I feel like my blog needs an identity, some kind of format I can stick to.... maybe I should go back to the "In which we shall see" bit. I dunno.
In the meantime, I'm finally buckling down to work on my paper, and dropping off a few of my distractions here:
NYTimes Editorial on the British Gov't Response to the Riots
and
Looking at 9/11 in the Context of the Last Decade (interesting, because I'm all about context)
More later!
August 30, 2011
August 26, 2011
Motivationalities
Things that are getting me moving lately:
1) My friend Stephanie (whom I really haven't gotten to spend NEARLY enough time with) is making some major nutritional changes in her life (as well as paying herself to go walking, which is awesome) and blogging about it daily. She's inspiring, and I'm considering a juicer.
2) Another family fitness 'competition' - not about weight-loss so much this time (my sister kicked all of our collective trashes last time), but about how well we accomplish whatever goals we feel we need to meet. It really is easier if you're checking in with other people. Let's get it going!
3) I've been added to a Facebook group for my graduating class from high school. 2012 = 20 YEARS. On the one hand, I have a whole year to dread facing all these people I grew up with, having neither spouse nor children nor career to show off - on the other hand, I have a year to really get into shape so that at least I look good at the reunion (provided I'm not working for the Olympics or developing some theatre in, say, Italy next summer).
4) I'm starting another Master's program in a few weeks, and it's on a campus with a student gym. Plus there's an actual campus, so running should be easy, too. Plus it's in a very small town, so exercise and study just might be all I'll be able to find to do! Plus there's really no better time to make major changes in your life than when you're already making major changes! New school year = major change!
5) *REDACTED*
(It's a surprise. You'll find out shortly - if you don't already know - but trust me, it's motivational.)
Exercise! Drink water! Eat fruits and veggies! Sleep!
1) My friend Stephanie (whom I really haven't gotten to spend NEARLY enough time with) is making some major nutritional changes in her life (as well as paying herself to go walking, which is awesome) and blogging about it daily. She's inspiring, and I'm considering a juicer.
2) Another family fitness 'competition' - not about weight-loss so much this time (my sister kicked all of our collective trashes last time), but about how well we accomplish whatever goals we feel we need to meet. It really is easier if you're checking in with other people. Let's get it going!
3) I've been added to a Facebook group for my graduating class from high school. 2012 = 20 YEARS. On the one hand, I have a whole year to dread facing all these people I grew up with, having neither spouse nor children nor career to show off - on the other hand, I have a year to really get into shape so that at least I look good at the reunion (provided I'm not working for the Olympics or developing some theatre in, say, Italy next summer).
4) I'm starting another Master's program in a few weeks, and it's on a campus with a student gym. Plus there's an actual campus, so running should be easy, too. Plus it's in a very small town, so exercise and study just might be all I'll be able to find to do! Plus there's really no better time to make major changes in your life than when you're already making major changes! New school year = major change!
5) *REDACTED*
(It's a surprise. You'll find out shortly - if you don't already know - but trust me, it's motivational.)
Exercise! Drink water! Eat fruits and veggies! Sleep!
August 25, 2011
Fashion History Horror Story
Did you know that nearly everything women wear regularly was first worn by men? It's true. Lace, tights, earrings, makeup, high-heeled shoes (the brassiere is pretty much the only exception). How times have changed... now it seems that men are taking their fashion cues from women.
I speak, of course, of the evil that is "skinny jeans".
For about the last hundred years most men would rather run naked through the street than wear tights, and yet every other twenty-something you see these days (OK, "I" see - admittedly, London might be a little different trend-wise than where you're at... SO BE WARNED, IT'S COMING) has got his legs strapped into painted-on denim. Can male jeggings be far behind? My eyes are shuddering just thinking about it. Skinny jeans don't actually help anyone - they look OK on a very few women, but that's because those women have "ideal" figures anyway. They don't hide what ought to be hidden, they don't lengthen, they don't support, they have no societal productivity. They're just mean. Indifferent, since they're jeans, but still mean by default.
So when did men decide this was a good look to emulate? At best, a man in skinny jeans is some dude looking for his doublet and sword, at worst he's doing a flamingo impression or resembling a chain of really hefty sausage links (depending on which end of the 'build' range he's inhabiting). Jeans are supposed to be our 'comfort' clothes, that item in your closet that goes with anything and makes you look and feel good. It's impossible to look or feel good about a piece of clothing with a built-in InstaWedgie (patent pending).
