Twenty Something in the City

Religion Gone Wrong: Blinded by the Light

2007-02-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

"He really believes Jesus is taken up in his heart and soul"

-stated by the well known spiritual author, Stephen Mansfield, in reference to George W. Bush's deep faith.

This ticker counts the civilian deaths that have occurred in Iraq, not the deaths of terrorists, but the deaths of the innocent, including many young children. Need I say more?

Cagliari, Italy Named Healthiest Place in the World

2007-01-29T15:55:00.000-08:00

If Hillary Clinton wants to learn something about health for her universal health care campaign, perhaps she should visit Cagliari, Italy. Residents in the area say that they live stress free lives and that health efforts go beyond physical endeavors. This small Italian community is just another example, that simplicity has numerous advantages. Costa Rica, the Japanese island of Okinawa and Loma Linda, CA are other areas of the world that are home to the healthiest people.

We Yabba-Dabba Do Miss You, Joe

2006-12-19T21:54:00.000-08:00

When I was a little kid I carried a sketch book with me everywhere I went. I loved drawing cartoons and I was fascinated with animation. Last night, I was laying on my couch, having just finished off my toes with a coat of red polish, so that they would sparkle for my office Holiday party, when my ears perked up to the news that Joe Barbera had passed away. Sadly, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer reported that Mr. Barbera had died at age 95 in Studio City, California.

As pioneers of animation, Mr. Barbera and his colleague, Bill Hanna, created countless American cartoon favorites. The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry, The Jetsons, and Yogi Bear were all part of their magic. As an adult, it is still upsetting to me to think that these cartoons are only penciled drawings because as a child they were always so alive to me. Indeed this is what was so significant about Mr. Barbera’s contribution to the human spirit. He not only had a fantastic imagination but he also provided children and adults with ethical characters that were familiar and fun. Not only are these characters part of the Warner Brothers Family but they also are part of countless American families. They were the characters on our bed sheets that made us feel safe and the Saturday afternoon cartoons that made us laugh. I can only wish that Mr. Barbera is now in a place that is as warm and bright as the good times that he has brought to so many cartoon lovers like me.

I am still curious however, why was there only one girl Smurf?

Iraq Study Group Releases A Long Overdue Dose of Reality on Cowboy Bush

2006-12-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

The Iraq Study Group has released a report, which calls for an end to the US combat role in Iraq by 2008. CNN has stated that the report asks for an end to Bush’s “Stay-the- Course” strategy, or else our Iraqi foreign policy will be doomed to fail. The report also calls for the Administration to begin direct talks with Iran and Syria. Lee Hamilton who is Co-chair of the Iraq study group, stated, “You can’t look at this part of the world and pick and choose which countries you’re going to deal with.”
In my opinion, the only area where the report fell short was its title; “The Iraq Study Group Report.”

“Bush, You Are A Dumbass,” seems much more comprehensive and appropriate to me.

Bush, himself had the following to say about the report’s conclusions, “The country is tired of pure political bickering.” No, Mr. Bush, the country is simply just tired of you.

Romney To Show Off His True Red Colors Through Negative Ads

2006-11-22T14:00:00.000-08:00

A typical Republican move, Mitt Romney has appointed a highly negative media strategist to help run his “possible” 2008 presidential campaign. One would think that he had learned something from the mistakes of his friend, Ms. Kerry Healey, whose negative campaign tactics recently failed her in her efforts to become governor of Massachusetts. Nonetheless, Mitt has selected Mr. Alex Castellanos to manage his campaign ads. Most Republicans agree that when you’re looking to create negative ads, Castellanos is your man. The Boston Globe has also reported that, Castellanos himself stated in a 1998 PBS broadcast that negative messages are the most effective.

In 1990 Castellanos aired a television ad for former senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina that criticized his challenger, Harvey Gantt. Gantt was a black man that supported racial quotas. The disingenuous ad depicted a pair of white hands ripping up a rejection letter from a job. The position had gone to a black man instead. At a time when a black man’s salary was on average roughly 49% lower than that of a white man’s salary, this ad was an insult to the black community. Castellanos should be ashamed of having used racist moves to manipulate the American public. The ad clearly misrepresented the historical significance of affirmative action.

Hasn’t America had enough negativity and scare tactics, Mitt? Your campaign isn’t even a reality yet, but as a Massachusetts resident I am already put off by it.

Let’s Make Some Peace, December 22nd

2006-11-21T10:05:00.000-08:00

Soldiers lay down your guns for some upcoming peace, love, harmony and orgasms. Two peace activists from San Francisco, Donna Sheehan and Paul Reffell, are calling for a world wide anti-war demonstration on December 22. The couple is asking for people to stay inside on the first day of winter and make love! They want as many people as possible to have an orgasm on December 22, in an effort to focus on the beautiful feeling of peace.

“The orgasm gives out an incredible feeling of peace during and after it. Your mind is blank. It’s like a meditative state. And mass meditations have been shown to make a change” - Reffell

Ms. Sheehan, who is of no relation to the infamous anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, has been a part of similar peace demonstrations before. In 2002 she organized a movement called “Baring Witness,” which brought together nearly 50 women who spelled out the word, Peace with their naked bodies. What a way to arouse people to the abuses of war. The couple has studied evolutionary psychology and they believe that war results from the male ego, in which men try to prove themselves superior to other potential mates. Their aim is to channel this sexual energy into a synchronized global organism, promoting world peace. A great amount of support for the movement is visible on the couples’ website, http://www.globalorgasm.org/

How wonderful would it be if a surplus of Babies were born from this movement? They would always remain a symbol of what peace can accomplish.

I can already imagine the extreme right wingers complaining about this …

“Those damn liberals! They think they can just have sex with whomever they want and solve world problems, how immoral! When will they learn that bombs are what Jesus really wanted.”

On a final note, a shout out to Bill O’Reilly- Bill, This does not make it okay for you to have sex with Iraqi children.

- Peace out

Breaking News: Bye Bye Hastert, Hello Pelosi!

2006-11-16T08:59:00.000-08:00

Nancy Pelosi became the first woman Speaker of the House today! Democrats unanimously voted her in as she promised to wipe the House floors clean of corruption. The job is second in line of succession to the presidency. Minutes after her victory she endorsed Representative John Murtha of Pennsylvania to take the house majority spot.

“We made history and now we will make progress for the American people"

- Nancy Pelosi, minutes after becoming the first woman Speaker

An Apple Product A Day Keeps Sensibility Away!

2006-11-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

Here’s a great Holiday gift, an Ipod holder for your underwear! If you are frustrated by not being able to bring your Ipod with you absolutely everywhere, than this is the product for you. If you feel that having cool ipod accessories such as speakers, plug in USB ports and neon sock holders is simply not enough to keep up with the Joneses, don’t despair Apple has more options for you. iGroove panties, pictured above are the newest hot item. What will they think of next?! A fellow colleague, Joe D. had this to say about the new product,

“I can’t decide if this is sexy or disturbing.”

Don’t worry, Joe they have Ipod holders for you too! Check out the picture below.

I can't decide what is cooler this new look or man-pri's!

WELCOME TO THE CORNER OFFICE, DEVAL PATRICK

2006-11-08T14:45:00.000-08:00

I was just a little girl when Mr. Dukakis left the corner office behind. Since then, my hometown blue state of Massachusetts has been dominated by the GOP for sixteen years. However, during yesterday’s election you could almost hear the thud the party made as the democrats swept the election. Deval Patrick became the first black governor elected in Massachusetts history and the second black governor in the nation since Reconstruction. He led a rich grass roots campaign that refused to accept Republican mudslinging. On the issue of race, some Mass. residents are hopefully that this election will bring positive change to race relations in the state but others are fearful that the new governor will face too many challenges because of his race. Gay residents, on the other hand, are thankful that Deval is heading to the corner office because of his support of marriage equality. This is especially important since the House and Senate are set to vote on whether a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage should be on the ballot in 2008.

Deval was my man from the start because of his confidence and where he stood on the issues. If he follows through on his promises which include expanding health care, improving public schools, creating new job opportunities and confronting the Big Dig he will be a success in this state. However, it is easy to run a campaign of hope in an effort to rally up the people, but it is much more difficult to bring direction to altruistic ideas in a state filled with leaders who are so resistant to change that they don’t know how to work their own email accounts. Deval will announce his team sometime next week. I hope that he chooses some fresh, young faces to help him lead the state in the right direction. The same old Beacon Hill cronies who only care about getting their name in the paper have got to wake up. Deval has improved the state’s mind-set by showing us what is possible so let’s trust that he will stick to his politics of hope and not fall short on his promises.

The Results Are In:Women Can Have it All

2006-10-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

The results are in ladies, smartness is cool. Dr. Christine Whelan’s new book, titled Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women, discusses the changes that have occurred in the attitudes of men and in society in general in respect to successful, smart women and their prospects of a satisfying marriage. Previous studies reported that men would prefer to marry a woman that they consider to be subordinate and/or a woman who has a lower IQ score than themselves. These studies claimed that strong women with successful careers were too intimidating to many men. They left thousands of women around the country afraid of pursuing higher education or promotions in their professional lives because of a growing concern that successful work lives could not go hand in hand with their dreams of a happily ever after life.

Having recently finished her own PhD, Mrs. Whelan is alerting American women that the data collected from these old studies has changed drastically over the past few decades and that the old myths are dead. No longer are men standing all by their lonesome in boardrooms across the country. Whelan refers to these new women who have appeared in all types of successful professional roles, as SWANS- Strong Women Achievers No Spouse. She believes that these “SWANS” have an excellent chance of getting married, having children and living happily ever after, not despite their smartness but because of their smartness. She explains that men are intrigued by smart women who they can relate to on an intellectual basis. Moreover, women who marry later in life after they have pursued thriving careers have a better chance of making the right choice of who to marry and live more well rounded lives.

“In 2006, high achieving women are just as likely – if not more likely – to get married and have happy, healthy relationships as they pursue their career dreams.” – Whelan

In pursuing law school, Ashley and I have both heard the backlash of the old myths, too often. We have been hit with everything from, “Are women aggressive enough to be attorneys?” to -“Don’t you want to have children?” There is no doubt that choosing to become an attorney is a time consuming and challenging life adventure, but we both agree that we are glad that “The Three Choice Days” are over. The Three Choice Days were the years in which women were entering the workforce in droves but they only had three real career choices. They were going to become either a teacher, nurse or secretary. Anyone who has a mom that grew up in the 1950s has probably heard about these days over many late night tea sessions.

Today not only have women's options broadened, but even Barbie has changed.

I recommend this new book, which hit bookstores nation wide October 17th, to all young women starting out in the workforce and I encourage them to appreciate the advances that women before us accomplished and I trust that they will continue to pave the way for the next generation of young ladies.

Trapper Keepers and the Shortage of Customer Service Today

2006-10-18T08:08:00.000-07:00

It was a brisk fall day much similar to today, when my father took me shopping for school supplies so that I would be ready for my first week of third grade. That day remains one of my most memorable moments of my father not only because it was an extraordinary day in that staying in any store longer than 10 minutes shopping for a young girl was usually my mother’s chore but also because it was on that day that I experienced some of my father’s greatest charm.

