Across the Ashleyverse

Preview of Coming Spring/Summer 2010 Attractions

2010-04-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

Howdy, y'all! Long time, no blog. Anyway, I will have some brand-new stuff on here in the coming weeks. This 'brand-new stuff' will mostly pertain to post health-care reform bill passage political news and my June/July Eurotrip. Hopefully, things will slow down a tad (big emphasis on the 'hopefully' part of that!) in the Ashleyverse in the next couple weeks so that I can get said 'brand-new stuff' posted. Stay tuned!

My Reading List for 03/25/10

2010-03-25T18:10:00.000-07:00

Hello! Welcome to this "My Reading List for..." snippet. I finally finished reading Moby Dick. Actually, my professor told the class that one never really "finishes" reading books like Moby Dick and The Scarlet Letter. I totally concur with that statement. I also think this is the case with most of the works on our syllabus. Nineteenth-century American literature is so "loaded" in terms of content and symbolism (ex.: the multi-ethnic crew of the Pequod as an analogy for global diversity), and that's exactly why I love it. The discussion never gets boring! Anyway, I'm currently working on a presentation for April 6 in which I will compare and contrast Herman Melville's war-themed writings with those of Walt Whitman. In addition to discussing MD and reading some of Melville's other works, including Bartleby the Scrivener and Billy Budd, Sailor, I will examine some of Whitman's war poems, especially "The Wound-dresser." I will also discuss the lives and careers of both men. According to what I've already learned, Melville and Whitman were controversial figures, to say the least. Well, that's all for this snippet. Stay tuned for near-future installments of this series.

Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style, Saturday Edition 2

2010-03-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

Howdy, folks! I haven't written in a few days, since I've been characteristically uber-busy, juggling the demands of grad school, teaching, and life in general. That said, I've got a plethora of political, entertainment, and Ashleyverse news to report on this lovely, early spring day.

Okay, first the breaking political news: Congress is set to vote on the all-important health-care reform bill tomorrow. According to the most recent press releases, things look good for President Obama's agenda. Also, this weekend marks the seventh anniversary of the Iraq War, which has been commemorated with little fanfare (hmm... wonder why!). We must urge the president and Congress to put an end to this little "police action" as promptly and honorably as possible. (Between y'all and me, I'm getting so sick and tired of writing about dangblasted wars. If I were in charge, I'd try to pass Lysistrata legislation in order to limit our involvement in "police actions" of any kind. LOL!!!)

Secondly, in entertainment news, the late, great axmaster Jimi Hendrix has beaten Elvis' long-standing Billboard music chart record, by becoming the first artist since Presley to score a top-5 album posthumously. Hendrix's compilation of never-before-released "experimental" music-- Valleys of Neptune-- has been released nearly 40 years after his death. The King's last album was released in 2003, about 25 years after his passing. (Clarification: Hendrix broke Presley's record by scoring a top-5 album a longer period after his death than Presley.) I've always been a huge Jimi fan, and I especially love the songs "Purple Haze," "Fire," "Angel," "Foxey Lady," "Little Wing," "Bold as Love," "Snowcastles in the Sand," "The Wind Cries Mary," and Jimi's kickass cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower." Of course, who can resist Jimi's Woodstock performance of "The Star-spangled Banner"?

Finally, in Ashleyverse news, I'm still reading Moby Dick. I hope to be done with it by tomorrow. As for that spring cleaning project, well, I think I made a little headway with that endeavor today. Still, with everything else I've got going on, a perfectly clean house is just not a top priority right now. Anyway, I guess the big Ashleyverse news is that I'm awaiting some possible good news from alma mater concerning my very near future. If I am delivered said good news, I'll share it with y'all right here. Until then, it's top secret. (I don't want to jinx it!)

And, on that positive note, I conclude yet another "special Saturday" edition of Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style. Peace, Love, & Happiness, y'all!

An Invitation to Join the Coffee Party

2010-03-15T17:32:00.000-07:00

For the past year, we progressives/Obama supporters have longed for an alternative to the vitriolic Tea Party Movement and its idiotic Townhall Meetings. Well, we finally have it in the form of the Coffee Party Movement. For more info about this group, which officially kicked off at coffeeshops nationwide on Saturday, March 13, log onto: http://www.chattahbox.com/us/2010/03/15/coffee-party-groups-seek-change-without-the-hate. Let's start the change, have real public discourse, and stop the hate today!

Latest Health-care Reform News

2010-03-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

The latest health-care reform news is in: According to an ABC News blurb released earlier today, the Senate may be able to get the health-care reform bill passed after all. As I've said before, we have to keep our fingers crossed and be vigilant. (Aside: There's some reform going on in the Ashleyverse as well in the form of, um, environmental improvements. Yes, folks, I've embarked upon a little spring cleaning project. More info on both these items later.)

Wacky Wednesday News, "Spring Break" Edition

2010-03-10T09:05:00.001-08:00

Okay, I've got some more wacky Wednesday news to share with y'all today. First of all, there's some rather sad Hollyweird news to report: Former teen heartthrob and Lost Boys star Corey Haim was found dead at age 38. He had struggled with lifelong addictions to drugs and alcohol. Shame! Secondly, in political news, we may be in the homestretch in regards to health-care reform. In impassioned appeals reminiscent of the 2008 campaign, President Obama is doing his best to rally support for this much-needed legislation all over the country. Finally, in Ashleyverse news, I got an A on that mid-term exam. I'm also on "spring break" from work this week. I've been super-busy with Eurotrip-related stuff the past couple days, but I'm otherwise enjoying myself. That said, I had class from 3:30-9:30 last night, so I'm a little beat and don't have much more to say. So, for those of you on spring break, stay safe and just chillax, and those of you who aren't off this week, peace out anyway.

My Reading List for 03/09/10

2010-03-09T09:48:00.000-08:00

Howdy, faithful readers! I've just fulfilled my quota of assigned reading for tonight for 19th-century Am. lit.-- the first 38 chapters of Moby Dick, to be exact. Throughout those 144 pages, I discovered a number of critical plot nuances in the novel. Accordingly, I will share a few of them with you.

First, many of the characters have Biblical names. I feel that this device is symbolic of the importance of religion in 19th-century America. Secondly, narrator Ishmael makes some very interesting observations about his fellow shipmates, especially Queequeg, Tashtego, and Daggoo-- all men of color. More specifically, while he comes off as being a bit condescending to them, Ishmael also seems to imply that these men appear to be more devout in their spiritual practices and rituals than many white Western Christians. This global perspectivism is a major theme of literature of this time period. Finally, all of Melville's characters have a great deal of pathos, or emotion-- another characteristic of 19th-century American literature. One example of this is the misunderstood Captain Ahab. We learn that he has been depressed since losing a leg to the eponymous beast shortly before the story takes place and that he actually has quite a nice life on land, including a supposedly happy marriage to a "sweet girl" and a child. These are just a few of the things I've discovered while reading this once-maligned classic.

This has been another installment of "My Reading List for..." Stay tuned for many more to come.

Manic Monday News Round-up for 03/08/10

2010-03-08T12:22:00.001-08:00

Hey, y'all! For starters today, I want to briefly discuss the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, which aired last night on ABC. Sandra Bullock proved her critics wrong and beat out the formidable Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren in order to win the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for The Blind Side. The Hurt Locker won Best Picture (I'm actually not surprised). The film's director, Katherine Bigelow (ex-wife of also-nominated Avatar director James Cameron!), made history for becoming the first woman to win in this category. Jeff Bridges won for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Crazy Heart, and Mo'Nique won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her riveting performance in Precious. Also, screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher became the first African-American Best Adapted Screenplay award winner for that movie, which is based on the novel Push, written by Sapphire. All in all, it was a decent-- if not a bit lackluster-- telecast, and hosts Baldwin and Martin were very funny. I was most interested in the less-decorated nominees, especially the Coen Brothers (Fargo; O, Brother Where Art Thou?; Burn After Reading) film The Serious Man, which was nominated for best picture.

Now, for some more Ashleyverse news: I think that my naysayers have shut up and realized that it's futile to even try to quell my ambitions and aspirations. Aside from that, I'm just trying to enjoy my "spring break." Once again, on a positive note, I'm signing off. Namaste!

Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style, 03/07/10 Edition

2010-03-07T09:31:00.000-08:00

Hello! I've got some political, Oscar-related, and Ashleyverse news and views to share with everyone today.

First off, in political news, elections were held in Iraq amid sectarian violence, which has been caused largely by U.S. presence in the country since 2003. Know what? It's been seven years since we invaded the once-sovereign nation of Iraq, and we've done much more harm than good. Needless to say, it's time to leave Vietraq for good. (Aside: Vice President Biden is leading a push to revive Middle East peace talks, which makes me feel a little bit better about everything.)

Secondly, in Oscar-related news, yes, tonight is Oscar night once again. Uber-talented Meryl Streep's hilarious It's Complicated co-stars Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin are hosting. Best actress nominee Sandra Bullock "won" a Razzie award for her performance in The Blind Side-- a role she actually won a Golden Globe for. Whatever! Anyway, for best picture, I predict Precious will win. It's perhaps the most-buzzed-about film of the year, director Lee Daniels is the man, and the cast, including star Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey, and Lenny Kravitz (IMHO, one of the most beautiful men on the planet), is absolutely stellar. We shall see if this prediction is correct!

Finally, in Ashleyverse news, some toxic personalities in the form of "dreamkillers" have invaded my sphere. Once again, whatever! Still, enough with all the negativity, people! Okay, I just need to think positive thoughts, perform positive actions, and positive things will more than likely happen.

And, with those happy notions, I conclude this "broadcast." Stay tuned for the next edition of Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style.

Some Interesting Findings

2010-03-06T13:43:00.000-08:00

I often discuss interesting findings, articles, and/or info on this blog. Well, I found an article with some very interesting scientific findings that reaffirms one of my long-held theories.

That said, here goes: According to one of my beloved Yahoo! articles, scientists have concluded that happy people are 70% more talkative and tend to talk about much more substantive things than unhappy ones. Hmm... Perhaps I'm on to something with this! LOL! Seriously, though, I've always believed, based on my personal observations on and interactions with others, that this is definitely the case. I've found that a key sign of unhappiness is a general inability to discuss substantive things or think beyond the perimeters of one's own sphere. (Incidentally, I think I'm relatively talkative and often discuss basically substantive things; therefore, I consider myself relatively happy.) Anyway, I thought I'd just share these findings with y'all. Stay tuned for more "Interesting Findings" posts. Peace, Love, & Happiness!

Friday Focus: The Health-care Reform Debate and Possible Solutions to It

2010-03-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

Health-care reform is undeniably one of the "hottest" issues on the American political scene today. Well, I have a few solutions to the problem. These proposed solutions may seem a little "pie in the sky," but I think they could be a step in the right direction. First, the president needs to continue talking tough to those who knock health-care reform. Secondly, we need a public option-- no ifs, ands, or buts. In addition, both sides must reach a compromise and think on behalf of the greater good of the country in regards to get this all-important legislation passed through the Senate. Also, Dems and Repubs need to cut the pork, so to speak, and only include those parts of a health-care bill that are truly beneficial to the American people. Most importantly, those who oppose any reform whatsoever need to-- as I said last week-- grow up and get over themselves! Each of these things will facilitate the passage of a health-care reform bill.

Various Things for This Thursday, March 4

2010-03-04T06:48:00.000-08:00

Howdy! I've got lots of various "Thursday things" to share with y'all today. First of all, I still can't get over that story about the Congressman who wants to replace Grant's face with Reagan's on the $50 bill. BTW, said "offender" is Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-North Carolina). Dang, what a waste of tax payer dollars that would be! You know Olbermann will probably name McHenry one of his "worst people in the world." And did anyone else pick up on the unfunny irony that this jerk wants to honor a president who caused socioeconomic disparity in the 80s during another recession? Then again, Repubs apparently subscribe to their own version of reality.

Secondly, we may have a health-care plan with a public option by Easter. President Obama is trying ardently to persuade Congress to come to an up-or-down vote by that date. Speaking of the prez, I was thumbing through this hip, trendy, magazine-like textbook called Reader's Edge today at work that contains sidebars about what celebrities, including Obama, are reading. It turns out he's really into Emerson's Self-Reliance and Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. Hmm... Great minds think alike! (Major LOL on that one!)

Finally, I'm still alive and am looking forward to my spring break from work next week. I actually have class at EIU on the 9th. (Eastern's break is the week of March 15-19, but I have to work. Go figure!) Anyway, I have to continue reading Moby Dick and work on homework. So, there's no such thing as a real break in the Ashleyverse. Still, I'm looking forward to having at least a little time off. I have to teach a pretty rigorous lesson tomorrow, so I'm just going to veg out tonight and watch the The Office "baby" episode.

And, with that happy thought, I conclude this "Thursday Things" post. Peace, Love, & Happiness!

More Wacky Wednesday Stuff for Your Entertainment and Information

2010-03-03T08:27:00.000-08:00

Where to begin with this "newscast"? Well, there's tons of info I could share with y'all (not too sure about the entertainment part). In political news, for starters, President Obama has brought a comprehensive health-care bill before Congress. I suppose that could prove entertaining for we progressives! Also, while Chile is the current earthquake "hotspot," scientists have their eyes on Eurasia as the next predicted epicenter of plate tectonic movement.

