Turn Off the Lights!

Today from 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM your time, turn off the lights and non-essential stuff in observance of Earth Hour 2008.

I'm sure you can think of something to do in the dark for an hour...

The Lola Shuffle - The "Wrestlemania XXIV Edition"

I couldn't think of an edition title, so I went with Wrestlemania because it's this weekend and we're going to Purplepassion's house, so that the boys can watch and we can drink wine and hang out.

Lola is scrappy enough to enjoy a steel cage match now and then...so Lola...let's get ready to Shuffffffffffffffffffffffffffflllllllllllllllllllllllle!

1. Welcome to Paradise - Green Day


2. Kiss - Prince (this version sounds a little dirty...in a good way)


3. Someone to Watch Over Me - Rod Stewart


4. Backstreets - Bruce Springsteen (awesome, yet underrated song, IMO)


5. Like U Crazy - Mates of State


6. Get Closer - Seals and Croft (awwww...sweet song)


7. The Dance - Garth Brooks


8. Under Pressure - Queen and David Bowie (über-cool song, with the snapping fingers and stuff)


9. Kodachrome - Paul Simon (One of the best opening lines ever - "When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, it's a wonder I can think at all")


10. You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees (Indeed, we *should* be dancing, 'tis the weekend - get up and boogie - oh wait, that's another song!)

Hmmm...there were two dancing songs and one kissing song in the shuffle today - clearly Lola is ready for the weekend! Have a great one - and maybe get some dancing and kissing in there if you can...:)

American Idol Recap - Top 10 - The Year They Were Born

Upon hearing the “theme” I knew there was going to be a lot of 80s music – not my best music decade – and sure enough, there were a bunch of songs I had never heard (or don’t remember hearing – no not because of *that*!). Anyway, let’s get this going…

Ramiele – 1987 – Alone – A fantastic song by Heart; Ramiele is no Ann Wilson, by a long shot!; Ramiele’s outfit was atrocious; she pretty much screeched her way through the song; I thought it was awful; she said her voice had gone “bye bye” (what is up with the baby talk?), well, *she’s the one that needs to go “bye bye”. Score – 3

Jason – 1987 – Fragile – Happy Birthday Jason! Love, love, love this boy; he is so damned pretty!; I don’t know the song but it's beautiful and when he started singing in Spanish – awesome!; his voice has been better, but it was still good; he is *really* laid back and I think that makes Simon crazy; I think he gives off an “herbally enhanced” vibe, which is fine – it’s a style which worked for the Grateful Dead and a plethora of 70s bands. Score – 8

Syesha – 1987 – If I Were Your Woman – Another song I had never heard; she looked beautiful and vocally my home girl is *back*; she hit the highs and lows really well; she sold the song; I like her again. Score – 7

Chikezie – 1985 – If Only For One Night – Even if he doesn’t win the competition (and he won’t) he should win for “Cutest Parents Ever” – was it not adorable how the mom was praising his singing and the dad was all “go to school and learn a career” – loved them!; OK, now to the performance, this was yet another song I didn’t know; his voice as always was beautiful, but he’s still a bit boring; soulful ballads are definitely his genre, but I guess he doesn’t have that sexual vibe that Marvin Gaye, Barry White, etc. emit; I don’t think it’ll fly, we already have a Ruben Studdard – it’s been done. Score – 6

Brooke – 1983 – Every Breath You Take - OK, fine I’ll admit it, I was wrong about her – yes, it’s official I like her; she is really brave and gives songs a subtle yet provocative Brooke spin that really works; she looked beautiful; of course the song is amazing to begin with but she really worked it; shock and awe: she’s becoming one of my favorites! Score – 8

Michael – 1978 – We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions – This could have been a train wreck, but it worked; the man can sing Queen - wisely without trying to imitate Freddy Mercury; he looked like a rock star; his voice was strong and he looked comfortable; he did however make me notice the band more than I noticed him which is probably not good; he’s still a bit boring, but I think it’s one of the few – if not the only – performance of his that I’ve liked. Score – 7

Carly – 1983 – Total Eclipse of the Heart – I love this song cheesy as it may be; I think it’s a phenomenal song for a woman and I think Carly *rocked*; she changed the words but the judges didn’t seem to notice; I loved her voice and the nuances and her performance; perfect song for her. Score – 8

