9/28/08
Joel sez:
"Bush's approval rating is the lowest of any president, ever - it's dwindled to three guys in Texas. And one of them's related to him."
9/19/08
elementary
I've found that my brain occasionally has moments where it gets confused on very basic stuff.
In addition to regularly losing track of my lefts & rights, I've twice in the past month looked down at my car's odometer and been surprised when it's flipped from 159 to 160 miles, instead of 200. I've had to think for a minute to realize it's recording miles, and not time.
My earliest recollection of such confusion was a day in 3rd grade, when we were taking a math test. We were being asked to subtract one large number from another larger number. Let's say 2637 minus 1854. Although I'd routinely done that kind of arithmetic in class, that day when I looked at the numbers, my brain suddenly decided that the way to determine the value of each number was to add up the individual digits that comprised it. In doing so, I found that both numbers resulted in the same sum, and I remember becoming very confused and finally going up to Mrs. Nielsen to ask how we were supposed to subtract one number from the other, because it was the same number.
Of course, she looked at me very strangely and explained that 2637 was the larger number, at which point the proper perspective flooded back and I felt like a complete idiot.
It's always a weird sensation to re-gain perspective and realize how out in la-la-land I've just been.
In addition to regularly losing track of my lefts & rights, I've twice in the past month looked down at my car's odometer and been surprised when it's flipped from 159 to 160 miles, instead of 200. I've had to think for a minute to realize it's recording miles, and not time.
My earliest recollection of such confusion was a day in 3rd grade, when we were taking a math test. We were being asked to subtract one large number from another larger number. Let's say 2637 minus 1854. Although I'd routinely done that kind of arithmetic in class, that day when I looked at the numbers, my brain suddenly decided that the way to determine the value of each number was to add up the individual digits that comprised it. In doing so, I found that both numbers resulted in the same sum, and I remember becoming very confused and finally going up to Mrs. Nielsen to ask how we were supposed to subtract one number from the other, because it was the same number.
Of course, she looked at me very strangely and explained that 2637 was the larger number, at which point the proper perspective flooded back and I felt like a complete idiot.
It's always a weird sensation to re-gain perspective and realize how out in la-la-land I've just been.
9/18/08
election reds
Taking my car to the shop earlier today, I drove past a bright red SUV that was parked illegally, blocking traffic, and that had (of course) a McCain sticker in the back window. A couple of blocks later, I passed a house with a McCain sign in the front yard.
And I just have to say, again (and again, and again) - who the hell are these people?! What could possibly be going through their minds, that they would consider - even for a second- that McCain and his rabid partner would be a viable choice to lead our country?! It's just really weird and disturbing.
A few days ago my cousin Laurie forwarded around an email of an editorial blog written by one Michael Seitzman, (a writer/director who wrote North Country, among other things) - that expressed how I'm feeling particularly well:
"Now, I want to be clear and speak directly to those of you who LOVED that Palin interview. You're an idiot. I mean that. This is not one of those cases where we're going to agree to disagree. This isn't one of those situations where we debate it passionately and then walk away thinking that the other guy is wrong but argued well. I'm not going to think of you as a thoughtful but misguided person with different ideas who still really cares about the country and the world. No, sorry, not this time. This time, if you watched those interview excerpts and weren't scared out of your freakin' mind, then you're mentally ill, mentally disabled, or mentally disturbed. What you are NOT is responsible, informed, curious, thoughtful, mature, educated, empathetic, or remotely serious. I mean it.
But I like to think that anyone can change.
Stop voting for people you want to have a beer with. Stop voting for folksy. Stop voting for people who remind you of your neighbor. Stop voting for the ideologically intransigent, the staggeringly ignorant, and the blazingly incompetent. Vote for someone smarter than you. Vote for someone who inspires you. Vote for someone who has not only traveled the world but who has also shown a deep understanding and compassion for it. The stakes are real and they're terrifyingly high. This election matters. It matters. It really matters. Let me say that one more time. This. Really. Matters. "
And I just have to say, again (and again, and again) - who the hell are these people?! What could possibly be going through their minds, that they would consider - even for a second- that McCain and his rabid partner would be a viable choice to lead our country?! It's just really weird and disturbing.
