Women Win Big - New Basketball Record

Yesterday Stanford's women basketball finally beat University of Connecticut's team, stopping their winning streak at 90 games... a national record.

I know this is strange - me writing on sports BUT I promise this really is me ;)

And these women are worth reading about.

I would never claim to be a sports expert, but I simply had to write a blog about this story. No need to worry, though, I did my research getting facts from legit sports fanatics!

If, like me, you hardly know a hail Mary from a home run and root for a team based on who the rookie is rather than national standings, you may not have been up to date on these ladies steadily winning and coming closer to the record.

But our athletic-aloofness may not have been entirely our fault because the story was not heavily covered, at least not at first. Christine Brennan of USA Today wrote an article called "Where's the buzz over UConn women's winning streak?" Here, according to her, was the issue:

You name the excuse and it's certain to be attached to the Connecticut women's basketball team as it attempts to tie the 1971-74 UCLA men's team's record of 88 consecutive victories Sunday (2 p.m. ET, ESPNU) against Ohio State, then break the record Tuesday against Florida State.

She points out that if a men's team were coming up on a new record, the news coverage would be excessive and that sports are still not equitable as many assume since women now play many of the same sports men play. Brennan argues that this inequity is evidenced in that imbalance in news coverage as well as the dismissal that these women would only hold the women's record, not the "real" record for uninterrupted basketball wins since they don't play the "same game." 

However, she ends her article with this:

Come up with all the excuses and differences you'd like, but in the end, this should be a conversation about the game of basketball. A college team once won 88 in a row. If another college team wins 89 in a row, isn't that better?

And they were better.

According to The New York Times:

it is the Connecticut women, not the U.C.L.A. men, who now hold the major-college basketball record for invincibility. The Huskies won their 89th consecutive game Tuesday with a 93-62 throttling of Florida State before a sellout crowd of 16,294 at the XL Center, surpassing the 88 straight won by the U.C.L.A. men, coached by John Wooden, from 1971 to 1974.

 BUT, their streak ended yesterday.

Stanford ended UConn's streak last night with a decisive win: 71-59.

The craziest part was that Stanford was the team to end UConn's last streak in 2008. To read  more, check out this article that dubs both of Stanford's wins as "Two Platinum Bookends."

Both Stanford and UConn deserve recognition and some attention for their women's basketball teams. In fact, all of women's sports could use a little more recognition.

After all, women just won big, beating out the boys for the record : )

I Think I'm in Love...

... with slam poetry.

It is intense, powerful performance poetry by people who have clever, often cutting commentary on their lives and society. I cannot get enough of it. 

Seriously, my mom - just today - diagnosed me as addicted to YouTube.

I simply can't help it. A video of one poet leads me to another and then another and before I know it, I have spent an hour watching people "spit their rhymes."

Perhaps y'all remember my former blog post where I gushed over Rafael Casal. My crush continues, especially after watching his new stuff: "Ego."

But I've gained a new crush: Chris Tse.

He has countless impressive poems but here are two of my favorites. One is about ending stereotypes. The other one, though I am sad that he had so much content to rhyme about was incredibly well-written and I agree with his desire to move from hatred to love: "I'm a Christian, I'm Sorry."

Yet another crush developed when I discovered George Watsky.

He was precious and proud in his defense first of high school virgins and then lisps. I LOVE IT!!!! There truly is beauty in owning what others might label imperfections.

Beyond the boys though, there were also some brilliant female poets.

Katie Makkai had a poignant poem called "Pretty" about beauty expectations and happiness. The last minute is particularly fabulous!

Also, Sarah Kay had a beautiful poem about her future daughter.

Then there was Shannon Matesky who had a clever poem about Facebook and Myspace.

Lastly, there was Jasmine Mans who delivered a very sad but powerful poem about rape and family.

I hope y'all enjoyed these poems. I've watched many, MANY more... ahhh, the beauty of time to kill on Christmas break :)

If I find any more great ones, I'll share them. Until then, if you've got time to kill, I encourage you to start your own YouTube addiction to explore slam poetry and find your own favorites...

On the Inside: Nursing Homes

Two beds crammed in a tiny room.

Wrinkled faces staring blankly from under the covers, surrounded by dying plants and photographs of forgotten family. Stuffed animals and old movies scattered about. The smell, like hospitals and dirty diapers mixed together, caught my breath.

I couldn't, however, catch the tears that welled up in my eyes. They spilled over as I sang "We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!" - the unrealistic and almost insincere words broke my heart.I found it hard to believe that their new year held much...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I haven't written in awhile because I was living in the library to write papers, compile portfolios and study for exams; then I went straight to a mission trip with Baptist Collegiate Ministry groups from around the state of South Carolina.

We did a number of things like host Christmas parties for under-privileged children, bake cookies for firefighters and nurses, buy and wrap gifts for needy families, etc.

The service that affected me the most though was visiting local nursing homes to sing Christmas songs and visit with the residents. While I know we brought joy to many men and women there, I couldn't help but feel a sadness as I left each day.

Some residents reintroduced themselves to me literally 10+ times. Others said absolutely nothing but stared off, likely in their own world, seeing something other than the little room in front of them. Some even acted out their own other world - Ms. Nancy, for example, used to work in a retail store so she was constantly rattling off prices for things that I couldn't see. At one point, she showed me her worn, white slippers telling me they were lovely black pumps on sale for $3.99.

A few were not nearly as happy as Ms. Nancy and the other residents in their own private, little worlds. Some residents were still lucid, incredibly aware of what lay in front of their eyes... their small world, day in and day out.

They did not like what they saw.

Neither did I.

One man suffering from dementia simply rode up and down the hall on his wheelchair asking for the way out. Another woman simply sat in her wheelchair and repeated "I want to go home; get me out of here!" Perhaps the most unsettling story I heard was of a woman who was dropped off only 3 weeks ago. Her daughter told her that she was coming back for her in 2 weeks but never came. As though that were not bad enough, the daughter is now selling her mom's home, against her mother's wishes.

Simply awful.

Yet another woman who had been in there for over four years with very infrequent visitors spoke of "people on the outside." It sounded so much like prison and made me think of this email I read recently:

Jails and Nursing Homes

Here's the way it should be:

Let's put the seniors in jail and the criminals in nursing homes.

This would correct two things in one motion:

Seniors would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.
They would receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs, etc.
They would receive money instead of having to pay it out.
They would have constant video monitoring, so they would be helped instantly if they fell or needed assistance. 

Bedding would be washed twice a week and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.
A guard would check on them every 20 minutes.
All meals and snacks would be brought to them.
They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose. 

