If only because Alison Janey is awesome. And Maya Rudolf is awesome.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Question of the day
Is Timothy Geithner Obama's Michael Brown?
You all remember Brownie right? The guy who let New Orleans drown while he twiddled his thumbs.
So I gotta wonder, if the whole reason we can't void AIG bonus money is because the bonuses were written into their employment contracts, then why is it ok to screw union workers who also have employment contracts (and aren't directly responsible for world wide recession) .
You all remember Brownie right? The guy who let New Orleans drown while he twiddled his thumbs.
So I gotta wonder, if the whole reason we can't void AIG bonus money is because the bonuses were written into their employment contracts, then why is it ok to screw union workers who also have employment contracts (and aren't directly responsible for world wide recession) .
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
"Girl Talk" is codeword for misogynybag
Kid and I were taking our usual bus ride home tonight. This particular route is known for it's perpetual lateness, being one of the longest routes in the city. Our bus wasn't any later than usual, but it was being driven by a trainee with a trainer sitting close by to give tips, etc.
So Kid and I grab an open seat at the back of the bus and the dude behind me starts screaming about how slow the bus is moving (no slower than normal, mind you).
Screaming dude: Fucking move it! Push it! Push it! Fucking girl talk is for breaks, shut up and drive! Move. Rock it! Push it! This is no time for chit chat!
This tirade goes on for about a mile. I'm tired, grouchy, I already had a headache before I got on the bus. Dude is not just screaming in my ear, but he's being a great big misogynist douchebag while he's at it (can you guess what gender the trainee and trainer are by the "girl talk" comments?)
So me being me, I turned around and asked the douchebag if he could "Just knock off the misogyny?"
So his little tirade turned to me instead "fucking bitch better shut your mouth I wasn't talking to you bitch just be glad I'm getting off this bus or my evil twin would show you what's up"
He gets off the the bus, and I turn to the Kid.
Me: How much you wanna bet me that if the driver were a dude that asshole would have shut up.
Kid: Nothing, I'd lose the bet.
Girl talk. I fucking hate that phrase. It implies that any discussion done between two women (or girls) is frivolous and should be ignored. In the case of the misogynybag, it was meant to convey the idea that his time was wayyyyyyyyy more important than anything these two women could possibly be talking about, even if what they were talking about was their work and how to do it better. If they didn't shut up and pay attention to his needs, then they weren't doing anything worth while.
And people wonder why I hate movies and tv that doesn't pass the Bechtel test. Until we see women talking to other women as being just as important as anything a man might talk to another man about, everything out of our mouths will just be considered "girl talk".
So Kid and I grab an open seat at the back of the bus and the dude behind me starts screaming about how slow the bus is moving (no slower than normal, mind you).
Screaming dude: Fucking move it! Push it! Push it! Fucking girl talk is for breaks, shut up and drive! Move. Rock it! Push it! This is no time for chit chat!
This tirade goes on for about a mile. I'm tired, grouchy, I already had a headache before I got on the bus. Dude is not just screaming in my ear, but he's being a great big misogynist douchebag while he's at it (can you guess what gender the trainee and trainer are by the "girl talk" comments?)
So me being me, I turned around and asked the douchebag if he could "Just knock off the misogyny?"
So his little tirade turned to me instead "fucking bitch better shut your mouth I wasn't talking to you bitch just be glad I'm getting off this bus or my evil twin would show you what's up"
He gets off the the bus, and I turn to the Kid.
Me: How much you wanna bet me that if the driver were a dude that asshole would have shut up.
Kid: Nothing, I'd lose the bet.
Girl talk. I fucking hate that phrase. It implies that any discussion done between two women (or girls) is frivolous and should be ignored. In the case of the misogynybag, it was meant to convey the idea that his time was wayyyyyyyyy more important than anything these two women could possibly be talking about, even if what they were talking about was their work and how to do it better. If they didn't shut up and pay attention to his needs, then they weren't doing anything worth while.
And people wonder why I hate movies and tv that doesn't pass the Bechtel test. Until we see women talking to other women as being just as important as anything a man might talk to another man about, everything out of our mouths will just be considered "girl talk".
Extremely Progressive
I scored 369 out of 400 on this little "How progressive are you" quiz.
I think that makes me a bleeding heart, pinko commie.
How about you comrades?
I think that makes me a bleeding heart, pinko commie.
How about you comrades?
Somebody
has a guest post up at Change.org about the depressing realities of our current economic state.
