See You Next Thursday: Class, Crass, and Feminine Sass

Reflection

2011-02-11T23:02:00.015-05:00

It's crazy to look at our "old " blog and read these entries seeing that I personally haven't in almost two years. Reading my post about my 2009... haha... wow did I have way more energy! Omg, how much my priorities and attitude have changed since then! I went out to dinner tonight and I'm sitting at my apt watching "Pet Sematary". I think that says it all. Well, I live in BK now and obviously have a different job than the last one I blogged about back then. I'm in a relationship and I've definitely taken my foot off the pedal... definitely slowed shit down. In my spare time I love seeing live music, especially after a few drinks... but not so many that I get myself in trouble, if you know what I mean! "KONIEC"... translate that. So any way I don't want to elaborate about myself. There is so much time to talk more. To tell more tales. I want to talk about reviving this blog if people are up for it and I want to tell you why!

First off, each and every one of us are currently having different experiences in different places. Every day we are learning new things. Also we are meeting other cool people outside of this circle of SYNT! I want to hear what everyone is up to! I LOVE AND MISS YOU GIRLS!! Let's share some stories, info, great bands, food, great place to go, et cetera!!!

I feel like talking about FASHION WEEK. Living in the BIG APPLE and working in the same building as Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, a favorite for many of you... MARTHA STEWART (Valentine's Day Cookie Recipes!), makes it difficult to avoid all things chic (and impractical for a girl on my paycheck). But a very practical and LUCKY buy that I recently made was a Cynthia Rowley dress at the Salvo near my hometown. The best part... $6.... can't get any better? It still had the tags on. (See above... me dancing in dress equipped with boyfriend wearing complimentary bow tie)

ANYWAY... check out some pics of Cynthia Rowley's F/W 2011 Collection

Who's next ladies?

2009

2009-05-18T11:41:00.034-04:00

So I know we're almost, kind of half way through 2009..sorta late to update my New Year's Resolutions. 5 months ago they were to read the complete works of Dostoevsky in chronological order and BE A BETTER PERSON. I've made it through one and a half books, thank you, SCHOOL. Better person? It's debatable. Regardless...I don't really like resolutions anymore.

A few months back ol' Scatter D threw this concept on me that has since changed my life. She said something along the lines of "This is what 2009's ABOUT" and since then I've kind of OD'ed on this statement saying it aloud, to myself, to others, all over the internet and of course in my brain..all the time. The following is a list of things that are 2009. Feel free to add or even better, implement this concept in your own life. When you eat a delicious sandwich, don't just think of it as your lunch...think of it as a lunch that every lunch this year should live up to. 2009 is about DELICIOUS SANDWICHES, OKAY?

First and foremost, 2009 is more like BROS '09. I'm all about bein' and havin' bros and strictly bros. Not trying to be tied down, I just want bros. I actually sort of ended a semi-not really-relationship with someone saying, "come onnn, we're BROS!" (He did not respond well.) If Bros '09 doesn't really make sense it's okay because it's not really clear to me either. Essentially, it's something about basically having mad bro friends (bros are girls too, duh) and bro-ing out all the time. Bros. (this sort of bro is not to be confused with gelled hair, flip flop wearing, simultaneous beer funneling and propositioning me-type bro, though, if they're cool, we can possibly forge a Double-Bro relationship)

2009 is about putting my money where my mouth is. That means not eating Taco Bell ever again and going beyond the planning step for all the things on my life to-do list and actually getting my shit together and crossin' stuff OUT.

2009 is about a PMA!
2009 is about Parecon.
2009 is about WINNING...but every year is, right?
2009 is about living on a farm and not speaking, apparently.

2009 is about starting my final year of COLLEGE and finding out my REAL Native American ancestral lineage and to stop telling people I'm Cherokee or Apache depending on my mood. (disclaimer: this links to a RACIST song which is not okay, but its soooo goood and 2009 is about dancing too..especially the robot)

2009 is about living your life to the fullest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2009 is also about stepping up my Spanish game, breakfast sandwiches, garage rock, Arnold Palmers, Summer '09, bikes, my dog and Mexican food. I think at this point, I just like saying all my favorite things are representative of the year 2009 as a whole but that's okay because that is what 2009 is about too!

This is obviously an incomplete list as the meaning of 2009 is evolving and encompassing more and more things everyday! PLEASE ADD. xoxoxo sorry for the lack of posts, everyone. I love you all!

-REEN

SKATTER D'S 2009

REEN did a really great job of explaining this new mentality. It all started for me the week of New Year's when I was in BK with REEN, Mowgli and Lil' Beau. We were shutting the door on 2008 and kicking the door open on 2009 with our arms around each other and bottles of bubbly in our hands. I just had a feeling this year was going to be good. (Also, my favorite number has always been 9... so it was feeling extra special)

My awesome '09 started in January when I was hired for a new job working with troubled youth. To be greeted everyday by an 8 year old running up to me and just latching onto my waist, because he is so happy to see me is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Especially when you know that this kid has been abandoned and abused by his mother... to know that I am a shining light in his life is an incredible feeling.

From the new job it has just been one awesome thing after another.... spending special weekends when possible with my BESTIES (mowgli, reen, lil' beau, pytitty, betty boogie, biff...etc); seeing my favorite DJs for the first time (the bloody beetroots); exploring my hometown and the surrounding areas by eating at a new restaurant once a week with my local friends (at first I hated being here, but 2009 is about making the most of things); through exploring, making NEW friends who are totally rad and having random dance parties (like the one seen above where everyone felt the need to dance while punching a body pillow)

In sum... 2009 is about living life to the fullest every fucking day and the mentality is to shoot for new experiences and memories whenever possible!! It's also about not letting unfavorable situations bother you, because there is sunshine even when you can't see it. Further, if shit is going down in 2012... all the more reason to rage now. And if shit doesn't go down in 2012 (or period)... then at least you had an amazing year!! so... GET IT!!

Skatter D's 2009 is about...

-Definitely about Bros '09 and Summer '09 (just like REEN)

-Casinos... specifically the craps table and always betting on #9

-Capturing new memories on professional digital cameras

-DANCE PARTIES ALL DAY EVERYDAY NO MATTER IF IN CAR OR AT BAR OR WITH YOURSELF

-SPARKS (the black can) and red bull whenever necessary

-REMIXES REMIXES REMIXES

-Getting tattoos, especially if you don't have any

-NEW PEOPLE WHO BECOME NEW FRIENDS (can be done by being very confident with who you are combined with super friendliness)

-Run ins with the po-po, whether the situation comes out in your favor or not

-Kiss and Run

-Running all over and jumping from parked car to parked car/dancing on the roof of your car

-Mind expansion

-Turning shitty situations into non-shitty situations (your mentality determines how you view a situation)

-Lack of sleep, so when you do sleep it fucking rules

-Embracing irresponsibility while you still have time left to do so

-AND SOOO MUCH MOREEE!!!

Last but far from least...

WINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!

Pleasure Cometh

2009-05-03T12:15:00.004-04:00

Couple updates- Went to this AMAZZZZING show Friday night, "the Sounds" sick sick band from Sweden, opened up by "Hey Champ" from Chicago- equally fucking awesome and rockin (the synth alone brought tears to my eyes and a hard-on to my soul), and met this hilarious dude THOR- hottie ski instructor from vermont complete with neon purple hammer pants and a thirst for dancing like a psycho. Needless to say- we rocked out late into the night. Anyhow, what I really want to bring to everyone's attention is this sicky website I found that is full of clips that help to remind me (and us all) of the greatness that can be found in media. Feast your little eyesie's on this

EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE

to help get you started- here are a few of my fav's:

1. MOM ON THE NET

2. I'm so crappy awful and crappy

3. FLEX

4. Drop the knife! Fak yoo

This should help get you goin

This Weekend for Some of Us

2009-04-02T11:58:00.008-04:00

PYTitty, Lil' Beau, Reen, and yours truly.... were reunited yesterday (Friday) in bona fide fashion. After downing Sicilian slices, Sparks and PBR, we hopped on the train and over to Webster Hall for the MSTRKRFT/Bloody Beetroots show. If I had to summarize how the show was in a couple of words I'd say... SHEER BLISS!! I was right in front of the stage for all of MSTRKRFT and then the Beetroots came on and tore the house DOWN!! Oh my word how I love Tommy and Bobby... they complete me. I am pretty sure that every single pore on my body released sweat and by the end of MSTRKRFT and beginning of the Beetroots I was completely drenched in myself. Today, my body is sore and I have many random bruises such as two on my ribs... ?? Random. BUT... seriously though... the Beetroots are amazing and I haven't fist pumped that hard since I saw the Crookers at Le Poisson Rouge this past fall (along with Lil' Beau... she's in Prefix's album as well). Also, as a result of last night's show, I discovered that strobe lights on a crowd of people jumping up and down with arms and fists raised is definitely one of the illest images in the world. I was lifted last night thanks to Tommy and Bobby... and 2009 just keeps getting better and better...

----FOR THOSE WHO LOVE PLEASANCE-------------------WE SALUTE YOU-------------------

2009-03-27T13:03:00.014-04:00

A few days ago, I woke up fairly early (for me), about 8:30- and none of my friends around here are early risers. Anyhow, the sun was out, the temp was risinnnnn' (42 degrees in the am???? SHIT YEAH), and I've got my paws on the astro for a week, so I decided I would hit up one of my fav beaches- Kettle Cove. Usually quiet, not unbearably windy, and home to fun, darling little trails that wind and lead to rocks to play on as well as an even more covert beach (pan's labrynth type shit- HOLLA AT YA DAUGHTAAA). Needless to say I got my pleasance on in a big way. Once I made it to the beach, there were maybe 2 other cars in the parking lot. I parked the 'stro a few spaces away from this other car where 2 dudes were just chillin out and enjoying the atmosphere- blasting sweet tunes of pleasance- the guy in the driver's seat had his violin out and was rockin out to the music. It was great.

Bottom line, lovin Maine right now (as usual) and lovin how it's not hard to find a place where you can be in the company of pleasant fuckin strangers. GIDDY UP N'ENGLAND

WANNA GET YOUR PLEASANT ON? PROBABLY

Here are some tunes to help you get your PAF- PLEASANT AS FUCK

1. Rawnald Gregory Erikson the Second- Starfucker

2. Burial (DJ Mehdi remix) - Mike Snow

3. Happy Up Here- Royksopp

4. We're Gonna Rise - Breeders

5. Burning Pile - Mother Mother

6. The Love Gang - Raveonettes

7. Futurecop! - NASA

8. Dirty Town - Mother Mother

9. Mockin' Bird - Les Paul and Mary Ford

10. Tiger Rag - Les Paul and Mary Ford

11. In the Good Old Summer Time - Les Paul and Mary Ford

12. Bye Bye Blues - Les Paul and Mary Ford

13. How High the Moon - Les Paul and Mary Ford

ENJOY BITTIES

The Obama’s are Doing it and So am I!

2009-03-27T00:55:00.006-04:00

Organic gardening! Finally, after 17 years of petitioning, Alice Waters (drool) gets her wish. The Obamas have created an organic garden at the White House that will be overseen by the assistant White House chef, Sam Kass. Michelle Obama started the initial planting with the help of local school children just a few days ago. The garden will be fertilized with White House compost, crab meal from the Chesapeake, lime and sand. A few of the yummers planned for chomping are spinach, chard, collards, berries, lettuces, and herbs. But no beets. Barack hate the beet (um?? whatever, B).

After a while of contemplation and jealousy of my step-pop’s ability to grow almost everything that goes into my mom’s (and once my) mouth during the warmer months, and most of the cold months (deep freezer…drool), I decided to take dirt matters into my own hands and get some growing going.

On Saturday I phoned my stepdad—Rick James as I like to call him—and got a 45 minute instructional conversation as to how one with limited (erm, rather no) gardening experience builds and starts a garden. He gave me beyond helpful advice and I am thoroughly excited to get started.

