Priceless Opal

My Backpack Exploded

A law school bomb went off in my house today.

Note the extreme interest of the cats.

NPR...I love you

If you've been watching, or internetting the news today, you've heard that NPR has got itself in a bit of a bruhaha by firing renowned news analyst, Juan Williams.  Now, Juan Williams knows his stuff, but it turns out, he's also a bigot.  A bigot who gets nervous when he sees people in "Muslim garb" getting on the same plane as him.  And people are saying it's okay for him to say those things because that's how he feels, it's honest, and we need to be honest when we talk about these things...bullshit.

Side note, here is a fantastic site to check out...it's a bunch of Muslims, in some garb...

I'm all for being honest, but not when your honesty is defending Bill O'Reilly for saying that "Muslims killed us on 9/11."  I'm all for honesty but not when it only applies to this one group...although I think in the minds of people like Juan Williams, it applies to maybe Mexicans, feminists, Gays and Lesbians, and yes, even African Americans.  Why are people defending him for saying this about Muslims when it's certainly not right to say, "I get nervous when I get on a plane and see someone in Black/street/gang garb."  Maybe Juan Williams should be saying to himself,

"Hmm, I've been on several planes now where anyone could have been Muslim and still those planes have not blown up or crashed.  Maybe my view of Muslims is a bit skewed by media sources like Fox News and Bill O'Reilly.  Maybe I should go out and befriend some people who practice the Muslim faith.  Maybe I should see what it's all about before I decide that I'm afraid of it."

Now I know NPR is Liberal leaning, especially compared with that bastion of morality, knowledge and truth, Fox News.  But I stand by their decision.  This isn't the first time Juan Williams said something inappropriate, and it's certainly not the first time he has violated NPR's code of ethics which says journalists should not participate in media "that encourages punditry and speculation rather than fact-based analysis."  And besides, why should a news group like NPR have to support an "analyst" who does double duty with their complete opposite, Fox "News."

So, I was a rock; I ignored the Fall Pledge Drive, listening while they berated me to pledge my money...the money I use to buy the Top Ramen that feeds me.  But today I ask myself, what's more important, my "nutritional" well being, or my intellectual well being?  The $40 I just gave to KUOW seems to point to the intellectual.

Please, if you have any positive feelings about NPR's decision to fire Juan Williams, I urge you to pledge now.  I finally did.  I want a news outlet that doesn't just claim to be "fair and balanced"; a news outlet that may have liberal leanings, but leanings that I equate with intelligent, rational, kind thinking...even if Garrison Keillor wheezes through his nose when he exhales.

NPR is important, and if Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee are going to convince the federal government to revoke what funding it does provide (less than 2% of NPR's actual budget), they're gonna need my $40 bucks...and yours too.

Seattlites, click here for KUOW
Everyone else, find your station here and support it

Would like a bag for that?

I found this while going through my computer, from less pleasant days at the bookstore.  In this rainy season, this one goes out to all my TBP homies.

Would like a bag for that?

Correct Answers:

-Yes.

-Yes, please.

-No, thanks.

-No, thank you.

-I'm fine without one.

Incorrect Answers:
-Yes, it's raining.
-Oh, no! I don't take bags! Have to save the trees!
-That would be nice.(said with snark)
-Yes, I think it's going to start raining soon.
-Yes, I need to go to another store.
-Yes, I don't want you to think I'm stealing it.
-Yes, please...oh, don't you have plastic. Well, then no, I don't want a paper one...it's raining.
-Normally, I would say no, but I have the dog in the car.
-Oh, dear! I forgot my bag. I'm trying so hard to remember to bring my own bags. But I forgot it. So, I guess I should have one.
-Well...is it raining? I can't tell. Well, maybe, just in case it rains.

I ask this question over 100 times a day. I don't care why you do or do not want a bag. I don't care if it's raining, news flash...it's always raining. I don't care where you're going next or if you "normally say, 'no'". All I care about is getting you the bag with as little personal contact as possible. By the end of my shift, I wouldn't care if pigs were flying around outside and the bag was just to protect your book from flying pig feces. I just don't care.

Have You Heard?

I have a nephew...and I'm pretty sure he's cuter than your nephew.
























 Told you.

Getting Schooled Part II

Joy!  My favorite professor knows who I am!  She is so awesome! Smart, funny, invested in teaching, passionate about her subject.  I'm not gonna lie, I have a bit of a lady crush on her.  I haven't been to office hours, and she's never called on me, and I sit the last row, aaaaaalllllll the way to the side of the room (not on purpose, I just got there late on the first day and all the good seats were taken).  And she STILL knows who I am.  That's how much I talk in class.  I saw her on campus yesterday and she waved and said, "Hi."   Omigod!  It was like seeing a famous person!  And realizing the famous person knew who I was!

I spent my undergrad cowering in the shadows, never, ever volunteering an insight or a thought, and now I think what a sad waste.  I didn't have any professors to look to for recommendations or resources; it was like I was a ghost on that campus.  And now, I really believe that participating in class is one of the best ways to learn.  Maybe not raising your hand every two minutes, but actively listening, forming answers in your own mind, taking notes, engaging. 

Though, don't be misinformed, there are countless days where I am too shy to look people in the eye.  That terrified, little, younger me takes the reigns, and it's hard to wrestle them back from her.  In fact I think she may have been in the driver's seat all along during those the first few months of school.  But things are shifting.  I'm working more on being myself; not for anyone else, not to get people to like me, but because I like that version of myself.  And I've heard from others, that they think she's pretty cool too.

It's Finally Happened

I knew.  I knew, if I was just patient enough, waited long enough, and diligently charged my camera batteries...I knew the day would come when I would capture my very own lolcat.  Ladies and getlemen, I present for your consideration....lawlcat.

 

Socialism

As I grow older, the difficulty of saying goodbye increases ten-fold.  Maybe because the more I live, the more I realize that friends don't stay friends for ever.  It's not a lack of desire to remain friends, it just happens.  Time and distance can't help but increase and amplify our changing lives.  And facebook does nothing to help, I actually feel farther apart from people as I read their updates.  Sure I'm in the know, but being in the know doesn't involve me and makes me feel sad for not being there to have fun with dear friends.  Being in the know doesn't do anything but curtail conversation when I do meet up with people.


Friend:  "Guess what I saw yesterday?!?"
Me:  "A mime, walking an iguana."
Friend:  "yeah..."
Me:  "I read it on facebook"
Friend: "oh"


So I guess the lesson is...people grow up and move on, and social networking media is actually making us all anti-social.


Ironic to post these unbelievably obvious revelations on a blog and then link it on my facebook.  Your welcome.


PS:  This post is brought on by the birth of my nephew and saying goodbye to Christy.