Actually, I stumbled across some rather entertaining political news today. Some GOP Congressman (he's from somewhere down South, I think) wants Reagan's picture on the $50 bill. Please! It's bad enough that we have to see Ulysses S. Grant's worthless, drunken mug everytime we pull out a 50. How's that for entertainment?

Last but certainly not least, in Ashleyverse news, I survived my mid-term exam. No further commentary on that item. And that concludes this edition of Wacky Wednesday News. Peace out!

My Reading List for 03/02/10

2010-03-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

Hey! I've read the first few chapters of Moby Dick. So far, what I've read is fascinating, to say the least. Much of these initial chapters of the novel consists of narrator Ishmael's observations of his new surroundings and shipmates, especially those of a "strange, very dark" man named Queequeg. I know you're not supposed to evaluate historical events and value systems in a post-modern context, but 19th-century views of 'individuals of color' are, frankly, crazy and, well, downright ignorant. Of course, I suppose that kind of goes without saying nowadays. And, yes, I will continue my discussion of Herman Melville's loaded masterwork-- which actually began life as a critical flop-- in near-future posts.

More importantly, I'm gearing up for tonight's Am. lit. mid-term essay exam. (I have to write two essays in class and just completed the take-home portion of the test.) For the take-home part, I wrote about how Natty Bumppo, Frederick Douglass, and Hester Prynne all rebel against their societies and what the outcomes of those actions are. For example, I argue that Hawthorne's "proto-feminist heroine (my term!)" needed to rebel against the laws and mores of puritanical Salem, Mass., in order to fulfill her destiny and that she is ultimately successful in doing so. (Aside: I'm feeling very Hester Prynne-ish atm. Those who've read the book will get my drift.) Anyway, I've been hitting the books pretty hard the past few days, and my brain is about to explode. So, since I have to get ready to drag my weary butt up to Chucktown a little later on today, I'm signing off now. Namaste!

Manic Monday News Round-up for 03/01/10

2010-03-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

Alright, I'm pretty danged busy today, so I'll keep my coverage of current events as brief as possible. In world news, it has been determined that troops will stay in Marjah, Afghanistan, for months. (Look for a focused post on this later this week.) Also in world news, Chilean earthquake rescue efforts are well underway. It is projected that since Chile's people and government are more united and less corrupt, respectively, than those in Haiti, helping Chile will ultimately prove less daunting than aiding Haiti has. Lastly, the winter olympics ended last night in a very strange manner. NBC abruptly halted its network coverage of closing ceremonies in order to broadcast the premier of its latest "reality" show-- The Marriage Ref (whatever!). The U.S. won the most medals total, and host country Canada won the most golds. In U.S. political news, the health-care debate continues to rage, but President Obama has started talking tough to Senate Repubs in regards to this matter. (I think there's still hope in regards to this matter.) Finally, in Ashleyverse news, I'm working oh-so diligently on a research/symposium paper proposal revision for literary criticism and theory, as well as prepping for tomorrow's mid-term exam in Am. lit. And that is precisely why this "Manic Monday News Round-up" post is so brief.

Chile Earthquake Update and Charity Options

2010-02-28T10:12:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, the South American nation of Chile was struck by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake-- considerably worse than the Haiti earthquake that occurred in January. Below, I will provide my faithful readers with updates and charity options.

UPDATE: In the aftermath of the massive quake, over 700 people are confirmed dead. Also, there have been approximately 90 aftershocks, a few of which measured almost as strongly on the Richter scale as the Haiti quake (7.7). According to a number of scientists, these aftershocks may continue for months. About 60 people are reportedly trapped in an apartment building in Concepcion, Chile. The nation of Chile is claiming not to need international aid, but President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have reportedly conferred about possibly sending U.S. aid to Chile. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has declared her country a "state of catastrophe," and the U.S. government will assist Chile's government if aid is needed.

CHARITY OPTIONS: Those wanting to help the survivors of this natural disaster can donate through organizations, including: Google Checkout, UNICEF, and/or Direct Relief International, among others.

Please help the people of Chile in any way possible today.

Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style (Saturday Edition)

2010-02-27T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hello! Good afternoon! I've decided to "broadcast" a special Saturday edition of Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style, since there's so much happening everywhere right now.

For starters, there are unfortunately lots of natural disasters happening as we "speak." For example, Santiago, Chile, has been rocked by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake. Secondly, Hawaii will more than likely get slammed by a tsunami. Finally, the U.S. East Coast is getting its third round of winter storms. (I think I'm going to follow these items and report on them further in coming days.)

Secondly, in Olympics news, the big story atm is last night's men's 500-meter speedskating final. More specifically, heavily decorated (8 medals career total; 3 medals in Vancouver thus far) Apolo Anton Ohno was disqualified in the event after allegedly causing Canadian Francois-Louis Tremblay to fall during the race. Now, it has been ruled that Ohno will receive the bronze medal. Canadian Charles Hamelin won the gold, and South Korean Si-Bak Sung will take home the silver medal. (Aside: I have a wicked schoolgirl crush on Mr. Hamelin. Sadly, he's already taken.)

Finally, in Ashleyverse news, next week is mid-term week at EIU. Other than that, there's nothing else special going on, except that I'm waiting to hear whether or not I'll get the Eurotrip scholarship and/or the grad assistantship for next semester. (Fingers crossed, y'all!)

So, that wraps up this special Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, edition of Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style. Until next time, peace, love, & happiness.

Analysis of Yesterday's "Bipartisan" Health-care Summit

2010-02-26T09:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a big day on Capitol Hill. Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, will be remembered by historians as the day of the bipartisan White House health-care reform summit. Unfortunately, this day probably won't be remembered for positive reasons. The main problem is that the summit wasn't all that bipartisan. Senate Republicans remain recalcitrant in regards to backing the president's ideas about this pressing issue. At one point, Obama's former campaign rival, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), viciously attacked the president, who graciously and courageously responded: "The election's over."

MY CHARACTERISTICALLY SASSY REBUTTAL: The president is absolutely right-- the election is over. We need to focus on what's best for the nation as a whole, not our personal likes and dislikes. More importantly, we need to forget the past and deal with what's happening now, which is countless fundamentally good, hard-working Americans without access to affordable, decent health care. We must take care of our own (novel concept, huh?) and quit deriding progress as some kind of -ism. And, speaking of elections, there's a mid-term one coming up in November of this year and another big one in 2012. It might behoove Congressional Repubs to meet the prez half-way on a few things if they want to keep their seats. Even though we all have differences of opinion on how we should receive health care, the majority of us agree that we need it. Therefore, legislators who support some sort or degree of government-funded health-care legislation are the ones who will be elected or re-elected. It's that simple, folks. (Note: This is definitely not my final word on this topic. There's plenty more where that came from. Stay tuned!) Personally, I think those Repubs need to grow up and get over themselves. Just sayin'!

My Reading List for 02/25/10

2010-02-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

Alright, I've begun my reading of Herman Melville's 1851 masterwork-- Moby Dick. Of course, pretty much everyone is familiar with the book's opening line: "Call me Ishmael..." and quotes like "Thar she blows!" Well, in between, there's a lot of other stuff going on in here. As I've mentioned before, one of the novel's major themes/plotlines is war, particularly in regards to Britain's military involvement with Afghanistan. Sure enough, there's a reference to this in the very first chapter. In addition to a bunch of other political things, there's plenty of cultural topics and issues dealt with throughout this dense text, including race, religion, and the whaling industry. Lastly, this book is heavy on character development. From narrator Ishmael to Queequeg to the colorful, infamous Captain Ahab, there's plenty to keep readers entertained. As I read and discover more about Melville's literary masterwork, which is definitely about so much more than a quest for a white whale (the book's title means "white whale" in Old English), I'll discuss it here. Thus, stay tuned for the next installment of "My Reading List for..." in which I'll do just that.

Wacky Wednesday World, U.S., and Ashleyverse News for 02/24/10

2010-02-24T07:11:00.000-08:00

Once again, there's so much to talk about today. In world news, Marjah, Afghanistan*, is still the primary "hotspot" right now. (*I will discuss this item further later this week.) Also, in U.S. political news, there will be a White House health-care summit tomorrow. (Again, I'll write a focused analysis about this issue sometime in the next few days.) We've gotta be vigilant in regards to this one, folks! In addition, the U.S. continues to dominate at the winter olympic games in Vancouver, B.C. The top American athletes are skier Lindsey Vonn, cross-country skier Julia Mancuso, and hockey player Ryan Miller. Finally, in Ashleyverse news, I'm prepping for my mid-term exam for Am. lit.-- a series of essays-- plus it's still very much wintertime.

Okay, that concludes this "Wacky Wednesday News" report for 02/24/10. Until next time, peace, love, & happiness, y'all!

My Reading List for 02/23/10

2010-02-23T06:52:00.000-08:00

Hey, everyone! I'm currently in the process of wrapping up my reading of The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, Written by Himself (1845). Douglass was indeed a remarkable, if flawed, individual. (Then again, who isn't at least a little flawed?) Anyway, several things about this book fascinated me; for example, Douglass discusses how slaves living in the city of Baltimore were generally treated better than those on plantations in rural areas of Douglass' home state of Maryland. Also, even though he spoke out against slavery, Douglass subscribed to Victorian views of women. (This actually didn't surprise me that much.) In addition, while the document sometimes takes a righteous tone, Douglass doesn't appear to believe that all white Southerners are pro-slavery; in fact, he frequently mentions one great Southern statesman who to an extent champions the anti-slavery cause (I'm pretty sure he's referring to Kentucky-born Abe Lincoln). Finally, I enjoyed the parts about Douglass' travels to Great Britain and his tales of life on the lecture circuit. England was about decade ahead of the U.S. in terms of broaching the slavery issue. I think the primary message of Douglass' writing is that literacy is power. I can't really argue with that! As for what's next on the agenda for Am. lit., well, I have a mid-term exam next week. After that, we'll be reading Herman Melville's masterwork-- Moby Dick (1851). There's a lot going on plotwise in this classic novel, including British military involvement with a little country called Afghanistan, which, incidentally, didn't work out too well for the Brits. (Hmm... did someone say: "History repeats itself"?!) Alright, stay tuned for the next edition of "My Reading List for...". Until next time, peace!

A Progressive Response to the Neocons' Attacks on President Obama at the 2010 CPAC Gathering

2010-02-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

This past week, various conservative political and media figures convened for the annual CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) gathering. All the key speakers, including GOP presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, ripped on President Obama for his alleged role in the current economic mess, among other things. Regardless of the issue at hand, the president just can't catch a break from conservatives.

THE PROGRESSIVE RESPONSE: Get some new material, people! We're all in this mess together, so it's going to take all of us working together to get out of it. This whole partisanship thing is out of control. In addition, we need a danged stimulus package, and Congress and the president need to work in tandem in order to cut wasteful spending (hint: no more wars!). We also need health care, which we'll probably get-- with or without the Repubs. (Who needs 'em, right?) Finally, we just have to realize that part and parcel of living in a representative democracy like America is that none of us is always going to like every aspect of every single piece of legislation that comes down the pike. That's just the way it is, folks. If you don't like it, then move to Afghanistan!

An Extra Helping of Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style

2010-02-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

Hello, everybody! Welcome to a very brief edition of Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style. I say "very brief," because I'm currently in the throes of working on my research and proposal for my symposium paper that I have to write and present in my literary criticism and theory class (don't even ask!). Anyway, the big political news atm is that President Obama is now looking outside of Congress for help in getting health-care legislation passed. All I have to say is: 'What's the big hold-up?!' Secondly, the Marjah offensive in Afghanistan has entered its second week. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Repubs continue to make big ole fools of themselves. Well, that's all for now, folks, as I have to get back to "work." More info on these and other topics forthcoming in focused posts later on this week. Stay tuned!

Some Interesting, Inspiring News from Down Under

2010-02-20T10:27:00.000-08:00

As my faithful readers have already noticed, I'm always on the lookout for human interest stories about seemingly ordinary individuals, especially women, who do extraordinary things under extraordinary circumstances. Well, today I found a great one that comes all the way from Australia. Interestingly enough, its subject died over a century ago and is finally getting her due for all the tireless, selfless, and occasionally controversial work she did on behalf of the downtrodden and oppressed in the Land Down Under.

This individual is Mary MacKillop. Who is Mary MacKillop, you may ask? Mary MacKillop is Australia's first patron saint. Her canonisation, which will be formally declared Oct. 17, 2010, ends an 85-year debate over whether she deserved that honor. Mother Mary, who was beatified in 1995 after the Vatican recognized her role in two miracles, was actually excommunicated from the Catholic Church in 1871 for alleged insubordination and a supposedly rebellious, egalitarian ethos. She was reinstated four months later. Mary died in 1909 at age 67. Despite a lifetime of battling ill health, she accomplished a great deal, including: helping Australia's poor, founding a school, and starting her own order of nuns-- the Sisters of St. Joseph-- in 1866. According to Sister Josephine Dubiel, a nun in Melbourne, Aus., Mother Mary's impending canonisation, which was announced via text message from Vatican City Friday, Feb. 19, is a career highlight for many nuns, who continue to benefit from Mary's work, charity, and zeal for education. I would go so far as to say that Mary's contributions to society are a highlight for history and humanity as a whole. (For more Mother Mary info, log onto: http://www.theage.com.au/national/in-canberra-and-the-bush-first-saint-finds-a-welcome-20100200-oms8.html. You can also find a plethora of Mother Mary facts on Google, Wikipedia, and Yahoo!.)

