Such sweetness never fails to make me smile.
Monday, June 30, 2008
One loved baby
This baby in my belly is already quite loved. Not just by John and I, but by our darling Isabella. About 4-10 times a day she will run up to me, smiling, throw her arms around my belly, and say "I'm hugging the baby!!!" or "I'm kissing the baby!!!". She also likes to have little conversations with my baby, such as when she puts her face right up to my belly and says "Oh, baby, do you want to come out soon? Ok! See you soon!" or "I love you, baby. I really, really love you."
Such sweetness never fails to make me smile.
Such sweetness never fails to make me smile.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Sweet summer moments
This last week has been filled with a shocking number of sweet moments. Honestly, it's shameful how great my life can be! Here are a few highlights -
Thursday June 26 - Isabella wanted to make necklaces. Hers was colorful and artistic. Mine contained a theme from my pregnancy (pic below). That evening, John came home from work early and cooked dinner while I got went to an acupuncture appointment. I left the session feeling very relaxed and rejuvenated. Acupuncture is such a luxury.
Wednesday June 25 - In the afternoon, I went to Isabella's pre-school for an end of year potluck. There is nothing like seeing your daughter frolicking in the sunshine with 10 of her friends, all speaking French, all obviously secure, safe, and loved. Isabella enjoyed showing me (as she does every day when I pick her up) her prowess in climbing the dome, her tandem backbends from the dome bars with her best pre-school friend Maddie, and how she teaches and helps her other friend Henry gain confidence in his climbing. So, so sweet. Then later that day her friend Kai came over for a play date. We ate popsicles in the sunshine in the back yard, played with the hose, jumped on the bed, swung from the swings in the yoga studio, and played with the dollhouse. My goodness, kids have a lot of energy! Note about first pic below - Isabella is in the bottom far right corner.
Thursday June 26 - Isabella wanted to make necklaces. Hers was colorful and artistic. Mine contained a theme from my pregnancy (pic below). That evening, John came home from work early and cooked dinner while I got went to an acupuncture appointment. I left the session feeling very relaxed and rejuvenated. Acupuncture is such a luxury.
Friday June 27 - Isabella and I took the bus down to Pike Place Market, got ice cream cones (there is nothing like seeing your kids face light up when you say "Do you want ice cream?"), shopped for spices at World Spice (hundreds of the best spices on the planet, I love this place), and went out to lunch. Going to restaurants is of course very exciting for Isabella, as she gets items I would never give her at home. I read from the kids menu and said "Would you like fish and fries, chicken and fries, or a grilled cheese sandwich?" to which she answered "FRIES!!!". After lunch we took the bus back up the hill, wandered into a big drug store where she spotted a Hula Hoop (this was a Very Big Deal as she has been wanting one for a while), went to Cal Anderson park, used said hula hoop, walked up the hill to Madison Market, bought groceries, and walked home. My goodness I must have been s sight... super pregnant lady waddling home, dragging a toddler, carrying a bag of groceries and a hula hoop.
Saturday June 28 - John, Isabella, and I took the bus to Pike Place, got yet more ice cream, shopped for fresh clams (or "Clammy-clams" as Isabella gleefully calls them), and went out to lunch (where Isabella reminded us again that all she cared about was FRIES). After that, I went home to take a pregnancy nap while John and Isabella did some other shopping.
Sunday June 29 - Took the bus to Madison park where John pushed Isabella on the zip-line and swings. Also, of course, there was more ice-cream. What can I say? It's hot out!!! After the park, John took Isabella to REI while I took another pregnancy nap (have I mentioned how good my husband is to me??!!). Then, John cooked a fabulous fresh clam linguini dinner for us Mullally's plus a couple of guests. I Repeat - Husband is fantastic!!!
Damn, my life is good!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Cocoon
With our due date just a few short weeks away, John and I are beginning to go into cocoon mode. Basically, this means that we are looking inward and going into a very peaceful place together. We are thinking happy thoughts, going for long walks, trying to stay rested, and setting an intention for a healthy birthing experience.