I enjoyed picking out pretty pencils and a hot pink lunch box, but the item that caught my eye the most was a shiny Trapper Keeper. I don’t know if they still make them but most kids who grew up in America in the late 80s to early 90’s had one. They were plastic binders that held various folders, pencils, erasers and other gear such as lunch money. On that day, I had picked out a stellar light blue binder that showcased two fluffy brown kittens and was convinced that I was styling. As I rode home with my Pops, I felt ready to kick off a new year at school and glad to have spent the day with my Dad. He was in a happy mood too, as he turned up the music and belted out the words to some silly song. His attitude changed once we were back at home, however, as a he attempted to open the packaging wrapped around the Trapper Keeper. He slowly peeled off all of the plastic and then began to remove the ugly price sticker in the back. Removing this sticker proved not to be any easy task. It was soaked in glue and was sticky as a popsicle on a 100 degree day. No matter how many times I tried to tell him to just leave it alone, he continued to grow more and more flustered as he attempted to wipe off the sticker and the glue smeared across the whole binder. Before long, the kittens on the binder were covered in black goop and my father was on the phone loudly asserting his concerns at a confused customer service agent. It was in those moments that I wondered if my Dad had completely lost it but I never stopped admiring his perseverance.

As and adult, having grown into a woman with the same perfectionist, obsessive compulsive character traits as my father I too have had my own run-ins with so called corporate customer service. There is nothing more frustrating than the annoying repetitive message, “please hold for the next available representative” especially when the product is no longer a Trapper Keeper holding fun colored pencils, but rather a Palm Pilot with essential notes and addresses.

This is why last Friday night’s 20/20 episode about the death of customer service caught my eye immediately. The program featured a new website, titled The Consumerist Shoppers Bite Back. My friend and I couldn’t hold back the laughter as we pulled up the sight. It is filled with video clips of customers who have bought products that were faulty in one way or another and customer service left them hanging. The videos include sleeping Comcast repair men, Ipod customers being told to purchase new ones simply because their batteries died, FTC ambiguous guidelines and AOL accounts that just don’t want to go away. The site is not only hilarious but also informative. It is about time that customers have a real place to go to voice their customer service dilemmas. If you have ever found yourself in a sticky customer service situation like mine, (pardon the pun) than check out the site for a good laugh.

2006-08-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hospitals not profit full
Yet market bulls got pockets full
To advertise some hip disguise
View the World from American eyes
The poor adore keep fiendin for more
The thin line between entertainment and war
They fix the need, develop the taste
Buy their products or get laid to waste
Coca-Cola is back in the veins of Saigon
And Rambo too, he got a dope pair of Nike's on
And Godzilla pure motherfuckin' filler
To keep ya eyes off the real killer – Rage Against the Machine

Living On Your Own

2006-08-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a shopping trip to TJMaxx to pick up a new magazine holder for my apartment. I think I did a pretty good job of finding a great buy with a leather holder that definitely falls into the more for less category that so many of these cheap home goods stores boast about. As I lugged the large object back through Fanueil Hall to my office, I thought to myself…“This real world stuff is tough.” Shopping for my apartment is always fun but finding a way to get to and from the store is difficult because like most city residents, I have no car. One by one however, I have slowly been able to replace the plastic objects left over from college with more adult objects. I don’t want to spend too much money because I’d rather save the money for a home that I will one day own but I also don’t want to live in a place that looks cheap. Jeans, shoes and pocketbooks seem to take up the most amount of room in my tiny apartment. There are days when I go to pull a pair of jeans out of my closet and they all fall down like an avalanche. It still amazes me that I have so many clothes but absolutely nothing to wear! I have been trying hard to cut back on my consumption of clothes in an effort to save but being out of fashion is in my eyes similar to giving up on my own soul. I just don’t feel alive without a great outfit on a Friday night. Perhaps that sounds shallow but let’s face it- it’s the American condition. Roommates are another all too familiar challenge. I have lived with good friends, acquaintances, complete strangers and by myself. Each situation has had its perks and also its downsides but overall they were good learning experiences. As an adult I am glad that I have a roommate who knows how to cook and decorate. She is also my best friend from high school. Together we have let go of our girlish habits and embraced adulthood.

I reside in the historic North End of Boston known for its Italian history and charm. The food is spectacular, the view of the Boston harbor is even better and the streets are filled with laughter and cheer as people immerse themselves in an atmosphere that is similar to Europe. I absolutely love it, even on the days when I feel like I have eaten too many Italian pastries. There are times when I do miss the luxuries of living with my parents where the house was always fresh, dinner was cooked for me and they’re wasn’t any chipped paint on the walls, but I would live in a potato sack on the streets of Boston before I considered moving back to my small home town where the only job opportunities include the words farm and milk. Sometimes my Mom comes to visit and I wonder if she likes the way the place looks. I notice that she tends to bite her lip as she says, “Sure that vase looks good in that window sill” in the most insincere tone I have ever heard. It’s ok though, I know she is proud of me because at the end of the day this is the life that I have built for myself on my own. I love knowing that this is mine and no one can take it away from me.

Dear Israel, What Constitutes Defense?

2006-08-09T14:31:00.000-07:00

As the fighting surges on in Lebanon, innocent people continue to reap the burdens of a world gone mad over power, domination and control. The American news portrays Israel as the good guy, with President Bush failing to put forth an adequate cease fire. It was wrong of Hezbollah to attack Israel in the first place and Israel does have a right to defend itself but what constitutes defense? How long does the fighting have to continue for the Israelis to prove that they will not be pushed around? Everyone is already aware of the power that Israel holds, especially because it is an ally of the United States. What Hezbollah did was wrong but they are reacting to years of oppression from the Israelis. What is scary about all of this is that many people living in Lebanon were originally angered by Hezbollah’s ignorance but as Israel continues to attack the country they are now latching onto Hezbollah in an effort to defend themselves. While it is never good for a country to harbor terrorists it isn’t easy to punish a country for the actions of a group that are not directly linked to its government. As I watch this battle rage on, in an effort to make sense of it all, many questions come to my mind:

Is the US considered a supporter of Terrorism because we sell weapons to Israel?

What constitutes defending a country against attacks that can not be directly linked to the country’s government?

What will this mean for the stability of the Middle East if Hezbollah’s influence continues to grow?

What will the world be like as Israel continues to rise in the Middle East as a super power with the US by its side? How many more sovereign countries will be occupied?

Governments all over the globe are now calling for a cease fire. Check out the following pictures of protest: http://www.mmorning.com/articleC.asp?Article=3834&CatergoryID=2.

In an effort to remember all of the needless suffering that is occurring in our world. I would like to dedicate this post to a young woman whose efforts to blog from Beirut have been truly noteworthy.

The Power of the Blogosphere

2006-08-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

Terror in Beirut, MTV’s Birthday, Castro’s power wanes and Mel Gibson shocks us yet again. What do all of these things have in common? They have all rocked our nation’s news since I have stopped blogging. I don’t really know why I stopped writing on the blog for over a month. Part of the reason is probably because I tend to jump from one hobbie to the next in my life as if I am living in a music video – jumping onto the next newest thrill. But lately, as I read the news and see the emerging presence that blogs are having on our world I realize how important it is for people to make the most of the blogosphere. For years the American media has been rather insular, by that I mean that most news broadcast on the television does not discuss world issues unless they only directly affect America. Another thing that all out blows about the American media is that it is run by corporate elitists who continually pervert the news to bolster their own interests, which makes the unrestricted openness of the internet a beautiful thing.

Blogs are becoming a powerful way for people all over the world to communicate and express ideas that have been previously left unnoticed and even hidden by mainstream media. The Vietnam War brought the first images of war to our television sets, shocking the country with the realities of the gruesomeness of war. Today victims of the bombings in Lebanon are using cell phones to take pictures of the wounded and posting them online along with stories about their horrible circumstances. As this article explains everyone who has access to the internet has become a reporter in Beirut.

Blogs don’t have to be just about politics however to make a difference. In fact according to a recent study done by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, most American blogs are written about people’s personal experiences, with only 11% of American bloggers writing specifically about politics. As globalization and technology make the world smaller an understanding of others depictions of world issues, expressions, ideas, hopes and dreams is only a click of our mouse away. Blogs and other online devices now stand as a force for social change as they give a voice to people who need it the most. They hold the power of being one of the strongest representations of freedom of speech- but if we don’t seize this opportunity and nourish it - its relevance might just pass us by.

Where has all the Protest Music Gone?

2006-07-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

A documentary about Bob Dylan aired on PBS this holiday weekend. It not only discussed Dylan’s life but also the culture of the times in which he became a hit. As we all know those times were filled with progresses, activism and optimism. Enraged by a brutal war in Vietnam and preoccupied with fighting for minority rights the hippies of the 60’s fought for justice with vigor so endlessly strong that it truly rocked their generation. Their passion was poetically expressed by rock and roll and Motown. Music was an artistic expression of pure rebellion. As Dylan said himself, “The times they are a changing.”

Today our generation continues to enjoy the musical talent of artists like Bob Dylan yet many hardly understand its true significance. People seem endlessly fixated on un-intellectual music like the type of stuff that millions tune into on American Idol. I asked my mom, who grew up in the 1960s where all the protest singers have gone? She replied, “I don’t know, maybe our generation didn’t do enough. We really believed we could change the system. Maybe we were wrong and we just simply couldn’t. Your generation seems to have lost hope and they have become apathetic.” Perhaps she was right but I found it hard to believe that this fire for peace had just burned out.

Neil Young recently released a new anti-Bush album titled, Living with War. He told the Los Angles Times that he was tired of waiting for some younger artist to release an album about these issues and felt that perhaps only someone from his generation could do such work. Could it be true that as making music has become more and more about making money no one is willing to take the risk of losing profits through creating controversial music?

Tom Morello a well known radical artist recently stated in MTV news, "It's like Public Enemy and N.W.A were warring for the heart of the hip-hop nation, and a gentrified, blingy version of N.W.A won out. You listen to [Public Enemy's] 'Fight the Power' and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, and you can hear America changing. Now it's just the relentless booty shake of hollow bling. There's not yet a soundtrack like in the '60s, when the music of the time was the music of revolution."

I find it difficult to believe with today’s headlines that our artists are choosing not to be artistic. Perhaps this is just what the music industry wants us to think. After doing some research on the topic I found that protest music does still exist but it’s certainly not being cranked out of the airwaves of music giants like MTV. Music, like everything else has been trampled on by corporate interests. According to this article, Why Neil Young is Wrong activist music still exists- you just have to look for it. One great place to start is the internet. If you are interested in this issue check out the article for more information and music to jam to.

Are 401Ks a Sham?!

2006-06-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

In a previous post we discussed the challenges that young professional face in their endless attempts to save money. After coming accross this US News and World Report article on our generation's reliance on 401Ks, I found it to be a perfect addition to our site. It takes a unique perspective on the possibility that our plans for retirement aren't all that fool proof. Although, I don't recommend reading it on a Monday morning while your contemplating why you put yourself through the grind week after week-it is still a good read. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/030120/20dissent.htm

American Allegiance Up in Flames

2006-06-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the Fourth of July, we will still be able to burn our American Flag. This Tuesday the Senate rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to ban desecrating the American flag by a single vote. It was an intense debate on the Senate floor resulting in a 66-34 loss for the amendment. Remember, a two-thirds majority is needed to pass a constitutional amendment. CNN reported that a constitutional ban on flag burning is more popular than a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Ten republicans and one democrat (Dianne Feinstein of CA) of the Senate Judiciary Committee supported the amendment. Typical of the republicans to not favor freedom of speech. Heaven forbid someone uses their freedoms to expose the pit falls of corporate America and they lose a penny or two.