I’m planning on building an 8 ft x 4 ft bed for veggies and herbs. Last Monday I stopped by my local hardware store to do some investigating and seed shopping. I didn’t want to get too redundant with vegetables because I put in my check for my CSA share and knew I would already be getting a lot from that. Also, as a beginner I didn’t want to get too in over my head. I settled on rainbow chard, mesclun, radishes, basil, parsley, and nasturtiums for flowery eats.
Excitement, excitement! As for now, purchasing the seeds is as far as I’ve got. I will be sure to update on urban gardening as the warmer weeks approach. Wish me luck!

Zen of Literature

2009-03-26T22:46:00.012-04:00

"This is a- this is a unique moment of free choice. The chess pieces which comprise your personality can rearrange in many different ways. You may, yourself, as an artist, develop the games of your life and lend it animation. You may complicate it or enrich it as you please."
Hermann Hesse meets DJ Logic on the tables.

I'm completely melting. You know that feeling, that moment when you realize two things you absolutely love are heavily intertwined and actually love each other? That's how I'm feeling right now, and I just couldn't resist discussing the connection. After hearing DJ Logic's 2006 album "Zen of Logic" for the first time over a year ago, I haven't stopped listening to it. The smooth samples, the funky beats, the higher consciousness of finger-meets-unbelievable vinyl (not to mention the aid of the musical styling of John Medeski) make me fall deeper into the rabbit hole- and I'm loving every minute of it. This album makes me float about my thoughts yet drop it down real funky simultaneously. Awesome.

Being the literary lover that I am, my favorite music always seems to have an allusion to a piece of writing that gives me goosebumps of epic proportions. It appears as if DJ Logic does, as well. Track 12 on the album, entitled "Interlude #2" is where it all comes together. The quote I started this post with is the sultry sample from the song DJ Logic spins, which is strikingly similar to a quote from Hesse's existential 1927 novel Steppenwolf. Found within "The Chess Player," the quote goes as such, "'This is the art of life,' he said dreamily. 'You may yourself as an artist develop the game of your life and lend it animation. You may complicate and enrich it as you please. It lies in your hands.'"

Alone, turntablism makes my head spin in the best way possible. Intelligent turntablism makes my head explode. All in all, fall hard and heavy into both artists. Beware, though, for thought is dangerous.

“MAGIC THEATER. ENTRANCE NOT FOR EVERYBODY. FOR MADMEN ONLY!”

PLEASE SHINE DOWN ON ME!!

2009-03-26T10:20:00.009-04:00

If I can't wear a skirt without tights or be comfortable without a jacket, then spring has yet to fully arrive. Today in CNY (the mohawk valley) it is overcast and drizzling. Spring is "here", but not really... I mean the snow is all gone, but the flowers have yet to show their lovely faces (the photo is of fake flowers outside of our garden to cheer up the bland scene hehe). On the days when the sun is shining and the wind is not blowing I am unable to do anything but smile, for warmth and bare limbs are on their way! But on these sunless days I just want to stay in my bed with a good book, warm blankets and patiently wait. The perfect addition to a good book in bed is a hot bowl of delicious ZUPA ("soup" in Polish). So for this SYNfull Thursday, here is a recipe I tried earlier in the week that was quick, easy, and pretty damn tasty... perfect for a dreary day when you don't want to exert too much energy.

*this is not vegan/vegetarian friendly... but im sure you could easily figure out how to make it so :)

CREAM OF LEEK AND VERMICELLI SOUP

4-6 leeks
3 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. flour
4 cups of chicken stock
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups milk
4-6 oz. vermicelli, broken up

Wash leeks and cut off 2 inches below green leaves. Slice the remaining white stalks lengthwise to make them look like thin noodles. Then take the long noodle-like slices and cut them horizontally every inch or so. This way you end up with thin, 1-2 inch long leeks. Saute the leeks in the butter in a large pot for 15 minutes. You do not want to brown them, so use a low setting to do this.

Meanwhile, boil the chicken stock, salt and pepper in another pot. After the chicken stock has come to a boil, turn down the heat.

At this point, add the flour to the leek mixture. Stir it around for a couple of minutes until it is mixed well, then ladle 1 cup of the broth into the flour and leek mixture. Mix well. Then add the milk to the leek mixture and cook slowly while stirring often. Do this for 10 minutes.

During those 10 minutes you may bring the chicken stock to a boil again and cook the vermicelli in it until it is soft. Once it has been 10 minutes and the vermicelli is soft, add the remaining stock and vermicelli to the leeks. Mix well and serve with Parmesan cheese. Serves approximately 6 to 8 people (if you are doing a full meal with only cups of the soup). If you are serving this in bowls, you'll get about 3-4 hefty bowls. Enjoy it with your favorite slice of bread (or sandwich..see below).

LIL' BEAUMONT'S TOP AND BOTTOM (SHELF) TUNA MELT

D is right. Spring is on the way, but today sure ain't showin' any signs. Just like Upstate, down here in Brooklyn it is rainy and miserable. After I trudged home from work and class (double misery) today, I plopped down on the couch and thought about what I could eat to make me warm and happy and fight the rainy day blues.

Tuna melt! Warm, gooey, toasty deliciousness. But I didn't want just any old greasy diner tuna melt though. I wanted a fancy Beau' pants sandwich. I decided to do a little top and bottom shelf mixing and combine the traditional melt ingredients with some nice (and slightly healthier) enhancements.

You will need:
2 slices of your favorite bread. A rye, sourdough, or crusty=maximum yum
1 can tuna (in water)
2 tsp dill weed
2 tbsp hummus. I suggest using Sabra brand hummus or another type that has a little more tahini and is extra creamy
1 tbsp mayonaise
1 stalk celery
salt&pep to taste
a squirt of lemon juice
a few slices each of one "high" and "low" cheese. I suggest Rembrant Aged Gouda with Monterey Jack. Ideally a nice flavorful, harder, and salty cheese balanced with a creamy, more gentler
cheese.
A big leaf of something green. A piece of romaine, some spinach, or mesclun.
Some slices of avocado
itty bitty bit of butter

Lightly pre-toast the bread
Chop the celery stalk into 1/4 inch slices. In a bowl mix the tuna (drained), dill, s&p, hummus, mayo, celery, and lemon.
Lightly butter the outsides of your two pieces of bread.
Put a little bit of tuna mix on either side of non-buttered bread. Layer each side with avocado and slices of cheese, mixing the placement of the "high" and "low"
Toast the slices and toppings open-faced in either a toaster oven or at the broil setting on your oven.
After cheese has melted and bread is toasted, add your leafy green.
Put the two sides together and smash down with your hand.
Cut in half and enjoy with your favorite potato chips and pickle.

Pasta e Fagioli a la Mademoiselle

2009-03-19T09:35:00.005-04:00

For this week's syn-fully Thursday's recipe corner, I have decided to post to you about a delectable little meal I made last night! Many things the recipe called for were not in my pantry, so I had to improvise. This meal can be vegetarian or not! I chose to add ground beef and it's juices to the mix, but I'm sure chicken, pork, lamb, or tofu would be yummy too!

Enjoy:-)

You Will Need:

2 teaspoons olive oil

2-4 onions, finely chopped

1 carrot, finely chopped

1 celery stalk, finely chopped

2 large garlic cloves, minced

2 cups drained canned Great Northern beans (I used Garbanzo)

1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth (I just used the meat juices mixed with water. To make it more vegetarian friendly, you could simply add more tomatoe juice, or vegatable broth)

1 cup canned plum tomatoes in juice (I didn't have this, so I threw in a big handful of cherry tomatoes and then added about 3/4 cup of tomatoe juice)

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary, or 1/2 teaspoon dried

1/2 cup small pasta shells, cooked al dente, drained and rinsed with cold water (I used farafelle)

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspon pepper

Parmesan cheese to top it off

1. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil. Saute the onions, carrot, celery, and garlic until soft, about 8 minutes.

2. Add the beans, broth, tomatoes and their juices, and rosemary; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer; stir in pasta, parely salt and pepper; simmer covered about 5 minutes longer. Serve at once, sprinkled with cheese.

Notes on this: I let the mixture simmer without the pasta/meat for a while before adding the last things. Also, I liked the cherry tomatoes in this dish because when you ate them they burst in your mouth giving you a warm, tangy, savory bite.

Recipe makes about 4 servings. You can always adjust it to make more or less.

I got the original recipe from Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook.

This dish is also known as Pasta Fazool and it can be made thick like a stew, or brothy like a soup.

Bon appetite!

So You Had One of Those Nights...

2009-03-12T00:57:00.017-04:00

Everyone has those not-so-fond memories of waking up hot, damp, and possibly wanting to die... more specifically, HUNGTHEFUCKOVER. This includes our diverse group of liquor lappin, beer blastin, shot gunnin, wily ass bitches at SYNT, for we have certainly had to address our fair share of these unpleasant moments. As a result, we’ve cultivated an assortment of remedies to help us breach the darkness so that it is possible to return to a state of normalcy, or more realistically (for some of us crazier bitches)... another night of boozin. For this SYN-full-Thursday we wanted to discuss the differing levels of hangovers and their respective remedies. We have taken into account that hangovers come in a variety of intensities (much in the same way that people do), so there are obviously different ways to tend to the different levels. There are those hangovers where not even a crumb can hang out without your stomach being like, "Get this fuckin' shit outta here!" Other mornings simply require a big glass of cold water accompanied by a delicious breakfast sandwich and some Q.T. with your blankets and a movie. This is where we start...

Level One- "Dumpy Debbie"
As opposed to "Debbie Downer"... Dumpy Debbie is in high-spirits for a night well spent, but not exactly on her game. Brain pounding, tired, weak and delicate- there are many solutions, but a bangin breakfast sandwich paired with copious amounts of either water, tea, Gatorade, or Emergen-C should get you started...

Remedy: An English muffin, bagel, or Croissant- whichever you prefer- TOAST IT
1 egg (2 if you’re hungry, 3 if you have a death wish) make sure to break the yolk- an uncooked yolk- although super tasty- will end up all over the damn place- not worth it. SOME CHEESE! Provolone, Swiss, Mozzarella, Muenster, Gouda, whatever just make sure that shit is... MELTED! Brie is also kick ass- just smear it on. If you’re a meat eater- Sausage, bacon, ham, or turkey are tasty, but these can certainly be substituted with any vegan/vegetarian/tomato slice and so on and so on that you please. **KICK THIS BABY INTO ORBIT by adding Avocado, Tomato, Hot sauce, Blood from a new born, maple syrup, garlic powder, S+P, crushed up aspirin/Tylenol mixed into the S+P and added - in any combination and at your discretion.

Level Two- "Life Lacker"
You may or may not have puked by now. There isn’t much you can hold down but what dignity you have left. Like the Dumpy Debbie level, you need to hydrate your dry ass and rest your aching bod. But when it comes to eating, proceed with caution!! You should definitely try to eat something, because that is what will help you recover best. But the last thing you want to do is to make a run for nearest toilet/acceptable place to puke. This is a simple snack that shouldn’t be hard to make (depending on how paralyzed you are) as well as hard to keep down...

Remedy: On Bread or Crackers (Triscuits, Ritz, Club, etc.) spread peanut butter on top, and then garnish with banana slices. This shouldn’t take long to prepare, and will also probably be safe to eat after you pass out and they’ve been abandoned on your bedside table. If you can't handle the banana then do without... or eat whatever the fuck you can hold down!

Level Three- "Call the Clergy"
The devil is inside of you and it seems like the only thing that can possibly save you is a full blown exorcism (click it-fucking hilarious). Time will just not do in the immediate, but you really have no choice. You hate yourself for that last shot or two that you definitely did not need and you just want the pain to go away. Forget trying to eat... chances are you can't even hold down water without vomitting it back up in 5-10 minutes...

Remedy: R & R until you can return to simply being a life lacker with digestive capabilities

**RESPECT to PYTitty for assisting in the creation of this post AND please feel free to post any of your remedies or trick to any of the levels... we'd also love to hear about delicious recipies and hangover stories too!!**

SUPER BAMFS, AVERAGE JOE BAMFS, SHITTY BAMFS, and BAMFS LIKE YOU AND ME

2009-03-02T10:30:00.019-05:00

SUPER BAMF #1
About 2 weeks ago, this woman, Claudette Colvin, came to visit Portland to speak about her experiences during the beginnings of the civil rights movement, and the book that was written about it (Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice). She was 15 (fuck yeah) when she was arrested for refusing to leave her seat on a bus for a white person- a year before Rosa Parks was arrested. As for why she has/had never received equitable recognition as Rosa Parks and others had and have received, it can be attributed to the fact that "she was described as "feisty" and "profane" _ even though she never used foul language _ at a time when black leaders were bent on someone who would project an image of unimpeachable integrity," (Harkavy) as well as becoming pregnant shortly after she brought her case to court.

