Politics

I won't go into detail, because we are all entitled to our political beliefs, and we all have our reasons for voting the way we do. And those reasons are all valid and respectable.

But it seems to me that most politicians spend more time and energy campaigning than doing their job.

Argh.

Obsessed with Thinness

There is a very interesting article on the cover of USA Today (I would link it but they don't believe in free content, so you'll have to just read about it here on my blog!).

The title: "Women: Staying skinny beats sex."

Wow, talk about an attention grabber. Even though this article is below the fold on the front page, the fact that it's even there at all is meaningful.

Apparently, 52 percent of women would prefer a sex-less summer to gaining 10 pounds. In comparison, only 25 percent of men feel the same.

More statistics from the article:

More people would rather lose 10-20 pounds over the summer than get a promotion.

Weight loss would make 66 percent of Americans feel sexier, and an average loss of 23 pounds would make them feel "hotter."

More than half of adults would rather lose their jobs than get fat.

63 percent of women and 55 percent of men would rather be poor and skinny than rich and fat.

54 percent would give up TV for the summer in exchange for a flat stomach.
54 percent would give up shopping for the same.
42 percent would give up using their cell phone, 36 percent would stop using their computer, 21 percent would stop having sex and six percent would stop showering!

The article quotes genius Bruce Daggy, VP of research and development for Nutrisystem as saying, "what this shows is that people are highly motivated to not gain weight."

Quite profound.

It also shows a lot of other things:

1. Women value their looks and having a "hot" body over a lot of things, including sex. I can say for myself that up until recently, I've spent the majority of my waking hours concerned with how I look. I don't know how many other women can say the same thing, but I have a feeling it's at least 52 percent, the same number who value being thin over having sex. And I'll bet that substantially less men worry about how they look. Perhaps 25 percent?

Why? I think our culture has placed such a high value on women being thin. Basically, a woman's worth is solely based on how "hot" she is, while a man's worth is a mixture of things: his looks, success, confidence, etc.

From practically birth, many girls are taught to value looks over all else. The females we see on TV and in movies, magazines and books are all thin and pretty. Little girls are told, "You're so pretty!"

2. People need to feel sexy in order to get into sex, right? I think this is more important for women than men. It's sad that we can't enjoy ourselves because we are obsessing about how we look. Wouldn't it be nice to enjoy the emotional and physical feeling of sex instead of being incessantly in your head, imagining how you look?

3. Anyone who values being thin over having a job is an idiot. Remember, this article is not talking about people wanting to be healthier. It's talking about people wanting to be thinner. We are seriously motivated by the wrong thing here.

To those people who would give up their TVs, phones and computers to get a flat stomach; do it! Put those things aside and do some crunches.

And to those people who would rather be poor and skinny: You are a fool. Try being poor for a week and see what it's like. And stop being so superficial.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that 68 percent of Americans are overweight.

I know I'm one of those. But I'm not about to give up on the things I enjoy, like my computer, TV, talking on the phone and sex. I'm trying to make it a habit to eat healthier and move more, because it feels good to be healthy and strong, and, yes, because I want to feel pretty and sexy. But it's not as important anymore. And I'm trying (and succeeding) to like my body just the way it is and to not be obsessed with the way I look.

And I'm furious about the way things are! Are you?

Yay!

Check out this wonderful video by filmmaker, Andrea Dorfman and poet Tanya Davis.



It makes me happy.

Women Relegated to Inanimate-Object Pronouns

Or: Why am I not surprised that women are referred to as things?

Ok, I admit it. I like Country music. Don’t stop reading! I use to be one of those people who said, “I listen to everything except Country and rap.” Which basically meant I listened to KROQ, KIIS and KRTH – top 40.

Now I try to be a little more open minded and appreciate what each song sounds like instead of making such broad generalizations.

Josh Turner is one Country artist I’ve discovered who I like. His big hit “Why Don’t We Just Dance” is the perfect mix of dance-able, romantic, social commentary, insight into a good relationship and Turner’s signature, amazingly-deep voice. It really does make me want to dance.

(aaah, look at that smile.)

So let me get to the point. I downloaded the entire album, and there are a couple other gems. But there is one huge, unforgivable flaw!

One song, “I Wouldn’t Be a Man,” had me at first. It’s sexy: deep voice, sexy melody, slow twang, sweet lyrics....except for the freakin’ chorus:

I wouldn’t be a man

iIf I didn’t feel like this.