A few days ago my cousin Laurie forwarded around an email of an editorial blog written by one Michael Seitzman, (a writer/director who wrote North Country, among other things) - that expressed how I'm feeling particularly well:
"Now, I want to be clear and speak directly to those of you who LOVED that Palin interview. You're an idiot. I mean that. This is not one of those cases where we're going to agree to disagree. This isn't one of those situations where we debate it passionately and then walk away thinking that the other guy is wrong but argued well. I'm not going to think of you as a thoughtful but misguided person with different ideas who still really cares about the country and the world. No, sorry, not this time. This time, if you watched those interview excerpts and weren't scared out of your freakin' mind, then you're mentally ill, mentally disabled, or mentally disturbed. What you are NOT is responsible, informed, curious, thoughtful, mature, educated, empathetic, or remotely serious. I mean it.
But I like to think that anyone can change.
Stop voting for people you want to have a beer with. Stop voting for folksy. Stop voting for people who remind you of your neighbor. Stop voting for the ideologically intransigent, the staggeringly ignorant, and the blazingly incompetent. Vote for someone smarter than you. Vote for someone who inspires you. Vote for someone who has not only traveled the world but who has also shown a deep understanding and compassion for it. The stakes are real and they're terrifyingly high. This election matters. It matters. It really matters. Let me say that one more time. This. Really. Matters. "
9/17/08
meaning
We create it. In many ways it's a purely human phenomenon.
We create it, and then it destroys us.
But I'd still rather have it, and suffer at its hands, than live blissfully without it.
Although it does seem like some (though few) people can live blissfully with it.
I'm not yet that evolved.
We create it, and then it destroys us.
But I'd still rather have it, and suffer at its hands, than live blissfully without it.
Although it does seem like some (though few) people can live blissfully with it.
I'm not yet that evolved.
9/12/08
more religious venting
And what's up with the bible stuff? Is there anyone in that Presbyterian church who really, actually thinks that the bible was written by God? I doubt it.
In fact, this is how the minister started the reading last Sunday:
"Most biblical scholars agree that this passage was added later by leaders of the early church. Listen now to the Word of God."
--And ended with, "So ends our reading from God's Word. Thanks be to God."
-But... uhh... wait, like, didn't you just say the thing was written by leaders of the early church?!
And I know people would say "Well, we believe it was inspired by God." or "Well, that's just what we say 'cause it's a holy text." - but no, it matters.
Words matter. Say what you actually mean, or don't say anything; when it's something people have died for, when it's something that keeps homosexuals from being treated as equal citizens in our country, when it's something that starts wars and dissolves families, don't say "oh, well, we say it's the word of God, we say that Jesus died for our sins; we say that we're going to live forever if we follow him, we say that Jesus was the divine son of God and that he was resurrected and ascended into heaven, we say that he'll come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and that his kingdom will have no end... but we all really know that we mean something else."
In fact, this is how the minister started the reading last Sunday:
"Most biblical scholars agree that this passage was added later by leaders of the early church. Listen now to the Word of God."
--And ended with, "So ends our reading from God's Word. Thanks be to God."
-But... uhh... wait, like, didn't you just say the thing was written by leaders of the early church?!
And I know people would say "Well, we believe it was inspired by God." or "Well, that's just what we say 'cause it's a holy text." - but no, it matters.
Words matter. Say what you actually mean, or don't say anything; when it's something people have died for, when it's something that keeps homosexuals from being treated as equal citizens in our country, when it's something that starts wars and dissolves families, don't say "oh, well, we say it's the word of God, we say that Jesus died for our sins; we say that we're going to live forever if we follow him, we say that Jesus was the divine son of God and that he was resurrected and ascended into heaven, we say that he'll come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and that his kingdom will have no end... but we all really know that we mean something else."
put the sanity back in christianity
Along the same lines as the post below, I have to vent about something else- (And I'll probably offend a bunch of people in the process, but so be it.) :
What is up with Christianity?
Seems like most of us look at the history of Christianity and say -oh, well, yeah, in the past people have done some terrible things in Jesus' name. But now it's the 21st century and we're all enlightened.
Yeah, right.
In fact, I just attended a [run-of-the-mill laid-back Presbyterian] church service where they showed a bunch of 4-7 year-olds a video about Sin. "A long time ago" [the video began], "God created the Earth, and it was perfect. But then people did bad things." Yes, people started to sin. And 'Sin' was shown as two kids fighting in karate-style stance; two other kids whispering "She's so weird!" about another girl.
