In the spirit of exploring new things, here is the first installation in a new area of Rants & Raves: music reviews! Being a fairly musical person myself, I enjoy sharing my favorite artists and discovering the newest must-listens.
This week: All I Ever Wanted, fourth album from original American Idol Kelly Clarkson
Let me admit up front: I have always been a Kelly Clarkson fan, though I'm convinced that she was flat at the end of the album version of "A Moment Like This". It's okay, we all make mistakes. Breakaway, her sophomore album, has been in my favorite albums rotation, and after hearing "My Life Would Suck Without You" on the radio I was hopeful that her newest album would soon join the ranks.
Clarkson does not disappoint.
All I Ever Wanted is a bit ballad heavy, the perfect album to put on when you're dealing with hurt feelings or an ended relationship. Songs like "Cry" and "Already Gone" have lyrics that hit the heart, and the vocals are rich without being strained. Clarkson's pipes make her a phenomenal belter, but I'm glad to hear in this album that the focus is on more pure singing instead of the near-shouting that was a little too prominent on Breakaway.
Still, we remember that Miss Kelly has a fierce, edgy side with "Whyyawannabringmedown" and "Tip Of My Tongue". The beats make you want to get up and dance, and the lyrics are catchy. These and the second radio single, "I Do Not Hook Up", make this a staple album for the road trip or drive around town with the girls -- hell, even your mom might sing along. Mine will!
All in all, All I Ever Wanted has a little bit of something for everybody and every mood. I think this album is the sort of quality work that will cement her reputation as a serious artist, and I can't wait to see what else she has to offer.
Buy the album now at Amazon or get it on iTunes
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Now playing: Kelly Clarkson - I Want You
via FoxyTunes
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Showing posts with label rave. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rave. Show all posts
11 October 2009
29 September 2009
Rave of the Day: Gilt
The lovely ladies of The Frisky have mentioned Gilt and Gilt Fuse a few times in the last week, and it got me thinking -- I love nice things, and I love not paying full price for them. So why not?
This morning, my invite to join came!
Here's the deal: you register your email address on their waiting list, then once they get to you they send an invitation for you to complete your account and get to shopping! (I signed up yesterday and it took less than 18 hours to get the invite.) Then, at noon every day they post a new sale that goes on for 36 hours. On Gilt you can find women's, men's, and children's fashions as well as home decor and travel sales, while on Gilt Fuse you can get great deals on everyday women's fashion.
So check it out, on me. Click this link and get shopping!
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This morning, my invite to join came!
Here's the deal: you register your email address on their waiting list, then once they get to you they send an invitation for you to complete your account and get to shopping! (I signed up yesterday and it took less than 18 hours to get the invite.) Then, at noon every day they post a new sale that goes on for 36 hours. On Gilt you can find women's, men's, and children's fashions as well as home decor and travel sales, while on Gilt Fuse you can get great deals on everyday women's fashion.
So check it out, on me. Click this link and get shopping!
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23 September 2009
"We cannot make this journey unless we all move forward together."
Just wanted to throw out a quick response to President Obama's speech to the U.N. General Assembly this morning. News links and more feedback to follow.
*spoiler alert!* It's speeches like this that remind me why I voted for Obama in the first place. If I tried to put down all the worthwhile quotes I would basically have transcribed the speech. What the President offered was a true departure from the often contentious relationship between previous administrations and the U.N., which we've been guilty of treating like the red-headed stepchild of international relations rather than a forum for true global governance.
In his speech, President Obama took responsibility for our past shortcomings but also reminded other states of theirs. He advocated for a forward-looking attitude when overcoming the huge issues that we face today. And he underscored the importance of engagement and cooperation between states and within the international organizations that we've helped to establish: "We cannot make this journey unless we all move forward together."
News links and further commentary to follow.
**UPDATE**
As promised...first up, coverage from Reuters:
Israel's Netanyahu welcomes Obama UN call for talks
First, PM Netanyahu, were we listening to the same speech? I'm pretty sure that President Obama's call for a two-state solution and his comments on the ongoing Israel-Palestine dispute weren't exactly pinpointing Palestinian authorities as the problem... Not to mention, my daily Torah emails yesterday included a censure of the President for his seemingly anti-Israel stance. All of that aside, however, the two-state solution is the only viable one, and once you all put aside your prejudices and (let's face it) greed you can actually begin working toward a sustainable peace for your people.
President Obama was right: the people who pay for these conflicts aren't the politicians or the military, but the innocent civilians who fear for their lives day after day, and who are separated from their loved ones by arbitrary boundaries.
