Interesting headline in front of me given the last post...

Not that Amtrak is run by the Port Authority of NY but the guy sitting across from me is reading the WSJ and the headline right in my face says:

"Train pulls out on new corner of debt market

Auction-rate securities failing to draw bidders;  a toll on port authority"

On the train...

So, I try to keep a good attitude but at the moment I think a word about something is appropriate. 

I love Amtrak don't get me wrong but in this case their service is well, a disservice. I've finally managed to procure a seat in the food car after boarding the train an hour ago. Now, it doesn't bother me that I didn't get a seat I paid about $100 for but in the case of the family sitting nearby I'd have to say they really deserve to be as pissed as the mother seems to be. Basically, the poor woman, her husband and her probably age 7 daughter have a seat finally, but it's in the food car.

What if they had been traveling with and an elderly person? A sick person maybe? 

It seems the conductor has gone out of his way to accommodate the family but of course his options are limited. I feel bad for them but I would've been pretty pissed if it was me. Ah well, maybe it's just another side effect of the shrinking economy.

Maybe we'll send our jobs to economies with cheaper labor and then one day they'll give us the gift of train travel a la their style?

I very much support globalization but I believe domestic macro capitalistic powers (I won't pretend to be an economist here - that is a term I made up and understand ... sorry if it doesn't mean anything to you ...) anyway... will show the true value, or lack thereof, of the American dollar through their increasingly poor delivery of services and goods.

So I believe wealth is leaving the United States... can't prove it... just a hunch (hello rising price and diminishing supply of oil, weakening dollar, increasing cost of real estate...)

I can't claim original thought on these ideas... I'm heavily influenced by a few sources - a book called "The World is Flat", a documentary called "The End of Suburbia" and a few others as well as some other context clues derived from watching the world... 

Dunno... just a  thought...

On the road...

Okay, here's something I've always wanted to do - blog while moving. Yup blog while in transit and so have I fulfilled one of those goals right here and now. As I thee write, I'm chinatown busing it from Philly to NYC. I wish I had a pic to show you but I'm so excited about the blogging I can't stop for a second to take a photo my dear pups.

So, as each year has passed since graduating college I've become increasingly cautious and prone to worry. Thus, I became less and less likely to take such things as transportation that is probably run without insurance. However, being away from my day-to-day routine takes me out of the cycle of worry and thus when my dear pal suggested taking the C-town bus because it was quicker and cheaper than the alternative Greyhound, I didn't really hesitate. 

We said our quick and half-sorrowful good-bye on the street (we know we'll see each other soon but of course we want to hang out and chat forever- but I have a mere weekend and some partying in NYC to do and she has  play to act in) and so we part. Her boyfriend, whom I've just met, grabs me a cab and off I go.

I thought my cab driver might kill me because he had a tendency to... well, how should I say it? Mmmmm, bark. Yes, he was much the barker. 

"WHERE?!!?!" He growled deeply. 

"11th and Cherry" I bleated. 

"CHERRY?!?!" He growled even more deep and ferocious. 

I really couldn't tell if he was deaf, raging or mean. 

"READY?!?" He boomed, staring straight ahead. 

"yes" I said, very much doubting the truth of my response.

And so we were off. Miraculously I arrived at my destination, which proceeded to perplex me, even if only momentarily. I was on the corner of two streets in Philly's Chinatown, but there didn't appear to be any buses. But soldier on I did once I observed the half Chinese half English sign for the Cherry bus (I laugh here at my soccer mom self, like I've never been by myself in the city before - what is more, like I've ever been a soccer mom before :) 

I go in to buy the ticket but there doesn't seem to be anyone behind the counter in the near empty room with just a few old office chairs strewn about the once white linoleum floor. Suddenly, a Chinese kid about age 15, started asking, "New York" to the few who had gathered inside and just outside the door. "Come on," he said. "We have to go down the street."

No one hesitated, they all just followed. So, I did too. What can you do? Down the sidewalk, behind the building, to the right an open van full of boxes with plastic hanging out, to the left, a parking lot of broken down cars. We keep going up yet another small parking lot behind another set of buildings, and there's a bus at the end - he let me pay once I got on - no big deal. "One way?" He asked and yet also told me. Not sure how he knew I was going one way only...

And, so I'm on the bus. Just a few moments ago, at a gas stop, the driver asked the eight or so of us on this bus, exactly where we are going. And once he took a tally, which at first I think confused everyone, he decided where he was going to stop. I can hear him now yammering away in Chinese on his wireless headset as he protectively delivers us to the city.