They would have access to a library, weight/fitness room, spiritual counseling, a pool and education...and free admission to in-house concerts by nationally recognized entertainment artists.
Simple clothing - ie., shoes, slippers, pj's - and legal aid would be free, upon request.
There would be private, secure rooms provided for all with an outdoor exercise yard complete with gardens.
 Each senior would have a P.C., T.V., phone and radio in their room at no cost. 
They would receive daily phone calls. 

There would be a board of directors to hear any complaints and the ACLU would fight for their rights and protection. 
The guards would have a code of conduct to be strictly adhered to, with attorneys available, at no charge to protect the seniors and their families from abuse or neglect.

As for the criminals: 
They would receive cold food. 
They would be left alone and unsupervised. 
They would receive showers once a week. 
They would live in tiny rooms, for which they would have to pay $5,000 per month. 
They would have no hope of ever getting out.

"Sounds like justice to me!" 

 I'm not suggesting that all nursing homes are bad or even that the ones I visited were. I am, however, saying that some can be and certainly are. Not even counting neglect, there are reports of elder abuse that average out to an elderly person being abused every 5 seconds. A woman who works with a rape/abuse prevention and treatment center told me that there are even cases of 80+ year old women being raped in nursing homes.

If you have a family member or know anyone currently living in a nursing home - "on the inside" - PLEASE go visit them this holiday season (and throughout the year) to check on them, to love on them, to simply be with them.

Though I know our visits on my mission trip certainly brightened the days of several residents, real difference can be made through relationships developed over regular visits.

I highly encourage you to take a trip to your local nursing home.
Bring pictures, magazines, movies - things like that to entertain them.
Listen to their stories.
Tell them your own.
Expand their little worlds so they can know more about things on "the outside" - and that at least someone (YOU!) remembers them and cares.

$13,725,166,759,183.46 = our national debt

I repeat, $13,725,166,759,183.46 is our national debt.

I've always been told that "money doesn't grow on trees" but it seems that our country thinks so.

And so do many of our politicians... like Hugh Jidette. 

Read that last sentence aloud.

Did you catch on that his name sounds like “Huge Debt”?

Hugh is a fictional character that is part of a very clever PR campaign put on by OweNo.com.

He is "a fictional presidential candidate who has been created to capture the attention of the nation and bring to light the facts about our federal fiscal challenges and the threats they pose to our nation’s economic future." He certainly does capture attention. I had the tv on and was only half-listenting to his hilarious commercial called "Borrow Like There's No Tomorrow" which drew me in and led me to their wonderful website.

According to OweNo.com, "official government projections show federal debt doubling by the 2020’s, tripling by the 2030s and even quadrupling by the 2040’s. That means that, unless we change our course, $13.6 trillion could grow to more than $50 trillion."

Here are some even more frightening facts from their website:

• National debt averages out at a staggering $44,000 for every person in America.
• The number of people aged 65+ is projected to double, aka more people receiving more benefits which = MORE debt.
• $200 billion = what our government spends every year JUST on interest payments. AND, we get nothing for that money; much of it goes oversees to countries who own our debt. 
• By 2027, interest would be the largest item in the federal budget.
• Eventually, interest would take up 100% of all of the money the federal government collects - aka no money would be left to pay for things a government should do like education, research, development, etc.
• Owing so much to foreign countries could give them unprecedented and unacceptable influence over us.

How does all of this happen?

It is pretty simple. The website states, "Here’s how we’ve gotten to this point: The federal government has to borrow money when the revenues it collects are not enough to cover the amount it spends — a budget deficit."

And it is a significant deficit:



But this site is not just a downer. They offer several possible solutions.

In particular, they focus on the need to tweak the federal budget which currently breaks down as follows:

1. Healthcare: 36%
2. Social Security: 23%
3. Everything Else: 21%
4. Defense: 20%

Crazy, right?

This is even crazier; According to their website:

1. Healthcare: The U.S. spends twice as much per person on health care than most other countries; furthermore, healthcare represents 44% of projected federal spending by 2040, and is the largest and fastest growing fiscal challenge.
2. Social Security: In 1950, there were 16 workers paying taxes to support 1 retired person; by 2040, there will only be 2 workers for each retired person – this creates a big shortfall of money in the system.
3. Everything Else: This includes things such as agriculture, transportation, homeland security, education, unemployment benefits, national parks, international relations, and the operations of government.
4. Defense: The United States spends more on defense than the next 14 countries, combined.

If you'd like to join Hugh and those at OweNo.com, then click here to get involved with this great campaign.

Say "Oh yes" to "OweNO!"

Speak Out Before There is No One Left: Stop Bullying Now

Watch this powerful 41 seconds from MTV's fabulous campaign: A Thin Line.

It is so well done and so accurate. Words are etched into our memories if not literally etched with ink into our skin.

And watch this sweet anti-bullying ad.

Just one person standing up for another is incredibly powerful. And we all should; here is a reason why:

First They Came 

by Pastor Martin Niemoller

In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. 

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. 

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. 

Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.

This past September alone, there were four very public deaths of gay students who commited suicide - because. of. bullying. 

We cannot be silent as those around us are relentlessly bullied. 

We have to speak up... for the red heads, for the LGBT community, for the "uncool" kids... ANYONE facing this daily torture. 


Stop Bullying Now.
 

Growing Up and Growing My Network - Center for Women's Speed Networking Event

Monday night made me an adult. Or at least it made me feel like one.

I walked into the Center for Women’s 9^th Annual Entrepreneurs Networking Event, wearing slacks and carrying my first set of official business cards. I went in as a senior in college overwhelmed by my future and I left encouraged, empowered, and informed with new contacts and job options.  

I wish every senior had the opportunity that I did. Lucky enough to be serving as the Center for Women intern, I planned to attend the event to help them but I did not realize how much I would be helping myself.

Entering a room filled with tons of tables and wonderful women, I found my place at the correctly numbered table. Each table was numbered for 3 different rounds of speed networking, which was much like speed dating only, at the end of the night you end up with job opportunities rather than romantic ones.

And I certainly did end up with opportunities – many of them. Throughout the two hours I was able to meet and exchange business cards with almost 30 women!?! I have already received an email, a phone call and a LinkedIn request… all from one evening.

I have been told over and over again in college that it is more of who you know rather than what you know.  

I cannot think of a better or more enjoyable way to increase who I know than an event like Monday night’s. It was so encouraging to see women excited and motivated in what they were doing for themselves and for the community. I walked away with job opportunities and contacts but, more importantly, empowerment to feel like I can truly make an impact in my community, as was evident in each of the women I met.

As if this was not enough, the event also increased what I know as well. The incredibly eloquent and entertaining Dr. Elaine Yarbrough spoke on Women’s Wisdom. She had startling statistics and revealing data on how women are disadvantaged starting as children in elementary school classrooms up to working women in the board rooms. Fortunately, she also shared advice on how to support other women and stand up for ourselves in the office, home, and community.

