Saturday, June 28, 2008

the most culture-blind study of one-night stands

A "study" revealed that, because women are left unhappier than men post-one-night stand, there is no evolutionary advantage in such encounters for women.

Hmm...I am sure the fact that our culture oppresses female sexuality has nothing to do with female unhappiness after poking a stranger. I am sure the fact that women are normatively socialized to be on the man-hunt has nothing to do with this. I am sure the fact that the typical female cultural script involves hyper-sensitivity, care taking of others, and negligence of self--coupled with the typical male script of autonomy and mischief--does not affect the findings at all.

In a society where women are commonly judged based on their number of partners or sexual behavior--although this is both expected and praised in men--and whose vaginas are also vulgarly described as stretched, larger, etc...none of this could possibly explain the findings.

Let's bring it all back to "evolution."

the winner of boxer's PAC For a Change contest

Rick Noriega, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Texas.

I voted for Jeanne Shaheen.

The results

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Ralp Nader talking shit about Obama

According to Nader, Obama is using "white guilt" to land the White House.

Oh wait, and Obama "talks white."

I'm actually very offended that Ralph Nader thinks that "blacks" and "whites" speak in some sort of diametric opposition.

Is he saying that being black means talking in African American Vernacular English? And talking about issues pertinent to low income areas? And talking white all of the sudden means perfect, political grammar? What, all black people are low income earners?

If Nader thinks that "payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead" only affect black people, and that only black people make up low income populations...he is only fueling ignorant and imaginary racial divides.

Supreme Court strikes down death penalty for child rape

read full article

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Justices take on Navy sonar

Bush says we need it during wartime...

The Navy admits to short-term behavioral disruptions among dolphins and whales including hearing loss...

But the Natural Resources Defense Council says that dolphins and whales are vulnerable to “mass injury,” including hemorrhaging and stranding.

Read the full article.

whoa whoa whoa

...majorities continue to say they believe in God (92 percent), heaven (74 percent), hell (59 percent), and angels and demons active in the world (68 percent)
This comes from a study that finds:

Most Americans say they are absolutely sure about standards of right and wrong – and are just as sure that no one religion holds an exclusive franchise on the truth.
Really what this tells me is "Us god-lovers can get down with other god-lovers...but not those damn atheists"

Although I think the point of the study is lame, the article is full with interesting/disturbing facts about religion in America.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

World's Ugliest Dog contest


At first I thought that this was mean but slightly humorous...but now I am just pissed.

The winner of the contest, Gus, has three legs, one eye, and no hair except for a patch on his head.

But this is what kills me. According to the article, Gus was purchased just to win the competition. Animals are not just things to buy, they are not just for casual amusement. Poor gus.

And for the record, I think that Gus is both cute and endearing. I am sure he has been severely abused in his life and needs a loving home.

great article on Obama's 50-state strategy

From The New York Times

Saturday, June 21, 2008

ha--Ringo Starr has my birthday

Ringo Starr told Access Hollywood:
“Let’s make my birthday, July the 7th at noon, Peace and Love Day. Everybody go, ‘Peace and love.’ In the office, on the bus, wherever. It’s still peace and love for me, I’m a product of the 60s and it was a very influential period in my life, and you know, my head was turned around a bit, my eyes were opened as it were. In fact, I even have it on my arm, ‘Peace and love’. I see nothing wrong with peace and love.”
Well, I don't mind sharing the limelight. In fact, I think that my vegan birthday cake will be very peaceful and loving itself. Environmentally sustainable, and cruelty-free. mmmmm.

PAC for a Change

Cast your vote to determine which Democratic Senate challenger Barbara Boxer's PAC for a Change should support.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

love it


Order yours here

a message from Obama

Obama explains why he will not rely on public finance in the general election--because, in its current and "broken" form, it would not be good enough against pro-McCain 527s and the like. No argument here.

