Here is a shameless revelstyle promotion, but here goes:
Check out the Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant!
All entrees are $5 max, and they have un-freakin'-believable coffee for a dollar. They also have good hot treats for cold days coming up.
Also...for the regulars, the Herring is in danger of closing if they don't get more business. So don't let this fish go belly-up and try it out sometime. I've been there a ton of times, and they never disappoint. I'm not vegetarian or vegan, but it's good stuff (makes me consider going veg at times!). It's in the Channing Murray Foundation on Oregon Street in Urbana. And they have really funky painted walls and bathrooms too. So check it out!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Shirts, shoes, and the shield laws
And now ANOTHER ridiculous fashion article for you!
Apparently that love-a-ly (note my sarcasm) rag Men's Health has an article called "You Might be Dressed for Sex and Not even Know it." Hmmm....I could've sworn people knew when they wanted someone, as opposed to a hookup just happening all out of the blue and all. When someone tells you, "It just happened," well, it sounds just as pathetic no matter who says it. That article's title is pretty dumb, as it sounds like a really creepy rape myth or something like that (ever hear of the shield laws, that said that what you wear is not a reason for people to attack you? If I could hug the shield laws, I so would).
But take a gander at these examples of what women could be wearing and the messages they "are sending:" (This is not their exact wording but rather my interpretation of it.)
A belted dress or skirt
I'm totally old-fashioned and ladylike, and I don't mind having you make all the decisions for me or support what you think I should do. I'd be more than happy to do your bidding as long as you wore the pants and won the bread and brought home the bacon in this relationship.
A soft, snug sweater
I'm cute and cuddly and am totally up for you talking to me like I'm two years old. After all, I need a big strong man to put me in my place, and hopefully you're up for the job.
High heels
Hey you! Yes, you! Over there! I'm totally screaming for attention without saying a word. And of course, my shoes have to do the talking for me because I am in so much blistering pain that I can't possibly walk over to talk to you myself.
Something red
I'm a dirty little girl who just wants attention. It doesn't matter who it's from. After all, aren't guys like bulls, attracted to the color red?
Revealing v-neck
Don't blame me, blame my skanky ovaries. When it's that time of the month, I'm supposed to show off some more. Lucky you, huh?
A top that reveals a bra strap
I'm such a clever little girl that I'm putting subliminal messages into your head. You can see my bra? Good, now try and imagine what I look like in it...and with it off.
Now, how ri-damn-diculous is this? What about the real reasons why women wear these?
A belted dress or skirt
If I don't wear a belt with the skirt, it will fall down, and frankly, you didn't pay to see that show. Plus, this is a formal occaision and wearing anything else will look totally out of place.
A soft, snug sweater
It's, like, a million degrees below zero and if I don't wear a sweater, I will freeze to death.
High heels
I'm wearing the heels to go with that belted dress or skirt I mentioned earlier. It's more formal and looks more professional than if I had on athletic shoes or flip flops.
Something red
It's my favorite color, and it came in my size. Deal with it.
Revealing v-neck
The tank top I usually wear with it is in the wash right now. And I like the way it looks.
A top that reveals a bra strap
When I found this top in the clearance rack, I didn't know how badly it fit until I put it on. I'm burning it when I get home. No, actually, I'm spraying you with my pepper spray first because you're ogling me. Then I will take it home and burn it.
And what about men's clothes? Let's try and make a men's variation of it. After all, women have hormones and desires too. Are the men unknowingly dressed for a woman to have her way with them?
A polo shirt and khakis
I'm incredibly traditional and preppy and will make all the money and decisions for this family. You don't have to worry your pretty little head about voting or working or going outside the home. I've got that all taken care of.
Jeans so low that they reveal boxers
I'm such a clever little boy that I'm putting subliminal messages into your head. You can see my boxers? Good, now try and imagine what I look like in them...and with them off.
A tailored suit
I'm really hot. And damn it, I know I'm so hot that you've just got to look at me. And come over to me in your high heels. And come home with me...
