Jesus Camp

Ummm...I'm watching Jesus Camp right now. Becky Fischer just said that the kids were so 'usable'. 'Nuff said. Watch it though. Watch it and worry.

Blog for Choice

Yesterday was blog for choice day and, well, I didn't quite get to it in time. Thinking about it, I realised that I couldn't blog and not blog on this topic. It is simply, so very very important. Why I am I pro-choice? I'm pro-choice because I believe that the choice to start, not-start, or end a pregnancy is a basic human right and a a decision that every woman should be able to make in safety (physical and emotionally safety). I believe that forcing a women -- especially a very young woman, a woman who is pregnant as the result of a rape, a woman who has children already and cannot financially afford the expense of a bigger family, a woman who does not want children ever or again or just yet -- to continue with an unwanted pregnancy is cruel, akin to slavery, and basically implies that women are not to be trusted to make decisions about their own bodies. Above all, I am pro-quality of life for children who come into this world and believe that every child has the right to be cared for and to grow up in a society where she or he has the capability to make their own choices. It amazes me that often the same people who call themselves 'pro-life' are not concerned at all with what happens after the birth of a child, do not necessarily support the right to free health care or education.

Sometimes

I feel panicked at the thought that I will do not do the things I hope to do. The thought of never visiting Taiwan again or not having the chance to walk the streets of Dublin when I visit home this summer actually knocks the breath from me. I feel suffocated by the imagined loss.

Rudebarbie on the Rudepundit

Honestly, George Stroumboulopoulos' hair is getting worse. I used to think he was great but he annoys me now, though I suspect myself of job-envy and that my irritation has more to do with jealousy than any real obnoxiousness on George's part. Nah, he is annoying. And really really bro-townish depending on the guest. I mean he's all politically concerned and right-on one minute and the next he's giggling with some Johnny Knoxville type. And I don't really buy the concerned part. Though maybe it's for real. Not sure on that one. He does get wicked guests. And I am jealous.
Anyhoo...I went to see a blogger do a live performance last night. The Rude Pundit. I bought Lizard a ticket for her birthday (which is a complete LJ move - buying someone a ticket to something you want to see for 'their' birthday) and Shan came too so that was cool. I really didn't know what to expect because I don't read his blog and to be honest I don't think I'll start now. Actually, no, I'm going to check it out just to see if I like it better than the performance or if my judgements (becuase that's what they were) were way out of line. I will report back. The performance started off okay, with stories of how Lee Papa (TRP's name apparantly) came to be 'Rude' by putting himself in the presence of 'evil' (e.g. Dan Quail and pals) and eventually speaking back. But I didn't like...his bashing of Ann Coulter (now don't get me wrong, I don't like her either). He did a rant (I should mention that the show was a series of pieces, vignettes (if you will), that I saw as being like blog posts perhaps) and in this piece he went on and on 'I wouldn't f*** Ann Coulter with XYZ (where XYZ = a humorous body-part of a hated Republican, e.g. Condoleeza Rice's buck teeth - his example, not mine). And all the time he was slinging around a blow-up doll with Ann Coulter's face stuck on it. And at the end he threw it to the ground (he may have kicked it or I may be completely making that up), and I felt very uncomfortable with that. I did. Also, that the worst thing he could come up to rant about Ann Coulter was that he wouldn't 'f***' her, I thought that was pretty flimsy. To be honest, the best part of the evening was hanging with the ladies afterwards in the nice bar with terry-towel table covers and glasses of vino. Even though the show wasn't great, it was nice to talk about it afterwards and to go over which parts we found interesting and which we didn't. Must. Go. To. Theatre. More. Than. Once. This. Year.
I want to see more bloggers speak or do other kinds of performance now, just to see if this was a bad example or if there are other bloggers who write really well but who don't translate to the stage that well. I can think of a few I'd really like to see!

On the way 'round again

Happy New Year. I'm sorry if I'm a bit sour but this morning when I was composing a multi-linked post full of new year goodness my Internet browser session crapped out on me. All lost. I've had a bit of a lemon-sucker about me ever since.
Anyway, back again. What I was doing earlier was trying to put together a list of my favourite media and people and trends from 2006. And, as I pointed out then, these are not necessarily media (etc.) produced in 2006 but appreciated by me during the year just behind us. Here goes (again):
Favourite Film(s): Scoop, The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico, Little Miss Sunshine.
Favourite TV show(s): Heroes, The Amazing Race season 10.
Favourite Book(s): Fiction - Atonement (Ian McEwan), A Woman in Berlin (Anonymous). Non-fiction: Power/Knowledge (Michel Foucault) My Life and Other Unfinished Business (Dolly Parton).
Favourite Blog(s): Feministe, A Bird in the Hand.
Favourite Albums: Mezmerize and Hypnotize (System of a Down), Huskies and Husqvarnas (Tim Hus), Trio (Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt).
Favourite Food-Fad (i.e. what I enjoyed eating a lot of): Pho, various BBQ skewer combinations, Nigella's watermelon salad, Cheetos (*hangs head*).
Favourite drinky-poo (or what got me into trouble): Cherry Yum-Surprise (invented by Tammy), Sleemans Cream Ale, and some other drink with a dodgy name that involves Guinness, Jameson and Baileys.
Favourite Fashion: Black being the new black.
Favourite Party: It's a toss up between my own birthday party (of course) at J & S's and our Hallowe'en party.
Favourite Trip: Why Van-couger of course (with Lizard). Oh and that month in Ireland was pretty much fantastic too.
Favourite People: Storm Large, Dolly Parton, Feminist Bloggers worldwide.
Okay, I'm done for now. I could list my resolutions too but I don't really have any other than to keep on keeping on. Perhaps to get off the bunny-hill on my snowboard.