in the news

Before I comment on some interesting news stories, I'd like to share how I think I could be the Debbie Downer of research interests. Remember the story I shared earlier about how my O-side family asked me about school and then became silent after I started discussing my research interests? Well, I was at a CSD dinner the other night. I was seated at a table with 3 other grad students and 4 other guests. They asked us about our research. The first grad student discussed her current project, and these guests were really interested, asking questions, and sharing stories. As they all talked, I thought to myself, I'm about to kill the mood. When it was my turn, I just said a few sentences about how I study the anti rape movement. Silence. I am a real conversation killer. Good thing there is always the weather to discuss. (oh and we did. I am glad that Californians are always fascinated by my cold weather stories- I rely on these to fill awkward silences)

Last week, the Supreme Court let an internet porn law die. It dismissed a case in which both the SC and a lower court ruled that the Child Online Protection Act, passed and signed into law in 1998, was unconstitutional. I had my students debate the constitutionality of the law and whether or not the SC should have dismissed the case. It was a great opportunity to apply some of the concepts that we had been learning in our constitutional law class. They did a great job, and we had a lot of fun.

As you may have heard, this woman just gave birth to 8 kids. And, she already has 6 kids. Today, I read in the paper that the reason she wanted more kids is because she was hoping for one more girl. Seriously? Seriously. This is seriously irresponsible reproduction, and I hate that society glorifies multiple births. I am disgusted by the lengths that people will go through simply so that they can pass along their fucking DNA. There are lots and lots of kids who need homes and families- right now. As someone who is adopted, I am offended when people say they want to have their "own kids." Uh, when you adopt kids, they become your own, you dumbass. Maybe, since I am adopted, I just don't understand this need to reproduce and have biological children that may or may not look like you.

A convicted rapist was hired as an x-ray technologist by the LA county about a decade ago. So, this guy used to be a police officer and he rapes a woman while he is on duty. He goes to prison, gets out, and then a hospital in LA hires him. And, when they hired him, they knew that he was a convicted rapist. WTF? When will society take seriously these acts of violence against women? Men can survive allegations of sexual harassment, rape charges, and make derogatory statements against women and STILL advance in their careers. Why is society not shocked and why do we allow this to persist? (oh, and I want to point out that this guy is black, so he thinks he is being unfiarly targeted. Stay tuned for my discussion on race, racism, and rape next week. I know that you are on the edge of your seat right now)

It was a tough week for Illinois Governor Blagojevich, who was removed from office on corruption charges and for trying to sell Obama's senate seat. The impeachment trial lasted four days, and state senators voted 59-0 to remove him from office. Oh Gov Blagojevich, it was so close. You almost had 'em.

Here's another article: GOP's lacking its own stimulus. I actually didn't read this article; I was just amused by the headline. Sometimes, I wish I could just be a mature adult, but I just can't. And, here's another one: Obama Makes a Public Appeal for his Stimulus Package.

Okay, let's be serious now. Obama signed his first bill this week: an equal pay law. It was named for Lilly Ledbetter, a woman who learned late in her career that other male supervisors were making 40% more for doing the same work. The Supreme Court ruled that she could recover for the first 180 days after the pay disparity. This bill essentially overturns the SC decision.

And finally, another article that doesn't annoy me and won't ignite a rant: turkey wings. This was in the food section on Wednesday, and it had me salivating while I was drinking my coffee.

don't look up; don't look down

I decided to finally take a rock climbing class at the ARC (Anteater Recreation Center), our school gym. Many times, I intended to take a class and I've recently decided that I need to try out something new. I went to my first class last night, and as I was walking to the ARC, I wondered if rock climbing was a good idea since I am afraid of heights. Anyway, it wasn't so bad, and the climbing wall is only about 2 stories tall. I completed 3 climbs. On the first try, I climbed up about 3/4 the height of the wall. On the next 2 climbs, I made it all the way up to the top. It was a great feeling- exhilarating and a bit nervewracking. One of my friends gave me some good advice: She said "Don't look up, don't look down, just look straight ahead." Great advice for rock climbing, and life in general.

