I vote because I can

And because years ago, women couldn't.

National Council of Women's Organizations

Read their ABCs of Women's Issues voter's guide (I'd link straight to it, but it's a PDF file).

Another woman who thinks Judy Dean rocks.

Too funny not to pass on

EVIL COMMUNIVERSITY

So long, Jack

A few years ago they did a show on Jack Paar on PBS. I believe it might have been on American Masters. Anyway, I never got to watch him on TV, as he was before my time. It seems I missed out.

Anyone That Funny Is Entitled to Cry: By DICK CAVETT

I take on the Oscar noms

First of all, I am very happy with the nominations this year. They almost make me have faith in the Academy's system.

Happy surprises:
4. Patricia Clarkson nominated for Pieces of April. I was sure that since this was such a small film, she wouldn't be recognized. I loved this film and her performance, so this made me happy.

3. Four Oscar nominations for Finding Nemo. I knew it would be nominated for Best Animated Film, but was very glad that it was also nominated for Best Music, Original Screenplay, and Sound Editing. Yay!

2. Keisha Castle-Hughes nominated for Whale Rider. This amazed me. Her performance was great, but I figured since the movie came out so long ago, she didn't have a chance (even for supporting actress)! It's probably a long-shot for her to win, but it would be great if she did.

1. THE BIGGEST SHOCKER - The academy nominated "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" from A Mighty Wind for Best Song. I prefer "When You're Next to Me", but I'm so excited that they recognized this film in any way. I hope Mitch and Mickey get to perform it on Oscar night. That alone is worth watching for. Seriously.

Full list of Oscar nominees

Capturing the Friedmans

I had jury selection yesterday. Long story short - I didn't get picked to be on the jury for a real estate law case. I got to my apartment about 4pm and had time to start watching the DVD of Capturing the Friedmans I had just gotten from Netflix in the mail. This film is so engrossing. There are so many different viewpoints discussed, and it is up to you to decide what you think. The filmmakers don't judge for you. It deserves all the laud it has gotten; it's just that good. It's up for an Oscar, and I hope it wins.

I'm going to finish watching it (again) tonight, but this time with the director's commentary on. It just fascinates me that when they started work on this film it was going to be about New York City clowns, but it turned into something much more vital. It is about Arnie and Jesse and the allegations made against them, but it is also about the family and how this basically brought them to a breaking point. Rent the DVD or buy it and see what you think.

A sad day

Bob Keeshan, Captain Kangaroo, Dies at 76

note on Clark

Clark is now on my not-to-vote-for list since I found out about his support/work for the School of the Americas.

General Wesley Clark on Defensive on School of the Americas (SOA/WHISC), Once Under His Command

So now my list is something like this:
1) Dean
2) Edwards
3) Kerry
4) Kucinich

and if I have to:
5) Sharpton
6) Clark
7) Leiberman

I have to admit, I'd still vote for Clark over Bush. In this race, I'm a yellow-dog Democrat; I'd rather vote for a yellow dog than Bush.

stop picking on Dean

I am simply tired of the press and their treatment of the candidates. It is just ridiculous. I didn't get to see the Deans interviewed by Diane Sawyer because I was watching Frontline. I'm reading through the transcript of the interview and I just can't believe it. After the Dixie Chicks fiasco of an interview, my respect for Diane was low, but now it is pretty much nonexistent. She spent a good part of the interview discussing his temper. Give me a break.

True, since the hideous scream incident, I've lost a little respect for him. Just the teensiest bit. But he's still my first choice, and I think the media just need to get over it. Anyone who has seen him speak knows how dynamic he is. He shouts into the mike because he is so angry at what has been done to this country. I am glad he gets emotional, because that is how I feel. I am so disturbed by what Bush has done to us, and I want a candidate that represents that.

edit: Okay, this is funny. I am glad Dean can laugh at himself. We all know Bush can't.

edit edit: The Phony Dean 'Meltdown' . More on the scream heard round the media world.

It's too darn hot.

Dancer Ann Miller Dies of Cancer at 81

This is the greatest site:
Help Me, Bubby!

I hope I didn't get someone fired!

I received this from AG Edwards this afternoon:

Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 12:04:33 -0600
From: AGEDWARDS.com
Subject: Your E-mail
To: me



A G Edwards has received your recent correspondence. A G Edward's policy prohibits obscene and other inappropriate communications. Appropriate actions are being taken regarding the e-mail you furnished. We appreciate your concern.


Associate Vice President &
Client Service Representative
A G Edwards & Sons Inc

re: previous entry

I feel kinda bad now. But if you're gonna write an obscene message, you shouldn't do it on company e-mail. I think that's just a given.

so who supports Bush's plans?

Not the fiscal conservatives.

