-
Fireworks Fallout
Apparently I have moved into a very patriotic neighborhood. Even though the 4th of July is several days in the past, my neighbors on all sides are still setting off fireworks at random moments. Very random moments. Mid day. Three in the morning. As I write this, my dogs are cowering behind me, under the…
-
Free Maheinour el-Masry
Here’s what’s sad. I’m willing to bet that 99 Americans out of 100 have never heard of Mehinour el-Masry, a brave human rights protester who has been jailed by the Egyptian government for exercising what we would consider to be her basic human right to free speech. I only heard of her the other day…
-
Movie Review: The Day I Became a Woman
It’s just like me to review a film that came out in 2000, but cut me a little slack. I only just discovered it on the dusty shelves of my library. And it’s a tragedy that this film should be covered with dust, as it’s truly amazing. That’s the thing in America, though. This film…
-
Yes, it’s the Anniversary of 9/11. Can we Please Talk About Something Else?
My mother once wrote me a letter dated December 7th and below the date she wrote “I remember Pearl Harbor.” And it is important to remember those tragic moments in history so that we may learn from them, heal together, and never repeat them. I get that. But. I strongly suspect that I will dread…
-
I Love Kokopelli
Ah, Kokopelli, the trickster, the fertility God of the tribes of the American Southwest. I just love this guy! Not only is he a symbol of abundant crops and the production of game animals, but he is the purveyor of trinkets, and he chases away winter and ushers in spring. He is known to bring…
-
Leeching the Consumer
Today I was told that some of my computer hardware was no longer supported by the manufacturer. No big surprise, right? Planned obsolescence has become such a normal part of our consumer culture that we don’t even bother to be outraged. My question is, what would happen if the vendors had to be honest? What…
-
Coming Out on Tops
The other day I learned about an amazing woman named Moira Johnston who is an advocate for women’s rights and human rights. One of her latest acts is walking topless through Manhattan. Because she can. It’s legal in New York State to do so, you know. Here’s a direct quote from her website: “It is…
-
Concert Therapy
I went to an Indigo Girls concert the other night and left feeling euphoric. While I love their music, I can’t say I have been a classic fan. I don’t buy their albums or follow them closely, so I couldn’t sing along with any but their most popular songs. I’m sort of a lazy enthusiast,…
-
My Invasion of Berlin
When I was 18 years old I took a trip around Europe with my boyfriend and his family which is sure to be fodder for many a blog entry in the future, but today I will focus on the one city that made the biggest impression upon me: Berlin. When we went there, the Berlin…