Perhaps, more relevant is to explain what it doesn't mean. Cocoon mode doesn't mean - talking about dark things, having long discussions about things we may have done wrong to you in the past, or getting harassed by everyone we know about how things are progressing (i.e. if the baby has come yet). When Isabella was born we felt bombarded with all kinds of energy from many of the people around us. There were people trying to force unwanted birthing advice on us, people constantly asking "how's it going? is the baby coming yet? shouldn't the baby have come by now?", and there were too many unannounced visitors. We had family members stopping by saying "I heard you were in labor, where's the baby?" and students/friends stopping by saying "Where's the baby? I thought you were due last week? What's wrong?". Trust me, these sorts of disturbances were not helpful. If you were one of the offenders then don't worry - you weren't the only one!
Now don't get me wrong... you are welcome to ask us about the weather, join me for long walks around the city while Isabella is in pre-school, ask me what fun things (like the zoo) i've been doing with Isabella this week, etc. Just don't pop by unannounced, initiate a conversation about the war, launch into a discussion about some way that I have wronged you, or ask me if the baby is coming soon! The baby could come any time between now and a month from now... that's all we know. When the baby is born, we will call immediate family members and email everyone else. If you are worried that you won't get the email, then feel free to remind us that you would like to be on the list. So in other words - you will know about the baby's arrival when we know, and until then don't bug us about the baby!
Thanks for supporting us in our intention to prepare for a peaceful and healthy birth.
Perhaps, more relevant is to explain what it doesn't mean. Cocoon mode doesn't mean - talking about dark things, having long discussions about things we may have done wrong to you in the past, or getting harassed by everyone we know about how things are progressing (i.e. if the baby has come yet). When Isabella was born we felt bombarded with all kinds of energy from many of the people around us. There were people trying to force unwanted birthing advice on us, people constantly asking "how's it going? is the baby coming yet? shouldn't the baby have come by now?", and there were too many unannounced visitors. We had family members stopping by saying "I heard you were in labor, where's the baby?" and students/friends stopping by saying "Where's the baby? I thought you were due last week? What's wrong?". Trust me, these sorts of disturbances were not helpful. If you were one of the offenders then don't worry - you weren't the only one!
Now don't get me wrong... you are welcome to ask us about the weather, join me for long walks around the city while Isabella is in pre-school, ask me what fun things (like the zoo) i've been doing with Isabella this week, etc. Just don't pop by unannounced, initiate a conversation about the war, launch into a discussion about some way that I have wronged you, or ask me if the baby is coming soon! The baby could come any time between now and a month from now... that's all we know. When the baby is born, we will call immediate family members and email everyone else. If you are worried that you won't get the email, then feel free to remind us that you would like to be on the list. So in other words - you will know about the baby's arrival when we know, and until then don't bug us about the baby!
Thanks for supporting us in our intention to prepare for a peaceful and healthy birth.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
On wisdom, love, and kindness
Recently, I was reading a tribute to Jim Gray. Jim was a brilliant computer scientist and amazing human being who, a bit over a year ago, took a day trip in his boat and never returned. No one knows what happened to Jim, as nothing was found (not his body, his boat, nothing). It remains a great mystery. Recently hundreds of people got together for a day to honor Jim. Speaker after speaker talked about what an amazing person he was, both professionally and personally. A number of speakers quoted Jimi Hendrix, who once said, “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens,” to try to explain Jim's nature. One speaker also said that Dr. Gray taught us that while there is nothing you can do about improving your I.Q., it is possible to work at becoming a terrific human being.
This got me thinking, about knowledge, intelligence, wisdom, ego, and what being a "terrific human being" means. Weighty topics, yes. Here's my very brief (emphasis on brief) go at defining these terms -
Knowledge - When one has acquired information and education on a particular topic or in a particular domain. One does not need to be especially intelligent in order to have gained knowledge. In other words - someone might have quite a lot of knowledge and guidance to offer you, even if they aren't that brilliant.
Intelligence - The ability to take in data, analyze, and come up with one's own thoughts/conclusions based on said analysis. This can be applied to anything - science, history, human beings. One can be, for example "emotionally intelligent" meaning they have an ability to look at human beings and understand/analyze them on a deep level. One could be very intelligent in the area of engineering, but very unintelligent with respect to human beings and their spirits.