It's difficult to describe the emotions felt while seeing and listening to someone like this speak. Despite the importance of it all, she managed to keep things light. "People always ask me what I was thinking when I chose not to move, and I tell them, I was sitting there picturing Harriet Tubman on one shoulder and Sojourner Truth on the other yelling "GIRL, don't MOVE"......etc." Regardless- hilarious, awesome, inspiring, and of course ballin'- check out the article- shes a bad ass mother fucker.

SUPER BAMFS #2
Abortion used to be super bootleg before it was legalized and could be practiced in a safer manner- what about assisted suicide? Controversial I know, (hopefully not overly offensive to anyone) however it looks like we're getting closer.

AVERAGE JOE BAMF
Thanks to This American Life, I came across this kick ass radio station that you can listen to online KPFT.
Peep the Schedule.

SHITTY BAMF
Last night, my brother and I were watching Adult Swim- can't lie- fucking love a majority of the shows on there. Despite all the cartoons and shows on there with extreme violence/extreme any/everything (look around you love love love), it wasn't a show that made me feel sick for society. There was this ridiculous ad for this stuff called "6 hour energy" where a woman who's some secretary gets called into her boss's office wearing the god damn tiniest skirt ever to perform something you won't believe. Check it out. As for the product? This begs to be mixed into some alcoholic drink- the Ass Clown - 151 and 6 hour energy- which should make my ride on the Fung Wah in April tolerable when I'm smoking 8 packs of camel lights in the bus bathroom.

BAMFS LIKE YOU AND ME
While looking for the link above, I stumbled across this ad for 5 hour energy that made me nostalgic for much of my time spent at Hartwick (before I said fuck it all). SO - in memory of once being a library dwelling crackhead - this is for those still in the struggle- and those who will never forget.

Don't know what the weather is like for everyone, I'm sure snowy for most. I just gave a stab at the Monday crossword (finally getting better at them- completed today's motherfucker holllaaaa) and am going for my second cup of coffee. I am out of cigarettes and am scheming a way to fix this- quitting is not yet an option. Perhaps some 5 hour energy followed by a wintery snowshoe galavant to the gas station?

GOOD DAY

REALLY? REALLY? OKAY, REALLY?

2009-03-01T10:34:00.010-05:00

My roommate/BFF Nikki and I have been talking a lot recently about how nice it'd be to exile people. "Fuck you, bye..FOREVER." (It's a really intense idea, sending people away forever and all, but that just makes it funny and fun to think about!)Usually this is just in reference to stupid dudes and disorganized professors etc but I'm starting to keep a list of politicians and other assorted publics figures that are up for possible BANISHMENT. Like this guy, Dean Grose who is the mayor of Los Alamitos, CA. Motherfucker sent a mass e-mail depicting the White House lawn covered in watermelons with a caption saying, "No Easter egg hunt this year." Yes, a publically elected mayor, sent this as a mass e-mail to other public officials including a Los Alamitos city volunteer, Keyanus Price, who is black. Price, who spoke to the Associate Press said, "I honestly don't even understand where he was coming from, sending this to me. As a black person receiving something like this from the city-freakin'-mayor - come on."

Grose in turn disagreed that the joke was racist and said, "Bottom line is, we laugh at things and I didn't see this in the same light that she did...I'm sorry. It wasn't sent to offend her personally - or anyone - from the standpoint of the African-American race."

So, uh, what exactly is the joke then? I don't get it. Obama just likes watermelons and wanted to grow some everywhere and that's the joke because it's like "whoa, dude really likes watermelons?" No. That is not the intended joke and the excuse of, "that's not what I meant by that" is UNACCEPTABLE. Like the New York Post cartoon last week, that's no fucking excuse. There is no excuse for that. Considering the history of racism and it's offshoots in art/entertainment/etc in this country, it is inexcuseable to play dumb. (You are a political cartoonist! You haven't seen the countless drawings of black people with super-exaggerated features and their bodies as monkeys and gorillas in the not so distant past? Yay freedom of expression and shit but would it be crazy to say no black people should be alluded to being monkeys or gorillas? Is that too much?) Even if Grose isn't lying about not intending the joke to play on stereotypical, narrow-minded representations on black people, ignorance is a cop-out.

This makes me so mad and it scares the shit out of me that this is the second of very public racist incidents to happen in the past two weeks. You can find the article here.

Shitty in a Good Way

2009-03-01T07:01:00.011-05:00

My thoughts on this Sunday morning have been filled with shit. For a couple of reasons, but most intellectually through familiarizing myself with urine diversion toilets. In learning that NYC sends millions of gallons of sewage-polluted water into its neighboring bodies of water each WEEK has caused me to think about each time I flush (I don't live in the city, but next time I visit Lil' Beau and Reen I will definitely let the yellow mellow). Further, my brother-in-law works at a water treatment plant in the small city next to me and his stories are anything but sweet-smelling (such as birds picking out used condoms and leaving them on walking paths around the plant). I started thinking about the times I relieved myself in Sri Lanka's toilets and how much I enjoy squatting over a hole. I love pissing outside and I know many friends who do also, such as PYTitty. So how could I not love the idea of converting my piss and shit into fertilizer?

Sweden is leading the pack in not only using these toilets at home, but creating organizations and intiatives in developing nations. The idea of using urine diversion toilets to create fertilizer and reduce pollution is progress for those third-world countries, but what about using this model in a country like our own? Could you imagine Billy Bob getting out of his big Dodge Ram pickup and taking a shit in his ecological toilet? I could maybe see this happening if he was a farmer, because what is more manly than fertilizing your crops with your own piss and shit? In all honesty I can't imagine running the idea of getting one of these by my parents, who were raised using outhouses in communist Poland. I can't really see them wanting to go back to something like that. Although, I will mention it to my dad later just to see what comedic comments he will come up with. For me, I would be totally down with this type of sustainable sanitation, because it can always be improved. I mean, people in Sweden are beginning to give it a shot, so why not at least read a little more about it here. Since we have started the engine on the "going green" bandwagon, we might as well work on how we can change our yellow and browns to green too!

SYN-fully Citrus

2009-02-26T01:05:00.006-05:00

Winter is seriously becoming a huge drag. I feel like the cold is a weight tied around my ankles that I constantly have to trudge around with. In January I can appreciate those brilliantly sunny days with blue skies accompanied by a bitter frost that nips your cheeks, but at the end of February approaching March...forget it. Over it. The novelty has worn off and now I'm just bored and hateful.

What makes February even harder, specifically for a food blogger such as myself, is reading southern based blogs that feature days spent strawberry picking and attending local farmers markets to buy bags of colorful and aromatic Meyer lemons, clementines, oranges, and other deliciously in-season citrus fruits. Sure, I can trot down to my local grocery store and purchase a ($3.99?!) pint of strawberries or grab some lemons shipped upstate from southern farms, but once I leave the store and step outside into 32 degrees with 15 mph winds I am painfully reminded that it's just not the same.

But despite the reality of probably another month (or two) of chilly weather, I feel I just need to continue dreaming about warm weather and manifest it into my life in any way possible. And so for that reason, even though the citrus from my Brooklyn grocer will not give me the exact same experience I've been reading about on my food blogs, I will buy my lemons, and invite spring and summer into my kitchen to boycott winter blues with citrus hues!

Citrus is absolutely wonderful for so many reasons. You can use all parts--rinds and pulp--for a variety of purposes, they come in a beautiful array of warm colors, their aroma is beyond enticing, and the varieties are endless! Lemons, limes, kumquat, clementine, tangerine, blood orange, navel orange, grapefruit, minneola...endless I tell you! So here are a few Lil' Beau faves for citrus recipes mostly taken from various (amazing) food blogs. I've even thrown in a vegan one! Enjoy!
Meyer Lemon-Ginger Muffins, Stuffed with Cream Cheese

taken from The Kitchen Sink

For the Muffins:
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into 12 equal pieces
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon meyer lemon, zest
2/3 cup plain yogurt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 tablespoons buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup freshly-squeezed meyer lemon juice
2 teaspoons freshly-grated ginger
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla

For the Topping:
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger

Preheat oven to 375. Line 12-cup muffin tin with muffin/cupcake liners. Place the cream cheese in the freezer.

In one large bowl, whisk together the flour through lemon zest. In another large bowl, whisk together the yogurt through vanilla. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined.

Fill each of the 12 muffin liners about 1/3 full. Nestle one piece of the chilled cream cheese into each partially-filled muffin cup. Cover the cream cheese pieces in each muffin cup with the remaining batter.

Mix the sugar, cinnamon and ginger to create the topping. Sprinkle the mixture evenly between the 12 muffins.

Bake 17 to 19 minutes, until puffed and golden. Transfer to a wire wrack to cool.

Kumquat, Key Lime, and Blood Orange Sorbet

*vegan Taken from Cannelle et Vanille

Kumquat Sorbet

400 grams kumquat puree
600 grams simple syrup (50% water and 50% sugar)

Whisk together the kumquat puree and simple syrup and chill in the refrigerator for a few hours. Churn in ice cream machine.

Kumquat Puree

800 grams kumquats
Water to cover, 3 batches

Place kumquats in a medium saucepan and add enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil. Drain the kumquats and repeat the process two more times with fresh water every time. This removes some of the bitterness from the fruit.

Place the cooked kumquats in the food processor or a blender and puree. Strain the puree through a fine sieve. You should get about 400 grams of kumquat puree.

Key Lime Sorbet

480 grams simple syrup (50% water and 50% sugar)
420 grams key lime juice

Combine both components and chill in the refrigerator for a few hours. Churn in ice cream machine and freeze.

Blood Orange Sorbet

This sorbet uses ingredients that might be difficult to get for some of you, but the resulting sorbet has great texture and mouth feel. If you prefer, you could follow the same recipe as for the key lime sorbet but using the blood orange juice instead.

250 grams blood orange juice
110 grams sugar
2 grams sorbet stabilizer
60 grams atomized glucose
200 grams water

Place water in a saucepan and heat slightly. Add the atomized glucose, whisk and bring to a boil. Mix the sugar and the sorbet stabilizer in a bowl and add to the boiling syrup. Whisk and return syrup to a boil. Remove from heat.

Refrigerate the syrup for at least 4 hours. Add the blood orange juice to the syrup and churn in ice cream machine. Freeze.

Need Health Insurance? Domestic Parnership!

2009-02-25T20:48:00.002-05:00

Okay so I know we've got a lot of posts today, but in keeping with plans for the future, Obama and health care, and in relationship to my previous post about Governor Paterson's new proposal for health care for young adults, I thought it was necessary to thrown this one in reeeaall quick.

Tonight I met up for drinks with a friend at a bar in the neighborhood. When I sat down, the first thing she said to me was "I got a domestic partnership today". In my mind I was totally in shock and blurted out "HOLY SHIT you're engaged?!" She shook her head and said no, no silly girl, a domestic partnership, like at the City Clerk and shit. She must have seen the total look of confusion on my face (because I know she isn't a lesbian and can legally marry, and I also didn't think she and her boyfriend had any plans of seriously joining themselves together) and further explained. Her boyfriend had been kicked off his health insurance (thanks economy) and the possibility of him losing his job is seeming kind of likely (thanks again!), so they decided to get a domestic partnership so that he could be covered under her health insurance and benefits.

She then continued to explain to me how unbelievably EASY it is to apply for a domestic partnership (at least in NYC, provided a few things). First off, you don't even have to be dating or in an intimate relationship with the person; they could just be a roommate, or anyone who you've been "living together on a continual basis". Actually, let me just list the requirements outlined by the NYC City Clerk to show you how simple it is.