David Archuleta – 1990 – You’re the Voice – Never heard this song but it had an “Up With People” feel to it that creeped me out; I don’t think his voice – which I readily admit is usually excellent – was *all that* this time. Simon’s comment about a it being like a performance in a “theme park surrounded by animated creatures” was spot on. Score – 4

Kristy – 1984 – God Bless the USA – I really don’t want to offend anyone, but excuse me while I gag (again); flashes of the 1984 Republican Convention and Ronald Reagan barraged my brain; I’m sorry but it just seems too coincidental this song was played on the FOX network the week it was announced that we had hit the 4000 US dead in Iraq (and before you ask, yes, I am wearing my lovely tin-foil chapeau thankyouverymuch); I found it to be offensively pandering; then to have all the judges falling over themselves about the song choice and having Simon actually say *Lee Greenwood* is a brilliant song writer when he gave us drivel like “I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free” – “at least I know I’m free”, what *is* that? It sounds like a fourth grade essay on being patriotic; I don’t even care if she sang it well or not because I was pretty much bitching throughout the entire song. I felt manipulated. Score – 3 (I’m not giving it a 1 because they didn’t unfurl a flag, send an eagle soaring across the stage and have Kristy twirl sparkler batons marching in place as she sang).

David Cook – 1982 – Billie Jean – After the one-two punch that was Archuleta and Kristy, thank the musical gods for David Cook! He was awesome! IMO, the performance of the night! When I heard the song choice, I was worried, but this guy has guts and the chops to back them up – loved it! Score - 10

Wishes and Predictions:

Who do I want to see leave? Kristy – like Archuleta she annoys me, but this week she annoyed me more.

Who do I think is going to leave? Ramiele

So, what do you think?

Cartoon Tuesday - M.E. Cohen

source: MSNBC Daily Updating Political Cartoons

Compare and Contrast

(Thanks to South Florida Daily Blog for the "death toll" image)

March 24, 2008

vs

May 1, 2003

'Nuff said.

Book Review - "Embroideries" by Marjane Satrapi

I was disappointed by Marjane Satrapi's follow up to the two volume Persepolis. In Embroideries, the setting is an after-dinner tea party between several women of different ages telling their stories abut love and sex. The potential is fantastic to really delve into the beliefs and traditions surrounding these topics. Bit rather than tell the complete stories with depth, she merely flits over them, so that you get a taste but little substance. She tells the stories of about 7 women in 144 pages, but not narrative pages, comic-book style pages - this, like "Persepolis", is a graphic novel as well.

While the story left a lot to be desired, the drawings are wonderful. In this book, Satrapi didn't use the panel frames she uses in Persepolis, and that are common in graphic novels, the drawings are all over the page, less constrained.

I'll still read her other book about Iran, Chicken with Plums and hope that she's returned to her evocative story-telling.

I would recommend the book only to Satrapi fans.

The angels will be dancing the mambo in heaven tonight...

Cuban musical legend Cachao died this morning.

While Damaso Perez-Prado popularized the mambo world-wide, it is believed that Cachao invented the genre.

He was very popular in Cuba but upon coming to Exile he faded into the woodwork, for years playing backup in Cuban wedding bands and crappy clubs. In the late 80s, early 90s actor Andy Garcia *rediscovered* him and thus began his second life as a musical legend.

I'm lucky to have seen him perform often and even meet him a couple of times. He was always the consummate performer and an old-school gentleman. He was admired and respected by all.

The world will be a sadder place without him, but his legacy will endure.

Buenas noches Cachao.

Cuban Households

I got this from my Aunt via e-mail. Yes, it's chock full of stereotypes and generalizations - but it's not mean spirited.

Most of these are scarily true of my growing-up years - if I don't comment it means it was true for me.