This is far better than those Peter Pan bus drivers who used to bark at me in college for bringing a slice of pizza on the bus. No rules about talking on your cell phone, no need to print out your ticket beforehand, or really to even have one at all. I can spread out over two seats (or four if I really wanted - the bus is only 1/8 full - I get free Chinese lessons the whole way there - The couple next to me chatters happily about visiting Ground Zero... it's pretty good. And all this for just ten bucks.

 

Hola my people

What's on the brain today... mm.. well, there has been some positive kismet floating around me lately which is strange but welcome.

Like, I mused the other day I thought that I would like some flowers for my office and the next day my colleague brought in potted plants for all. It died a week or so later unfortunately.... luckily I didn't kill my boss's fish while she was traveling though...

• Also, recently got together with some friends I lurve...
  
• I had wished for my computer to be more robust and 20 minutes later I was asked by our ops coordinator if I would like to be the first to have my computer upgraded (course then my IT person never showed for our appt... but this detracts from my story :)
  

Something else happened... oh, a client reappeared for a challenging project I'd love to work on... meeting later this week...

• Found a cheap train ticket to visit a friend in Philly
  
• Wished for a trip and got one - to Toronto - DSF's co flew me to his location instead of bringing him home - that was fun
• Got up the guts to ask a writer if I could ghost-write something... that's ballsy - I haven't even had an article published yet - who cares! I can learn :) (it's on the culture of oversharing no less... hmmm, what do I know about that?)
• After getting slightly harassed AT THE POLLS by an immature college student for my voting choice, my candidate won my state in the primary - SHOCKER - I thought I was the lone supporter - apparently not :)

Had someone post on the blog about law school advice a few days ago - that was really something - I wasn't prepared for feeling connected to their pain - I hope they muddle their way out of the pain of that experience - 

Anyway, I should be sleeping and DSF just walked in so I think I might connect with another human real time (even if he's breaking my peaceful vibe by being chatty.. I'll grant him this I guess :)

Ah... he's in the WC ... I have another moment with you dear reader!!! This whole "culture of oversharing" concept that I've just heard of is pretty interesting. While I've oft considered myself to be an egregious Oversharer, I think I might be way more reserved than a lot of other blogging counterparts - for one thing, unless I've sent you the link to my blog, you probably don't know my name .... I haven't told you EVERYTHING everything....

okay.. more on that later.

night!

Mideast press & George Bush's visit

This source is similar to the last posting but gives a few more examples of what media in various mid-east countries are saying about Stoopid's visit to the region.

Mideast Media Cool on Bush Tour

BBC Monitoring Newsfile - Jan

This is a compilation of broadcast and press material on US President George Bush's trip to the Middle East, available to BBC Monitoring by 1500 gmt on 11 January 2008.

Summary

As US President George Bush moved his tour of the Middle East on to the Gulf States on 11 January, regional media coverage of his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, as well as his trip in general, on the whole remained negative in its tone.

Palestinian commentators appeared to be satisfied on the whole with Bush's statements outlining his ideas for an Israeli- Palestinian settlement, although expressed concern over whether he would be able to guarantee an equitable deal in the face of Israeli opposition.

Opinion in the wider Arabic-speaking Middle East was much more critical. In particular Bush's suggestion that Palestinians renounce their claim to right to return to Israel was greeted with hostility and accusations of continued US bias towards Israel.

The Israeli press was divided in its assessment; some commentators were well-disposed towards Bush's ideas for peace, although one expressed dismay at the US president's demand for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.

Commenting on Bush's trip to the Gulf States, newspapers in the region voiced hostility about US arms deals.

PALESTINIAN PRESS

Palestinian press commentators remained hopeful overall following President Bush's visit to the West Bank on 11 January. Most continued to praise Bush for his advocacy of a two-state solution, although some warned him that the US would have to remain vigilant to prevent Israeli resistance from eroding its substance. However, one writer accused Bush of selling the Palestinians "illusions and tranquillizers", while a pro-Hamas paper simply dismissed him as a "clown".

MORE

Hmm, Israeli and Palestinian press lukewarm on Bush's visit

Why am I not surprised? Here the BBC draws on a number of different press sources within Palestine and Israel to show that they are not necessarily feeling confident about the peace vision our Clown in Chief has been shopping around the region these past few days.

Press lukewarm on Bush Mideast vision

As President George Bush moves to Kuwait on the next stop of his Middle East tour, Palestinian and Israeli newspapers scrutinize the vision he presented on Thursday for a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Palestinian commentators argue that the US must play an active monitoring role if the plan is to have any chance of success; a pro-Hamas paper dismisses the president as a "clown".

