Really bad pictures of Daniel Radcliff and New York

Here are my New York Pictures!

This is Daniel Radcliff signing autographs


This is the crowd waiting across the street to see Daniel Radcliff

EQUUS!

So, I saw Equus and it was amazing. The play was awesome. Unfortunately Richard Griffiths couldn't perform but his understudy was great and most definitely the standout performance.

Daniel Radcliff was very good. He wasn't spectacular but he was very good. Part of the problem was that he is just too recognizable, although after a while I most definitely lost sight of Harry. Radcliff was especially notable in the more intense scenes where the crazy of the character had to be super evident but when he had to be a little less intense it wasn't as great.

Now...to the nakedness. I find Daniel Radcliff to be quite attractive, however, it was a little too much of the money shot for me. He was fully naked for almost 5 minutes and seemed to be facing directly at our seats. I felt a little uncomfortable after the first two minutes.

Overall, the show was amazing. I would recommend it to everyone but it's closing in February so you'd have to rush.

Afterwards I did not get a picture with him or an autograph because I got there late and only the people in the front got their stuff signed. But I did see him and get some very bad pictures of him.

I'll post my Radcliff pictures and other pictures from the trip up soon.

Africa isn't just a sad place with only suffering people who need to be saved

So I was listening to that "Feed the World" Christmas song which pretty much says that Africa needs our help because everything is going horrible there, and don't get me wrong people should be helping out more, but after going to Africa and taking classes about Africa, I resent the idea that Africa is just a big group of people in deplorable conditions that can't possible be happy.

As much as those kinds of feeling generally mean well, there is something inherently arrogant about it. The Western world seems to assume that people can't possible be happen in situations that aren't necessarily as nice as ares and what exactly defines a nice situation. I mean, it is hard to believe that starving people without access to nice medical care are in a perfect situation, that shouldn't be all we see.

I went to Ghana, which is admittedly a fairly well off country where I may not have seen the worst of the worst situations, but there were certainly not as many luxuries as I'm used to, but there was also a happiness that I rarely experience here. I taught school in the small town of Hohoe and people seemed to be genuinely happy and appreciate what they have. I taught the kids questions and answers in English and one of them was "What is your favorite food?" and they would say things like rice and yams. Things that they ate everyday but there remained an appreciation for them. They loved what they had.

People also depended on and supported each other. It was the rainy season and whenever I would get stuck in town when it started to rain, without fail a shopkeeper would invite me into the back of their shop to sit with them and get out of the rain. Most would even invite me into the back room to sit with their family and make conversation.

One day there was a child sleeping on the floor so I asked the woman if it was her son and she said "No but I didn't want him to be cold," and I was just swept away by that kind of thinking.

Once again I'm not saying that there aren't situations that need to be fixed and worked on and there aren't many things we should do to help, I'm just saying that to assume the people in Africa can't be happy in the situations they are in is shortsighted and a little ignorant even if it comes from good intentions.

Just a thought

EQUUS!

I'm seeing Equus on Sunday. I'm sure all of you and by all of you I mean the three people who read this thing, are all jealous. I'll give a full report after I've seen it.

I'm not just seeing it because Daniel Radcliff (Harry Potter) will be naked because I think it will really be a good play. I can't lie though. It's a factor.

Want to hear something gross?

In what world is it OK for a college student to spread fecal matter around on a toilet seat? In fact, in what world is it OK for anyone over 2 to do that.

Seriously someone spread it out. Not just accidentally got some on the seat, but took the time to spread it out. WTF is that.

Oh college

After working at the ACLU this summer I find myself pondering more and more about civil liberties and why they're important. And I have realized just how many you can give up when you walk onto a college campus.

It's not anything criminal per say. College official can't strip you down in the middle of campus and send you to jail but they can search your room for no reason or punish you for things even if there isn't a whole lot of proof.