I do have to admire the ingenuity with which some men have managed to avoid the IW and simultaneously create an even more unflattering silhouette than the skinny jean - I speak, of course, of the unholy union between skinny jeans and saggy skater's pants (culturally translated as 'skater's trou' over here, 'across the pond'). I'm pretty sure somebody sacrificed a goat for this trend, because how else can you explain men wearing something that gives them cankles from their feet to their thighs AND makes them look like they've accidentally fallen into their big sister's denim mini? There's not a woman alive who wouldn't run shrieking from the dressing room after seeing that devilish combination obliterating her body. But they're slouching all over the streets of London (not moving very quickly, natch, since you can't walk fast when your crotch seam is linked at your kneecaps); defiantly slouching, I say, AND upping the fashion ante by displaying above the belt loops no more boxer shorts - oh, no, the new thing for Today's Guy to wear with his barely-hanging-from-his-hipbone hybrid female-repellent jeans are printed briefs.
There's no justification for that.
None.
Everyone knows zebra-patterned tighties went out with the '80's! And good riddance, I say!
I think it's time to start some kind of Crimes Against Fashion Intervention Group - MY EYES ARE BURNING, and I'm getting a lot of whiplash from turning my head away from vomit-and-laugh-inducing 'couture'. And don't even try to tell me these guys are getting dates... The future of our society is at stake here, people.
Something must be done - and if that 'something' is "Mumuus For Men", well, I'm all for it.
*** I was going to include pictures, just to emphasize the horror, but... I couldn't do it. Your imagination will not be worse than reality, trust me.
I speak, of course, of the evil that is "skinny jeans".
For about the last hundred years most men would rather run naked through the street than wear tights, and yet every other twenty-something you see these days (OK, "I" see - admittedly, London might be a little different trend-wise than where you're at... SO BE WARNED, IT'S COMING) has got his legs strapped into painted-on denim. Can male jeggings be far behind? My eyes are shuddering just thinking about it. Skinny jeans don't actually help anyone - they look OK on a very few women, but that's because those women have "ideal" figures anyway. They don't hide what ought to be hidden, they don't lengthen, they don't support, they have no societal productivity. They're just mean. Indifferent, since they're jeans, but still mean by default.
So when did men decide this was a good look to emulate? At best, a man in skinny jeans is some dude looking for his doublet and sword, at worst he's doing a flamingo impression or resembling a chain of really hefty sausage links (depending on which end of the 'build' range he's inhabiting). Jeans are supposed to be our 'comfort' clothes, that item in your closet that goes with anything and makes you look and feel good. It's impossible to look or feel good about a piece of clothing with a built-in InstaWedgie (patent pending).
I do have to admire the ingenuity with which some men have managed to avoid the IW and simultaneously create an even more unflattering silhouette than the skinny jean - I speak, of course, of the unholy union between skinny jeans and saggy skater's pants (culturally translated as 'skater's trou' over here, 'across the pond'). I'm pretty sure somebody sacrificed a goat for this trend, because how else can you explain men wearing something that gives them cankles from their feet to their thighs AND makes them look like they've accidentally fallen into their big sister's denim mini? There's not a woman alive who wouldn't run shrieking from the dressing room after seeing that devilish combination obliterating her body. But they're slouching all over the streets of London (not moving very quickly, natch, since you can't walk fast when your crotch seam is linked at your kneecaps); defiantly slouching, I say, AND upping the fashion ante by displaying above the belt loops no more boxer shorts - oh, no, the new thing for Today's Guy to wear with his barely-hanging-from-his-hipbone hybrid female-repellent jeans are printed briefs.
There's no justification for that.
None.
Everyone knows zebra-patterned tighties went out with the '80's! And good riddance, I say!
I think it's time to start some kind of Crimes Against Fashion Intervention Group - MY EYES ARE BURNING, and I'm getting a lot of whiplash from turning my head away from vomit-and-laugh-inducing 'couture'. And don't even try to tell me these guys are getting dates... The future of our society is at stake here, people.
Something must be done - and if that 'something' is "Mumuus For Men", well, I'm all for it.
*** I was going to include pictures, just to emphasize the horror, but... I couldn't do it. Your imagination will not be worse than reality, trust me.
August 21, 2011
Sunday Snippet
Today in Sacrament Meeting the Relief Society President quoted President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
" God the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration.