1. I grew up in a household where coffee, milk and sugar were part of a balanced breakfast
2. I grew up in a household where my ADD and ADHD was treated with "As soon as I get my hands on you, you are going to get it" instead of Ritalin.
3. I grew up in a household where all it took was just ONE look.
4. I grew up in a household where we loved white rice and fried eggs
5. I grew up in a household where lentil soup was considered "Prisoner Food" - Nope, my grandmother liked lentils and made them often
6. I grew up in a household where Spanish was my primary language.
7. I grew up in a household where Spanish was my only language... - No, my parents spoke English to me until I started first grade
8. I grew up in household where I had to go to my school open house to translate for my parents. - Nope, both my parents were fully bilingual
9. I grew up in a household where my brother and I shared a room until I was fifteen. - Nope, I'm an only child
10. I grew up in a household where music or TV was never played on Good Friday. - OHMYGOD! I was just telling Hubby about this! I almost Blogged about it!
11. I grew up in a household where we ate "bacalao"(cod fish) on Good Friday because all other fish was too expensive.
12. I grew up in household where we ate pork at Thanksgiving. - Sometimes, not every year
13. I grew up in a household where we ate pork on Christmas Eve.
14. I grew up in a household where we ate pork at birthday parties. - Nope
15. Come to think of it, I grew up in a household where we ate pork at every social function. - Nope
16. I grew up in a household where Tilo and Manzanilla (Linden & Chamomile) were the remedies to end all ailments.
17. I grew up in a household where I could have cafe con leche for breakfast but I was too young for a "buchito" (little sip) of coffee. - True, they told me children that drank cafe didn't grow
18. I grew up in a household where we watched la novela/soap opera while we we re having dinner. - Sometimes
19. I grew up in a household where I was not allowed to sleepover at anybody's house but they could all come over to our house.
20. I grew up in a household where we wouldn't have needed cable TV because we only watched "Channel 23" (what is now Univision). - No, we primarily watched English language TV
21. I grew up in a household where the carpool was "el ride", "el carrito" was the lunch cart and "la lonchera" was the lunch box.
22. I grew up in a household where meat was from "la carniceria" and the groceries were from "la bodega".
23. I grew up in a household where meat and potatoes was literally "carne con papas".
24. I grew up in a household where oxtail stew had the colorful name of "rabo encendido" or "fiery tail".
25. I grew up in a household where people were either "blanco, negro, indio o chino."/"white, black, Indian or Chinese". - Not in my house, but I knew a lot of people like this
26. I grew up in a household where we drank Bustelo (coffee brand) because El Pico (a different (coffee brand) was for Puerto Ricans - we drank Bustelo (actually I still do), but I don't know why.
27. I grew up in a household where either black or red beans, at some point became embedded in the ceiling due to an exploding pressure cooker.
28. I grew up in a household where the oven was used exclusively to store pots, pans and the used olive oil. - No, my mother liked to cook in the oven
29. I grew up in a house hold run by Cubans.
30. I survived in that household run by Cubans - and lived to tell about it!

Fun...

The Lola Shuffle - The "Easter Edition"

I stayed home today, that's why Lola's late...we slept in.

So, "hop to it" Lola...

1. Hitchin' a Ride - Vanity Fare
2. We Are The Champions - Queen
3. Purple Rain - Prince (I forget how good this song is)
4. Suavecito - Septeto Nacional
5. Piece of Me - Britney Spears
6. Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel (eerily appropriate for Good Friday - 33 is young!)
7. Sugar Magnolia - Grateful Dead
8. Mandy - Barry Manilow (Don't start with me people! It's a classic!)
9. Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan (preach it Bob!)
10. If I Ever Lose My Faith - Sting

Good job Lola. Have a happy - and if it applies to you blessed - Easter!

Book Review - "The Geography of Bliss" by Eric Weiner

I really enjoyed The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. In the book Weiner, an NPR correspondent, travels across the world to understand why people are happy or unhappy. In the process he ponders on his own happiness or lack thereof. You will do the same when you read it.

Far from a dry, scholarly sociology study, the book is totally readable and at times very, very funny. In addition to the "happiness studies" we learn a little history and a lot of culture about the various countries. We also get to know some of the people Weiner meets as he investigates his topic, and in some cases you start to care about them.

The happiest countries may not be the ones you expect and the reasons for their happiness may also come as a surprise.

This is one of those books that I highlighted and wrote on the margins - there's a lot of good information and common-sense wisdom.

I definitely recommend the book.

American Idol Recap - Week 2

AAAAAAIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!

Yeah, so two nights of Beatles music was apparently one night too many for most of the idol wannabes. For the most part the judges and I were totally out of sync. I'm crushed.

So let's get to it...