I wouldn’t be a man

iIf a woman like you was anything I could resist.

I’d have to be from another planet,

Where love doesn’t exist,

I wouldn’t be a man

If I didn’t feel like this.

Sounds pretty sweet, right? On the surface! But read a little deeper and you see that it has two major problems:

1. In the fourth line he says she's irresistible, right? Wrong! He basically says she is a “thing.” An object. He can’t resist her body. Not her. Why use “anything,” when he could easily say “anyone” or “someone”? It doesn’t throw off the rhythm. Argh. Am I missing something here?

I’m sure the writer didn’t do this intentionally. He (I assume the song was written by a man. Sorry.) is either clueless, or subconsciously revealed his true opinion of women.

2. Apparently, if this song is to be believed, men and women are different when it comes to desire. A man’s desire is much stronger than a woman’s. It’s ok for a man to be unable to resist a certain type of woman (or “thing”): “I wouldn’t be a man / if I didn’t feel like this. / I wouldn’t be a man / if a woman like you was anything I could resist.”

In fact, this song is saying rape must be ok, because that’s how men are. Not women, though. They are definitely able to resist desire. Later he sings that the only way he could resist would be if he was “from another planet / where love doesn’t exist.” So why not say, “I wouldn’t be a human”?

Ok, that doesn’t flow. Let’s just trash this one, K, Josh?

Scorn@regan.com

Michael Reagan, the eldest son of the late President Ronald Regan is saving the country, one email account at a time.

For $39.95 per year (instead of free), you can get your very own anti-democratic-handle@Reagan.com, and "put your name next to the name of the Greatest Conservative of all, my father Ronald Reagan," says Michael.

According to Michael, our country is faced with many problems, including the horrible truth that “People who believe in true Reagan Conservative Values are unwittingly supporting the Obama, Pelosi and Reid liberal agenda! What do I mean? Well, every time you use your email from companies like Google, AOL, Yahoo, Hotmail, Apple and others, you are helping the liberals. These companies are, and will continue, to be huge supporters financially and with technology of those that are hurting our country.”

I can’t say it better than that.

Is it very Republican to capitalize on your dead father’s name?

Buying Local and In Season

(Oatmeal: Breakfast of champions and regular people.)

It occurred to me this morning, as I made my oatmeal, that I’ve been eating a lot of strawberries lately. Then it dawned on me: it’s summer. Strawberry is a summer fruit. Duh. And then it hit me (lots of “eureka!” moments this morning – must be the oatmeal), I don’t even know what fruits are seasonal around here, let alone try to eat them. I am completely out of tune with nature. Instead I eat bananas flown in from Ecuador, oranges from Florida and perfumed cardboard from McDonald's.

Everybody’s always talking about eating locally because it’s healthier for the body and the planet, and because it’s cheaper. So I did some research and found this website, which shows what grows in your area and when:

click here

And then I found this one, which searches local farmers markets and even family farms where you can buy produce:

click here

I think going to a farm to pick up your eggs, milk and produce could be a fun activity, and it will definitely keep you healthy and in tune with the planet and your environment.

Our "Jersey Shore" Viewed From International Shores

The August 2 Newsweek contains an article about “Jersey Shore,” which I thought was just another inane reality show about bloated “babes” with nothing on their minds but money, men, partying and status. And it sounds like it is. Plus this time their are bloated guys too.

But according to the article, it’s not “just” another stupid show.

I didn’t think about this before, but shows like these tell people in other countries a lot about us. Yes, there really are people like the stars of the show. And yes, there are people who waste their time watching it. Of course there are people in those other countries who waste their time watching it too. (Apparently there’s a large cult following in Italy.)

So not only do these shows harm us on a personal level, teaching young people a very backwards idea of what is important in life; they also harm us on a global level, showing the world what we as a country think is important.

I’ll admit I’ve never watched the show. Maybe it has a moral lesson every episode, like being a strong woman or being true to yourself. If it does, I think it’s drowned out by “look how big and unnaturally tan my boobs are in this tight designer dress, and who will I make out with next in the jacuzzi in a drunken haze, and isn’t my hair shinier than yours?”

At least we have the freedom in this country to make ourselves look like idiots and to indulge in and glorify stupidity while our minds turn to mush.

But not everyone in the United States acts like that or watches “Jersey Shore.” Some people strive to rise above this mundane and base reality. So I really hope they don’t think we’re all that way.