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November 30, 2005
RIP Stan Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears were some of my favorite characters as a child. Along with Ramona Quimby, they provided hours of reading pleasure during my early reading days. So, it is with great sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Stan Berenstain, who wrote the series with his wife, Janice Grant. Their first editor was Theodor Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss). He died of complication of cancer at home at age 82.
More info:
"Stan Berenstain Dies; Co-Creator of Books On Berenstain Bears," by Matt Schudel in WaPo
found via Media Bistro
Posted by cj at 10:41 PM | Comments (1)
November 28, 2005
Prison Break
Oh no. Its another 24. Why oh why did I allow myself to get sucked in?
Seriously, how much longer can this possibly go on? And why make us wait till March (or is it May)? Because you've got that dumb American Idol trash to put on in January?
December is a sad month. Its sad because it is not a ratings month. Therefore, it is full of repeats, made for t.v. movies, and network television premieres of movies you would never want to watch with an hour of commercials. Its enough to make a woman seriously consider buying a Netflix subscription...
Posted by cj at 11:32 PM | Comments (1)
November 27, 2005
Dude.
Spent Tuesday night through Saturday afternoon with the fam in North Las Vegas. Folks have their retirement home there. Not that they've retired yet.
Saw my brother for the first time in 21 months. Not that we're estranged. He just lives in Phoenix and can't get off work a lot to join fam gatherings in LA or Vegas. Still, it was weird seeing him. He and his ex-wife assumed I'd be bringing my boyfriend along. Apparently, I need to remember to email them, since neither of them knew about my breakup.
So I meant to leave all these links here about the reality of the creation of the USA - the genocide of indigenous people, the stealing of the land, the gluttony that persists on top of a lie. Its important history. But I read those articles a few days ago. And while I'm interested in them, its not what lingers with me from Turkey Day. Thanksgiving, like most holidays, for me is about seeing family. I usually don't live near my fam, so its an excuse to see them. Its also an obligation to see them. And to wonder how we're all related. Don't get me wrong - I love my family dearly. I just wonder why my priorities are so different from everyone around me.
As this long break winds down for me, I must remember the things I'm thankful for. I'm so grateful for the life I've led in the past year - the experiences and people I've been honored to share my journey with. And now its time to move forward.
Randomly, I recently joined myspace, which I've been amused with ever since it was the cover story of the Style Section of the Sunday NYT. So far, I've been contacted by a Chicago party promoter, a woman looking to promote her myspace site (and perhaps her friendship?), a Chicago band, and the hilarious Booze 'n Jews. They're havin another party and its only a five dolla cover. Question is - why would anyone go dancin on a Wednesday night? Wouldn't they rather be watching Lost? I'm sorry, I forgot. I'm not sure I'm cool enough for this crowd. I can see it now - it'll be just like the time I tried going to a JDate party in DC: I'll be the only Jew who knows how to dance and every guy will be afraid to approach me. Except for the really short pharmacists. I think my mom had the same curse.
In case you're interested, here's my myspace page. I meant to take a digital pic this weekend, but since I have no current pics of myself, you'll just have to enjoy the Chicago skyline near my office last summer.
Posted by cj at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)
November 21, 2005
mp3, iTunes, and aaCPlus
I've been thinking about what's on my Hanukah wish-list lately, which made me itchy to read techy news on mp3 players (and laptops, but that's just fantasy reading).
Turns out Apple is just as evil as Microsoft. Why's that? Because anything you buy at iTunes can only be played via iTunes or an iPod. It means you don't completely own the music you buy through iTunes. Frankly, I don't understand buying songs online but then I don't own an mp3 player. I do appreciate Rhapsody, Real Network's digital music service, but currently think I should save the money that I would pay for access.
Sony created an even more evil "digital management system," but discontinued it when its ability to be a sys admin on unsuspecting hard drives was used by hackers.
Microsoft, on the other hand, seems to want to make its digital rights management tool useful with most audio players. Nevertheless, why should they be allowed to see these "tools"? All they do is deny the owner of the music easy access to playing it.
aaCPlus is the new audio file format approved for general use by the folks that standardized mp3. It creates a higher quality sound with lower bandwith use than mp3. Basically, the files are smaller but sound better than mp3s. In the future, portable players will be able to play both formats (making me wonder if I should suck it up and continue to use a cd player a lil longer)...