Amanda - "Back in the U.S.S.R." - the song is OK, but I thought it was a weird choice, since it seems difficult to sing; Amanda looked very comfortable on stage and totally owned it; she looked good - or maybe I'm getting used to the hair; while her voice was strong I didn't like it. Score: 6

Kristy Lee - "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" - this song isn't one of my favorites; her voice was strong; she looked pretty, I liked the cowboy boots with the sparkly dress - very cool!; I think the performance was good but boring - but then again, she *is* boring but she redeemed herself from last week's atrocity. Score: 6

David Archuleta - "The Long and Winding Road" - I love this song and he killed it - soooo boring! Yes, yes, yes, his voice was good - big surprise! - but to me it seemed like the child didn't *get* the song. Of course, the reason he didn't get it is because at 17 his "long and winding road" has been, what - a couple of steps? One of the times I disagreed with the judges who have apparently chugged the kool-aid again. Score: 5

Michael - "A Day in the Life" - the mini-version; OK, so Dawg, you cannot take a lyric-intensive 7+ minute song and compress it to less than 2 minutes and not have a train-wreck; he looked good though; his voice was fine but uneven, probably because of the difficulty of the song. Score: 6

[Now - a brief moment to comment on the dumb-azz Paula made of herself (more than usual) when commenting on the non-existent ear monitor thingy in order to *edumacate* us on the inner working of pop music. She dissed Simon and it turns out Michael wasn't even wearing one the things. HA! Can we please fire her now? Please. I think Deborah "used to be Debby but I'm a grown-up now" Gibson would be an adequate replacement. At least she's coherent.]

Alright, moving along...

Brooke - "Here Comes the Sun" - to paraphrase on the classic "she made me like her...I didn't wanna do it, I didn't wanna do it..."; this is another of my favorite Beatles songs and I thought she did a great job - except for the twirl and "Whoo", we could have totally done without that; she looked beautiful (yes I liked the yellow dress, there I said it!) and she sang it the way it should be sung, all goofy happy-like; again the judges and I were apparently watching two different performances.

Score: 7

David Cook - "Day Tripper" - Excellent job! He totally rocked; I don't really like the song, but he made me like it - I'd download this from iTunes!; having said that, he needs to be careful to not become a one-trick pony: ALL ROCK ALL THE TIME; I agree with Simon he's becoming predictable. Score: 8

Carly - "Blackbird" - I have never ever liked this song - until Carly sang it! She was awesome! Loved the vice and performance, hated the shirt - was that a lei attached to it? It doesn't matter, the performance was beautiful. Score: 9

Jason - "Michelle" - great song, fits his personality; his voice was sweet, but it wasn't his best - it doesn't matter though because he's adorable and most everyone else sucked, so he's safe. Score: 7

Syesha - "Yesterday" - I was dreading someone would sing this, it has been so *done*; again in disagreement with the judges I didn't like the performance; some parts when she was singing the high notes her voice was so thin, almost like she was snorting helium; she did look pretty though. Score: 4

Chikezie - "I've Just Seen a Face" - OK, I had never heard this song and I have no idea what was going on there; I didn't like the song, I didn't like the performance it went from boring to bizarre; as always his voice was good, but...no. Score: 5

Ramiele - "I Should've Known Better" - I really like this song and was glad she was doing a more upbeat number; she looked cute; her voice wasn't that good, but better than she's been - where oh where has the Ramiele that soared with "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" a few weeks ago gone? Score: 5

Wishes and Predictions:

Who do I want to see leave? David Archuleta, I'm sorry, he annoys me

Who do I think is going to leave? Chikezie

Let's see what happens next week...

Obama's Speech

Barack Obama gave a phenomenal speech today primarily dealing with the controversy surrounding his former minister Reverend Jeremiah Wright, here's the transcript.

From the speech (source - CNN.com):

Given my background, my politics, and my professed values and ideals, there will no doubt be those for whom my statements of condemnation are not enough. Why associate myself with Rev. Wright in the first place, they may ask? Why not join another church?

And I confess that if all that I knew of Rev. Wright were the snippets of those sermons that have run in an endless loop on the television and YouTube, or if Trinity United Church of Christ conformed to the caricatures being peddled by some commentators, there is no doubt that I would react in much the same way.

But the truth is, that isn't all that I know of the man. The man I met more than 20 years ago is a man who helped introduce me to my Christian faith, a man who spoke to me about our obligations to love one another; to care for the sick and lift up the poor.

He is a man who served his country as a U.S. Marine, who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country, and who for over thirty years led a church that serves the community by doing God's work here on Earth -- by housing the homeless, ministering to the needy, providing day care services and scholarships and prison ministries, and reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

The politically expedient thing for Obama to do would have been to vociferously denounce and condemn Reverend Wright, a man who has played a profound role in his life. But he didn't. He acknowledged, and rightfully condemned, the message - but showed mercy towards the messenger.

