random thoughts
i find it unsettling that in the photos in which nancy pelosi, the new speaker of the house, is taking the gavel, she is surrounded by at least 15 or so children. some are related to her, others are not. as if a powerful woman in-and-of-herself up on the podium is too threatening. better surround her with lots of children.
in the book i am one paragraph away from finishing, "survival of the prettiest: the science of beauty" by nancy etcoff, a profound statement: "As feminist Karen Lehrman has written, 'Allowing beautiful women their beauty may turn out to be one of the most difficult aspects of personal liberation.'" this idea completely describes my 180 degree change in thinking after attending a women's school. i could never pin down exactly why i no longer felt threatened by women in general, but specifically beautiful women.
and another passage from the book: "Although it is tempting to blame advertising and fashion for eating disorders, one must keep in mind that 98% of women do not develop diagnosable levels of eating disorders although all are exposed to the media. Most women diet, many develope extreme dissatisfaction with their bodies, but very few drop th under 70 pounds and stop menstruating, or eat 4 days' worth of high-fat food in one sitting. It is not "dead easy" to develop anorexia or bulimia; they are complex and serious disorders with multiple etiologies that afflict particularly vulnerable young women and some young men." when i would bring this up in class on occasion, the idea was quickly protested. media is largely blamed for this, but it may just be a case of confusing correlation with causation.
i was compelled to watch the video of saddam hussein's execution, but could not. perhaps a result of macabre fascination, or rather what i would like to attribute to not being able to understand the full gravity of the situation until witnessing it first-hand. this is why i justified watching the daniel pearl video a few years ago, but for some reason i couldn't do it this time. i have a feeling it's because the pearl video seared indelible images in my mind, and i just don't want to subject myself to it again.
going to maine next weekend, portland to be exact. next month, i'd like to visit philadelphia, and then boston in march. greyhound's unbelievably cheap $12 fares, coupled with hostels, make for affordable vacations. thank god for 3 day weekends because of secondary holidays no one really gives any though to anymore.
in the book i am one paragraph away from finishing, "survival of the prettiest: the science of beauty" by nancy etcoff, a profound statement: "As feminist Karen Lehrman has written, 'Allowing beautiful women their beauty may turn out to be one of the most difficult aspects of personal liberation.'" this idea completely describes my 180 degree change in thinking after attending a women's school. i could never pin down exactly why i no longer felt threatened by women in general, but specifically beautiful women.
and another passage from the book: "Although it is tempting to blame advertising and fashion for eating disorders, one must keep in mind that 98% of women do not develop diagnosable levels of eating disorders although all are exposed to the media. Most women diet, many develope extreme dissatisfaction with their bodies, but very few drop th under 70 pounds and stop menstruating, or eat 4 days' worth of high-fat food in one sitting. It is not "dead easy" to develop anorexia or bulimia; they are complex and serious disorders with multiple etiologies that afflict particularly vulnerable young women and some young men." when i would bring this up in class on occasion, the idea was quickly protested. media is largely blamed for this, but it may just be a case of confusing correlation with causation.
i was compelled to watch the video of saddam hussein's execution, but could not. perhaps a result of macabre fascination, or rather what i would like to attribute to not being able to understand the full gravity of the situation until witnessing it first-hand. this is why i justified watching the daniel pearl video a few years ago, but for some reason i couldn't do it this time. i have a feeling it's because the pearl video seared indelible images in my mind, and i just don't want to subject myself to it again.
going to maine next weekend, portland to be exact. next month, i'd like to visit philadelphia, and then boston in march. greyhound's unbelievably cheap $12 fares, coupled with hostels, make for affordable vacations. thank god for 3 day weekends because of secondary holidays no one really gives any though to anymore.