In Israel, one daily welcomes the Bush statement but warns against confusing rhetoric with reality, while others stress that the hard work is only just beginning.

HAFITH AL-BARGHOUTHI IN PALESTINIAN AL-HAYAT AL-JADIDAH

Israel's understanding of the vision will destroy it, through its requests and stalling. If President Bush wants his vision to succeed, he will have to go ahead with it without allowing the Israelis to affect it in such a way that this state would become an Israeli protectorate.

HASAN AL-BATAL IN PALESTINIAN AL-AYYAM

We do not know if Mr Bush has left us with a different point of view after visiting... However, once he departs, his vision will reach the phase where the US must serve as an arbitrator, which means that it will monitor both sides to see if they are implementing the roadmap.

AHMAD DAHBUR IN PALESTINIAN AL-HAYAT AL-JADIDAH

It is no problem for George Bush to give us a prescription from his pharmacy of illusions and tranquilizers by saying that a Palestinian state will be established before the end of his term at the end of the year. But how can anyone establish a building on pillars of salt and in the middle of a rainstorm?

MUSTAFA AL-SAWWAF IN PALESTINIAN FILASTIN

George Bush appeared nothing less than a clown during the press conference with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmud Abbas. He was extremely belittling in an attempt to cover up the great failure of their meeting, caused by his inability to present anything to the Palestinians. His jests might have made some people laugh, but they also made others cry at the extent of his criminality and lying.

CALEV BEN-DAVID IN ISRAEL'S JERUSALEM POST

Bush is to be commended for his sincere belief in the power of a vision of peace... During his time in the White House, though, he has sometimes confused rhetoric with reality... It's nice, and right, to dream, especially of peace. But as the US president saw this week in Jerusalem, sometimes the skies here are not blue.

NADAV HAETZNI IN ISRAEL'S MAARIV

George Bush arrived here to make certain that in accordance with his "vision" we will cut ourselves to the end... The truth is that today we, as close friends of Bush and his sect, are called upon to pay the price of the grave mistakes Bush committed during his years of rule.

ISRAEL'S HAARETZ

Bush's visit extricated the negotiations from the mud in which they had sunk... It will be a test for Bush: Will he make do with pretty pronouncements about a brighter future or will he play a determined, serious role in making it happen?

NAHUM BARNEA IN ISRAEL'S YEDIOT AHARONOT

From Bush's point of view the evacuation of the illegal settlement outposts is a matter of credibility. Two prime ministers committed themselves to dismantling the outposts. It seems Olmert is aware that he must go for evacuating one illegal settlement and do so by force.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.

I find this problematic

Saudis Behead Indonesian Maid

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Saudi authorities on Saturday beheaded an Indonesian maid convicted of killing her employer, the Interior Ministry announced.

In a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said the maid used a pillow to suffocate her employer Aisha Al Makhaled and then stole her jewelry in the southern province of Asir.

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which those convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery are executed in public with a sword.

The maid is the second person to be executed this year in the desert kingdom, according to an Associated Press count.

Saudi Arabia beheaded 137 people last year, up sharply from the 38 in 2006.

Hmm, where to start? My main issue is really the beheading part. And, while I don't recommend murdering one's employer, I'm against the death penalty if you've happened to do so.   But a death penalty by beheading? That is just a bit too much for me to take. Also, I smell a slight rat when a maid is on trial for murder.  

"Hmm, how can I have a better life? I know, I'll journey from Indonesia to the human rights loving land of Saudi Arabia and get a job doing the most menial work I can find to ensure that if any trouble befalls me, I won't have any legals rights to protect myself with. Once I've managed to get into that position in the least xenophobic of nations, I'll murder my wealthy Saudi employer who may have powerful friends just motivated enough to behead me." 

And, yikes, they beheaded 137 people last year? And she's the second one to be beheaded in 2008? Where have I been? I once again appreciate that in this chaotic universe my female life exists in a land where women are afforded legal protections, the right to own property and an education.  

Oh human rights ... may you one day be available to all.

George Bush in the Middle East

For awhile now I've envied people who seem to have volumes and volumes of current events and other political data stored in their heads. I marvel at their capacity to take one small fact and link it back to a profound understanding of greater political strategy.

But me, the only thing I'm consistently good at in this genre is conspiracy theorism, only inasmuch as it puts a sinister spin on the goings-on of my least favorite people, of course. And wouldn't cha know, I just happened to find some fodder for my sensationlist ways. The subject is one of my favorite buffoons, Monsieur Le President des Etats-Unis (accent marks omitted) Georgie Porgie.