I have another rock climbing class left, and I plan to get a membership to the climbing wall. I need a new hobby, and it seems like a good way to meet some new people. I have a few friends that climb, and the wall reserves 2 nights a week for single climbers. Not that I'm actively trying to date or anything, but the downside to yoga is that when I see a cute guy, I don't get to talk to him. I mean, you can't really start chatting someone up in the middle of a down dog, you know?

weekend highlights

I didn't do a whole lot this weekend, except read. A lot. In fact, I read so much that sometimes the only way to see my friends is if I read with them, which is exactly what I did on Friday night. Anyway, I was at Peet's on Friday night, and I ate this most fabulous vegan ginger cookie. See, normally, I resist the baked goods at coffeeshops because I am not confident that the tasty looking muffin/cookie/pound cake is as tasty as it looks. But, I could not resist this cookie, which was so, so good. So, the vegan ginger cookie at Peet's has my seal of approval. Or stamp of approval, or whatever that saying is.

I found Rice Crispy Bars at Trader Joe's. (They are in the cookie aisle, which explains why I'd never noticed them before.) These are very good. I have a confession to make: I can't make Rice Crispy (or is it a K?) Bars. I can make the ones with peanut butter, but I can't make the "normal" ones with the marshmallows. I've tried 3 times in my short lifetime, and I've failed each time. I follow the recipe exactly as I'm supposed to, but they turn out rock solid. So, I was pretty excited to see that Trader Joe's sells Rice Crispy Bars. That is all.

I went to my usual (more or less) Sunday afternoon class, and I can now do the wheel. Pretty exciting. I can't really describe the wheel in a blog, but imagine a move that's like a back bend or a bridge. Something like that.

I had a mildly unfortunate experience with serrano chiles. (Damn you, Rachael Ray.) Anyway, it was only mild and definitely not as unfortunate as the jalapeno pepper incident two years ago.

women's studies, week 3

The following is my response from this week's readings in my women's studies class:

A common thread through this week’s readings is the privileging of heterosexuality and the construction of sexuality, which are mechanisms that perpetuate the subordination and oppression of women. Another common thread is how women are co-opted into perpetuating this construction of sexuality.

Cott and MacKinnon discuss how sexuality is constructed in a way that relegates women to a second class status. Cott argues that the construction of female sexuality as passionlessness was an attempt by conservative British Evangelical reformers to elevate sexual control as one of the highest human virtues. Women were considered to be morally superior, so moral agency was linked to female character; hence, passionlessness and modesty were enshrined as female virtues. MacKinnon extends Cott’s construction of sexuality by arguing that to understand how gender is constructed, we have to understand how sexuality is constructed. She argues that “sexuality is a social construct of male power; it is defined by men, forced on women, and constitutive of the meaning of gender.” Men decide what sexuality is, and this is what creates and maintains a system of male supremacy and dominance. MacKinnon rejects the “rape as violence” ideology because she argues that sex is inherently unequal because sexuality is constructed to be about male dominance and female submission. She also argues that pornography is a means through which sexuality is socially constructed: it constructs women as things for sexual use and constructs its consumers to desperately want women and possession of women.

Rich and Wittig discuss how women’s oppression depends on compulsory heterosexuality. Rich argues that heterosexuality is necessary so men can ensure their male right of “physical, economical, and emotional access;” one important mechanism to do this is to deny the lesbian existence. This is done “by asserting that primary love between the sexes is normal, that women need men as social and economic protectors, for adult sexuality, for psychological completion; that the heterosexually constituted family is the basic social unit, and that women who do not attach themselves to men are condemned to a devastating outsider existence.” Wittig discusses how the category “woman” inherently depends upon heterosexuality because women are defined in relation to men, and to be a woman means to be oppressed by men. She argues that lesbians subvert this ideology because they show that there is not a natural group called “women.” Lesbians are not women and not men because by refusing to become heterosexual means that they refuse the role “woman” and the “economic, ideological, and political power of a man.”

