Thursday, April 30, 2009

Oink, Oink

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Lord of the Rings

This is so bloody awesome! Can't wait to see it! I am one of the world's biggest Tolkien fans - this is great stuff.

Trailer 2 - The Hunt For Gollum [2]
by HuntForGollum

UPDATE:

It was pretty darn good!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Monty Python Could've Written It

Yep.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Call of the Abyss

I can't outline my emotions right now, but suffice it to say the only proper outlet for them is the music below. Enjoy the greatness that is Ihsahn.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

He Was Nowhere Else


I searched for God among the Christians and on the Cross and therein I found Him not.
I went into the ancient temples of idolatry; no trace of Him was there.
I entered the mountain cave of Hira and then went as far as Qandhar but God I found not.
With set purpose I fared to the summit of Mount Caucasus and found there only 'anqa's habitation.
Then I directed my search to the Kaaba, the resort of old and young; God was not there even.
Turning to philosophy I inquired about him from ibn Sina but found Him not within his range.
I fared then to the scene of the Prophet's experience of a great divine manifestation only a "two bow-lengths' distance from him" but God was not there even in that exalted court.
Finally, I looked into my own heart and there I saw Him; He was nowhere else.

~ Rumi (1207 - 1273)

My Candle


My candle burns at both ends
it will not last the night.
But ah my foes,
and ah my friends
it gives a lovely light.

~ Edna St. Vincent Millay


Friday, April 24, 2009

Public Safety or Police Brutality?

The video below shows a man dancing at the Coachella music festival this year. He is also naked.

In the beginning of the video, the three policemen present were trying, albeit rather patiently, to get the man to put his clothes back on. But the man continued to refuse, albeit nonviolently and without the use of profanity. A few minutes into trying to coax him to re-clothe himself, the policemen seem to collectively lose their patience with this man and begin to use violent force. While it is hard to tell how much strength someone possesses on video, it seems the man wasn't struggling to break free of their grasp all that much, being perhaps just a little squirmy.

Ultimately, they end up kneeing him in his side, smashing his face into the dirt, twisting his arms back into what appears to be very painful positions, and then tazing him several times. All the while he resisted not, he never even swore, and just said, "I don't care, I don't care!"

All for being naked. Naked.

Over the last couple of days that I've known about this video, I've read on several different forums and blogs a lot of support for the policemen's actions, some even going so far as to say (paraphrasing), "What if he were to have raped some little girl or something?" I strongly, strongly disagree with this poorly reasoned comment. He in NO way was insinuating any type of sexual behavior, intent, or otherwise. He was simply dancing about with a couple of boas. Harmless.

So yes. If the rules of the event were such that one must stay clothed, fine. Cart him off to jail for refusing to redress himself once asked a few times. And I would even sanction them resorting to some type of physical restraint to control him if he were posing a physical threat to anyone there. Perhaps this guy was a little crocked - fine. Cart him off to jail. But in no way, in NO WAY, was it acceptable for the police to use so much force on this man. No way. It was quite barbaric and in my opinion, a very clear abuse of power on the part of these "authorities".



Naked Wizard Tased By Reality from Tracy Anderson on Vimeo.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

EARTH DAY

Bon matin. In celebration of Earth Day, I am going 100% vegan, just for today, but it's my little way of doing more.

So, in accordance with my 24-hour diet, I thought I'd post my menu for the day and encourage you too to go animal-product-free today. :D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Breakfast:

Smoothie:

* rice milk (preferable in smoothies)
* fresh papaya (stinky, but good)
* spirulina blend (powdered form)
* flax oil (Omega-3)
* frzn. strawberries
* frzn. pineapple
* frzn. mango

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mid-Morning Snack:

Granola:

* rolled oats
* Golden Syrup (British sweetener)
* dried raspberries

Banana

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lunch:

Salad:

* redleaf lettuce
* whole avocado
* half a Roma tomato

Dressing: "Liquid Gold"**

* 1/2 C flaxseed oil
* 1/2 C water
* 1/3 C lemon juice
* 2 T raspberry vinegar
* 1/4 C Bragg Liquid Aminos
* 1/2 C Red Star Nutritional Yeast***
* 2 t Dijon mustard
* 1 t ground cumin

** dressing courtesy of Becoming Vegan, an excellent resource book on veganism.
*** I buy my Nutritional Yeast in bulk at my local health food store, but this will work too.

Slice of my favorite bread.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mid-Afternoon Snack:


The Best Popcorn In The World (according to me :D )

* 1/4 C organic popcorn seeds
* 2 T Red Star yeast
* dash of Spike seasoning
* drizzle of warm veggie oil

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dinner:

wholewheat rainbow pasta
tomato sauce (the usual: fresh garlic, bell peppers, basil, etc.)
vegan Parmesan cheese (Red Star yeast, whole sesame seeds - blend)

crook-neck squash
zucchini

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Voila! A day's worth of food that includes absolutely no cruelty! How about it? Wanna try it?