Both you and your partner are New York City residents or at least one of you is employed by the City of New York on the date of registration.
Both persons are 18 years of age or older.
Neither you nor your partner is married or related by blood in a manner that would bar his or her marriage in New York State.
Both of you have a close and committed personal relationship, live together, and have been living together on a continuous basis.
You and your partner must be able to truthfully state an identical residential address on the application form for the Domestic Partnership.
Neither you nor your partner is currently in another Domestic Partnership or has been registered as a member of another Domestic Partnership within the last six months.
*you also need some form of identification (drivers license, immigration card, passport...) so if you were an illegal immigrant this probably wouldn't work.

Easy peezy lemon squeezy! So now my problem is solved. If I don't have a job with health insurance when I graduate, I'll just convince my roommate (the one who isn't my brother) to become my domestic partner and I'll use his! Yay! I'm sure there are some between-the-lines, hidden print type shit that go along with this but it sounds like a pretty good alternative if you feel like you have no other options.

Predictions for Obama's Stimulus Package

2009-02-25T11:49:00.006-05:00

Did you catch Obama's non-State of the Union address last night? If you didn't, you can catch it here or here. Many thoughts raced through my mind as I listened to his speech. He touched on so many topics ranging from our economy, to the housing crisis, to education, to the war in Iraq, and finally to his overall goals for our nation. He made it clear that all of these issues are tied together in some way, and that the first step to solving any problems within these issues is to stop this recession and to get the country back on track financially. That is why our government has recently passed this economic stimulus package. As with so many political speeches, this speech was rousing and full of hope and fiery words about getting through difficult times and meeting challenges, etc, yet there was very little specificity as what exactly is going to happen through the stimulus package and how exactly the presdient plans on fixing the deficit. This is frustrating and leaves a listener/viewer/reader to determine what it all means. So this is what I think Obama means; these are my predictions of what he has in store.

First of all: the bailout. Where is the money coming from? No one has said so outright on the news (at least it hasn't been news to me), but what I've discovered is that China is financing most of our bailout through their purchase of U.S. Government bonds. So that means that it's not the taxpayers immediately footing this bill. Of course who knows what kind of taxes we shall have to face in order for the government to make these investments for the Chinese sound. Obviously the Chinese are going to have certain expectations of the Obama administration for all that they are investing into our nation.

Ok so, the Chinese are paying for it...right now. We will have to repay SOMEHOW in the future. And what is the most convenient way for us to repay without even realizing it? CONSUME. yes consume. Look at all the items surrounding your computer screen right now. Where were these items produced? I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count, because the answer is probably CHINA. We import almost everything from China, which means that our economies are completely "joined at the hip" as one of those articles puts it. They are the producers, we are the consumers. Do you see a problem with this? I do. I wish we made more things in the US. I wish I could buy everything I need locally. I wish that the people in my local area could AFFORD to exist on what they produce. I wish I could afford to start the million and one businesses I have ideas or aspirations for. Obama wants banks to start lending again so people can afford their homes and small businesses. I wonder how successful these businesses are meant to be. After all, we don't want to take away from China's business. Cynically, however, I will have to say that Americans are so addicted to the cheap crap that comes from China that they will not be able to get their fix. So China's probably safe.

As for innovating here at home and creating jobs, there are so many things in the way. One of the biggest obstacles that the general population has to overcome its APATHY towards being smart and educated, and LAZINESS or distaste for hard work. I'm not saying that people who don't sweat or toil at their jobs are lazy. I'm saying that people have become so intoxicated with what they've consumed that they don't see the true value of knowledge and how it helps to overcome the challenges that inherently make us work hard.

This is where education steps in. Obama wants Americans to graduate from high school AND college. Makes sense to me. Notice how many international students our country attracts? It's probably because we have the highest number of public and private institutions of higher learning than any other nation. But after going to Hartwick, you know first-hand how much people take their oppurtunity to become smarter for granted. Who is at fault? The school? The student? Commercialism and Consumerism? Who knows! All I know is that I get soooo frustrated with the education system in America because it's not friendly to all learning types and, let's face it, there are BAD TEACHERS. I figure the only big difference I could ever make in politics is to become the best teacher I can be. And even if this only means that my students end up actually kind of liking school because of me, that's enough.

Obama talks of creating jobs and being the great innovating Americans despite hardships that there were in the past. I predict that one of the biggest innovations he plans to impose on us people is that of new, renewable energy. I wholeheartedly support this change, however it is not going to be easy, and there will surely be pitfalls and corruption along the way. Same applies for infrastructure re-vamping. It's a great idea, but it's going to take a lot of scrutiny. Obama claims that Joe Biden is going to lead a task force that is going to oversee projects like these. He's going to make sure the money is going where it should. I trust Joe Biden. He seems like an honest person. I hope he doesn't disapoint me.

I think I've ranted enough for now. Not sure if I accomplished what I set out to do. I meant to make predictions and the most important one is that Obama wants America to be the superpower leader that it was in the past. It's wonderful, yet scary. So much hangs in the air of our future, and our children's futures. Times change so fast in Washington, but back in my home town, things haven't changed for what seems like a long time. I hope I see positive changes where I live, and I hope it's a change I can really get behind. A change that satisfies my ideas of how I want to live my life. I believe that Obama will work for ME. That's why I voted for him. I can't wait to see if my predictions come true!

Where's the Money, Assholes?

2009-02-25T08:51:00.008-05:00

Seriously though... I'm about to get straight gangster as a result of our dwindled economy, all of these "bailouts" and "stimulus" packages, and what these mother fuckers are actually doing with our money. Why, you ask? Well... where is all of this money really going!? As an average citizen I just wonder, who exactly is divvying up this $700 billion dollar Troubled Asset Relief Program and who's to say it isn't going to be abused in some way? I mean how many instances have we already heard and read about of banks and other institutions receiving their check from the government and turning to their friends saying, "YES! Let's fucking PARTAAYY!!" It makes me sick to know that people can be so GREEDY. I'm sitting here trying to pay back a student loan to a lender who can add additional interest called, "interest during repayment period" on top of the initial interest on the loan! In the end, if I were to pay my loan just as they have scheduled, by the time I am done I will have paid more in interest than what my actual loan was. So on top of the money that these banks and lenders are getting from us in interest, they get government bailouts and throw parties. Our financial system is so fucked up! Yes, I love Obama just as much as everyone else, but he had better firmly regulate where all of this money is going or else we will never get out of this mess.

Attn Soon to Graduate New Yorkers: There May Be Hope for Us!

2009-02-24T00:18:00.004-05:00

*ouchies
About a month ago on an sunny January morning I was at REEN's apartment getting ready for work when I slipped on a puddle of water in the kitchen and cut my finger on a coffee mug that smashed on the floor when I fell. Probably one of the more bizarre accidents I've had next to breaking my pinky toe last winter walking down the stairs. Conveniently enough, REEN lives just 4 blocks from the local Brooklyn hospital in her neighborhood so she and my bloody finger walked over to the ER to git me some stitches.

Luckily I had no serious damage to my finger (which happened to be my wedding finger...I feel like that was some sort of weird sign) and left with just three stitches and a prescription for antibiotics. However, while we were in the hospital filling out paperwork and waiting to be seen, I kept overhearing families discussing problems with health insurance--certain things not covered, plans not accepted, or (most often) simply not having any. As I slid my BlueCross BlueShield card across the counter I thought about how fortunate I was to have insurance and how totally fucked I would be if I didn't. And THEN I thought to myself "SHIT! I graduate next spring. Only one year of insurance left! The job market is shit right now! FUCKKKKK!!"

With the chances of a national health care program starting within the next year looking pretty slim and no current plans to move to Canada, I was feeling pretty bummed. And THEN I was doing my daily sweep of the Times the other day and stumbled on this article discussing exactly my predicament. The article talks about uninsured young adults, mostly recent college grads, living in NYC who have resorted to self-medicating (not always such a good idea) as an alternative to hospital visits. Now I know I am being classist and excluding a much larger issue of healthcare, but I thought this was still discussion-worthy especially since a few of us writers are either currently experiencing or going to experience this situation in the near future. Anyway, THERE MAY BE HOPE!!!

New York's Governor Paterson, who took over after Eliot's lil' scandal, is proposing a bill that would allow our parents (New York State residents) to continue to claim us young adults for insurance purposes until the age of 29 (!!!!!) rather than expiring at 19 or when graduated from college. This would be fucking AWESOME and would help an estimated 80,000 of the 775,000 uninsured young adults across New York State. Although there are some glitches and downsides to the bill (as mentioned later in the article), in general this sounds like a great thing. Now if it would only happen by May 2010...

2009-02-23T15:02:00.002-05:00

Go Slum Dog!

2009-02-23T14:33:00.003-05:00

Recently I have come through some slight growing pains. Not the physical kind that you experience around puberty, but the mental and emotional kind that you experience once you get out of college and enter "the real world". I have been teaching French at a small private school for the past two months, as the permanent teacher has been on maternity leave. This past Wednesday, I was supposed to go see The New Deal (one of the BEST techno bands EVER) at Revolution Hall, in Troy NY which is one of BEST venues ever. In short I stayed home for several reasons which I don't regret, but on top of it, I started to feel slightly ill (one of the downsides to spending your day with kiddies). So since I don't have health insurance, I decided for probably the first time in my life to actually take care of myself and nip this illness in the bud before it got the better of me. Thus I did not go out all weekend, did not partake in any substances (legal or illegal) and went to bed early. I felt like such an OLD WOMAN.
Funny thing about this story is that after not having stayed up past nine p.m. for at least 5 days in a row, I decided to stay up til MIDNIGHT watching the Academy Awards. Now I know many people have mixed feelings about this event. Some think awards are silly, or that they are not bestowed on the most deserving recipient. Some frown upon the pomp and pretention of the event, and some feel that the only part worth watching is the Red Carpet Parade before the actual awards ceremony commences.
I myself like to watch the awards for a couple different reasons. 1) I like to see my favorite actors and actresses in real-life moments. I like to see the veil of the camera torn away to reveal their candid and raw personalities on screen for once. Granted, they are all gifted artists who can affect virtually any emotion or reaction that they choose; but often enough I feel the sincerity of their expressions shining through. 2) I like to see the films I loved in the past year get the recognition they deserve. I LOVED Slum Dog Millionaire . I thought it was a beautiful story, told exqulisitly with exceptional acting, directing, cinematography, and screenplay. Even the soundtrack was poignant and striking all the way through the movie. Thus I was overjoyed to see it win so many deserving academy awards and to see the true gratefullness and jubilation of its collaborators. 3) I like to see what I should expect from films I have not yet seen. I have not yet seen The Reader, Doubt, or Milk, which were three very prominent contestants for many awards last night. Although I might have had some misgivings of some sort about these fims beforehand, now I feel they are priorities and I am excited to see them. 4) I like to criticize these rich a famous people for all they are worth. That means making fun of their clothes, hairstyles, mispronunciations, flubs, etc. I mean, who doesn't like to make fun of famous people, and with good reason? (On the flip side I like to see their imperfections and love them all the more for them).
So, on the whole, I was very entertained and was glad that I gave myself the permission to stay up late on a school night, although getting out of bed this morning was extremely irritating. Anyone else do as I did?

Sunday Times: F-ed and Not F-ed

2009-02-21T23:20:00.011-05:00

This might be a new thing for Sunday mornings. While you're sipping your coffee, staring at the egg and cheese sandwich you made because you know you should probably eat something but somehow just thinking about the smell of jameson tells you that sandwich will probably end up in the toilet if consumed, you think about the week, or just shit in general and do a little reflecting on what is and is not currently fucked.

THINGS THAT ARE FUCKED:

1. The economy. Duh. obvs. "Even the experts don't know what's going on" "Crisis may be worse than the depression". AWESOME. I can't WAIT to graduate with a BA in fucktardedness

2. Chris Brown beating up Rhianna. Seriously, this fucking breaks my heart for so many reasons. I really had a weird thing for Chris Brown. He's an amazing dancer but violence against women? Consider "Kiss Kiss" no longer my ringtone.

3. It's still winter. It's still cold. It has been retardedly windy here in New York. I was literally almost blown over walking from school to the train the other day.

4. This, this, and this. Christ.

5. Offensive political cartoon featuring "the authors of the stimulus" (Obama. just say it twerps) as a chimpanzee in the New York Post. That's fucked, but I still think the "Drunken Negro Cookies" are fuckeder.

