October 20, 2015

“Star Wars” lets Princess Leia age realistically: Is this an alternate Hollywood universe?

The most breathtaking moment in the new trailer for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” trailer doesn’t involve explosions or lightsabers or ominous references to the Dark Side. It’s an eyeblink-long shot of Princess Leia herself, Carrie Fisher, in the embrace of Harrison Ford’s Han Solo. It’s a moment of a weary-looking woman with graying hair and lines on her face. Holy science fiction, Hollywood — somewhere, in a galaxy far, far away, a grown woman has been given permission to look like a grown woman. I want to go to that planet!

Fisher, who turns 59 this week, has for years been a sardonic and brutally honest chronicler of her own struggles with addiction, bipolar disorder (including a hospitalization just two years ago), and weight — all while working in an industry that isn’t known for being easy on even seemingly perfect women. A few years ago, when the vicious cracks about Fisher resembling Jabba the Hut (actual sexist BS trolling entertainment story) were hitting peak cruelty, she became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig.



http://www.salon.com/2015/10/20/star_wars_lets_princess_leia_age_realistically_is_this_an_alternate_hollywood_universe/


Her expression is so moving to me. And she is so beautiful.

October 14, 2015

Kumbaya moment live right now, on family leave. nt

October 14, 2015

When the smartest people in the room are on the podium,

you know you're in the Democratic Presidential Debate.

October 14, 2015

Five fine candidates... They differ, they disagree, but all would be fine leaders of this country.

I'm proud of what the Democratic Party brings to the table.

October 13, 2015

Telpochcalli School

Telpochcalli (Nahuatl for "house of youth&quot is a small school dedicated to integrating the Mexican arts and culture into an innovative academic and social experience and development of fully bilingual/biliterate students in English and Spanish. The school is comprised of students, teachers, parents and artists who aspire to nurture an understanding and appreciation of the self, family, community and world.

http://telpochcallies.weebly.com/


Tēlpochcalli (Nahuatl: house of the young men), were centers where Aztec youth were educated, from age 15, to serve their community and for war. These youth schools were located in each district or calpulli.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C4%93lpochcalli

October 11, 2015

Meet the Right-Wing Rebels Who Overthrew John Boehner

When election season rolls around, these politicians don't fear moderate Democrats — they are only threatened by even more right-wing Republicans in a primary fight. Instead of seeking to make inroads with Hispanics or independent women, their political imperative is to serve up red meat to furious constituents who say they want "their country back."

Unaccountable to House leadership, these politicians respond to conservative pressure groups like Heritage Action — an offshoot of the Heritage Foundation. (Long a bastion of the establishment, Heritage is now run by reactionary ex-South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, and is a beating heart of insurgency in Washington.) Running afoul of Heritage's metrics of right-wing purity is the quickest way to invite an electoral challenge. "They have score cards," says Dick Durbin, the Senate's number-two Democrat. "It scares the bejesus out of Republicans: 'Vote yes, vote no — or get ready, we're coming at you in the primary.'?"

For Freedom Caucus members, careers in Washington are not defined by incremental legislative progress, but by a chest-beating performance of red-state identity. Winning is subordinate to fighting — a dynamic that leads members to reverse Ronald Reagan's famous admonition: "I'd rather get 80 percent of what I want than go over a cliff with my flags flying."

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/meet-the-right-wing-rebels-who-overthrew-john-boehner-20151006

October 7, 2015

Amalia Ortiz - Women of Juarez on Def Jam Poetry

September 4, 2015

Passive Aggressive Attitudes - What's your example?

Here's mine from just a few minutes ago.

I was at the bank drive through. There was a line of cars. There's two ATMs on a single lane. Cars normally go through two at a time because no matter which of the two cars being serviced by the two ATMs finishes first, no other car can reach an ATM until in the car using the back ATM leaves.

So two cars go through, then the next two, and then it's my turn plus the car in front of me.

But the car in front of me stops at the back ATM instead of pulling forward to the ATM in front, thus blocking both ATMs while it is being serviced...

No amount of honking persuaded the "lady" in front to move forward to the next ATM. She took her sweet time at the back ATM while blocking access to the front ATM.

This was no accident or oversight. She knew what she was doing and she did it deliberately to make the people behind her wait longer.



So what's your story of passive aggressive assholery?

September 2, 2015

I have my Star Back

August 30, 2015

Mr. Trump Will See You Now...

I get the sense that a large portion of the GOP like Donald Trump because they're looking for a dominant figure; someone who will set the limits, make the rules, and spank them when they disobey.

They desperately need to submit to a higher authority so they don't have to think or decide for themselves...