Monday, April 20, 2009

Discrimination

You know, I just don't get some people.

Without going into too many details, I will explain something that has been part of my life for the last five years and will continue to be part of my life, so long as I am married to my husband.

From the outside, there is an obvious physical difference between me and my husband. That alone makes people draw their own conclusions about us, mostly negative. From one of us there is an ex who is hell-bent on telling ghastly lies and spreading any kind of rumor they can conjure up to try to make us look bad to our kids' friend's parents. In this, they have succeeded. Nevermind that this ex chronically gets fired from jobs for screaming at co-workers and patients (a "nurse"), loses significant others to infidelity and rage, gets evicted from homes due to unacceptable disturbances, alienates friends for being undependable, and of course, has done one hell of a job of making their kids hate them. Now. We, on the other hand, have literally and truly never had one of these things happen to us, in all our lives - both together and before, and yet we are the ones who are looked at and treated like freaks. It is really, really frustrating.

Now that our kids are getting older and are starting to see this for themselves, they are getting upset because they are seeing that friends are not allowed to come over, etc. All because of lies. We have lived in the same home for over 5 years, have had the same jobs for that amount of time, are happily married and you won't believe this but have never ONCE even yelled at each other, and yet we are somehow the bad guys. I am just appalled at the foolishness and immaturity of these people, who don't even take the time to get to know us for who we are. It literally is just that bad. We go to all the school functions, volunteer in both kid's classes, go to all the sporting and musical events, host sleepovers and playdates (with true friends), and have a normal, kid-centered life.

I can't begin to express how this really gets my hackles up. Of course, we have good and true friends who see us for who we are and know the truth. And for them we are so glad. And really, obviously these other people aren't worth the time in the first place. But it is really frustrating to have people thinking and saying untrue things about us when we're the ones doing all the right stuff.

I can really understand and empathize with all people who have been discriminated against for various things, whether it was/is for interracial marriage, disabilities, economic status or social class. It all hurts. I guess some people never got the memo about thinking for themselves and drawing conclusions based on real life experience. So long, suckers!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

7 Things You Didn't Know You Wanted to Know About Me!

1.) I have to warm the outside of each bottle I use in the shower under hot water before I can use what's inside.

2.) I am perfectly happy being a "pointy-headed intellectual" and have no desire to dumb down.

3.) I secretly want to be a Mormon. (However, that may conflict with #2... hmm)

4.) I hate when my phone rings. And yes, I screen my calls.

5.) I do not like horror or sci fi movies or books.

6.) I have saved every single letter my husband has ever written to me.

7.) I could eat Italian food every single day for the rest of my life and be perfectly contented.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Your Daily Dose of John



Now THIS is an intelligent man.

Your Daily Dose of Keith



My god that woman needs a lobotomy...

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Your Daily Dose of Bill

Your Daily Dose of Beck



Yep, this is pretty much "what it feels like."

'Cause it's Just S'damn Fun!

Some Rush Limbaugh quotes - ripe enough to brighten even the dimmest of days.

"Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society."

"We're not sexists, we're chauvinists -- we're male chauvinist pigs, and we're happy to be because we think that's what men were destined to be. We think that's what women want."

"She comes to me when she wants to be fed. And after I feed her -- guess what -- she's off to wherever she wants to be in the house, until the next time she gets hungry. She's smart enough to know she can't feed herself. She's actually a very smart cat. She gets loved. She gets adoration. She gets petted. She gets fed. And she doesn't have to do anything for it, which is why I say this cat's taught me more about women, than anything my whole life." --on his cat

"She sounds like a screeching ex-wife." --on Sen. Hillary Clinton

"The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."

"They oughtta change Black History Month to Black Progress Month and start measuring it."

"Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."

"The only way to reduce the number of nuclear weapons is to use them."

"There are more acres of forestland in America today than when Columbus discovered the continent in 1492."

"I know these people like I know every square inch of my glorious naked body." --on Democrats

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

It's a Sad, Sad Day Indeed

Bad news, my friends. Very, very bad news. One of the greatest movies of all time is most unfortunately being remade, which in and of itself is already a crapper, but to make matters even worse, they've already slotted Tom Cruz to play the main, and coolest, role. Yes, I'm talking about the remake of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

*sigh* I couldn't believe my eyes when I read this story. As evidenced here, this is one of my all-time favorites, and there are countless reasons why. Two of the main reasons are that two of the best actors the silver screen has ever been graced by star in this film. I am of course talking about Robert Redford and the late Paul Newman. Why oh why in the name of all things good was Tom Cruz picked to play Sundance? I mean, Brad Pitt? Yes. Tom Cruz? No. Even if they made it into a comedy with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson that would be okay. But this, really not OK.

