WTF, Brooke? Random expressions of disgust...

I have never been so not proud of a woman in my life as when I heard Brooke Hogan's perspective on why a woman shouldn't be running for president. She has clearly suffered some sort of damage to her cerebral cortex at some point along the way. I'm not sure what she was thinking or even, if she was thinking when she said, "I think that it's kind of crazy that a woman is running..." What a dope?

People like Brooke are part of the big problem in this country today. They don't think past what they are wearing and who's going to be at this party tonight or whether or not their butt looks good in shorts. Airheads, morons, and idiots. We're full up, thank you. Could you send us some of those people who actually think before they speak? We'll pay at least bottom dollar for those.

Geez...for God's sake, people...take a few moments and watch the movie, Idiocracy. It will scare the shit out of you and make you wonder why people like Brooke are being given an audience at all.

Until next time...stay away from wheat grass...and the Red Bull...and all that kind of crap...

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The dangers of boredom...

I'm sitting here thinking about what I will be writing later when I start working on more of Keeping the Faith. As usual, I am sorting through the stupid thoughts that enter my mind and trying to put the good ones aside so that I can assemble them later, when I have the time to do so. Blogging is a great way for me to do this. Not to say that you're only getting the chaff, mind you, but what I write here is mostly made up of the things that simply wouldn't make sense if it were added to my books.



For example, why is that I can never remember whether or not I'm looking at Dermot Mulroney or Dylan McDermott when I see one of them in a movie. I know who they are, I know what kinds of roles they generally play, but for the life of me, I can't look at one of them without saying is that Dermot or McDermott? It plagues me so.

Another thing that happens frequently is that I can never remember if the movie that I'm watching is Three to Tango or Fools Rush In. I do realize that these two movies are in no way similar, but still, I can never quite discern which of the two I am watching until I've watched at least twenty minutes or so of the movie. I love Matthew Perry, ever since he was on Growing Pains, but for some reason, he seems like the same he's playing the same role in these two movies. It's ok, though. It really doesn't bother me other than making me ask myself the same question every time I'm watching one of these movies.

I also hate the fact that I can never remember Campbell Scott's name when I'm watching him in a movie, but as soon as I'm not watching the movie, his name pops into my head. I was watching Music & Lyrics the other day and for the life of me, I couldn't recall who he was until after the movie was over.

This is all quite trivial, but these are the stupid little things that bug me when I'm just doing my day-to-day stuff. And yes, I realize that it looks suspiciously like my days consist only of watching movies and writing. I assure you that I do much more than that. Well, maybe much is a strong word, how about a little more. Yes, I do a little more than that.

;)

Until next time...


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Just one more reason why I don't watch The View...

I just read about Whoopi Goldberg's recent clash with Elisabeth Hasselbeck on the view over whether or not Jesse Jackson should be using the "n" word to describe fellow African-Americans. There's more about this story here. Hasselbeck was trying to say something that appeared to be very positive by reinforcing that people shouldn't be using that kind of language in this day in age and Whoopi stated that the word was a term of endearment among African-Americans. To both of these women, I say, "Get over it."

For one thing, Hasselbeck attempted to assert that we all live in the same world which prompted Whoopi to lash out and say that we live in very different worlds; a world in which her own mother was not allowed to vote at one time. I would have had to lob that one back at Whoopi by saying that at one time, none of our mothers were permitted to vote and if women can't stand united no matter what the color of their skin, then we will never have the strength to move forward any more as women than we have managed to up to this point. But that's another argument entirely.

For another, Hasselbeck's question, “How are we supposed to move forward if we keep using words that bring back that pain?” Well, we aren't. We can only move forward as far as people wish to do so. We can all tell when the "n" word is being used out of hatred or racism. It's usually fairly clear what the speaker of the word intends. I don't use the word unless I'm talking to my sister and we are using it as a term of endearment towards one another. We are white, mind you, but we understand how it is to be used among friends. But, I would never feel comfortable saying it, even in an endearing way, to an African-American because as a white woman, it would be insensitive of me to do so. It's similar to a man calling a woman a bitch. Or a straight person calling a gay person a queer. Doesn't it smart more when you know that the person saying the word has no concept of what it means to be called one?

So, let's stop whining about it and do what we know to be right by one another and stop looking for opportunities to hop on bandwagons that we don't have tickets to ride. If you are a racist and you use these words, be prepared to be called on it. If you are an activist or some other kind of do-gooder, choose your battles wisely. It does absolutely no good to protest something that isn't necessarily bothering the people you think you're protecting or impressing. Mind your business.

That's my take on things. ;)

Until next time.


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Don't call me grandma...at least for another twenty years...

As the mother of a four year-old girl, let me be the first to say that I do not support the growing movement toward creating younger grandmothers. What am I talking about? Well, I'm talking about the television shows, movies, and songs out there that glorify teens having sex. Previously, I've talked a little about the movie, Juno, but now I'm going to complain about this song called Teenage Love Affair by Alicia Keys. When I first heard this, it just didn't sit well. For one thing, Alicia Keys is no longer a teenager and if she's having this kind of affair, it's most likely illegal. For another, the lyrics:

Hey boy
You know I really like being with you right?
Just hanging out with you is fun

So maybe we can go to first base
Because I feel you
Second base
Want you to feel me too
Third base
Better pump the breaks
Well baby slow down
I gotta go home now

Well, let's just say that the lyrics caught me off guard. Could you be more suggestive without being Barry White? Perhaps I'm hypersensitive because I have a young daughter who is just now starting to ask questions about music lyrics, but that second base line really sounds bad to me.

During the school year, I substitute teach and I have noticed that kids have changed alot since when I was in school. They are listening to the popular music and trying to act out everything they hear. It's a little scary to think that there are eleven and twelve year olds out there who are anxiously awaiting their opportunity to have one of these encounters because this song is so popular. I know that there are all kinds of suggestive songs out there, but this one is targeted to a specific population. If it were just a "Love Affair," then it might be a given that they are not supposed to be doing this until they're older.

Granted, teenagers have been fooling around since long before this song was ever popular. I understand that. My concern is that we are getting more and more lax in our standards. It really isn't okay to encourage teens to have sex without at least adding in some information about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases. Once they turn 18, they can do what they want but until then it is our responsibility to make sure they understand the consequences of all this seemingly romantic behavior. For example, maybe Ms. Keys could have added some additional verses to her song, something like:

Although I really want this
I can't help but worry
that I could end up pregnant
if we're in a hurry

Hope you brought protection
Because I don't know where else you've been
There's so many dangers to acting on this affection.
I don't even know where to begin.


Ok, so I never claimed to be a lyricist and that really sucks. The point is that without adding a little warning about the things that can happen when you start having sex, the song is just contributing to the delinquency of minors. I generally like Alicia Keys and have enjoyed her music over the years, however, I'm disappointed in this, her latest effort. It has a good beat, but those words just get in the way.

Years ago, I probably would have loved it. When I was a teenager, I thought it was cool to listen to songs like these and daydream about Prince Charming, but let's face it, he doesn't exist. Songs like these leave out the important stuff, like commitment, maturity, and responsibility. Not the most entertaining topics, but when your children are being influenced 100% by these songs, you want those themes to be included in there with all the other stuff. Your other alternative is to turn off the radio and television and blindfold your child and lock them away so that they don't do anything wrong before they're 21 or so. That's not too cool, though.

Until next time...

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