It can all be seen in the college handbook. Think of that handbook as a kind of constitution or bill of rights. When you agree to go live on a campus and attend a school you are basically agreeing to follow their rules. If a college decides that you broke them they can punish you, as long as it is in the rules you agreed to.

For instance, at my school, if you appear drunk or even if you appear sober but are walking with someone who appears drunk, you can be written up. They don't demand any proof. There's no breathalyzer. They just write you up and move on.

Now, admittedly, most of the people written up are drunk but that's not really the point. People deserve fair trial even if they're guilty.

On to the room thing. In the real world, police need a warrant and/or your consent to search your house. When you live on campus, however, you are technically on college property and therefore your room can be searched for any reason by campus safety or the police.

It just seems a little fucked up.

Thanksgiving Review Part 1

Well, as usual it was a fantastic Thanksgiving full of loving sarcasm, shopping, competitiveness and of course eating.

First and foremost on the awesome scale was the place card contest. The premise of the contest was to make a place card consisting of life savers, glue or tape, the ingredients of cole slaw and the container they come in. Admittedly mine was horrible. I did it the morning of the contest and did it in 10 minutes.


Other people made awesome ones though.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Christmas: Is consumerism really all that bad.

As Black Friday close approaches, we hear more and more cries about how consumerism has ruined Christmas but I disagree. Christmas may be centered a little too much around the presents but I also appreciate just how ridiculously big the holidays have come. I like the constant Christmas music and decorations.

I hate to sound ridiculously hedonistic but the holiday spirit makes me feel good, and if it makes me feel good why should I worry about it. I like picking out a Christmas tree, putting out Santa figurines and baking enough cookies to make the skinniest of the skinny gain 40 pounds.

I can see where religious people could be a little pissed off. Jesus has been pushed to the side in the contemporary Christmas bonanza. Santa is featured in decorations a lot more than Jesus. It doesn't bother me at all but I guess I have to see the other side.

I even like the buying people presents. Perhaps more than recieving them. I couldn't possible be more excited for Black Friday.

THe main point here is that I love the holidays. I plan to embrace the Christmas spirit. I'll even listen to the same Christmas music over and over and love it all along.

Television: It saves lives

I love TV and I'm not ashamed. I watch it a lot and I watch a lot of shows. I always have.

I was there when Rachel got off the plane and when Pheobe got married. I was there when Jim and Pam got engaged. I was even there when we finally met Elmo's dad.

I'm not ashamed of my TV habits. I don't think I'm wasting my life. I still go out and study(ish) and all that jazz. I have a real life. Just as there are functional alcoholics; I am a functional television addict. The invention of television on the internet has made my life much easier as I no longer have to rush to the TV at exactly the right time. It give me more freedom. The only show I HAVE TO watch when they're on are Boston Legal and The Office.

My favorite thing to do while studying or writing a paper is to watch a show on the side of the screen while i do whatever it is I need to do. Generally, I watch shows online that I haven't see yet but when my internet is out I also watch shows on DVD. I currently have in my collection: All 10 seasons of Friends, Season 4 of Gilmore Girls, Season 4 of Golden Girls, Season 1 of Boston Legal, and the third season of ER.

I think I learn a lot from all of the television I watch. For instance I often learn to be funny. I'll be the first to admit that some of the funniest things I say come from the mouths of Chandler Bing or Michael Scott.

A lot of human nature can be learned and observed from bad Reality TV shows. Wife Swap is my personal favorite. I like to think of it as a social experiment. There is something to be said for taking someone entirely away from the people they're used to and throwing them into families of people entirely different then them. It really is, at its heart, a little telling. And also....hilarious.

Moment of Truth was another great one. True it was a game show that featured mostly horrible, horrible people, but interesting things always come out when someone is forced to tell nothing but the truth. I loved it.

I try and watch the Daily show every day. In a lot of ways it mostly how I get my news, though I often slip a little MSNBC into my day.