I respect that tremendously. This world could do with more mercy towards those who make mistakes - even if they don't acknowledge that they've made them.

Wanna make Cuban-style Chicken Soup? It's good!

Today we had another Cuban cooking class with my friend Patti's mother Marcia. She taught us how to make Cuban-style "Sopa de Pollo".

Here's the recipe from our Cuban Home Cooking...Keeping the Tradition Alive
blog.

I always thought making chicken soup was a big, complicated, long production. With Marcia's recipe it's totally not. The whole thing took a little over an hour.

OHMYGOD - I can *so* make this!

The Lola Shuffle - The "Crappy End to a Crappy Week Edition"

Harumph.

I'm in a mood. YUCK.

Anyway, do your thing Lola...

1. The Fool on the Hill - The Beatles
2. I Don't Love You Much - Guy Clark (I heard this song in a commercial and loved it - what a beautiful song)
3. Mr Jones - Counting Crows
4. Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Paul Simon (I prefer the Simon and Garfunkel version - I miss Garfunkel's voice in this version)
5. Sorry Seems To be The Hardest Word - Elton John
6. Party for Two - Shania Twain and Mark McGrath (Uh...no)
7. More Than a Woman - Bee Gees
8. The Girl From Yesterday - The Eagles (pretty)
9. Hung Up - Madonna
10. Keep On the Sunny Side - The White from the "Brother Where Art Thou?" soundtrack - (Lola is being a smart-azz - don't you test me Lola!)

This week needs to be over. Now.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend - just ignore the thunder cloud over my head.

American Idol Recap - Week 1

It's that time again boys and girls - American Idol Recap! YAY! OK, settle down.

Since this is the first recap I'll add my opinion of the performers as well as nicknames I've assigned to some of them, in addition to reviews of the specific performances. Also, this season I'm going to rate the performances on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being perfect.

First of all the Lennon-McCartney Songbook - we're talking musical gold, every singer's dream, enough stylistic variety so that everyone can shine, right? Apparently, not so much.

Let's get started...

Syesha (Poufy Girl) - I like her and I like her voice and she's a home-girl from South Florida, but she seems to be taking the safe route the way Melinda was doing last year. She can and should do more. She sang Got to Get You Into My Life - it was fine, but she could have chosen a better song; too much Whitney-style yelling for my taste and the low notes sort of disappeared; the arrangement was blah. Score: 5

Chikezie (no nickname necessary the man's name is Chikezie for heaven's sake!)- I've always thought he has a beautiful voice but was boring - until tonight! He sang She's a Woman, a song with which I'm barely familiar but he knocked it out of the ball park! It was awesome! I will download it from iTunes. It had elements of roots music, blues, rock and roll - excellent! Score: 8

Ramiele (Asian Chick) - What has happened to this child? When I first saw her at the top 24 show, I loved her. I thought she might win the whole thing but she is getting more and more boring. She sang one of my all-time favorite Beatles song In My Life, but she bored me to tears with it. This is an incredibly emotional, deep song and she just blah...Score: 4

Jason (Dread Boy) - Jason is my favorite this season by far. I think he's genuine, he has a beautiful voice, a beautiful face and a beautiful spirit to him. He looks like a really nice guy. He sang If I Fell. This is not one of my favorites of the selections but it's OK. He did a good job with it but he could have dome better. The arrangement was interesting but he had some rough patches in the vocals. Score: 7

Carly (Irish Girl) - She has a beautiful voice and I like her style. She sang Come Together and I think she did a fantastic job with it. Her voice was strong and it was just cool...Score: 9

David Cook - (Rocker Dude) - He's weird, but he can sing. He sang Eleanor Rigby, a difficult song and his voice was strong. I'm concerned he's going to fall into the Chris Daughtry trap (granted it's worked for Daughtry now) where he makes *everything* hard rock and that can get really old really fast. We'll see...Score: 8

Brooke (Goldilocks) - OK, I don't like this girl, she's too sweet - bad for my diabetes - and the whole "I haven't seen an R rated movie" thing makes my head hurt, but...she was great last night. She sang Let It Be beautifully. It's an amazing song to begin with, and she did the right thing, she didn't mess with it. Its beauty lies in its simplicity and she allowed for that rendering her performance genuine and heartfelt - perfect. Score: 10