Some believe that the burning of the flag has no real social value but even unpopular speech needs to be protected if we wish to continue to live in a free society. Although our flag has extreme meaning and is a representation of who we are as a country, not allowing Americans to burn their own flags constitutes forcing them to be patriotic. It’s almost as silly as everyone buying plastic ribbons to put on the back of their cars even though they have no idea what is going on in Iraq but they want to be part of the latest trend.

Two great liberal books to recently hit bookstores:

2006-06-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

Glenn Greenwald’s, How Would a Patriot Act?: This book which sold 50,000 copies on its first day released, attacks right-wing propaganda and conservative media tactics. http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/

David Sirota’s, Hostile Takeover: How Big Money & Corruption Conquered Our Government- And How We Take It Back: Sirota discusses how big money interests are running Congress by making deals with legislators to pass certain bills that hurt the middle class yet strengthen big business. He emphasizes how the barriers between government and business have been completely destroyed over the past thirty years and how we can rebuild them. http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/

Both extraordinary books by well known political pundits – Check them out!

Actress and Advocate: Angelina Means “little angel” in Italian

2006-06-21T16:41:00.000-07:00

The media has often relayed some of Angelina Jolie’s weirder traits. For instance, no one can forget the stories of her wearing a vial of her ex-husband, Billy Bob Thorten’s blood around her neck and tattooing his name on her right arm. But I still have to give praise to the eye-catching actress. I have developed a profound respect and an intriguing desire to learn more about Jolie in recent years. Working for the U.N. she taken a strong role in combating world suffering. On top of her incredible strength of character and intelligence she is considered one of the hottest women in the world, she is one hell of an actress and Brad Pitt is madly in love with her. Yes with grace similar to Mahatma Ghandi, femininity like Rosie the Riveter and sex appeal that challenges Marilyn Monroe…she has got it going on.

In an interview with CNN last night Jolie discussed her new bundle of joy, Shiloh. The name means “messiah” or “peaceful one.” She also discussed international issues, stating that the U.S. government has strange priorities and could end up hurting itself if it continues to neglect areas of the world that are suffering. Well said Ms. Jolie. America needs to place more of a focus on prevention if it wants to end terrorism. Jolie went on to explain that the tattoo on her upper back which states, “Know Your Rights” is a phrase taken from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I couldn’t help but think to myself…could this woman be any cooler?

If you are interested in Jolie’s international work I urge you to read her book, Notes from my Travels. It discusses the realities of poverty in our world today and what that means for the well being of all us as a people living on this earth together. Many will say that Jolie is just another pop culture star but I have to strongly disagree.

Wiffiti- The New Graffiti

2006-06-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

One of my friends works for an innovative company called LocaModa. Recently they have been promoting a fairly new product called “Wiffiti.” The product is a digital screen that can be hung at just about any location. Individuals are then able to use their cell phones to text message to the screen. The result is a beautiful array of ideas and expressions that lights up the room. Cafés, bars and other popular hangouts have been using them as an interactive way to enhance their brand image. They are becoming a big thing around the Boston area and other cities throughout the US.

If I am meeting my friend at Someday café in Davis Square (a popular Bean Town hangout) I can text message the screen, sending my friend a message that I will be late. The message then appears on the screen for the whole café to see. I could also say, “Tom Cruise is a nut job and a half,” or I could say “Go USA, World Cup 2006.” You get my drift.

The Wiffiti screens are just one more way that our world is becoming more and more interactive, convenient and digitally active.

Check out the Wiffiti blog to learn more about these new screens at: http://www.wiffiti.com/blog/

Iraq on Trial

2006-06-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

It was like a thrilling episode of the hit show 24 as President Bush snuck out of a two day Iraqi summit at Camp David earlier this week for a surprise trip to Baghdad. The Drudge Report stated that as Bush stepped onto Air Force one he proudly proclaimed to reporters, The POTUS is on Board! The crew flew into Iraq with extra security at the highest altitudes possible. Only six members of Bush’s staff new about the secret trip and even various members of the Iraqi government were expecting nothing more than a teleconference with Bush. Selected reporters, however, were of course informed. Mrs. Bush was aware of the secret trip but they gave her a pack of cigarettes to keep her mouth shut.

The main purpose of the trip was for Bush and the new Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to meet in person, get to know each other and discuss the glorious new Iraqi government. Bush reminded Mr. Maliki that he will keep his word to the country. No one really knows what that word is or what Bush’s actual plan is, but let us not forget that George W. Bush is a true cowboy and cowboys always come up with something. Moreover, the two leaders met with each other for five full hours. We can rest assured that some real work got done during that time. Building a new government can be done in a matter of hours when you’ve got Uncle Sam on your side. Also, this is the second time that Bush has gone to Iraq since 2003. Yes folks, two whole times our Commander in Chief has gone to the terrorist ridden country to ensure that the world is a better place for us all. Then there was that time when he announced, “Mission Accomplished” from a military boat somewhere not nearly near Iraq at all. Perhaps if he has actually stepped inside the country he would have had a different sense of accomplishment.

There are few people who say that the killing of terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will lead to a quick exit to the war for our troops. There are more than 130,000 troops on the ground in Iraq and Bush’s recent photo-op with Mr. Maliki has not ended the surging violence. According to the New York Times there are now 100,000 fighters in the insurgency in Iraq. Twenty five hundred Americans have died and 18,490 have been wounded. “Even as Bush huddled with the new Iraqi leaders at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, at least 36 people were killed across Iraq yesterday.” –Bloomberg.com

Bring the boys home Bush – it’s time to end your “Mission.”

Ann Coulter: The Wicked Witch of the Right

2006-06-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends recently moved in with me. She brought with her a 54 inch television. It is now one of my most beloved items in my Beantown apartment. The TV has lots of great features, you know like its really big and ….well it’s just really big. As much as I love this new electronic device when people like Ann Coulter pop up on its screen I find myself seriously contemplating throwing it out the window. As I throw my clicker at the TV, I wonder why do we even waste our time continually discussing the ridiculous comments that Ann Coulter has made. We are one of the few nations that have been blessed with a Democracy yet we waste those blessings listening to dumb people like Ann make ridiculous comments. Everyone is in agreement that the recent comments she made in her book about the widows of 9/11 using the death of their husbands for TV popularity are nothing but utterly rude, disrespectful and un-called for. What I don’t understand is why it took America this long to realize how much of a rude and disrespectful person Ann Coulter is. My feelings of disgust were solidified right after she came out with the book, How to Talk to a Liberal, (If You Must).

Ann Coulter is an educated experienced woman. She graduated from Law School and established herself as a well known columnist, television pundit and what some would even call a “best selling author.” Yet she has done nothing but waste the voice that she has. Woman like Ann Coulter have an opportunity to speak about real issues but she chooses to spend her time throwing crude comments at liberals. How ridiculously self centered this is considering the fact that our soldiers are dying over seas while she bitches.

The truth is that as the failures of the way the country handled itself in the years after 9/11 have come to light, fanatical right wingers like Ann Coulter have nothing left to do but to admit they were wrong but that’s not possible for them. So instead they lash out with spiteful comments. The irony is that Ann claims that the widowers want to gain TV popularity but the reality is she is the only one with this motive. Come on now Ann…we all know you did it because you wanted to sell a book. I can only hope that her next book has a title that reads, “How to Talk to an Asshole Like Me (If you must).”

A Generation Engineered and Designed by Standardized Tests

2006-06-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

If A then B, but not C. D only if F except if S is there. A always has to be next to C. So the first letter in this combination must always be?

Answer: lowercase p

What the ?!>!?

Ahh… the joy of studying for the LSAT. If you are one of the few, the proud and the many who have decided to enter the world of true scumb bags and attend law school you have probably found yourself admist one of these practice problems before. My colleagues and I usually spend our lunch breaks discussing how we can sneak into LSAT prep courses so that we can have a chance of doing well on the test without having to dish out $1,400 in bills. The situation has become so bad that recently my boss pulled one of my co-workers into an intense meeting in our boardroom and stated, “I get the feeling that you care more about the LSAT than you do about this job.”

All kidding aside I have to admit that although extremely difficult the LSAT is the first standardized test that I have enjoyed studying for. I like the way that it molds your mind into a new way of thinking. However, spending late nights trying to crack this test has reminded me of the difficulties of taking standardized tests and I find myself sleeping peacefully with the knowledge that the SAT is behind me and that I am not part of a generation that is required to take the MCAST. From the nerves to the confusion created standardized test are never fun and they hardly measure true academic success.

Ok, so of course like most of my blogs you know where this one is going – into a political discussion. George Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act comes to mind immediately whenever someone explains their frustrations with standardized tests. I can not imagine having to have to take some dumb test thought up by a man who scored in the 400 range for his admission to Harvard Business School. Under this proposal- that Mr. Bush came up with only so that he could appeal to some soccer moms that he is a guy who cares about education- students are required to take a test every year in English and Math. So what happens when these kids are not up to par? Do we help get them up to par? Do we provide more funding for the school? Do we think to ourselves maybe we should stop dropping bombs on children in Iraq and spend our money to revitalize our failing education system? Nope! We just put a tag on the school that has the lowest test scores with the following label: failing. Then students can choose to transfer schools if they would like. Wow to go to another school that is failing?! Amazing plan Bushie. Oh and then on top of that the law lays serious funding burdens on the schools that are failing.

If A then not B but possibly C. Oh I’m sorry you will have to excuse me I just remembered the reason why I want to go to law school. When I am a lawyer I will have the authority to not simply write a blog but to write a full law review of why this law is so damn crappy.

I agree that our nation’s schools need to be held up to some kind of standard but standardized tests have become such an important part of a student’s future that teachers are now teaching to the test and students are spending quality studying time just drilling themselves on rather needless information. America’s youth are turning into conformist idiots who know how to take tests but not how to think analytically and philosophically on their own. As we are held up to stringent standards we become unable to question these very standards that we are supposed to be living up to as a society -seems a little Orwellian to me. I want to live in a country of great thinkers who think outside of the box and who work hard. Standardized tests simply don’t test this. Moreover, standardized tests will bring us no where if we do not use the results of the tests to address weaknesses and then implement policies that will bring about positive changes. Teachers and schools should not be penalized for factors outside of their control such as Bush creating this law and then not funding it. Once we recognize inconsistencies in education programs we must create sound public policy that addresses those issues or else the whole point of administering the test in the first place is lost.

The issue of standardized testing is an important one for woman especially. Various psychological studies have found that women as a whole generally do worse on standardized testing than men. They say that women lack the self confidence to approach the test thinking that they are going to do awesome on it. Researchers believe that this may be because of the various ways in which society constantly tells men that they will be the bread winner of their families but woman are sort of just expected to find a good man to marry. But of course this is all changing greatly and rapidly. We are the first generation of woman to really have true choices so don’t ever forget that and don’t let a silly test stand in your way.

We are Back!!

2006-06-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

We would like to extend our apologies for not putting enough time into this blog lately. In a quest to establish ourselves we have been held down by intense studying for the Law School Admission Test. Needless to say there is too much going on in the world to leave 20somethinginthecity’s web page blank for this long. After becoming so consumed with studying for the LSAT to the point that I didn’t even have enough time for cable TV, I thought the experience was worth reflecting on and yes of course, blogging about. Thus, the next post was created.

