated after potential peace with Palestine had been broached? Who could have possibly seen that coming! Way out of left field! If only his security detail had known, maybe they could have stepped it up a notch. I hear Israeli security details are real slackers...

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Lots of time to think, still not too clear

This is moldy by now, but I'm still thinking about it, so figured I should at least try to write it out:

Here resides the tale of residents of Gladwyne all getting flyers last month saying they should try to keep Aaron McKie from moving in because he was arrested for trying to purchase guns while under a restraining order (for allegedly breaking his former girlfriend's jaw). It contains lots of quotes from folks who say that it was probably just a misunderstanding, he's a nice guy, etc. And this:

Michele Seidman, who was filling up at the station, said she had known McKie when she worked in public relations at what is now the Wachovia Center. "He's the nicest guy," she said.

As for the allegations, she said, "It's not like he's a sex offender."

It made me turn purple, but I'm not even 100% why. So we're saying what exactly? That women who get beaten deserve it, therefore good women in the neighborhood who mind their own business have nothing to fear? In the bigger picture, that "nice" guys are incapable of violence against women? I'm all for innocent until proven guilty, but this attitude scares me. Am I totally off base?

The whole thing is offensive (see Cynthia Figueroa's letter), but that line in particular burns, because it obviously points to the habit of blaming victims of physical abuse, but also shows a profound misunderstanding both of what sexual assault is and what it means. Violence is violence, no matter what form it takes. And sex offenders are, wait for it, real people who might, just might, live next door without you even knowing it. But anyway, would it somehow matter if the dude was a sex offender in a way that is fundamentally different from knowing he broke a woman's jaw, then went and bought a gun?

The bite in the ass is the whole papering the neighborhood to keep the riff raff out is way out of line, and smacks not a little of racism. It is tempting to slide the other way, and say the whole exercise was out of line and leave it at that; besides, the impetus was not to protect the womenfolk, but to make sure news helicopters didn't disturb the air in this quaint suburbia-- even the anonymous letter writer could give a shit if a guy with a PO against him gets a gun. But the impulse some people have to level abuse against women against, say, the ability of one to pay one's taxes, say hello when checking out at the grocery store, and to be nice to puppies is still gross. Sisterhood, where are you?

What to do?

Ever since I removed myself as Feanor's co-pilot, I've been wondering whether I should break into a blogging gig of my own. I tried LiveJournal, but didn't really like the format (and was still stinging from a rebuke on F's blog, so locked down most of the posts to about six people- not the most creative environment to place oneself in). I of course do Phillyist, but I've never delved nor wanted to delve into anything too personal, obits excepted. One of my favorite feminists suggested a few weeks ago that I blog up to share thoughts on pieces such as this (he may have just been trying to bolster my self-confidence a bit). That's definitely something I think would be good for me. But I also kinda want a place to be goofy. Also, somewhere to test out this dance criticism thing I'm hoping to get good at (not a place to improve my grammar though). Also, a place to talk about food, which has turned into quite a pastime (can you substitute peaches for nectarines?). Also, a place to talk about all the reading I swear I going to get around to any second now. So, all told I suppose, a blog. Who'da thunk it?

I'm going to give it a whirl, and hope that I don't sprain something.