Friday Focus: Afghanistan

2010-02-19T07:05:00.000-08:00

Following a fierce gunfight Friday, Feb. 19, U.S. Marines seized a compound in Marjah, Afghanistan, that is believed to be a Taliban headquarters. Personnel from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines found photos of fighters posing with their weapons, dozens of Taliban-issued ID cards, and graduation diplomas from a training camp in Pakistan in the compound. Insurgents had been using this field office, which is located just south of Marjah's center, before they abandoned it at the end of a day-long battle with U.S. Marines. The goal was to break resistance in Marjah-- a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. The Marjah offensive began February 13, and Thursday, Feb. 18 was the deadliest day, with six coalition troops killed. The death toll for the entire operation thus far stands at 12 NATO troops and one Afghan soldier. There have been an estimated 120 Taliban casualties.

ANALYSIS: Afghanistan will undoubtedly prove to be President Barack Obama's greatest foreign policy test. Marjah, a town with an estimated population of 80,000 that is located 360 miles (610 kilometers) southwest of Kabul, has been under Taliban control for years. Therefore, successful breakage of this Taliban stronghold could quite possibly lead to an expedited end to the Afghan War altogether. If coalition forces can achieve this goal, then President Obama can begin withdrawing troops from the Middle East in a timely and safe manner.

BOTTOM LINE: We need to be successful in Afghanistan. None of us wants this war to continue indefinitely, but once again, President Obama has unfortunately been backed into a corner as a result of the Bush administration's failure to combat terrorist cells in Afghanistan and Pakistan and its tunnel-visioned and woefully misguided focus on Iraq. The current commander-in-chief not only has a clear strategy ending our involvement in Iraq, but he also has a plan for success in Afghanistan. This is the first of many steps along the long, difficult path toward Middle East peace. Most importantly, Obama's plan-- if given a chance-- will ensure that Iraq and Afghanistan do not become Vietnam's II and III. Those casualty figures (on all sides) represent real people, and our president realizes that. I personally believe that Obama will have us out of the Middle East by the end of his first term in office.

My Reading List for 02/18/10

2010-02-18T07:44:00.000-08:00

The month of February is notable for a number of things and holidays (Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day, my birthday (LOL!), the winter Olympics, Mardi Gras, the Chinese New Year, various historical and cultural events, etc.). One occasion, however, is particularly worth noting: February is Black History Month.

Accordingly, we're reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave (1845) in 19th-century American literature. This remarkable text chronicles the amazing life of an equally remarkable, amazing individual. Douglass (1817?-1895) transcended seemingly insurmountable adversity to become one of the greatest thinkers and writers in all of U.S. and world history. Throughout his narrative, Douglass uses biblical and personal quotations in order to argue that slavery is most definitely an immoral practice. (He was rightfully an outspoken critic of religious hypocrisy.) Readers quickly realize that Douglass is absolutely correct. I'm completely awestruck by a number of his personal quotes, like: "Memory was given to man for some wise purpose. The past is... the mirror in which we may discern the dim outlines of the future and by which we may make them more symmetrical." Wow! In other words, Douglass is essentially saying that we must examine the mistakes of generations past and learn from them in order to first not repeat them and, more importantly, attempt to create a better world. Hence, I believe that Douglass' Narrative should be read and pondered by all 21st-century Americans year-'round.

The Life and Works of Nathaniel Hawthorne Revisited

2010-02-17T05:51:00.001-08:00

I've mentioned one Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne in this space numerous times. (Perhaps I should've entitled this post "The Life and Works of Nathaniel Hawthorne Re-revisited"!) And, since I'm more than likely doing my graduate thesis on Hawthorne's involvement in the Brook Farm Experiment, I'll be mentioning his name many more times here. Anyway, I learned a few fascinating facts during my classmate, John's, in-class presentation about one of my favorite authors last night that I will undoubtedly further explore and assimilate into said thesis. For example, Hawthorne spent a good part of his life in a reclusive state in his family's home, along with his mother and sisters; in fact, months would often pass before Hawthorne would even see his sisters. (This aspect of Hawthorne's life is mirrored in "The Notch of the White Mountains" (1835) and "The Ambitious Guest" (1835)-- two short stories in which well-to-do families confine themselves to the perimeters of their cloistered estates, with devastating consequences.) Secondly, Hawthorne was in love with Elizabeth Peabody-- a powerful, intellectual, and influential woman-- but he married her semi-invalid sister, Sophia, instead. I think this shaped and affected his writing in a number of ways, especially in regards to his views on women. Thirdly, Hawthorne was involved in a sometimes dangerous love triangle with fellow Brook Farmer Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, a feminist writer and author of Women in the Nineteenth Century, a text in which she advocates for women's rights and describes their position in society, particularly in regards to marriage. After Fuller's death, both Hawthorne and Emerson were very distraught and claimed to sense Fuller's presence all around them. Finally, there is a series of strange stories surrounding the upbringing of the Hawthornes' daughter, Una. More specifically, Una was kept at home, despite the urging of family friends for her parents to send her off to receive a higher education at a college preparatory school in Concord, Mass., that accepted women, as Nathaniel and Sophia did with their son, Julian. As a result, Una began acting out violently. Her "rebellion" landed her in a mental institution, where she was subjected to a primitive form of electro-shock therapy. (This made me question whether Hawthorne had great personal character, even though he is an undeniably great writer. Hmm... yet another angle to explore!) Well, that concludes this mini dissertation. As I learn more about the proposed topic, I'll share my findings with everybody. Stay tuned!

My Reading List for 02/16/10

2010-02-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

Hello! Good morning! Welcome to another edition of "My Reading List for...". Yesterday I finished reading some of Hawthorne's Selected Tales and Sketches. Overall, I enjoyed these stories immensely. I especially liked "The May-Pole of Merry Mount" (1836)-- which contains mythological and supernatural imagery. For instance, this story has a lot of references to mythological creatures, especially nymphs. And these carnivalesque aspects and allusions make Hawthorne's writings highly apropo reading for today, since it's Mardi Gras.

In addition, I completed my reading of Hawthorne's most famous work-- The Scarlet Letter (1850)-- this morning. As is the case with the author's short stories, this novel contains a combination of historical, religious, supernatural, mythological, and Gothic elements (ex.: character names, like Roger Chillingworth-- creepy, huh?). One example of this is the in way in which protagonist Hester Prynne's illegitmate daughter, Pearl, is alternately referred to as being a demon, a nymph, an immaculately conceived child, and superhuman. In terms of historical references, Hester is frequently likened to Ann Hutchinson, a real-life woman who was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for questioning Puritan authorities. Of course, the story is loaded with references to the 1692 Salem Witch Trials in which one of Hawthorne's relatives was the presiding judge. (Consult my archived posts from Sept./Oct. '09 for more information about this topic.) After Hester has an extramarital affair, she suffers ignominy (public humilation; punishment) via being forced to wear a big red letter "A" for "Adulteress." This book illustrates in haunting detail how religious hysteria destroys societies and individual lives alike (although Hester ultimately triumphs over her adverse circumstances). For these and a multitude of other reasons, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is one of my favorite books. Thus, that concludes another edition of "My Reading List for...". Stay tuned for future editions!

Manic Monday News Round-Up-- Presidents' Day Edition

2010-02-15T09:18:00.000-08:00

It's Presidents' Day, 2010, and there is so much news to observe and report on today. To begin, our current president is dealing with the escalating Afghanistan situation. (I'll discuss this issue further in a focused post later on this week.) Also in political news, Indiana senator Evan Bayh (D) is retiring from his post. Bayh is currently in the lead in the Hoosier State Senate race.

Next, the big world news right now is the Olympics. Last night, host country Canada cleaned up in the men's moguls event-- a sport that I find a bit frightening to watch (those aerial jumps!). In addition, U.S. figure skating pair Mark Ladwig and Amanda Evora won the gold medal last night. Finally, superstar speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno could wind up the most decorated American Winter Olympics athlete ever.

Lastly, in Manic Monday news, the University of Alabama-- Huntsville shooting story keeps on getting stranger. Amy Bishop, the highly eccentric (to say the least!) biology professor who shot six colleagues after being denied tenure, is apparently not a first-time offender. It has been revealed that Bishop "accidentally" shot her 18-year-old brother to death in the family's Braintree, Mass., home back in 1986. According to reports, those who know Bishop say that she is "intelligent, but odd, and cannot deal with reality." Well, obviously!

On the Agenda for Valentine's Day 2010

2010-02-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, St. Valentine's Day is upon us once again, and I'm single once again. Although I occasionally feel-- a la Liz Lemon-- that this day is a marketing ploy designed by greeting card companies, I remain optimistic that I will eventually be struck by Cupid's arrow. Thus, I've devised a number of alternative ways to view this lovers' holiday/Hallmark marketing ploy. Instead of getting bogged down by my temporary state of singledom (which isn't necessarily always a bad thing, BTW), I've chosen to view February 14 as a universal celebration of all kinds of love-- romantic, self love and appreciation, love for your fellow human beings, etc.

In addition, I do allow myself to indulge the hopeless romantic in me. For instance, I watch romantic comedies, especially my fave-- Elizabethtown. There are countless other decent films in this genre as well. I also listen to great love songs. Again, those are far too numerous to mention here. (IMHO, the Beatles' "Something" and Eric Clapton's "Layla" rank among the best of the best.) And, continuing on the universal love theme, I think the Fab Four's "All You Need Is Love" and Bob Marley's "One Love/People Get Ready" are amazing Valentine's Day/universal love anthems. For those enduring break-ups, anything by Bobby D fits the bill. I highly recommend anything by Motown legend Marvin Gaye for those fortunate enough to be in a passionate, fulfilling relationship (or those who will be someday). In terms of apropo literature, you can't go wrong with Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. Likewise, poetry by the British masters, namely Shakespeare and Coleridge, are practically required reading on this day. Shakespeare's sonnets and plays, such as Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream, are perfect for setting the romantic mood. Coleridge's "The Ballad of the Dark Ladie" is quite possibly the most beautiful love poem ever written. I was going to suggest the works of Francis Petrarch, but I think some his stuff could be construed as 'stalker material' in this day and age. Then again, you could always go the all-American route with a masterpiece like Gone with the Wind. Last but certainly not least, Dante's The Divine Comedy is both romantic in nature and Italian in origin-- the ideal combo! Speaking of Italian, what's Valentine's Day without Italian cuisine? You've gotta have at least a little pasta, wine, and chocolate to make it official. So, that's how I'm spending Valentine's Day '10. Perhaps by next year, all my virtual romantic pleasures and pursuits will translate into actual ones.

More Winter Olympics-Related Stuff

2010-02-13T09:02:00.001-08:00

Well, folks, I watched the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver last night. What can I say? They were awesome! The parade of nations was interesting, and I was particularly fascinated by the fact that many countries are participating the winter games for the first time ever. Also, I've always liked the message of the olympics: nations with deep political and religious differences coming together for one cause: to represent their country and spread universal goodwill through athletic prowess.

As for the ceremony itself, the entire program was amazing. (Honestly, I can overlook the technical gaffe with Wayne Gretzky and the Olympic torch and cauldrons at the end.) I really enjoyed how each of Canada's diverse cultures (English, French, Native Canadians, Newfies, etc.) was represented. From the Native Canadian music and dances to the Newfoundland fiddler to the salute to Canada's endless prairies to the homage to the host city (the first located in British Columbia-- or Western Canada), it all rocked. If I were going to visit Canada, I think I'd spend most of my time in Newfoundland!

Of course, the games opened amid tragedy. Georgian luger Nodar Kumarita-Shivili, 21, died during a practice run. (The death has been ruled the result of human error; Vancouver's luge track is reported to be the most dangerous in the world.) There was a lovely tribute in the form of a moment of silence during the program. Perhaps the greatest tribute of all is that the games will continue despite this tragedy. That is true Olympian spirit.

My Reading List for 02/12/10

2010-02-12T06:57:00.000-08:00

Alright, I finished reading The Beetle the night before last. It was okay-- nothing to rave about. Now, I'm in the process of reading some of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Selected Tales and Sketches. (It's pretty safe for me to say that Hawthorne is one of, if not my all-time, favorite authors.) The stories we're reading this week for Am. Lit. are: "Mr. Higginbotham's Catastrophe," "Alice Doane's Appeal," "The Gray Champion," "Wakefield," "The Notch of the White Mountains," "The Ambitious Guest," "The May-Pole of Merry Mount," and "Ethan Brand." A little later on, we'll be reading Hawthorne's signature work-- The Scarlet Letter. Yippee!

BTW, in totally non-sequitur news, tonight is opening ceremonies for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, which will air on NBC. (I suppose that if reading were an olympic sport, I'd probably be a gold medalist. Big-time LOL!) I've rather enjoyed watching the winter games ever since the '94 Lillehammer, Norway, olympics and the women's figure skating drama that ensued. Speaking of which, Nancy Kerrigan is currently in the midst of a harrowing family drama. As for Undisputed Drama Queen Tonya Harding, well, that girl needs to seriously consider adopting the Mary J. Blige philosophy. This year's roster of athletes is a unique (in a largely positive way!) and talented bunch of guys and gals. In terms of "women to watch in '10," my bets are on Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, short-track speedskater Allison Baver, and skeleton racer Noelle Pikus-Pace. As far as the guys go, it's all about snowboarder Shaun "Flying Tomato" White-- who will undoubtedly prove adept as well as entertaining-- biathlete (cross-country skiing and target shooting) Tim Burke, short-track speedskater and Dancing with the Stars champ Apolo Anton Ohno, and figure skater Johnny Weir, who designs his own costumes and is sort of Lambert-esque (read: adorable and awesome). I'm also anticipating the performances of skating pair Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig. In addition to all the amazing U.S. talent, the international athletes, such as: figure skater Kim Yu-Na (South Korea), hockey player Sidney Crosby (Canada), biathlete (and Tim Burke's girlfriend!) Andrea Henkel (Germany), Alpine skiier Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong (Ghana), and curler Wang Bingyu (China), are equally impressive. So, that'll be my President's Day Weekend 2010-- reading voraciously and brushing up on my Olympics trivia!

