So, Thanksgiving is this week. Family interaction always gets me stressed and anxious, but has always interested me in a sociological way. I love shows of dysfunctional families, because most people can relate to that. (Arrested Development). I’d love to film families in a verite style, it’s just an interesting topic for me… roles. Phrases like “only child syndrome” and “oh I was the oldest/youngest/middle child”… Everyone’s family is so remarkably different, with varying degrees of honesty, emotional intimacy, understanding, trust… and deviancy from the social norm of the nuclear family. And within this crazy network are completely different individuals who act as a “pack” a few times a year (weddings, funerals, holidays, reunions) because that’s what families do. I’m lucky to have a group of people that I’m stuck with forever, for better or worse. It seems holidays are a great excuse to bring people together, but I’ve always been a fan of “seize the day”, so I see an element of fakeness to it all. Why wait for a holiday to remind your family of your existence? Or to call home and check in? I guess it’s possible that I’m frustrated at the decline of family values I’ve seen since I’ve “grown up”. I come from a very large, traditional Catholic setup, where I had a role to fill as a dutiful daughter, sister, and dependent. Now that I’m through being raised, it’s as if my family dissipated. My parents role of ‘caretaker’ has ended. What’s my role now? Whatever I want it to be? Awkward young adult? One of the first in the clan. Does that mean I’m assumed to start a family soon? Much like the past few years, I’m going to feel very young sitting at the adult table this Thanksgiving.
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I really appreciated this article because it shows Obama’s accomplishments while most “year in review” articles about his presidency show his failures. I’ve been seeing more and more “so where is your hopey/changey world?” bumper stickers, and they are starting to get to me. The economy took 15 years to get this shitty, it’s not going to be fixed in a year. Pulling out of Iraq is not an overnight job.
The bumper sticker mentality reminds me of the South Park episode in which the characters riot over potential change…
( http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/207897/?autoplay=false )
DEA crackdown hurts nursing home residents who need pain meds -
The article is vague on specifics (such as HOW the DEA is going about restricting meds)… but I’ve gathered that new restrictions on the distribution of pain medications has made it difficult for patients in need. Many nursing homes do not have doctors or pharmacies on site, so these people have an extra delay obtaining the drugs that they need. Depending on the urgency, this could prove fatal for many elderly patients. Or for some, yet another inconvenience at obtaining medication. But a hurtful inconvenience- many of the people in homes are suffering and don’t have the time or means to get the doctor to sign prescriptions, fax them to a pharmacy, and then pick up accordingly.
This reminds me of one of the reasons I stopped taking my medications, the inconvenience factor. I had a doctor in Maryland, but I go to school 4 hours away. Once or twice month I had to drive up to get his signature, go to the pharmacy, and travel back. Quite a large chunk of time/gas money. When my insurance stopped funding my drugs… well, that was the icing on the cake. No more meds for Kaitlyn.
I support the Judge’s decision, believing that internet companies are not responsible for postings on their site, or for services from third parties. Sure, prostitution and crime occur through Craigslist… and many instances have been stopped by undercover police investigations. Lawbreakers on Craigslist are unwise, seeing as they leave an electronic trail to themselves. This current way of dealing with internet crime doesn’t hinder freedom of speech, while suing a company 100,000 for simply “being there” seems like a breach in the 1st Amendment. You don’t see Yahoo getting sued for a user getting spam mail. And rightfully so.
gravyholocaust:justinu84:hammerito:blue-monday: supersuica:(via maxwhite)
(via kayla-jane)
I had originally planned on writing a blog post on model Filippa Hamilton, who recently was fired from Ralph Lauren for being “too fat”. The woman is 5’10” and is barely 120 pounds. Some controversy started when she noticed a magazine cover featuring a ridiculously photoshopped version of herself… where her waist is the size of her head. She is in the process of hiring a lawyer and protesting the grotesque image. Lo and behold when I tried to find the link, yet another photoshopping disaster appeared! This time it’s model Valentina Zelyaeva who gets to see herself slimmed down on the Ralph website. I think it’s appalling what these magazines are doing to the image of women. Most of us aren’t size 2’s, and it’s frustrating to grow up in a society that pushes an unreal standard.
What a ridiculous notion that even models can’t look like models anymore!
Perks of Being a Wallflower Banned from William Byrd HS -
^ Banned and/or Challenged Books, Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century
(^ PDFs of banned books from 2004-2009 at the bottom of the page)
A Roanoke High School is challenging Stephen Chbosky’s “Perks of Being a Wallflower” due to mentions of sex, suicide, rape, violence, as well as drug and alcohol abuse. They hope to ban it from the school’s library. I was surprised that “Perks” has already been on the ALA’s banned book list for years. The teacher brought in the book during ALA’s “Banned Book Week”, an event designed to promote First Amendment awareness. (Fail.)
It’s a great book. Changed me. The story is very true to the American high school experience. (A bit more realistic than Disney’s High School Musical, for sure.) However, I don’t think I would have appreciated it as a 16 year old. I believe the book was not intended for a young teenage audience. Not because of it’s “explicit content”- because of the nostalgia factor. It gave me a chance to look back at my life and get over the horrors my adolescence. Not even an exaggeration. But banning a book?? Seems like overkill to me. The father in this article might laugh at finding his son’s porn magazines. Might even let him watch those rated-R films. But a book?! A book that mentions sex?! OOOH NO!! The “explicit content” (things his kid has been doing BEFORE reading the book) is not graphic or descriptive in any way… more matter-of-fact.
So, tangent aside, the article got me interested in looking up other banned books. I’m definitely interested in this “freedom to read” issue… Many of my favorites are on the ALA list. Can’t say I was surprised at how many books have been banned from high schools for “promoting or addressing homosexuality”. Encouraging kids NOT to read challenging content baffles me. I say get ‘em socially engaged while they’re young! More freethinking Americans, please.
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