And what's the lesson being taught? - "The price of Sin is Death!", the narrator intoned, while the video showed these kids a photograph of a gravestone in a cemetery. "But Jesus died for all our sins, and Jesus will make us live forever."
-How the hell is a 5-year-old supposed to understand the abstract concepts in this message?! I can barely get my brain around them myself. And is watching this video going to make these children more loving? Is it going to make them feel warm and accepted? Is it going to give them a personal comfort level with the concept of "God"? Is it going to make them understand, on a practical level, why gossip and fighting might be harmful to those they love? Yah, I think not.
And how would Jesus feel about that message? Nauseous, I imagine.
The whole thing makes me incredibly uncomfortable. Made me so uncomfortable and angry that I almost got up and walked out of the service; in retrospect, I should've. How can responsible, educated parents sit back and let their kids be exposed to narrow, damaging messages like that? Or worse, endorse those messages? That's 'Sin' in my book.
It just doesn't make sense to me. It just doesn't make any freakin' sense.
What is up with Christianity?
Seems like most of us look at the history of Christianity and say -oh, well, yeah, in the past people have done some terrible things in Jesus' name. But now it's the 21st century and we're all enlightened.
Yeah, right.
In fact, I just attended a [run-of-the-mill laid-back Presbyterian] church service where they showed a bunch of 4-7 year-olds a video about Sin. "A long time ago" [the video began], "God created the Earth, and it was perfect. But then people did bad things." Yes, people started to sin. And 'Sin' was shown as two kids fighting in karate-style stance; two other kids whispering "She's so weird!" about another girl.
And what's the lesson being taught? - "The price of Sin is Death!", the narrator intoned, while the video showed these kids a photograph of a gravestone in a cemetery. "But Jesus died for all our sins, and Jesus will make us live forever."
-How the hell is a 5-year-old supposed to understand the abstract concepts in this message?! I can barely get my brain around them myself. And is watching this video going to make these children more loving? Is it going to make them feel warm and accepted? Is it going to give them a personal comfort level with the concept of "God"? Is it going to make them understand, on a practical level, why gossip and fighting might be harmful to those they love? Yah, I think not.
And how would Jesus feel about that message? Nauseous, I imagine.
The whole thing makes me incredibly uncomfortable. Made me so uncomfortable and angry that I almost got up and walked out of the service; in retrospect, I should've. How can responsible, educated parents sit back and let their kids be exposed to narrow, damaging messages like that? Or worse, endorse those messages? That's 'Sin' in my book.
It just doesn't make sense to me. It just doesn't make any freakin' sense.
9/11/08
my neighbors
Well, the folks who live next to (and below) me have now given me three different labels, and I feel it's time to display them proudly.
1) Middle-class:
A couple of years ago, during a violent lightening storm (which had already struck elsewhere in town and was now right overhead), I declined an invitation from my neighbor to leave the porch and stand with him under the tall tree in our front yard. "Oh, you're so middle-class!" he yelled at me from the street.
2) Lesbian:
I was recently informed by another neighbor that the whole neighborhood thinks I'm a lesbian. Why? One, because I live with Joel, and they all know he's a great guy so if we're not together that must be the reason and two, because I'm regularly visited by "that girl."
-Which girl? I asked him. "That girl, you know, the one who comes from Massachusetts all the time to see you." Oh yeah, my mom.
3) Someone who "doesn't talk to people"
A third neighbor approached me hesitantly the other day. "Excuse me!" she said, staying quite some distance away, but craning her head towards me, as if I were a wild animal she wanted to inspect. She said, "I know you don't talk to people, but I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Sharon, and I'm your neighbor." "Hi, nice to meet you," I replied, "My name's Kate. But I don't know what you mean about not talking to people?" It took three times of her introducing herself again, and again mentioning that I "ignore people", and me asking her what she meant by that, before she finally told me why she had formed this opinion: One day there had been a bookseller out in front of the house looking for me, and he had had to call to me twice to get my attention, because I was at the back of the house loading some things in my car and didn't hear him the first time.
Yep. I'll be interested to see what they come up with next.