I do want to comment on Bush's statement on the institution of marriage. Was he thinking about what he was saying?

Here is the comment I want to point out (taken straight from the White House site):

"If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people. . ."

Can we talk, here? As soon as I heard this, I thought, 'They already did! Because of the arbitrary will of judges, we have you in office.' My mom and I kept calling each other during the speech to laugh and complain about it. With this statement, she thought he was saying that we should just abolish the judicial branch of government.

I just can't believe that statement.

"the whim of one brutal man"

I did indeed watch the State of the Union speech last night. I had my Tom Paine scorecard in front of me and on the other side of it, I actually took notes. Here are my notes, in all their glory:

NUCLEAR
terrorists v. civilized world
Patriot Act an essential tool
Democrats clapped at comment on expiration of Patriot Act
"nucular"!!
Afghanistan a free nation
we "enforced the demands of the United Nations" Bull.
BULL
"the whim of one brutal man"
never mind the lies . . . we'll applaud them away.
"liberation of Iraq"
the facts
Ted Kennedy shaking his head.
"Al Salvador" (who's he?)
"America will never seek a permission slip"
forward strategy of freedom
National Endowment for Democracy
"no ambitions of empire"??!!?
American people using $ better than gov. would have
growing prosperity of country
relief from federal regulation?
"I oppose amnesty"
"meet my veto"
association health plans
he talks about drugs?!!?
school drug testing
abstinence $
steroid use??
institution of marriage
the will of judges!!
sick pandering a--
"Ashley Pierson"
say thanks but cut their benefits
Where is this $ coming from?
Iraq - too many times
Sept. 11 - at least 3
Don't use God! He doesn't (only) belong to you.

I was planning on writing something here, but there is just too much to go off on. Seriously. I thought the Democratic response was well-said. I'm glad Nancy Pelosi mentioned that the reasons we went to war are unclear.

you are in Io-way

After the caucus results I had to look up how the system works. Here's an article with a somewhat silly approach, but it works.

Like jury duty? You'll love caucuses

I was surprised by the results in Iowa, especially the placing of Edwards (and the upcoming campaign-ending for Gephardt). I think people make the caucuses a bigger deal than they really are. But good for Iowa to get all that publicity every 4 years.

I think New Hampshire will show us the real thing. And if that's Kerry, so be it. As long as it ain't Lieberman!!! I am hoping for Dean, obviously, as I link to his site from mine. I think he's got a good chance, as long as the press gets off his back.

I studied the media and its treatment of politics in college, and that was before Fox News. Or at least before it got so popular. The way the press treats candidates fascinates me and disgusts me sometimes. They pick an early candidate and turn against him (except Bush - he can do no wrong).

The thing about living in Texas is that I seriously doubt I'll get to see any political ads. I love analyzing those.

I just wrote an email to A G Edwards after reading an email sent from a worker there to Margaret Cho. One would think that he would be smart enough to use an internet based email address for his hate mail, but it appears not. If you would like to read all the angry hate mail Margaret Cho got for speaking her mind at the MoveOn event, here you go:
Margaret's being attacked from the right

The e-mail I wrote in regards to is in the middle of the page. It basically makes comments about Democrats and oral sex. I signed my e-mail, a possible customer. I commented that they should at least discourage him using his office e-mail for such offense.

way too funny

This week's This Modern World

The thing about the Almanacs just slays me. Man oh man. It is hilarious.

how sweet

An interview from People with Howard Dean and Judith Steinberg Dean

It was very interesting to read this interview after reading Maureen Dowd's opinion of Ms. Dean. I myself think that she has the right to do whatever she wants. She has her priorities in order. I'm sure she is doing more good in her office than she would on the campaign trail. She seems soft-spoken, but Dowd's article portrays her as some "hippie" wife. Yeesh.

Dowd's article

thoughts on SxSW

I'm going to attempt to volunteer at South by Southwest. I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it time-wise, since I have to take into account how many vacation hours I have (two weeks worth) and that I have to plan for jury duty (unknown period of time) and a short trip to New Mexico sometime this summer. But I would LOVE to be at SxSW. I've wanted to go for a while, but it's freakin' expensive. So if I volunteer, I get a free shirt and passes to events depending on how many hours I volunteer. I hope it works out for me to do it.

The winners of the Bush in 30 seconds ads were chosen last night. You can check them out here.

I was a little disappointed that "In My Country" didn't win. I loved the way it struck the point home. But "Child's Pay" is a really good ad too, so I'll accept it.

I found this at Ann Telnaes' site and had to share with you.