THINGS THAT ARE NOT FUCKED:
*always look on the bright side

1. Passing of stimulus package and Obama aid. I'm totally down with the stimulus. I say fuck it if Keynesian economics is technically an untested method! Times is too desperate to be makin' excuses.

2. Snapple announced yesterday that it will drop corn syrup from their list of ingredients, and will be sweetened with good ol' natural sugar from now on. Pepsi also announced a "Pepsi Throwback" for April, where they too will drop high fructose corn syrup (but only until June). Yay! Now we can rot our teeth the natural way.

3. Kittens inspired by kittens! Okay, maybe the voice is juuust a little too much but seriously, you can't deny the cuteness of this shit!

4. Obama is a trooper! In addition to the plate of shit served to our lil' prez upon his arrival to the White House lil' baby dislocated his shoulder reaching across an aisle. True to form, he's expected to make a swift and quick recovery (economy too? maybe?).

5. SPRING IS COMING. No, it's not here, but it's coming. Light at the end of the tunnel. The reality that I will not have to wear a winter coat FOREVER is real. Just come fassterr.

Guilty Pleasures: Britany and Bologna

2009-02-20T14:24:00.014-05:00

So I think I've found the push I need to finally post something. Now that I am taking classes again, it seems like there isn't a better time than when I should be studying for my midterm to share a few things that I've been thinking about rather than block grants and random sampling.

BRITANY SPEARS - yeah yeah, she was creepy as shit and made you want to slit your wrists when you were in high school, but now that she's reemerged from her crack mother status- and even though she still might make you want to slit your wrists- I can't lie- I'm lovin it- she's fucking insane. I don't know if you guys are familiar with her "If you seek amy" song? At first, I would listen to it, and didn't really understand it ("all of the boys and all of the girls are beggin to if you seek amy" wtf???), but also didn't care because I love shitty pop (do not mistake this for true love- its like how I love the American flag, etc.) and there's plenty shitty pop that doesn't make any sense. Anyhow- my sister brought to my attention (markie, she's 17, and is rapidly becoming awesome and hilarious like my lil bro thank god) that If You Seek Amy actually stands for "F-U-C-K ME". Britany- you sneaky devil- I can't believe the day has come and it's hard to admit that I would probably go to a Britany concert if there were one nearby.

check it out- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH2d_PlN0XU

Aside from that, I also wanted to share with everyone a little event that occured last night at the big strip club in the area. Platinum Plus (there's a topless donut shop attached to the back of the establishment- fucking ew)- I've had a few friends work there- that was weird as hell- but regardless, last night, for a few extra bucks- you could engage with the strippers in a way that may possibly be worse than rubbin up on a haggard business man's high cholestoral wife beating alcoholic coked out dick. Now along with being ogled at by these douche creeps- they could also throw bologna at the strippers. BOLOGNA. It is disturbing that this is an actual event, but what is worse- is the amount of people I spoke to who were aware of the event, that were actually excited for it and wanted to go. Both men and women.

Again, my faith in humanity took another blow, but I try to remain positive and hopeful. We can make it- Britany came back from a rough spell- and aren't those rough spells the times when the most growth is made?

Did I really try to conclude this with a moral? And one involving Britany Spears? I should get back to work......

Localize and Love Your Meals

2009-02-18T16:47:00.006-05:00

Howdy, all! In preparation for another SYN-full-Thursday, and in true Pussy Potluck fashion, the ladies of SYNT are here to provide delectable recipes for your inquisitive palettes. Since I am a firm believer in being a conscious consumer, I'm jotting down four delicious, vegan recipes I've scoured on the internet. You may notice, however, that this just isn't any menu for the day. It's for those of us out there that love the Garbanzo Bean and how flexible it is in the kitchen. Sure, you may be doubting how tasty Garbanzo Bean Waffles may actually be, but creature-friendly, healthy meals made of local veggies and goods can't be beat! I suggest reading these recipes and hopping on the next bicycle or bus that comes your way to your area's co-op, just to show that kinky garbanzo a good time. Your body is your spiritual house, don't poison it!

Breakfast: Garbanzo Waffles
Blend in blender or Mash by hand:

1 cup soaked garbanzo beans, or 1/2 cup dry
2-3 dates
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 apple (optional)
2 tablespoons raw sunflower seeds
1 1/4 cup water
Add while blending:
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups quick rolled oats

Preheat waffle iron.
Coat iron with non-stick olive oil spray.
Pour in blended batter and bake until indicator light goes out and waffle is golden brown.
Serves: 2 waffles
Preparation time: 10 minutes

Lunch: Kind of Hummus Spread
(A concoction I created myself. The ingredient amounts may be a little off, considering I enjoi cooking by my senses, so you will have to tweak it as you do so please. Absolutely delicious and perfect for the afternoon, or so I like to think.)
Blend in a blender or Mash by hand:

2 cups soaked garbanzo beans, drained
about 1/4-1/2 cup Orange Juice (depending on how juicy the beans are)
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup or so of chopped Red Onion
Lime Juice (to taste)
Salt (to taste)
Black Pepper (to taste)
and a little tiny bit of Jalapeno Pepper (if you're feeling crazy)

Then, I just lightly toast vegan tortillas in my oven, zest them up with lime juice, and enjoi the deliciousness of the spread.
Serves: A few people all at once or One person for a week.
Preparation time: No more than 20 minutes or else you lost a finger in the blender.

Dinner: Tomato Basil Burgers
(I love making vegan burgers during the summer and grilling them in a cast iron over a hot fire. Sigh, memories of cabin life in the woods on a lake. Even my meat-loving family wanted to learn how to make these delectable experiments!)

1 15.5oz can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
1 1/3 cup quick oats
1 small can tomato paste
handful fresh basil
6-10 white mushrooms cleaned and diced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
garlic to taste
Italian seasoning to taste

In a medium bowl smash chickpeas with a potato masher until pasty.
Add oats and tomato paste and blend.
Add in mushrooms, soy, garlic and seasonings
Add basil to taste (I freeze my basil, crunch it up and use, easier than cutting!)
blend together until ingredients seem uniformly distributed.
Form patties- I usually get 6 decent sized ones.
Grill or pan fry with light olive oil. Top with your favorite stuff and enjoy!
I find these freeze really well-and cook pretty quickly from frozen.
Makes: 4-6 servings
Preparation time: 20 minutes

Dessert: Waffles and Cream
(I figure, hell, if you already have one delicious vegan waffle recipe, why not add home-made vegan ice cream to it and really enjoi yourself. There is also an awesome blog I found dedicated to vegan ice cream recipes!)
Maple Granola Ice Cream

2 cups low fat soy/rice milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon maple extract
2 heaping tablespoons fat free vegan granola cereal
pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients except granola together in bowl.
Freeze the mixture in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's directions.
When mixture is nearly frozen, add granola.
Makes: 1 quart
Preparation time: 5 minutes + ice maker time

Just add this to your waffles and stuff face!

However, if you are like me and do not possess an ice cream maker, here's a tip from that vegan ice cream blog I mentioned before:
"Another method is to pour your chilled ice cream mixture into a bowl and stick it in the freezer. During the freezing process, take it out every once in a while and beat it with a hand mixer or whiz it up in a food processor so it doesn't freeze into one solid lump.

If you're adventurous, you could even use liquid nitrogen. How awesome would that be? I'll tell you: too awesome."

Righteous.

Babies Having Babies

2009-02-16T21:32:00.004-05:00

So has anyone heard about the Alfie Patten story? When I came across it I could not believe what I was reading/seeing. When I looked at this thirteen year old boy my first thought was, he looks like he is eight years old. It is totally creepy to think about kids having sex at such a young age. Granted, I know lots of people who lost their virginity around the ages of 13, 14, and 15, but now that I am older I am really freaked out by it. Especially since I work with kids in that age bracket, the thought of them having sex and babies bugs me out. This is most definitely a sign that I am getting older. Any way, I thought I would share this crazy ass story... you should watch the video. Seeing the fifteen year old mother hold the baby is fucking weird. Why is she slapping its back?

Looking at Lucite

2009-02-15T14:34:00.023-05:00

I just enjoyed a lovely Sunday brunch with my family. While digesting I was glancing through an issue of Country Living that my sister had brought over. I came across a page with a photo of a Lucite purse from the 1950s. I immediately turned to my mother and asked her to retrieve my grandmother's Lucite purse that I remembered her having in her closet. Although it is not a designer purse, it is still beautiful, vintage and will definitely be seen on my arm this spring. If you have a designer one, it may be worth around $1,000!! I took a photo of my grandma's with the camera on my MacBook and it can be seen above (stay tuned for better quality images after I buy my Nikon SLR digital camera this month!!) I think my grandma's may have been a fake Charles S. Kahn since it has his signature clasp of three metal balls.

Lucite is a plastic that was developed in the 1940s that basically consists of polymerized methyl methacrylate (...basically lol). It was a popular material in fashion accessories through the 1960s and obviously used more practically as well. If you do a Google image search of Lucite, you will see that it is used for many different things such as furniture, shoes, and jewelry (as well as more practical things that any form of plastic is used for). If you are interested in a some cute Lucite jewelry and feel like splurging you could check out Cara Lyndon's collection. I just came across her website as I was surfing around, but I suggest checking out your local thrift store or online auctions if you want to get your hands on some without overspending. You could also check out the Lucite selections at Ruby Lane. They also have art, antiques and other vintage collectibles, but again... you'll have to dip into your wallet.

Love from the Ladies

2009-02-14T19:52:00.002-05:00

Happy V-Day and all our love from the girls at SYNT.
XOXO <3

SYN-full-Thursdays: The Eggplant

2009-02-12T12:51:00.008-05:00

Yes the eggplant...

delicious recipes and food-filled thoughts are on the way!!

HAPPY THURSDAY :

Lil' Beaumont's Tweaked Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Eggplant and Gorgonzola/Rembrant

This is the original recipe from Bon Appetit Nov '99. I tweaked it based on a lack of some ingredients and plethora of others. My recipe came out awesome and I'm sure this one is just as tasty so test both! Enjoy!

Ingredients

6 5- to 6-inch-diameter portobello mushrooms, stemmed
1/4 cup olive oil
4 Japanese eggplants (unpeeled), finely chopped---(or 1 regular big eggplant)
6 tablespoons chopped drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes---(used 1 tbsp Russian eggplant spread found at AMAZING grocery store, Sahadi's in Brooklyn Heights)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup dry red wine---(I used a red wine but I think sherry would also create an interesting flavor)
6 ounces crumbled Gorgonzola cheese---(I used a typed of aged gouda called Rembrant. SO, SO good. Nice and hard and flaky, in the same family as gorgonzola. I think any sort of hard cheese would suffice here: asiago, parmisean, manchego, etc)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (also S&P to taste, I used a touch of oregano and thyme instead of basil)

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange mushrooms, rounded side down, on large baking sheet. Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic. Sauté until eggplant is soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in red wine and simmer until liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; stir in Gorgonzola cheese and 1 tablespoon basil. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon mixture evenly into mushroom caps. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover mushrooms with aluminum foil. Bake mushrooms for 15 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until cheese melts, filling bubbles and mushrooms are tender when pierced with sharp knife, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle mushrooms with remaining 1 tablespoon basil and serve warm. YUMSKERS!

HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU

2009-02-09T22:44:00.002-05:00

First I'd like to explain my love-hate relationship with Sex and the City. I could spend an entire day watching that show and I'm pretty sure I have, I know why girls buy the crazy expensive box set that comes with this legit plastic pink case and has like, 14 discs. I get it. It's like reading a shitty magazine, the show is endlessly entertaining and for some reason, hard to get sick of. Nevertheless, I still fucking hate Sex and the City. I HATE Carrie Bradshaw, I don't think she's funny..everytime she makes a stupid pun or witty comment I'm just like, "really, bitch? Reeeally?" And I also hate that the entire show revolves around men and when it's not men, it's Manolo Blahniks and other bullshit. But most of all, I hatehatehate the girls of my generation that look up to these women. Going to school and living in New York, I've encountered mad girls who strive to live like Carrie and Samantha and Charlotte and Miranda. "I'm Carrie!" Seriously? You want to wear heels EVERY DAY and write a shitty dating column and define yourself by your male counterpart (or lack thereof) and spend all your money and time thinking about men and shoes and material objects? I don't get it. I want so, so, so much more. But, I mean..whatevs..to each their own. Anyway, one good thing to come out of Sex and the City, one shining gem, is He's Just Not That Into You.