Anoymous Lawyer

2006-05-26T13:57:00.001-07:00

I spent most of my day reading one of my favorite blogs today. I thought I would share it with all of you because it always brings laughter to my day. I recommend it to anyone working in the legal profession at any level of responsibility and especially to those of you who are considering law school. It is the fictional narrative of a hiring partner at a large law firm in a major city. I once read somewhere that the author is actually a third year law student at Harvard Law School. Although it has a pessimistic tone it will still leave you appreciating the profession of law for all its ridiculous quirks. Check it out one day. It is called Anonymous Lawyer. Just do a search for it on google

Can We Ever Have it All?

2006-05-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

The women’s movement has come a long way from the days when all girls were expected to do was get married, have babies, and clean the house. The current generation of women should be grateful that the opportunities we have today are endless, whether we want to be a CEO or a stay at home Mom, the options are wide open. However, with this new freedom comes a cost. The litany of choices out there often raises more questions than answers.

Do women have to choose between raising a family and having a career? Even in this society where Dad’s are providing more assistance then ever before with child care and housekeeping, the burden of raising the child and keeping the house usually falls more on the Mother. Men are rarely expected to make a choice between their jobs and their children. Little criticism is placed on men who work long hours, but women are often scorned for not spending enough quality time with their children if they work full time. Working women who feel fulfilled by having a career may also feel guilt or sadness because they miss out on some things with their children.

And what about those women who have made a choice to not work outside of the home? They have the joy of watching their children grow up 24 hours a day, which is a gift. However, these mothers may feel like they are missing something in their lives. The lack of contributing to a team in the workplace, or even simply interacting with adults on a daily basis can create a void in these women’s lives.

Contributing to the chaos are the attitudes of modern women themselves. Working Moms and Stay at Home Moms have been known to pit themselves against each other in the battle of modern life. Leslie Morgan Steiner commented on this phenomenon in her aptly titled book, “The Mommy Wars”. The homebound variety of Moms scorn the women whose children are being raised by Nannies, while the ones who hold jobs outside the home scoff at the women who gave up boardrooms for playgroups. Maybe women should stop judging each other’s choices and start honoring the sacrifices both sides are making. Certainly we all have things to learn from one another.

As I start on my path to the rest of my life, these questions weigh on my mind. I want higher education and a solid career and a family. I wonder if I’ll be able to juggle it all. I hope as I wade through the sea of opportunities and uncharted options, I won’t be doing so alone. We need to stick together in this confusing yet exciting world.

The Woman who Sued McDonalds Because Her Coffee was too Hot

2006-05-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

Ashley and I have been taking an LSAT prep course to prepare ourselves for law school admissions. After class last week I spent some time talking with the Professor. He brought up an interesting case which I thought was worth blogging about. Do you remember the woman who sued McDonalds because she burned herself on a hot cup of coffee? Remember how we all complained how sue crazy the country had become as we discussed the ridiculousness of the case? To my surprise after discussing the case with my professor I was left with a very different opinion. In fact, I found myself considering this woman to be my new hero.

Here’s the scoop according to my professor who read the whole case himself. Good old Mickey D’s was keeping its coffee cups at a ridiculously high temperature, somewhere around 180 degrees. The company purposely did this because they found that if they kept their coffee very hot it would not become bitter and they would not have to throw out any of it. If you have ever worked in food services you have probably come across this before. Coffee does not stay good when left on a burner unless it is left unusually hot. McDonalds was aware of the fact that their extra hot coffee was inevitably burning customers but after reviewing their business model they found it cheaper to settle the claims of these burnt victims than to waste money on coffee beans by endlessly pouring out coffee. They settled these claims for about twenty grand a piece. Yes, that’s right McDonalds knowingly put their customers in danger of being burned even after they had settled numerous complaints because it was shown over time that this process was cheaper.

One day this all changed however, when an old woman got burned bad and decided that she wasn’t going to settle for just twenty grand. She told her lawyers, “Put the case in suit and we are going to sue the hell out of Ronald McDonalad.” Ok so I fabricated that last part a little bit but she did tell her lawyers to put the case in suit and off to court they went. After the trial ended she walked away with a whopping 2.7 million. That makes for some excellent gifts for her grand kids. This may seem like a lot to you but it is close to what McDonalds makes in profits selling coffee cups to Americans for one day. That’s right, America alone, not including all of the other areas of the world where McDonalds sells coffee. So when looking at the case from this point of view the final verdict seems rather fair. McDonalds callously disregarded the safety of their customers in an effort to increase profits leaving an old woman with third degree burns.

Just another example of how we hardly ever get the real story from our news. Corporations have a way of making sure that never happens. So to all my personal injury paralegal friends, think twice the next time your client tells you that they deserve a million dollars for falling over by someone’s pool and scraping their knee even though they only have one good leg, are missing an arm and at the time they were trying to do jumping jacks. They may have a good case….probably not, but you never know.

Oh and by the way, McDonalds still keeps its coffee pretty hot but now there are warning labels on the cups.

For more information about this case check out: http://www.vanosteen.com/mcdonalds-coffee-lawsuit.htm

Five Retirement Tips for 20-somethings from US News & World Report

2006-05-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

Last week I was at the Social Security Administration joyfully copying a huge file when I noticed something. In between the large ugly portraits of George Bush and Dick Cheney that hung elegantly on the wall was a sign that read, “Please note: if you were born after 1960 you will not be able to collect your social security retirement benefits until you are 67.” Please note?! Why don’t they just hang up a big sign that says, “Please note: we have royally screwed you.” I was planning on retiring about 10 years after law school and moving to Trinidad and Tobago, but looks like that is not going to be the case.

Most 20somethings in America are becoming increasingly aware that saving for their retirement is essential to aging comfortably later in life. I found this article and thought it provided some immense tips on just how to go about doing this. If you’re 20 years old, poor and want to retire earlier rather than later, check it out at: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060428/28tips_retirement.htm

The High Cost of Commuting

2006-05-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

I know the idea of complaining about the MBTA is not a novel one. Newspaper editorials, the Rants and Raves section of craigslist, and the crowded rows of the commuter rail are filled with people complaining about the poor service and high price of public transportation in Massachusetts. But after a conversation I had with some fellow 8:01 Beverly train riders this morning, I couldn’t help but rant myself.

I showed up rain soaked and disheveled to the commuter rail platform this lovely morning and entered a conversation between two women about the proposed fare increases to occur in 2007. The Boston Globe reported on February 24th that, “The MBTA plans to raise fares by approximately 25 percent in January 2007, the second fare increase in three years, as the transit agency deals with a worsening budget crunch, T officials said yesterday” Initially when I read this I had the normal feeling of annoyance that comes with having to pay more money for anything, but didn’t give it too much more thought. After the conversation I took part in this morning, I started to realize just how ridiculous this increase is.

One woman was commenting that the Zone 4 monthly pass would be increased to $210, up from this year’s $149. $210! That number rivals my monthly student loan payment! Besides, I live in Zone 4, I can’t imagine what the increase must mean for people who live father away, in places like Newburyport or Worchester. Plus, what are we really getting for this increase anyway? Certainly not increased service. More times than I can count this year I have encountered some sort of “technical difficulty” on the commuter rail. Coming home on the Orange line in recent months had meant the arduous process of boarding busses at Haymarket and then being (slowly) shuttled from stop to stop until I finally reach Oak Grove, long after the time it would have taken to ride the T all the way out. Not to mention the 25 minute wait for the T you sometimes experience at night, and the absurdly crowded trains during the morning and evening commute. The MBTA needs to step up the service if they’re going to charge us more.

I also feel concern for those commuters living on a fixed income, who rely the most on public transportation, and who will certainly be hit the hardest by the increase. Spending 25% more a month on commuting costs is significant for those who have to worry about putting food on the table. Where are the advocates for those people? Such a significant increase seems asinine to me. It’s getting to the point where some people are not going to be able to afford to go to work. Couldn’t better management of the company solve some of these debt issues that the MBTA is having? I don’t have the answers, but I do know that something needs to be done about the high costs of commuting.

Massachusetts Residents are packin' the cah and leavin'

2006-05-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

Last week I attended a political fundraiser for Deval Patrick, candidate for Governor of Massachusetts. Deval is a democrat, a Harvard law graduate, former member of the Clinton Administration, a well established businessman and has some great ideas for how to win back the corner office.

His speech was fantastic and he quickly took hold of the room’s attention. One of his zinger lines was something of the following, “So many of you came here tonight because you care about your state yet how many of you plan to leave the state in the next few years? A lot of you do.”

Massachusetts has faced problems in recent years as middle class individuals have left the state due to the high cost of living. In turn this has caused the gap between rich and poor to widen greatly. Many individuals have purchased homes away from the expensive prices of the city but still feel economically burden by commuting costs. Residents are fearful that companies will leave the state as well if something is not done about the high rate at which workers are leaving for jobs in other areas of the country.

The filled room of young professionals eagerly listened as Deval stated, “This is not my campaign, it’s our campaign.” This statement has stayed with me ever since that night and I can’t help but think to myself that he hit the nail right on the head. Deval reminded us that our government is a one made of the people, by the people, for the people. This is the key element that so many young people seem to not understand. Politics is about us! It’s about strengthening our community and demanding more.

After hearing Deval speak I remembered the real reason why I trecked out that night: Boston. I will always care about Beantown because it’s not only my home but a great place to live. I only hope that our generation will have the good sense to take the little effort to get involved to help keep it that way. As I was heading home, one of my friends replied to me, politics should not be something that you do here or there when you feel like it, but it should be a part of you like anything else. It’s should simply be what you believe is best for your community and taking the steps to keep it well-built.

“I believe that an enlightened government has a role to play in helping to make all of our lives better. I believe that each of us has a stake in our neighbor’s dreams and struggles as well as our own. I believe in the American Dream, and want to work to put it within reach of more people here in Massachusetts.” – Deval Patrick

For an up close look at the Massachusetts Democratic candidates for Governor check out The Democrat’s Debate on CBS 4: http://cbs4boston.com/video/?cid=09&id=19634@wbz.dayport.com

A Post for a Friday

2006-05-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

Well it’s Friday, and I thought this one fact calls for a half-assed post about something mundane and uninspired-just like most of our work ethics by the end of the week. I have nothing to say about politics, or social theory, or even pop culture. However, I would like to comment on how much it sucks to be hung over at work. I mean, its already bad enough on a Friday, the constant looking at the clock, counting the minutes till lunch while trying to look busy, but its even worse when you can’t shake the dull headache and heavy limbs. Plus by 10:20 I have already eaten breakfast and all the snacks I’ve packed for the day and am seriously thinking I won’t make it to 1 o’clock lunch without passing out from lack of carbs. I can’t even muster up the energy to sound professional as I leave voicemail messages for clients, let alone get any actual work done. Of course, I wasn’t considering this last night as I willingly consumed tequila shots and Bud Light for dinner pre-Sox game with my friends who are off from class and work all week. I know I’m not alone in this, so for all of you guys out there suffering from post drunk misery at work today, I feel your pain.
Need some help with your hangovers? Download the free book, "Handy Hints for Hangovers" at-http://www.hospitalitydoctor.com/hangovers.html

Pink Releases New Controversial Song

2006-05-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

What will I do when 2008 comes and I won’t have something to laugh about every day because Bush will no longer be in the White House?

All joking aside you have to check out this new song by Pink. You rock Pink!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eDJ3cuXKV4&search=Pink%20Stupid%20Girls%20protest%20President%20George%20Bush%20Im%20Not%20Dead

Feel like you are always playing catch up?