No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!
For what we love determines what we seek.
What we seek determines what we think and do.
What we think and do determines who we are - and who we will become.
... Since the beginning of time, love has been the source of both the highest bliss and the heaviest burdens. At the heart of misery from the days of Adam until today, you will find the love of wrong things. And at the heart of joy, you will find the love of good things.
And the greatest of all good things is God." (emphasis added)
October 2009
" God the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration.
No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!
For what we love determines what we seek.
What we seek determines what we think and do.
What we think and do determines who we are - and who we will become.
... Since the beginning of time, love has been the source of both the highest bliss and the heaviest burdens. At the heart of misery from the days of Adam until today, you will find the love of wrong things. And at the heart of joy, you will find the love of good things.
And the greatest of all good things is God." (emphasis added)
October 2009
August 20, 2011
Ten Things - Part 10
Oh. OK.
* * * * *
* * * * *
Actually, on what may be a related note, today I saw "The Globe Mysteries". It was a version of the old (medieval) mystery plays, or dramatizations of Bible stories, condensed down to a select few including: Creation, Cain & Abel, Noah's Ark, Abraham & Isaac, the Birth of Christ (along with a very odd comic interlude about stealing a sheep), Miracles, the Crucifixion, Resurrection/Ascension to Heaven, and the Last Judgement. The choice of the play had to do with the year's theme, that of The Word of God. It was a little strange, though, to be watching a play of Bible stories that wasn't actually about the Bible or the stories. It was just a play. The performance came off as hollow and wordy (fortunately, the Angel Gabriel was really hot*) - this was a piece that misrepresented itself, I think. Mystery plays cannot really be produced as if they were "just" plays; they are far too intrinsically bound up in the intent to teach religion to be shown without the religion. This show rang false, even though it was very cleverly staged - it was a piece that was untrue to itself and therefore could not be true to any audience (to - ironically - borrow a Polonius moment). We must tell the truth to ourselves in all that we do as well as to others.
*Why, yes, I did happen to end up on the side of the "damned" during the Last Judgement.
For the last time
* * * * *
10
TELL THE TRUTH.
The rabbit joke is relevant because it occurred to me that looking for a cabbage in a butcher’s shop might be like looking for ethics in the design field. It may not be the most obvious place to find either. It’s interesting to observe that in the new AIGA’s code of ethics there is a significant amount of useful information about appropriate behaviour towards clients and other designers, but not a word about a designer’s relationship to the public. We expect a butcher to sell us eatable meat and that he doesn’t misrepresent his wares. I remember reading that during the Stalin years in Russia that everything labelled veal was actually chicken. I can’t imagine what everything labelled chicken was. We can accept certain kinds of misrepresentation, such as fudging about the amount of fat in his hamburger but once a butcher knowingly sells us spoiled meat we go elsewhere. As a designer, do we have less responsibility to our public than a butcher? Everyone interested in licensing our field might note that the reason licensing has been invented is to protect the public not designers or clients. ‘Do no harm’ is an admonition to doctors concerning their relationship to their patients, not to their fellow practitioners or the drug companies. If we were licensed, telling the truth might become more central to what we do.
TELL THE TRUTH.
The rabbit joke is relevant because it occurred to me that looking for a cabbage in a butcher’s shop might be like looking for ethics in the design field. It may not be the most obvious place to find either. It’s interesting to observe that in the new AIGA’s code of ethics there is a significant amount of useful information about appropriate behaviour towards clients and other designers, but not a word about a designer’s relationship to the public. We expect a butcher to sell us eatable meat and that he doesn’t misrepresent his wares. I remember reading that during the Stalin years in Russia that everything labelled veal was actually chicken. I can’t imagine what everything labelled chicken was. We can accept certain kinds of misrepresentation, such as fudging about the amount of fat in his hamburger but once a butcher knowingly sells us spoiled meat we go elsewhere. As a designer, do we have less responsibility to our public than a butcher? Everyone interested in licensing our field might note that the reason licensing has been invented is to protect the public not designers or clients. ‘Do no harm’ is an admonition to doctors concerning their relationship to their patients, not to their fellow practitioners or the drug companies. If we were licensed, telling the truth might become more central to what we do.