I now feel like I have a jumpstart to do just that because of this event and all the great connections I made there!

If you want to join me, be sure to check out the Center for Women and become a member if you aren’t already.

Annnnnd, be sure to come out to the 10^th Annual Entrepreneurs Networking event in 2011, especially if you missed the fun this year!

Wake Up Yourself John Legend: Where are the women workers?

Wake Up Everybody is a great song but NOT a great video.

Since I recently watched and fell in love with Waiting for "Superman," I heard and fell in love with John Legend's song in the movie as well.

But, upon watching the music video, I have changed my mind a bit.

The  lyrics call out for help over and over:

Wake up everybody
No more sleepin' in bed
...Time for thinkin' ahead

...There is so much hatred
War and poverty, whoa, oh

...The world won't get no better
We gotta change it, yeah
Just you and me

...Wake up, all the builders
Time to build a new land
I know we can do it
If we all lend a hand

....The world won't get no better
If we just let it be, na, na, na
The world won't get no better
We gotta change it, yeah
Just you and me

...Wake up, everybody
Need a little help, y'all
Yes I do, need a little help

Need a little help, y'all

Need a little help y'all

Wake up everybody
Wake up everybody

Again, lyrically, it is a beautiful song. 

The problem, however, came in the music video: Watch the final bit of the video, starting from 3:50 where they call out that they "need a little help y'all." 

It seems that he is only referring to the male workers when he says "y'all;" the following MEN are all presented in the last minute or so of the song: 

• doctor (with a female patient in the background)
• cop
• a man in a suit - perhaps a teacher or a lawyer?
• cab driver
• construction workers 

The ONE AND ONLY WOMAN is presented in that same group of images... with her three kids. Disclaimer: I am not at all belittling mothers... I want very much to be one when I am older. 

However, I am belittling this video. Women can be more than mothers.

If John Legend really wants the world to change then he should engage the other half of the population. 

The sad thing is that his version of "Wake Up Everybody" is not original. 

It is a remake of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes title track from 1975!?! It has been 35 years since that song was originally released!?!

And there is still "so much hatred, war and poverty." 

We need to wake up EVERYbody.... men and women. 

The world won't get no better
We gotta change it, yeah
Just you and me

...Wake up, all the builders
Time to build a new land
I know we can do it
If we all lend a hand

My Heart is Broken... Just like Our School Sysem

Everyone deserves an education.
But some aren't getting it.

Our nation has failure factories,
Rather than a road to success.

The only way into a good public school, for many,
Is a lottery.

Their number being pulled.

LUCK.

Not merit.
Not a test score.
Not motivation or desire.
Not even money.

Just a random number.
Just dumb LUCK.

Wake Up Everybody. 

 My heart is broken.
Just like our school system.

I saw Waiting for "Superman" tonight.

It made me cry.
Kids actually WANT to learn.
And. They. Can't.

Cause someone didn't pull their number in a raffle.

We have reduced children's dreams,

And their potential,
To a number.

Which more times that not,
Isn't called.

What does this mean?

 Our system is failing them.
They are failing.
And our country will be doing the same thing,
If we don't change things.

Please go see the movie. 

It's hard to say this,
But I hope your heart becomes broken too.

So you'll do something to fix it.
And our school system.

Let our children shine.

I'll be writing more soon...

My New Crush

I have a new crush.

I just met him last night.

He is passionate, intelligent, and great with words.

A friend of mine introduced us... via YouTube. ;)

Ok, so I'm not holding my breath for a date with him any time soon but a girl can dream, right? ;) 

Y'all can meet him too... and fall in love with his poems (inspiring, energizing slam poetry style... not sappy stuff) because he is that great. Seriously, I hope y'all check him out.

His name is Rafael Casal and he is a def poet. 

The first video of his that I ever watched (thanks Lindsey!) is called Barbie and Ken 101. It has to do with media's misrepresentation of women which has been my interest lately with my Capstone focus. It is so great to hear a guy speak out against this :)

This one is called My Miller Chill and it is also about marketing. He has some really great lines by the end so watch it all the way through...

This one is my FAVORITE!!! It is called A.D.D. and seems a bit random at first but ties in. There are some crazy statistics and an incredibly wonderful final line.

And if you haven't been bitten by the lovebug yet after watching his fantastic videos, that is fine by me... I'll have less competition for that first date of ours...  ;)

STUDY BREAK: My 3 New Favorite YouTube Videos :)

• I have 3 papers due within the next 2 days. 

• I have spent 7 HOURS in the library... today alone 

• Tonight might be the first time I have pulled an all-nighter in college

So, obviously, I had to take a couple YouTube breaks; here is what I found: 

1. This one, I promise, was related to school; I was doing research for my paper on Gender and the Media. This video replaced my previous favorite by Dove. It seriously is FABULOUS!!! And it is under 90 seconds so your study break can be quick too ;)
2. This one is unrelated to school BUT full of very interesting facts so you can still learn something ;)
3. At this point, I have no excuse. This one is just preciously awkward and a good mental break! Plus it has stupendous quotes... get excited!!! 

I hope school is not overwhelming you and that if it is, this provided a good study break for you :)

Love Your Body - yesteday, today, EVERY day

Too fat. Too flabby. Too short. Too tall. Small boobs. Big belly. Pimply. Hairy. Flat butt. Fat butt. UGLY.


This is no dark Dr. Seuss tale of One Girl, Two Girl, Ugly Girl, Pretty Girl.

For many of us, it is a daily dialogue with ourselves. Because we don't feel good enough.

We NEVER feel good enough.

Why is that?

There are a host of reasons but I believe the media is a huge culprit.

Take this short quiz (only 10 questions) to see if you agree. If you don't agree as of now, I feel like you will by the end of the quiz. Seriously, take it.

How did you do?

I'm embarrassed to say I didn't make a 100% (I missed 2) since I have been focused on this topic all semester for my WGS Capstone class. I chose this topic because, though I haven't suffered from an eating disorder myself, I have lived with and talked with several friends who have.

In an attempt to combat the issue of self-hatred (like the list above) and eating disorders, I embraced as my activism and educational project the Love Your Body Campaign.

Yesterday, October 20th, was the National Organization for Women's Love Your Body Day.

I made flyers and, with the help of CofC's NOW and Peer Counselors, handed out candy and zines. I also created complement cards to spread the love and encourage self-acceptance; They said things like "You look lovely today," "You are funny," and "You are very intelligent."

The most fun aspect of bringing the Love Your Body campaign to campus was having people create their own "Love Labels." I simply bought a bunch of blank labels and pretty colored pens and had people write "I love my body" or whatever else they'd like to put. Make your own!!!