Now doesn't this sound dumb....it does, as much as the women's one sounds! Seriously, are we as women considered to have so little agency or ability to express ourselves that apparantly have our clothes do the talking? And did you notice that up until my little post about the menfolk, that no one ever thinks a guy is sending a message that he might not be intending to. Heck, I'm pretty sure most guys don't even think this way or feel they have to justify what they have on.
Apparently that love-a-ly (note my sarcasm) rag Men's Health has an article called "You Might be Dressed for Sex and Not even Know it." Hmmm....I could've sworn people knew when they wanted someone, as opposed to a hookup just happening all out of the blue and all. When someone tells you, "It just happened," well, it sounds just as pathetic no matter who says it. That article's title is pretty dumb, as it sounds like a really creepy rape myth or something like that (ever hear of the shield laws, that said that what you wear is not a reason for people to attack you? If I could hug the shield laws, I so would).
But take a gander at these examples of what women could be wearing and the messages they "are sending:" (This is not their exact wording but rather my interpretation of it.)
A belted dress or skirt
I'm totally old-fashioned and ladylike, and I don't mind having you make all the decisions for me or support what you think I should do. I'd be more than happy to do your bidding as long as you wore the pants and won the bread and brought home the bacon in this relationship.
A soft, snug sweater
I'm cute and cuddly and am totally up for you talking to me like I'm two years old. After all, I need a big strong man to put me in my place, and hopefully you're up for the job.
High heels
Hey you! Yes, you! Over there! I'm totally screaming for attention without saying a word. And of course, my shoes have to do the talking for me because I am in so much blistering pain that I can't possibly walk over to talk to you myself.
Something red
I'm a dirty little girl who just wants attention. It doesn't matter who it's from. After all, aren't guys like bulls, attracted to the color red?
Revealing v-neck
Don't blame me, blame my skanky ovaries. When it's that time of the month, I'm supposed to show off some more. Lucky you, huh?
A top that reveals a bra strap
I'm such a clever little girl that I'm putting subliminal messages into your head. You can see my bra? Good, now try and imagine what I look like in it...and with it off.
Now, how ri-damn-diculous is this? What about the real reasons why women wear these?
A belted dress or skirt
If I don't wear a belt with the skirt, it will fall down, and frankly, you didn't pay to see that show. Plus, this is a formal occaision and wearing anything else will look totally out of place.
A soft, snug sweater
It's, like, a million degrees below zero and if I don't wear a sweater, I will freeze to death.
High heels
I'm wearing the heels to go with that belted dress or skirt I mentioned earlier. It's more formal and looks more professional than if I had on athletic shoes or flip flops.
Something red
It's my favorite color, and it came in my size. Deal with it.
Revealing v-neck
The tank top I usually wear with it is in the wash right now. And I like the way it looks.
A top that reveals a bra strap
When I found this top in the clearance rack, I didn't know how badly it fit until I put it on. I'm burning it when I get home. No, actually, I'm spraying you with my pepper spray first because you're ogling me. Then I will take it home and burn it.
And what about men's clothes? Let's try and make a men's variation of it. After all, women have hormones and desires too. Are the men unknowingly dressed for a woman to have her way with them?
A polo shirt and khakis
I'm incredibly traditional and preppy and will make all the money and decisions for this family. You don't have to worry your pretty little head about voting or working or going outside the home. I've got that all taken care of.
Jeans so low that they reveal boxers
I'm such a clever little boy that I'm putting subliminal messages into your head. You can see my boxers? Good, now try and imagine what I look like in them...and with them off.
A tailored suit
I'm really hot. And damn it, I know I'm so hot that you've just got to look at me. And come over to me in your high heels. And come home with me...
Now doesn't this sound dumb....it does, as much as the women's one sounds! Seriously, are we as women considered to have so little agency or ability to express ourselves that apparantly have our clothes do the talking? And did you notice that up until my little post about the menfolk, that no one ever thinks a guy is sending a message that he might not be intending to. Heck, I'm pretty sure most guys don't even think this way or feel they have to justify what they have on.