Next up: The New York Times counts the visit a success, highlighting not only the President's speech to the General Assembly, but gains made through talks with foreign leaders throughout the day. Most notably, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev verbally committed to standing with the United States on pursuing tougher sanctions for Iran should they not make further progress in next month's talks.
I don't believe I have ever seen a piece in the NYT that was openly critical of the President, but in this case I have to agree with them wholeheartedly. The speech was an important first step in amending our approach to international relations, but it was not a complete departure from our past foreign policy. Rather, it demonstrated a pragmatic approach to the issues facing the world, and established our position on those issues as well as a commitment to work with the international community rather than against it.
For more coverage of the speech and the rest of President Obama's first day at the U.N., check out these stories from The Boston Globe, the BBC, and (for "balance") some interesting commentary from Sean Hannity.
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*spoiler alert!* It's speeches like this that remind me why I voted for Obama in the first place. If I tried to put down all the worthwhile quotes I would basically have transcribed the speech. What the President offered was a true departure from the often contentious relationship between previous administrations and the U.N., which we've been guilty of treating like the red-headed stepchild of international relations rather than a forum for true global governance.
In his speech, President Obama took responsibility for our past shortcomings but also reminded other states of theirs. He advocated for a forward-looking attitude when overcoming the huge issues that we face today. And he underscored the importance of engagement and cooperation between states and within the international organizations that we've helped to establish: "We cannot make this journey unless we all move forward together."
News links and further commentary to follow.
**UPDATE**
As promised...first up, coverage from Reuters:
Israel's Netanyahu welcomes Obama UN call for talks
First, PM Netanyahu, were we listening to the same speech? I'm pretty sure that President Obama's call for a two-state solution and his comments on the ongoing Israel-Palestine dispute weren't exactly pinpointing Palestinian authorities as the problem... Not to mention, my daily Torah emails yesterday included a censure of the President for his seemingly anti-Israel stance. All of that aside, however, the two-state solution is the only viable one, and once you all put aside your prejudices and (let's face it) greed you can actually begin working toward a sustainable peace for your people.
President Obama was right: the people who pay for these conflicts aren't the politicians or the military, but the innocent civilians who fear for their lives day after day, and who are separated from their loved ones by arbitrary boundaries.
Next up: The New York Times counts the visit a success, highlighting not only the President's speech to the General Assembly, but gains made through talks with foreign leaders throughout the day. Most notably, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev verbally committed to standing with the United States on pursuing tougher sanctions for Iran should they not make further progress in next month's talks.
I don't believe I have ever seen a piece in the NYT that was openly critical of the President, but in this case I have to agree with them wholeheartedly. The speech was an important first step in amending our approach to international relations, but it was not a complete departure from our past foreign policy. Rather, it demonstrated a pragmatic approach to the issues facing the world, and established our position on those issues as well as a commitment to work with the international community rather than against it.
For more coverage of the speech and the rest of President Obama's first day at the U.N., check out these stories from The Boston Globe, the BBC, and (for "balance") some interesting commentary from Sean Hannity.
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30 July 2009
Hell of a Friendship Bracelet
Friends' plan to swim English Channel in limbo over visa
The Channeling Peace Initiative
We are all fortunate to have friends who care about us, for whom we would jump in our car at three a.m. just to talk them out of something stupid (or join them in doing it). We commemorate friendship in any number of ways, with pictures and notes passed in class, with yearbook comments and friendship bracelets.
Swimming the English Channel? That is a hell of a friendship bracelet. But for those who know Usman and David, who can expect anything less?
The Channeling Peace Intitiative has been a source of hope and inspiration for those of us who have been a part of it, from the passerby who visits the site periodically or who may have stumbled on the story on CNN to the friends and family who are closest to these two awesome men, and those of us who have sent letters of support or additional documentation through available channels to help push for Usman's emergency visa.
The window is closing for the swim to take place, so in a few short days there will be a resolution to the legal/administrative question at hand. But I say this to you: this venture has already been a success. As Usman said in his interview: "Even if I have to swim in a lake in Pakistan while David swims in the English Channel, it's still a powerful symbol."
Because they took on this project. Because they have the support of parents and friends from Pakistan, the United States, and worldwide. Because an entire college community -- students, faculty/staff, and alumni (mad love OWU!) -- are standing behind them as they work toward a goal far greater than making the strokes and taking the breaths to make it across the English Channel...
They are tying knots in the world's biggest, most visible friendship bracelet.
And that's a hell of a thing.