Some of the Love Labels included:

• I love ALL of me
• I love how short I am 
• I love my butt
• I love my legs
• I love my boobs
• I love my smile (from a girl with braces... how fantastic!)
• I love my beard
• I love my whole body

It was great fun but, I must admit that much of my campaign boiled down to my presentation on media literacy. 

I included my own slides (which will likely show up in subsequent blogposts) but my presentation centered around NOW's Love Your Body Campaign official powerpoint. It was so fabulous that I honestly didn't feel I could create one any better.

So, obviously, I think y'all should check it out. Seriously. Don't be intimidated by the number of slides; it is a lot of images so it doesn't take long.

K, really. Did you view it? I. HOPE. SO.

And if you are now thoroughly pissed off, as I suspect you are, check out these 20 Ways to Be a Media Activist.

But most of all, realize that the media just wants your money.

The way they get that is by using a simple formula:

Step 1: The media creates unattainable, "perfect" images of so-called-beauty

Step 2: We end up feeling not good enough

Step 3: We are eager to buy their products that supposedly provide that "perfect" beauty

Step 4: We give them our money but their products never allow us to reach their false image of "perfect beauty"

Step 5: Repeat the vicious cycle. And feel like crap. 

This leads to self-hatred talk:
Too fat. Too flabby. Too short. Too tall. Small boobs. Big belly. Pimply. Hairy. Flat butt. Fat butt. UGLY.

Don't let it.

Fight back.


LOVE. YOUR. BODY. (Here are 7 Ways to do so right now).

And not just on Love Your Body Day but EVERY day.

Embrace YOUR own, one-of-a-kind, absolutely stunning body and beauty. 

The Voice You Hear When You Read Silently - an awesome poem

The Voice You Hear When You Read Silently

- Thomas Lux

is not silent, it is a speaking-
out-loud voice in your head: is it spoken,
a voice is saying it
as you read. It's the writer's words,
of course, in a literary sense
his or her voice, but the sound
of that voice is the sound of your voice.
Not the sound your friends know
or the sound of a tape played back
but your voice
caught in the dark cathedral
of your skull, your voice heard
by an internal ear informed by internal abstracts
and what you know by feeling,
having felt. It is your voice
saying, for example, the word barn
that the writer wrote
but the barn you say
is a barn you know or knew. The voice
in your head, speaking as you read,
never says anything neutrally — some people
hated the barn they knew,
some people love the barn they know
so you hear the word loaded
and a sensory constellation
is lit: horse-gnawed stalls,
hayloft, black heat tape wrapping
a water pipe, a slippery
spilled chirr of oats from a split sack,
the bony, filthy haunches of cows. . . .
And barn is only a noun — no verb
or subject has entered into the sentence yet!
The voice you hear when you read to yourself
is the clearest voice: you speak it
speaking to you.

How do you spend your seconds?

When our life is out of balance, disaster is just around the corner. - Mary Southerland

I feel like my life has been a spinning top, turning round and round, wobbling out of control.

Someone lied to me: They told me senior year was going to be easy. 

WRONG. I have had obligation after obligation after stress after stress after stress... 

spinning and spinning

Whether you are in your senior year of college or not, I'm sure you, at least occasionally, can relate.

We all have what seem to be never-ending tasks that take up our time: meetings, laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc.

The perpetual to-do list.

When was the last time you stopped, got off the merry-go-round and out of the fast lane to take a long, hard look at your life? - Mary Southerland

We are all so rushed: Running from class to meeting to event to the library to work to work out, etc.

spinning and spinning

Even fun things fill up our time: coffee dates, walk and talks, dinners, movies, games, plays, etc.

spinning and spinning

Every morning we are credited with 86,400 seconds. No balance is carried into the next day and every night erases what we fail to use. - Mary Southerland 

We don't get to rewind and re-do our days. Life is not like Groundhog Day.

Each day is what we make of it. Or don't make of it.

Are you intentional in how you spend the seconds of your day? It seems a little silly to worry about seconds but seconds become minutes which become hours which become days and months and years.

Time WILL fly by, if we let it.

Take, for example, Facebook. Hello. I hate how seconds become minutes or an hour whenever I log in. I would much prefer spending that time with my friends face-to-face or perhaps should spend that time working on homework or grad-school applications.

Really though, how do you spend the seconds of your day?

Is it time well spent?

Learn to invest your time instead of just spending it or allowing others to steal it - Mary Southerland

My brother recently shared a story that illustrated this perfectly:

I called him on my way to take an exam, just to leave a voicemail explaining that I would call him later, as I expected at that time that he was in class.

I was surprised to hear him answer: "Hello," he said.

"Hey," I responded, "I thought you were in class. What are you up to?"

No lie; the next words to come out of his mouth were "promise you won't tell mom?"

Now, I should clarify, my brother is not the type to find himself in trouble or in jail or any of the other awful options that immediately played through my mind BUT I was expecting something pretty rough as I answered: "I promise."

"I'm in Nashville, Tennessee," he declared.

Seemingly benign unless you know, as I did, that he was supposed to be in class on the campus of Clemson University, 5 hours away.

At this point, all of my last minute reviewing for my test was useless as my notes were now the last thing on my mind! 

He went on to explain that he drove there with a few friends, leaving spontaneously at 1:00 am so that they could visit the home of one of his friends who was soon to depart for an indefinite mission trip overseas.

Though completely out of character for him to take off on such an unplanned, ill-timed adventure, he reasoned it as follows:

"How many classes have I missed?" - none

"Will I really remember sitting in this class years from now?" - no

"Will I be able to get notes and make up what I miss in class?" - yes

"Will I get this chance again or be able to make up this trip to Nashville?" - no, never

"Will I ever see my friend again?" - maybe, though, probably not

"What would I enjoy more?" - seeing my friend and visiting a new city

"What is more important?" - taking this opportunity, investing this time

So he took off to Tennessee and didn't waste away his time or let the stress of school steal away his seconds. [Disclaimer: I don't' condone skipping classes ;) This, however, was too good and rare of an opportunity to pass up]

Have you let any good or rare opportunities pass you by?

Are your seconds just spinning and spinning away?

Don't let them.

Invest. Your. Seconds.

Doubting Thomas Got a Bad Rap

Doubting Thomas got a bad rap: the one who didn't immediately believe; the one who questioned.

He had one weak moment: ²⁵So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (John 20:25).

Recently, I really related to Thomas. I was doubting.

Have you ever wanted proof? Evidence? A visible sign?

I know I was really craving it. I needed to see the nail marks.

Fortunately, they appeared.

Friend after friend shared with me precisely what I needed to hear. Devotions spoke directly to my situation. My pastor's sermon seemed as though it had to have been written specifically for me and my doubt. Mentors linked me to unbelievably appropriate sites or documents that answered my questions; One guy even sent me a document defending Paul written by a female Baptist preacher who is also a professor and a feminist!?!

