Our Girls

I can't help but feeling that we've failed our girls. As parents, peers and mentors we've failed them. This revelation comes to me in light of recent events, the Chris Brown and Rihanna domestic abuse story. Earlier this week the LAPD leaked the pictures taken of Rihanna right after the dispute. I won't post the pictures out of respect for Rihanna but I can assure you that they are simply horrifying. I know, the first question people will have is, How could Chris Brown do this?

But, my question is, How could we let this happen? Us, as a culture? How could we let this happen?
Now, Rihanna is arguably one of the most popular figurs in mainstream American Pop culture right now. She is a role model to millions of little girls. How could this happen to such a powerful woman?

I don't believe that there weren't any warning signs. I can't believe that he just snapped and randomly did that to her. There had to be signs.

We as American's don't protect our daughters anymore like we use to. Instead we raise insecure, and self conscious girls. We promise them autonomy, but their freedom is laced with peril. I know we as a society dislike the ideals of the Victorian Era, but during those times, people nurtured and protected girls.

According to Tufts University psychologist David Elkind, "Our current postmodern style of family nurturance pays little deference to the old ideal of protecting children from life's vicissitudes or adult knowledge. Today's "harried parents" expect their "hurried children" to be autnomous, competent, and sophisticated by the time they are adolsescents."

At the age of 16, adolescents are not adults, they are still children. We don't effectively comba against teen angst. We are so busy with our schedules that we give in. Children need rules, yes they are going to break them but then you make better rules and punish them for breaking those rules.

Rihanna is not my only example. Lets review, Britney Spears. I love Britney for all that she has overcome but she grew up all to quickly and the world watched her downwhirl spiral. Jamie Lynn Spears, confused pregnancy at 16, thats a child raising a child. Lindsey Lohan. The girl from High School Musical, whose naked pictures ended up online.

We do not teach our girls how to feel good about themselves. Instead we let them learn from mainstream media, which is the worse example. We let our girls believe that in order to feel pretty they must be a ridiculously small size, have big boobs, big butts, and dress slutty. We do nothing to nurture them from the inside, we let them wear make up at 13 yrs old to make the look pretty on the inside.

Girls who do not feel good about themselves need affirmation from others, and that need, unfortunately, almost always empowers male desires. In other words, girls who hate their bodies do not make good decisions about partners, or about the kind of sexual activity that is in their best interest. Because they want to be wanted so much , they are susceptible to manipulation, to flattery even to abuse.

We need to make an investment in all American girls, not just our own daughters...

No Country for Old Men/Women

Recently I've discovered that I can be very mean. So one of my new years resolutions was to be nicer. It sound's simple but its rather difficult. I am not intentionally mean, it's just that when people tick me off for whatever reasons its how I respond.

In order to be nicer, I have to stop and think before acting or speaking. I have to second guess my instant reaction. I've realized that this new ability - stop and thinking, has not made me nicer its only helped me be meaner more effectively.

Example:

Today I went to the bank to deposit my checks. Its always a mad rush on Friday's to get your check in before the weekend, therefore, there is rarely any parking. So I drove around the lot twice looking for spots and found nothing, finally I gave up and parked illegally next to an already parked car. Meaning, I created a spot for myself. Now, there was a car that had done the same exact thing which is what inspired the idea. So I parked, turned on my hazards and head out. The weather in New York has been rather schizophrenic the past couple of weeks and today it was roughly 30 degree's with a windchill that made it feel like 15. As I bundled up in my jacket and head out towards the bank this old woman probably 80 years old stops me in the middle of the parking lot.

"You know, thats not a parking spot." she says. I am in utter disbelief that Granny is reprimanding me in the freezing cold. It is so windy that I am about to fly away along with the bundle of checks in my hand.
"Excuse me? " I ask.
"That." She points to my car. "That is not a spot." Now, I assure you that my car was not blocking anyone or causing anyone any kind inconvenience.
So this is where the stop and think stuff kicks in, "OH, It isn't? Well what do you know. I guess not." I respond acting dumb founded.
"Yes. It isn't"She responds folding her arms like she had done her civic duty and stopped a murder from occurring.
"Are you a cop?" I ask.
"What?"
"Are you a cop ma'am? Are you planning on issuing me a ticket?" I ask
"No." she looks utterly shocked.
"Then Shut up. " And I start to walk past her and she calls out.
"You have quiet an attitude miss."
I smile and respond, "I do, don't I?" I hurry into the bank and chuckle to myself.

Here is the thing, I know that was a mean thing to say but I think she needed to hear it. I hate old people who have no other venue for there stupid energy than to pick on young people. Just because you are old doesn't make you on a greater moral standing than the rest of us. I parked my car for 5 minutes and promptly left, I didn't block or take your stupid handicap spot.

You want to make a real difference old lady? Look this up,

www.experiencecorps.org

God Save The Empty

I've wanted to write something legitimate for some time now but I can't bring myself to comment on the world currently...It's awful. Everything, is just so awful.

So, I am not going to comment on the bad things, instead, I'll highlight the positive. I think we all need some good news, right?

** Clears Throat. Ahem. Ahem**

The nine men involved in the terrorist attacks on India are lying in a hospital morgue. How is this good news? Well, here is the thing, they are Muslims and therefore, they must be buried. The Muslim community in India is refusing to take them in and bury them. “People who committed this heinous crime cannot be called Muslim,” Hanif Nalkhande, a spokesman for the trust, told The Times of London.

Thank you Indian Muslim community.