2006-05-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

The bills come every month and so doesn’t the interest on them.

My parents have always feared debt. When I applied to college they urged me to attend a school that would leave me in as little debt as possible. As a teenager they told me that I really didn’t need to have a credit card. Now that I am an adult I thank god that my parents worked hard to shield me from the never ending burden of debt.

Debt is now a permanent fixation of our generation. As a country, we have gone to war and rung up trillions of dollars of debt that our generation will pay off for the rest of their lives. In our personal lives, many 20 somethings have been forced to enter deeply into debt in order to go to college, buy a home, or even to simply study for a test to get into a good school. Almost all of my college graduate friends are suffering from debt. Some young adults have debt so high that it is impossible for them to even consider moving out of their parent’s home. Others are unable to go on to graduate school due to their burden. On top of all of this debt is an inability to save as Americans of our generation simply just don’t know how to.

“Nineteen percent of 18-to-34-year-olds have never thought about saving for a rainy day.Twenty-eight percent of 35-to-44-year-olds give themselves a grade of D or F when it comes to saving, and 40 percent of those 55 and older don't even set savings goals.”
– WJACTV.com

Personal debt is now at an all time high according to the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. Encouraging our friends that everything is going to be ok as they face a maxed out credit card and/or a phone call home to the rents begging them to pay their heating bill for this month is an all too common scene among most 20 somethings. Yes, the pharse, “Just Charge it” has become too popular among young adults of today and it seems as if we are always playing catch up.

One reason why our generation might be finding themselves so deeply in debt is that as advertising schemes have advanced over the years Americans have bought into them more and more. I can not tell you how many times I have gone to the mall to see some woman ahead of myself at the check out counter buying 15 pocketbooks and found myself thinking, “what the heck is she going to put in all of those?” But I can’t make too much fun because I myself own enough shoes and clothes to keep a small nation warm. It’s always been a trademark of America that we buy more than we need and hardly ever save. Remember this the next time some phony sales guy says that you really need that new neon light up buzzer on your cell phone. Sure its only $10… but do you need it? That money could go towards paying off one tenth of the interest on this month’s bill payment.

Debt eventually does get paid off, however. This has been proven by the recent news that the UK will pay off its debt owed to the US from WWII by the end of this year!

If you are having trouble saving your pennies for rainey days check out the following links for some great advice -

Click here for some "good"articles about achieving "good" credit: http://credit.about.com/

Articles that will help you save, save and save!

http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060501/NEWS03/605010321/1004/news03

http://financialplan.about.com/od/savingmoney/

Thinking about eating out for lunch today? Think again. http://www.dailybreeze.com/business/articles/2721306.html

Anna Nicole Smith's Legal Boost

2006-05-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

In Legal issues today, the former playmate Anna Nicole Smith was awarded the right to pursue part of her late husband’s fortunes. I guess all the money she made as a stripper wasn’t enough to hold her over. Smith’s late husband left behind an estate estimated to be worth $1.6 billion. I bet she could make plenty more crappy reality shows with all that moo-la. When the couple fell madly in love in 1994 Smith was 26 and her new hubbie was 89! The Supreme Court ruling in Nicole's favor is one of the many examples proving that when you’re talking about the American legal system…anything is possible.

Please note that the spelling of moo-la was contributed by Matt Webster.

"A Day Without Immigrants"

2006-05-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

If you were wondering why there were so many open seats on the bus today it may be because your fellow commuters are busy protesting in the streets. In cities across the country millions of immigrants will march through the streets today. Their aim is to represent the profound economic prevalence they have on the US by boycotting work for the day. Teachers, truck drivers, garment workers and hotel workers are all expected to be among those taking to the streets. It is predicted that LA, New York and Chicago may nearly shut down as they will face the largest amounts of protesters.

When NAFTA was passed into law we gave far too many rights to big business and not enough to workers. The result has been US companies benefiting from cheap Mexican labor and thousands of immigrants begging for work in the US. The Bush Administration is now supporting a bill that promotes border security but gives immigrants the chance to stay in the country through a guest worker program. This program lets illegal immigrants stay in the country for about five years to pick potatoes for wages lower than Americans would accept and then go home without ever re-investing the money they have made into our economy. Sounds great huh? Well yes, if you’re Nike. We are so quick to let people stay in our country illegally when they are working for low wages but when it comes to providing them with the opportunities and responsibilities of citizenship we are absent. If we go forward with Bush’s plan we will create a permanent under class of low wagers that the taxpayers will have to pay for.

No one knows what the outcome of today’s protests will be but one thing is for sure, as the demonstrations block traffic the immigration debate will be brought to the attention of many Americans, encouraging further discussion of the issues. It is easy for politicians to disregard the concerns of these immigrants since they have no real voting power, but their voices will be heard loud and clear today by the stamping of their feet through America’s cities.

We need laws that protect our borders, prevent the exploitation of immigrant workers, and bring America together by providing citizenship and benefits to those willing to take on the full responsibilities of citizenship. It’s that simple.

Boston Commons will be filled with protestors from 4-7 pm today but do not fear Manny has already received his citizenship and will probably not be taking off work tonight to miss the Sox vs. Yankees game :)

For more on the true realities of the invisible economy of illegal immigrants and Bush’s immigration plans check out:
http://www.talkleft.com/new_archives/004925.html and
http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/feature/2004/02/19/immigration/index.html
One Business Owner’s interesting approach to employing immigrants: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5368068

"Politics just aren't really my thing"

2006-04-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I signed up to be the democratic neighborhood coordinator for my ward – number 3 in the North End of Boston. My first assignment was to collect signatures for good old Ted Kennedy. My friend Katherine and I took to the streets, late afternoon armed with clip boards, stickers and sign up sheets. It wasn’t long before we noticed the way that people would see our clip boards and sort of just walk in the other direction. Many yelled out “Sorry but I’m just too busy.” Some said, “I have no political view on either side, I choose not to get involved.” And then there were those who said, “You really think that after 43 years he is not going to get re-elected?” I myself even found it difficult to get motivated about the issues and drag myself out of bed that morning. As we returned home with far less signatures than I would have liked to see I couldn’t help but remember that this is the reality of our generation.

The twenty somethings of America grew into adulthood as the Iraq war plagued on, watched their schools eliminate programs year after year, chose not to go to certain colleges because they were simply too expensive, stayed at home for a few years longer than they would have liked to pay off debt and said good bye to the idealistic notion that they would have a social security fund waiting for them at the end of their careers, yet so many of them resoundingly take the attitude, I just don’t get politics…it's boring and it's not my thing. In a world ruled by elaborate sporting events, cell phones, Ipods, fancy cars and Xbox games we have all become to busy for politics. What is scary about this attitude is that it is this very lackadaisical attitude that allows for the powers that be to take advantage of us. I wonder why it is that we have lost our ability to care… is it because we are distracted by too many other fun things to do? Do we mistrust the government too much? Has our education and news system crumbled so badly that people are just totally uninformed?

I don’t know but I can tell you this much, political campaigning isn’t always the easiest thing to do but I’ll be damned if I see some Republican take over Ted’s seat in the Senate.

Recently, the nation watched as Ted promoted his new book, “America Back on Track” on the Daily Show. Perhaps, if Ted really can bring us back to a generation of hope and can do spirit through this book and other endeavors we will get back on track. I remember my mother telling me when I was a little girl, that something in this country died when JFK was assassinated. She explained that it was as if the country’s hope and optimism had just crumbled apart. I understand now what she meant and I agree with Ted that the Bush Administration’s politics of fear and misguidance have gone on for long enough. The time is now and if our generation doesn’t step up to the plate we will face the harsh side effects for years to come.

The Terrifying Possibilities of War with Iran

2006-04-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

The enriching of uranium in Iran has been of much discussion lately. Political analysts have come out with some deep insights into the possibile aftermath of a U.S. attack on Iran. After much thinking they have come to the conclusion that it will cause more anti-American sentiment in the Middle East. Hmmm...Ya, think?! Even if only surgical attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities are ordered we will still see Iranians join together in profound national hate for the US.

When Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced last week that his country had successfully enriched uranium the Bush Administration must have wet their pants. I can just picture Cheney excitedly yelling, “Yippee this gives us good reason to invade and continue our efforts to take over the world, giddy up cowboy!”

Although Iran has said for quite some time that its actions are for civilian purposes only, the US and Europe believe that the country is enriching uranium in an effort to build a nuclear arsenal. Bush has stated that he is exploring all diplomatic options before making any other moves. I really hope that someone is helping him do this because as we saw with Iraq, diplomacy is not his area of expertise. Call me crazy but from watching the news since 2005 it is almost as if Bush has had this planned all along and he is just looking for the intelligence to back it up.

"I've come to realize that for some in this administration, Iran is just the continuation of the process they started in Iraq. The whole point was not just to eliminate Saddam Hussein, but to begin a regime change throughout the whole region. That includes, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and other countries." - Joseph Cirincione, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Bush has stated that the idea that the Administration is working on contingency plans for war with Iran is nothing but “wild speculation” and Rumsfeld called the accusations “fantasyland.” I wonder if communications specialist from Fox News helped them coin these new catch phrases?

Casual Sex in the City

2006-04-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

As the less politically minded, and (shamefully) less politically informed member of Team Lisa and Ashley, I’m going to change the pace a little and talk about something else I know we’re all interested in-sex.

A recent study on female attitudes toward sex and sexuality conducted by Great Britain's University of Sheffield, found that a full 90% of woman interviewed say that the classic one night stand is immoral. That doesn’t mean of course that most women abstain from such acts, as a good majority of the participants said they have woken up in the bed of someone they hardly knew. The sentiment expressed by the majority was that that “no string attached” sex is empty and shallow, and that after they did it, they regretted it.

This attitude towards casual sex doesn’t exactly mesh with today’s Sex and the City influenced, sexually charged society. Magazines like Cosmopolitan and shows like Real World like to portray young woman as independent, free spirited beings, parading around the city in their Manolo Blanics picking up every hot guy they see, and having no moral issue with it. In fact, this behavior is celebrated and praised in these kind of outlets. So it’s quite interesting to hear the results of a study done on real live woman, finding that sex still means something other than a great orgasm.

This reminds me of the Sex and the City episode when Carrie tried to “have sex like a man” and hook up with a guy only for the pure pleasure of it, and not get emotionally involved. As I know you girls all remember, she ended up feeling used and shallow. Because let’s admit it ladies, even if we are happy and independent with tons of friends and a fun social life, there’s at least a small part of us that hopes that Mr. Right will come along. Plus, most girls just can’t help getting emotionally vested in someone when sex comes into the mix. They’re going to end up feeling badly about themselves if the guy never calls them again, whereas a lot of guys will consider it a good night and move on without a second thought.

Now, I’m not trying to make broad stereotypes about emotionally dependant girls here. I know we can all survive happily sans boyfriend. Not to mention the fact that, as shown by the 10% of women in the study, and by the attitudes of some of my friends, one night stands are not only moral, but a lot of fun. This is a quote from a good friend of mine who shall remain anonymous, “I want nothing to do with relationships, one night stands are the only way to go”. Many girls, especially ones in their early twenties, want to live it up while they still can. That’s cool too.

If nothing else, sex and relationships will always be an adventure. Do your thing, stay safe and have a good time.

2006-04-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

Just because they are always fun and just too easy to come up with here are some good Bush jokes to keep you laughing through the day.