Yes, I was seeing the nail marks. My doubts were fading. My faith was strengthening.


That is why I could connect with the story of Thomas.

Doubting Thomas got a bad rap.

It has been cemented into society's mind through the stereotype of a "doubting Thomas" and through art, even through music.

One of my favorite songs is called "Doubting Thomas" by Nickel Creek.

The lyrics are so great and, with my recent struggles in Women and Religion, one line especially resonated with me:

Can I be used to help others find truth, (particularly leading a Bible study!)
When I'm scared I'll find proof that its a lie

This was precisely my concern: I was afraid that I would learn my way out of my religion. 

But, the opposite has happened.

Just. Like. Thomas.

²⁶A week later his [Jesus'] disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

 ²⁸Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:26-28)

 According to Dr. Ralph Wilson, "Thomas, 'Doubting Thomas,' as he is sometimes called, is the first disciple to put into words the truth that Jesus is both Lord and God. 

"'Doubting Thomas' utters the greatest confession of faith recorded anywhere in the Bible." 

How awesome and encouraging is that?

Again, Doubting Thomas got a bad rap.

Something else I find encouraging is NOT written in the Bible. Yep. It isn't written in there.

But society has written it in there - An extra verse that doesn't actually exist.

If you look at the art and talk to people (believers and nonbelievers) they will likely tell you that Thomas touched the nail marks.

That, however, is NOT written in the Bible.

The Bible goes straight from verse 27 where Jesus tells Thomas to "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe" into verse 28 where Thomas declares his belief: "My Lord and my God!"

No verse 27.5 exists saying that Thomas touched the nail marks.

Maybe he did, maybe he didn't.

Either way, we cannot. I cannot.

As a result, I choose to believe that Thomas did not. Then, just like him, we can sense the presence of Jesus moving among us and then proclaim our faith... even if we can't reach out and touch the nail marks.

Verse 29 further clarifies that faith is possible without having the exact proof or evidence or nail marks to touch: ²⁹Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."(John 20:29)

That is how Jesus ends it: he acknowledges that Thomas has believed.

Why don't we acknowledge that?

Doubting Thomas got a bad rap. 

We should look up to him - especially in our time of doubting and questioning - as the one who strengthened his faith and became Believing Thomas.

On My Knees

It isn't for the moment you are struck that you need courage but for the long uphill climb back to sanity and faith and security.

                                                                      - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I was feeling slightly insane, wavering in my faith, and insecure.

The moment those feelings were "struck" into me came as I began my senior year with a Women and Religion class. This class is full of women (and a few men) who are very intelligent and different from me.

Usually, I find this environment refreshing.

Not this time.

This time it was personal. This time it was draining: mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

This time it was frightening. Because this time it was messing with my faith. 

I have been learning about pre-history and the religions before Christianity. I have been taught to question all truth, even whether there is any truth. I have been surrounded by those who call their gods "She." I have listened to people bash my religion and point out nothing positive, simply flaw. After flaw. After flaw.

The scary part was I understood - and agreed with - some of their points. I trust in my teacher's knowledge. I have studied and read her textbooks about goddesses.

I have questioned my faith, my God, my role as a Bible study leader.

And worst of all, I told NO ONE.

I didn't want to burden them with a problem I couldn't solve. I didn't want them to have the same struggle if I couldn't help them out of it. I feared their judgment for my wavering faith. So I kept these thoughts to myself.

 ___________________________________________________________________

Until this weekend. And that is when I began my hopefully not too "long uphill climb."

This weekend was the Charleston Baptist Collegiate Ministry Fall Retreat. I went knowing I needed to go but not knowing how much it would affect me.

Before I give you the detail of when I hit my lowest low, here is some background information:

• My homechurch is over 200 years old filled with several traditional people, many of whom are old, all of whom are subdued in their worship style: aka if anyone says "Amen" in the middle of the sermon, we all turn his or her way and glare as if to suggest they should lay off the coffee next Sunday. It is just too much. We're quiet and keep things simple, assuming that showy worship of waving your hands around and shouting is insincere. 

• Well, upon getting to know other believers in college and how they worshiped, I realized one can be showy and sincere in praising God. In fact, it was an encouragement for me to see them raise their hands. When I finally worked up the guts and sincere desire to attempt this on my own, I was nearly sweating and my heart was beating fast but once I got past my nerves, I realized it heightened my own worship. So now, as I feel moved, I will raise my hands.
• Also, I have been trying to figure out how to make prayer a conversation: not just me rambling but also listening for God. My favorite description for his response is a still, small voice putting a crystal clear thought into your mind that was not yours, but simply was placed on your heart out of nowhere. I agree with that.

So, back to the BCM retreat.

We had wonderfully powerful music, enhanced especially by all of the Citadel cadets with their deep voices and clapping as we sang along. One song we sang was Indescribable with a lyric that says "Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim/ You are amazing God."

I had a still, small voice whisper: "That would be cool. I think I'd like to do that; it might elevate my worship like when I started raising my hands."

Enter my active thoughts: "Yes, that could be cool BUT certainly not here. Too many people. I mean I don't want to be all trying too hard or distracting people. Yea, maybe... someday..."

Without a second thought, I continued singing songs until  a few things formed the final cracks in my emotional dam: hearing our leader use words like "battle" and reading through the Lord's prayer about "Lead us not into temptation/ But deliver us from evil," etc.

My emotional dam broke. Warm tears poured from my eyes.

I don't usually cry. I quickly tried to regain my composure but it was melting away like much of my mascara. 

I walked to the front of the room where our Prayer Team leader was sitting in a chair. I don't know why but she pulled me to the ground. At that moment, I was at my lowest point, physically and emotionally and spiritually.

 ___________________________________________________________________

We sat on our knees as she hugged me and prayed for me and read me a few perfectly relevant pieces of scripture.I admitted my fears and my doubts and I let my tears flow.

Once I regained composure I stood to leave but before I could get to the end of the front row, another lady reached for me which I was totally not expecting but graciously welcomed. She hugged me and began praying for me.

However, the way that she grabbed me brought my upper body in for a hug but left my butt awkwardly in the air so, without realizing it, to fix this...

I fell to my knees. 

It wasn't until later after she finished praying for me and I had returned to my seat that I put all of this together. I never had the intention to do any of that, nor did I even want to. But at that point, not even an hour after I had heard that whispered thought, I had fallen to my knees not once but twice, humbled before the Lord in prayer and worship. 

I was like, "Ok, God. I got it. You're there. To me, you are truth and you are real and you are worthy of praise."

Better yet, we sang You Alone Can Rescue with the perfect lyrics for my situation. 

 ___________________________________________________________________

As I begin this "uphill climb" I realize that I don't have all of the answers yet and I am certain all of my doubts are not disappearing any time soon, but I am also certain of my faith.