At least we still have the original. I refuse to pollute my good memory with a new "improved" version.

Hey Hollywood! Get some damn originality! Stop doing remakes of the classics for money! Actually hire a good writer or two. It did you good in the past. Oh yeah, that's right. There aren't any good writers anymore. Only the ones who produce mindless drivel or shoddy remakes. pfft.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Squeaky and Itchy

Dood ~ Allergies doth abound today. Shite. I've never really had allergies, but today I sure as hell do. The usual symptoms, which I am sure you're sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to hear all about in detail, alas are really not all that important or interesting.

More important, however, is my really annoying new neighbor who has just sprung out of the woodwork to make my life more interesting if nothing else. GOD this lady drives me up the wall. For starters, this lady doesn't know the concept of modesty, not even in the most general sense of the word. Let's just say that she has no problem letting it all hang out. Of course this bothers me, but mostly because she has decided that my HUSBAND is the best thing since sliced cheese and is now over daily, yes daily, to chat or bum a cigarette or generally parade around in front of him. Bless him, he's just too damn nice to people and they come to him in droves, all kinds of winners. They actually come to me, too, I'm just better at being a dick than he is.

So this lady is recently divorced and separated from her husband, has two children - one of which is a special needs child, and yes, we pretty much know all about her life. What really urks me is that when I see her in passing on my own, she ignores the shit out of me, doesn't even smile when I wave or say hi. But when my husband is near, she's just so damn squeaky nice! *GRIN* Boy are my hackles up. And of course, now that he's shown GENERAL KINDNESS to this lady, she's a near-permanent fixture on our porch. Go in, you say? Well, my husband essentially lives on the porch - the man likes the great out of doors, what can I say? So for now, all I can do is hope that she moves - SOON.

When she first started skulking around, I pointed out to my husband that this lady was a lookin' for trouble. Now as a little background, he often thinks that I am paranoid - which I'm not - so he kind of dismissed what I said, even though he's pointed out on several occasions, might I add, that yep, I was right about that one person. *again, GRIN* So, I just admonished him to keep his eyes out, that she's bound to show her cards any time now, she's just that kind of person.

Sure enough, true to form, she's now started up an affair with another resident of our complex (it's really not THAT kind of complex, this is actually the first time there has been anything close to drama in the 5+ years we've been here) who happens to be married, yes married, himself. We know him, we know his wife, and we know his three children. And every day, several times a day, we see him slink into her apartment and slink out several minutes or hours later. He also happens to be the maintenance man here at the complex and is working on a porch nearby so I am sure that his sweet and perhaps unsuspecting wife (though this is so painfully obvious to us just sitting on our porch that I am hard pressed to believe that she is just blissfully unaware of her husband's whereabouts all the damn time) has no clue he's off doinking the new lady. See, this guy tried this with me when I first moved in - 'cause I'm a hot little number, what can I say? But hey, much to his dismay, I HAVE MORALS - AND I'M NOT EVEN RELIGIOUS - IMAGINE THAT!! So he quickly got the picture that I was not available for his late night antics and he moved on to the next newest lady at the time, who has since become my best friend. She was single, and I think, but don't tell her I think this, they had a little thing going on. If nothing else, perhaps some heavy petting, as they say. So, he moved on from her once he realized that well was only knee deep, and I thought we were done with this bright spark. But nope, sure enough he's back and at it with this lady, who has also by the way, detailed to my husband when I wasn't there about how she's lost 100 pounds in the last two years, had a tummy tuck and a boob job, and so she seems to him Maintenance Man like som'in good to eat.

We're the lucky winners of a free spectacle every weekend, too. While the kiddies play in our front lawn with the neighbor kids - even hers, we see this MOTHER OF TWO openly flirt with this FATHER OF THREE in our yard in front of our home. It's really, really fun, in case you can't tell - I'm fucking overjoyed.

In fact I hear her high-pitched squeal outside right now, yelling something over to my husband about only god knows what.

Ugh. How I long for an island.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Friday, April 10, 2009

"No matter how plain a woman may be if truth and loyalty are stamped upon her face all will be attracted to her."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

Dandy Gypsy


Pierre-Auguste Renoir ~ The Bohemian

Miss Millay


Edna St. Vincent Millay has been my favorite poet for years and years.

My First Love



Corey Feldman was my first crush as a kid. Of course, my favorite movie of his to date is none other than The Goonies.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

A Renamed Post

You know? I had a title to this post something to the effect of claiming that Beck barely holds on to his sanity because of his conversion to the LDS church. But you know what? I really admire his story. So, I take it back. That's why I posted it in the first place, because I relate to his words and admire his ability to convert. I may not agree with Beck's politics, but I can appreciate other things about him.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Longing

Have any of you experienced a great longing for something you knew you just couldn't and shouldn't have at that time in your life? Well, I, unfortunately, have this quite often - with many a different things. But the one which I am feeling today, and am for some reason brave enough to blog about, is about having children.