Related articles / links:
"Digital Rights Mismanagement: How Apple, Microsoft, and Sony cash in on piracy prevention." by Adam L. Penenberg in Slate
"You Can't Be Too Thin: The skinny new audio format that will replace MP3s—and revolutionize Internet radio." by Paul Boutin in Slate
"The Apple Polishers: Explaining the press corps' crush on Steve Jobs and company." By Jack Shafer
Funny Mock Ad for iProduct at a boy and his computer
Posted by cj at 07:24 AM | Comments (0)
November 20, 2005
What I Did Today Instead of Reading the Paper
My day was turned upside down by having my paper stolen. Here's what I did instead:
1. Called the NYT to order a replacement paper (that never came).
2. Fooled around on the net
3. Watched the first interview on Meet the Press, then switched to This Week b/c there is no public health system in the US so I didn't want to waste my time listening to talking heads talk about the impending avian flu pandemic
4. Watched Ebert & Roeper
5. Watched The Chris Matthews Show
6. Made an omelette and watched drivel on VH1
7. Listened to Johnny Cash and fooled around on the net.
8. Created http://www.myspace.com/chickenfootstew
(random Brit already took angelheaded hipster)
9. Created a testimonial for Friendster.
I want my magazine! I want my book reviews! I crave my Style Section! And now I must get up and start sorting through the piles of clothes I've created by opening long-sealed duffel bags and doing laundry.
Posted by cj at 05:38 PM | Comments (0)
The Weird Side of Donor Insemination
I work with a lot of women who are bitterly single. They probably agree with MoDo (Maureen Dowd) that men are scared by successful women. I think men, like women, can smell desperation and aren't attracted to it. Many unmarried women in their 30s hear a booming biological clock. Unmarried men in their 30s see a new decade's worth of legal tail.
So, I can see why those unmarried hetero women turn to donor insemination (aka D.I.). I also understand why lesbian couples choose it. But the idea of meeting up with a dozen half siblings is just kinda freaky to me. I have enough trouble sorting through my familial relations as it is, I couldn't imagine having to deal with that many other people. And what makes a man worthy of planting his seeds so often? Why in the world would a married father of four be a donor? Was he in need of money, like most women who become egg donors? I didn't realize this until I had a discussion about the proliferation of egg donor ads in my women's college's school newspaper, but women risk infertility and sickness when they give up an egg, whereas men just have to get off in a sterile environment. It seems weird to me that blonde hair and blue eyes are moving forward as the preferred traits by the many women using D.I.
Its not surprising to me that D.I. is a highly unregulated field. The US doesn't bother to properly regulate its meat production, why should it worry about something as banal as the creation of human life? Better to criminalize using birth control by allowing pharmacists to decide their "religious beliefs" wont allow them to dispense legal prescriptions.
A girl in the NYT story made an appropriate comment:
"I hate when people that use D.I. say that biology doesn't matter (cough, my mom, cough)," Danielle wrote in an e-mail message, using the shorthand for donor insemination. "Because if it really didn't matter to them, then why would they use D.I. at all? They could just adopt or something and help out kids in need."Indeed. Why is it that adoption seems to only be in vogue for freaks like Angelina Jolie? And can someone please explain to me why the upper middle class feel better traipsing across the world to pick out a designer Asian kid instead of adopting one of the thousands of kids here in the US eager for a family? I believe it is racism - white folks would rather a "pliable, smart" Asian baby rather than a Latino or Black American kid. Then again, black American kids who are adopted by lilly white Canadians have been documented as having problems being fully accepted in social circles in Canada, and also wondering what their culture is really like.
I've strayed a lot from my ethnic roots. I'm Jewish and know that the majority of my ancestors were Ukrainian, even though at the time no one called a Jew an equal. But I don't have to wonder about my biological roots the way my older brother does (he was adopted). All I have to do is feel guilty that I have a stronger personal connection to my sister, who shares my parenthood, than I do to my brother. This article further cements my certainty that I'd rather adopt a child than accept anonymous sperm.
The article that sparked this post: "Hello, I'm Your Sister. Our Father Is Donor 150." by Amy Harmon in today's NYT (randomly, my hard copy of today's NYT was STOLEN! by a frickin neighbor! I can't wait to leave this place.)
Posted by cj at 02:28 PM | Comments (1)
A Movie I Could Watch Every Night
Walk the Line is the best movie I've seen this year. So yes, I should admit that I am one of many women over the years who have fallen for Johnny Cash's deep voice and beautiful songs. But I've also always been intrigued to know more about his life - since it was clearly racked with pain and ecstasy. This is a thrilling re-telling, based on two autobiographies and extensive interviews with Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash before they passed.
A lot of hype has been made about the fact that every actor in the film sings his or her own songs. It is well deserved hype. Instead of hearing octave changes that just don't match the speaking voice onscreen, everything melds into one beautiful thread of a story. And Joaquin Phoenix truly lost himself in Mr. Cash. His eyes were haunting and mesmerizing. This is also the kind of love story I love - two people who absolutely must be together, regardless of societal or familial pressures. I would call it Hollywood fantasy, except it really happened. Fearless and brilliant. I'm so glad I saw it before I saw too many clips on teevee. Alas, I was annoyed at the preview for the film that the stupid theater ran before playing the correct previews. I really, really hate when they do that. It happened in "Cinderalla Man" as well, and it pisses me off. I don't need the film makers to push down my throat the idea that This Is An Important Film Based on Real Events. Nevertheless, the film itself remains pure brilliance.