If I had all the answers it would be called FACT, not FAITH.

But I do feel certain that with God, the acceptance and support and prayer from fellow believers, and with patience I will one day make it back to the top of the hill, "back to sanity and faith and security."

Operation Beautiful: Join the Movement

• 2 out of 5 women would trade 5 years of their life to be thin
• The majority of women overestimate their own waist size by 30 % and their hip size by 16%
• More women are suffering from anorexia or bulimia than are fighting breast cancer
• Most American girls begin to diet when they are just 8 years old
• Why are we are own worst enemies?
• It's time to face the facts: we have a serious body image crisis on our hands.
• facts above taken from this video.

So, what are we going to do about this crisis?

One thing we can do is join Operation Beautiful.

It is a simple thing (post it notes) with poweful results (women feeling better about themselves!).

If you haven't heard the buzz about this wonderful organization, check out the organization's mission below:

The goal of the Operation Beautiful website is to end negative self-talk or “Fat Talk.” If this little blog only does one productive thing, I hope it helps readers realize how truly toxic negative self-talk is — it hurts you emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

Through my own experiences fighting Fat Talk, I’ve realized the power behind an anonymous act such as Operation Beautiful. When I post a note, I’m saying, “I CHOOSE to be positive!”

I began Operation Beautiful by leaving positive messages on the mirrors of public restrooms — at work, at the gym, at the grocery store. I scribble down whatever comes to mind — "You are beautiful!" or "You are amazing just the way you are!" My personal goal is to leave as many Operation Beautiful notes as I can. Maybe some people read them and just smile, but I bet some people are truly touched by the effort of a random stranger.

As if that wasn't fabulous enough, the site has wonderful links to "Change the Way You See."

Another cool thing is this was all started by a young woman (now only 26) named Caitlin.

Her simple idea is now a national movement, appearing on shows like Oprah, The Today Show and many more.


Please join the movement.
Stop the self-hatred and "fat talk."
Buy some post-it notes!
Check out the CofC Chapter on facebook and, get involved so you can, as they say: "Spread the beauty. Feel the love."

And, lastly, remember:
YOU. ARE. BEAUTIFUL!

Did You Know that Elvis Presley Had a Twin? Plus, other fun twin facts...

Kate Plus Eight, the Octo-mom, the Duggars; it seems every time we turn around there is some other tv show for a family of multiples. 

Our society is one of excess, apparently even in terms of reproduction. Once upon a time, twins and triplets were  a shocker but are hardly "impressive" anymore. 

As a twin myself, I have noticed how identifying myself as a twin no longer produces such shock and awe. Twins just aren't so unusual or interesting anymore according to the media, particularly the TLC channel ;) How boring would a "Double Trouble" show sound compared to the Duggars clan that is almost as large as most extended families!?! 

Admittedly, I have an obvious twin bias, but I feel like these fun facts truly are impressive so I thought you might enjoy them. Today I came across "Quick Facts and Figures about twins" with some of my favorites below: 

• Elvis Presley had a twin who did not survive after birth. His name was Jesse Garon.
• Identical twins share the same DNA, but will have their own fingerprints!
•  About 25% of identical twins are called mirror image twins. For example if one has a mole under her right eye, the other will have it under her left eye.
•  According to the National Center for Health Statistics the number of multiple births has increased about 74% since 1980. 
•  According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:
• 1 in 250 pregnancies can result in identical twins.
• In some African countries such as Nigeria, the rate of twin pregnancies can be as high as 1 in 20.
• China has the lowest rate of Twinning in the world.
• According to the Guinness book of records there are 3 known cases in the US where parents gave birth to 2 sets of twins siblings on the same day. The mothers are Caroline Cargado, Laura Moore and Michele Gorney.
• THIS IS REALLY STRANGE: Heteropaternal Superfecundation is the term used when a woman becomes pregnant from two different man and gives birth to fraternal twins
• Quarternary Marriage is the term used when one set of twins marries a second set of twins.
• In case of identical twins marrying identical twins, genetically speaking their children will be more than cousins, they will be genetic siblings.
• Ideoglossia is the term used for the secret language of twins. This secret language actually does not exist. Once twins, as in any other baby, learn to talk, they mispronounce words but because their other half is capable of recognizing and understanding those words, it seems as if they have their own language.
• It is a myth that fraternal twins skip a generation. (Noted!) 
• Male twins will not have twins unless their wives have the ability to produce 2 eggs.
• Fraternal twins (girls) have twice the chance of giving birth to twins than singletons. (Dang... the odds are not looking good for me to ease gradually into motherhood in the future!) 

Perhaps TLC will have a show about twins in the fall afterall... 

Do You Know What Today Is?

Today is my new favorite holiday. Did you even know today was a holiday?

Today - August 26, 2010 - is Women's Equality Day. It is lesser known and minimally celebrated across the nation. I felt sure that at least my women's calendar full of quotes from influential women would boldly mark today as a holiday but, alas, even it did not mention Women's Equality Day :(

Why do we have a Women's Equality Day? According to the National Women's History Project,

The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.

The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women’s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.

If you think this holiday is unnecessary and we already know enough about women's equality, I invite you to spare approximately 2 and 1/2 minutes of your time to take this quiz.

How did you do? I am embarrassed to say I did not make a 100. There is still so much we don't know about women's issues. Even more discouraging, there is a lot that is already forgotten by most. Yesterday the New York Times ran an article entitled A Forgotten Fight for Suffrage.

In it, author Christine Stansell laments over how the women's right to vote conflict is "now largely lost to memory." This seems strange to me as she pointed out some states only approved the legislation in the latter half of the 20th century:

In 1923 Delaware ratified belatedly to join the rest of the country, but the Southern states waited decades: Maryland in 1941, Virginia in 1952, Alabama in 1953. Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina came along from 1969 to 1971, years after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 had passed. Mississippi brought up the rear, not condoning the right of women to vote until 1984.

Not until 1984!?! That was 64 years AFTER the legislation passed in Congress. We're not talking about anything too radical here... just women's right to vote. Today marks the 90th year since all American women finally got the right to vote.

And since 1971, that has been commemorated with an official US holiday. Bella Abzug, a Democratic Representative from New York brought forth a resolution that was passed by Congress. The resolution read as follows:

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights: and

WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women’s rights took place.  (Information taken from NWHP)

 We must remember this. In another New York Times article from back in 1999, Naomi wolf wrote:

Standing at the turn of the millennium, how odd it seems that women, the majority of the human species, have not, over the course of so many centuries, intervened successfully once and for all on their own behalf. That is, until you consider that women have been trained to see themselves as having no relationship to history, and no claim upon it. Feminism can be defined as women's ability to think about their subjugated role in history, and then to do something about it. The 21st century will see the End of Inequality -- but only if women absorb the habit of historical self-awareness, becoming a mass of people who, rather than do it all, decide at last to change it all. The future is ours to lose.