David Hernandez (Stripper Dude - puh-leeze don't pretend you don't think it!) - What happened to him? He has a great voice and a great look but tonight he was awful! He sang I Saw Her Standing There and slaughtered it! He should have been able to handle it, but he was too over the top, really bad. Score: 4

Amanda (Scary Rocker Chick) - She had her ups and downs getting to the Top 12, but I think she'll be OK from now on. I still hate the hair, but I did lie the outfit and she seems to be getting more comfortable on stage. She sang You Can't Do That and it was awesome. Her voice was great, the arrangement was great, she totally channelled Janis Joplin! Score: 9

Michael (Australian Dude) - You know, his voice is good, he's good looking, but I just don't "feel him, dawg". There's nothing particularly wrong with him, he just hasn't clicked for me. He sang Across the Universe, an unusual but IMO great song - yet I found his performance boring. Score: 6

Kristy (Horse Chick) - I haven't liked her all along, her voice is fine but I think she's boring. However, last night she sang 8 Days a Week *country style*! OHMYGOD! NO, NO, NO! (did y'all hear someone screaming NO, NO, NO last night? That was me.) You do not *countrify* the frickin' frackin' Beatles. Just NO. Score: 2

David Archuleta (Annoying Kid) - OK, I know, I know, *everybody* loves "Little David". Everyone except me. So there, I said it. Yes, he absolutely has a great voice, among the best in the competition, but the whole "golly, gee, do you really like me?" schtick bugs me to no end. Sorry people I didn't drink the Archuleta kool aid! Last night, however, America got the opportunity to notice that the emperor has no clothes. In other words, he ain't all that. He butchered We Can Work It Out. He killed it, it's dead. And HE MESSED UP THE WORDS!!! He's in the Top 12 singing The Beatles (and puh-leeze, he doesn't know The Beatles - stop it!) and he messed up the words. You *know* that if he weren't America's Sweetheart, Simon would have sliced him up, put him between two slices of bread and had him for a snack. But nooooo, they were nice to him! ACK! Score: 2

Wishes and Predictions:

Who do I want to see leave? Can you guess? Kristy and David Archuleta

Who do I think is going to leave? Kristy and David Hernandez

So - what are your thoughts?

Movie Quote Meme

I found this at hamblog, here are the rules as stated there:

1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDB and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them on your blog for everyone to guess in the comments.
4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.

GUESSERS: NO Googling/using IMDB search functions. I mean, you can cheat if you want, but that's no fun? One movie guess per human allowed in the comments.

Aaaaaaand...ACTION!

1. "She's going to say her final words, not through me, but inevitably, and ever so cruelly... through the immortal genius of the Bay City Rollers. " Dixie - "Love, Actually"
   
2. "Ladies and gentlemen, either you are closing your eyes to a situation you do not wish to acknowledge, or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated by the presence of a pool table in your community!" Muffy - "The Music Man"
   
3. "I carried a watermelon" Dixie - "Dirty Dancing"
   
4. "Men are rats, listen to me, they're fleas on rats, worse than that, they're amoebas on fleas on rats. I mean, they're too low for even the dogs to bite. The only man a girl can depend on is her daddy. " Muffy - "Grease"
   
5. "For some miraculous reason, it's a wonderful feeling having a teacher you've seen dance naked in front of a mirror." Muffy - "Radio Days"
   
6. "...these walls were not meant to shut out problems. You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live." Purplepassion - "The Sound of Music"
   
7. "The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling? " Purplepassion - "Breakfast at Tiffany's"
   
8. "This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes. " Purplepassion - "The Matrix"
   
9. "Bottom line is... we're around each other an'... this thing, it grabs hold of us again... at the wrong place... at the wrong time... and we're dead." fort knocks - "Brokeback Mountain"
   
10. "Look, sweetheart, I can drink you under any goddamn table you want, so don't worry about me. " - No one got this one - "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"

I won't tag anyone, just play along in my comments!

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day, and this year's theme is "Shaping Power". To me that means, "OK, we've fought long and hard for power as women - now what do we do with it?".

I consider myself a feminist, but not in the militant way so many preconceive feminists to be. Don't get me wrong, I respect those women who are militant feminists - we need them. And I am grateful for the strides made by the Gloria Steinems and Bella Abzugs of the world - who bravely went where no woman had gone before. But that's not me.