(Thanks to the awesome Redstar/Leigh for letting me guest post)
(Thanks to the awesome Redstar/Leigh for letting me guest post)
Monday, March 16, 2009
Just wait......
I have a feeling that these kinds of conversations are just going to get more frequent as the Kid firmly roots himself in teenage angst.
Kid is in a funk today cause I've talked to both his social studies and science teachers about his missing work. Kid is grouchy that this is interrupting his manga reading. When I told him he needed to "do something, anything, for either of these classes" he informed me that he has a book he can read for social studies.He slumped off into another room and returned 15 minutes later.
Kid: I read the first chapter.
Me (I say nothing)
Kid: And even a little bit of the second chapter
Me (Still not relenting)
Kid: Oh come on. So far all this book talks about is a guy trying to bury his dead grandfather's ashes!
Me: Just wait. If you think this is boring, next year I am making you read the dead Russians.
Kid is in a funk today cause I've talked to both his social studies and science teachers about his missing work. Kid is grouchy that this is interrupting his manga reading. When I told him he needed to "do something, anything, for either of these classes" he informed me that he has a book he can read for social studies.He slumped off into another room and returned 15 minutes later.
Kid: I read the first chapter.
Me (I say nothing)
Kid: And even a little bit of the second chapter
Me (Still not relenting)
Kid: Oh come on. So far all this book talks about is a guy trying to bury his dead grandfather's ashes!
Me: Just wait. If you think this is boring, next year I am making you read the dead Russians.
There are 18000 different ways to motivate children
But probably only one way works for your particular kid.
Things that don't work for the Kid are:
bribery (mostly, if it's an immediate reward like "I'll let you have the TV if you sweep the living room", it works. But offering him money for good grades does not).
punishment: grounding doesn't work. It just makes him miserable. And me miserable.
threats to punish: See above
What has worked so far is letting the Kid see how his responsibilities are a part of the whole. He's very good about doing the dishes after dinner (aside from some problems understanding that his level of clean and mine are very different). He also knows that he has the choice to either do the dishes or do the cooking. Anytime he wants to plan and prepare a meal, I will gladly clean the kitchen afterward.
He gets that meal planning is a huge part of my day, and that it is a huge chunk of work for anyone who has a family.
So since the Kid is really good at understanding how his behavior impacts the lives of others, I thought I might use that to get him to finish his homework in a more timely fashion.
Me: Kid, you have to go to college and get a good job, which means you have to get a scholarship because there is no way I can pay for it. Which means that the next 4 years are super important and your grades have to be better. And it's totally unfair, but you have to go to college and get a good job cause there will never be any money for me to retire if you don't. It sucks, it's totally unfair, but you are going to have to take care of your mom when she's old.
Kid: That's cool, but you have to promise to live with me and keep cooking me awesome dinners when you're old.
Me: Oh Kid, I think there will come a time when living with your mom is the last thing you want to do.
Kid: Then I'll find you a really nice retirement home.
Me: With a kitchen so I can still cook for you sometimes.
Kid: Yes.
We'll see if fear of his mother living on canned cat food works to get his grades up.
Things that don't work for the Kid are:
bribery (mostly, if it's an immediate reward like "I'll let you have the TV if you sweep the living room", it works. But offering him money for good grades does not).
punishment: grounding doesn't work. It just makes him miserable. And me miserable.
threats to punish: See above
What has worked so far is letting the Kid see how his responsibilities are a part of the whole. He's very good about doing the dishes after dinner (aside from some problems understanding that his level of clean and mine are very different). He also knows that he has the choice to either do the dishes or do the cooking. Anytime he wants to plan and prepare a meal, I will gladly clean the kitchen afterward.
He gets that meal planning is a huge part of my day, and that it is a huge chunk of work for anyone who has a family.
So since the Kid is really good at understanding how his behavior impacts the lives of others, I thought I might use that to get him to finish his homework in a more timely fashion.
Me: Kid, you have to go to college and get a good job, which means you have to get a scholarship because there is no way I can pay for it. Which means that the next 4 years are super important and your grades have to be better. And it's totally unfair, but you have to go to college and get a good job cause there will never be any money for me to retire if you don't. It sucks, it's totally unfair, but you are going to have to take care of your mom when she's old.
Kid: That's cool, but you have to promise to live with me and keep cooking me awesome dinners when you're old.
Me: Oh Kid, I think there will come a time when living with your mom is the last thing you want to do.
Kid: Then I'll find you a really nice retirement home.
Me: With a kitchen so I can still cook for you sometimes.
Kid: Yes.
We'll see if fear of his mother living on canned cat food works to get his grades up.
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