Although I disagree with the framing of "special interests" as something unique to Washington insiders and PAC money as inherently bad, Obama has undoubtedly raised his funds through a grassroots initiative that speaks volumes to his widespread support, and also to his ability to inspire political activity among otherwise latent and/or non-registered voters. In fact, I do not think there is any better way to raise money for a presidential election.

Make a donation now.

World Refuge Day, June 20th



Get Involved

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Barbie-pink nails

I have been meaning to post about my nail polish for the past week. Yes, I said nail polish. Sounds so trivial, but represents much more to me.

For the first time in years, my nails are painted Barbie-pink. Although the corvette color had been my favorite since I can remember, once I began to realize how I had lived my life blindly accepting culturally imposed mandates for socially idealized women--and began to understand how this had severely disenfranchised my sense of self and autonomy--I cursed the color. It was everything that I no longer wanted to be: senselessly girly, self-unaware, dependent on others, and a typically socialized and oppressed female.

Thus began my abhorrence of Barbie-pink as the very symbol of my oppression and the years I had wasted being terribly misguided and ultimately superficial--and so I traded it for shades of burgundy, brown, black, white, red and the like. I let my polish chip, and would skip manicures all together. But more importantly, I began to avoid the color because I found it shameful and embarrassingly indicative of attributes I did not wish to possess, a lifestyle I wished I had never had, and felt the color would overall mark me as ditsy and otherwise inferior. There I was, a scholar of gender and sex theory, advocating a humanist framework where all are equal and respected--but at the same time, detesting the notion of being "one of them."

These days, I am in a completely different place. My transition from being politically apathetic and self-unaware to discovering that the personal is political, understanding social hierarchies, identifying frameworks of sex and gender, as well as completely rejecting many compulsory cultural mandates first caused a period of self-loathing and confusion. As I kept on learning, discovering, processing, and analyzing, my transition further developed and I understood all parts of my life as critical steps in reaching all of my goals.

Now I am comfortable enough with myself to realize that my nail polish color means nothing about my intelligence, my goals, or who I am as a person. What is more, my sense of shame in associating myself with a particular form of culturally encouraged femininity indicates my own internalized misogyny and sexism in not wanting to be one of "those girls"--essentially that "those girls" are inferior, something to detest, and something to avoid.

A person may look, seem, or act culturally "girly"--but watch out, "girly" means nothing substantive beyond an external descriptive. And once you approach a person with a set of assumptions based on image, you will be disarmed.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Britain announces sanctions against Iran

Britain and the European Union to freeze the assets of Iran's largest bank, Bank Melli, in response to Tehran's refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment program. Read full article.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Manson killer seeks compassionate release

If a murderer is sentence to life in prison, it makes absolutely no sense to be released early because of terminal brain cancer. Either way, Susan Atkins was meant to die in prison for stabbing Sharon Tate and her fetus, tasting the blood, and using it to spell pig on the door. So who cares if she is dying early? See full article.

Friday, June 13, 2008

estate owners to sue Greenpeace for portraying reality

Long story short: Greenpeace portrayed what ritzy coastal resorts in Spain will look like if UN Climate Change predictions are correct, housing prices in these areas dropped, and now estate owners want EUR 30 million in damages--or they will sue.

Rising sea level=sinking coastal real estate value. Makes sense to me.

Read the full article

a great one

From Post Secret:

taxi cab texting--wtf?

I must admit, I was bewildered today sitting in a taxi cab as my driver was both tailgating and text messaging up the freeway on-ramp. He proceeded to dial numbers and chit chat though out our little journey--on my dollar.

Are there no standards and no consideration of safety? No sentiment of professionalism?

Of course, I sat there debating whether or not I wanted to be the rational-but-perceived-as-a-bitchy-tight-ass customer. I don't plan on being so quiet next time.

Obamasexuals

It occurred to me while I was chatting with a friend who, in listing why she likes the new boy she's dating, rattled off, "He's this, he's that, he's pro-Obama."

And there you have it. Among Obama supporters, supporting Obama is a turn-on.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Bush backers skeptical of McCain

From Political Wire:
Sen. John McCain "may be the presumed Republican presidential nominee, but he's still not connecting with a critical group of donors the way President Bush did during his 2004 re-election campaign," according to CQ Politics.