A Very February-ish Day in the Ashleyverse

2010-02-11T08:34:00.001-08:00

Yes, folks, it's still very much wintertime in the Ashleyverse. The snow we got Monday night and Tuesday is starting to melt, though. Anyway, there's a few more celeb birthdays* to report today. For example, actress Jennifer Aniston and singer Sheryl Crow both claim February 11 as their special day. Incidentally, it's also Sarah Palin's b-day. (*Source: IMDb.com) Oh, well, two out of three ain't bad! BTW, tomorrow is Lincoln's 201st birthday, and Washington's birthday is the 22nd; therefore, I'm off work Monday for the annual observation of President's Day. Speaking of which-- as much as I hate to even mention this-- I think Saturday was Reagan's b-day. Again, at least we progressives have Bob Marley's b-day to compensate. Y'know, I find it very interesting that so many creative, revolutionary, and even infamous figures and presidents are Aquarians and/or have February birthdays. Also, it seems that lots of revolutionary events (e.g., the Beatles on Sullivan (02/09/64); the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement (02/01/60)) seem to occur under the cosmic reign of Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Maybe there's something to that. LOL!

Edition Number Whatever of Wacky Wednesday World News

2010-02-10T07:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, there's tons of stuff I want to talk about today, and I'll attempt to do so. The information I'm about to impart comes from a variety of sources.

First of all, I read some news items on thedailybeast.com earlier today that really piqued my interest. For instance, former Democratic Texas representative Charlie Wilson, subject of the eponymous 2007 film, starring Tom Hanks in the title role, has died at age 76. Pennsylvania rep Jack Murtha (D), one of the most outspoken critics of Dubya's invasion of Iraq, has also passed away. He was 77. Also, the GOP is trying to make Sarah Palin its 2012 presidential nominee. Once again, it ain't gonna happen, folks-- especially in light of Saturday night's spectacle! Finally, Iran's opposition is poised for another revolution. Personally, I think Iran is one country in which the U.S. can make a difference in terms of peacefully spreading democracy. President Obama has expressed genuine interest in doing so. Of course, the Repubs won't hear of it. What's more is that the December 20 death of of Iranian opposition leader Montazeri, a strong proponent of the up-and-coming generation's use of technology to usher in a new era of freedom, has seriously complicated this process. We must remain vigilant in regards to this matter.

Secondly, speaking of Dec. 20, 2009, deaths, I watched the episode of Larry King Live with Brittany Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, and her mother, Sharon. No disrespect to Mr. Monjack in his time of grief and bereavement, but he is one odd duck. (Is it just me, or has LKL become synonymous with "freak show"?) A couple days later, Larry had soon-to-be ex-South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford on his show. Um, Mark has issues, to say the least!

Finally, I read the Feb. 15, 2010, isssue of PEOPLE Magazine cover to cover. The cover story is the severely premature birth of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's 19th child, Josie. I'm sorry, but there really is such thing as having too many kids, and Jim Bob and Michelle are right-wing religious nuts-- plain and simple. It was, however, another item that really caught my eye: the passing of Howard Zinn, author of the bestseller A People's History of the United States and liberal commentator. Mr. Zinn, who was 87 and died in Santa Monica, Calif., on January 27, garnered praise from progressives and criticism, namely charges of anti-Americanism, from conservatives. IMHO, Zinn was a true American hero. R.I.P. Howard (1922-2010).

So, that concludes this edition of Wacky Wednesday World News. I'm sure there will be much more to observe and report on-- and I certainly will. Therefore, stay tuned & peace out!

My Reading List for 02/09/10

2010-02-09T09:05:00.000-08:00

"...Egypt, a supernatural, mystery, and an unknown creature are all found in this 1897 novel by Richard March [sic.]. The Beetle is the story of a creature born of neither God nor man..."

Yes, folks, this anonymous quote is a basic synopsis of Richard Marsh's obscure Gothic novel The Beetle: A Mystery (1897). And, since the Snowmageddon (our president's term!) that has practically shut down our nation's capital has descended upon the Midwest, I'm staying home from school today on account of the inclement weather and hazardous driving conditions. In order to pass the time that would otherwise be devoted to commuting and attending class, I'm putting the finishing touches on my reading of this book. I must say that I was initially not that impressed with it. I thought it would be really boring! However, about halfway in, I realized that this book is actually quite wonderful. For example, Book III (the book is divided into four individual "books") is told from the point of view of a female character. Therefore, this novel has a decidedly feminist angle. There's also lots of political discussion and references (yay!). For that symposium paper, I'm strongly considering taking either a feminist or political critical perspective, or perhaps even a combination of both. Once again, more on that later.

Alright, everyone take care, stay safe, and peace out! I'll be back with another edition of "My Reading List for..." very soon.

She had 'em at 'hope-y, change-y stuff': Analysis of Sarah Palin's Nashville Tea Party Convention "Speech"

2010-02-08T06:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, as I promised yesterday, I'm going to provide an in-depth analysis of Sarah Palin's so-called Tea Party Convention speech. Here goes: it was bad, really bad. More specifically, Palin did her usual "practiced folksy" act (e.g. tossing in "you betchas," "god blesses," and creepy winks at whim; reading from notes scribbled on her hands). As for the audience, it was rather sparse, and-- surprise! surprise!-- it was comprised predominantly of old, white males. What was especially frightening, however, is the fact that the more idiotic Miss Alaska became, the more the crowd cheered her on. For example, she had the audacity to try to question Obama supporters by asking: "How's that hope-y, change-y stuff workin' for ya?"! For the record, Sarah, that 'hope-y, change-y' stuff's workin' just fine for me-- thank you very much. Finally, instead of proposing alternatives or solutions to the president's agenda, she just mocked him. (BTW, the last time I checked Obama definitely knows we're at war and is trying to get us out of it.) The bottom line is this: the Tea Party Movement is a passing fad. (Actually, I prefer the term 'epic fail.') Its adherents engage in a fuzzy interpretation of U.S. history (uhh... excuse me, folks, but wasn't it a conservative president who got us into this mess in the first place? Just askin'!) and are largely motivated by anger. Most importantly, Palin's speech at the convention only serves to expose the hypocrisy and willful ignorance of the Right. For these reasons, the Tea Party is almost over, and Palin will not become president. (I swear, I don't know who's had more fun at that woman's expense-- me or Tina Fey.)

More Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style

2010-02-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Alright, folks, there's quite a bit of big news to observe and report on in the Ashleyverse today. To begin, it's Super Bowl XLIV night. The Indianapolis Colts are playing the New Orleans Saints. I guess I'm rooting for the Colts, but I'm feeling a little sentimental toward the Saints, since this is their first time to play in the Super Bowl. Honestly, I really don't care too much for sports, but having grown up in Texas, I sort of like football (y'know-- the whole Friday Night Lights thing). Back in the 90s, I used to cheer on the Dallas Cowboys to victory while my dad (a former high school pigskin "hero") watched the game. Anyway, I might tune in periodically to the game tonight in order to catch the half-time show-- provided this year by The Who (whom I'm a fan of!)-- and check out the commericals.

Meanwhile, there's a lot of action happening in America's biggest bloodbath of all: politics! Last night, Sarah Palin "spoke" at the very first Tea Party convention in Nashville. I say "spoke" in quotations, because there wasn't much real speaking going on. Rather, Palin wove a disoriented patchwork of conservative platitudes, attacked President Obama, and failed to propose any real alternatives or solutions to the problems we are facing. (That having been said, I will discuss and analyze the so-called "speech" more extensively in tomorrow's post. Stay tuned!)

Well, that concludes yet another edition of Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style. Namaste, y'all!

Headline: Proceeds from Late Reggae Great's 65th Birthday Celebration to Benefit Survivors of Haiti Earthquake

2010-02-06T10:03:00.000-08:00

Today would be the 65th birthday of Jamaican-born reggae legend, humanitarian, and Rastafarian* revolutionary Bob Marley. (*Rastafarianism is a Caribbean form of Christianity.) Members of Marley's family and fans will gather Saturday, Feb. 6 (today, of course) at L.A. art gallery Mr. Musichead for the first annual Jammin' and Wailin' event, where rare artwork and photography featuring Marley, as well as Bob Marley coffee, will be on sale. Proceeds from the event will benefit Doctors Without Borders' efforts in Haiti.

On a personal note, Marley is one of my all-time favorite artists. I've been a fan of his for almost a decade, and his Legend CD is played frequently in my home and car. (I actually had to buy a second copy, because I wore the first one out!) His beautiful, island-inspired music, especially songs like "Is This Love," "Three Little Birds," and "Stir It Up," really brightens up these cold, dreary winter days. And, his socially conscious fare, particularly "I Shot the Sheriff," "Redemption Song," "Exodus," "Get Up, Stand Up" and "Buffalo Soldier," simultaneously entertains and challenges you. "Jamming" is likewise both fun and intellectual. Marley occasionally gets playful and romantic, as is the case on "Could You Be Loved," "Satisfy My Soul," and "Waiting in Vain." In addition, "No Woman, No Cry" is one of the greatest songs ever written and recorded. Finally, who doesn't love "One Love/People Get Ready"-- the official reggae national anthem and a powerful call for universal goodwill?! I'm certain that, wherever he is, Mr. Marley is deeply pleased that his message is being used to provide liberation through physical aid and spiritual hope to Haiti's survivors.

A Little More Friday Infotainment

2010-02-05T09:14:00.000-08:00

Alright, there's lots going on in both 'news news' and entertainment news today. Accordingly, I will cover as much of it as I can in this post.

First, the 'news news.' President Obama is now admitting that the big health-care overhaul may be a failure for the time being. As I've implored readers a number of times before, we just have to keep trying in regards to this matter. The president has also outlined his mid-term election victory strategy to Dems: "Lead." Couldn't have said it better myself! Also in politics, there's yet another possible Sarah Palin scandal brewing. This time, it appears that Miss Alaska and her Iditarod-racin' hubby, Todd, have not been paying taxes for the last couple years on some property they own in the Alaskan wilderness. I'm sorry, but our elected officials-- especially high-profile ones-- have a responsibility to be, well, responsible. We'll just have to see how this one shapes up. (Honestly, folks, why is this not shocking?)

Now, for the entertainment. It's almost Valentine's Day, and there's a string of seasonal rom-coms out in the theaters atm, such as Leap Year, starring Amy Adams. Who knows... maybe I'll find me a rogue Irishman next summer. LOL! I'd also like to see Dear John, the war drama/romance with Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum. Of course, there's a movie out called Valentine's Day, with Julia Roberts, Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, and Taylor Swift. Based on the previews I've seen, it looks pretty cute and funny. In addition, Grammy winner Pink is appearing and performing live on Oprah this afternoon. I'm definitely watching. Lady Gaga's interview and performance on Miss O's show were absolutely amazing, so I'm looking forward to seeing Pink on there today.

Okay, that concludes this edition of Infotainment This Afternoon. Y'all take care & peace out!

My Reading List for 02/04/10

2010-02-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

Okay, folks, I'm re-reading Hawthorne's Portable Tales as we speak. I read on the fly the first time around, so I feel there's a few things I may have missed in the stories. I'm also trying to get through "Rappaccini's Daughter"-- the final tale in the collection. For some reason, I can't get into it as much as the others. In addition to what I have to read for American Lit., I'm also starting on an obscure Gothic novel called The Beetle, which was written by one Richard Marsh, for my criticism and theory class. (Obscure? Gothic? I'm so there!) I actually have to write a research paper and do a symposium presentation on this book. Uhh... more on that later.

And, speaking of American literature, I forgot to mention that J.D. Salinger, author of the controversial classic The Catcher in the Rye (1951), passed away recently. It's really sad that this book was banned in schools and has gotten such a bad rap over the years. IMHO, Catcher transcends all the controversy. Through the main character, Holden Caulfield, Salinger beautifully weaves a tapestry of the most fundamental themes of humanity: loss, alienation, the search for one's own identity, the desire for what is real/intolerance of phoniness, conformity vs. rebellion, feeling like a social outcast, dealing with extreme sociopolitical conditions (in this case, the Cold War; McCarthyism), etc. Thus, I believe the banning of this book (or any literature, for that matter) is totally wrong-- not to mention un-American.

