retail therapy

I have been thinking a lot about retail therapy today--mostly because after feeling absolutely crushed, I saw a movie and then purchased a fabulous pair of shoes.

As I examined my pedicure (also scheduled earlier to cope with the trauma) looking lovely through the peep-toe of this work of art, I could not help but wonder why buying something offered me a feeble moment of joy. At first, I felt the gross guilt of apathetic, wasteful consumerism. I felt the superficiality of enjoying meaningless things that I do not need.

But on a second thought, I decided that I rarely treat myself--and usually resort to treating myself only when something has gone awry. I try very hard to be fiscally responsible and have a savings--so I understand why I would use a time when I am feeling low as an excuse to splurge. So long as I am in touch with my feelings, using these escapades simply as a momentary escape and not an alternative reality, I have decided it is a nice way to clear my mind for a few moments, and enjoy a great pair of flats. I do not think that a pair of shoes can solve any of my problems in life--otherwise I would be joyous right now instead of extremely hurt--but it's nice to have a small change.

girls and boys perform equally in standardized math tests

Put this in your pipe and smoke it.

“Now that enrollment in advanced math courses is equalized, we don’t see gender differences in test performance,” said Marcia C. Linn of the University of California, Berkeley, a co-author of the study. “But people are surprised by these findings, which suggests to me that the stereotypes are still there.”

California: 1st state to ban use of trans fats in restaurants

Under the new law, trans fats, long linked to health problems, must be excised from restaurant products beginning in 2010, and from all retail baked goods by 2011. Packaged foods will be exempt. (The New York Times)

Bratz & Barbie, little girls and sexuality

Interesting read...more to come later

FEC won't enforce the Millionaire's Amendment

I previously spoke out against McCain-Feingold's discrimination against wealthy political candidates--but the Supreme Court struck it down last month and now the FEC will no longer enforce it. Sweet.

viagra helps women on antidepressants

Antidepressants slowing your sex drive? Viagra helps women curb the side effect.

mindfulness

In yoga today, my instructor recounted her teacher's response to the question, "How often do you practice yoga?" Her answer: "Everyday, all the time, for 30 years."

The answer was not meant to imply practicing yoga physically everyday, but rather living a life style in sync with the yoga philosophies of mindfulness and being present.

I know I do not get very personal on The Colonic, but let's throw it all out there--I have a lot on my plate and I could use some release. I listened to the anecdote and was both happy and sad at the same time. More than anything, though, I just wanted to cry. It's possible to be present? It is so hard for me, despite my miles and miles of internal work, to remain present. In fact, most times I am detached from reality and completely lost in my head.

Overcome with that sudden feeling that I am missing out on my life because so much of myself is locked in my thoughts, I somehow was able to absorb the fact that a lifestyle of mindfulness is truly possible--despite my own historical tendencies--and that I will keep (bless my little heart) trying.

I had a great yoga class and was feeling wonderful afterward. Yet here I am, nearly 2 am, unable to sleep, stuck up in my head. Finally, I began to re-live today's experience, and I thought I would blog about it, and then tuck myself in bed and be present in the moment. No cyclical thoughts, no re-thinking checklists, no schedule breakdowns over and over, no re-hashing the trajectory of current personal issues--nothing.

Hopefully this way I can fall asleep.

Wake Up America

I do not like Miley Cyrus, but I am quasi-reconsidering a little bit

Loyola medical school abusing animals

:(

fish pedicures?

I would rather be pumiced than have fish eat the dead skin off of my feet, thanks.

Yes, yes--competition. But in my book, if a spa/salon wants me to remain faithful, it will be the most efficient/sustainable one in town.

using tobacco to cure cancer

love the irony

ACLU challenging law banning felons from voting in Alabama

Jail time is punishment for crimes--once jail time is over, a person is supposed to begin a new rehabilitated life. This sort of ban-the-felon-from-voting is an ever-lasting an unfounded form of moralistic judgment that mirrors The Scarlet Letter: let's punish all "sinners" forever and ever and make them social outcasts.

Psychologically, this does not make any sense either. If you treat someone like a criminal forever, it only encourages that person to behave like a criminal.

Anyhow, check out the full article here.

Iran and the US might be talking

Here is an excerpt from an interesting BBC article:

Washington has shown it means business by agreeing to send the Under-Secretary of State, William Burns, to Geneva to join talks between the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, and Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili on Saturday.