While reading this past week, I thought of one of last week’s readings in which Riley argued for a rejection of the categories of “woman” and “man” because these can contribute to sexual antagonism. I think that this fits nicely with Rich’s discussion of the lesbian continuum, or the bonds among women, networks, and woman identified experiences. Rich says that when women turn to other women, it is assumed that this is out of hatred for men. What would happen if we did not have “women” and “men”? Without categories of gender, we would not have this sexual antagonism that pits women against men. This might make a lesbian continuum possible, thereby obliterating compulsory heterosexuality.

Another common thread is how women have been co-opted into perpetuating a construction of sexuality detrimental to them. Cott argues that linking passionlessness and women’s sexuality was appealing to women because it gave women a social and familial power. Women were on board because passionlessness gave women self-respect and a special power. Wittig discusses how women are co-opted into accepting the category of woman through this mantra of “woman is wonderful.” This encourages women to emphasize their best features instead of questioning the political categories of gender. In this way, women are defending the category of “woman.” Finally, MacKinnon argues that in order to cope with sexual objectification, women’s strategy to acquire self-respect and pride is to convince themselves that they choose sex, possess their sexuality, and value their sexuality.

It is really interesting to see how women play a role in furthering this construction of sexuality, and I was surprised that none of the authors discussed the institution of marriage. Marriage is a patriarchal institution, and women have been co-opted with the enticement of romantic love, diamond rings, and pretty dresses. At a young age, girls are socialized to want to get married, and they are imbued with this idea that they get to be a princess on their wedding day. Once women enter a marriage, they are subject to economic inequalities and the sexual division of labor, no matter how egalitarian they believe their partnership to be. And, since society regulates procreation and delegitimizes births out of wedlock, there is a pressure to marry if one wants to have children. Marriage plays a large role in maintaining the family unit and perpetuating patriarchy, and I think this is one way in which women are co-opted.

36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Today is the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion and gave women the right to choose. Authored by Justice Harry Blackmun, the decision was grounded in the right to privacy. Thank you, Justice Blackmun for recognizing that women cannot be full participants in society if we are unable to control our fertility.

Operation Chocolate Chip Cookie: Trial 16

Let me begin this post by mentioning that I almost didn't make these cookies. The recipe called for bittersweet chocolate, and I could not find any at Trader Joe's. But, my adviser informed me that bittersweet chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate are interchangeable in baking, and Wikipedia confirmed this. (Luckily, I have an academic adviser that goes above and beyond his academic advising duties to teach me about types of chocolate.)

This recipe is from the LA Times food section, which comes every Wednesday. Even though I love the food section, I rarely try out any of the recipes, for various reasons: too many ingredients, rare ingredients, too time consuming, food I don't eat, etc. However, I have found that I am more likely to try out any recipes for any sort of baked goods. In the past, I've made coconut cupcakes and a marble bundt cake.

These cookies are called ooey-gooey double-chocolate cookies, and the recipe is courtesy of Milk, this cafe and bakeshop in Los Angeles. The cookies contain an insane amount of chocolate. I melted unsweetened chocolate with butter, then I added the mixture to eggs, sugar, and vanilla. I sifted in cocoa, flour (only a 1/2 cup!), baking powder, and salt. Finally, I stirred in a package of semi-sweet chocolate chips and chilled the dough in the refrigerator.

The dough was really, really good- rich and chocolate-y. It was super gooey and almost like a batter, a little difficult to form into balls. The cookies did not spread much, and the chocolate was incredibly intense- very, very rich and heavy. I was really glad that I made these cookies nice and small- about half the size recommended by the recipe. The cookies were soft but not chewy, and you got a mouthful of chocolate chips in each bite. I was afraid that given the name of the cookies, they were going to be messy to eat. They were not; they were like a cross between a brownie and a cookie.

