likesunday

Death of an OKlahoma Town...

It certainly isn't the first- but this just makes me sad.

The Plight of the Hawaiian People...

is finally getting the attention it deserves.

I jest- but it does give pause to consider on the mainland, indigenous people were given (token) sovereignty. 130 years later, however, is there really a movement for the same? Is it worthwhile?

I suppose it's a matter of pride, either way.

Just Bizarre...

Over-zealous Clintonites bring down Twitter?

It was discovered today that the Clinton Campaign purposefully and willfully hired a small group of hackers to bring down the Twitter network. The hackers succeeded in cracking the code in such a way that the Twitter service appeared to be still running, but users were not seeing the communications (they call them Tweets) between certain users. When confronted with this by reporters today a Clinton Campaign spokesman first denied the information, then later admitted that someone in the campaign was overzealous and had make a mistake.

According to that spokesperson, 'this individual, acting alone and not under the direction of the campaign, apparently became concerned that Twitter was becoming a resource and communications mechanism that was spreading false information about Senator Clinton and her bid for the Democratic nomination under some direction of the Obama campaign. It is well known that the Obama campaign follows users that choose to follow his campaign on Twitter and thus creating an elitist network of followers.

To file under the, "Huh? What?" category.

Another reason to love Colbert...

The self-proclaimed "Colbert Bump", where a politician enjoys a popularity surge just after coming on the show, isn't all myth- at least not for the party I like to call 'slightly better'.

Work it, Hil!

Well, damn, I AM a feminist

I came across a decently put together article (supported by, gasp, numerical facts) on how women's wages are slipping despite previous years of (moderate) increase. Naturally, I was interested, being a professional, working woman who has 1st hand seen all manner of sexism in the work environment (not necessarily towards myself). I took it as a social litmus test of how role shifts are settling and unsettling, basically re-shuffling into a new paradigm.

But I didn't honestly feel like I was hated because I had a innie rather than an outie until I read the comments. I really like the woman who suggested the word 'female' be replaced with 'black' to illustrate just how accepted it is to downgrade women.

Add to that the Muslim religion, even more debasing than Judeo-Christian role demands to females, has just overtaken as the world's largest following and...

And what? Can't stand on a mountaintop and shout inequalities, that would make me 'an angry feminazi'. Can't point out that women work full time AND STILL in the lion's share of cases play the primary parental role AND do on average 10 more hours of housework than their male counterparts regardless of work time outside of the home (meaning, all things being equal).

I don't know that anyone still gives a shit about lame jokes or typical ogling (and those that do are likely the very ones making it harder for the rest of us)- but the constant expectation that one should be silent and roll with it- hell, believe often times it's done as a test just to see if you can hang with the boys or if you're going to go 'tell' (like the veep comment)- is maddening. And to read bile indicating a woman should just feel privileged to have been let into the room instead of doing her civic duty by staying home and breeding and if she makes anything at all it's by the good grace of her male peers...

Well, damn, what century- or, all things considered- what decade are we dealing with?

I guess you can pry his gun now...

I know, I know- another blogger eulogy of someone they've never met. This one is actually a bit more personal. A household hero, Charleston Heston, just passed.

My mom had quite a crush on him, I think. He had come to her elemetary (believe his autograph on a school pamphlet, in pencil, is floating around somewhere...Mom, if I happen to have this I will send to you!!!), so it started young. Every Easter, the 10 Commandments would play in our house. Every happenstance showing of Ben Hur. Later I would personally be a fan for much more low-brow fare- Planet of the Apes...Soylent Green...

R.I.P.- and chin up, Mom.

The emptiness of electronica

I found this take on 'post-consumerist/take the pill be okay' society to be riveting, if not a bit close to home.

A bit left field, but...

An excellent interview with Keith Richards.

Pagan rituals

This day started much like other American households- a small child squealing over an Easter basket with toys and candy (and a stern lecture following a, "but I wanted a big basket" comment), hands and face quickly muddied with melting chocolate, silly putty flying about the room (not like good old days when took prints of the funnies).

Later a nice ham and turkey feast with good friends, followed by the requisite egg hunt- or in this case, two egg hunts, 1st hiding and finding in the backyard, repeated in the front.

Tonight, after much coaxing to eat some more 'real' food (since was only able to get my son to down some ham at lunch), my son sat down to go through his egg booty (rejecting a full half- "you can have these, mama, I don't like these so much"). He, sated after just a couple jelly beans, joined me on the couch. I had thought I would make an attempt at being 'progressive parent', the one that dispells the myths on Santa, Easter Bunny, and their ilk. He told me he had a great day, and I said I was glad- and added, conspiratorily, "You know, mama and daddy are really the Easter Bunny".

He looked at me, and said, "Well, you guys don't have a tail."

I agreed, this was true.

"And you don't have big ears. And you're not rabbits- and the Easter Bunny has to be a rabbit."

I agreed again, sensing that my attempt was just going to be just that.

"You guys aren't the Easter Bunny, you're my mama and daddy!" (cue compulsive giggling).

Looks like Santa's staying around this year.

...But Hillary is the divisive one...

Recently, candidate Barack Obama quickly worked to distance himself from his 'spiritual advisor', Reverend Jeremiah Wright, as the more press Wright's sermons received, the more negatively the connection was viewed.

What does that connection entail? The talking points all over that everyone knows:

• Obama's attendance at the Pastor's church for the past 20 years.
• Wright married the Obamas.
• Wright baptized their daughters.
• The title of Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope", came from a Wright sermon.
• To recap- he went to the church for two decades.

I remember vividly when my mother decided to hang up her Buddhist beads and took me along for her Christian Church search. A few times at the Church of the Rock charismatic church, where people spoke in tongues and the whole damn thing was on TV ('dim the house lights, Pastor's gonna Heal...). Some sanity prevailed, and there was a quick jaunt to the Baptist church (never to be repeated, as I recall). One trip to the Staceys across the street's church, some odd affair where music wasn't allowed, so you sang to the tune of...whoever knew it best. And finally, The nearby Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, who accepted open, frank questions, didn't condemn to Hell its parish during sermons, and still managed to keep the formality inherent in the faith that broke away from the Holy See. Actually- I will restate- the Pastors who accepted open, frank discussion. The tone of a congregation is absolutely set by its minister. If one chooses to stay on at a church, to take time out of their lives to attend, and commit to indoctrinating one's children there- it is not a passing decision. America has churches on every other street corner, sometimes more- if one is uncomfortable, it's a simple matter to move on to the next one.

This post may seem a bit shocking for those of you who know me as somewhat an agnostic Buddhist- but my point is a vital one. As personal as choosing a faith is (or not choosing one), picking the person to represent, interpret, and reinforce that faith is even more personal, that much more critical. It determines the shape of ones belief system, and how that is subsequently acted upon.

Why do I care either way?

I care because it seems people were sold. I've been hearing for months now that Hil is just not inclusive enough, that only Barack has the makeup to unite our parties, our people.

His speech- which, to his credit, came from his own hand- rings well. The old 'looks like he dodged a bullet' review. It will be interesting to see if it is enough to overcome this. Or this, for that matter. I don't know what's worse- supporting a parish that clearly is...inflammatory and pretending it's not to win elections, or turning back on the guy who was your surrogate father and close mentor to win elections.

Tough call.

[source, source, source]