Here is a map referenced in an article by Le Monde that shows where His Most Esteemed is chillin' these days. Today he is in Israel, yesterday in Palestine and so on and so forth in his multi-day itinerary in the Middle East.

I wonder what he's up to?

Anyone?

Pleasantly surprised: A Mighty Heart

Whoa did I cry. 

This movie was sort of like a docu-drama but not in the vapid, over-acted type of way. I've admired Angelina Jolie's humanitarian pursuits for awhile now but not really her acting. Naturally, I wasn't expecting much from the acting in this movie. At the risk of propping up your expectations, I would say that she was quite good and brought depth Marianne Pearl's character. Most of the time, I don't think she transcends her celebrity enough for the audience to forget she is Angelina and actually get lost in the film. Though when your talking about crap like Tomb Raider and Beowulf, I'm not sure the audience really cares. (NB: I really liked her acting/hated her character in Girl Interrupted) Anyway, I think she is pretty  successful in this film about doing just that, transcending - I only thought, "Hey look, it's a wig and pregnant belly wearing Angelina" a handful of times.

The rest of the film on the other hand was really great. I expected a drama and while there was quite a bit, naturally, given the subject matter, I think the storytelling was well done. I really appreciate when filmmakers are able to make you feel like you're experiencing a story in the way it really happened.  Some find such films boring or possessing an erratic pace, but that's exactly what I love. Life is often just like that, erratic and messy, not neat, tidy and in ordnung like we want or imagine it to be in our visions of "one day."

The film is really the story of how things unravelled from the first moments when Marianne began to suspect Daniel had gone missing through to the tragic outcome.  A lot of detail on the investigation is provided throughout and the whole kidnapper plot was actually quite complex, something I hadn't before appreciated. I actually felt like I got a feel for Pakistan I hadn't ever been exposed to as nearly the entire movie takes place there. I was also quite impressed by how resourceful Marianne was as well as how sophisticated her psychological state was during and after the frenzy to find her husband. 

Oddly, though it was deeply sad, the film left me with an inspired sense of calm that I hadn't anticipated.

I came, I saw, I failed. Happy New Year.

In light of an article I just read regarding failure, I'd like you all to know something.

The article says that you should just accept your failures. Flat out. Accept them because there is nothing you can really do about them anyway. Accept them and learn from them for the next challenging event. The author, a life coach, asserts that the primary difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people fail more. Huh. Hadn't thought of it that way. (Also brings to mind evaluating the meaning of 'sucess' but of course being too detail-oriented will prevent me from making any point at all so we'll move on.) On a side note though, I have always thought you should try for things that you want. The way I see it, you might fail, but you for damn sure aren't going to get something you don't try for.

One of my favorite "failers" is Abe Lincoln. What a major failer. Click here for a list of his failures. But of course, we don't remember him for this. It's something like a war or freedom or something that he is known for ;)

Okay, so we've established failure is okay, worth accepting and maybe even good. So, what's mine? Well, I failed out of law school. I FAILED OUT OF LAW SCHOOL.

Failed, failed, failed .... bad grades, dismissed, crying, why me!, ... that kind of failed.

Failed.

Yup. Never made it past the first year. I accept.

It's been some time since this happened ... 2004 if you're wondering. I think I've accepted bits of it since that time. And I may even have accepted all of it since it seems I'm comfortable putting it out there. Now that I'm over it, mostly, the one thing I beat myself up over still is that I didn't get over it sooner! Ha. Maybe I should accept that failure too.

Now, here's another failure. I've been fired. TWICE!!

So that's why she's a stay at home blogger! Actually at the moment, I'm not - so Ha! My bank account is actually quite fat right now because of the work that I've been doing and I like it that way!!

So, there, I've failed. And I'm still standing. And, though I'm not sure I agree with "that which does not kill you makes you stronger" or "things happen for a reason" (because they don't), if you want to overcome failure you can. But you have to choose to do so.

So, suck it up, deal and move on, that's what I say. Happy New Year :)

The Bad Touch

This is some seriously important shit. I love the holidays because they allow me to go back to that special time when fucking around is what it's all about. In homage to just that here are some fine lads giving back to society.

Reason #11,999,221 why I love the French

I just got this gorgeous email from the Paris office of the co where I'm working.....

Why aren't we doing something as environmentally friendly and beautiful as that eh?