I took these cookies to class today, and it seemed that everyone loved them. Y said that they were the best cookies that he's ever eaten, and my adviser said that they were "very good."

inauguration

A lot has happened since my last blog post. I learned that bittersweet chocolate and semi sweet chocolate are interchangeable in baking, I went to yoga, I baked some cookies, and oh yes, we got a new president. I celebrated Obama's inauguration in the same place that I celebrated his victory: the pub. It was pretty cool, witnessing history and all that jazz, and getting a new president.

I don't have a whole lot to say, except that I thought it was strange that Obama and Chief Justice Roberts were standing so far apart when Roberts was administering the oath. Is this the norm? Were they keeping their distance because Obama voted against Roberts' confirmation? So, I read an article about how Obama and Biden made a pre-inaugural visit to the Supreme Court. It mentions that Obama voted against the confirmation of both Roberts and Alito. (By the way, all of the justices were in attendance at this pre-inaugural visit, except for Alito- somebody's holding a grudge, eh?) Anyway, I wonder if it's awkward to meet with someone who voted against your confirmation. Is it kind of like running into an ex-boyfriend?

What else? I learned that the Constitution says that the president-elect takes office at noon, regardless of whether or not he (hopefully a she someday!) has been sworn in. During the inauguration activities, the camera would occasionally zoom in on Bush. I have to wonder, was he literally counting down until the clock struck 12? If I had a dismal approval rating, surely I would be counting down until my predecessor took office. (And, this is my confession: I couldn't help but feel a tiny bit sorry for the guy- but just a tiny bit- please don't kick my ass)

All right, other stuff. Here's an interesting article: The Democrats are seeking to expand its base in the Rocky Mountain states. There are five Democratic governors in the region; Obama won Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico; Democrats Janet Napolitano and Ken Salazar have been appointed to Cabinet positions. And finally, I'm glad to see that Obama, among several goals, plans to lift the global gag rule, which restricts federal funding to international family planning groups that either perform abortions or counsel women on abortions.

South Carolina: Days 3 and 4

And finally, the big day. We spent the morning doing the girly wedding stuff, like getting our hair done. Hawkeye commented that there is a lot of waiting on wedding days. You get your hair done, and then wait. Then you go eat lunch and head to the church. Then you get dressed and wait. Then we get pictures taken and wait. See the pattern? So, not a whole lot to say.

(me, Tripper, Sardean)

(flounder, Hawkeye, Tripper, Sardean)

The wedding ceremony was really nice, formal, and pretty short. We took more pictures after the ceremony and then headed to the reception. The reception was fun, and I danced a lot. (I love to dance so much that I would consider getting married just so I could have a wedding dance.) And, I learned to shag, which is not what you're thinking, but rather a dance that they do in the South.

Anyway, the next day we did brunch at Hawkeye and Brian's and they opened up wedding gifts. Not a whole lot to say, except that Hawkeye's parents gave them a nut roaster, which of course, generated a lot of laughs.

And that was my trip to Columbia. As you can imagine, I was exhausted when I got back to California, so I spent this past week getting my sleep and catching up on all my reading. I came home to a heat wave, which was really annoying. I actually miss snow and cold weather (I lingered in the tunnel from the airplane to the terminal on a layover in Chicago), and I can't stand this fake "winter" weather. So, I went to the beach yesterday, which I've found is the only way that I can tolerate this weather. I know, I know, I have issues. Sardean went home to windchills below zero, and here I complain about 80 degree weather.

South Carolina: Day 2

Maybe the actual day of the wedding should be my favorite day in South Carolina, but we had a lot of fun the day before. We woke up bright and early and went to the Waffle House for breakfast. In keeping with traditions that began when I worked at Girl Scout Camp in 2003, we all went in our pajamas. (I'm not sure if I've ever been to the Waffle House in real clothes- wait, yes I have, but only twice) Anyway, I really, really, really like the Waffle House. I don't know why; it's this unexplainable phenomenon. I should point out that nobody else shares my enthusiasm for the Waffle House. The food is really, really greasy and difficult for some people to digest. But, my friends humor me and take me anyway because they know I love it! And on this trip, I got 2 souvenir coffee mugs. I ate all of this for breakfast (not the stuff in the background). It was so, so good.