"Bush bragged that more Iraqis say their country is on the right track than Americans say our country is on the right track. Boy, there’s a campaign slogan for you -- 'America: More F*cked Up Than Fallujah!'" -–Bill Maher

"The President and Mrs. Bush were on 'Larry King' last night and the president said, 'America is absolutely better off today than it was 4 years ago.' Then he said, 'Did I say America, I meant Chevron.'" --Bill Maher

"Did you see how happy President Bush was yesterday when he found out he won? Man he couldn't decide whether he should give a victory speech or announce the invasion of Iran." --Jay Leno

Massachusetts Makes History

2006-04-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday night in Boston, the weather is beautiful, the Red Sox are playing at Fenway with Schilling back on the mound, city dwellers are still smiling from the recent Marathon festivities and Massachusetts has recently made revolutionary history by becoming the first state to pass legislation that will provide health care to nearly all of its citizens. As I stroll home through the busy streets of the north end I can’t help but feel proud to be a Massachusetts resident tonight.

I know I should be enjoying the sox but I can’t stop thinking about this new health care bill and how amazing it truly is. “We will be able to – in three years, hopefully – virtually ensure every man, woman, and child in this commonwealth” –Sal DiMasi.

The spark has been lit here in Beantown and it will light a torch that symbolizes the ideal that health care is a fundamental right that every human being deserves... and it is economically possible.

This new 145 page bill will affect the young men of my generation the most. Many of these young men are my friends and they are at the baseball game boozing it up right now. Some of them will be too drunk to make it home and may hurt themselves in the process needing access to health care which they don’t have. Young men ages 23-26 in Massachusetts compromise the largest amount of uninsured residents. One day this will all be changed and these young aspiring adults will be offered free or low cost health insurance through plans run by private companies yet subsidized by the state.

About four months ago I went to a meeting with my then boss who supported the effort to bring health care to all of the residents of Massachusetts but adamantly opposed a new payroll tax on businesses. As a young college grad it was an encouraging learning experience to attend this meeting and watch legislators, business leaders, HMO providers and advocates sit down at the table together to discuss the health care issue in Mass. As I was leaving the meeting I can specifically remember my pompous boss saying to me, “Lisa now you can tell your friends that you sat around the table with some of the greats.” Although there is no doubt that he was being his arrogant self there was also no doubt that… he was right. I may have not realized it on that particular day but these leaders really were making history. I am pleased to say that after nearly four months of debate among the House, the Senate and Governor Romney the state has finally come together to do something remarkable.

Tonight, as I get ready for bed and reflect on my experiences of living in this progressive city I truly feel proud to be a Massachusetts resident. As corny as it all sounds, Romney himself put it best when he said, “Today, Massachusetts has set itself apart from every other state in the country…An achievement like this comes once in a generation.”

I can’t help but wonder…perhaps one day America as a whole will be able to provide health care to each and every citizen. Maybe my children will one day ask me, “How is it possible that you grew up in a generation that did not provide health care to everyone?” They will pull at my sleve as they ask.. “Did they really turn suffering people away from the doctor’s office?” I can only hope that I will have to explain to them that yes there was once a day where we saw health care as a commodity but that day no longer exists.

BARATUNDE: A political comic who will leave you crying

2006-04-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

In an effort to join the political scene in Boston, I have been attending meetings with a well known group, Liberals Drinking. A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting one of the group’s hosts. To my pleasant surprise I was immediately struck by his intelligence and political humor. With him he carried an odd looking yellow trunk which he reached into and gave me a copy of one of his books. As I read this little book I quickly found myself moved by his ability to get passionate about political issues through a humorous style that is so original and new that I put the book down feeling refreshed.

An endless barrel of laughs, he is not only fun but also motivating. While getting people to laugh about the ridiculousness of current social affairs he gets them thinking. His name is BARATUNDE and trust me if you care at all about any of the wacky issues going on in this country and you enjoy laughing your butt off than you want to check him out. Free downloads of his books, podcasts, news on his upcoming gigs and his blog can all be found at: www.baratunde.com

Happy Eastre!

2006-04-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

No, I did not accidentally make this spelling mistake the above is the original name for the holiday now called EASTER.

Did you know that the Easter egg was actually around way before the Christian holiday was established? When the earliest Christians were celebrating their first Easter people had already been hunting for Easter eggs and watching for the Easter bunny to come hopping down their lane for centuries. Often wrapped in a gold leaf, the egg was a symbol of rebirth in many cultures.

I hope that while you are enjoying this sunny day, spring brings a fresh start to your life this Easter weekend.

“I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and real freedom of discussion as in America” -Alexis de Tocqueville

2006-04-13T20:26:00.001-07:00

Raised in Springfield, MA, enlisted in the army from 1951-1954, published a large portion of the Pentagon Papers, director of the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution, holding four honory degrees in law and public affairs, severed four years in the Alaska state legislature and currently is 75 years old. Have no idea who I am referring to?

If you are shit out of luck, the answer is: Mike Gravel.

Breaking news has confirmed that he will announce his bid for the Democratic nomination of President at a press conference on April 17th. Currently Gravel is leading a national effort to establish direct democracy at the national level. What does this mean, you ask? Well..If you were one of the many individuals who voted for either George Bush or John Kerry in the last federal election simply because you felt that he was the lesser of two evils, Gravel’s new approach to democracy may spark your interests.

A strong believer that “the people's interests are subordinated to those of powerful special interests” Gravel has undertaken an initiative which aims to bring democracy back to the people by giving them the ability to play a constructive role in their own self governance. This initiative titled, The National Initiative, will un divide Americans by a constitutional amendment and a federal statute that will give the essential power of government back to the people by allowing them to directly take part in lawmaking. Under Gravel’s idealistic plan, US voters will have the ability to request a change in policy by collecting signatures and showing that there is serious public interest about a particular issue and directing a national vote on legislation. This would allow us to challenge our representatives on specific issues over their term.

“Direct democracy, in effect, opens the political economy to as many different grocery stores as can get a market footing. And it allows voters to switch stores every few months -- not to mention, going to one store to by canned goods, another to buy fresh produce, and still another specialty store for vitamins.” –United Press International

I don’t know about my fellow political bloggers but I loved reading the writings of Alexis de Tocqueville in college. If you remember from question five on your polsci 101 exam he was the French man who came to America simply to draw up some maps but left with a deep appreciation for our country. Why did he love America so much? Because he saw that democracy was abundant, people had the authority to make their own decisions and transparency of government was feasible.

American politics have changed greatly since those days. Today people have sort of just swept the importance of democracy under the rug. As if it is a cliché thing that was once important but no one really remembers why. This could have resulted from numerous debatable factors such as: an ever growing mistrust in government that started in the Nixon era, the growth of our population, misunderstanding across cultures, a crumbling education system or simple endless beauracracy. Who knows what really caused Americans to transition from attending local town meetings to discussing endless Fox news cast about the fear of liberals destroying Christmas. The point, however, is clear: Democracy is crumbling.

It’s about time someone other than a college professor brought up good old Alexis de Tocqueville and it will be interesting to see how Mr. Gravel’s campaign plays out.

I confess that in America I saw more than America; I sought the image of democracy itself, with its inclinations, its character, its prejudices, and its passions, in order to learn what we have to fear or hope from its progress. ~ Alexis de Tocqueville

Green Beans: The Overlooked Great Snack

2006-04-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

While eating my lunch today, a pasta salad dish including green beans, I realized that I have a sincere appreciation for green beans. All too often green beans are not given enough praise and even looked down upon. However, in reality they are far better than the usual boring healthy snack such as unsalted popcorn or carrots. Some claim to not like them all that much but even they can not resist the way that Boston Market makes them- smothered in cheese and butter. Green beans truly are tastier than they look and convenient too. They are inexpensive, take minutes to cook and even the worst cooks can make them taste great!

Although their usual form is the trademark string bean, green beans can also be found as a side dish, sautéed with other veggies, in omelets and mixed among other things such as salad or macaroni. What is intriguing about them is that they can be eaten at all types of social events from barbeques to fine dinners in fancy restaurants. What is even better is that these tasty beans boost our health and leave us feeling great.

“Green beans, while quite low in calories (just 43.75 calories in a whole cup), are loaded with enough nutrients to not only power up the Jolly Green Giant, but to put a big smile on his face.” -The George Mateljan Foundation for The World's Healthiest Foods

Green beans contain all of the following: Vitamins C, K, and A, dietary fiber, potassium, folate, iron, magnesium, thiamin, riboflavin, copper, calcium, phosphorous, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and niacin. Due to this wealth of healthy items green beans can add value to your life in more ways than just relieving hunger. For starters they can improve your memory, reduce migraine symptoms, boost your immune system, provide you with more energy and even reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Also, they are a great way to add iron to your diet. Sorry Popeye, but green beans out beat spinach by a long side providing twice as much iron. What is great about this is that you can give your body some iron without the extra calories that usually come from other iron sources such as meat. They can even help with various diseases, illnesses and aliments, including: Alzheimer's, atherosclerosis, diabetic heart disease, colon cancer, asthma, arthritis, acne, ear infections, and maybe even colds and flu’s (The George Mateljan Foundation).

I guess Mom really did know what she was talking about when she kept nagging us all with the advice, “Don’t forget to eat your green beans.” Aside from just having fun popping and snapping them, green beans actually are flavorsome and highly beneficial to add to your diet! If you have changed your mind about these beans’ ranking on the snack scale you might want to know that the best time to eat end purchase them is when they are in season which is through summer to early fall. They taste the best and cost the least at this time.

Sean Patrick Maloney: A Democrat with Real Guts

2006-03-31T11:34:00.000-08:00

While checking out my daily political blogs yesterday I couldn’t help but come across some interesting information about a man named Sean Patrick Maloney who is currently running for New York State Attorney General. I know that all of my fellow bean town bloggers, hardly read news from a city that promotes the Yankees but I promise you that Maloney will be making national news quite frequently. One of the main components of Maloney’s campaign that truly caught my eye was his promise to fight against the illegal wiretapping of New York residents. In 2002 Bush ratified approval of a National Security Agency program that allowed the agency, without a warrant to take part in the surveillance of thousands of US residents by secretly intercepting their communications at any given time. Maloney believes that this program has violated New York State law because it is illegal in New York to eavesdrop on people’s communications without a warrant.

“New York law specifically prohibits “eavesdropping” –
defined as the recording or overhearing of a communication without the consent of at least one party thereto –when it is engaged in “unlawfully,” i.e., when not specifically authorized by Article 700 or 705 of the New York Criminal Procedure Law (providing for warrants under state law), or otherwise authorized by federal law under the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution.” -From Sean Maloney’s sample legal complaint.

Maloney’s plan is to use his power as attorney general to require the Bush Admistration to appear in federal court to show cause for wire tapping the citizens of New York. He believes that the NSA program needs to undergo a judicial oversight process by a federal judge. A federal judge would examine the legality of the program and order the necessary changes to make it legal. It is important to point out that this complaint would not halt ongoing anti-terrorism efforts but it would put a check on the NSA’s authority by making sure that what they are doing is truly in the best interests of the residents of New York.

Maloney explains the following in his proposal on wiretapping,

“The AG’s job is to enforce NY law and the rights of NY citizens, especially in cases where no one else will. The judicial fact-finding and oversight being sought here is essential because the U.S. Congress has failed to investigate the matter adequately and because the Department of Justice is not a neutral source for legal guidance.”