See, I am an evil stepmother - DUN DUN DUN. And while I could rail on about what a bloody difficult and thankless job that is, and believe me, it IS, I will only talk about the fact that sometimes, when I am feeling particularly mental, I wish to have my own children. Now, I am in no position to do this, not for a long while for so many, many reasons. But like I said, sometimes I just get bit with a bug that makes me long for my own chillins. I (of course) wonder what they would look like, think about what I would name them, wonder how much different life would be, etc. I also am of the mind that more people is not exactly a good thing for the planet and honestly, life is simply better without children. Damn biology!

It's actually a little frustrating at times because I start to ramble on in my head about, "Will I ever have a 'right time', will I know if it's the right time", yadda yadda yadda. While I wouldn't advocate having children while young, I also believe that everyone has different paths and desires and so the 'right time' for one may not be the same for another in similar circumstances.

It has gotten better over time, though. I used to spend time in the baby sections of stores, read baby product and information websites, read baby BOOKS, blogs, etc. and I think that that even helped me subside some of the more intense sessions. Luckily that has mainly passed. But every once in a while, when I am feeling particularly whimsical and out-of-touch with (my) reality, I get all goo-goo eyed and mushy about having a baby. Sigh. Some just never learn, do they?

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Fifteen and Seven Years Ago



Two of the world's greatest Rock Stars died. Of course, that would be Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Layne Staley of Alice in Chains.

Both of these bands are my all-time favorite rock groups. I spent the majority of my teen years rockin' out to Nirvana and have spent the last ten years since rockin' out to Alice in Chains, with the lucky and glorious opportunity to see them live in 2006 and hopefully at least once again before I die. It's on my bucket list, for sure.

I could go on to explain the whys and hows and the whatfors, but suffice it to say that they are legends, you don't need me to tell you that.

They will never be forgotten in the recesses of my mind, they will always fulfill a place in my heart that can't otherwise be filled.

Long live Rock-n-Roll!

Snippet

I thought I'd give a more detailed account of ME since blogs are really just a bunch of snippets. Which is fine, and one very well can get a clear sense of who a person is (or who they wish to portray themselves as) through blogs, but, well, I guess I don't have a grandiose excuse. I just felt like posting this. Take it or leave it. There are lots of other blogs out there if this one isn't for you. My only rule with myself for blogging (and in life in general) is to be honest with myself. And so I am. :D

This is a snippet of me, what I like, etc.


Human rights and true democracy, Democrat of the Socialist sort, animal rights and animal LIBERATION, speaking and learning French, sociology (my passion, the very essence of my being), Hobbits, indulgence not compulsion, my homemade rice milk (yummm), Bikram yoga (aka Fire Yoga), Antique and Rockabilly fashions, Raqs Sharqi (aka Belly Dance), salty-ass pirates (not to be confused with salty ass-pirates), writing, crusty European breads, a hot bath, the rain, individualism, Black Moors, trees, quiet, linguistics, plants, creativity, good and true friends, philology, loyal and loving family, a piping hot cup o' British tea, psychology, highbrow humor, not turning the other cheek, everything East Indian, history, a rich cup of coffee once in awhile (only our local Tailormade Goat Rock blend ~ brewed in a French Press, of course), FREEDOM, classical languages, separation of Church and State, not subscribing to social norms out of fear or in desire of being "accepted", etymology, local microbrews and microbreweries, grammar, European-style pubs and taverns, garlic fries with an amber ale, a cap of Port now and then, cooking and enjoying good grub, reading (always on the hunt for a good book), blogging, fresh fruit and veggies, the month of August ;), autumn (my favorite season!), our neighborhood block parties and BBQs, NATURE, brewing my own beer, and anything or anyone that piques my interest.
Oh yeah. And if my ideals frighten or threaten you, then your ideals probably would do the same to me.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Pass the Ammunition


This is my all-time favorite Dixie Chicks song. This is what real Country sounds like - rockin' the fuck out!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Flawed


The radiant, the hostile: Otep.

It's A Beautiful Day

Hey, y'all. Just wanted to give any one out there reading the good news that has just been made fact to me: I am pregnant! Yay!

We've wanted to have a baby for some time and it's finally the right time for us. So at this point, I am going to finish up this semester, my summer class, and probably even do my first semester at university come fall since I am already accepted and ready to start. At that point, I'll get permission to get a deferment for maybe two semesters and start again once Baby is sitting up, etc.

We are overjoyed and very humbled by the task ahead.

Cheers, all. It's a beautiful day!


Oh, and by the way... APRIL FOOLS!!! :p
 
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