Musings About Turning the Big 3-0

2010-02-03T07:05:00.000-08:00

Hey, y'all! Well, today is officially my 30th birthday. And what a happy one it is! Anyway, I survived my 7-9:30 p.m. Literary Criticism & Theory class in order to celebrate the occasion with my dear friend Jenn last night. Needless to say, we had a total blast. As far as how I feel today, well, I don't feel that much different. So far, 30 is shaping up to be pretty danged promising. (For some reason, 27, 28, and 29 were sort of tough. When I started grad school last summer, however, I gained a whole new sense of direction, which improved the situation considerably. Oh, well, as the Buddhists say in the "Four Noble Truths," life is suffering, and suffering is inevitable. Gotta take the good with the bad! I know I'm on the right path now. I now refer to the aforementioned three-year period as my 'learning, growing, questioning years.') I sense some big life changes in the air in the Ashleyverse right now. Of course, I think the real change will occur with the Eurotrip in June. As the brochure I received at that informational meeting says: "You'll come back a different person." We shall see about that! For the time being, I'm just going to enjoy all the little everyday things and take life's little surprises as they come. (BTW, it appears that I share my big day with some very interesting individuals, namely Norman Rockwell and Charles Dickens. Tomorrow is Rosa Parks and Betty Friedan's birthday. So, I suppose this is a rather revolutionary time of year.)

My Reading List for 02/02/10

2010-02-02T06:37:00.000-08:00

Hello, everybody! It's Groundhog's Day, and Ole Punxsutawney Phil has, by virtue of seeing his proverbial shadow, predicted six more weeks of winter (yuck!). Oh, well, let's just view this turn of events as approximately 42 more days until spring. (The weather's actually quite decent in my lil' neck o' the woods today.) How's that for putting a positive spin on everything?
More importantly, I'm wrapping up my reading of Hawthorne's Portable Tales and am about halfway through the final one-- "Rappaccini's Daughter (1844)"-- atm. In addition to "Young Goodman Brown (1835)," I also like "The Minister's Black Veil (1836)" and "The Birth-Mark (1843)." The latter short story deals with the tragic effects of the quest for physical perfection. Very timely subject matter! (Hmm... Maybe Heidi Montag-Pratt could benefit from reading this (if she could actually "get" it, that is). LOL!) Anyway, I have class tonight, and we're going to continue our discussion of Cooper's The Pioneers (double yuck!), as well talk about Hawthorne (yay!). So, that's what I'm reading on this not-so-yucky Groundhog's Day 2010. Namaste, y'all!

Fifty Years Ago on This Day in History...

2010-02-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s officially began. On Feb. 1, 1960, four African-American college freshmen: Jibreel Khazan (then Ezell Blair Jr.), Franklin Eugene McCain, Joseph Alfred McNeil, and David Leinail Richmond-- refused to give up their seats in a whites-only diner in Greensboro, North Carolina. Today, President Barack Obama and a host of other luminaries are commemorating the Greensboro Four's bravery and the opening of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, appropriately located in Greensboro. (Log onto http://www.sitins.com/future.shtml for more details and additional links that provide information about preserving the historical legacy of the American Civil Rights Movement and its key figures and ways the current generation can stage happenings (and possibly even a re-energized sit-in movement!) that promote social justice.) I sincerely hope that present future would-be activists take a cue from these individuals' courage in the face of ridicule and violence. More importantly, we have to value and learn the lessons of our past in order to understand where we are now and point a compass toward a progressive future.

Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style

2010-01-31T08:07:00.000-08:00

In entertainment and miscellaneous news, we have a new Miss America. And the winner is... Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron! Yes, folks, I actually watched the pageant last night. Ms. Cameron, whom I was rooting for all the way, beat out 52 other contestants to become Miss America 2010. The whole viewing experience was quite interesting, to say the least. For starters, viewers and other contestants picked semifinalists. Also, a few of the judges, uh, made me question whether the pageant, which is now broadcast on The Learning Channel (TLC) as opposed to the networks, has really progressed. Regardless of what changes have been made to the pageant over the years, I still think it has a bit of a conservative bias. For example, Rush Limbaugh was one of the judges. WTF?! Another judge was Miss America 1989, Gretchen Carlson, who now hosts (gasp!) Fox and Friends. Can I be perfectly honest? I really can't stand that woman. That Daily Show blurb was pretty dead-on. I can never forgive Carlson for the way she treated Ted Kennedy on her show. Sympathetic to terrorists my liberal ass!

Okay, that brings me to yet another political discussion. I'm still reeling over the Repubs' reaction to President Obama's (love that man!) State of the Union address. I'm sorry, but Republicans are really pissing me off right now. Our president is doing the best he can, so we have to work with him. I simply can't reiterate that enough, people. He said he doesn't quit, and he won't. Actually, I've developed a rather unusual perspective on all this: the fact that President Obama is so controversial just proves that he's a great man. Also in politics, I'm thoroughly disgusted with John Edwards. I used to think he was one of the good guys. I actually strongly considered supporting Edwards for president before Obama started to gain momentum way, way back in the summer of '07. Oh, well, you just have to take the good with the bad. Anyway, trust me on this, y'all, history will prove the previously espoused "greatness theory" right.

Finally, in Ashleyverse news, I'm still single but actively looking. I know I shouldn't obsess over a silly little thing like singleness and just try to relax and enjoy this milestone birthday (I am feeling really emotional, sensitive, vulnerable, and wanting to be loved today, though). It'll happen for me when it's supposed to. I just need to keep doing what I'm doing, and the rest will take care of itself. Until then, I have to be strong-- a steel magnolia. Like our president, I don't quit, and I (almost!) always get what I want. So, there! (In case y'all haven't noticed, I'm feeling a bit, um, feisty at the ripe old age of 30.)

How I'm "Celebrating" the Last Weekend of My 20s

2010-01-30T09:34:00.000-08:00

Well, folks, I've officially entered the twilight of my 20s. This coming Wednesday is my 30th birthday. I'm basically excited about it, but I have been feeling a little emotional and reflective this weekend (surprise! surprise!). Anyway, I have a vibe that there's going to be a lot of really big, mostly positive changes in the Ashleyverse this year. My main goals are to complete my master's degree, find that special someone, take that life-altering Eurotrip and make the most of my time "across the pond," and continue down the path to a fulfilling, rewarding career as a university professor.

As far as what I'm doing to celebrate this momentous occasion, the main thing on the agenda is to read, read, read. Hawthorne's portable tales are wonderful. He's a much better writer than Cooper. Unlike Cooper, Hawthorne gets right into the plot and character development; furthermore, Hawthorne doesn't spend half the text describing scenery and every single minute detail, like Cooper does. It's like, 'Okay, I understand that New York State in the 18th century was heavily wooded and had majestic mountains!' No kidding-- in an almost-500-page book, Cooper spends the first 150 pages talking about the dang-blasted scenery. Of course, I'm doing more fun things than reading for school. First, my mom, brother, and sister are taking me out to see It's Complicated tomorrow night, and my mom's going to cook me Southern-style porkchops and bake a red velvet cake. Yum, yum! (So much for all those New Year's fitness-related goals!) Then, my BFF, Jenn, is taking me out for a late dinner after I get done with class Tuesday night. Overall, I'm pretty excited about turning 30.

My Reading List for 01/29/10

2010-01-29T07:47:00.000-08:00

Howdy! I've been somewhere over the reading rainbow for the past couple weeks. I just completed James Fenimore Cooper's The Pioneers, and, okay, I've gotta be really honest here, folks-- it sucked! In fact, my classmates and I all agreed that this was the most "annoying" book we've ever read. Great minds think alike. LOL! Anyway, Cooper was simply not the best writer. For example, his character development (a big thing for me) is virtually non-existent, and his use of various literary devices is extremely contrived. Oh, well, none of that matters now, since we've moved on to a study of the life and works of Nathaniel Hawthorne. This coming week, we're going to read and discuss a collection of short stories from an anthology called The Portable Hawthorne. The titles of these stories are: "My Kinsman, Major Molineux," "Roger Malvin's Burial," "Young Goodman Brown," The Minister's Black Veil," "The Man of Adamant," "The Birth-Mark," and "Rappaccini's Daughter." I've read one of these tales-- "Young Goodman Brown"-- before. Of course, that was a long, long time ago. I do, however, recall that the story is set in Puritan New England and is essentially a portrait of Puritan marriage. Thus, I'm excited about re-reading the story in order to get a fresh perspective on it. I'm really excited about reading all these other stories by one of my favorite 19th-century American authors. That said, I'm going to sign off now in order to get ready to go to work and then come home to enjoy my wintry Friday evening with Mr. Hawthorne.

About the State of the Union...

2010-01-28T10:25:00.000-08:00

Last night, President Obama gave his first State of the Union address. Among the issues he discussed with the American people were his war (read: exit) strategies, the U.S. economy, and the health-care debate. He also emphasized the point that while our partisan differences run deep, we have to work together in order to resolve these and a host of other issues.

My analysis: It's true-- we have to try to cease partisan bickering in order to begin to heal this nation. In addition, I applaud the president for taking a decidedly centrist approach as a means of acting on behalf of the common good of this country. Finally, we have to all find some level of support for the president's agenda if we want to leave the Middle East, fix our economy, and have universal health care. The bottom line is this: if we want a government for the people, of the people, by the people, we have to step up to the plate and become active participants in it. No president can create real change without our help.

Various News & Views from the Ashleyverse and Beyond

2010-01-27T09:35:00.000-08:00

There's lots of news and views in the Ashleyverse and beyond today. Having made that statement, let me get straight to the point.

In Ashleyverse news, I'm putting the finishing touches on the Eurotrip application process. I filled out an online academic scholarship/study abroad grant app this morning, and I'll find out if I'll get it sometime in March. Then, either Thursday or Friday-- whichever day ends up working best-- I'm going to register for my passport. So, that's the big Ashleyverse news for 01/27/10.

In national and world news, President Obama is set to give his very first State of the Union address tonight at 9 PM EST. He will focus on the U.S. economic recovery effort and the still unresolved health-care reform debate. Progressives in Congress are now pushing Senate majority leader Harry Reid to reconsider including a public option in health-care-related legislation. As a progressive, I believe we need a public option, for, as I was so eloquently and gently reminded yesterday by a reader in the midst of my bleeding-heart exhibition of global perspectivism in regards to Haitian earthquake relief, we need to take care of our own. If we are to be an example for the rest of the world, we need to first work to alleviate the suffering of our fellow Americans. Then and only then will we become a truly great nation.

Well, there you have it folks-- news and views from the Ashleyverse and beyond. Until next time, peace in all areas of your lives.

This Week in Politics, Pt. 2

2010-01-26T08:24:00.001-08:00

Alright, continuing with my two-part discussion of current events...

Well, for starters, have y'all heard about what South Carolina's lieutenant governor, Andre Bauer (R), said this week? If not, the would-be successor to disgracefully deposed Palmetto State governor Mark Sanford basically stated publicly that government should not aid the poor and needy. These remarks have been called by analysts "immature, immoral, and out of line." Frankly, I concur. I think this incident, along with various other recent Republican antics, will only serve to make President Obama and fellow Dems look really good in 2012. More importantly, I believe it's possible that the president could win votes in more Southern states, including South Carolina, in the next election cycle.

Secondly, President Obama is claiming that a video-taped message purportedly delivered by Osama Bin Laden actually proves that Al Qaeda's power has been weakened significantly. While the jury may still be out on this one, I think it's safe to conclude that this terrorist network (which we helped fund and train back in the 80s, BTW!) is not the threat it once was.

In addition, tent cities have begun to spring up in and around the Haitian capital city of Port-au-Prince. There is now widespread fear that endemic U.S. government corruption could impede earthquake relief efforts. To be quite honest, I knew this was coming. That said, we need to continue to do what we can to help the people of this physically devastated, financially impoverished nation. The emotional, spiritual, and physical aid we provide to them means the world.

Finally, tax season is almost upon us once again. We are all supposedly going to get bigger refunds than we did last year. More on this item later as I continue to follow it.

So, that concludes my political discussion for the week of 01/24-01/30/10. I will inevitably be back next week with more info and analysis. As always, stay tuned and peace out!

PAGING KEITH OLBERMANN: How many days has it been since "Mission: Accomplished"?

This Week in Politics, Pt. 1

2010-01-25T11:40:00.001-08:00

Okay, I haven't talked about political stuff on here for a while, so I fear that I'm a bit behind. That said, I'll attempt to backtrack and discuss some of the major issues o' the day. One of the biggest stories was the election of GOPer Scott Brown to the Massachusetts Senate seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy. The bottom line, imho, is this: Mr. Brown seems like a decent guy (although I agree that his, um, public endorsement of his daughters' availability to young male voters was mildly creepy) and that he will do what's best for the Bay State, as well as the rest of the country, particularly in regards to jobs and the health-care bill.

Speaking of the health-care bill, which Ted Kennedy helped spearhead, President Obama and Congressional Dems are considering a pared-down version of it in order to get the thing passed. Last week, the president let Congress know who's boss by telling legislators from both parties that there may be parts of the bill that they don't like, but they'll just have to compromise and accept a few of the more controversial aspects of universal health-care reform legislation in exchange for the greater good of the nation. Good for Obama-- Abe would be proud! Perhaps we'll have a little progress in this country yet.

Well, that's all I can think of in terms of political analysis,discussion, and ranting atm. I'll return tomorrow for another round. Stay tuned!