All I have to say is Kudos to you, Sean Patrick Maloney for having the courage to run a political campaign based around the question – Is President Bush outside of his presidential authority in the use of warrant less wire taps which violate New York State law? It’s about time that a democrat steps up to the plate to defend what this country has always stood for – our ability to question the powers that be. You can hear Mr. Maloney speak about this issue and others at the following link-http://wcbs.dayport.com/viewer/viewerpage.php?Art_ID=86128&tf=video_player.tpl&Customer_ID=&Category_ID=92

The Catch 22 of Social Security Disability and Health Care

2006-03-30T22:00:00.000-08:00

Ashley and I have been practicing the profession of paralegaling for about two solid months now. Our focus within the firm is in social security law. The law being as complex as it still seems to confuse us greatly, but we are learning a lot. Interestingly we have learned a good amount about both physical and mental health, medicine, treatments, diagnosis and care. Our job is to prepare cases for trial in which our firm represents clients who have applied for disability benefits and have been wrongfully denied.

In “brief” (notice the law pun) here’s how the system works: Most workers pay taxes into social security disability each and every week. If you were unaware of this, wisen up, because we all have to pay it preety much for the rest of our working careers although some workers such as teachers and small business owners often escape. The benefit of the tax is that if at some point in your life you become so physically and/or mentally disabled that you can no longer work then the feds. will give you a check each month to help you support yourself. Of course there are many specifics of how the law is applied but for fear of boring you to death I won’t go to into detail with them. The point is simple: You get mangled in a horrific car accident and you’ve paid your taxes then the feds owe you your money. Here’s where the Catch 22 occurs. When people become disabled they lose their jobs as a result and often their health care goes with that loss. Without health care and no income they are unable to treat with their doctors, thus as paralegals with have no evidence to collect because there are no medical records. So what do these people do when faced with no job, no health insurance, no social security disability benefits and no function left in most of their bodily extremities and/or mind? You’ve got me but the following question is clear. In a country as powerful as America why the hell can we not provide health insurance to all of our citizens regardless of whether or not they have a job?

Forty six million Americans lack health insurance. Forty six million! According to the latest Gallup poll two thirds of Americans said that they worry a great deal about the availability and affordability of health care. Ted Kennedy describes the situation quite well on his blog where he states, “No American family is more than one pink slip or one employer decision to drop coverage away from being uninsured.” He goes on to explain how the health care problem also affects American businesses as they attempt to compete in a global economy, places a burden on manufacturing and encourages the outsourcing of jobs. What is also ridiculous is that we spend A LOT more on health care then other countries do yet the health of our people is not really that spectacular. The US ranks 22nd in life expectancy and 25th in infant mortality.

The upside to all of this is that at least our state of Massachusetts has the good sense to do something about the issue. For months legislators have been debating different proposals to extend coverage to all 500,000 uninsured residents in Mass. If and when this legislation is finally signed in to law it will make a true mark on the nation because we may be the first state to provide adequate health insurance to all of its citizens. This is truly something to be proud of.

For all those, who in the meantime continue to suffer- check out some of the speakers and organizations at the following link: http://www.hcfama.org/speakers/

It can provide you with some positive resources on how to deal with this daunting Catch 22.

Success is a Journey, Not a Destination

2006-03-23T14:12:00.000-08:00

I’m sprawled out on the hard, cracked leather of the commuter rail seat, heading home after a long day of work. I just dropped a good chunk of this week’s paycheck on tickets to the various Senior Week activities scheduled for Northeastern’s class of 2006. (Only at NU can you complete your classes in December and be gainfully employed, yet not walk at graduation or take part in any activities until May). As my friends and I wait in the long line for tickets, we contemplate how weird it is that we are really done, and what will become of us now.

Thoughts of our conversation linger in my head as I settle in for the ride home. I scan the Living Arts section of the Boston Globe and an article about playwright Joe Keenen’s newest play “The Times” catches my eye. The play “questions the definition of success in today’s society” (Boston Globe 3/21, Suzanne Ryan). No matter how nonchalant my friends and I appear to be about the future- (“Oh, this job is just for now” and “I’m not sure what I’ll do after graduation, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out”)-the question skulks in the darkest recesses of all of our minds-Will we be successful?

And what does that mean anyway? There’s success based on employment. Working for a well known company is a good gauge of success in a lot of people’s minds. You may be making $28,000 a year, but if you can drop, “Yeah, I just started at Raytheon” into a conversation at a party, you’re probably feeling pretty good about yourself. Plus a solid company offers great benefits and upward mobility, the building blocks for a stable, successful future.

Then there’s the money piece. A friend of mine is bored to death by his part time gig at a little known law firm, but he’s ready to sign on full time after graduation, due to the sweet salary they’re offering him. The ability to be able to not move back in with your parents post college and be able to eat more than Raman noodles for dinner is pretty key. Being able to afford to live in this city fresh out of undergrad is a successful achievement in itself, I would say.

Of course we are entrenched in a consumer culture, and success is often measured by the Gucci bag hanging over her arm, or the BMW parked in his driveway. If we’re dripping in designer goods and vacationing in Cabo, have we made it? Have we hit the pinnacle of success? What about prestige, is that the indicator? If you are enrolled in an MBA program at Harvard or heading the PR Team at J Records, are you living the life of success? Will your Ivy League degree set you in stone as a successful person, even if your job is less than stellar?

Maybe doing what we actually wanted to do with our lives is the real measure. We all knew that kid in High School who wanted to be a film maker or an artist. We scoffed when he didn’t troop dutifully off to college like the rest of us, but maybe he was on to something. At the end of the day, even if he’s barely paying his rent or have yet to produce the next Oscar-winning drama, maybe they’re the real successful ones. At least they didn’t lose sight of what they really loved to commit 8 hours a day to corporate America.

I guess it depends on who you are, or what you want. I think it’s a little bit of all of that rolled into one. I would love to be a fabulously wealthy city dweller with a cool job and an impressive degree under my belt. But for now, I’ll take being able to pay the bills and having fun with my friends, and call it a success.

The Phenomenon that is Flava Flav

2006-03-21T14:14:00.000-08:00

Who would have ever guessed that a reality TV show featuring an outdated, unattractive rap star trying to find “love” among a motely crew of less than fabulous women would turn into an all American hit? After viewing the commercials for this crazy new reality show we couldn’t even believe that VH1 would air a show this bad. However, by the end of the first episode we were hooked. We found ourselves in deep conversations about the fate of New York vs. Hoops as Flav’s possible soul mates. This issue became even more interesting than the upcoming Governor’s race in Massachusetts. Even though the show’s star looks like he is 12 yet is actually almost 50, plus he rocked a hideous collection of clocks around his neck and wore fake gold teeth, we still fell in love with him. While the show aired, everyone in our office from paralegals to receptionists got in on the debate of who would end up with Flav in the last episode. It is surprising how these types of ridiculous shows seem to intrigue us far more than real issues affecting our world. Perhaps, there is something to be said for escapism.

But before we diss the validity of Flava Flav, lets not forget that he had an influential impact on our generation’s definition of hip hop. As two white girls growing up in the suburbs we were too busy making up dance routines to New Kids on the Block and memorizing Debbie Gibson’s hit single,“Out of the Blue” to even notice the impact that Flav was having on the black community as a rising star in the hip hop group, Public Enemy. As a prominent visual focus of this group during the 1980’s, Flav gained fame and our respect today. This unique group rhymed about various social problems and often condoned revolutionary tactics. Focusing on social issues plaguing the black community the group brought hip hop to a new level of pro-black social consciousness. Their second album, A Nation of Millions solidified the reality that hip-hop could serve as a powerful vehicle for social change.

Unfortunately this group’s popularity began to decline in the 1990s, but Flav has recently re-sparked our interests as a new visual icon of the reality TV world. We complained about his ridiculousness through his tests to measure the worth of his ladies, his crazy phrases and his lavish parties yet we must admit looking back that Flav truly did bring a hella lot of flavor into our lives each week. He now sits at the top of our list for favorite reality characters this season. All that is left to say is: “This Blog is for you, Flava Flav !!!!!!!!”

Avian Influenza has got us in a Frenza

2006-03-20T13:26:00.000-08:00

About six months ago I was vacationing in South Carolina, visiting one of my close friends. While we were soaking up some sunny rays she brought up an interesting article she had read about a strange virus. She said that this virus, which is carried by birds could one day kill us all. I thought she was being a little bit melodramatic and I calmed her down by replying that the article was just a fluke. As she urged me not to take her words for granted she promised me that this strange new illness would blow up in the next few months and it would be serious. Like usual, my intelligent southern friend was right. She was speaking about what has now become known as the Bird Flu. They say that this strange flu is difficult to catch but people can become infected if they come into close contact with infected birds. Approximately 100 people worldwide have already died due to the H5N1 strain of Bird Flu.

“Of the few avian influenza viruses that have crossed the species barrier to infect humans, H5N1 has caused the largest number of cases of severe disease and death in humans. Unlike normal seasonal influenza, where infection causes only mild respiratory symptoms in most people, the disease caused by H5N1 follows an unusually aggressive clinical course, with rapid deterioration and high fatality. Primary viral pneumonia and multi-organ failure are common” (World Health Organization).

Scientists' biggest concern with this virus is that it could mutate into a form that could be passed from human to human, creating a pandemic which could potentially kill millions of people. The government does hope to be able to detect the arrival of birds carrying the bird flu in North America. It is estimated that the virus could appear in Alska or Western Canada as early as this coming spring.

I guess we will have to wait and see if a mutation of this virus is possible or not, but it has been said that influenza viruses mutate easily and this one may not be any different. Well my fellow bloggers, be sure to wash off your chicken, remain calm, stock up on protective health masks and most of all, avoid watching old re-runs of Alfred Hitchcock’s, “The Birds”.

The Mystique of St. Patty’s Day

2006-03-17T11:12:00.000-08:00

“Why did God invent whiskey? So the Irish would never rule the world.”

Once again its Saint Patrick’s Day in Boston and everyone is celebrating. Half of our office is mysteriously out sick. The bars are full by noon and the streets are crowded with people wearing ugly green flower pins, plastic hats, and Beantown green t-shirts. Why do we love this holiday so much when so few of us are actually Irish? Who was St. Patrick anyways? Even the O’Malleys, the McLoughlins and the O’Conners of this city aren’t celebrating their heritage they are just enjoying the ability to be drunk in the middle of Faneuil Hall without officers asking any questions. I guess it doesn’t really matter because we all have good reason to drink irish car bombs and party till the sun comes up. This is the true reason why Bostonians look forward to this day in March every year. So as you eat your corn beef and cabbage make sure to throw back a green beer or two for us.

Oh, How I Can’t Wait For 2008 to Say Goodbye Good Old G.W.

2006-03-16T15:48:00.000-08:00

George W. Bush. Some believe the “W” stands for “worst president ever.” Over the past six years I have watched as our country has slowly begun to pop at the seams due to a misguided war, incalculable debt, arrogance and disdain for others, environmental neglect, abandonment of our country’s beliefs in the importance of civil liberties, and too much damn campaign propaganda. Today, as I look back on these enlightening years I am thankful that like always, the historians were right. A study conducted at George Mason University’s History News Network found that eight in ten historians ranked the current presidency an overall failure. The reasons why they made this conclusion are best summed up by the following quote.