Ego (the toughest to define briefly) - The need for others to hear you, the need to be heard even when your thoughts aren't that important. The need for approval. We all have ego issues even if we aren't incredibly egotistical. Typically when people think of the word ego, they think of extremely egotistical people who think they are better than everyone else, need to be in the limelight all the time, etc. In fact, ego affects all of us even if we aren't pompous in such a way. For example - if you are in a yoga class, are feeling really depleted due to a recent illness, and push yourself harder than you should because you have some sort of concern that others will think you are lazy, that's ego. That's your ego causing you to do something that isn't nurturing to your current state simply because you are concerned about what others think. So ego affects all of us, even if we aren't pompous asses!
Wisdom - The ability to sense when one's knowledge and intelligence are irrelevant! The ability to let go of one's ego and listen. A wise person knows when to keep their mouth shut even at times when they are listening to someone saying incorrect or incomplete things. A wise person knows that sometimes correcting others doesn't actually result in a better conclusion, as sometimes people need to learn things for themselves, sometimes people need to make mistakes, sometimes the damage of criticism is worse than the damage of moving forward with slightly incorrect data. A wise person knows that no mater how intelligent they are, how much knowledge they have gained, they still have something to learn from everyone - even the garbage man. The wisest people I know haven't really spent a lot of time criticizing or correcting me, but rather have listened to me ramble at times and have taken choice moments here and there to say completely non critical and non judgemental things that made me think. The egotistical people in my life have tried to simply tell me how I have failed, how I'm not sufficiently evolved. I truly believe that those people are simply acting out a need to be validated, to be "right". It's sad. At this point I pretty much tune such people out and simply feel compassion for them. It's unfortunate, as some of these people are very intelligent and loving and dear to me, but their insecurities get in the way.
On being a terrific human being - In the end all of the above isn't actually that important. All that really matters is how kind and loving you are. Yes I know that this is a bold statement and that some of you might disagree! Growing up I had a huge focus on intelligence and education. This focus stemmed from many things - my nature, society, the various people around me in my community (a very rich and snobby town), etc. Whatever the reason, I've come to realize that by the time I graduated from college I was pretty darn elitist and judgemental. Over time, yoga helped me to feel more, see more, let go of some of my ego issues, and recognize how much people around me had to offer (regardless of their education or status). I came to realize how much I had to evolve, and in fact how inferior I was to people around me who were very giving and loving. This has been both a painful and joyous journey. I especially progressed on this path when I had an extremely traumatic birth experience back in late 2004. In the end certain people were very critical and judgemental, and certain people were unwavering sources of love. That's when it became crystal clear - all that really matters is love and kindness. If you don't have that, you have nothing. My friend Charles once told me "I’ve tried to live by the little baptism speech that Eliot Rosewater (a character in a Kurt Vonnegut novel) gives: “"Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies - God damn it, you've got to be kind.”"
And now, some words of gratitude for a few people in my life who are wise, loving, and terrific human beings overall (in no particular order) -
Charles Eliot - Charles knows so much, yet quietly watches the world go by without demanding that everyone know of his brilliance. Charles gives advice in kind and subtle ways that make you sit up and say "aha!" 3 days later, once the wisdom of his words have sunk in. Charles is never critical or judgemental, but still holds you accountable for your actions, perhaps with a brief frown or glance that says "You have disappointed me, but of course I still love you". In the end, because of the ever present love, you never harden to him, and it's easy to take in (and learn from) this kind criticism, so ultimately you grow as a result.
Aadil Palkhivala - My yoga (asana, lifestyle, nutrition) teacher. Aadil sees people not in terms of who they are right now, but who they could be. He nurtures the spark of love in his students - inspires them to grow, love more, and to let go of their past. Aadil has shown me that I need not be weighed down by my past, but instead can focus on further evolving into the beautiful and loving human being that is already inside me.
Mirra Palkhivala - My yoga (meditation) teacher. Mirra is the ultimate force of pure and unconditional love. When I meditate I can connect with her light. I can feel her sitting there, across the lake, sending me love and light to help me heal. This light is purer than anything I have ever experienced. No disappointment, no judgement, no criticism, just love. Pure, sweet, bright, love. This light transforms me, helps me to let go of my pain, helps me to realize that I too can send light to others, whether or not they know I am doing so.