My new thing is Vampire shows. I'm a little ashamed as I used to judge women who were all about vampire stories but I just so love many of the shows. I'm super into True Blood, which I would suggest to anyone, but I also recently watched the entire series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and am now working my way through Angel. There really is something kind of sexy about a vampire.

YAY!

I'm not exagerating when I say this is truly one of the greatest nights of my life and I couldn't be prouder of my country than I am right now.

Does race matter?

Obama opponents have been bitching about the supposed support Obama gets entirely on race sometimes going as far as to say that his entire popularity is based on the fact that he's black. This is ridiculous and a little fucked up. Obama is qualified and that's why I'm voting for him but I often wonder why there's a problem with thinking that it is groundbreaking and imperative that we elect a black president.

I'm not one to believe that a president should mimic the majority of Americans based on class, income and even morality. I believe that a presidents should be elected on the basis of how well they'll represent the country but as I believe that Barack Obama would be a great president even if he were white and old, the fact that he is black makes it even more important to me that he be elected.

It is time for a black man (or woman) to be elected to the highest position in American government. It is time for the minorities and under privileged of this country to be able to say "I could be elected President!" 

Upper class white men have had there chance, and lets be honest, a lot of them, maybe even a majority were disappointments. It's time for America to practice what it preaches. Most Americans would never say "I'm totally OK with the racism in this country," or "I don't feel the need to actually make an effort to change things," but that doesn't change the fact that that is what many of them are thinking. 

The sad thing is that the racism in America hasn't changed nearly as much as we pretend it has. It is, however, hidden a lot better. We no longer outwardly discriminated based on race but rather against the poor but the poverty rates in this country are largely concentrated on minority groups. For instance the completely non-sensible drug laws rarely affect the white kids who do lines of cocaine at parties with alcohol often purchased by their parents or smoke pot on their back porch. No, almost all of the inmates doing time for drug possession are poor minorities who couldn't afford a good or even mediocre lawyer to get them off. 

Just look at Hurricane Katrina. I highly doubt that if the super dome had been filled with middle class white people it would have taken three days to get them BASIC supplies to keep them alive let alone luxuries of any kind. But they were poor and black and it would seem that poor minorities are a lot less important than the white majority. 

This isn't to say that Barack Obama is speaking out about discrimination as much as he should be. Probably because it wouldn't be so great for his campaign, but even so the fact that a BLack man could be elected is fantastic. It is time for the American people to stand up and prove that everyone deserves a chance. It is time for black children to see that they can become president. It is time for everyone black or white to realize that it's time for a change. I for one am ready.

YAY! I'm very proud!

I crocheted a pillow!

Not so much a timely issue...

So I watched Cold Mountain today and I couldn't help pondering the Civil War, especially after having read Gone With the Wind this summer. For my entire life I've gone to school in the north and have therefor never really looked at or been taught about the Civil War from a southern perspective and it's interesting to see it presented that way. 

Obviously I believe the North was correct in starting a war if that's what it took to end slavery. I don't really think anyone could argue against the end of slavery. Not anyone sane, anyway. But was the North innocent in this war, or really can any party in a war ever be innocent?

The North it seems, was truly ruthless in their treatment of the Southern people. They hurt not just the soldiers but the women and children as well. And there was certainly hypocrisy too. It's not like the North was free from racism. Not even close. Some were just as racist as Southerners. In fact, some of them more so, as they had never actually had any contact with a black person. 

When I read Gone With the Wind, which is probably my new favorite book, I almost found myself rooting for Scarlet, Rhett and Melanie which I have to say made me entirely uncomfortable as it mean siding with the South, a side which in my education was always presented as cruel. 

I think in the end, it was a dark time in our country's history. THe South was defending a practice that is arguably the worst and most degrading thing one person could due to another but the North was not much better. 

It's not even so much, the North's behavior during war but whether the Reconstruction period. A good end was achieved in a way that was overly cruel and unnecessary, and in that way the South is a victim.