1) Middle-class:
A couple of years ago, during a violent lightening storm (which had already struck elsewhere in town and was now right overhead), I declined an invitation from my neighbor to leave the porch and stand with him under the tall tree in our front yard. "Oh, you're so middle-class!" he yelled at me from the street.
2) Lesbian:
I was recently informed by another neighbor that the whole neighborhood thinks I'm a lesbian. Why? One, because I live with Joel, and they all know he's a great guy so if we're not together that must be the reason and two, because I'm regularly visited by "that girl."
-Which girl? I asked him. "That girl, you know, the one who comes from Massachusetts all the time to see you." Oh yeah, my mom.
3) Someone who "doesn't talk to people"
A third neighbor approached me hesitantly the other day. "Excuse me!" she said, staying quite some distance away, but craning her head towards me, as if I were a wild animal she wanted to inspect. She said, "I know you don't talk to people, but I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Sharon, and I'm your neighbor." "Hi, nice to meet you," I replied, "My name's Kate. But I don't know what you mean about not talking to people?" It took three times of her introducing herself again, and again mentioning that I "ignore people", and me asking her what she meant by that, before she finally told me why she had formed this opinion: One day there had been a bookseller out in front of the house looking for me, and he had had to call to me twice to get my attention, because I was at the back of the house loading some things in my car and didn't hear him the first time.
Yep. I'll be interested to see what they come up with next.
9/9/08
petty pet peeve
Seems like every time I get someone's voicemail box nowadays, they say the same weird thing. It's 'professional' wording, but it just doesn't make sense - like they're all parroting the phrase that people use when leaving messages, but they're using it backwards-
They say, "Please leave your name and number, and a brief message, and I'll get back to you at my earliest convenience."
At my earliest convenience - that's essentially saying, yeah, dude, you may think what you're calling about is important, but I'm going to take my own sweet little time getting back to you; gotta wait till it's nice and convenient for me.
They say, "Please leave your name and number, and a brief message, and I'll get back to you at my earliest convenience."
At my earliest convenience - that's essentially saying, yeah, dude, you may think what you're calling about is important, but I'm going to take my own sweet little time getting back to you; gotta wait till it's nice and convenient for me.
9/5/08
religions... elections... leaders... idols... cults... Mary Kay representatives....
Really – extremes creep me out. People who get too enthusiastic about anything – whether it be a good thing in my book or not - they make me nervous.
Being passionate about something, sure, that’s great. Believing in something, working towards it, fine. But more than that… it’s unbalanced. When you can’t recognize that there are some pieces of the thing (or person) (or idea) you love that aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, or when you follow someone blindly rather than doing your own thinking, you become very dangerous.
Being passionate about something, sure, that’s great. Believing in something, working towards it, fine. But more than that… it’s unbalanced. When you can’t recognize that there are some pieces of the thing (or person) (or idea) you love that aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, or when you follow someone blindly rather than doing your own thinking, you become very dangerous.
9/4/08
and boy am I glad
It wasn't till recently that I realized there's an upstate NY accent. It's all nasally, with open vowels - lots of eenh and wanh sounds. And words ending with 't' turn into a kind of grunt. 'Didn't' becomes 'dinh', 'different' comes out 'diffrenh'
I don't talk that way; the one Oneonta word I've picked up is "prolly". -I'll prolly write something even more boring tomorrow.
In fact, I picked up more pronounciation weirdness from my brief stint in the midwest - to this day I still say 'halse' instead of 'house'.
But as yet I've managed to avoid adopting the Phillean 'wudder', thank god.
I don't talk that way; the one Oneonta word I've picked up is "prolly". -I'll prolly write something even more boring tomorrow.
In fact, I picked up more pronounciation weirdness from my brief stint in the midwest - to this day I still say 'halse' instead of 'house'.
But as yet I've managed to avoid adopting the Phillean 'wudder', thank god.
9/1/08
ridicule-ous
Seems like the key to changing peoples' minds is dispassionate passion. If you get too het-up about something, nobody listens.
Or they snicker at you behind your back.
It's a shame I still haven't mastered it.
Or they snicker at you behind your back.
It's a shame I still haven't mastered it.
alignment
When my brain gets all off-track, I find that watching Harold and Maude is a good fix. It works like a magnet on metal filings; puts all the chaos in order.
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