Posted by cj at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)
November 19, 2005
Random Quiz via Aardvark
I enjoy taking dumb quizzes every once in awhile. I'm not sure if I agree with the results of this quiz, but I guess I've got to admit that "the modern world rejects you like a bad transplant." Why else have I spent so much time struggling to figure out where I fit in the world?
You are 'Latin'. Even among obsolete skills, the
tongue of the ancient Romans is a real
anachronism. With its profusion of different
cases and conjugations, Latin is more than a
language; it is a whole different way of
thinking about things.
You are very classy, meaning that you value the
classics. You value old things, good things
which have stood the test of time. You value
things which have been proven worthy and
valuable, even if no one else these days sees
them that way. Your life is touched by a
certain 'pietas', or piety; perhaps you are
even a Stoic. Nonetheless, you have a certain
fascination with the grotesque and the profane.
Also, the modern world rejects you like a bad
transplant. Your problem is that Latin has
been obsolete for a long time.
What obsolete skill are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Posted by cj at 11:02 AM | Comments (2)
November 17, 2005
McConaughey = People's Sexiest Man Alive
Next question is, will this make anyone remember how to spell his name?
I learned about this on the Colbert Report, which sent me to People.com, which eventually led me to turn off the Colbert Report. Frankly, that show is irritating and not funny.
So here's Matthew's article. I'm glad he's enjoying that Gulfstream and his girlfriend's big knockers, cause it ain't like he's bothering to do many movies.
A lot of teevee stars made the list, which makes me happy. Apparently, everyone forgot what made Patrick Dempsey the heart throb he is today - that would be the classic 80s movie, "Can't Buy Me Love."
And hello, Daniel Dae Kim was totally doing that serious sexy bit on "Angel," before he got on "Lost." And yes, folks, he speaks perfect English. I gotta admit, Terrence Howard made me put aside my feminist critique about watching a movie about the greatness of a pimp because that man is damn fine. Viggo, on the other hand, has lost a lot since his LoTR heyday. I'm glad to see Vince Vaughn on the list. Nick Lahey is cute in a completely conventional way, but until he loses his so much bigger star and also so much dumber significant other, he doesn't deserve anymore publicity. Heath Ledger should not be allowed to cut off his hair. Nor should he be allowed to be an attached father. Keith Urban's only claim to fame is being attached to Nicole Kidman. Ug. He ain't nothin, and I'll take the bag of chips instead please. Ian McShane as a Sexiest Man? Hello?!? Are we looking at the same picture?
Matt is shacking up in Miami with a woman and her kid? WTF? I know he's gotta do like Ben and all, but come on. Denis Leary. MMMM....You have caught his butt on Resue Me, no? I mean, how could you miss his beautiful buck-nekkid ass? I agree with picking Anderson Cooper, but come on people - CNN has to have a more attractive shot than that. Same goes for Clive - deserving of the list and a better photo op.
Posted by cj at 11:01 PM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2005
New Media: More on Blogs
Professor Daniel Drezner wrote a post on blogging, alerting me to the fact that Andrew Sullivan's blog will soon be moving to Time's website. I'm not clear where the blog will be. I usually don't look at Time's website, but I must say that the frontpage is way too cluttered for my taste.
Drezner also pointed me to this column by David Carr in the NYT. The crass nature of Gawker and its sister publications is why I rarely read them. I love snarky commentary and really should find the time to read more of it, but their filtering leaves a helluva lot to be desired.
I've been trying to determine if my lack of posting is because I'm reading less articles related to the topics of this blog or because my time is focused elsewhere. I think its a combination. I'm trying to do a lot of volunteer work, building a national campaign for WILPF, "Women Challenge US Policy: Building Peace on Justice in the Middle East," representing the campaign on the national board, dealing with the wackiness of my personal life, and applying for jobs in any major coastal city. (NYC is the focal point of my search, but I'd happily take a good job in LA, DC, Philly, Boston, or San Francisco.) Yet, I really enjoy writing these fluffier entries (fluffier than my other blog), so I'll try go back to daily posts.
Posted by cj at 08:15 AM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2005
Something to read...
after I sleep -
a LAT article about newsroom blogging, found via Media Bistro.
Posted by cj at 10:01 PM | Comments (0)
November 01, 2005
Success! The NYT Responds
An update on my status with the NYT - I got a call from Customer Service. Granted, there's no way for me to know for sure that the call was from Customer Service or Tech Support, but I decided to believe the guy. He's creating a new account for me, transferring my home delivery account, and also transferring the discount I received for paying my balance. Yay! I'll be getting another call in ten minutes to confirm the switch.
Posted by cj at 01:10 PM | Comments (0)