Obama's controversial stimulus package ( which has passed, Thank God) has received support from GOP Governors. I know you are thinking, thats not a big a deal. But it is! Maybe this means the Republicans are seeing past all the bullshit. Not all at once, but slowly they will all come around.

Thank you Gov. Terminator.


Billionaire fashion designer Armani, announced at fashion week that he is going to donate 1 Million dollars to New York Public Schools to promote the arts.

Thank you philanthropy.

Chris Brown has finally broken his silence. He released a statement saying that he was deeply remorseful and will be seeking counseling.

Thank you TMZ.

President Álvaro Colom of Guatemala apologized to Cuba on Tuesday for his country’s role in permitting the CIA to train Cuban exiles on Guatemalan soil to take part in the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.

Thank you history.


JetBlue is offering Fare Refunds to customers who have lost their jobs since purchasing a ticket.

Thank you market competition.

Also, Dunkin Donuts is randomly handing out free $5.00 gift cards to customers.

Thanks again, competition.

And finally, He's Just Not That Into You opened in theaters. So if you need something to take your mind off all the bad things going on go see this film. Not because its particularly good or anything but because we all know the easiest things to fuss and strain your brain over are matters of the heart.

OMG they are TWINs

My upcoming Purchases.

Has the world gone crazy?

OK. Has the world gone completely insane?
I know the economy is tough but seriously? Have you been reading the news?
Nadya Suleman had EIGHT children. NO, its no Jon and Kate plus eight. Its Nadya and fourteen children. Nadya who doesn't have a job or a degree. This lady got divorced in 2000 before she had any babies, and then decided to pack her uterus with as many embryo's as possible and destroy her vagina.

I am not being mean, I am angry as hell. You know Suleman hired two publicist as soon as she left the hospital ? You know angelina and brad got $14 million for there baby pictures. You know everyone who had a shitload of babies has there own reality show . You know she collected $168,000 in disability benefits. You know she got an interview with the Today show...
It's absolutely disgusting.

In another news, President Obama has taken over my TV/Radio/Internet. Enough with the Obama mania already. I think he spends more time on TV then actually doing anything. Have you watched the Senate argue over this stimulus package? Its the stupidest shit you'll ever witness. It's like third grade show and tell, everybody in Senate wants to show there fabulous analogy concerning deficit spending. I have come to the conclusion that America is run by idiots.


Michael Phelps smokes pot. The golden boy of America was stupid enough to be caught taking a hit. You're a moron.

Jessica Simpson is fat. woohoo. I don't care. Here is what I do care about, her sudden new tantrums on stage. She destroyed two concerts by screwing up her own lyrics and running off stage in tears. I am getting tired of celebrity tantrums. How can you screw up your own awful lyrics?

Apparently every cabinet appointee Obama picked decided it was unnecessary to pay taxes. This really pisses me off, like really. Geithner wrote off his kids sleep away camp expenses as day care. That ticks me off more than you can imagine because those day care benefits are for single mothers. You know the girls who got knocked up in 10th grade and had to put the kid in day care so they could finish beauty school. Those girls really need those benefits so there children don't repeat the same story. Geithner is a douchebag and I dont know how I feel about him being in charge of the "Treasury" or whatever is left of it. After hearing all this stuff I feel as though Obama cannot bring the change he promised, he'll just spend his entire term bringing ethics to Washington. How can we expect Wall St. to act accordingly if Politicians can't even do it.

Did you are about this $500,000 salary cap for Wall St. exec's. Seriously, $500,000 is the cap? Seriously.

Apparently Peanut company lied that they tested the tainted peanuts and knew they were giving salmonella to everyone. Smart guys, what you thought nobody was going to notice? Nobody was going to notice that people just started dying. smart.


Sri Lanka and Gaza. How about this Sri Lankan Government, why dont you just kill all your inhabitants, all of them. This way you can go around shooting because that is what you are doing anyway. Did you catch any of those Tamil Tigers yet? Oh, yea, one. Good job. How many innocent civilians have you killed? wooosh, thats a big number. Any of them babies. oooh thats nice. Oh, and Hamas and Israel....seriously..no comment.


Oh and word to the media. STOP TELLING ME HOW MANY JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST DAILY.
I get it, things are bad, I see it. I don't need a daily reminder. You know what else I don't need a stupid comparison to another shitty time when this stuff was happening.

Finally, Ashlee Simpson and that freakshoow she married named there kid something hideous.

I propose a new program. Listen up Obama. Before a couple or single person decide to have a child they should be screened, given an aptitude test, a personality test and there financial information should be reviewed...then they should told whether or not they should have a child. Because just because you can have babies doesn't mean you should.

Cause your kiss went deeper than my skin..

First of all must go
Your scent upon my pillow
And then I'll say goodbye
to your whispers in my dreams.
And then our lips will part
In my mind and in my heart,
Cause your kiss
Went deeper than my skin.

Piece by piece
is how I'll let go of you
Kiss by kiss
Will leave my mind one at a time
One at a time

First of all must fly,
My dreams of you and I,
There's no point of holding on to those
And then our ties will break,
For your and my own sake,
Just remember,
This is what you chose

Piece by piece
Is how I'll let go of you
Kiss by kiss,
will leave my mind one at a time
One at a time

I'll shed like skin,
Our memories of lazy days,
And fade away the shadow of your face

Piece by piece
Is how I'll let go of you
Kiss by kiss,
Will leave my mind one at a time
One at a time