We must be aware of our past so as not to repeat it. The future IS ours to lose.

Don't let that happen. Remember, hold tightly to, and celebrate how far women have come.

Keep pushing forward!

Happy Women's Equality Day :)

Beyond Awkward Boy Update

It was not even 9am and already pushing 90 degrees, the sun out shining in full force. I was starting to sweat, lacking any makeup and wearing an old tank-top with some over-sized gym shorts. Needless to say, I was not dressed to impress.

I was dressed for a raft race. My Daddy's company participates in this community raft race every year and they take it very seriously, having won their division and even the whole competition in the past. He was not about to have me showing up with my nails and hair done. No. We were in it to win it.

Sadly, several people at my Daddy's office procrastinate. As a result, 20 minutes til our first race, we were still down about 3 people - aka we would forfeit without enough bodies in the boat. 

I was dutifully saying a prayer for their quick arrival and casually chatting with 2 guys: one was an older man and recent heart attack victim that worked for my Daddy and the second was a younger friend of his.

I barely glanced at them as we spoke but instead was scoping out the competition in the river in front of us. Absentmindedly, I had gathered that this younger guy had a goatee, an earring and was wearing a hat... of even greater interest to me, though, was the fact that he worked stage crew for the concert I was going to see later that night. This focused most of our conversation around the concert and its main act.

I wandered off only to be greeted by him upon my return with his offer to paddle in our boat if we needed him. I told him thanks and assured him if it came down between him and the older man who worked for my Daddy, we would definitely enlist his help so as not to induce another heart attack for the older guy.

Knowing he might be needed, he hung around initiating more small talk until the last 3 guys from my Daddy's company showed up just in time for our first race. Then, he quickly disappeared.

I thought for good.

Having finished the first race, now sweaty, salty from the river water (and possibly smelly), getting hit on was the last thing I was expecting. Much to my surprise, he came up from behind and handed me a folded up piece of paper. I saw it had information about the concert typed on it (i.e. gate entry info and check-in times, etc.) so I had a glimmer of excitement that he might be giving me a backstage pass or something.

Nope : (

As I turned over the paper I saw the following note: "If you want to hang out later tonight, that would be great! If you're single that is," followed by his name and number.

That is right folks, I was hit on via note. So elementary school AND worthy of a quick listen to George Strait's "Check Yes or No" song ;) .

Upon finishing up the raft races (we made it to the 4th heat), I mentioned the bizarre incident to my Daddy. He, of course, freaked out a bit which included calling the older guy who knew the guy who wanted to hang out with me. My Daddy's conversation went something like this: "Hey, who was that guy you were talking to earlier? What's his deal? How old is he? Where's he from? What's he do?" You know, he practically got every detail - down to his credit score - on this poor guy!

Here are the results from his interrogation... I mean investigation ;)

The younger guy was actually almost 30 (nearly 10 years older than me), divorced, and he had a little boy.

Yes: a divorced dad hit on me using a note... maybe he was taking tips from his son?

Believe it or not, it gets worse.

Later that night at the concert, my friend asked me if it was him on stage. I told her I really wasn't certain because I hadn't gotten a great look at him earlier; in casually chatting with him, I didn't thoroughly check him out because I never EVER would have imagined an hour later he would give me his number!?!

Well once she pointed him out to me, realizing he had the same build, facial hair and earring he seemed to be the same guy. The only thing that looked different from earlier in the morning was that he was no longer wearing his baseball cap. This, my friends, revealed that he was balding.

So, to sum this up for y'all, I was hit on by a balding, divorced dad via a note. How is that for a confidence booster ;) At the very least, I felt certain it would make an entertaining blog post!
 

The Freedom Riders - forgotten heroes

1) If you haven't seen the movie Freedom Writers, then watch it; it is phenomenal.

2) Watching that movie led me to another one: Freedom Riders - a Stanley Nelson film. In the Freedom Writers movie, they mention freedom riders. I hadn't heard of them and was intrigued. After a little research I came across the second movie, a documentary from the Sundance Film Festival. I haven't seen it yet but it debuts on PBS in May of 2011.

3) If, like me, you couldn't wait to find out more about the forgotten freedom riders, check this out below:

Freedom Riders

Who They Were: Initially 13 men and women (7 blacks and 6 whites) but eventually hundreds. They were supported by the group CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) and also SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee).

What They Did: They attempted to ride public buses across the south; the catch was they mixed up society's racial expectations having some whites use the colored only seats, lines, diners, etc. and black people sit in the seats designated for the whites, stand in the white lines, and eat in the white diners.

Why They Did It: They were encouraged by the success of the non-violent sit-ins in the South (most notably Woolworth's in Greensboro, NC) and also wanted to test the Supreme Court ruling in Boynton vs. Virginia which declared that segregated public transportation was unconstitutional.

Where They Traveled: They left from Washington, DC with the intent of ending in New Orleans, LA. However, after several beatings and riots, the ride stopped short in Jackson, MS.

What Happened: The Freedom Riders were yelled at, beaten with baseball bats and iron pipes, kicked and punched (with a heightened aggression towards the white freedom riders who were helping the blacks), arrested, trapped on their bus as it was set on fire, hospitalized, asked to write letters to their loved ones (in case they didn't finish the trip alive), surrounded by mobs, and much, much more.

When They Did It: May 4-17, 1961... that was not even 50 years ago!?! Blacks and whites were beating each other nearly to death to simply ride a bus side by side; fortunately, we have come a long way BUT if you watch the first movie (Freedom Writers), you will see we still have a long way to go.

The Results:  After the violence really elevated in Alabama (specifically Anniston and Montgomery) peaking at a riot outside of a church, President Kennedy stepped in and national guardsmen were sent in to break up the scene. More freedom rides happened throughout the south and shortly thereafter segregation (seating on buses, separate lines, bathrooms and diners at bus stops, etc.) for public transportation ended.

What We Can Learn: Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. These relative nobodies, just average citizens, banded together and ACTED on something they believed in; it changed their lives and our country, for the better.

This last clip isn't part of the second movie; it is a video made by Vanderbilt University when they re-traveled the 1961 route with some of the original Freedom Riders. It is long but worth the watch.

Additional source: http://www.tahg.org/module_display.php?mod_id=58&review=yes#1994

Correcting Our Language - Round 3

Do you know what that is? Yea, it is a douchebag. BUT, outside of perhaps my 8th grade health class, I haven't really ever heard that word used in association with the image above.

Instead, you've likely heard it used like this: "Don't be such a douchebag," or "Sweetie, don't worry about that douchbag; you can do better than him anyways," etc. etc. etc.