Key statistic: "According to a Congressional Quarterly analysis, only about 5,000 of the 62,800 donors who gave the maximum contribution of $2,000 to Bush -- roughly 8 percent -- had given to McCain as of April 30."

Monday, June 9, 2008

What is secular humanism?

Despite my deep roots in feminism, I frame my life philosophy through the lens of secular humanism, and wanted to beginning exploring secular humanism on The Colonic.

To get started, I wanted to offer an introduction made available by the Council for Secular Humanism:

Secular Humanism is a term which has come into use in the last thirty years to describe a world view with the following elements and principles:

  • A conviction that dogmas, ideologies and traditions, whether religious, political or social, must be weighed and tested by each individual and not simply accepted on faith.
  • Commitment to the use of critical reason, factual evidence, and scientific methods of inquiry, rather than faith and mysticism, in seeking solutions to human problems and answers to important human questions.
  • A primary concern with fulfillment, growth, and creativity for both the individual and humankind in general.
  • A constant search for objective truth, with the understanding that new knowledge and experience constantly alter our imperfect perception of it.
  • A concern for this life and a commitment to making it meaningful through better understanding of ourselves, our history, our intellectual and artistic achievements, and the outlooks of those who differ from us.
  • A search for viable individual, social and political principles of ethical conduct, judging them on their ability to enhance human well-being and individual responsibility.
  • A conviction that with reason, an open marketplace of ideas, good will, and tolerance, progress can be made in building a better world for ourselves and our children.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Weightism and Size Acceptance

Christian license plates?


Sure glad I don't live in South Carolina. Though the "I Believe" plates didn't make it in Florida, I guess the Jesus-mobile just drove elsewhere. Read more.

officially one of the stupidest studies I have ever read

Risky teenager behavior--including smoking, marijuana, not wearing seat belts, and sex--is at an all time low.

Right. Because we have such accurate statistics, and we have such an open and taboo-free culture of discussion that teenagers are lining up in the streets to confess their "dirty" deeds.

The racial divides in the report are particularly thrilling.

Hillary Clinton does not care about the party

If Hillary really wanted a Democrat in the White House, then she would not be running at least half an hour late for her endorsement speech of Barack Obama. Her endorsement of Obama is critical, especially when so many of her supporters are going nuts rights now--and when she has talked so much shit about Obama that the right wing has already created a 3-page quote packet.

Needless to say, Obama did not engage in such behavior.

But Hillary only cares about her self. She is 21 minutes late for her speech as of yet, and she has not even left her house. As usual, Hillary is acting desperate and pathetic.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Hillary supporters for McCain

Chatter over Hillary supporters for McCain has already begun--but if you take a look at the new site that popped up, The National Organization of Hillary Clinton Supporters for John McCain, it is clear that the founder is not the brightest crayon in the box.

Here's a sample:
What good is a great economy if you have to worry about getting blown up by a car bomb every time you go to the mall? You want another Baghdad here in the USA, not me!
Not sure when I was ever worried about being blown up in a mall, except on my visits to Israel. So who is this new political analyst?
Hi folks. My name is Ed Hale and I am life long Democrat till May 31, 2008. When I saw those 30 people break the rules and make their own, and then to vote to take away 4 of Hillary Clinton's delegates, but worst of all, make the uncommitted go for Obama, that was my last straw. What I saw today was what went on in the USSR (Russia) 30 years ago. The Boss's called the shots, and I decide that I did not want any part of them.

They have treated Hillary Clinton worst than I would treat a mad dog. This site is up to get like minded people to join so if they do go ahead and nominate Obama, we will be ready to make sure that he never goes to the White House. If Hillary get the nomination, then I will be leading the charge for her

This certainly captures the spirit of how no one gave a shit about Michigan and Florida until Hillary was so desperate for delegates that, way after the fact, the whole ordeal became a crime against democracy. Not to mention Michigan and Florida were well-aware of what they were getting into when they decided to break party rules in the first place.