A trip to the Waffle House would not be complete without a commemorative photo.

After breakfast, we went home and got ready for the day. We headed to Frankie's Fun Park for some arcade games and mini golf. As usual, I barely made the height requirement.

We had so much fun mini golfing! I got a hole-in-one and a hole-in-three. (Below is the picture) How does one get a hole-in-three? Let me tell you. I generally don't have a lot of patience for mini golf, so on one of the first holes, I just hit the ball really hard and it landed outside of the designated playing space (is this called the green?). Anyway, when this happens, you can continue playing without penalty. However, if you decide to move the ball back to the green, you get penalized by one stroke. So, I found the ball and just elected to start over. (I think you know where this is going.) I hit the ball in the hole with one stroke, so with my penalties, I got a hole-in-three.

Sometimes, I break the rules and climb into undesignated areas for good photo opportunities:

Below are Hawkeye and I:

After mini golfing, we went to Hooters for lunch. Does this seem odd to you? It doesn't seem odd to me. Similar to how I like the Waffle House, Hawkeye and Jessica have a penchant for Hooters. I was a Hooters girl for Halloween once, and Tripper used to work at a Hooters in Australia. (Below is a picture of Tripper and I.) Anyway, let me say a few words about Tripper. Tripper, Hawkeye, and Sardean worked together at Girl Scout Camp in Minnesota before my time. I met Tripper, who is from Australia, during my first summer in 2001. We didn't know each other very well back then (we got to know each other better this past weekend), but Tripper was my secret buddy. This is exactly what it sounds like. During the course of the summer, I would leave her fun, random gifts. She had no idea that it was me (that's how this stuff works, right?), and I had a lot of fun. Now, most people would leave their secret buddies nice, normal gifts like candy and stuff. Not me! I would leave Tripper super crazy, weird, non traditional secret buddy gifts, like duct tape. One week I left her some fake nails and then the next I gave her a hammer (get it? A hammer to go with her nails! I'm so clever!). Another week I left her some batteries and then the next I gave her an, uh, adult toy (it was a gag gift- uh, we were pretty inappropriate at Girl Scout Camp.) Tripper was amused, and I kept things interesting. I kept her guessing all summer, until the very end when I sent her on this very elaborate scavenger hunt.

It was so good to see Tripper again, and we had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs. Since both of us lack the wedding gene, we were like partners-in-crime. So below is just this random sign that I found funny in Hooters:

Later that night, we went to the wedding rehearsal. I've been in only 2 weddings, but something I've noticed is that the pastors and church wedding coordinators do not like it when you make jokes. I learned that lesson the hard way, at Sardean's wedding. Anyway, I didn't make the same mistake this time. So, we've decided that the only purpose of a wedding rehearsal is so that everyone gets a chance to shed tears in advance, to ensure that we can all hold it together on the big day. Just a theory. Below, the bridesmaids:

(Tracy, me, Tripper, Jamie, Sardean, Jessica)

After the rehearsal, we went to Lake Murray and got on this boat for the rehearsal dinner. Here is Brian, pretending to push me overboard. From the look on my face, I think this is hilarious!

We all had a good time, and I ate some awesome Southern barbeque (or is it BBQ?). I love pulled pork and fried chicken. And, I learned that banana pudding, which is absolutely fantastic, is a Southern thing. I was reluctant to give it a try (it kind of reminded me of banana cream pie, which I don't really like), but I was so glad that I did. (Clearly, I love to eat.) Below is a photo of me with Hawkeye and Sardean:

Who's ready for Day 3?