Edward Gruhl - Ed is the father of my best friend of 15 years - Rob Gruhl. I call Ed my second dad and he calls me the daughter he never had. Ed teaches me that it's ok to be incredibly happy, and that sometimes people around me will have a hard time with that happiness. He is one of the more content and happy people I have met in my life, and says that many times he has found that people can't stop questioning his happiness, perhaps because if they were to accept his happiness then it would cause them to question why they themselves aren't more happy. Ed has always been supportive of my decisions in life. Frankly, I couldn't be happier with the path my life has taken, and it's strange to me how much others need to question it. When I decided to leave a prestigious software job to travel the world and eventually become a yoga teacher my father was very concerned about the bad decision I was making and my Grandmother called me "frivolous". When John and I decided to get married so quickly many friends and family members were concerned that I didn't really know what I was doing. When I decided to work part time teaching yoga while being a mom, my mom questioned how I could possibly be truly happy if I was so busy and tired. These people are all good and loving people who are honestly just trying to help. What sets Ed aside, though, is how he seems to know that I'm walking the path I need to walk, that I am reaching out for happiness in my own way, that I am feeling and growing every moment. He knows that I'm a smart person, that I think about things carefully, and that if I am indeed making a mistake then it must be a mistake that I absolutely have to make before I can learn what I need to learn in order to further evolve and thus find more happiness. I honestly couldn't be happier with the path my life has taken, the place my life is at right now, and the potential for all the goodness of the future. I feel so blessed and lucky in life. When I'm with Ed, I don't feel any need to qualify or explain this happiness - he just understands. Thanks, Ed.
David Vaskevitch - David is the most down to earth person I know. This is a virtue in of itself, but is especially impressive given that he is a fairly wealthy guy. David has never let his wealth get to his head. You could be flying on a private jet with him one day, and sitting in a meditation tent deep in the playa at Burningman all covered in dust and sweat the next day. David is extremely busy, travels a lot, but never forgets who his friends are. When you are with David time slows down and you know that in spite of how busy he is, he would drop everything for you if you really needed him. David has a deep sense of that he is just a human being, like everyone else. Like me he too seeks happiness, like me he too feels pain. David opens his heart and is not afraid to be vulnerable. David continues to invest in becoming a better human being, through yoga, meditation, books, and retreats and never rests on his laurels... never sits around thinking that he is done evolving. David believes in dreams. When you tell him of some idea you have for a job or venture in the future, he does not focus on why the idea might not work, but rather he gets excited and helps you think about how (of course) it can indeed happen. David shows me that I can do anything in life.
There are so many other people who have helped me grow in life, who have inspired me to further evolve. Thank you for your love, kindness, and wisdom.
In love and gratitude,
Holly
This got me thinking, about knowledge, intelligence, wisdom, ego, and what being a "terrific human being" means. Weighty topics, yes. Here's my very brief (emphasis on brief) go at defining these terms -
Knowledge - When one has acquired information and education on a particular topic or in a particular domain. One does not need to be especially intelligent in order to have gained knowledge. In other words - someone might have quite a lot of knowledge and guidance to offer you, even if they aren't that brilliant.
Intelligence - The ability to take in data, analyze, and come up with one's own thoughts/conclusions based on said analysis. This can be applied to anything - science, history, human beings. One can be, for example "emotionally intelligent" meaning they have an ability to look at human beings and understand/analyze them on a deep level. One could be very intelligent in the area of engineering, but very unintelligent with respect to human beings and their spirits.
Ego (the toughest to define briefly) - The need for others to hear you, the need to be heard even when your thoughts aren't that important. The need for approval. We all have ego issues even if we aren't incredibly egotistical. Typically when people think of the word ego, they think of extremely egotistical people who think they are better than everyone else, need to be in the limelight all the time, etc. In fact, ego affects all of us even if we aren't pompous in such a way. For example - if you are in a yoga class, are feeling really depleted due to a recent illness, and push yourself harder than you should because you have some sort of concern that others will think you are lazy, that's ego. That's your ego causing you to do something that isn't nurturing to your current state simply because you are concerned about what others think. So ego affects all of us, even if we aren't pompous asses!