These new perspectives facing me are making me rethink my conclusions on the history of our nation and I think there might be something to be said for that. 

Just some thoughts...

My thoughts on the idiots who oppose equal rights for gay couples

As more and more videos, news stories and editorial come out on California's propostion 8, I can't help but judge people who are against gay marriage. Now generally I at least try to see the other side but on this issue I just can't.

Now I'm not saying everyone should agree on the issue on a moral ground. Though I strongly disagree, I understand that some religions take a strong stance against gay marriage and homosexuality on a whole and that is there right as Americans. However, the underlying issue here is not the morality of homosexuality it is the issue of equal rights for all people and especially Americans. After all, isn't that what America's all about? Religious opinion shouldn't matter when making of appealing laws. 

Gays aren't asking all religions to respect them or even for everyone accept them, though both of those things should ABSOLUTELY be happening, they are asking to be able to have children without hassles straight couples don't face or be able to visit their dying loved one. 

It bother me that politicians fighting for gay rights still won't call civil unions, marriages, which is exactly what they are, but that is what needs to be done to get equal rights. Baby steps are sometimes necessary. 

So I am here to say that if you are against legal unions for gay couples, not only am I judging you but I also think your an asshole. 

Things stuck in my head as I can't sleep.

So I'm lying here unable to sleep and for some reason all I can think about is the fact that Spiro Agnew is the only Maryland politician to be Vice President. Somehow the man managed to be more corrupt than Nixon, his president and one of the most corrupt Presidents in America History. Maryland is a great state and we need to make our mark on the world. Spiro Agnew is more of a scar. A deep, purplish scar that should be hidden under 3 or 4 layers of clothes. 

I also need to think about more normal things as I try to fall asleep...

Undecideds and idiots aren't really different things.

While I understand that choosing a political candidate to vote for is an important process and should be considered carefully and thoughtfully, it's time to make up your fucking mind. 

The candidates aren't even a little bit the same and this election has been going on for over a year. Unless you live under a rock of indifference you should know who you're voting for. And if you life under a rock of indifference, you probably shouldn't vote.

It's not even so much that the undecideds annoy me as much as the attention they get by the news media. They're constantly spotlighted and talked about and interviewed. If I'm going to take advice from anyone it's certainly not some random dude from Ohio who hasn't manage to pay attention enough to make a freaking decision. 

I'm just saying.

Colin Powell: made of awesome!

Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama! This is maybe one of the greatest things to happen in the good camp for a while other that the McCain camp continually fucking themselves over everytime Sarah Palin says something unbearably stupid, but that's a whole other story. 

Listening to Powell on Meet the Press and later just random interviews I was impressed. In fact, I've always been quite impressed by him. He was the only person in the Bush administration I had respect for post-Iraq. In fact, I'm not sure I respected anyone else in the Bush administration pre-Iraq. He actually seemed honest when he talked about the fact that he based his choice on each and every issue and entirely on merit with few other criteria. A lot of political figures say that, and it is seldom believable. Could it be that there is actually a person who transcends party and looks only at the interests of America? If so, his opinion is certainly one to be cherished.

I can't honestly say that if he had endorsed John McCain, I would have listened to him so carefully and with such deep respect but I can say that Colin Powell is a truly honorable and brilliant military mind. 

His endorsement means something. And hopefully those truly annoying undecideds will take note!

W...

So I saw W yesterday and I was a little disappointed. It was definitely worth seeing but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. To be fair though, my expectations were very high.

The acting was superb by a great majority of the cast and Josh Brolin was brilliant but the movie didn't come together particularly well. There was no notable insight to speak of and was pretty much just depressing. 

The portrayal of Condoleeza Rice was not good at all. She was basically portrayed as a stupid puppet for the administration. Rice may be a puppet, but she is in no way, stupid. 

What was done well however, was the conflict between Colin Powell and the rest of the administration in terms of the Iraq war. 