This, That, & the Other

2010-01-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

Wow! So much going on in the world atm, so little time! To begin, there's tons of current crazy happenings in the political world, which I'll discuss right here at length later this week. Also, in the pop culture, it appears that-- according to an article in the latest issue of In Touch Weekly (a trashloid guilty pleasure that I indulge in occasionally)-- Britney Spears is cracking up again. That's pretty dang tragic (if true), since she seemed to be on the verge of a major comeback. Besides, I actually like some of the songs off the Circus album (um... excuse me, kids, CD!). I hope this doesn't turn into another Michael Jackson scenario. Finally, in Ashleyverse news, there's some rather exciting and, uh, decidedly more substantive things going on. I'm finalizing my Eurotrip plans and figuring out more ways to do my part to help Haiti. (Note(s) to self: get passport this week; have students make copious amounts of virtual rice on freerice.com.) So, anywho, y'all enjoy the rest of this weekend, and peace out until next time.

Summer 2010 Eurotrip Itinerary & British Literature Course Syllabus

2010-01-23T10:36:00.000-08:00

In case y'all haven't already noticed, I often discuss my metaphorical trans-Atlantic travels here. Well, this coming summer, I'm planning to "cross the pond" for five weeks (June 7-July 9) in the literal sense. The following is the Harlaxton Manor (located in Grantham, Midlands, England-- one hour north of London) itinerary and course syllabus from the official EIU Study Abroad Program brochure. Of course, there'll be possible sidetrips to neighboring countries-- including: Ireland, Scotland, France (long weekend in Paris-- ooh la la!), Italy, Germany, and possibly even Eastern Europe (a couple groups traveled to places like Turkey and Croatia last year), but Harlaxton will definitely be the "crown jewel" of the whole experience.

Itinerary & Syllabus (for ENG 5970: Literary Landscapes):

WEEK 1: JANE AUSTEN
We'll read Austen's greatest novel, Pride and Prejudice, and then enjoy a day hike across Derbyshire, ending at one of England's most stunning residences and public gardens: Chatworth House, which many Austen scholars say provided the basis for Austen's fictional Pemberly Hall. You'll never be quite so impressed with the White House as you are now.

WEEK 2: EMILY BRONTE
Bronte's creepy Wuthering Heights, before it was a Kate Bush song, was a definitive Gothic novel, and as we argue over whether Heathcliff is really as dreamy as Cathy thinks, we'll visit the Bronte residence in Haworth, a house overlooking a graveyard about 75 feet wide but that contains over 30,000 bodies. Creepy.

WEEK 3: BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA
Did somebody say Gothic? Dracula is the definitive Gothic novel, and though you already know him by reputation, now you get the chance to read the novel that started it all, even as we visit Whitby, the coastal town where the Transylvanian vampire made land. The Twilight series? Compared to Dracula, those vampires are funny.

WEEK 4: WORDSWORTH & COLERIDGE
We're not just going to guide you through some of the best poems William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge ever wrote: we're going to take you to their homes in the gorgeous Lake District, take you for a hike through the most beautiful countryside you've ever seen, and then plop you down in a pub for the best meal you've ever earned. Warning: the Lake District may make you want to surrender your US passport.

WEEK 5: SHAKESPEARE IN LONDON
Ah, Shakespeare. Get thee to London's Globe Theatre, on the very spot where the Bard debuted. Anon, anon.

(Sounds like a good time, huh?)

"As we neared the land [Great Britain], its genius was felt."-- Ralph Waldo Emerson (19th-century American Romanticist/Transcendentalist writer, one of my all-time faves!)-- giving his first impression of the British Isles; quote excerpted from English Traits

The Friday Afternoon Post, Jan. 22, 2010, Edition

2010-01-22T13:58:00.000-08:00

Well, folks, it's another January-ish Friday afternoon. There's not a whole lot going in the Ashleyverse atm, except for that I taught communications today and attended the annual staff meeting. (Yeah, remember when I said I was so happy that said staff meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather? Well, I spoke too soon, for it was rescheduled for today.) Anyway, the other "big news" is that it's my sister's 22nd birthday. So, happy b'day, Sis! Oh, BTW, I attended an informational meeting regarding my Eurotrip last night. I'm just counting down the weeks until the end of the semester. Okay, that's all I've got for y'all right now. Believe it or not, I'm really tired and, yes, speechless. (It happens occasionally in the Ashleyverse.)

My Reading List for 01/21/10

2010-01-21T07:43:00.000-08:00

Hello! Good mornin', y'all. Anywho, I completed my reading of James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans. Today I'm starting on the sequel to that classic book-- The Pioneers. In TLOTM, Natty/Hawk-eye is a young man in his thirties. In The Pioneers, he is an old man in his seventies. Here, Natty is swept up in the early days of Westward expansion from the New England colonies to the Middle colonies, particularly the land that would become New York State, where New Jersey-born Cooper lived most of his life. As he did in TLOTM, the hyper-literate author prefaces each chapter with quotes from the great thinkers, philosophers, and writers of the past. (It amazes me that writers and political figures of Cooper's time, many of whom had little to no formal education, were such autodidacts, or self-taught scholars.) BTW, in my last "My Reading List for..." post, I mentioned that Cooper began writing by accident. Well, actually, he wrote his first novel (this is according to the most recent research)-- Precaution (1820)-- in order to support himself after his well-to-do family's fortune ran out. Older versions of Cooper's autobiography suggest that he began writing in order to outdo a certain British female contemporary, whom I'm presuming is either Jane Austen or Mary Ann Evans a.k.a. George Eliot. (Ms. Evans/Eliot adopted a masculine nom de plume in order to be taken seriously. Imagine that-- talk about a sign o' the times!) As for The Pioneers itself, it, like so many other works of 19th-century American literature, is well worth your time and effort. Although these books are 200 years old, many of their themes are timeless. So, curl up with a good cup of coffee with a dash of Cooper.

The Inauguration: One Year Later

2010-01-20T06:23:00.001-08:00

One year ago today, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, Barack Obama became our nation's 44th president. Shortly after all the celebrations in D.C. and around the country died down, reality set in in the form of economic woes at home and religious and political infighting abroad. Of course, everyone has strong opinions about how this president is dealing with all these situations.

Well, here's my analysis, folks: President Obama is doing the best he can given the extreme circumstances of these United States. On top of everything else, he's now faced with the Haiti earthquake aftermath. More specifically, Obama must figure out how to handle this issue in a way that will ultimately help America repair its image on the world stage. (And, speaking of Haiti, this Caribbean island nation was rocked by another, 6.1-magnitude quake. Thus, the editorial I posted here last weekend is now somewhat obsolete.) Anyway, the bottom line is this: If we, the people, good citizens of this participatory democracy, don't put aside our petty ideological and cultural differences and help the president deal with the issues at hand, he will be rendered all but helpless. Sitting around, not taking action, and merely bitching about perceived governmental ineptitude is ultimately fruitless and tantamount to pure laziness on the part of otherwise decent individuals. Therefore, it's time that we step up to the plate. If we want freedom, democracy, and a positive global image, we have to be proactive. Most importantly, we have to be compassionate and understanding toward other nations, as well as our fellow Americans. This is how real change we can believe in is created.

My Reading List for 01/19/10

2010-01-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

Hey! I have class tonight at EIU and have finally finished reading James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans. I say "finally," because it is one loooong book-- about 415 pages. Still, it's also a very interesting one, as there's something in it for everybody: drama, action, adventure, romance, history, social commentary-- it's all there, folks. As for the author himself, he was very interesting as well; for example, Cooper (1789-1851), a New Jersey native, began writing almost by accident. I would characterize him as highly literate, as evidenced by his inclusion of quotes from Homer (author of the Greek epics The Iliad and The Odyssey) and Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night's Dream (my fave Shakespeare play, BTW) at the beginning of the book's 33 chapters. There are many other literary allusions in the book as well. Next, I'll be reading Cooper's The Pioneers. Like I said last week, I'm very excited about this semester.

Martin Luther King Day-Related Stuff

2010-01-18T10:12:00.000-08:00

Okay, it turns out that I was dead wrong with most of my Golden Globes predictions, although Jeff Bridges did win for Crazy Heart, and Meryl Streep won-- for Julie & Julia. (Oh, BTW, I totally forgot about Sandra Bullock being nominated for The Blind Side, which she won for. So, congrats, Sandy!) Of course, that's not the main purpose of today's post. No, readers, today is the very important occasion of Martin Luther King Day, the 25th annual observance of the birthday of the Civil Rights iconoclast. Anyway, I found some great info on the Web about today's national celebrations, including those in King's hometown of Atlanta and the ways in which President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama are honoring the work of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner. To commemorate what would be King's 81st birthday (he was actually born on Jan. 15, 1929), a number of speeches are taking place at his Atlanta church-- Ebenezer Baptist. I read about the keynote speech, delivered by Princeton University scholar Cornel West. The author of 20 books, including Race Matters, West told the audience not "sanitize" King's image and to remember that King was once considered dangerous by the FBI. I totally agree with West. Accordingly, I ask that those of you who read this post mine this blog's archives for my Jan. 19, 2009, post in which I compiled a list of King quotes to coincide with last year's observance and Obama's inauguration that occurred the following day. (Yes, folks, it's been almost a year since that historic day, and what a year it's been!) So, check out these quotes, and let us pay joyous tribute to the life of one of my many personal heroes.

Ashleyverse Golden Globes "Special" & Predictions

2010-01-17T08:54:00.001-08:00

The 67th Annual Golden Globes Awards will air live on NBC at 8 PM EST Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010 (tonight, of course), and will be broadcast from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The host for this event-- which is unique in that it will the very first live telecast in the ceremony's history-- is Ricky Gervais, star of the British version of The Office. There's a lot of buzz surrounding this year's nominees. (Actually, I don't really have anything "special" for y'all today, but I will make a few predictions.) In terms of movies, the big fave is Titanic director James Cameron's big-budget sci-fi/social commentary vehicle-- Avatar. (I haven't seen this movie yet, so I'm really not qualified to offer my opinions on its odds of winning.) Other nominated films include: Nine (ensemble-cast musical starring Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Fergie, Penelope Cruz, and Marion Cotillard, among others), Precious, Iraq War drama The Hurt Locker, the Brad Pitt WWII film Inglorious Basterds, and George Clooney's latest-- Up in the Air. Okay, this is tough, but I predict that either Precious or Up in the Air will get it. (For a complete list of nominees in all categories, consult Wikipedia by entering "67th Annual Golden Globes Awards" in the search field.) Next, there's big-time buzz surrounding best actor/actress nominations, especially in regards to the perennially great Meryl Streep's dual nominations for performances in Julie & Julia and It's Complicated. I hope and believe that Meryl will win for the latter. Then again, part of me thinks that Jeff Bridges could walk away a winner for his portrayal of a down-and-out country singer in Crazy Heart. (I have a tendency to root for the underdog.) Finally, several really good TV shows are nominated this year. I think it's a big toss-up in all small-screen categories. However, I think 30 Rock (my money's definitely on this one for best comedy-- love Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, and Jane Krakowski!) and Mad Men will score major victories. Well, folks, those were my predictions for the 2010 Golden Globes. We shall see how right (or wrong) they are.

Winter 2010 Editorial

2010-01-16T07:38:00.000-08:00

The Obama Presidency Quarterly, Winter 2010 Issue:

Earlier this month, we ushered in a new year as well as a brand-new decade. This decade holds a great deal of promise, but it also presents us with a whole new set of challenges. Likewise, President Barack Obama now faces ever-increasing obstacles, ranging from combating terrorism to ending the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen to tackling the economy and health-care reform here at home. However, according to many analysts, another "hotspot" will more than likely prove to be the president's greatest test of all: Haiti.

On Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, an earthquake that measured a 7.0 on the Richter scale rocked the island nation of Haiti-- the most monetarily poor country in the Western Hemisphere. Now, the survivors of this natural disaster need our help. What's more is that the way in which our president deals with this situation could make or break our image on the world stage and set the tone for the remainder of his term in office. We had better get on the stick, for we've got some stiff competition in regards to sending aid to Haiti, as Great Britain, China, and Iceland have already begun to do so. Therefore, we need to help our president help Haiti.

That having been said, how do we do that? Answer: any way we can. Since a president is only effective and powerful in solving world crises as voters allow him (or possibly someday her!) to be, we conscientious beings need to work together in order to make America a shining example of a nation that reaches out to others during tough times. While celebrities, including music superstar Wyclef Jean and Hollywood A-lister George Clooney, have started charity funds, there are tons of things regular folks can do. And it all begins with thinking globally and acting locally.

Okay, now for some specific answers to the general question I posed above... Well, for starters, individuals can contact their churches and local chapters of the Red Cross and the Salvation Army to find out how those organizations are participating in earthquake relief missions. Secondly, schools can get in on this purposeful act of humanitarianism. For example, English and reading teachers can contribute to the effort by implementing programs such as freerice.com in their classrooms. (Freerice.com is a vocabulary-building computer game in which students create "rice bowls" when they correctly define a given word. For each virtual rice bowl created, the UN World Food Program matches and donates an actual amount of rice to those in need. Simultaneous learning and charity-- a win-win situation!) Finally, search engines (gotta love the Internet!), especially Google and Yahoo!, are chock-full of information and resources that can provide users with a myriad of ways to help Haiti, including sites that allow people to make cyber-donations to various charities. (You can make donations directly through your Google and Yahoo! accounts.)

While many of these solutions may seem small in the face of such a big problem, every little bit goes a long way toward making a world of difference in disaster survivors' lives. Please become part of the solution today.

Infotainment This Afternoon

2010-01-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

Dang! There's so much happening atm. In terms of news, I guess y'all already know about Sarah Palin being hired by FOX News. It goes without saying that that will be interesting. Also, President Obama has begun to order U.S. aid to be sent to Haiti to help survivors of Tuesday's massive (7.0 on the Richter scale) earthquake. (More on that later.)