Wisdom - The ability to sense when one's knowledge and intelligence are irrelevant! The ability to let go of one's ego and listen. A wise person knows when to keep their mouth shut even at times when they are listening to someone saying incorrect or incomplete things. A wise person knows that sometimes correcting others doesn't actually result in a better conclusion, as sometimes people need to learn things for themselves, sometimes people need to make mistakes, sometimes the damage of criticism is worse than the damage of moving forward with slightly incorrect data. A wise person knows that no mater how intelligent they are, how much knowledge they have gained, they still have something to learn from everyone - even the garbage man. The wisest people I know haven't really spent a lot of time criticizing or correcting me, but rather have listened to me ramble at times and have taken choice moments here and there to say completely non critical and non judgemental things that made me think. The egotistical people in my life have tried to simply tell me how I have failed, how I'm not sufficiently evolved. I truly believe that those people are simply acting out a need to be validated, to be "right". It's sad. At this point I pretty much tune such people out and simply feel compassion for them. It's unfortunate, as some of these people are very intelligent and loving and dear to me, but their insecurities get in the way.
On being a terrific human being - In the end all of the above isn't actually that important. All that really matters is how kind and loving you are. Yes I know that this is a bold statement and that some of you might disagree! Growing up I had a huge focus on intelligence and education. This focus stemmed from many things - my nature, society, the various people around me in my community (a very rich and snobby town), etc. Whatever the reason, I've come to realize that by the time I graduated from college I was pretty darn elitist and judgemental. Over time, yoga helped me to feel more, see more, let go of some of my ego issues, and recognize how much people around me had to offer (regardless of their education or status). I came to realize how much I had to evolve, and in fact how inferior I was to people around me who were very giving and loving. This has been both a painful and joyous journey. I especially progressed on this path when I had an extremely traumatic birth experience back in late 2004. In the end certain people were very critical and judgemental, and certain people were unwavering sources of love. That's when it became crystal clear - all that really matters is love and kindness. If you don't have that, you have nothing. My friend Charles once told me "I’ve tried to live by the little baptism speech that Eliot Rosewater (a character in a Kurt Vonnegut novel) gives: “"Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies - God damn it, you've got to be kind.”"
And now, some words of gratitude for a few people in my life who are wise, loving, and terrific human beings overall (in no particular order) -
Charles Eliot - Charles knows so much, yet quietly watches the world go by without demanding that everyone know of his brilliance. Charles gives advice in kind and subtle ways that make you sit up and say "aha!" 3 days later, once the wisdom of his words have sunk in. Charles is never critical or judgemental, but still holds you accountable for your actions, perhaps with a brief frown or glance that says "You have disappointed me, but of course I still love you". In the end, because of the ever present love, you never harden to him, and it's easy to take in (and learn from) this kind criticism, so ultimately you grow as a result.
Aadil Palkhivala - My yoga (asana, lifestyle, nutrition) teacher. Aadil sees people not in terms of who they are right now, but who they could be. He nurtures the spark of love in his students - inspires them to grow, love more, and to let go of their past. Aadil has shown me that I need not be weighed down by my past, but instead can focus on further evolving into the beautiful and loving human being that is already inside me.
Mirra Palkhivala - My yoga (meditation) teacher. Mirra is the ultimate force of pure and unconditional love. When I meditate I can connect with her light. I can feel her sitting there, across the lake, sending me love and light to help me heal. This light is purer than anything I have ever experienced. No disappointment, no judgement, no criticism, just love. Pure, sweet, bright, love. This light transforms me, helps me to let go of my pain, helps me to realize that I too can send light to others, whether or not they know I am doing so.
Edward Gruhl - Ed is the father of my best friend of 15 years - Rob Gruhl. I call Ed my second dad and he calls me the daughter he never had. Ed teaches me that it's ok to be incredibly happy, and that sometimes people around me will have a hard time with that happiness. He is one of the more content and happy people I have met in my life, and says that many times he has found that people can't stop questioning his happiness, perhaps because if they were to accept his happiness then it would cause them to question why they themselves aren't more happy. Ed has always been supportive of my decisions in life. Frankly, I couldn't be happier with the path my life has taken, and it's strange to me how much others need to question it. When I decided to leave a prestigious software job to travel the world and eventually become a yoga teacher my father was very concerned about the bad decision I was making and my Grandmother called me "frivolous". When John and I decided to get married so quickly many friends and family members were concerned that I didn't really know what I was doing. When I decided to work part time teaching yoga while being a mom, my mom questioned how I could possibly be truly happy if I was so busy and tired. These people are all good and loving people who are honestly just trying to help. What sets Ed aside, though, is how he seems to know that I'm walking the path I need to walk, that I am reaching out for happiness in my own way, that I am feeling and growing every moment. He knows that I'm a smart person, that I think about things carefully, and that if I am indeed making a mistake then it must be a mistake that I absolutely have to make before I can learn what I need to learn in order to further evolve and thus find more happiness. I honestly couldn't be happier with the path my life has taken, the place my life is at right now, and the potential for all the goodness of the future. I feel so blessed and lucky in life. When I'm with Ed, I don't feel any need to qualify or explain this happiness - he just understands. Thanks, Ed.