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The Channeling Peace Initiative
We are all fortunate to have friends who care about us, for whom we would jump in our car at three a.m. just to talk them out of something stupid (or join them in doing it). We commemorate friendship in any number of ways, with pictures and notes passed in class, with yearbook comments and friendship bracelets.
Swimming the English Channel? That is a hell of a friendship bracelet. But for those who know Usman and David, who can expect anything less?
The Channeling Peace Intitiative has been a source of hope and inspiration for those of us who have been a part of it, from the passerby who visits the site periodically or who may have stumbled on the story on CNN to the friends and family who are closest to these two awesome men, and those of us who have sent letters of support or additional documentation through available channels to help push for Usman's emergency visa.
The window is closing for the swim to take place, so in a few short days there will be a resolution to the legal/administrative question at hand. But I say this to you: this venture has already been a success. As Usman said in his interview: "Even if I have to swim in a lake in Pakistan while David swims in the English Channel, it's still a powerful symbol."
Because they took on this project. Because they have the support of parents and friends from Pakistan, the United States, and worldwide. Because an entire college community -- students, faculty/staff, and alumni (mad love OWU!) -- are standing behind them as they work toward a goal far greater than making the strokes and taking the breaths to make it across the English Channel...
They are tying knots in the world's biggest, most visible friendship bracelet.
And that's a hell of a thing.
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20 June 2009
The Uprising
Iran Updates: Live-Blogging The Uprising
Protestors beaten, tear-gassed in streets (developing story)
There is little to say, and so much.
The world's eyes are on the events unfolding as we speak in Tehran. And while there is a push for a public response from our own political leaders, there is concern that such a response could undermine the Iranians' pursuits rather than aid them. I am inclined to agree, and to this point President Obama's comments about the ongoing protests have been appropriate. (See HuffPost's live blog, 2:47 pm update)
That, however, does not mean that as everyday citizens we should remain silent. No -- we are citizens of the world, descendants of brave men and women like those who are today dying for their right to have their voices heard when it comes to the selection of their political leaders. Though we be not Muslim, and though our beliefs may not align with the Iranian people's, still we should unite with them in recognition of their inalienable rights to freedom and expression -- we share those rights, and we should share their struggle, if only in spirit.
Just as important is the reminder we should take from the Iranian people. Though they were threatened with and now face oppression, violence and the possibility of death, they do not turn tail and flee. Instead, they stand strong for what they believe in and continue to face those who would oppress them. Their struggle today should inspire each of us to be proactive in facing our challenges, rather than sitting back as passive observers to the decisions that will affect our lives. More, we should each remember the protests and struggles of yesterday that have allowed us the ability to openly question the decisions of our elected leaders without fear of reprisal.
Today, my heart, my mind and my prayers are with the people of Iran, and I stand beside them in spirit as I wish I could in person. I hope you can say the same.
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Protestors beaten, tear-gassed in streets (developing story)
There is little to say, and so much.
The world's eyes are on the events unfolding as we speak in Tehran. And while there is a push for a public response from our own political leaders, there is concern that such a response could undermine the Iranians' pursuits rather than aid them. I am inclined to agree, and to this point President Obama's comments about the ongoing protests have been appropriate. (See HuffPost's live blog, 2:47 pm update)
That, however, does not mean that as everyday citizens we should remain silent. No -- we are citizens of the world, descendants of brave men and women like those who are today dying for their right to have their voices heard when it comes to the selection of their political leaders. Though we be not Muslim, and though our beliefs may not align with the Iranian people's, still we should unite with them in recognition of their inalienable rights to freedom and expression -- we share those rights, and we should share their struggle, if only in spirit.
Just as important is the reminder we should take from the Iranian people. Though they were threatened with and now face oppression, violence and the possibility of death, they do not turn tail and flee. Instead, they stand strong for what they believe in and continue to face those who would oppress them. Their struggle today should inspire each of us to be proactive in facing our challenges, rather than sitting back as passive observers to the decisions that will affect our lives. More, we should each remember the protests and struggles of yesterday that have allowed us the ability to openly question the decisions of our elected leaders without fear of reprisal.
Today, my heart, my mind and my prayers are with the people of Iran, and I stand beside them in spirit as I wish I could in person. I hope you can say the same.
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07 May 2009
Better than flowers, perhaps...
Mind of Man: What I Learned From My Mother
Okay, I'll admit it: I'm a Frisky fanatic. Every day I check the site for the latest news, blogs, and things I maybe wish I had. One of my favourite columns is John Devore's "Mind of Man" -- not because he's a closet feminist who tells the ladyfolk what they want to hear, but because he's unapologetically frank about what makes his particular man-brain tick. And by doing so, he reminds us that being overly critical of the opposite sex is just as self-defeating as being overly critical of ourselves.
