JoshN just pointed out to me that SNL stole my parallel world theory right out from under me! Dirty scoundrels!
I am, of course, talking about my long-standing notion that since Nov of 2000, we have been living in Bush Bizarro World, where he stole the 2000 Presidential election, and nothing has been right since. Out there, somewhere, through the membranes that separate parallel universes, is a world where Gore won, 9/11 was at least partially thwarted by appropriate listening skills on the part of the administration, and we not only signed the Kyoto environmental accords, we signed them *first*. In that world, carbon emissions are down 5% in 8 years, and we don't owe China more than we owe anyone else.
I have to give SNL credit - theirs is hysterical. I missed it when it was first on. But I swear my theory came first!! Enjoy.
And yet, if you read the article, they really don't admit anything, except that it's been a PR disaster for them. And they don't mention that the Navy disavowed their claim that the carrier crew asked for the banner. Whatever. Give it up, Shrub. We're not biting.
And this one just made me kinda sad. Don't know why:
I was browsing for a spring-themed bon mot for our home page, and ran across this quote, which amused me no end, as I grew up in Cleveland:
You can't see Canada across Lake Erie, but you know it's there. It's the same with spring. You have to have faith, especially in Cleveland. ~Paul Fleischman
I hate the Evil Hallmark Holiday. Even when I was in short- or long-term relationships, both, I hated this made-up holiday. Why should you pick only one day to show your love?
That said, I like to do something life-affirming at this time of year, so I am forwarding this from Planned Parenthood:
Okay, so a condom isn't a part of everyone's Valentine's Day. But since the condom first hit the world many thousands of years ago, it has protected millions of people from infection and prevented untold numbers of unintended pregnancies. Not too bad, eh? And Valentine's Day is the first day of National Condom Week, so it's a great time to remind family, friends, and romantic partners about just how fantastic condoms are. How about sharing The Truth About Condoms and Planned Parenthood's condom how-to video?
The latter link is NSFW, for obvious reasons. It is, however, both safe and responsible for Home.
I can't remember (or honestly be bothered to check) if I've posted these before. Sites where you can stop paper catalogs from being sent to you:
Catalog Choice - Catalog Choice is a sponsored project of the Ecology Center. It's a free service where you can enter your catalog information (you'll need the label off your catalogs) and they stop them for you.
Green Dimes - I chose this one, because although it requires a small $20 fee, they plant trees to replace those lost to catalogs, and also do a number of other charitable, green things. It's also a bit less work, as you just need to give them your info and the catalog names, not the customer number, etc. from the label.
A good choice either way. I don't know about you, but I don't NEED six identical Signals catalogs a month!
Last weekend my church's GLBT Alliance group did the service, relating to National Coming Out Day on October 11th. My friend Denny's story discussed being uncomfortable with the check boxes available to him on a jury duty form, which included Single, Married, Widowed or Divorced. As he and his partner Patrick had a union ceremony in 2006 (I was a groomsmaid!), he didn't feel that any of these fit. He's not married under the law, so it would be improper to check that box. Nor does he consider himself single. He wrote a letter to accompany the form explaining to the courts why this was discriminatory language. One of the many reasons I adore my friends, btw.
So why do I bring this up? Because I was just taking an online survey, and here was how they worded that question:
Clearly the corporate world has figured out they need new verbiage.
The fact that I currently live like a slightly crazy nun would, presumably, put me under "Single or Equivalent", right? Though I wonder how widowed folks would answer this. Would they still consider themselves "Married or Equivalent" or "Single or Equivalent". Tricky.
Laura sent me to this article on the new Dove ad, called Onslaught. I was impressed by their Evolution campaign last year. Showing normal women in a positive, non-judgemental light. Yeah, I like that. Sure it was an ad, but it beat the hell out of the "onslaught" created by Bowflex, Nutri-System, L'Oreal and the like.
Onslaught is directed at mothers of young girls, showing the messages with which we get onslaughted every day, messages which tell us we're not good enough, not pretty enough, just a little skinnier here, just a little firmer there...
Yes, Dove is part of the beauty industry they're showing up. Yes, it's corporate branding of another sort, but at least it's attempting to be on the side of the angels, while making a profit. Ben and Jerry style, if you will. ::shrug:: I could have used such a contrary message in the plastic 80's! It's better than "I can bring home the bacon..."
Germans have been worried recently about rising milk prices. But now chocolate too is set to get more expensive as raw materials go up in price. The crunch will be felt before Christmas, says one leading manufacturer.