Domesticity

I'm attempting to come to terms with banality of domesticity. I am. I don't have much of a choice in the matter now do I.

Scenes from a Storm

Wintry Bumblebee

I don't even know where to start! The snow has turned me into a puffy, well-insulated nut running about Boston. I've been inspired to snap pictures all around the city - I don't even know how to begin describing the various encounters that have resulted.

First was the equally well-insulated, seemingly homeless man who was not too happy with me when he surmised he may have ended up in one of my pictures. He was yelling at me from down the street as he approached. There were a few other people around so I assumed he was yelling to them. As he got closer (and as I continued to take shots) it became apparent he was yelling at me.

" 'EY!" he hollered, dressed in midnight blue snowsuit-like puffiness and work boots, carrying a few grungy grocery bags in one hand... "CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?!!!" I turned and looked over my shoulder and back at him again. Not really able to see much with my gigantic furry black hood obscuring most of my peripheral and forward vision... "CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING" he dared confront from the center of the snowy street to me on the sidewalk.

I looked at him and lowered my camera. "WHY R U TAKIN' MY PITCHR?" Yelled the homeless Mr. T ... again.

"I wasn't." I said flatly.

"LEMME ASS YOU A QUESTION. WHY YOU TAKIN' MY PICTHR. YOU SHOULDN'T DO DAT!"

"Sir, " I said matter-of-factly, " I did not take a picture of you. I took a picture of the snow."

"TEN TEN ROUND AGAIN. I'M GUNNA FUCK YOU UP!"

Hmm I thought. He's rhyming. Time to leave. And so I spun about my heel and tromped merrily down the street, only looking over my shoulder once!

Here he is, such a lovely man...

Homeless Mr. T 'n Me

And then there were the happy lesbians. I was just standing there minding my own business filming the traffic jam on the corner. The lights had changed, oh, I dunno, four.. maybe five times to no avail for those poor gas guzzling oil addicted saps sitting in their idling automobiles cursing mother nature and their lack of control over her and all the natural resources she so lovingly gives... BUT I DIGRESS!!!

Anyhoo, the scene was a relatively calm one given the circumstances, and then the ladies with comfortable shoes and no hair exited the door of their sidewalk-side apartment, took a look around and, with hands on bulky hips, proudly and loudly declared, "We live here! Haahaa, we don't have to go anywhere!" I mentioned my role in the scene and invited them to show their pride in my video... Enjoy!!!

(NB: the vid is a little long - note the traffic lights ...)

A few moments later while shuffling down the sidewalk I tipped my head down to brush the snow off the top of my hood when suddenly at my feet another set appeared, coming in the opposite direction!
"Oh," I exclaimed and looked up, drawing my ginourmous hood back a few centimeters.
"Girl!! You better watch where you're going!" Said a uh ... gentleman a few years younger than myself.
"Oh! I'm sorry!! " I sort of half laughed and shrugged.
"Girl you better look where yuh going." He stopped. "You look good ... but you better watch yusself."
Uh... awwwkward.... I feel awkward!!
"You look real good girl" he said slowly this time.
Okay! Time to go -run!!! And so again I spun around and I scurried off ...

And then there were the sitings. Like this one. No, it isn't a wintry action flic being filmed. This is the DPW man stuck, plow, sand truck and all, in the snow. Why he had to get on top of his truck to remedy the situation I don't quite understand. Be stand on his truck he did. The best part was when some winter plebe tried to back up too close and the very deep voiced Mr. DPW started yelling from atop his perch, hands all a waive,

"Don't hit my truck! Yuh too damn close! Y'ain't gunna make it!

Doghn't hit my friggin truck!! "

A final parting shot ...

Lord knows when I think of Mother Nature and all of her abundance, I think ...

Hey hey didja miss me?

Though I frequently daydream about moving out of Boston to somewhere more exciting (I know I know, how could this be possible?!), the recent discovery of some Boston-centric YouTube clips made me realize I do in fact have some sort of connection to the city. My suspicion is my fulfillment comes from merely knowing there are other people in the world who find watching others to be as engrossing as I do.

This clip captures a beautiful moment when the path of two Boston personalities serendipitously cross ... Hector, who I assume is a war vet, has basically scared the shit out me numerous times - one of his frequent haunts is the end of a street I used to live on -

I wouldn't seem him, sitting there and suddenly loud machine gun noises would blast out of a dark doorway - startling me just as I happened to be walking by - and there he would be in his own little world - maybe he was channeling the crazy to scare unsuspecting passersby ...

Louie, well, just listen closely 'cause you can hear Louie before you see him...