But I digress. This week's addition is a reflective and beautifully written piece about his mom, and thus how he views Mother's Day (which is coming up, people, don't forget!) It got me thinking about all of the things that I learned from my own mother, and how she shaped me to be the person I am today.
When I was old enough to start understanding who my mother is, she was already a single parent. I remember the shuffle between home and the babysitter's so that she could get to work and then to school...I would go off to preschool and later, skip the babysitter's and go straight to school...after her hours of work upon work she would come pick us up and we would go home for hours more of homework and keeping house. She still played with us, cooked us meals and showed us that she loved us more than anything in the world.
I learned responsibility early. Once we were old enough to stay home my brother and I were both given chores to help contribute. I may not have liked the idea that I had to wash dishes, watch my brother or (attempt to) do laundry, but what I did like is that I could help Mommy by taking some of the load off of her shoulders.
She also taught me forgiveness, and the capacity of the human heart to love despite betrayal and anguish. She forgave my father and took him back, again and again, even after all of the terrible things he did. Some would call that foolishness, and I'll agree with them -- after all, the heart that can love is the heart most capable of foolishness. To this day she loves the man she married 27 years ago, divorced 19 years ago, and remarried 8 years ago this Monday.
But Mom has learned something of herself, as well: her own strength. She learned that loving someone doesn't mean you have to be with them, and sometimes it's wiser if painful to let them go. She found a way to use her lowest points and the awful things that happened to her to build a vocation centered on helping others to overcome what she has overcome. Mom taught me that only you can set the terms of your own life...you can triumph over adversity, or lie still as it tramples you. She graduates on Saturday, and I couldn't be more proud.
No matter what's passed, there is always the chance to make something better out of it. The world, harsh and unforgiving as it can often be, also has an amazing capacity for giving second chances. You can't forget where you've been or you'll go there again, but you also can't forget to love, and love deeply -- even if it's not meant to be. And at the end of the day, the person you have to love is yourself, flaws and all. (Maybe my mom can learn something from me too...)
I'm brash and outspoken, prone to bouts of silliness. When I love I do so completely and unashamedly, even when I realize that it's not meant to be. I'm glad of the life I was given, and I want to make something even better of it. And at the end of the day, I look in the mirror and see my mother. And that's just fine with me.
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Okay, I'll admit it: I'm a Frisky fanatic. Every day I check the site for the latest news, blogs, and things I maybe wish I had. One of my favourite columns is John Devore's "Mind of Man" -- not because he's a closet feminist who tells the ladyfolk what they want to hear, but because he's unapologetically frank about what makes his particular man-brain tick. And by doing so, he reminds us that being overly critical of the opposite sex is just as self-defeating as being overly critical of ourselves.
But I digress. This week's addition is a reflective and beautifully written piece about his mom, and thus how he views Mother's Day (which is coming up, people, don't forget!) It got me thinking about all of the things that I learned from my own mother, and how she shaped me to be the person I am today.
When I was old enough to start understanding who my mother is, she was already a single parent. I remember the shuffle between home and the babysitter's so that she could get to work and then to school...I would go off to preschool and later, skip the babysitter's and go straight to school...after her hours of work upon work she would come pick us up and we would go home for hours more of homework and keeping house. She still played with us, cooked us meals and showed us that she loved us more than anything in the world.
I learned responsibility early. Once we were old enough to stay home my brother and I were both given chores to help contribute. I may not have liked the idea that I had to wash dishes, watch my brother or (attempt to) do laundry, but what I did like is that I could help Mommy by taking some of the load off of her shoulders.
She also taught me forgiveness, and the capacity of the human heart to love despite betrayal and anguish. She forgave my father and took him back, again and again, even after all of the terrible things he did. Some would call that foolishness, and I'll agree with them -- after all, the heart that can love is the heart most capable of foolishness. To this day she loves the man she married 27 years ago, divorced 19 years ago, and remarried 8 years ago this Monday.
But Mom has learned something of herself, as well: her own strength. She learned that loving someone doesn't mean you have to be with them, and sometimes it's wiser if painful to let them go. She found a way to use her lowest points and the awful things that happened to her to build a vocation centered on helping others to overcome what she has overcome. Mom taught me that only you can set the terms of your own life...you can triumph over adversity, or lie still as it tramples you. She graduates on Saturday, and I couldn't be more proud.