That's sooo last century!
I was looking through a magazine to find some more jewelry ideas so I could make some new designs when I went home (need to bring some to 40 North to see if they'll include me in the Boneyard). And what did I find? Not too much in the way of jewelry (sadly!), but I did find a ridiculous fashion spread. Yes, I'm a fashionista, but this is beyond silly. It featured a ton of ladies in sweaters and softer clothes, but it also included these archaic quotes in there...
"It is assumed that the woman must wait motionless until she is wooed. That is how the spider waits for the fly." --George Bernard Shaw
"A woman can say more in a sigh than a man can say in a sermon." --Arnold Haultain
"I have a feeling that the phrase 'weaker sex' was created by some woman to disarm a man she was preparing to overwhelm." --Ogden Nash
Maybe I'm a little biased because about half my wardrobe is secondhand or revel stuff, and I could probably never afford the duds in the magazine. I don't know about you, though, but all of these quotes would more likely make me not want to buy these clothes. The thought of being motionless and sighing (as opposed to talking) kind of scares me. And did you notice that they're all by men?? It's so obvious that they're about how an idealized woman would act as opposed to how she actually does. Hmmmm.....
"It is assumed that the woman must wait motionless until she is wooed. That is how the spider waits for the fly." --George Bernard Shaw
"A woman can say more in a sigh than a man can say in a sermon." --Arnold Haultain
"I have a feeling that the phrase 'weaker sex' was created by some woman to disarm a man she was preparing to overwhelm." --Ogden Nash
Maybe I'm a little biased because about half my wardrobe is secondhand or revel stuff, and I could probably never afford the duds in the magazine. I don't know about you, though, but all of these quotes would more likely make me not want to buy these clothes. The thought of being motionless and sighing (as opposed to talking) kind of scares me. And did you notice that they're all by men?? It's so obvious that they're about how an idealized woman would act as opposed to how she actually does. Hmmmm.....
Sunday, November 9, 2008
And if your policies aren't good enough, whip up a batch of cookies!
(Hey, I'm sorry if I'm boring you readers with tons of rantings in one night. The thing is, I'm writing a thirty-page paper about a rather disconcerting subject, and if I don't take little breaks from it, I may just be in serious need of Prozac tonight.)
With all the strides we as women have made, why is the "Presidential Cookie Contest" (which pits the wives of Presidential candidates against each other in baking cookies) still around?
I think it originated during the middle of the 20th century. But really, most first ladies are intelligent and successful enough in their own right. They don't need to re-assert their "values" by playing the happy housewife heroine. Plus, you are voting for the presidential candidate, not their spouses. If a woman were the nominee, would her husband have to make cookies? I don't know, but something in me tells me not.
I remember in fourth grade when Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Dole were in that contest, and I remember feeling really put off by it. Both women, regardless of which side you're on, are very strong and intelligent and wildly successful (they're both Senators and have had long careers in government, regardless of their famous husbands). While I have nothing against knowing how to cook, I remember thinking that I would never want to bake anything to placate a bunch of sexist pigs (unless it was their dead brain matter). Sounds harsh, but I am not here for proving my womanhood in outdated ways. Plus, knowing me, I'd more likely be the candidate myself and my partner would have to make the cookies. Or the two of us would skip 'em all together, and once I won the election, we'd whip up a batch to celebrate (and NOT share them with any sexist pigs and have 'em all to ourselves!).
With all the strides we as women have made, why is the "Presidential Cookie Contest" (which pits the wives of Presidential candidates against each other in baking cookies) still around?
I think it originated during the middle of the 20th century. But really, most first ladies are intelligent and successful enough in their own right. They don't need to re-assert their "values" by playing the happy housewife heroine. Plus, you are voting for the presidential candidate, not their spouses. If a woman were the nominee, would her husband have to make cookies? I don't know, but something in me tells me not.