In entertainment, the big "story" is former Hills (which isn't even MTV's most inane "reality" show-- that dubious honor belongs to Jersey Shore) "star" Heidi Montag's plastic surgery obsession. Montag, one-half of wannabe celeb supercouple Speidi, has confessed to undergoing ten elective procedures in one day. Who the heck is this girl, and why does her tragically low self-esteem even warrant a "story"? This is just plain sad. Heidi will more than likely fade into obscurity, and all her pain and suffering will have been for nothing. Beyond pathetic! As for her "marriage," well, she and her "husband," Spencer Pratt, will inevitably wind up in Splitsville. Now, ladies, let's go find some real role models-- complete with brains, talent, and personalities.

Speaking of which (major LOL!), I submitted that op-ed for publication in my local newspaper today. It pertains to the Haiti earthquake and how we, the people, should help President Obama help the survivors. I'll get it posted on here ASAP. Well, that's your infotainment for this lovely Friday afternoon. Until next time-- peace, love, & happiness.

My Reading List for 01/14/10

2010-01-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

Hey, y'all! I'm going to take a break from all that heavy-duty stuff today in order to discuss what I'm reading for my EIU classes this semester. For 19th-century American literature, I'm reading James Fenimore Cooper's tale of life in the American colonies some two decades before the Revolutionary War, The Last of the Mohicans (1826). This is just one in a series of Cooper's Natty Bumppo, or Hawk-eye, tales. (And, yes, the M*A*S*H character is nicknamed after Hawk-eye in the book.) Anyway, I've seen the 1992 film adaptation, starring Daniel Day-Lewis (uber-hottie alert!) as "Nathaniel" and Madeleine Stowe as his love interest, Cora. Thus, I'm really excited about reading the book. We'll also be reading The Pioneers (1823), the first of Cooper's Leatherstocking tales (another name for the Natty Bumppo stories). Later in the semester, we'll be reading the works of Herman Melville (Moby Dick; Billy Budd, Sailor; "Bartleby, the Scrivener") and Stephen Crane (The Red Badge of Courage; Maggie: A Girl of the Streets; "The Open Boat"), Nathaniel Hawthorne (The Scarlet Letter; "Young Goodman Brown"), and Frederick Douglass (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass), among a number of other literary greats. Yay!

In addition to this class, I'm also taking a literary criticism and theory class. So, I'm going to have a pretty busy, crazy semester, but that's how I like it. It really helps that I enjoy the subject matter I'm studying. Alright, I have to get busy reading Cooper and a couple of critical essays about the English language right now. Peace, Love, & Happiness.

Review of Quiverfull, Part Three

2010-01-13T07:45:00.001-08:00

Today I will conclude my three-part investigative report of Quiverfull. Part Three: Daughters consists of only one chapter-- 20: Victory Through Daughters-- but it is loaded, to say the very least. As was the case with my discussions/reviews of the previous two sections of the book, this one could easily become tangential, so I will attempt to keep my criticism and opining as concise as possible.

Where to begin with concisely opining (or opining concisely, perhaps?) about this "loaded" chapter? Well, for starters, we're introduced to two of Vision Forum's foremost patriarchs-- Doug Phillips and Geoffrey Botkin. Both Phillips and Botkin have an archaic, disgusting vision for their daughters: eternal servitude to the men in their lives. (Actually, other aspects of these "gentlemens'" (and I use that term very loosely!) ideology is discussed throughout the entire book.) Botkin, for example, has two daughters in their early twenties, Anna Sofia and Elizabeth, whom he parades around the country at various Quiverfull conferences. Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin also have a Web site on which they instruct girls to dress modestly (meaning Victorian ruffles and petticoats and-- gasp!-- corsets), not go to college or pursue careers, obey their fathers and future husbands, only read literature and listen to music their parents approve of, and, worst of all, submit to all the men in their lives, including younger brothers. This final list item, frankly, cracks me up. In addition, the pious pair of sisters releases a series of books and CDs in and on which they epouse their extreme religious views. Lastly, they pose for Vision Forum catalogues that offer up images of "ideal" biblical women. By "ideal," I mean pretty in a fragile, damsel-in-distress way. (That ain't me, babe!) Kathryn Joyce is actually too kind to the Botkin sisters. Based on what I've read, they sound like brainwashed pricks. (Aside: This is one of the perils of homeschooling. Parents within the Christian patriarchy movement teach their children whatever they want to, which usually isn't much other than how to survive within the narrow perimeters of the movement itself. This is especially true when it comes to the so-called education of girls.) Secondly, Vision Forum patriarchs have decreed that unmarried daughters remain at home until they are wed to a family-approved suitor. A couple "gets to know each other" through courtship, not dating, and premarital sex is absolutely forbidden. If, Heaven forbid, a girl becomes pregnant out of wedlock, she is ostracized. (Oh, the glorious irony and hypocrisy!) Marriage in the movement is, of course, a legalistic arrangement/business deal, and wives, mothers, daughters have no real rights and are severely chastised for aspiring to any other life or deviating from these three roles. In other words, these women are property, viewed by their fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons as the intellectual equivalent of livestock. Thirdly, since Quiverfull females are essentially indoctrinated to be baby-makin' machines, patriarchs hold annual ceremonies during which they pray over baby girls' reproductive organs. This brings me to my final point about Ch. 20. Fathers and daughters of the movement regularly attend these functions called "purity balls." The focal point at these warped celebrations with rather incestuous overtones is the virginity of daughters. Enough said about that!

And now for some final thoughts...

Kathryn Joyce's Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement is an excellent book that details a religious movement that has garnered quite a bit of media attention lately. While I believe it is the right of every individual to choose his or her lifestyle, I also feel that if Quiverfullers gain too much power on the mainstream American political scene, this country would be on the proverbial slippery slope/lemming roll toward becoming a theocracy. Fortunately, it appears that this will remain too much of a fringe movement for that to ever happen. The main reason is that America has always been a progressive society, and the Quiverfull belief system is just way too extreme to really take hold in a major way. Therefore, I recommend that readers regard this book's subject matter as a cautionary tale of sorts about what happens when there is no separation of church and state. In terms of genre, I would classify it as a sci-fi expose in which the plotlines and characters happen to be real. We can all breathe a deep sigh of relief that most of us don't want this reality.

Review of Quiverfull, Part Two

2010-01-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

Chapters 11-19 of Kathryn Joyce's Quiverfull, otherwise referred to as Part Two: Mothers, is perhaps even more disturbing than Part One: Wives. While "Wives" focuses more on an overview of the movement's ideology, "Mothers" is decidedly more character driven. Here, readers are introduced (or, in my case, re-introduced) to a crazy cast of Quiverfullin' characters, as well as "celebrities" within the movement. For instance, some of our "friends" from the documentary The Monstrous Regiment of Women, including Emily Gunn, Jennie Chancey, Stacy McDonald, Carmon Freidrich, and Mary Pride make an appearance or two in the pages of these nine chapters whose ominous-sounding titles alone are enough to re-incite the women's lib movement and possibly even propel a few of us to take to the streets on behalf of the cause. In addition, Joyce rightfully and articulately rips on the grande dames of anti-feminism, Phyllis Schlafly and F. Carolyn Graglia. This section tackles the two sacred cows of the American fundamentalist movement-- superfluous procreation and anti-abortion activism. Most importantly, Joyce delves into the politics of Quiverfull ideology.

As for the scary titles, the little list of "gems" is as follows:

Ch. 11-- "Be Fruitful and Multiply"

Ch. 12-- "The Bible and Birth Control"

Ch. 13-- "Trust and Obey"

Ch. 14-- "Blessed Arrows"

Ch. 15-- "The Natural Family"

Ch. 16-- "Return to Patriarchy"

Ch. 17-- "Godly Seeds"

Ch. 18-- "Demographic Winter"

Ch. 19-- "Exiting the Movement"

(Ominous, huh?)

Anyway, Chapter 11's title is pretty self-explanatory. Joyce discusses how movement matriarchs such as Nancy Campbell, a mother of six and grandmother of several more, encourage their younger counterparts to, well, be fruitful and multiply. In Chapter 12, Joyce interviews the late Charles Provan, a western Pennsylvania printer, Holocaust denier, anti-contraception and anti-abortion activist, and father of 10 before his death in 2007. Folks, this guy had some really whacked-out views that you just have to read about to believe. Chapter 13 is equally creepy, for it contains the word "obey"-- the ultimate four-letter word as far as I'm concerned, especially when directed toward women. Unlucky 13 outlines the tenets of Biblical womanhood and marriage, which Quiverfullers view in completely legalistic terms. In fact, female adherents tell worldly women that they are selfish and silly for believing in the notion of romance. Joyce also uses this chapter to discuss the sad tale of America's most infamous Quiverfuller, Andrea Yates, the Texas mother of five who drowned her babies in the bathtub after succumbing to mental illness and the patriarchial, fire-and-brimstone teachings of street preacher Michael Woroniecki. (Side note: I'm now on a mission to dispel all prevailing cultural myths about women from Texas. LOL!) Things really take a dark turn, however, in Chapter 14 in which Joyce discusses the concept of spiritual warfare, literal and metaphorical. Metaphorically speaking, these folks base their unmitigated breeding practices on a particular passage from the Book of Psalms. In the literal sense, they believe that a real army of Christian warriors can defeat intruders and infidels in actual battle. Not surprisingly, they wholly support U.S. involvement in the various Middle Eastern wars. (I'm going to stop myself here, because this makes me really mad-- and I'm actually having a pretty good day so far today.) Of course, the perceived "infidels" are Muslims. Chapter 15 continues on the themes discussed in the previous chapter. By far, the most disturbing aspect of the natural family movement is that it's also a natalist, or white supremacist, movement. In other words, a large number of followers want to create a master race of pure, white Christians. (Again, I just can't go there today.) I will say this, though: I'm personally opposed to abortion, but it appears to me that a number of pro-life, anti-abortion Quiverfullers have inherently racist, xenophobic leanings. Chapters 16 and 17 offer more of the same, further outlining the movement's rhetoric. Chapter 16 focuses mainly on homeschooling (which I oppose for a number of reasons) and homechurching. Homechurching?! Okay, what that is is a movement in which the strictest pro-patriarchy Christians hold church services in their homes because they are so disillusioned with the "liberal" teachings of existing churches in their areas. Quite honestly, I think this is simply a way to further isolate the women from the "secular" world. As for the next chapter, it contains a hodgepodge of political mumbo-jumbo, mainly an overview of the belief that women should not be allowed to hold public office or even vote. (Yeah, I'm not touching that one right now!) Things get really interesting in Chapter 18, a discussion of the belief that white, predominantly Christian populations are dying out and that non-white, non-Christian ones are rising up. And, yes, this aspect is really popular with ultra-conservative ideologues right now. When Quiverfullers evangelize to the "lost masses" vis-a-vis the blogosphere (sigh...), they milk this belief for all it's worth. Another thing that really gets my Texas up is the fact that the movement's most vocal proselytizers look to their conservative allies in Israel. I say this 'gets my Texas up,' since it is U.S. support of Israel that is perpetuating all this terrorism. (Disclaimer: I am by no means an anti-Semite. I sincerely believe that most Jews, as well as persons of all faiths, want world peace. Just trying to fan the flames of potential controversy there, people!) Finally, Chapter 19 broaches the most horrifying subject matter of all: what happens if a woman tries to leave the movement. One such brave soul, former homeschoolin' warrior and now strident feminist blogger Cheryl Lindsey Seelhoff, was left destitute when she divorced her abusive husband and it was disclosed that she had an affair with the man she is now happily married to. (Abuse of women and children is an oft-examined topic throughout this book.) Seelhoff and her 11 children were ostracized and left with virtually nothing. Today, Ms. Seelhoff is a highly successful messenger of the feminist blog movement. (Blog on, honey!) Of course, Seelhoff's story has a relatively happy ending. Many others who've tried to flee the clutches of "biblical" patriarchy have not been so lucky. To conclude, "Mothers" is a simultaneously frightening and fascinating foray into this movement with little practical appeal but a curiously large number of followers. Joyce succeeds in being both blunt and compassionate in this section. As is the case with her entire book, Joyce's indefatigable quest for knowledge and non-judgmental desire to learn about an American sub-culture with beliefs far, far removed from her own is the real triumph of Part Two of Quiverfull.

Alright, all that having been said, I will discuss Part Three: Daughters in tomorrow's post. Trust me, y'all, the freakiest stuff is still yet to come!

Review of Quiverfull, Part One

2010-01-11T08:23:00.000-08:00

A while back, I read feminist scholar Kathryn Joyce's expose on an American fundamentalist religious movement, Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement (2009, Beacon Press). Well, folks, I just had to re-read this book, because while the content is highly disturbing, it's also endlessly fascinating. Furthermore, I've recently read a number of news stories that seem to suggest that this movement is even more prevalent than we realize. One reason for this is the popularity of reality TV programs such as 18 Kids and Counting... in which the Duggar family of Arkansas takes viewers through the day-to-day life of a super-sized, uber-religious clan. (According to author Joyce, the Duggars are a very idealized version of participants in the Quiverfull lifestyle through which followers subscribe to Biblical literalism and allow God to plan their families. That is, while the Duggars are financially well-off, most Quiverfullers live a hand-to-mouth existence.)