South Carolina: Day 1

I've promised you fun stories and pictures, so here goes. I had tons of fun in South Carolina, and we had 3 very full action-packed days. On the first day, we had a wedding shower for Hawkeye and Brian's family and friends. Here is the bridal party with Hawkeye:

(back row: Tripper, Sardean, Jamie, Hawkeye, Jessica; front row: Tracy, me)

This is when we met Brian's family and many of the friends that work with him and Hawkeye. It was nice to finally meet many of the people that I had heard so much about. I don't really have a whole lot to say about the shower, except that I learned that pimento cheese spread is a Southern food. I did not know this. Among other foods, we served pimento cheese sandwiches, which kind of tastes like olive flavored Cheez Wiz, if there is such a thing. Oh, and I made a joke about strip clubs, and then I had to explain what strip clubs are to Hawkeye's mom. I know, I know, inappropriate wedding shower conversation fodder. (but at least I keep things interesting, right?) Hawkeye's mom asked us what we were doing for the bachelorette party, and without thinking, I said that we were taking Hawkeye to a strip club. We had a good chuckle.

Later that afternoon, we ran a few errands and bought Hawkeye and Brian a wedding gift. So, I actually don't believe in wedding gifts. Obviously, Hawkeye knows my view on weddings and how I don't believe in many (or any) of the traditions. After all, it's not as though she just met me, and I have strong opinions. Anyway, I was sort of feeling like a slacker bridesmaid, so I agreed to go in on a wedding gift, but only if it were for the baby. (I'm not being a bitch here; Hawkeye even expressed that of all people, I was the one person that she didn't want a gift from because then it would mean that I'm selling out- remember, she didn't just meet me, so my values and opinions are nothing new to her) So, a few of us decided to get Hawkeye and Brian a high chair. As I was wheeling it out of Target, Sardean pointed out the irony of me with a high chair (because I'm totally not maternal). Of course, we had to document it:
After the shopping, we went bowling. I rolled a couple strikes and several gutter balls. We ate dinner, and then painted pottery for Hawkeye's bachelorette party. We each painted a letter from Brian's last name. I got the 'L.'

Sardean was painting this platter, but she totally painted the wrong wedding date. Instead of January 10, 2009, she painted September 7, 2009. We all had a really good laugh, she fixed the date, and I made fun of her a lot. (I would post a picture, but I'm afraid she would kill me. ) By the way, we have no idea why she chose September 7th, and I'd like to point out that this story was much funnier in person. After painting pottery, we went home and tie dyed underwear- black and white (the wedding colors). Sounds random, but the tie dying was a tradition that Hawkeye, Sardean, and I began when Sardean got married. (the tradition might die if I don't get married) We were exhausted, so I don't have pictures.

Who's ready for Day 2?

women's studies, week 2

It's been a while since I've talked about anything academic. So, here goes. Each week in my Women's Studies class, we post a response/critique/analysis of that week's readings. I'd like to share my response from last week's readings. So far, I'm enjoying the class, and even though the reading is pretty heavy and a lot to digest, I love feminist theory. Here is week 2's post:

This week’s readings further the sex/gender debate by examining how we construct both gender and sex. Through different approaches, these critical examinations theorize and ask questions that challenge how we conceptualize gender categories and identities.

We understand that gender is a social construction, and these readings show how sex and the categories of “women” and “men” are constructed as well. Butler and Chase discuss how intersex bodies seem to not matter in society and medical sexual reassignment is done in the name of “nature” and “normalization.” The medical community constructs some bodies that matter and some that do not. It attempts to “fix” bodies that do not matter so that they conform to those that do. It is also important to note that bodies that are reassigned are usually constructed to be a female body. In the name of “normalcy,” medical authorities are more concerned about the sexual pleasures and functions of men than women. It is worse to have a small penis that no clitoris.