It is a major shift by the Bush administration, and the Iranians will understand that.

Earlier this week, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he was interested in direct talks with the US.

He also said Iran was interested in an idea being floated in Washington - to open a US diplomatic mission in Tehran for the first time since the revolution.

painful John McCain quote

From Political Wire:

"I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself. I don't expect to be a great communicator, I don't expect to set up my own blog, but I am becoming computer literate to the point where I can get the information that I need... I don't e-mail, I've never felt the particular need to e-mail."

-- Sen. John McCain, in an interview with the New York Times

Uhhh...if McCain cannot adapt to changes in technology and communication, I am wondering how he can be flexible enough to adapt to an ever-changing political climate. If you are too old and set in your ways to comprehend email, I don't want you in the Oval Office.

Bush to lift ban on offshore drilling

So glad this administration is coming to a close

misunderstandings of orthorexia

I have noticed it time and time again--misunderstandings of orthorexia. Even on one of my favorite blogs, Ecorazzi, the confusion is clear:

Do you suffer from Orthorexia? Don’t know what Orthorexia is? THAT’S BECAUSE IT’S NOT REAL!!!...Now if you’ll excuse me I have some greens and tofu waiting for me. I’m such an Orthorexic.

It's time to clear the air. Orthorexia is not simply a commitment to a healthy lifestyle--it's a form of obsessive behavior that leads to social isolation, chronic anxiety in making food choices and/or justifies or facilitates restrictive eating/caloric deficits. In severe forms, orthorexia can become an eating disorder and must be treated accordingly.

The issue is not with healthy eating--the issue is about what happens when an obsession starts to take over, control you, and effect your quality of life.

For additional information on orthorexia, click here.

POWER SHIFT 2009 IS COMING

February 27th-March 2nd. Bigger and better than last year. Get pumped!

Obama v McCain on Iran

This article from the Wall Street Journal sums up why Obama's approach to Iran, specifically in light of recent missile testing, is better than McCain's:

Sen. Obama went on to say the missile tests demonstrate why the U.S. needs to engage in direct diplomacy with Iran. The Wall Street Journal writes, while Sen. McCain called for tough new sanctions and an anti-missile shield in Europe, and repeated his concern that Tehran is merely using negotiations with the international community to buy time.

"It's time for action and it's time to make Iranians understand that this kind of violation of international treaties, this kind of threatening of their neighbors, this kind of continued military activity is not without costs," Sen. McCain said at a campaign event in South Park, Pa., as the Associated Press reports. But he stopped short of saying he would call for military action against Iran if elected, the Journal notes.

Sen. Obama, meanwhile, repeated his call for "direct and aggressive diplomacy with the Iranian regime" saying the increased tensions with Tehran show that the current approach of isolating Iran isn't working, the New York Times reports. The Illinois Democrat said high-level U.S. engagement with Iran would bring more international support for military action "should Tehran prove unwilling to give up its nuclear activities," the Journal writes.

Exactly. Start with aggressive diplomacy because, if Iran proves to be an un-tamable threat, at least we can have international support.

George W. Bush Sewage Plant

Ha:

The Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco wants to switch the name of the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant to the George W. Bush Sewage Plant.

Supporters hoping to put the issue on the November ballot turned in more than 10,000 signatures to San Francisco election officials, organizer Brian McConnell said. The measure needs just over 7,000 valid names to qualify and McConnell expects to find out later this month whether they made it.

Hey reporters--learn the difference between "sex" and "gender"

I see this all of the time, especially in the BBC health section--abuse of the term "gender."

Gender is not a synonym for sex. Gender refers to a cultural performance, with feminine typically associated with vagina and masculine typically associated with penis. A biological female in a dress has a female gender performance; a biological female who binds her breasts and purchases clothes from the men's section has a male gender performance. Gender performance is fluid and varies through time.

Just look at this article: Gender 'impacts on transplants'--it has nothing to do with gender, it is about biological men and women:

Women who get a replacement kidney from a male donor are more likely to reject the new organ, scientists suggest.

This really kills me.

Bush interrupted repeatedly during last Fourth of July as president

I'm sure amused.

my apologies

Dear Colonic readers,

It pains me that I have neglected The Colonic this week--I am just at my wits end in all facets of life at the moment, and my beloved blog is one of many things to bear the brunt.

Please be patient. I should be back up to speed shortly. As always, thank you for visiting.

Your friend,
The Colonic