You may or may not recall the episode where Miranda goes on a date with some dude and it goes well, she thinks, but he declines her invitation to go upstairs when they are saying goodnight. When Miranda relays the story to the girls and Carrie's boyfriend at the time, Burger, the girls are all,"He'll call! He'll call!" and Burger's all, "Not gonna happen. He's just not that into you." According to Burger, if said date was actually interested, he'd wake up in Miranda's bed the next day or bitch would at least have gotten a kiss. So after this episode, two of the writers of SATC, Liz and Greg, kept going with this idea and collaborated to write a whole book about it.

Basically, the premise of the book is that any excuses or sign of hesitation in relationships, whether you're just casually dating or living with someone, is a sign that that he's just not that into you. He's just not that into you if he's not calling you, he's just not that into you if he's not sleeping with you, he's just not that into you if he's not marrying you..you get the idea. So, us girls are supposed to stop wasting our time trying to decipher text messages and other interactions and interpret the bullshit as the dude being disinterested. It should be easy, if he wants you he'll call, if he wants to marry you he will. He's not that complicated and if he wanted to be with you he would be. It's broken down into all the countless excuses we come up with and Greg's explanations about how they are retarded and we deserve better. Then the other writer, Liz, has a section about why it's hard to follow that advice (she basically says everything you're thinking) and then Greg again explains why excuses are bullshit and you're wasting your time. We are better than excuses and though Greg doesn't know us, he knows that we should at least think that about ourselves.

Now, it's hard for me to think of things as this black and white. It's also hard for me to grasp that there are millions of other girls out there in the same exact situations, feeling the same exact things, rationalizing the same exact way and then see it written in a book. But it's so fucking convincing and not depressing and awesome. I deserve to have expectations about communication and sex and have a loving relationship be in the trajectory (or at least be told it's not.) Sometimes the desire for those things cloud all the signs that show that the boys I deal with are not, and will never, meet these expectations. But guess what, though I generally enjoy being single, I'm lonely sometimes. And it sounds fucked up but I kind of like trying to figure people out even though it's torture sometimes. And it's hard to just completely cut people out. It's hard to care about someone and have invested time and emotions in someone and deal with the fact that they don't feel the same way or if they do care, it's not enough. These things are hard and annoying. But I also agree with Greg. I know me spending my time trying to wade through bullshit is just wasting that time when I could be meeting someone way better. So overall, I highly reccommend He's Just Not That Into You, and I'm glad I read it when I'm 20 because hopefully it will spare me from being miserable in the future for no reason.

The Pains of Having a Cool Roommate

2009-02-06T00:29:00.005-05:00

photo: annie powers

Okay, I know. That last post was lame. Fucking lame! Sue me. I hadn't posted in a minute and the computer was staring at me saying "c'mon Lil' Beau, tick tock on the titty clock. write something." So I did and it was lame. I mean maple syrup? Come on.

Hopefully this time around is a wee better. I'm going to take the time and do a little bragging if you don't mind because 1.) it makes me seem cool, and 2.) because it's actually a brag-worthy subject.

My roommate and surrogate brother is the bassist of the latest band to hit the streets and feets of Brooklyn and the New York music scene, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. They are a glittery, dreamy, indie pop rock band of well dressed Brooklynites with sounds that hark back to the Jesus and Mary Chain and make you want to sway your night away. As a close friend and follower of this band it's been pretty crazy to watch them start off in the summer of 2007 playing teeny shows in Williamsburg bars with an iPod for a drummer, and end up touring Europe with The Wedding Present and selling out shows at the Mercury Lounge with crazy press lists (Blender, Spin, The Village Voice, and Rolling Stone just to name a few) in 2009. This rocket speed success is totally exciting for all us friends and fans not only because we love to see our friends succeed, but because their sound is amazing!

Check out their video "Everything With You"

Go back to IHOP, we don't actually have pancakes

2009-02-05T17:22:00.002-05:00

One of the great (and terrible) things about living in New York is all the different aromas your nose can sniff up while walking through the city. Whether it's as pleasant as the smell of Christmas trees in the Bushwick Kids Community Garden or as gnarly as the rotting meat, fish, shit, and piss of Canal Street. Every now and then some weird wafts will come your way, like the natural gas smell I always seem to pick up on the corner of Spring St. and 6th Ave. when REEN and I leave work.

You might remember the story a few years back about the overwhelming smell of chocolate brownies floating through the Chicago skies that had city citizens both puzzled and pleased. It turned out that the smell was coming from the Bloomer Chocolate Company located in the city. NYC has our own similar sweet smelling mystery but in our case it's maple syrup. For a few years now people have been calling into 311 reporting smells of maple syrup on the Upper West Side. Today Mayor Bloomberg gave a press release revealing the secret behind the scent. A New Jersey facility that processes flavors and fragrances, specifically an ester associated with fenugreek seed processing, was unveiled as the culprit. Frankly, that's a pretty boring solution to the mystery and way less fun than the idea of a magical chocolate factory spreading sweet smells across the land. I like the idea of a gigantic IHOP pumping maple syrup fumes or (as one caller into WNYC suggested this morning) Vermont has been planning a secret invasion of NYC, hence the smell.

Gnarly Pit Hair, Bro

2009-02-02T16:12:00.005-05:00

Sexy, hairy women. That's right. This post is dedicated to the notion that I, a vagina-toting mongoloid, must present myself as a buxom, bald beauty at all times. I cry out loud, "bullshit!" to that one. Now, just so we're all on the same page here, I'm not just referencing the idea of a perfectly maintained southern garden, I'm talking about the hair forest that is the natural human body. On we go.

Despite my many assumptions as to why there is such a social stigma in the USA towards female body hair, I decided to jump on the google train and hitch a ride to a more legitimate answer. According to various websites and my own academic studies, it seems as if the desire for shaved women has been around for thousands of years. Interesting. Skip forward a few thousand years of BCE shaving and onto a more direct lineage with female shaving today. During the Middle Ages, as crusaders went about the world doing their god-warrior thing, the fascination with a hair-free female body was created from many Middle Eastern traditions. For example, in the teachings of Islam, men and women are required to shave their underarm and pubic hair once every 40 days. As time continues on, this fascination with the other triggered in women the desire to keep getting all crazy with creams, waxes, and razors and removing hair from their temples, necks, foreheads, eyebrows, and lashes in order to achieve that well-groomed European flair. Here we are, WWI in the United States. Turns out a little major marketing by a men's razor company and Harper's Bazaar magazine in May of 1915 helped to shape the ideal woman in our nation's social narrative.

Since women in the early 1900s and before were deemed Jezebels, floozies, trollops, tramps, and the whatnot for bearing their shoulders and letting their pits breathe, underarm hair was not so much a big deal. Now, here comes Harper's Bazaar and the first major World War, and their scantily clad model exposing, for the first time in mainstream fashion, her bare shoulders and armpits. This woman, though, did not have the armpits nature has given to her. Instead, her revolutionary pits were hair-free and smooth as infantile ass. A marketing savvy member of the Wilkinson Sword Company, a razor blade producing company for men, decided to take on a media campaign to convince American women that being unshaven was both unhygienic and unfeminine. It took only two years for the company's sales to double as the women in our past ran to the store to conform to this naked truth.

Wow. Enough with the bra burning and more of the razor recycling! It is not the act of shaving that bothers me, it is the idea that women have to be bare in order to be beautiful. I'm all about having a well-balanced crotch garden, (you know, personal taste and whatnot) but my public parts don't need to be bald! Furthermore, I don't need to be a raging dyke or a man for my leg hair to be an inch long and luscious. More importantly, does anyone ever think of how much fucking waste the disposable razor companies produce? A plastic product, shipped and sold in plastic packaging, meant to be used only a few times and then ditched in the garbage and replaced with a new one. Daammn. Sure there are other more eco-friendly means to shaving, (such as ceramic razors marketed by Treehugger.com and such), but the most sustainable way to shave is to, ta-dah, not shave! I shaved my legs last night for the first time since July. I had to use three shitty disposable razors, and then I had to use another razor to tackle my stank pits. Too much work, and, honestly, who cares? I love being hairy, and it looks like the razor will not be a purchase of mine for quite some time. Adios, maniacal marketing schemes implanting positions in my brain. Hello, again, fuzzy women!

"I can actually always have jewelry..."

2009-01-29T12:57:00.013-05:00

"...if I wanted it," replied Nina Otto in regards to how she contributed to the $155,000 bill for the first commercially cloned puppy in the United States. Nina had told Al Roker on the Today Show (watch the interview) that she sold some of her jewelry to help pay for "Lancelot Encore", so that she could feel like she contributed to bringing him to life. She and her husband, Edgar Otto (who's father co-founded NASCAR), froze the DNA of their beloved Golden Retriever, "Lancelot", before he died of cancer a year ago. They wanted Lancelot back in their lives, because they felt he was human-like and were therefore more than willing to spend the money to have a clone created. When asked if they would do it again today despite the current economic crisis they beamed, abso-fucking-lutely! You're not hardcore unless you scream, ENCOREEEE! (and throw mad Gs around)

As I was drinking my coffee and watching Al interview this couple, I just shook my head as many thoughts crossed my mind. One reason I despise mainstream media is that they cover stories like this one. I mean sure you can mention what happened since the cloning part is interesting, but did they really need to interview the couple? No. Hell no. I can't believe they dedicated five long minutes to have the wife of a wealthy man talk about how she chose to sell some of her expensive jewelry so she could feel like she contributed. Awww... how cute! But seriously, who bought her the jewelry in the first place? Gee... I wonder (unless her daddy had some sugar too). Then to have her husband talk about how the puppy led the pack at their house and bonded with all their animals. Seriously... who gives a shit? The only other thing I want to mention regarding this story is that I really hate that they named the dog, Lancelot Encore. You know when something annoys you and you can't really pinpoint the reason, but it just annoys you? Yeah... me too.

SNOW DAY!

2009-01-28T15:12:00.002-05:00

Does anyone else miss those days...when you would wake up earlier than usual just to watch the Storm Center, Storm Team, Storm Watch...what have you? I can still hear their melodramatic Storm music intro. We would watch those school districts scroll by on the bottom for what seemed like an eternity...for me, it was SAD 15, and I remember my heart skipping two beats when they would get to SAD 11 -- in 3-5 seconds, I was in for either a day of sledding, hot cocoa, and NO SCHOOL...or a huge disappointment.

We even knew what districts to look for that came up well before our own that could clue us into what the result may be...

...these moments were possibly some of the most apprehensive of my childhood. Given the amount of excitement that can build in a child, they are perhaps some of the most apprehensive of my life.

Anyway, Storm Centers across Central US and New England were going berserk last night and this morning. Boston even announced their school closings last night. Some major cities are having the storm of the century. And what do I see when I wake up this morning? A few measly snow flakes and about an inch of snow! This is a major disappointment.

I miss those days. Currently, I'm writing this post from my desk chair at work. Wahhh wahh. Maybe you girls in other neighborhoods got lucky. In any case, as I trudge home tonight through 3 inches of slush, I'll be hoping for a whiter, brighter future and some good sledding.

Just thinking about this new year...

2009-01-27T19:29:00.006-05:00

Hi all! So, I know this topic is a little cheesy, and nearly a month late. It's also just this and that about me...But it's something that's been on my mind a lot over the past few days, and I'd like to write about it, and hopefully hear about some of your own ideas.