No matter what's passed, there is always the chance to make something better out of it. The world, harsh and unforgiving as it can often be, also has an amazing capacity for giving second chances. You can't forget where you've been or you'll go there again, but you also can't forget to love, and love deeply -- even if it's not meant to be. And at the end of the day, the person you have to love is yourself, flaws and all. (Maybe my mom can learn something from me too...)
I'm brash and outspoken, prone to bouts of silliness. When I love I do so completely and unashamedly, even when I realize that it's not meant to be. I'm glad of the life I was given, and I want to make something even better of it. And at the end of the day, I look in the mirror and see my mother. And that's just fine with me.
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07 April 2009
D.C.'s on the bandwagon too? Capitol!
D.C. council recognizes gay marriage
I'm tapped...just...wow. Overcome with pride in all of these places and people who have recognized that LGBT rights are equal rights.
Now I'm going to go before I have a Glenn Beck moment.
*sniffle* I just...love my country... ROFL
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I'm tapped...just...wow. Overcome with pride in all of these places and people who have recognized that LGBT rights are equal rights.
Now I'm going to go before I have a Glenn Beck moment.
*sniffle* I just...love my country... ROFL
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Ready to wed, part two: Vermont
Vermont passes gay-marriage bill
There's not much I can add to my thoughts on same-sex marriage after the uplifting message delivered by the Iowa Supreme Court just the other day. But I think it's important to also recognize the Vermont legislature for standing up to a governor who seems to believe that milquetoast excuses will somehow soften the blow of a gubernatorial veto on such an important piece of legislation. Dear Governor Douglas, we all realize that the battle is far from over. But now that there is a bill in place allowing same-sex couples to marry, the obstacles you say they will yet face will be weaker in the confrontation.
To the 43 states currently prohibiting gay marriage through legislation...get your heads out of your asses. To the next crop of states (New Hampshire and Maine) considering same-sex marriage bills: pass them as soon as possible!
And to everyone out there, I would like to point out one simple part of our legislative framework: our states are set up to recognize the rights of those from other states as if they live in our own, and to recognize rulings and decisions of other states as valid. That being said, it is unlawful for any state (even one with anti-same-sex marriage legislation on the books) to not recognize the lawful marriage of a same-sex couple if it was carried out according to the law in a state that allows and performs same-sex marriages. Chew on that for a bit.
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There's not much I can add to my thoughts on same-sex marriage after the uplifting message delivered by the Iowa Supreme Court just the other day. But I think it's important to also recognize the Vermont legislature for standing up to a governor who seems to believe that milquetoast excuses will somehow soften the blow of a gubernatorial veto on such an important piece of legislation. Dear Governor Douglas, we all realize that the battle is far from over. But now that there is a bill in place allowing same-sex couples to marry, the obstacles you say they will yet face will be weaker in the confrontation.
To the 43 states currently prohibiting gay marriage through legislation...get your heads out of your asses. To the next crop of states (New Hampshire and Maine) considering same-sex marriage bills: pass them as soon as possible!
And to everyone out there, I would like to point out one simple part of our legislative framework: our states are set up to recognize the rights of those from other states as if they live in our own, and to recognize rulings and decisions of other states as valid. That being said, it is unlawful for any state (even one with anti-same-sex marriage legislation on the books) to not recognize the lawful marriage of a same-sex couple if it was carried out according to the law in a state that allows and performs same-sex marriages. Chew on that for a bit.
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05 April 2009
"Corn-fed and ready to wed!" -- Iowa S.C. upholds same-sex marriage
Gay marriages expected to begin in Iowa April 24
Iowa Supreme Court: Gay marriage ban unconstitutional
The Meaning of Iowa's Gay Marriage Decision - TIME
"The Iowa statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution." ~ from the text of the Iowa Supreme Court's 68-page decision, which you can find here.
Way. To. Go. Iowa.
It is truly heartwarming to be able to look at my dearest friends in the LGBT community and know that in one more place their right to marry and share a life together has been affirmed. And why shouldn't they? Love is blind, as they say (whoever "they" are), so people should not be restricted from showing love to those for whom they feel it. My feelings for a man are no more or less valid than my sister's love for her girlfriend or my best friend's desire to find a man with whom he can share his life.
Separation of church and state means that for the state, no religious doctrine should dictate the rights of the people. Why should I be subject to the laws of Christianity when I identify as Jewish? Why should atheists or agnostics in our "free" society be bound by strictures to which they themselves do not subscribe?