The way I choose to "shape my power" is to be vigilant, and when possible denounce to some degree, negative or demeaning portrayals of women in the media. It shocks me how in this day and age these demeaning portrayals of women exist and are so widely accepted. The way women are portrayed in hip hop videos, pro wrestling, some sitcoms, soap operas, etc. is, IMO, unacceptable. I'll occasionally dash off a letter or an e-mail message, or talk to people about why this stuff bothers me. I know it isn't much and that I can do more. I try to talk to the young women I know and encourage them to be "all they can be" (sorry about the cliche) and be proud of themselves and value themselves.

On a positive note, in the US - regardless of your politics - we are in the midst of a campaign where a woman has the possibility of becoming President! Talk about the opportunity to use the power gained.

Yet when we look to the wrest of the world, there is so much work to be done. The story of Honorata Kizende (left) is both horrifying and inspiring. After surviving the horrific brutality in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she has gone on to serve as a spokeswoman for Women for Women International, doing such important work for women worldwide. My God, I don't know I would be strong enough to survive what so many of these women have, let alone go on to do the kind of work they do.

On this day, if you're a woman, think about how you can "shape your power".

A Guest Shuffle - "The My A1c Was Good Edition"

YAY! I had my quarterly appointment with my endocrinologist and got my A1c checked. The first time I had it checked it was at 10.3, then the second time I had it checked after starting treatment, diet, etc. it was 7.2 which was an important improvement, but the doctor wanted me at 6.9. Well I got my latest results yesterday and I had a 6.8! WOO HOO!

I had been worried because I had been doing really well - even over the holidays - but when my mother broke her hip and with everything that followed, my eating went to hell. I thought for sure I had blown it. But I was wrong!

Lola is taking a vacation this week (OK, she's out of juice - my bad!) so we have a Guest Shuffle - my friend Amparo loaned me her iPod to do the shuffle, coincidentally her iPod is also named Amparo. So go Amparo - shuffle on!

1. The Sound of Silence- Paul Simon


2. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boys - En Vogue


3. Hold Me - Fleetwood Mac


4. Sisters - Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt


5. Be Careful (Cuidado Con Mi Corazon) - Ricky Martin and Madonna


6. Somebody To Love - George Michael and Queen


7. Love So Right - Bee Gees


8. It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Celine Dion


9. Cocaine - Eric Clapton


10. Cuidate - La Oreja de Van Gogh

Great shuffle Amparo! Thanks for helping...

Have a great weekend everyone!

Cartoon for the Day

Pulitzer prize winner Jim Morin - The Miami Herald, March 6, 2008

Great Pictures

"'For everyone across America who has been counted out but refused to be knocked out, for everyone who has stumbled but stood right back up and for everyone who works hard and never gives up, this one is for you,' Clinton said to a cheering crowd in Columbus, Ohio. (Hillary Clinton 3/4/2008)

This is the image we want ingrained in everyone's mind - the message: More of the same...

Toni Morrison and Barack Obama

I just found Toni Morrison's Letter to Barack Obama that was published in The New York Observer on January 28. I had of course, heard that Morrison had endorsed Obama, but I hadn't read the letter. Phenomenal! Here's part of it:

In thinking carefully about the strengths of the candidates, I stunned myself
when I came to the following conclusion: that in addition to keen intelligence,
integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit something that has nothing to do
with age, experience, race or gender and something I don't see in other
candidates. That something is a creative imagination which coupled with
brilliance equals wisdom. It is too bad if we associate it only with gray hair
and old age. Or if we call searing vision naivete. Or if we believe cunning is
insight. Or if we settle for finessing cures tailored for each ravaged tree in
the forest while ignoring the poisonous landscape that feeds and surrounds it.
Wisdom is a gift; you can't train for it, inherit it, learn it in a class, or
earn it in the workplace--that access can foster the acquisition of knowledge,
but not wisdom.

Speaking of phenomenal women, I found Morrison's letter on Seamless Skin, a beautiful Blog by one of my favorite *cyber-friends* who in cyberspace goes by the name Karoda. Karoda is a wise, funny, caring soul whose colors she shares via her art, mostly quilts and fabric postcards. We've been *friends who've never met* for years now, and she remains someone whose voice I respect and enjoy.

Must See Stuff

(If the image doesn't work here's the link.)

It's important. It's horrifying. It has to stop. Pay special attention to the comments about "jokes", it's exactly how I feel.

I came across mention of this clip while reading The South Florida Daily Blog who cited it from You Gotta Start Somewhere.

I have nothing more to add to Ellen's eloquence and heart.