David Vaskevitch - David is the most down to earth person I know. This is a virtue in of itself, but is especially impressive given that he is a fairly wealthy guy. David has never let his wealth get to his head. You could be flying on a private jet with him one day, and sitting in a meditation tent deep in the playa at Burningman all covered in dust and sweat the next day. David is extremely busy, travels a lot, but never forgets who his friends are. When you are with David time slows down and you know that in spite of how busy he is, he would drop everything for you if you really needed him. David has a deep sense of that he is just a human being, like everyone else. Like me he too seeks happiness, like me he too feels pain. David opens his heart and is not afraid to be vulnerable. David continues to invest in becoming a better human being, through yoga, meditation, books, and retreats and never rests on his laurels... never sits around thinking that he is done evolving. David believes in dreams. When you tell him of some idea you have for a job or venture in the future, he does not focus on why the idea might not work, but rather he gets excited and helps you think about how (of course) it can indeed happen. David shows me that I can do anything in life.
There are so many other people who have helped me grow in life, who have inspired me to further evolve. Thank you for your love, kindness, and wisdom.
In love and gratitude,
Holly
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Free cookies
So it turns out that if a pregnant lady and a cute 3 years old stand outside a closed bakery looking really sad, then someone unlocks the door and offers them free cookies!
The universe does indeed look out for those in need!
The universe does indeed look out for those in need!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
LUDICROUS amounts of cuteness
I just came down from teaching to find Isabella with her baby doll in a baby carrier on her chest. This was the first time she had ever put it on. She marched around proudly and said "Mama I have a baby!" Sometimes I can't believe how sweet life is.
More cuteness
Yesterday Isabella engaged in one of her favorite games. It works like this -
- Gets in cardboard box
- Asks me to close it up
- From inside the box tells me to say "Where's Isabella?"
- I say "Where did Isabella go???"
- She says "I'm in here mommy! In the box!" and then pops out of the box all smiles
- Repeat
Tireless fun, endless cuteness
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Mainstream media sucks
Ok, so is it just me, or is mainstream media not really so informative? Here are a couple of examples of things that are bugging me -
1. Gas prices - over $4! No relief in sight! Americans feeling the pinch...
Ok, so who the hell doesn't know that gas is expensive right now? Who doesn't know that this expensive gas is hitting everyone's budget?
Here is something much more interesting on the topic which I found through http://www.digg.com/. This article actually tells me something I don't know! Problem is, you would never see something like this on msnbc.com or cnn.com.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8878
1. Gas prices - over $4! No relief in sight! Americans feeling the pinch...
Ok, so who the hell doesn't know that gas is expensive right now? Who doesn't know that this expensive gas is hitting everyone's budget?
Here is something much more interesting on the topic which I found through http://www.digg.com/. This article actually tells me something I don't know! Problem is, you would never see something like this on msnbc.com or cnn.com.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8878
"Perhaps 60% of today’s oil price is pure speculation
The price of crude oil today is not made according to any traditional
relation of supply to demand. It’s controlled by an elaborate financial market
system as well as by the four major Anglo-American oil companies. As much as 60%
of today’s crude oil price is pure speculation driven by large trader banks and
hedge funds. It has nothing to do with the convenient myths of Peak Oil. It has
to do with control of oil and its price. How?"
Gee, maybe the mainstream media should be saying more than "Ouch, gas prices really hurt. Sucks for Americans." Instead, the mainstream media could be discussing if we should regulate speculation on oil futures, or if (on the flip side) prices need to get to the height of European prices ($8-$10 a gallon) before companies start truly investing in alternative fuel and power. Maybe these high gas prices are a good thing! Maybe they aren't a good thing and all those banks and hedge funds trading oil futures should get regulated (thus discontinuing one avenue for a few people to get rich off of all the middle and lower class people). But no... mainstream media thinks, somehow, that it's interesting to remind us that "Gas prices really hurt!"