I can ignore the heinous grammar and faulty syntax--those things do not necessarily mean lack of intelligence. But the concepts supporting Ed's banter are so stupid that I am concerned if 10,000 people really do share his logic.


drowning after you leave the pool?

A ten-year-old boy drowned after he left the pool. Apparently, he had swallowed water, later felt tired at home and took a nap. When someone came to check on him, water was coming out of his nose and he was having trouble breathing. He later died at the hospital. So strange.

LA parents demand equal education

Read full article here
Thousands of parents will join forces today to march in Downtown Los Angeles to demand that charter school students no longer be treated as second-class citizens by school districts such as Los Angeles Unified, and to launch the first-ever statewide advocacy organization on behalf of charter school families.

This new parent organization, "Families That Can," will advocate for choice, equity and accountability in California's public school system.

More than 100 charter schools, representing tens of thousands of students throughout the state, have already committed to the vision of Families That Can. With 240,000 charter students throughout the state, the movement is geared to organize hundreds of thousands of parents to demand that school districts and the state treat charter school students fairly.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

nominate the next unlikely alliance

If we are going to solve climate change, we need to do it together. That's why, despite other polarizing differences, coalitions must be built between opposites.

With this in mind, we can solve the climate crisis has created Unlikely Alliances. You can check out one pair, Revs. Pat Robertson and Al Sharpton, below...and you can also nominate your own unlikely alliance here (like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston, etc)

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

church discriminates against disabled children

After her son was banned from church via restraining order for autistic behaviors, a mother seeks to rally church leaders across the nation to create a special welcome for special-needs children.

Check out Project: Adam's Pew

Doesn't sound very Jesus-like to turn away an autistic child.

Bush preparing for nuclear waste dump

Yummy, nuclear waste:

The Bush administration has moved a step closer to building a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The Energy Department today applied for a construction license to build a facility 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has three years to review the application, which is 17 volumes thick.

The president gave his OK for the Yucca waste repository six years ago. It's opposed by most members of the Nevada congressional delegation over safety issues. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has labeled the project a "dying beast," and has blocked funding.

If approved, the Yucca project would be designed to hold 77,000 tons of waste, most of it spent reactor fuel from nuclear power plants. Six billion dollars has already been spent in research and engineering at the site. Crews have already dug a tunnel deep into the volcanic rock, which will be used to store canisters of reactor fuel.

Bill just doesn't know when to stop talking

he goes on and on and on

Governors supporting Hillary switch over to Obama

woot woot

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Benoir's doctor charged in a new 175-count federal indictment

Wrestler Chris Benoir strangled his wife with a cord, his son with a choke hold, placed bibles next to both of their bodies, and hanged himself with a piece of exercise equipment.

Now his doctor, Phil Astin, is facing a new charges:

The new indictment alleges that Astin illegally distributed prescription drugs by providing multiple, undated prescriptions, writing prescriptions for inappropriate combinations of drugs, or feeding the methadone addictions of patients for months or even years.

Astin was initially charged with illegal distribution of prescription drugs to two patients other than Benoit. Those charges came after the June 2007 killings at Benoit's suburban Atlanta home.

Oprah tries veganism for the right reasons

When I heard that Oprah was attempting a 21-day vegan cleanse, I immediately suspected that she was pulling a Skinny Bitch, and would undermine veganism by turning it into a weight-loss frenzy. Concerned she would add on to cultural precedent that has convoluted the mindful life style philosophies of veganism with calorie-counting and other obsessive behaviors, I decided to check her blog out for myself.

Much to my delight (and surprise) I came to discover that Oprah's trial of veganism came from an attempt to become a conscious eater--which explained as more than avoiding emotional eating and listening to your body, but considering the origin of food sources and how animals are treated in the process, creating a "spiritual" awakening.

Despite my objection to "spirituality," I like where this is going as a whole.

But her cleanse includes avoiding more than just animal products, but includes alcohol, sugar, and caffeine as well. That sounds a little much for The Colonic.