I remember in fourth grade when Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Dole were in that contest, and I remember feeling really put off by it. Both women, regardless of which side you're on, are very strong and intelligent and wildly successful (they're both Senators and have had long careers in government, regardless of their famous husbands). While I have nothing against knowing how to cook, I remember thinking that I would never want to bake anything to placate a bunch of sexist pigs (unless it was their dead brain matter). Sounds harsh, but I am not here for proving my womanhood in outdated ways. Plus, knowing me, I'd more likely be the candidate myself and my partner would have to make the cookies. Or the two of us would skip 'em all together, and once I won the election, we'd whip up a batch to celebrate (and NOT share them with any sexist pigs and have 'em all to ourselves!).
Three cheers for self-promotion!
She's a revel
She's a saint
She's the salt of the earth
AND SHE'S DANGEROUS.
She's a revel
Don't you know it?
Activistic feministic
In your face and rockin' widdit.
She lives the revolution,
The dawning of our lives.
She is so liberated.
I just can't deny it.
No I just can't deny.
She's a revel
She's a revel
She's a revel
And she's dangerous!
She's a saint
She's the salt of the earth
AND SHE'S DANGEROUS.
She's a revel
Don't you know it?
Activistic feministic
In your face and rockin' widdit.
She lives the revolution,
The dawning of our lives.
She is so liberated.
I just can't deny it.
No I just can't deny.
She's a revel
She's a revel
She's a revel
And she's dangerous!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Forty years
As I stood out on the quad today, freezing my butt off to sell baked goods for the V-Day bake sale (proceeds go to the Vagina Monologues! woo for us!), I watched a very exciting and very powerful demonstration on the anniversary plaza of the Quad. The demonstration consisted of a march, speeches, and open mic to commemorate the 40th anniversary of African American Cultural Programming. The speakers were really good and talked about how it is everyone's responsibility to incorporate commitment to fairness into one's daily life. They talked about the cultural centers and the university's programs--and how far we've come since those early days.
One of the speakers brought up a story I had heard at a party and at my cluster, but it came back to me after hearing it. Apparantly, during the early 20th century, most of the dorms were all white. No minority student could live in them. This was a big surprise to me. I mean, I know racism exists and has a long and hideous history. But it was surprising to hear that many of the incoming students did not get a place to live when they came to the university. So where did they live? Many chose to stay with community members who let them board with them during the school year. So in areas like the downtown Urbana and Champaign neighborhoods, the students lived with the respective families who took them in. Some of the other students (who didn't like the rule but really couldn't do much to change it) would come over or bring food or something like that. After all, they probably would have still wanted to see their friends, even if they couldn't live in the same building.
While I would never ever want to return to an age like that, I often wonder about all the untold stories that happened in those neighborhoods. I don't really care so much about the white dorms (because that's pretty shameful) but it's the stories about the students living with the community members that sound cool. I know that if I were living during that time and had friends boarding with families, I'd probably go over and visit them or we could study/hang out together. And I would probably invite them over to see me. But I don't think I could stand a white dorm. I know that all three schools I've attended were predominantly white. However, I do hail from an area that has a large black and Latino population (whites make up about 30-40% of the population there, if that), so it's not like that is an issue for me.
Makes me glad this isn't forty years ago. I wonder if there are any written accounts of the students or their host families. I would love to read about them.
One of the speakers brought up a story I had heard at a party and at my cluster, but it came back to me after hearing it. Apparantly, during the early 20th century, most of the dorms were all white. No minority student could live in them. This was a big surprise to me. I mean, I know racism exists and has a long and hideous history. But it was surprising to hear that many of the incoming students did not get a place to live when they came to the university. So where did they live? Many chose to stay with community members who let them board with them during the school year. So in areas like the downtown Urbana and Champaign neighborhoods, the students lived with the respective families who took them in. Some of the other students (who didn't like the rule but really couldn't do much to change it) would come over or bring food or something like that. After all, they probably would have still wanted to see their friends, even if they couldn't live in the same building.
