12.31.2006,07:55
at last

buh-bye double-o six. That was more than long enough, just don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. If it wasn't ending, I might be. All I want for 007 is a year that's not like this one was. There are a limited number of catastrophic things/massive upheaval events that should occur in any year, and this year has well exceeded that. So here's to an 007 marked by sanity, tranquility, harmony, and most importantly, things not f**king up all the time.

On another note, my bloody comments aren't working thanks to the latest need to screw with everything at blogger, which is a damned shame if the fascinating comments I've been e-mailed are any indication. I'll get on fixing things - which will probably mean a new template - as soon as I can so that I can post the missing comments.
 
posted by sasha
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12.22.2006,07:01
random
What makes us human, I think, is our compassion. This is what compels us to care for other members of our species and what binds us within our social groups. Group membership has long been a key to human survival, since as humans we're pretty weak on our own but absolutely frightening en masse. Back in the pre-DVD era, belonging to a group could keep you fed, clothed, and generally alive, since a bunch of humans can take on woolly mammoths and sabre toothed tigers. Whereas one human would become lunch, several together can serve lunch!

So here's the question: what changed??
We live in the time of the myth of the liberal individual fighting for their own private realization of the American Dream. Power of the group? Not so much anymore. In fact, caring for others is viewed as a weakness if it extends beyond the realm of Xmas foodbank donations or attending a silent auction. Have we then created a society where compassion is a liability, something to be selected against in the great game o' evolution?

At least that would explain why people's compassion glands seem to be shrinking without my having to resort to cynically thinking that humans are just turning into nasty, selfish little f**kers.
 
posted by sasha
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12.17.2006,06:36
assuming ascension, assumpiton, ascent
The assumptions people make about other people have always driven me crazy, the only twist is right now it's the assumptions people make about me. Some of my new coworkers seem to occasionally get ideas like I'm a total moron who's only there because my mom's a teacher there (even though I have the same damned degree they do), or I'm so pathetically young that it's appropriate to use that special voice with me, you know, the one we all reserve for kindergardeners. I'm not usually an e-complainer, but I'm just shocked that five weeks in I still feel like such an outsider. So far, I've been offered a whole three hours a week for next semester. woo.

Off to serve the yuppies masses now...
 
posted by sasha
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12.14.2006,09:37
a matter of taste
In this post: Christmas cards, politics, gender equality - plus, it tastes like chocolate

I've been making my own Christmas cards this year, even though I haven't gotten it together to actually have them ready in time to send anywhere. Here are a couple of the images - they're, well, a matter of taste.

(watercolour pencils on card)

Christmas is one of the two times people become so cloyingly earnest it makes me vomit. The other time tends to be in politics, a la Barak Obama at all kinds of conferences lately preparing to begin his run for 08. However, earnesty in politicians is at least forgivable. It's not really their fault, it's just so easy to confuse with honesty, and we know how important looking honest is. What I'm really saying here people is c'mon, leave the earnesty to the pros and let's have ourselves a catty little xmas.

Argh, okay, I'll confess, that Obama one-liner wasn't nearly enough to scratch my US politics ranting itch. I'm once again transfixed by the unnatural glow of the US politics machine grinding itself back to life. As one magazine editor after another shows up with shovelfuls of fuel, the great bellows begin to wheeze again, and for politics junkies everywhere, the show begins anew. And this year, it seems set to be quite the show indeed.

As a Canadian, I tend to feel I can watch and comment on US politics with at least some sense of smug satisfaction and superiority; definition-by-comparison labels me the more progressive cousin to the north. This time around though, I'm worried. As the candidates que up, I'm beginning to notice an uncomfortable pattern. Let's see, Obama, Hil Clinton ---- WAIT RIGHT THERE! Seriously? 2 front runners, and one's a CHICK, and not only that, but an actual, bonafide member of the female persuasion, and the other is a guy named OBAMA (middle name Hussein) who is not only charming, but also BLACK! What, you may ask, in the hell is going on?
Why this almost looks like a relatively-progressive line up fitting for a 21st century multicultural democracy!

So what's the problem? That's supposed to be us, not them. We're the progressive multiculturalists. We're the overlords of equality and personal freedom-slash-responsibility. We've even had a woman leader before, but I'll be damned if we can actually elect one, something these new, wacky Americans just might pull off.

Now I'm not saying Hil's going to win, or even Obama for that matter, but if you compare the Dems new starting line to, say, the sad round of pasty male offerings at the last Lib con, you might actually get confused and think they're - GASP - more progressive than we are! As you all know, I'm not a Lib, never have been, and this has long been one of my reasons why. If they really want to be the big inclusive conscience clearing-house they claim to be, then they really need to get serious about a representative ballot.

Both women and members of ethnic minorities are shockingly underrepresented in this nation's halls of power, and despite a few seats scattered through the house, the "higher the fewer" still holds. Top 5 candidates for Lib leadership? All old white guys. Remember the last election? I think Uberpasty white dude pulled out a narrow victory over Mr. Culture-void McJowly, but I could easily have the candidates confused.

I suppose it's all a matter of taste, and old white guys in power have been the safe, stable norm for our lifetimes and beyond, but personally I think we need to do better, and in fact, I even think the health of our democracy depend upon us doing so, and now, before it's too late and we effectively disenfranchise too many. People don't vote if they don't feel represented in the process, and our turn out numbers are getting worse and worse with each passing election and each list of possible white guys vying to be our leader.

Fa la la la la la la la la...
 
posted by sasha
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12.07.2006,09:45
decembering
I can't believe it's 'that time of the year' already. I don't even know what it's all for, since few people seem to actually enjoy it all that much. Katja is talking about getting a tree, which would be the first time such a thing has happened in this apartment - I just can't be bothered.

It's not that I'm a big Christmas hater, I do even like Christmas sometimes, it just seems like there such a ridiculous amount that each of us is supposed to consume this year. I don't feel right unless I'm not doing my share - harder this year, too, for all the work parties, secret santas, and whatnot that I'm supposed to join in. I'm into all of the traditions that aren't focused on buying stuff, but unfortunately, those seem to get fewer and fewer all the time.

I say bring on the cooking, the games, the family, the crazy traditions. Bring on spiced cider, snowflakes, and skating. Just hold the shopping. If I had it my way, I'd spend the holiday skating on the lake my grandmother lives by and pretending the whole world was peaceful, even if just for a moment.
 
posted by sasha
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