* * * * *
Actually, on what may be a related note, today I saw "The Globe Mysteries". It was a version of the old (medieval) mystery plays, or dramatizations of Bible stories, condensed down to a select few including: Creation, Cain & Abel, Noah's Ark, Abraham & Isaac, the Birth of Christ (along with a very odd comic interlude about stealing a sheep), Miracles, the Crucifixion, Resurrection/Ascension to Heaven, and the Last Judgement. The choice of the play had to do with the year's theme, that of The Word of God. It was a little strange, though, to be watching a play of Bible stories that wasn't actually about the Bible or the stories. It was just a play. The performance came off as hollow and wordy (fortunately, the Angel Gabriel was really hot*) - this was a piece that misrepresented itself, I think. Mystery plays cannot really be produced as if they were "just" plays; they are far too intrinsically bound up in the intent to teach religion to be shown without the religion. This show rang false, even though it was very cleverly staged - it was a piece that was untrue to itself and therefore could not be true to any audience (to - ironically - borrow a Polonius moment). We must tell the truth to ourselves in all that we do as well as to others.
*Why, yes, I did happen to end up on the side of the "damned" during the Last Judgement.
For the last time
August 19, 2011
Ten Things - Part 9
In the interests of full disclosure (and in part to see if people really are reading these) I wanted to mention that I saw a matinee today of "The Glee Concert Movie: in 3D". I very much don't care for 3D. The movie was fun - I think all 10 of us (girls) in the theatre enjoyed it. The four pre-teens behind me were having a blast. And the Mini-Warbler is hilarious/adorable/going to oust The Biebs before he's 10. (The kid's a YouTube sensation waiting to happen, if he's not there already. I'll check.) (Oh, yeah. He's there.)
* * * * *
9
ON AGING.
Last year someone gave me a charming book by Roger Rosenblatt called ‘Ageing Gracefully’ I got it on my birthday. I did not appreciate the title at the time but it contains a series of rules for ageing gracefully. The first rule is the best. Rule number one is that ‘it doesn’t matter.’ ‘It doesn’t matter that what you think. Follow this rule and it will add decades to your life. It does not matter if you are late or early, if you are here or there, if you said it or didn’t say it, if you are clever or if you were stupid. If you were having a bad hair day or a no hair day or if your boss looks at you cockeyed or your boyfriend or girlfriend looks at you cockeyed, if you are cockeyed. If you don’t get that promotion or prize or house or if you do – it doesn’t matter.’ Wisdom at last. Then I heard a marvellous joke that seemed related to rule number 10. A butcher was opening his market one morning and as he did a rabbit popped his head through the door. The butcher was surprised when the rabbit inquired ‘Got any cabbage?’ The butcher said ‘This is a meat market – we sell meat, not vegetables.’ The rabbit hopped off. The next day the butcher is opening the shop and sure enough the rabbit pops his head round and says ‘You got any cabbage?’ The butcher now irritated says ‘Listen you little rodent I told you yesterday we sell meat, we do not sell vegetables and the next time you come here I am going to grab you by the throat and nail those floppy ears to the floor.’ The rabbit disappeared hastily and nothing happened for a week. Then one morning the rabbit popped his head around the corner and said ‘Got any nails?’ The butcher said ‘No.’ The rabbit said ‘Ok. Got any cabbage?’
* I love that joke. I always tell it with the rabbit hopping into a store and asking for "gwapes", though. I don't actually know what "rule number 10" is. Something to do with persistence, maybe?
Linky link
* * * * *
9
ON AGING.
Last year someone gave me a charming book by Roger Rosenblatt called ‘Ageing Gracefully’ I got it on my birthday. I did not appreciate the title at the time but it contains a series of rules for ageing gracefully. The first rule is the best. Rule number one is that ‘it doesn’t matter.’ ‘It doesn’t matter that what you think. Follow this rule and it will add decades to your life. It does not matter if you are late or early, if you are here or there, if you said it or didn’t say it, if you are clever or if you were stupid. If you were having a bad hair day or a no hair day or if your boss looks at you cockeyed or your boyfriend or girlfriend looks at you cockeyed, if you are cockeyed. If you don’t get that promotion or prize or house or if you do – it doesn’t matter.’ Wisdom at last. Then I heard a marvellous joke that seemed related to rule number 10. A butcher was opening his market one morning and as he did a rabbit popped his head through the door. The butcher was surprised when the rabbit inquired ‘Got any cabbage?’ The butcher said ‘This is a meat market – we sell meat, not vegetables.’ The rabbit hopped off. The next day the butcher is opening the shop and sure enough the rabbit pops his head round and says ‘You got any cabbage?’ The butcher now irritated says ‘Listen you little rodent I told you yesterday we sell meat, we do not sell vegetables and the next time you come here I am going to grab you by the throat and nail those floppy ears to the floor.’ The rabbit disappeared hastily and nothing happened for a week. Then one morning the rabbit popped his head around the corner and said ‘Got any nails?’ The butcher said ‘No.’ The rabbit said ‘Ok. Got any cabbage?’