The Iowa Supreme Court, through their decision and the accompanying explanation, have demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that they understand this and that they are acting in the interest of the people -- all the people, not just the ones who believe that their religion should dictate everybody else's way of life. (I realize that might sound offensive. Deal.)
Of course, there are people who disagree. Just read the first article linked above; the tone of the entire piece is so negative that I'm almost forced to question the writer's impartiality. That is the primary reason why, in the interest of showing multiple sides to what has become a complicated issue, I've given you three articles instead of the typical one. At any rate, all this means is that the fight isn't over. The LGBTA (the "A" stands for "Allies", heterosexual individuals who identify with and support the LGBT community's struggle for equality) community will be forced to not only fight for new ground, but to emphatically defend the ground we have won in this decision.
I'm struck at the irony of those who are against same-sex marriage feeling disenfranchised by this decision. Here's a quick thought: this isn't about you. I know that hurts, but for the umpteenth time I will remind you to consider how you would feel if someone tried to take from you the fundamental right to share your life with the person you love. Nobody said you have to attend a same-sex wedding, and nobody is forcing you to change your beliefs or begin carrying rainbow flags. What we are asking you -- what I am asking you -- is to, for the sake of whatever god you follow, MYOB and let other people seek happiness too.
Rants and Raves home
Iowa Supreme Court: Gay marriage ban unconstitutional
The Meaning of Iowa's Gay Marriage Decision - TIME
"The Iowa statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution." ~ from the text of the Iowa Supreme Court's 68-page decision, which you can find here.
Way. To. Go. Iowa.
It is truly heartwarming to be able to look at my dearest friends in the LGBT community and know that in one more place their right to marry and share a life together has been affirmed. And why shouldn't they? Love is blind, as they say (whoever "they" are), so people should not be restricted from showing love to those for whom they feel it. My feelings for a man are no more or less valid than my sister's love for her girlfriend or my best friend's desire to find a man with whom he can share his life.
Separation of church and state means that for the state, no religious doctrine should dictate the rights of the people. Why should I be subject to the laws of Christianity when I identify as Jewish? Why should atheists or agnostics in our "free" society be bound by strictures to which they themselves do not subscribe?
The Iowa Supreme Court, through their decision and the accompanying explanation, have demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that they understand this and that they are acting in the interest of the people -- all the people, not just the ones who believe that their religion should dictate everybody else's way of life. (I realize that might sound offensive. Deal.)
Of course, there are people who disagree. Just read the first article linked above; the tone of the entire piece is so negative that I'm almost forced to question the writer's impartiality. That is the primary reason why, in the interest of showing multiple sides to what has become a complicated issue, I've given you three articles instead of the typical one. At any rate, all this means is that the fight isn't over. The LGBTA (the "A" stands for "Allies", heterosexual individuals who identify with and support the LGBT community's struggle for equality) community will be forced to not only fight for new ground, but to emphatically defend the ground we have won in this decision.
I'm struck at the irony of those who are against same-sex marriage feeling disenfranchised by this decision. Here's a quick thought: this isn't about you. I know that hurts, but for the umpteenth time I will remind you to consider how you would feel if someone tried to take from you the fundamental right to share your life with the person you love. Nobody said you have to attend a same-sex wedding, and nobody is forcing you to change your beliefs or begin carrying rainbow flags. What we are asking you -- what I am asking you -- is to, for the sake of whatever god you follow, MYOB and let other people seek happiness too.
Rants and Raves home
04 April 2009
Happy Birthday NATO, and...many more?
Obama hails 5,000 more NATO forces for Afghanistan
In the build-up to NATO's 60th anniversary summit in Strasbourg/Kehl, there has been a lot of speculation from every corner about President Obama's campaign to increase Allied support for combat and reconstructive operations in Afghanistan. The article above, courtesy of The Huffington Post, announces that the Allies have volunteered an additional 5000 troops for military training and police purposes. While not combat troops, this can be touted as a success on President Obama's part and an indication that while NATO may yet be suffering from an identity crisis, the time for this organization is not quite over.
Now more than ever, on its 60th birthday, NATO is suffering from a crisis of relevance that is not easily solved. The European Union has increased in strength as a viable economic and political agreement between its member countries, and for several years the discussion has turned toward supporting a military framework within the EU. Such a transition, of course, would ensure NATO's complete obsolescence in a few short years; after all, how many organizations are necessary to promote security on the European continent, and what sorts of drawbacks exist for the country that overextends itself through military commitment to two security-focused IGOs?