Why is it so important to have only 2 gender categories? Riley examines the problems with the categories of “woman” and “man,” and she calls for a rejection of these oppressive categories. She argues that it can lead to a sexual antagonism that pits “women” against “men.” She finds these categories to be oppressive to both women and men. So why is it so important that everyone “fit” into the category of “woman” or “man”? It is important to examine how intersex management is oppressive not only to intersex individuals but also to women in general. Can we make a case that intersex management is necessary to the maintenance of patriarchy? Rubin discusses how kinship systems and social organizations depend on marriage, obligatory heterosexuality, and the exchange of women. The subordination of women is crucial to state building and the reproduction of culture that reinforces and reproduces patriarchy. Does this require that there be only 2 categories so there is one group to systematically oppress?

Chase links intersex management in the United States with female genital mutilation, and she wonders why first-world feminists are silent in the intersex movement. Chase is outraged that intersex cutting in the U.S. is absent from the debates surrounding genital mutilation and clitoridectomies. She argues that intersex management is a form of violence based on the sexist devaluation of female pain and female sexuality. Attention to FGM is embedded in racial and cultural hegemony, and feminists and society has recognized the atrocities surrounding the practice. There was broad support to ensure the passage of the legislation prohibiting FGM, but why did the sponsor of this bill refuse to extend protections to intersex individuals?

As I’ve been reading, I have also been thinking about how sexual reassignment seems to elevate the importance of reproductive capacities at the expense of sexual pleasure. How does this perpetuate patriarchy? Sexual reassignment cares more about a female’s ability to bear children than her ability to orgasm. Also, the medical community does this reassignment because it argues that “normal” sexual function is possible without the clitoris. This prioritizes the penis and reinforces the notion that vaginal penetration by the penis is the only “normal” way to experience sex.

back from waffle house land

It has been a while since I've last blogged, but I have good reasons. I got back from Columbia last Sunday night, and I've been catching up on sleep and schoolwork. LOTS of both. This past week was a busy one. I will try really hard to post pictures and updates from the wedding, but I'm making dinner for some friends tonight and tomorrow is a beach/reading day, so I make no promises. In between all of this, I have to read as though it were my job...because I guess it is. I am working on a paper about the anti-rape movement, and it turns out that I definitely don't know as much as I thought. So, I am working on righting this. Have a good weekend!

a comment about the weather

I'm blogging from Columbia, South Carolina where I am in town for Hawkeye's wedding. After multiple delays, we finally made it in to Columbia around midnight on Wednesday night. Jessica and I were on the same flight from Chicago to Charlotte, and we were delayed for about an hour. Then Sardean got delayed from Minneapolis, not once, but three times. Jamie and Hawkeye picked us up from the airport, and then we were reunited with Tripper in Columbia. We are all here now, having lots of fun. Here are the weather highlights:

I saw snow! I saw it from the plane when I landed in Chicago. It was beautiful! It was in the mid-20s in Chicago, and I could feel the cold when I got off the plane. It was very exciting!

It is colder in Columbia than in Southern California. When Sardean landed, it was probably in the high-30s. To her, it was warm, but to me, it was...uh...kind of chilly. She commented that it was t-shirt weather; meanwhile, I had wished that I had brought my jacket.

I saw frost! I saw it on Hawkeye's car this morning!

All right, I have to go now. We're mini golfing this morning! Don't worry, I will have lots of fun stories and pictures soon!

in the news

I might have an unhealthy addiction to Bath & Body Works and Burt's Bees. I just finished sorting through the random stuff in my backpack so I can use it as a carry-on tomorrow. I found 2 full sized bottles of Bath & Body Works hand creams, a jar of Burt's Bees hand cream, lip gloss from Bath & Body Works, and some Burt's Bees lip gloss.