“He is blatantly a puppet for corporate interests, who care only about their own greed and have no sense of civic responsibility or community service. He lies, constantly and often, seemingly without control, and he lied about his invasion into a sovereign country, again for corporate interests; many people have died and been maimed, and that has been lied about too. He grandstands and mugs in a shameful manner, befitting a snake oil salesman, not a statesman. He does not think, process, or speak well, and is emotionally immature due to, among other things, his lack of recovery from substance abuse. The term is ‘dry drunk.’ He is an abject embarrassment/pariah overseas; the rest of the world hates him…He is, by far, the most irresponsible, unethical, inexcusable occupant of our formerly highest office in the land that there has ever been” (Historians vs. George W. Bush).

Why do we despise President Bush so much you ask? If we were to discuss all of the reasons, which include the usual outrages of true blood liberals, such as the Patriot’s Act, Hurricane Katrina, giving over our ports to Dubai, and of course his smug cowboy smile, we’d be writing all day. So we thought we’d focus on one thing that makes our blood boil-yeah you guessed it- the war in Iraq.

Good old G. W has bankrupted our country by going to war at a price of $246,566,640,00 which continues to grow every day. His solution to deal with this enormous deficit is to keep taxes low for the richest 2% of Americans. Some wonder what happens when a country is as deeply in debt as we are. Well, under the Bush administration we have already seen, and will continue to see, Americans hit bad by cuts and more cuts in areas such as education, research, the arts, AFDC, public broadcasting, Medicare, and many other programs that support not only the most impoverished citizens but also the middle class. This means our streets will be flooded with more homeless people, which will most likely lead to more crime, and whether we want to admit it or not, our children will not have the same opportunities that we have, because they will spend their lives paying off the debt. Perhaps this would have all been worth it if the invasion of Iraq had some kind of profound meaning behind it, if we were standing up for something important or great. Unfortunately, all the evidence points to the reality-Bush lied and too many have perished as a result.

We were first told that America was going to war because there was a link between the horrible 911 attacks and Iraq. We were also told that Saddam Hussein was harboring weapons of mass destruction. These statements have panned out to be not only misleading but false. “The September 11 Commission reported yesterday that it has found no ‘collaborative relationship’ between Iraq and al Queda, challenging one of the Bush administration’s main justifications for the war in Iraq” (Washington Post). Today we are told that the reason we are at war with Iraq is to spread peace and democracy while eliminating terror from the world. This is Bush’s biggest lie of all. There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein was a horrific dictator who brutally tortured his people and deserved to be thrown out of power, but to believe that this is the reason why Bush brought us to war is pure insanity. Why you might ask? Because Bush himself supports dictators all over the world that are in some cases far worse than Saddam. “The odds are that, if your country floats on a sea of oil of any size, it is probably being ruled by some sort of brutal dictatorship. If your country sits on a sea of oil and also helps the Bush Administration in its “War on Terror,” then the bloody dictator in charge can pretty much do what ever he wants to his own citizens, secure in the knowledge that America will not interfere with pesky notions, such as human rights, voting democracy, freedom of the press, or political dissent” (Gary Hawkins). To further stress this point; here are a few all too familiar examples from Gary Hawkins article at Alt Press Online titled, Bush Supports Dictators While Selling Democracy:

Saudia Arabia is our ally in the war on terror and it is also a country filled with oil reserves. It tightly controls its press and does not respect women’s rights. The rich Royal family buys expensive weapon systems from US defense contractors and pays for the teaching positions of Wahhabi Islamic extremists in terrorist schools that train students to hate Americans. I don’t know about you but something about this doesn’t seem safe. Then why are they our ally? Oh that’s right-- oil. Kuwait cheered on America as we fought on their side in the first Gulf War, but wait, Kuwait is another country whose government turns a blind eye to torture, arbitrary arrests, disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Nigeria is home to corruption and American oil companies who pay off officials to ignore the destruction of villages and the environment for the construction of oil pipelines. It is a country that has fallen under the rule of some of the most brutal dictators for years. Countries located in central Asia such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have seen their brutal dictatorships grow even stronger thanks to Bush’s Administration giving them billions of dollars in return for the allowance of the American military to use their military facilities and their air space. They too have plenty of oil. Pakistan, another US ally, is a country that smuggles Afghani opium and tests fires missiles into the Arabian Sea to provoke the Indian government does not have plenty of oil but it does have nuclear warheads and it has helped the US fight the war on terror. Iran, on the other hand, one of Bush’s so-called evil enemies is similar to Iraq in that it also has enough oil that Bush and his corporate friends could go swimming in it.

At this point you may be wondering to yourself, “what about North Korea a country deeply infected by corruption and a much larger threat to the US than Iraq.” The Bush Administration has not really considered invading Iran because it doesn’t benefit our economic interests. Hawkins further expalins, “This poor, starving country has no oil at all. No oil means no money, no contracts to develop new oil fields, no cash to bribe the United Nations and no money to buy expensive weapons and spare parts. North Korea can rattle all the sabers that it wants, launch whatever it wants over the South China Sea, scare the Japanese, and kidnap hundreds of South Korean citizens, but the Pentagon isn’t going to pull the trigger. Every trial lawyer knows that you sue somebody who can pay” (Gary Hawkins).

The saddest reality of this baloney war is that America’s soldiers have been lead to believe that they are fighting for the protection of our country while in reality they are fighting for Bush’s economic interests and at the same time Bush is single handedly making America a more dangerous place to live. Taken into the wrong country with inadequate equipment, 2,300 soldiers have died and 17,000 have been wounded. Here are some troubling reactions from our soldiers themselves:

On LaVoice.org, Lance Cpl. James Clayborn Brown Jr. age 23, discusses the realities of America’s role in Iraq. He states, “We had a few situation where, I guess, people were trying to get out of the country. They would come right up to us and they would not stop. We had to open fire on them. It was really tough. A lot of soldiers, like me, had trouble with that. Not only were there men, but there were women and children—really little children. There would be babies with arms blown off. It was something hard to live with.”

On another website, countercurrents.org, a National Guardsman calling himself Michael W. states, “There are civilian contractors crawling all over this country. Blackwater, Kellogg, Brown & Root, Halliburton, on and on. These contractors are doing everything you can think of from security to catering lunch! We are spending money out the ass for this shit, and very few of the projects are going to the Iraqi people. Someone’s back is getting scratched here, and it ain’t the Iraqis’!”

On the huffingtonpost.com, John Brumes who is an infantry solider proclaims, “Everything that the Bush Administration told us about that mission in Iraq is absolutely incorrect. Furthermore, I’d like to say…I came home to no job, no health insurance. Until we take care of this war, we can’t take care of the problems that matter like health care.”

Sometimes we are afraid to speak about the realities of what Bush has done to our country but we must remember that, “a country is not only what it does- it is also what it puts up with, what it tolerates.” – Kurt Tucholsky.

We would like to make it clear that we fully support our soldiers and their efforts overseas but we believe that the men and women of our country shouldn’t ever have to be sent into danger unless it is absolutely necessary. To sum all of this up in a nut shell we wrote this blog because we are tired of living under the rule of a President that we can no longer tolerate and because Bush…well, he just sucks.

Its Thirsty Thursday-are you going out tonight?

2006-03-09T14:25:00.000-08:00

Like most Thursdays, our office is heading out for drinks after work tonight….but will we be safe? After reading today’s thought provoking Boston.com article entitled “Fearless in the City” by Donovan Slack, we were left considering more than just our first round of drinks. The tragic death of Imette St. Guillen stunned the city of Boston, not only because of the brutal, violent nature of her death, but by the realization that the vitality of youth can be so suddenly shut down.

As Slack explains, our generation is defined by Sex and the City episodes, “Go girl” power trips, and increased independence among women. Although this is positive, it contributes to a false sense of security. City culture perpetrates a desire to tear up the town till the wee hours of the morning. As 20 somethings we often forget that we are living in a society ridden with crime and violence.

We’ve all been there before –you meet a cute guy after one or two (or six) cocktails, and you wouldn’t mind going home with him-but should you? Or how about those times when you decided to walk home alone because the T stopped running and you couldn’t get a cab. It could even be something as simple as walking to your car after leaving the mall. We are confronted daily by possible dangers and threats, which nine times out of ten we wouldn’t think about, but are always there.

So go out and have a blast tonight, but don’t forget that today’s generation of strong, independent women must look out for each other.

Are you one of the many suffering from Post Traumatic Graduate Syndrome?

2006-03-07T14:03:00.000-08:00

If you’re a recent college grad I am sure the feeling has hit you at one point or another. It usually sneaks in sometime after you have packed up your dorm room and traded it in for your new four foot by four foot cubicle. It’s that feeling way down deep inside of you that you get when you look around your office and watch as everyone around you is doing the exact same thing as you day after day. It’s that lack of joy that comes from knowing that your personal identification card to enter the building isn’t really that personable. Worst of all, it seems to hit hippies like ourselves all too hard when we realize we are now part of the machine that we spent four years fighting against. Yes, it is the thrill of joining corporate America.

We realize that we are being a tad bit overly negative, but heck it’s Tuesday.

If you are suffering from this feeling we like to call, “post traumatic graduate syndrome,” do not fear there are many other suffers like yourself around the country.

Growing up is weird. One day you’re chugging beer out of solo cups and the next, you’re sending out resumes and going on interviews. The funniest part of it is that you don’t even realize it’s happened. Take a recent incident where my Mother mentioned our cousin was getting married. I asked if kids were invited, wondering if I would be included. She gave me an odd look, “You’re an adult Ashley,” she said, as if I was crazy to think otherwise.

So its true guys, the days of sitting at the kiddie table, remaining on our parents’ health insurance, and living your life in a state of ignorant bliss are long gone. Now it’s time to consider things like living on a budget, benefits packages, grad school applications, and student loan consolidation. Sometimes I feel like a little girl trying on her Mom’s high heels and makeup- a naive kid playing the part of an adult.

We all mourn the loss of our carefree college days, when we lived with our friends, took part in heated discussions in classes, studied abroad, drank too much, and slept too little. But when it comes down to it, college only lasts 4 years (or 5, if your one of those people who believe graduating on time is like coming back from spring break early) -- for a reason. After 4 or 5 years, it’s time to move on to bigger and better things (even though those things are more responsible, and more sober). Let’s admit it, one can only spend so many nights in the college bar before realizing, “It’s been done, I’m over this scene”. Plus, you know if you have to write one more 10 page paper on medieval literature, or make one more 20 minute power point presentation, you’re going to go crazy.

So we leave you with this, fellow twenty somethings: try to view the weird ambiguity of being a recent college grad as an adventure. Sure, you may feel a tug of nostalgia when your little brother calls you wasted from a frat party on Tuesday night, when your plans include emptying the dishwasher and ironing your clothes for the next day. But still, at the risk of sounding like cheesy nerds, the future is wide open. Take a job in graphic design when your major was finance. Move into that hot apartment that you can barely afford. Travel in Europe for a year. At the very least, laugh about the state of your lame salaries and try your best to keep up you fab college social life, with old and new friends.

20 Something in the City

2006-03-02T11:06:00.000-08:00

Young Americans are facing a nation at war, tremendous college debt, an unstable job market, a depleting social security system in a country divided - racially, socio-economically, and politically…but are still living it up. To those who are angered by these issues but still enjoy tossing a few back at the bar, exercising their credit cards, jamming to ipods, and catching up on the latest pop culture -- we made this for you.