Anybody who knows me understands that I have a special love for NATO. I am the last one to hope that the organization falls into the category of irrelevant commitments, but it would be foolish to ignore the possibility. That being said, it is time for the Allied states to come together for the express purpose of determining where they will take the organization in the next several years. As convenient as it may seem for EU member countries to consolidate their cooperation into one overarching intergovernmental mechanism, I believe they run the risk of hyperextending themselves in other areas if they attempt military integration through the EU rather than updating the existing frameworks of NATO.
The biggest risk at this point, clearly, is economic. With the recession continuing across the continent (and indeed, the world), it is folly to abandon the bodies and protocols in place for military support and defence while attempting at the same time to build similar mechanisms under a different helm. It makes far more sense at the present to maintain NATO as the primary collective security alliance; redefine the organization's aims and abilities as necessary; and focus energy in the EU on turning back the tide of economic recession.
It happens every year, of course -- this question of NATO's relevance and if/when the foreign ministers will meet in the NAC for the last time -- but for the moment, if I had a chance to address those heads of state I would remind them that there are more pressing matters about which to concern themselves, and to waste the time and resources to shift gears at such a crucial juncture would be one of the worst possible decisions to make.
Rants and Raves home
In the build-up to NATO's 60th anniversary summit in Strasbourg/Kehl, there has been a lot of speculation from every corner about President Obama's campaign to increase Allied support for combat and reconstructive operations in Afghanistan. The article above, courtesy of The Huffington Post, announces that the Allies have volunteered an additional 5000 troops for military training and police purposes. While not combat troops, this can be touted as a success on President Obama's part and an indication that while NATO may yet be suffering from an identity crisis, the time for this organization is not quite over.
Now more than ever, on its 60th birthday, NATO is suffering from a crisis of relevance that is not easily solved. The European Union has increased in strength as a viable economic and political agreement between its member countries, and for several years the discussion has turned toward supporting a military framework within the EU. Such a transition, of course, would ensure NATO's complete obsolescence in a few short years; after all, how many organizations are necessary to promote security on the European continent, and what sorts of drawbacks exist for the country that overextends itself through military commitment to two security-focused IGOs?
Anybody who knows me understands that I have a special love for NATO. I am the last one to hope that the organization falls into the category of irrelevant commitments, but it would be foolish to ignore the possibility. That being said, it is time for the Allied states to come together for the express purpose of determining where they will take the organization in the next several years. As convenient as it may seem for EU member countries to consolidate their cooperation into one overarching intergovernmental mechanism, I believe they run the risk of hyperextending themselves in other areas if they attempt military integration through the EU rather than updating the existing frameworks of NATO.
The biggest risk at this point, clearly, is economic. With the recession continuing across the continent (and indeed, the world), it is folly to abandon the bodies and protocols in place for military support and defence while attempting at the same time to build similar mechanisms under a different helm. It makes far more sense at the present to maintain NATO as the primary collective security alliance; redefine the organization's aims and abilities as necessary; and focus energy in the EU on turning back the tide of economic recession.
It happens every year, of course -- this question of NATO's relevance and if/when the foreign ministers will meet in the NAC for the last time -- but for the moment, if I had a chance to address those heads of state I would remind them that there are more pressing matters about which to concern themselves, and to waste the time and resources to shift gears at such a crucial juncture would be one of the worst possible decisions to make.
Rants and Raves home
01 April 2009
When "The Next Generation" means Star Trek reruns...
My Uterus, Husband, and I Agree - No Children
I remember sitting at the family dinner table last Easter, when my brother and his fiancee brought up the idea of children to my mom. The exact words escape me, but the point was "sorry Mom, no grandkids from us." Reading the article linked above, courtesy of The Frisky, brought me back to that conversation and several others I've had with my Mom on the topic since then.
You see, I am now my mother's only hope.
My s-i-l to be has great reasons for not wanting children, among them the exact explanation that Divine Caroline brings up: "I want it to be all about my husband...I want his life to be all about me, too." Well played, and more admirable than lamentable, IMHO.
Slightly unrelated but still in the same ballpark of questions and answers is the argument I got against marriage to begin with -- if someone has no respect for a particular institution or feels that they can live their life fully and happily without it, why on earth would they do it to satisfy another's wishes, or just to fit in with a crowd that is increasingly coupled up?
When I was a little girl all I wanted when I came home from a hard day of being the President, a doctor, a lawyer, a ballerina and my night shift at McDonald's was to come in the house to see my handsome, sweet and successful husband and kiss my 2-3 well-behaved and intelligent children. (Ambition has never been a problem...) Now I'm almost 23. I look around me and see college friends...high school friends...married with one or two children and I think, good for you. If you're doing what makes you happy then stick with it. But it's not for me.