The other day, I read an article about how the cash strapped UC system may start accepting more non-California residents in order to raise its revenue. It's attractive not only because non-state residents pay more in tuition, but also because it would help increase campus diversity. The article says that compared to other schools in the United States, the proportion of out-of-state residents in the UCs are considerably low. I think that any effort to increase diversity on the UC campuses is a good thing since it seems as though native Californians fail to realize that there are 49 other states in the United States. One of the biggest complaints that I and many other out-of-staters have is this notion of "California Exceptionalism," where in-staters (several who have never lived outside California) seem to dismiss the other states, believing that California is superior to all others. I guess that there are elements of state pride found in every state, but it's especially irritating here.

Moving on. I realize that it was probably unethical for Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich to try to auction off Obama's Senate seat. Instead of merely appointing someone to take the seat, Blagojevich tried to sell the seat for personal gain. But seriously, is this "pay to play" scheme really that far off from what really goes on in electoral politics? I'm just sayin'. Go to Open Secrets where the Center for Responsive Politics keeps track of candidates for congressional races, how much money they raised, and where that money came from. Check out who raises the most money and who wins those races. Kind of looks like "pay to play" to me.

Minnesota says that Al Franken beat Norm Coleman in the recount, but the race appears headed to court. I don't really have anything to say about this, except that I saw Norm Coleman at the Minnesota State Fair in 2004. I think he gave a speech, but I don't remember what he said. I just remember thinking that he wasn't bad looking and that he had nice hair. (I'm really embarrassed that I just wrote that) And one of my old Minnesota friends lives in the same condo building as Al Franken. He has spotted Franken working out in the gym, and Franken apparently invited him to a party. I bet that was code for fundraiser. Anyway...

Finally, Carl Pohlad, the owner of the Minnesota Twins has passed away. During his tenure, the Twins won the World Series in 1987 and 1991. I have one question: Does this mean that the Minnesota Twins are for sale? Can I buy them? You know what my first order of business would be? Marrying the catcher, Joe Mauer.

Well, I'm headed to South Carolina tomorrow. Speaking of state pride, I'm revisiting the land of confederate flags, people who view "Yankees" with disdain, and the belief that the South will rise "again." At any rate, I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. Stay tuned for pictures!

how i spent my winter vacation

Happy 2009! Winter break went by so incredibly fast, and we start classes this Monday. The past three weeks have been relaxing and busy. Here are the highlights:

On my post-Christmas shopping trip, I got a new cookbook. It's called Cakelove: How to Bake Cakes from Scratch by Warren Brown. Brown is a former lawyer turned baker, and he has opened up some bakeries and cafes in the D.C. area. (I am always fascinated by these stories of people who change careers. It's like they have had more than one life.) As a New Year's resolution one year, Brown resolved to bake more often. He writes that he had always been intimidated by baking, and his underlying mission is to keep it simple and help people overcome their baking fears. His instructions are clear, and he does a great job of breaking down the baking basics. (Plus, the pictures are big and vibrant.) However, Brown does not dumb down the art of baking, which is what I like. He doesn't promise to teach you how to bake a cake using only like 5 ingredients (is this even possible?), and every recipe is completely homemade and starts from scratch. (On a side note, I've noticed what could be the start of a pattern. It seems that I am drawn to stories about people who have walked away from law careers to go into the food industry. Remember my obsession with P.B. Loco?)

I did some baking for New Year's Eve. This time, it was all vegan. I made lemon gingerbread cupcakes and S'mores cupcakes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. Here are the S'mores cupcakes:

I've started running again, and I'm considering a 5K, if I can find a race to run. I've been faithfully going to my yoga and pilates classes, too. In some crafty news, I finished crocheting a baby blanket. Here it is:

After making lots of scarves and blankets, I've finally started knitting a sweater. It's pink, and the clover lace pattern only looks complicated. So far, so good. And, I'm getting ready to start another baby blanket.

The break was fun, but I'm ready to get back to school. Winter quarter should be fun this time around. I have a sweet TA assignment, and I'm taking some cool classes. I've decided to take a class in the Women's Studies department, and I'm taking a research methods class. Oh, and I suppose that my break isn't completely over: I'm headed to South Carolina next week for Hawkeye's wedding.