Ok. I get it. There has been a salmonella outbreak. New headlines about this every day aren't really telling me anything. Unfortunately, these articles are just making everyone freak out, making everyone throw all their tomatoes out.
Perhaps the mainstream media could do an article which actually informed us as to how to properly clean our own tomatoes. There is this thing called Fruit and Vegetable Wash (made by various companies) that kills bad bacteria on the surface of fruits and veggies. You soak your produce for a minute or two and voila - no fecal bacteria. If you are paranoid (or traveling in India) you can do this to all of your produce, regardless of if you know of a particular outbreak or not. It might seem like such a product would be toxic (since they kill bacteria and some residue remains when you eat the raw veggie), but in fact these products can be pretty natural (natural enzymes that eat the bad bacteria, don't kill everything) and are safe to consume on the produce. In fact my teacher recommends that when you have an intestinal bug, you drink a small amount of very diluted Fruit and Veggie wash (note - he only recommends Sunrider brand as it is very clean and natural) to kill the bad bacteria in your body. I have used this remedy before and it works like a charm!
Anyway, is it just me or would an article titled "Keeping yourself safe without throwing out all your produce" be interesting?
Mainstream media sucks.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Feminists, the choice is obvious
A realy great artible from the Boston Globe -
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/06/08/feminists_the_choice_is_obvious/
by Susan Jhirad
DEAR FELLOW feminists,
Yes, I qualify. Like some of you, I grew up in an era where a woman president was an impossibility, where there were no women doctors, few women in positions of power, no women professors. I went to a coeducational college, where, although women got higher grades than men, we never directed plays, edited the newspaper, or were allowed to lead an organization. We washed dishes regularly in our dorms, while our fellow male students had maids clean their rooms for them. We had male professors who openly derided the idea of women scientists. We graduated and became secretaries; the men graduated and became reporters for The New York Times. I raised my son when there was no child care, was raped before there were rape crisis centers or anyone to talk to.
I get it.
I marched for women's rights, helped found the first feminist group in Cambridge, and like some of you, danced for joy when Geraldine Ferraro was nominated for vice president.
But I also grew up in an era when an African-American president was an impossibility, when African-Americans in the South were shot for having the temerity to vote. I worked for civil rights, registered black voters. Later, I witnessed busing in Boston, where angry white mobs stoned school buses filled with terrified black children, where people of color were never in power.
I get it.
I support Barack Obama for president. It's OK that you have supported Hillary Clinton. I get it, I really do. What I don't get, can't get, is seeing some of you riled up Clinton supporters threatening to vote for McCain.
Let me get this straight; you consider yourself a Democrat and a feminist. Yet rather than vote for a man who supports a woman's right to choose, children's healthcare, and an end to the war in Iraq, you would vote for a man who voted against all of these things.
You would vote for a man who is promising to nominate far-right activists for the Supreme Court, a man who votes consistently against choice, affirmative action, and workers' rights.
You would vote for a man who supports President Bush on most major issues vs. a man whose positions are quite similar to Clinton's.
I just don't get it.
Obama followed the rules, took his name off the ballot in Michigan, and didn't campaign in Florida or the Great Lakes State when his party told him not to. Meanwhile Clinton, who said at the time that those votes "shouldn't count" ended up yelling that they should.
Obama has generally taken the high road; he has criticized some of Clinton's policies, but never sunk to the level of personal attack as her campaign has done, playing on race and questioning his patriotism. He never mentioned that the Clintons consulted the Rev. Jeremiah Wright over their marital problems, at a time when she was attacking him for his association with Wright. He started out with less money, less support from party insiders, less name recognition, and he won. Yet you are so angry at him, you would rather vote for a man who would deny health insurance to your children? A man who would send your children to die in an endless war?
OK, you would dance in the streets to have a woman president. I would dance in the streets to have a woman or an African-American president. Both of these would show us something dramatically changed about America. Most of all, I want a president with integrity, and to me, Barack Obama is that candidate.
OK, you're deeply aggrieved that your candidate, who you think is entitled to the nomination, seems to have lost to someone who played fair and won.
I say, get over it. Sometimes your candidate loses. (My candidates almost always lose). Then, you vote for the next best candidate. You don't pout and whine and vote for somebody you really don't believe in. You don't stamp your feet and refuse to vote.
In short, you grow up.