While I would never ever want to return to an age like that, I often wonder about all the untold stories that happened in those neighborhoods. I don't really care so much about the white dorms (because that's pretty shameful) but it's the stories about the students living with the community members that sound cool. I know that if I were living during that time and had friends boarding with families, I'd probably go over and visit them or we could study/hang out together. And I would probably invite them over to see me. But I don't think I could stand a white dorm. I know that all three schools I've attended were predominantly white. However, I do hail from an area that has a large black and Latino population (whites make up about 30-40% of the population there, if that), so it's not like that is an issue for me.
Makes me glad this isn't forty years ago. I wonder if there are any written accounts of the students or their host families. I would love to read about them.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
I still believe
Well, I've been out on the highway.
I've seen the damage done,
I've seen the pain and I've seen the hunger
In the eyes of everyone.
Yeah, I know that tomorrow
Will be cloudy and it's all in vain.
They say nothing's gonna make any difference.
It will just be more of the same.
But I feel something turning in my heart.
I feel something about to start.
Call me a fool,
Just call me blind.
I do believe this is our time.
I still have hopes.
I still have dreams.
Call me a fool,
But I still believe.
We've been out in the wasteland,
So many years goin' by.
There's been so much war, so much greed
And so many lies.
Cryin' out in the wilderness,
Hopin' for some relief,
Fearing like something is never gonna change--
It will just lead to sadness and grief.
Well, what's the point of living if you're just giving up?
I ain't drinking anymore from that hopeless cup.
Call me a fool,
Just call me blind.
I do believe this is our time.
I still have hopes.
I still have dreams.
Call me a fool,
But I still believe.
It all comes down to me and you.
The whole world's watching what we do.
I'm going down to my dorm lounge
Take a ballot in my hand
I know when I put it in the ballot box,
We will be one step closer to the promised land.
It's not coming tomorrow,
It's not coming today,
But I know when we all make our voice heard,
Some things will not be same.
I feel something turning within my heart.
I just know something is about to start.
Call me a fool,
Just call me blind.
I do believe this is our time.
I still have hopes.
I still have dreams.
Call me a fool,
But I still believe.
Call me a fool,
Just call me blind.
I do believe this is our time.
I still have hopes.
I still have dreams.
Call me a fool,
But I still believe.
--Bill Harley
Yes we can? Yes we DID!!!
I've seen the damage done,
I've seen the pain and I've seen the hunger
In the eyes of everyone.
Yeah, I know that tomorrow
Will be cloudy and it's all in vain.
They say nothing's gonna make any difference.
It will just be more of the same.
But I feel something turning in my heart.
I feel something about to start.
Call me a fool,
Just call me blind.
I do believe this is our time.
I still have hopes.
I still have dreams.
Call me a fool,
But I still believe.
We've been out in the wasteland,
So many years goin' by.
There's been so much war, so much greed
And so many lies.
Cryin' out in the wilderness,
Hopin' for some relief,
Fearing like something is never gonna change--
It will just lead to sadness and grief.
Well, what's the point of living if you're just giving up?
I ain't drinking anymore from that hopeless cup.
Call me a fool,
Just call me blind.
I do believe this is our time.
I still have hopes.
I still have dreams.
Call me a fool,
But I still believe.
It all comes down to me and you.
The whole world's watching what we do.
I'm going down to my dorm lounge
Take a ballot in my hand
I know when I put it in the ballot box,
We will be one step closer to the promised land.
It's not coming tomorrow,
It's not coming today,
But I know when we all make our voice heard,
Some things will not be same.
I feel something turning within my heart.
I just know something is about to start.
Call me a fool,
Just call me blind.
I do believe this is our time.
I still have hopes.
I still have dreams.
Call me a fool,
But I still believe.
Call me a fool,
Just call me blind.
I do believe this is our time.
I still have hopes.
I still have dreams.
Call me a fool,
But I still believe.
--Bill Harley
Yes we can? Yes we DID!!!
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