Overall the movie was definitely worth the $8 but I won't be buying the DVD.

Sarah Palin!!!!!!! The downfall of John McCain and perhaps America herself...

I never thought I'd say this, but... I ALMOST feel sorry about John McCain right now. Just almost, but still. 

Watching the rallies where crowds of supporter began yelling racist and violent comments McCain does seem genuinely disturbed. In fact, I actually gained a teeny tiny amount of respect for him when he corrected a woman for calling him an Arab. I do not think that McCain is a bad man.

However, when watching Sarah Palin at these rallies, she seems to revel in the rowdy, violent crowds. In fact she incites it. How can the campaign claim that she doesn't endorse that behavior when she brings it out by basically saying Obama is best buddies with terrorists trying to bring down America. 

Sarah Palin is the reason I find it impossible to feel bad for John McCain. She would be his downfall if I thought that he had any chance of winning in the first place. 

I really hate Sarah Palin...

Abortion, Feminisn and Evangelicals! Oh my!

So something has really been bothering me lately. Let me just preface this by saying that I am incredibly pro-choice and will never stop supporting women's reproductive rights. It is important to me as a feminist and will always be important to me as a feminist. A woman's right to choose is important and we should always keep fighting to defend it. However, I do not think being pro-life automatically makes someone anti-feminist. In a lot, and maybe even most, it does but like everything else in life, there are exceptions. 

To me, it is all about the reasoning and the way I see it there are two main reasons why someone might be pro-choice. The first is that they honestly believe it is murder. In this case, though I severely disagree with it, I don't think being pro-life for this reason automatically goes against feminism. I also think the idea that even though they think it's murder they should let other people feel differently, is in a way, sort of ridiculous. I for one would be disturbed if someone who thought abortion was murder, thought it was okay to do it. I for one would not allow a friend to murder someone under the pretense that it was there right to believe that it's okay to kill someone. 

The second reason for being pro-life however, is incredibly anti-woman. I often hear people say that impregnated women should have an unwanted baby so they can take responsibility for their actions. The idea of using pregnancy as a punishment, is to put it mildly, stupid. Babies should not be punishments and women should not be punished for mistakes or accidents with a pregnancy. 

This all goes only for direct abortion. Being against safe and accessible birth control is always anti-woman. Pregnancy prevention prevents, believe it or not, pregnancy so one would think it would be important to make sure its safe and accessible at all times. 

The two greatest things in the world...

Well I have thought about it greatly and have come to the conclusion that the two greatest things in the world are...50 cent books and $3 dvds. Lucky for me, both of these things are available within a mile and a half from my school.

Today, while I was in the library, a miracle in it's own right, I bought a quotable Nixon book for 50 cents and last weekend I purchased 4 more books at 50 cents each. 

My new quotable Nixon book might just be the coolest thing I own. I shall keep it in my purse and whenever there's is a lull in conversation, I will quote Nixon and there would be a brand new conversation starter right there! 

What's so wonderful about this book is the fact that it's organized alphabetically by subject. So let's say a friend and I were talking about Civil rights and we ran out of things to say about it, I could just pick up my quotable Nixon and say "..I am convinced that the future of the Republican party today lies in pressing forward on civil rights." That quote alone could easily provide hours and hours of conversation, because just writing it made me laugh hysterically. 

The debate last night...

So I watched the debate last night and have to say that I was disappointed in pretty much everyone involved. Obama said things I agree with and McCain said things I disagree with. Nothing new on that front.

They were both kind of pricks though. I know that presidential candidates never follow debate rules. It's hard and that's the way it's always been. However last night, they not only ignored them but actively went against them. They ignored Tom Brokaw and the idea of town hall style debate was pretty much lost. 

On his part Tom Brokaw was pretty much spineless. He acted like a small child trying to get two big kids to listen to him. 

The debate drinking games and Craked.com's live blog made it all a little better...