2009 is the first year so far that I've decided to make a New Years resolution (or several.) In previous years, I've been too busy living my life to think about how I need to change it, and I've been young and careless with no seeming need for a resolution. Things just always moved forward on their own, anyway. But I feel like this year will be different. A lot has happened already in 2009, and I anticipate it to be a big year for many of us. Currently the news is plagued with a dichotomous combination of news of war, conflict, crisis...and then: hope. While all this happens around us and to us, it is important to involve ourselves in whatever way we can to bring about (ok, for lack of a better word) change. But we also need to remain grounded in our own personal needs. This is why I've decided to come up with a few personal resolutions to focus myself on this year...in addition to the change happening all around me.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Become less stupid. Ha! Ok, so my wording here comes from the feeling that, over the past few years (long before graduating college) I've noticed an increasing lack of--well--brain activity. Really, I'm just far less creative and analytical than I was in, say, high school and middle school. I'm sure there are probably a few substances that have contributed, and a certain laziness...but I know it happens with everyone--as we grown older, our minds become a little more dull. But I'm trying to slow that process down...keeping it open instead of letting it close. And I'm going to tackle it by reading more, writing more, and (as Madamoiselle suggested) having more intelligent conversations.

2. Donate Locally. So, over the past few years I've tried to donate to as many organizations that I support as I can...usually some combination of the Heifer Project, Environment Mass, Save Darfur, NPR, President OBAMA, etc. Hopefully I can continue my support of those organizations, but I'd love to also be able to help more locally. The cold weather that's been gripping New England over the past few weeks makes me cringe more than usual when walking by the many homeless of Central Square and greater Boston...so I think I will try to donate to a shelter in the area. I'll also try to donate my time to help an organization around the area. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm welcome to them.

3. Learn to cook more soups. I just really like soup. And I'm not yet a very experienced cook. So far, I've only made an attempt at Tortilla Soup and Mushroom Bisque, neither of which were very spectacular. I'm willing to keep trying, though, and hopefully soon the roommates and myself will be able to *enjoy* the fruits of my labor...again...if anyone has any suggestions...

4. Wear clothes that fit me. A few months ago, a roommate enlightened me to the fact that about half my wardrobe is too big for me. Then I realized that I still buy clothes that have room for me to grow into...even though I'm 23 years old. I guess it's never too late...

Ok, so I guess that's about it. I have no qualms about those other resolutionsyou always hear about. You'll be hard pressed to get me to stop my morning donut routine (last week I sorta fell off the wagon, though- 6 donuts in 5 days! I know it's hard to believe, but it is that time of month) and I'm perfectly content having a few glasses of wine or beer or whatever throughout the week. Maybe a few more on a special occasion...and a few more, and a few more...

Anyway, with a new administration, an economic crisis, just a couple of wars, an increasingly homogenized planet, blah blah, you get it....2009 is going to be an eventful year. But underneath that, we still have our day to day lives that can sometimes seem a little monotonous. So these resolutions are my way of changing it up a little bit, for the better. Any other suggestions?? Let me know. Any of your own?? Let me know.

SERIOUS EATING

2009-01-26T12:33:00.009-05:00

Last night I got into a pretty heated argument about baking cookies. That's right, cookies. Chocolate chip oatmeal to be exact. Now, when one usually thinks of cookies they envision of warm, gooey treats that melt in one's watering mouth, little tiny pieces of heaven that are even better submerged in cold milk, the perfect desert to any meal..including breakfast in my case. Cookies are not really a contentious topic. Alas, us girls on Beaver St. managed to get into a border-line yelling and post-argument silent treatment status fight about it. I won't get into details but I will say this, I love cooking. I'm not really good at it and I don't really know so much about it. But I know that I love the process almost as much as the finished product. I like actually learning recipes and doing them as written, or listening to my friends and parent's advice and short cuts about how to make recipes easier or taste better. Some things are good to experiment with and be really creative and some things are tried and true perfect recipes that you just shouldn't fuck with. It's fun to mess around but to a point; I'm not tryin to make sub-par cookies. I want them to be the delicious treats that appear in my brain and taunt me almost every night with even a casual mention of them. Call me bossy, but I'm not playing games. I love enjoying the fruits of my labor and want them to be as delectable as possible.

I love teaching myself how to cook. Most of the women in my life are naturally amazing cooks. Some (ALL) of the meals Lil Beaumont makes literally blow my mind. Cooking is such an amazing creative outlet. I hope to one day actually feel like I have my own kind of cooking style complete with signature dishes that people request(I'm kind of really good at breakfast sandwiches, just sayin'). I know you girls had Oneonta pot luck and are all really great cooks. So I'm just writing this because maybe you can relate..and as a release of some leftover (PUN INTENDED) frustration.

Hi, How Are You?

2009-01-24T09:59:00.015-05:00

...These words are most often the opening line of any dialogue that unfolds between two people; however, do we ever really listen to the response? And if the response is ever negative, do we press the person to explain themselves further? Perhaps we do, if the person is a friend, and if they're not a friend then why the hell did they actually admit to you that they weren't feeling so hot? Are they fishing for sympathy, or are they just being plain honest? The problem with this kind of small talk is that it is simply polite banter that doesn't get anywhere. It is useful for casual acquaintances and co-workers, but it does not provide deep, insightful, and thought-provoking interaction.

According to Catherine Blyth, conversating with people can be a fun, rewarding, and interesting experience if one has the social skills to do it. The problem with today's society is that with all our useful technology, people are conversing less and less in meaningful ways and are therefore lacking the simple joys of human connection. In a recent interview with Susan Barnett on WAMC's 51%, Catherine Blyth talks about her new book, "The Art of Conversation". The interview made me recall countless times when I was with a group of people who, instead of talking to each other, were idly staring at a dumb television program, or a computer screen, or who had to get shit-faced in order to feel comfortable opening their mouths, which was useless because they probably didn't have much worth hearing at that point. It also made me recall countless times when I was with friends who actually listened to what I had to say, commented on my thoughts, and then contributed his or her own opinions and conjectures.

Our blog reminds me of the second scenario. It's ironic that it happens to be a virtual conversation but nevertheless, it counts. Here I know that my words and thoughts count because of the time you take to read them, just as I take the time to read your thoughts. It doesn't make up for the fact that in actual situations we might shy away from conversation with people. So if you find yourself in a situation where people are standing around and no one seems to be talking, start talking about our blog! Talk about how it started, and our funny names, and most importantly, the issues that matter to you. Lastly, I encourage you to listen to the the interview yourself, if not for inspiration, then just for the sake of hearing Blyth's sweet British accent.

An Internal Shift: Amer Shurrab

2009-01-22T14:37:00.002-05:00

I just had to do a quick post before I run off to class, (today we are discussing Marx. Yes. Political Economy of the Media, how I'm adoring thee.) If anyone else watched the Democracy Now show this morning and cried, I'm with you. If you haven't watched the show from this morning, please watch it. The story and interview of Amer Shurrab is heart-wrenching and places quite the face with the injustice that has occurred. Hundreds of bodies still being found. Class time...

Hear me out, Dashcle! (Barry's got a lot on his plate)

2009-01-22T14:00:00.005-05:00

Ok, folks. Before getting down and dirty with my first blog post EV-ER I must apologize in advance if it ends up being just a tid-bit whiny. I promise, there is a much much brighter future ahead of us, however while we are sticking with a mostly political theme, I'd like to rap on one issue that has slapped me in the face a little harder than any other currently on the menu this year. That said, let me tell you a story...

About 77 years and 2 weeks ago, a small miracle of science took place at a hospital ward in Toronto. In this ward, like in many others that were nearly identical throughout the developed world, dozens, perhaps 50 or so children, lay in their beds--most of them comatose--while their families grieved nearby awaiting the unavoidable deaths that would soon take place.

Then, as science would have it, 3 doctors went from bed to bed injecting the children with their newest discovery of the human body-- insulin. As these men went down the line of beds, before reaching the end of the line, the first children to receive the medicine had already begun to wake up in an almost immediate reaction, much to the joy of their families.

Three quarters of a century later, technological advances have provided us with everything short of a cure for Type 1 diabetes, and anybody afflicted with the chronic disease, as well as it's cousin type 2 (adult onset) diabetes can live a nearly normal and (amazingly) healthy lifestyle....except.... not. Unfortunately for many citizens of our country, they have come to the unlucky realization that while we have some of the most advanced medicine and technology in the world capable of curing their ailments, health is not a basic human right, such as education, but more of a privilege.

As a "sufferer" of that chronic disease I am grateful to be in the bracket of those fortunate enough to have health insurance, for even while my medical expenses compete on a level w/ student loans, the insurance company is probably losing money on me while paying thousands to the pharmaceutical industry. As I ease through life w/ no more burden than a few extra doctors appointments and a medicine to monitor throughout my meal intake, I can't help but feel bothered by the idea that somebody else with the same unlucky gene as me is suffering unimaginably from a lack of treatment. And, obviously, this problem is not unique to those suffering from diabetes but anybody suffering any ailment of the body...including the big ones, cancer, hiv, etc. etc.

So while I am at the same time optimistic and thrilled that we have such a brain in the White House taking on the many, equally important issues grappling our nation right now, I am also verrry happy that the new administration has promised not to short change the health care issue. Our health, after all, is a basic human right and should be treated as such by our government. And if you think that is too extreme, then, I hope you have a fucking good immune system.

Could Chivalry Lead to Death?

2009-01-22T10:26:00.012-05:00

Since we have been talking about the inauguration and other current affairs, I thought I might cover a totally different topic that I came across for a couple of reasons. The idea of chivalry, specifically 'courteous behavior of a man toward women', is a topic that seems to be argued every once and a while (whenever it comes up and people have a side they prefer to take). You'll hear a guy say, "Oh, I always open doors for women, because it is what a gentleman does." And then you'll hear some women say, "I don't need you to open the fucking door for me, I am quite capable myself!!" Of course you'll hear that the other way around as well, where a man believes that chivalry is dead and a woman thinks he's an asshole (ladies first you prick). People today sometimes argue about whether chivalry is dead or not, which means it was once alive. We all know that there was a time in Western history when it was the norm for men to open doors for ladies and push their chairs in as they sat down. My favorite gesture (which was nice, but totally stupid at the same time) was when a man would lay his coat down in a puddle. He must have really loved or wanted her ham wallet (right, Lil' Beau?)

I brought this up, because of an article I came across about the Titanic. If you've seen the James Cameron film, then I am sure images come up in your mind about them screaming "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST!!" I don't think that is what they were screaming when the thousands of pilgrims were fleeing that temple in India. There are many obvious differences between the two stories, but I guess the moral of this post is that being chivalrous can (possibly) lead to death. Obviously the men in both situations knew that, but the difference was that some of those Brits were trying to be gentlemen and some of those Indians were like, in the words of Luda... That was nice of the Brits to do, but I think I have to side with the Indians on this one. When it comes to life and surviving... every man AND woman for themselves (I don't necessarily agree with putting myself before a child, but that is another argument in itself). May the victims in both scenarios rest in peace and as for my stance on chivalry... if you open the door for me, cool. If you lay your coat in a puddle... well...

Gitmo isn't our only detention prison

2009-01-21T10:51:00.004-05:00

A recent study released by the University of Arizona revealed that some 300 women being held at immigration detention centers in Arizona were deprived of health care for extensive periods of time and were horribly mistreated by immigration officials. The study ran from August 2007 to August 2008 by the Southwest Institute of Research on Women. The research showed that the women held in the immigration detention centers experienced unnecessarily aggressive treatment including lack of basic prenatal care, treatment for cancer and other serious medical conditions, and threatening their livelihood by mixing low level "criminals" with federal inmates.

One woman convicted of a nonviolent crime who was held at the Central Arizona Detention Center in Florence experienced abdominal pain for months because of forced female genital mutilation she underwent while living in West Africa. The officials at the detention center told her to simply "watch her diet and exercise", and refused her medical care. After finally being released (with no money or health insurance) to be treated, it was revealed that she had a cyst the size of a five-month old fetus.

The Government Accountability Office and the Depart ment of Homeland Security have been putting pressure on immigration detention centers to improve their conditions, but the majority of the detention centers are privately owned and contracted. The immigration department announced plans to improve conditions, however these changes will not be put into effect until 2010. Congress is debating if they should impose their own regulations.

Obama definitely has more than one detention prison that he needs to focus attention on this year. You can also write your congressman to take action yourself.