And I don't know into which category I fall just yet. It's possible that my disdain for marriage and my unwillingness to have children are just by-products of my generation, where it's acceptable and even encouraged to expand your horizons and make something of yourself before you attempt to make something of someone else. Maybe I'll change my mind.
But maybe I won't. If I don't, though, and you feel the need to start asking questions, look for this article in your inbox.
Rants and Raves home
I remember sitting at the family dinner table last Easter, when my brother and his fiancee brought up the idea of children to my mom. The exact words escape me, but the point was "sorry Mom, no grandkids from us." Reading the article linked above, courtesy of The Frisky, brought me back to that conversation and several others I've had with my Mom on the topic since then.
You see, I am now my mother's only hope.
My s-i-l to be has great reasons for not wanting children, among them the exact explanation that Divine Caroline brings up: "I want it to be all about my husband...I want his life to be all about me, too." Well played, and more admirable than lamentable, IMHO.
Slightly unrelated but still in the same ballpark of questions and answers is the argument I got against marriage to begin with -- if someone has no respect for a particular institution or feels that they can live their life fully and happily without it, why on earth would they do it to satisfy another's wishes, or just to fit in with a crowd that is increasingly coupled up?
When I was a little girl all I wanted when I came home from a hard day of being the President, a doctor, a lawyer, a ballerina and my night shift at McDonald's was to come in the house to see my handsome, sweet and successful husband and kiss my 2-3 well-behaved and intelligent children. (Ambition has never been a problem...) Now I'm almost 23. I look around me and see college friends...high school friends...married with one or two children and I think, good for you. If you're doing what makes you happy then stick with it. But it's not for me.
And I don't know into which category I fall just yet. It's possible that my disdain for marriage and my unwillingness to have children are just by-products of my generation, where it's acceptable and even encouraged to expand your horizons and make something of yourself before you attempt to make something of someone else. Maybe I'll change my mind.
But maybe I won't. If I don't, though, and you feel the need to start asking questions, look for this article in your inbox.
Rants and Raves home
19 February 2009
Paying it Forward
Family of 5 weathers economy with 7 housemates
I spent the better part of my teenage years in a dual household. Four adults, four kids, five rooms and two bathrooms. Shared expenses, extra-large meals. Making it work together when alone we would have failed. It wasn't paradise, and likely not what any of the adults had in mind when they imagined building a life. There were squabbles, and turf battles over who could discipline whom or whose turn it was to do the dishes.
But that made us stronger, and contributed to our ability to collaborate for the greater good. If you look closely, you can see it in each of us.
That's what really touched me about the Frankel family and the ways in which they have expanded to pay it forward at a time when such generosity is desperately needed and difficult to find. Austin Chu calls the Frankels "an example of America at its best", and he is so right. We all have worries about tomorrow, about making ends meet, about caring for ourselves. How much more rewarding, then, to turn survival into a team effort and come out so far ahead that mere survival turns into thriving.
Today is not the day that all news will be good. There is so much wrong with our society, or economy -- our world -- that it will be a long time before the headlines scream positivity. That makes it all the more important to embrace these fleeting examples of real hope for our future. These are the lessons that we should tuck away and pull out to teach the younger generations the importance of connecting with others. Apathy is a disease, but it can be cured.
Rants and Raves home
I spent the better part of my teenage years in a dual household. Four adults, four kids, five rooms and two bathrooms. Shared expenses, extra-large meals. Making it work together when alone we would have failed. It wasn't paradise, and likely not what any of the adults had in mind when they imagined building a life. There were squabbles, and turf battles over who could discipline whom or whose turn it was to do the dishes.
But that made us stronger, and contributed to our ability to collaborate for the greater good. If you look closely, you can see it in each of us.
That's what really touched me about the Frankel family and the ways in which they have expanded to pay it forward at a time when such generosity is desperately needed and difficult to find. Austin Chu calls the Frankels "an example of America at its best", and he is so right. We all have worries about tomorrow, about making ends meet, about caring for ourselves. How much more rewarding, then, to turn survival into a team effort and come out so far ahead that mere survival turns into thriving.
Today is not the day that all news will be good. There is so much wrong with our society, or economy -- our world -- that it will be a long time before the headlines scream positivity. That makes it all the more important to embrace these fleeting examples of real hope for our future. These are the lessons that we should tuck away and pull out to teach the younger generations the importance of connecting with others. Apathy is a disease, but it can be cured.
Rants and Raves home
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