All women are the same

Or so they say in Cosi fan tutte. I went with M yesterday afternoon to see the opera and we were both surprised to see our mutual high school friend Kirk in it. Kirk went with me to my prom, and then went to college in Vermont. He is a great actor and playwright, so I assumed he would move on to New York from there. But I guess he is back here in Austin! Both M and I wished we had binoculars for the opera. It was very funny, with a few too many arias and not enough Despina. The man behind our seats started snoring at one point in the first act. Both M and I had to smile at that. I was going to nudge his knee if he kept on doing it, but his seatmate must have done so, because he stopped.

Afterwards, M and I went to Kerbey Lane to discuss Kirk, politics, New Orleans and time. A great Sunday evening.

Madonna supports Wesley Clark? I can't decide whether that's a good or bad thing.

Seeking Women's Votes, Clark Changes His Style

Ramble on

Don't tell anyone, but I'm working on my resume this weekend. I think you know what that means.

I'm also giving blood, going to the opera (Cosi fan tutte) with M, church-hopping, and probably reading.

I made bread last weekend and it turned out really well. Two loaves have lasted me all week. It's a nice sourdough bread, and it should be for the amount of time it took me to make it. Does anyone have any recipes for sourdough starter (besides bread)?

Every little bit helps! Please do what you can.

Copied from today's SojoMail (from Sojourners):

Respond to Iran's earthquake

The following agencies - among many other worthy organizations - are accepting donations for relief efforts following the devastating earthquake centered near Bam, Iran.

Church World Service: http://www.churchworldservice.org/news/archives/2003/12/148.html

International Red Cross:
http://www.ifrc.org/helpnow/donate/donate_iran.asp

Mennonite Central Committee: http://www.mcc.org/respond/rapid_respond/iran/index.html

Mercy Corps: http://www.mercycorps.org/iran/

National Iranian American Council: http://www.niacouncil.org/iranquake.asp

World Relief: http://www.wr.org/feature_stories/view.asp?id=30000069

World Vision: http://www.worldvision.org/worldvision/pr.nsf/stable/iran_20031226?Open&cmp=OTC-1293253&campaign=1293253

My first fan e-mail

The other day I got an email saying:

Hi,
I like you and I think I have a crush on you!!!
Greetings from Amsterdam, Holland!

I just want to say now, I have no problem receiving this kind of e-mail. So keep it coming. Of course, deep discussion is also welcome. =)

Add-on: And I'm still getting asked about Bill Murray's ringtone from Lost in Translation. Someone found me through Google to ask me about it. I googled "Lost in Translation Bill Murray ringtone" and I am the sixth link to come up. Who knew?

AlterNet: Unelectable, My Ass!

Arianna Huffington compares Dean's campaign with that of Bobby Kennedy. It seems an accurate comparison to me after reading her evidence.

Ack! ack! ack!

Court upholds new congressional districts
Appeal, appeal, appeal. Please.

Thanks, NPR!

I actually paid attention to a presidential debate today. We had a cleaning day at the office and I listened to the debate while cleaning/organizing the copy room. Both Kucinich and Leiberman made excellent points today when discussing the impact their faith has on their politics. I completely agreed with them. If you are a religious person of any kind, your religion impacts your politics. Even Gephardt said he believes in the "gospel of helping the poor". Leiberman made the point that we cannot let Republicans think they OWN religion. I am disappointed in Dean when it comes to this point. He said, my religion doesn't affect my politics.

Mine does, and I'm not ashamed to say it. Democrats need to face the fact that the majority of Americans believe that their religion is important to who they are. We need to learn to deal with this in some way or fashion. Religion does not equal bad. Closed-minded people are bad, but religion is not.

and the finalists are. . .

I'm pretty happy with the 15 finalists for the Bush in 30 Seconds contest. I gave high scores to In My Country, "Bush's Repair Shop", and "Child's Pay". I think "In My Country" is my favorite of all of them. It's scary good. I'm disappointed that the "Al Keyda" ad isn't in there. It was so funny, but really not very funny at the same time.

The best exhibit ever

On New Year's Day, L and I drove down to Houston to see the exhibit there of works from New York's MoMA. We had to wait in long lines. The exhibit was more crowded than WalMart on a weekend. I could barely see "Starry Night" and wasn't able to see Dali's "Persistence of Memory" at all. BUT IT WAS WORTH IT!!!!

My new favorites (in no particular order):
Henri Rousseau's The Dream
Robert DeLauney's Simultaneus contrasts: sun and moon
Edward Hopper's New York Movie - so haunting.
Picasso's Girl Before a Mirror
Roy Lichtenstein, Girl Drowning
Jasper John's Map, 1978.
Chagall's I and the village
and there was another painting that I loved of a woman who was the painter's wife. It was brown and gold and lovely, but I can't remember the painter or the title of the painting!! I should have written it down. It was from the early 20th century, placed near the Rousseau and the Munch. I loved it.