On a lighter note... Two men were just found in a cooler the middle of the ocean! They had been floating for 25 days in a gigantic cooler from their fishing boat (which apparently sunk) when an aircraft spotted them bobbing in the water. WHATT. This seems way too coincidental, seeing as the season premier of Lost is tonight (which, DUH, I'll be watching).

"Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion."

2009-01-20T10:28:00.019-05:00

YOUNG JEEZY ALL DAY!!!

Sorry but I need to do an Inauguration Post because I'm bugging out over here. Is anyone else super emotional the past few days? I can't hear Obama's voice without getting covered in goosebumps and gasping. In an hour Obama will finally be sworn into office. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I'm constantly crying, and then laughing at myself for crying, and then thinking of my favorite Steel Magnolia's quote (the title of this post.)

I guess it might just be me struggling to grasp where I stand this administration shift that millions of people are counting on to change so much else in the world. Here we are, in the midst of a global financial meltdown, the 6th year of an unnecessary war and in an overall environment of dissent and distrust towards United States policies, from our fellow citizens and the world community. After 20+ years of irresponsible and individual-focused decisions, we finally have something new. Obama is a man millions are placing immeasurable expectations on. It's because he encompasses so much that our country has lacked in the past 8 years (and arguably much longer than that.) He is bringing standards back to American politics. Standards like intelligence (not making up words), having values and regard for community and people other than ourselves back to our society. He's reinstating importance in the Constitution, a document with ideals that have defined this country and unfortunately been completely cast aside in the past 8 years. It's hard not to have high expectations. Everyone is hopeful and it's contagious. We finally have a president who makes these expectations seem possible instead of like unlikely aspirations.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've never felt such a part of history before. I've never felt like such an American. We have a new president and a daunting task, to fix everything that has gotten fucked up in the past 30 years. But I think nothing is impossible. I'd rather go through this hard time so that my children or grandchildren can one day live in a society that people are envisioning today. Obvs Obama's not a messiah, it will take far more than the First 100 Days, but we have taken a considerable step (more like a big, fat fucking leap) in the right direction and for that we can relish in the excitement and hope of this moment. And one day, when we're old and living on our wind-energy powered organic goat cheese farms with Social Security and full health benefits and our children and grandchildren are going to secondary school and college for free and gays are married and poverty is over and AIDs and Malaria and all other problems are eradicated we can look back on our 20s, the tough times, with pride in how far society has come, all thanks to that integral first step, Barack Obama.

Also, Al Jazeera had a really good article about our President's To Do List..

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/theobamapresidency/2009/01/200911914313520118.html

PS- Lil Beaumont, we really are connected in the brains and hearts! I was listening to NPR as I checked this today..if anyone hasn't invested in the new Animal Collective album, Merriweather Post Pavillion (which is fucking amazzzzinggg!!!!) you can find for it in it's entirety here! (for FREE) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99130768

I love you, NPR! I love you, Obama! I love you, emotions!

Ira, I love you. Last Last Last Inauguration post!

2009-01-20T01:32:00.005-05:00

No one can doubt these are both the shittiest of times and the most exciting of times. I mean, seriously. Economic crisis, climate change, the state of our country, and all sorts of other scary shit looms over our heads as we walk to school and work everyday. But no one has ever been as excited about a presidential candidate and just simply the potential for change as they are right now. I can hardly sleep because I am filled with anticipation. Obama brings optimism.

On this eve--erm, rather early morning hours--of the inauguration I decided I HAD to do one last post. I'm hoping that everyone can somehow catch this before tomorrow's event, but even if you aren't able to, please please please listen anyway post-inauguration.

What I'm yapping about is the most recent program of National Public Radio's absolutely stellar show, This American Life, hailing out of WBEZ radio in Chicago. The show is hosted by the adorably dorky Ira Glass who, week after week, brings quirky and witty social commentary into my kitchen. This past weekend's show, entitled "The Inauguration Show", is totally a must listen to. It perfectly captures the feelings in the air about our upcoming term; the nail biting, the on-the-edge-of-our-seats anticipation, all of it. Not to mention the fact that it covers a wide range of bases including voices from Iraq veterans, evangelicals, and elementary school kids (which REEN had coincidentally already sent me a link on)

There's no reason not to listen, and so many reasons why you should. You can download or stream the This American Life podcast for FREE at thisamericanlife.org (although you should totally donate to either the podcast or your local public radio station--times are tough and any amount helps!).

Enjoy, enjoy. Seriously, that was the last one. Done. Goodnight.

Restaurant Week for Obama and I

2009-01-19T11:45:00.006-05:00

Okay, okay, okay! I know there has been a lot of inauguration and Obama posting and maybe you're starting to get sick of it but please! I beg you! Last one, I swear. Well, maybe not the last last one but just think, after tomorrow it will be over so I'll definitely have to find other things to talk about. It's just that this one little facet of the inauguration is something that probably gets overlooked but for me, oh, it is too important and wonderful to not discuss. The menu!

The food! The wine! The dessert! It's just too exciting. As a lover of all things edible, this is by far the best part for me. And what a coincidence that both Obama and I can smother ourselves in delicious meals this week. He at Statuary Hall, and I here in New York during the much awaited winter Restaurant Week. Restaurant week runs January 18-23, and the 25-30. Super swanky, amazingly delicious, and highly unaffordable (for the majority of us) restaurants offer price-fixed three course lunches and dinners for $25-35. It is basically a way for us common folk to indulge our palates in the tastes of the refined at fairly decent prices (considering the standard menu), and see what our amazing New York chefs have to offer this season.

Yesterday the lovely NYC foodie Sweetheart Fever and I trekked our little Brooklyn bums to the Upper West Side for a disgustingly indulgent brunch at Dovetail. Of course, true to form, we showed up late for our reservation and somehow accidentally reserved the brunch menu instead of the restaurant week lunch menu, but mistakes aside, it was still absolutely wonderful. A little bummed I missed out on the pork belly and hake, but my duck goulash was more than satisfying.

As for Obama, tomorrow he'll be chowing down on a seafood stew--fully equipped with lobster, scallops, cod, and shrimp--, duck breast with cherry chutney, herb roasted pheasant with wild rice stuffing, molasses whipped sweet potatoes, winter vegetables, cinnamon apple sponge cake, and all of the most perfect wine pairings. Thanks to Serious Eats, you can download all these recipes (!!!!) and eat alongside the Obamas tomorrow afternoon. I'm definitely squirreling the seafood stew away for a time when I have tons of time, and not to mention tons of money.

Enjoy your MLK day off. Just like good lil' foodies, REEN and I will be heading down to Red Hook to enjoy a Martin Luther "Wing" Day at The Brooklyn Ice House, gorging our pretty little faces on yup, you guessed it, wings, wings, wings!

Inauguration Jamz

2009-01-17T13:20:00.002-05:00

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Just a lil somethin fer yer eyes n' earz

Daft Punk vs. Adam Freeland - "Aer OBAMA" from Gold Greendot on Vimeo.

Let's See How This Goes

2009-01-16T05:32:00.004-05:00

Well, first and foremost, let me say, "Howdy," to this whole new virtual experience. Sure, a greetings to the vast amount of people this could reach, depending on what market you fall into, may be a bit egocentric. I might as well be sarcastic to ease into this all...

Anyways, as most of us get our panties in a twist about the upcoming inauguration, I must sit back and think of how the past election has resulted. The apocalyptic, revolutionary jibber jabber, along with the ever-present religious, gender qualifications, have made this election fairly unique. Even sweeter are the sounds of good ol' Dubya stepping down from his mighty post of imperialism! (Let's see if he uses that post to shield himself from the world court, even grace his lovely pals and himself with a pardon or two). Yet, all I can hope is that not one more religious figure will be an official at this democratic field-day, and that I won't hear "freedom" or "God" twenty something times in one speech (cough Bush cough). But I better not hear anything about how far we've come as a society in terms of racism or cultural acceptance or the world will hear err... this blog will hear my wrath.

Although my last sentence could be easily misconstrued as me hating equal rights, love, acceptance, diversity, but I can only hope one will use a more optimistic and intelligent outlook on my anger. I am in no way, shape, or form angry that Obama was elected. I pushed, voted, and celebrated all in the Obama direction, mamas! (Even though it is always between a douche and a turd. South Park anyone?) I am angry with the mass media--with society--in chanting about how far we've come in terms of racism and religious tolerance in Amurrica. The fact that many someones have to state over and over and over again that our soon-to-be President is black, that he could be Muslim, only signifies that race and religion are still huge issues in our society. Sure, things are better. As my professor Larry Mosqueda states, going from critical condition to serious condition in a hospital means you are getting better. The Master Narrative is conditioning us as we speak.

To keep this short, just have an ear tuned to how many times "God," "race," and "freedom" are mentioned by Obama in this hoo-rah tadoo coming up. Also keep in mind that in our good ol' U.S. of classical liberalism, we have the freedom to our private property, thus protecting our liberty. Enjoy the celebration, folks! Sip on some juice and discuss with strangers how important this is in his story. Let's just see whose story this turns out to be...

Barack Obama: "I am a feminist"

2009-01-14T13:53:00.007-05:00

If you've checked your mailbox or newsstands lately, you may have noticed the cover of Ms. Magazine featuring none other than our Prez. elect, Barack Obama. It isn't very often that a man graces the cover of Ms.--the publication revolving around women's rights and issues--but Obama is certainly cover-worthy from the Ms. and feminist perspectives. Upon meeting the chair of the Feminist Majority Foundation board, Peg Yorkin, Obama stated upfront, "I am a feminist", and has proof to back it. The Prez elect ran on the strongest platform for women's rights of any major party in American history!

But just as with anyone, actions speak louder than words. It is the responsibility of both Obama and us to take the issues to the streets and organize for change; like these rad ladies protesting the horrifying Israeli attacks on Gaza and calling for immediate cessation and removal from the strip. So get out there and do something! Anything!

On an Obama side note, Scatter D just sent me this one. Ain't nobody got more swag than Obama. Just hope it's a hybrid.

Big Ol' Party, What to Wear!?

2009-01-13T20:55:00.009-05:00

Next Tuesday January 20th, We the People will host and attend two of the raddest parties in political history. We'll quickly throw back a "Joose"box or two (since that other shit is illegal now), and head over to Georgie's GOing AWAY bash to give the old pal the boot out the back door before racing down to D.C. to give a warm welcome to our new friends at their (White)House Warming party. Although things might get a little cliquey since we've got some beef with certain people on the guest list, we can all bite our tongues, down martinis, and focus on the excitement of welcoming Barack and Fam to their new D.C. digs.

But for a party this big a girl's gotta look good! We'll be sure to dress to impress and hopefully Michelle will have learned a thing or two from the disaster at the acceptance speech and take a note from Jackie O rather than Narcisco Rodriguez for fashion advice. Over at The Daily Beast, previous Project Runway contestants were asked to design a look for our new Leading Lady to wear for the big night. Just as with this past Project Runway season, Leann's design is definitely my fave.

Hope to see you there! All us SYNT girls will be groovin' to Aretha on the dance floor and back at the bar hitting on cute law students.

The 2009 Menu

2009-01-12T22:14:00.013-05:00

Gathered around a television in my best friend's apartment on New Years Eve, myself and some of my nearest and dearest (including some SYNTs) yelled at the top of our lungs "TEN, NINE, EIGHT..." to count down to the end of another year, and to ring in a new one. Although every face in the room seemed to express the same look of excited anticipation and beamed with the same celebratory glow when the ball finally dropped as years before, something was lingering in the air, hiding under the couch, tapping us on the shoulder to remind us what is on our menu for 2009.

For many people, what awaits is the world's worst dinner: brussel sprouts, liver and onions, and lima beans. A plate full of economic turmoil, international conflict, and social distress must be forced down with a glass of milk and can't be spit into our napkins under the table no matter how much it makes us gag.

For others--for us at See You Next Thursday--dinner is just an empty plate. However, we have access to the kitchen; a fully stocked refrigerator, elaborate spice rack and drawer full of utensils. We have the resources, as well as tools and initiative to make 2009 into whatever delicious dish we want. Our recipe calls for social organizing, commitment to change, and eager optimism to bring a social and cultural commentary to the table that all are sure to enjoy.

Here we come with class, at times a bit crass, but always backed by feminine sass. Dig in!