Generally it is used to mean:

• "An individual who has an over-inflated sense of self worth, compounded by a low level of intellegence, behaving ridiculously in front of colleagues with no sense of how moronic he appears"
• or "The name of the guy dating the girl of your dreams"
• or "Someone with a myspace that has more friends than the population of their hometown"
• or a whole list (179 other options) of examples found at urbandictionary.com

One thing's for certain: it has a negative connotation.

But, why?

According to Merriam-Webster online, the official definition is " 1 a : a jet or current of liquid (as a cleansing solution) directed against or into a bodily part or cavity (as the vagina)." It isn't even an item exclusively for vaginas, though that is often assumed.

Now how in the heck did that definition of a cleaning product come to be a dirty word?


Several sources point to the Oxford English Dictionary stating that in 1967 college students began using the word negatively to mean "an unattractive co-ed." Over the years, it has just progressed into being a derogative word, more or less meaning a jerk.

Frankly, that is just odd. And incorrect.

I say we should leave the word "douchebag" to the health class books and get a little more creative and descriptive, i.e. this final urban dictionary example that I feel much more adequately and accurately describes such people beyond simply copping out using the single word "douchebag."

Enjoy ;)

"The term "douchbag" generally refers to a male with any number of characteristics not associated with one particular region or age demographic. Douchebag is a combination of attitude qualities, social ability, and attire.

"In terms of geography douchebags can be found nearly anywhere. For instance, douchebags can be seen in New Jersey where fake diamond earrings, frosted spiked hair, Razor phones, half a can of Axe, unbuttoned collared shirts, Fossil watches, overly groomed chinstraps, backwards colored Yankee hats with the sticker still attached and 2002 Mustangs are considered "tight." At the same time douchebags are also plentiful in the Southwest where on any given Wednesday night on frat row in Tempe you can find males who find it "sweet shit" to wear pink collared shirts, while donning the following attire: pukka-shelled necklaces, fake skater shoes, have some variation of an Asian symbol tattoo on their shoulder or back, wear a Hurley hat that sits cockeyed on their head, throw various fake gang signs during pictures and drive their dad's old white 1997 convertible M3 BMW. They also generally find the length of time one drinks while doing a "keg-stand" directly correlates with the amount of pussy one can get.

"As mentioned douchebags transcend not only various geographical locations, but age demographics as well. For instance, douchebags are quite often seen just south of Sarasota, FL as evidenced by 45 year old men who still wear Oakley's, shave their chests, wear shirts that read "ride" on the front and "me" on the back, and think its cool to wear white K-Swiss'. They are usually on first name basis with the girls at Hooters, and think white T-shirt contests with 1/2 half-off Margaritas are better than a baseball game with $1 beers. At the same time, we can see young 21 year old douchebags in West L.A. who still think that Dolce Gabana belt buckles, and fo-hawks are "pimp shit."

"In terms of behavior douchebags have an over-inflated sense of self worth, lack the social ability to interact with non-douchebags, and have tricked their minds into thinking that they "get mad pussy." The irony is that they very rarely get pussy, but amazingly have the amazing propensity to talk quite often about allegedly getting it.

"Real life doucebags: Keven Federline, Nick Lachey, any dude on The Hills, most of New Jersey."

You Wouldn't Think We Are a Country at War

I recently saw this status on Facebook: Lindsey Lohan who? I cant believe the news coverage being given to a spoiled 20-something yr old. Here are a few 20 year-olds worth knowing about: Justin Allen 23, Brett Linley 29, Matt Weikert 29, Justus Bartett 27, Dave Santos 21, Chase Stanley 21, Jesse Reed 26, Matthew King 23, Christopher Goeke 23, & Sheldon Tate 27. These 20-somethings gave their lives for you this week. Repost if you support the Military!


Sadly, it is so true.

You wouldn't think we are a country at war, especially if you tuned in to our news.

We have days of unimportant coverage on Lindsay Lohan, a mis-behaving movie "star" who is surely some role model we should pay attention to. Note: the previous sentence was to be read with a laaaarge dose of sarcasm.

But it isn't just her. It is also stories on car chases, celebrity break-ups, weight loss secrets or whatever other nonsense that is somehow qualifying as "news" in today's society.

You wouldn't think we are a country at war.

Do you remember the last time you watched a report on the War on Terror? Or at least one that was longer than a 30-second sound-bite? Generally no.

A recent exception would be the General McChrystal/Rolling Stone uproar which the media was diligent in covering, probably because it seemed more like the hot-headed Hollywood behavior that they're used to.

You wouldn't think we are a country at war. 

We need coverage of it, namely of the men and women we're losing in it... on both sides.

Back in September of 2006, CBS ran a story where the lead line read: Now the death toll is 9/11 times two.

Did you see the date? That wasn't a typo: 2006!?! Nearly four years ago we had already doubled 2,973 which, according to that same article, was the total number of victims in New York,Washington and Pennsylvania in case you couldn't remember that number.

Other than around the month of September, particularly the 11th, it seems that our country doesn't remember that number or that incident. We're too busy soaking up the celebrity garbage that is taking over our news.

You wouldn't think we are a country at war.


And with as little coverage as the war gets, we don't even have a clear idea of the NUMBERS, whether we would choose to forget those or not.

The problem is, when I went searching for the death toll, it was hard to find, at least accurately. There is so much word play on this "War on Terror/Overseas Contingency Operation" that a ton of different numbers came up. For example, some of the rhetorical re-wordings included "violent" deaths, "attack" deaths, "in combat" deaths, "civilian" deaths, "contractor" deaths, etc. etc. etc.

You know what it boils down to? A whole lot of DEATH.

According to antiwar.com (forgive me for the obviously biased source), here is the most comprehensive list of numbers I could find:

Casualties in Iraq The Human Cost of Occupation Edited by Margaret Griffis :: Contact
American Military Casualties in Iraq
Date	Total	In Combat
American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03):	4413	3491
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03) (the list)	4274	3383
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03):	3952	3185
Since Handover (6/29/04):	3554	2858
Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09):	185	87
American Wounded	Official	Estimated
Total Wounded:	31888	Over 100000
Latest Fatality July 21, 2010
Page last updated 07/23/10 5:06 pm EDT That is only our side. And that is only Iraq; if you were to include Afghanistan, we are clearly well past the original 2,973. I know that is not the only thingwe are fighting for. Of course, we want to keep our country safe, defend our freedom, encourage democracy and peace, etc. However, at some point, all of that talk becomes just as rhetorical as the different ways to label death.  What it all comes down to is we ARE a country at war. People are dying. And what are we doing? Distracting ourselves with crap like Lindsay Lohan going to jail.  I think we need to re-set our priorities.  Who will your celebrity be? A girl who can't give up alcohol or a military man and/or woman who can give up his or her life?  ______________________________________________If you'd like to honor a military hero, check out these options.