* I love that joke. I always tell it with the rabbit hopping into a store and asking for "gwapes", though. I don't actually know what "rule number 10" is. Something to do with persistence, maybe?
Linky link
August 18, 2011
Ten Things - Part 8
8
DOUBT IS BETTER THAN CERTAINTY.
Everyone always talks about confidence in believing what you do. I remember once going to a class in yoga where the teacher said that, spirituality speaking, if you believed that you had achieved enlightenment you have merely arrived at your limitation. I think that is also true in a practical sense. Deeply held beliefs of any kind prevent you from being open to experience, which is why I find all firmly held ideological positions questionable. It makes me nervous when someone believes too deeply or too much. I think that being sceptical and questioning all deeply held beliefs is essential. Of course we must know the difference between scepticism and cynicism because cynicism is as much a restriction of one’s openness to the world as passionate belief is. They are sort of twins. And then in a very real way, solving any problem is more important than being right. There is a significant sense of self-righteousness in both the art and design world. Perhaps it begins at school. Art school often begins with the Ayn Rand model of the single personality resisting the ideas of the surrounding culture. The theory of the avant garde is that as an individual you can transform the world, which is true up to a point. One of the signs of a damaged ego is absolute certainty.
Schools encourage the idea of not compromising and defending your work at all costs. Well, the issue at work is usually all about the nature of compromise. You just have to know what to compromise. Blind pursuit of your own ends which excludes the possibility that others may be right does not allow for the fact that in design we are always dealing with a triad – the client, the audience and you.
Ideally, making everyone win through acts of accommodation is desirable. But self-righteousness is often the enemy. Self-righteousness and narcissism generally come out of some sort of childhood trauma, which we do not have to go into. It is a consistently difficult thing in human affairs. Some years ago I read a most remarkable thing about love, that also applies to the nature of co-existing with others. It was a quotation from Iris Murdoch in her obituary. It read ‘ Love is the extremely difficult realisation that something other than oneself is real.’ Isn’t that fantastic! The best insight on the subject of love that one can imagine.
DOUBT IS BETTER THAN CERTAINTY.
Everyone always talks about confidence in believing what you do. I remember once going to a class in yoga where the teacher said that, spirituality speaking, if you believed that you had achieved enlightenment you have merely arrived at your limitation. I think that is also true in a practical sense. Deeply held beliefs of any kind prevent you from being open to experience, which is why I find all firmly held ideological positions questionable. It makes me nervous when someone believes too deeply or too much. I think that being sceptical and questioning all deeply held beliefs is essential. Of course we must know the difference between scepticism and cynicism because cynicism is as much a restriction of one’s openness to the world as passionate belief is. They are sort of twins. And then in a very real way, solving any problem is more important than being right. There is a significant sense of self-righteousness in both the art and design world. Perhaps it begins at school. Art school often begins with the Ayn Rand model of the single personality resisting the ideas of the surrounding culture. The theory of the avant garde is that as an individual you can transform the world, which is true up to a point. One of the signs of a damaged ego is absolute certainty.
Schools encourage the idea of not compromising and defending your work at all costs. Well, the issue at work is usually all about the nature of compromise. You just have to know what to compromise. Blind pursuit of your own ends which excludes the possibility that others may be right does not allow for the fact that in design we are always dealing with a triad – the client, the audience and you.
Ideally, making everyone win through acts of accommodation is desirable. But self-righteousness is often the enemy. Self-righteousness and narcissism generally come out of some sort of childhood trauma, which we do not have to go into. It is a consistently difficult thing in human affairs. Some years ago I read a most remarkable thing about love, that also applies to the nature of co-existing with others. It was a quotation from Iris Murdoch in her obituary. It read ‘ Love is the extremely difficult realisation that something other than oneself is real.’ Isn’t that fantastic! The best insight on the subject of love that one can imagine.
Essay essay essay
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