Susan Jhirad is a professor of English at North Shore Community College.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/06/08/feminists_the_choice_is_obvious/
by Susan Jhirad
DEAR FELLOW feminists,
Yes, I qualify. Like some of you, I grew up in an era where a woman president was an impossibility, where there were no women doctors, few women in positions of power, no women professors. I went to a coeducational college, where, although women got higher grades than men, we never directed plays, edited the newspaper, or were allowed to lead an organization. We washed dishes regularly in our dorms, while our fellow male students had maids clean their rooms for them. We had male professors who openly derided the idea of women scientists. We graduated and became secretaries; the men graduated and became reporters for The New York Times. I raised my son when there was no child care, was raped before there were rape crisis centers or anyone to talk to.
I get it.
I marched for women's rights, helped found the first feminist group in Cambridge, and like some of you, danced for joy when Geraldine Ferraro was nominated for vice president.
But I also grew up in an era when an African-American president was an impossibility, when African-Americans in the South were shot for having the temerity to vote. I worked for civil rights, registered black voters. Later, I witnessed busing in Boston, where angry white mobs stoned school buses filled with terrified black children, where people of color were never in power.
I get it.
I support Barack Obama for president. It's OK that you have supported Hillary Clinton. I get it, I really do. What I don't get, can't get, is seeing some of you riled up Clinton supporters threatening to vote for McCain.
Let me get this straight; you consider yourself a Democrat and a feminist. Yet rather than vote for a man who supports a woman's right to choose, children's healthcare, and an end to the war in Iraq, you would vote for a man who voted against all of these things.
You would vote for a man who is promising to nominate far-right activists for the Supreme Court, a man who votes consistently against choice, affirmative action, and workers' rights.
You would vote for a man who supports President Bush on most major issues vs. a man whose positions are quite similar to Clinton's.
I just don't get it.
Obama followed the rules, took his name off the ballot in Michigan, and didn't campaign in Florida or the Great Lakes State when his party told him not to. Meanwhile Clinton, who said at the time that those votes "shouldn't count" ended up yelling that they should.
Obama has generally taken the high road; he has criticized some of Clinton's policies, but never sunk to the level of personal attack as her campaign has done, playing on race and questioning his patriotism. He never mentioned that the Clintons consulted the Rev. Jeremiah Wright over their marital problems, at a time when she was attacking him for his association with Wright. He started out with less money, less support from party insiders, less name recognition, and he won. Yet you are so angry at him, you would rather vote for a man who would deny health insurance to your children? A man who would send your children to die in an endless war?
OK, you would dance in the streets to have a woman president. I would dance in the streets to have a woman or an African-American president. Both of these would show us something dramatically changed about America. Most of all, I want a president with integrity, and to me, Barack Obama is that candidate.
OK, you're deeply aggrieved that your candidate, who you think is entitled to the nomination, seems to have lost to someone who played fair and won.
I say, get over it. Sometimes your candidate loses. (My candidates almost always lose). Then, you vote for the next best candidate. You don't pout and whine and vote for somebody you really don't believe in. You don't stamp your feet and refuse to vote.
In short, you grow up.
Susan Jhirad is a professor of English at North Shore Community College.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Sweet moments
Some sweet moments -
A recent bath of Isabella's. She begged me to get in with her, so I did. She decided to wash my back, and said "Mommie, you want some soapie soap?"
When I'm running off to teach yoga. Isabella will try to get me to stay, which I can't, so often she will say "I'm going to give you two kisses, then you can go. **smooch**, **smooch**. Ok mommie. NOW you can go. See you later!"
When Isabella hugs my belly and says "Momma, I'm hugging the baby!"
Isabella in our bedroom, grabbing a blanket, wrapping it around herself, and saying "Mommie, I made a nest! I'm in a nest!"
Isabella, I love you.
A recent bath of Isabella's. She begged me to get in with her, so I did. She decided to wash my back, and said "Mommie, you want some soapie soap?"
When I'm running off to teach yoga. Isabella will try to get me to stay, which I can't, so often she will say "I'm going to give you two kisses, then you can go. **smooch**, **smooch**. Ok mommie. NOW you can go. See you later!"
When Isabella hugs my belly and says "Momma, I'm hugging the baby!"
Isabella in our bedroom, grabbing a blanket, wrapping it around herself, and saying "Mommie, I made a nest! I'm in a nest!"
Isabella, I love you.
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