As for the book itself, it is divided into three sections that each outline the three feminine roles that this hardship-filled lifestyle prescribes: wife, mother, and daughter. Anything outside these roles is regarded as a sinful lifestyle. Part One: Wives is a harrowing look inside the largely dismal existence of a "perfect" (read: submissive; unquestioning) Quiverfull wife. In chapters 1-10, Joyce looks deep inside Quiverfull marriage and the drudgery, sadness, and loneliness that such an arrangement entails. In this first installment (there will be three altogether) of my book review series, I will outline Joyce's research and observations about Quiverfull wives and then provide my own opinions and commentary. (Warning: The following description is not for the squeamish.)

In the first chapter, "Massachusetts Hope," Joyce discusses a gathering of strident Quiverfullers that took place near Plymouth Rock a couple years ago. The location of this event is no accident, for adherents want to turn America back to its colonial state, meaning that if these post-modern Puritans got their way, the U.S. Constitution would become null and void, and the institution of slavery would once again be legal. And it only gets scarier from there. Chapters 2 ("The Church Comes Home"), 3 ("The Men Who Would Be Kings"), and 4 ("The New Reformation") outline the various aspects and mandates of patriarchy. In short, women have zero rights within this movement. For example, these chapters tell horror stories of how Quiverfull family patriarchs forbid wives from driving, working, and using any form of contraception. In addition, children must absolutely be homeschooled, and public schools are deemed as "evil institutions." Chapters 5 and 6 ("Titus 2: Submission and War" and "Titus 2 in Tennessee," respectively) are perhaps the most disturbing in this entire section. Here, Joyce spends some quality time at an extreme Christian women's retreat at which participants follow the guidelines of Biblical womanhood that they believe are set forth by the text of Titus 2. In one part, Joyce discusses emotional church services in which women, many of whom already have several children, ball about not being able to conceive more. Y'know, I would be thrilled if my God blessed me with one healthy, well-adjusted, and basically happy child, but that's just me. (Note to self: If ever driving through rural Tennessee, don't stop at any remote cabins in heavily wooded areas.) One thing that really freaked me out is the fact that women with fertility and/or health problems are basically viewed as ungodly, and movement matriarchs tell young women that if they're too sick have babies, then they should remain single for life. (Don't even get me started about what they think of feminists, lesbians, and women who are childless by choice!) In both my and Joyce's opinion, the most frightening thing of all is that these women offer up no real reason for being part of this movement other than literal interpretation of scripture that is most likely born out of fear and gullibility. Chapter 7, entitled "No Greater Joy," details the movement's ideology regarding childbearing. The main idea here is that the more you breed, the closer you are to God. While I love children and want them someday, I view them as tiny human beings as opposed to trophies. Next, Chapter 8, "Submission and Abuse," details the really dark side of the movement. Women who have rebelled in the form of getting jobs, using birth control, and/or being unfaithful are punished severely, either through spousal abuse, ostracism from their churches, and often a combination of the two. I was horrified by Chapter 9-- "The Small World of Vision Forum"-- a reference to the national headquarters of Quiverfull thought and political policy. And what a small world it is! Vision Forum, a sort-of Vatican of Reformed Protestantism, dictates that women of the movement should not pursue careers or college educations (something I can't even begin to fathom!), publicly speak ill of their husbands, and, worst of all, associate with women living in the "material world." Finally, Chapter 10, "Life in the Garden," outlines the way in which females, according to patriarchs, are chaste, pristine beings and are to remain that way-- or else! Of course, there's an explicit reference to the Adam and Eve story here. Believers argue that when Eve ate the apple from the Tree of Knowledge and Good and Evil (after being tempted by Satan-- a male entity-- in the form of a serpent, mind you), sin entered the world. (Apparently, in the minds of these folks, attaining knowledge is the worst sin a woman can commit.) Also, Quiverfullers see women as offshoots of men, not fully formed beings in their own right. Ultimately, Joyce just feels sorry for these women, as do I. How tragic to be told from a young age that there is only one way to live life, and if you question that, you're evil! Overall, Joyce strives to be compassionate and unbiased toward these gals, and her tone throughout the book is anything but contemptuous. More importantly, Joyce really did her homework while writing this book, and it is arguably one of the most well-researched pieces of social commentary I've ever read.

If Part One is terrifying, it is nothing compared to Part Two: Mothers. This section expounds upon "Wives" in a number of ways. Accordingly, I will discuss it in tomorrow's post.

Op-Ed Concept Update

2010-01-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

Alright, in yesterday's post, I mentioned that I'm working on my latest op-ed, which I hope to have published within the next couple weeks. Well, I'm currently in the process of mulling over possible concepts for the subject matter of the would-be editorial. While it will definitely cover some aspect of the Obama presidency, I still have no idea as to exactly what I'll write about this time. I'm debating whether to discuss foreign or domestic affairs or a combination of both. Either way, I'm going to have to do lots of research in order to make the piece as credible and professional a source as possible. Therefore, I need to get started on getting this thing from the notebook to the op-ed page. As always, I will display the finished product here for my readers' perusal, entertainment, and possible enlightenment (LOL!).

I swear!

2010-01-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

Wow! There's lots of crazy stuff going on in politics as we speak. Accordingly, I will discuss as much of it as possible, as well as offer my opinions on it, right here. I swear, folks, most of these stories-- especially Rudy Giuliani's latest 9/11-related gaffe-- are doozies. So, sit back and let me regale y'all with the latest news and my corresponding views on it.

For starters, former NYC mayor and one-time Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani is now claiming that no domestic terrorist attacks occurred during the Bush administration. WTF?! Uh, Rudy, what exactly do you call 9/11? Y'know, Joe Biden was right-- Giuliani can't say a single sentence without using the phrase "9/11." And, speaking of the veep, his mother, Jean Biden, passed away this week at age 92. My condolences to the Biden family. Also, a just-released video has revealed that the CIA bomber has links to Pakistan's division of the Taliban. I believe that, just as he handled the attempted Christmas Day airline bombing promptly and intelligently, President Obama will see to it that this issue is dealt with properly.

And that brings me to a discussion of foreign affairs. The situation in Yemen is worsening. I think the Obama administration will also deal with that accordingly. I also believe that the president understands that Pakistan and Yemen as opposed to Iraq and Afghanistan are the real "hot spots" right now. Of course, I'll continue to discuss this news item as I learn more about it and the story develops further. Most importantly, I'm confident that President Obama will not allow our current predicament to devolve into WWIII. (To be perfectly honest with y'all, it looks as though the prez will have better luck with Yemen than he will with health care, as we will more than likely not wind up having a public option after all. Dang-blasted Congressional Repubs! Oh, well, I guess you can't win 'em all.)

(Oh, a little aside: did y'all hear about Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson's wife's sex scandal? Well, if not, what happened is that Robinson's 60-year-old wife, Iris (a prominent lawmaker in her own right), had a romantic tryst with a man nearly 40 years her junior. I can just hear pundits the world over having fun with this one. I'm feeling a Daily Show blurb, complete with that Simon and Garfunkle song from the The Graduate soundtrack playing in the background, coming on.)

Lastly, in Ashleyverse news, it's still very January-ish in my lil' neck of the woods, but a warming trend is scheduled for early this coming week. In addition, I'm conducting research and taking notes for my next newspaper op-ed column. (Further details forthcoming.) Other than that, I'm just trying to enjoy this final wintry weekend before I return to the old grindstone.

Another Very January-ish Day

2010-01-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

Okay, the weather forecast for today is pretty much the same as it was for yesterday: downright yucky and, well, just plain January-ish. Of course, we still have February-- a month I only like because my birthday's in it!-- to look forward to. Then again, curling up with a good book and a hot cup of coffee (when you can) isn't exactly the worst thing in the world. Speaking of which, I was supposed to attend the annual learning disabilities/teacher-tutor-training meeting at work this morning, but it got cancelled (yay!). I suppose that's one positive way to view nasty winter days: if everything gets cancelled or shut down due to the weather, you have a built-in excuse to be lazy. And, trust me, y'all-- I'm taking full advantage of this opportunity, for it's back to the old grindstone (i.e. school and work) in the Ashleyverse next week. That said, I'm really looking forward to spring and all its wonderful promises this year. Until next time, namaste, y'all!

An Extremely Wintry Afternoon in the Ashleyverse

2010-01-07T14:06:00.001-08:00

Well, folks, it's a nasty, snowy, wintry afternoon in the Ashleyverse. On days like today, I wish I was somewhere almost perpetually warm and sunny, like California or Texas. Oh, well, I reckon I'll more than likely end up in one of those two places before it's all said and done, so I just need to live in the moment and try to enjoy the natural beauty of Illinois winters. LOL! After all, it could be a lot worse.

Update on My Ongoing Attempts to be a "Domestic Goddess"-- Plus a Little Unsolicited Commentary on the Latest "Celebrity" Death

2010-01-06T11:53:00.000-08:00

Alright, folks, I've made a bit more headway in terms of becoming more domesticated. For the past couple days, I've been using these last vestiges of "free time" before I go back to school and work to tidy up around the house. I'm not going to lie to y'all-- it feels really good to clean up. I think that perhaps I've finally gotten past the crazy notion that only repressed, uber-conservative, fundamentally religious women actually enjoy housework. Don't get me wrong, though; I'm still very much a feminist. However, I do want my personal space to reflect who I truly am: a competent, hard-working, disciplined, and intelligent 30-year-old woman of this promising decade that has just begun. On a side note, I would like to find a fella to accompany me on this life's journey, so I think it would behoove me to exhibit the aforementioned qualities.

On a whole other topic, yet another celebutante has passed away. Casey Johnson, heiress to the Johnson & Johnson family fortune died at-- gasp!-- age 30, most likely due to complications from diabetes. In addition to being mourned by her family, Casey is also sadly missed by friends, including fellow socialite Paris Hilton and supposed fiancee, reality TV "star" Tila Tequila. Y'know, you would think that with everything they've been given in life, as well as access to the best medical care in the world, these gals would take better care of themselves. As for the Tila Tequila part of this, well, I saw that girl on Jimmy Kimmel Live a while back, and she ain't necessarily the brightest thing. So, I doubt she was really all that intuned with Casey's well-being, either, and I'm sure that given their fast-paced lifestyle, Casey probably wasn't taking terribly great care of herself prior to her premature death. Hopefully, what happened to Casey and Brittany Murphy will serve as a wake-up call to the up-and-coming generation of young women. Ladies, if you want an awesome, rockin' life, y'all have to take care of yourselves-- physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually!

Happy Birthday, Big Daddy!!!

2010-01-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

Howdy, folks! Yes, today is my dad, David Len Waggoner's, 56th birthday. Born on Jan. 5, 1954, in Lawrenceville, Ill.-- a very small town-- he was, interestingly enough, the New Year's baby. (Many in the family lovingly joke that the early fame and notoriety went to his head. LOL!). So, happy birthday, Big Daddy!!! Love ya! That's really all I have to say today, since there's really nothing else that special going on in the Ashleyverse atm. The only thing I can currently think of is that it's exceptionally freakin' cold in my lil' neck of the woods this afternoon, and we're expecting a snowstorm sometime tomorrow (yuck! I despise winter with a passion!). Alright, y'all take care, keep warm, and peace out until next time.

Just Another Miscellaneous Monday Post

2010-01-04T14:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, folks, I made good on one of my New Year's resolutions today by cleaning the paper clutter out of my house and car. I feel soooo much better now! Unfortunately, I also managed to spill piping hot McDonald's coffee all over the front passenger-side floorboard after hitting a speed bump while pulling out of the parking lot. Now, my whole car smells like fresh coffee, which isn't necessarily a bad thing in the Ashleyverse. BTW, did y'all know that when you spill piping hot McDonald's coffee in your car, the whole dang thing becomes a virtual sauna? Again, that's not necessarily a bad thing, especially on a wintry January day like today. Anyway, at least I got rid of the clutter, and I'm enjoying my newly clean, if not very aromatic, Volkswagen tremendously.
Also (and this is totally off-topic, BTW), remember that couple who crashed the White House dinner party back in November? Well, now it's been discovered that there was a third uninvited guest. I swear... everybody's entitled to "achieve" his or her 15 mins. of fame, but couldn't these idiots have at least done so in an ethical manner?! Speaking of the White House, its current residents have returned from their Hawaiian holiday vacation, which apparently wasn't too much of one. Oh, well, at least the Obamas didn't cut the vacation short on account of being recognized.
Alright, that concludes this miscellaneous Monday post. Namaste, ya'll!

My Predictions for Domestic Affairs and World Diplomacy in the New Year

2010-01-03T11:14:00.000-08:00

While it would be completely redundant of me to say that President Obama has a diplomatic mess on his hands, I do want to reiterate my belief that he will begin to resolve certain aspects of it in 2010. First, I believe that our president will continue to make headway in regards to the Middle East peace process. Secondly, I think Obama will ultimately prove himself worthy of that Nobel Peace Prize by trying to get U.S. troops out of both Iraq and Afghanistan within the year-and-a-half timetable that he has set for withdrawal from these countries. (I know this one sounds rather lofty, especially since a number of world leaders, including France's Nicolas Sarkozy, are now "anti-Obama," but I remain cautiously optimistic.) In addition, I predict that the Dems will retain their majority in Congress and that this turn of events will bolster the peoples' support for the president's progressive agenda. (According to recent reports, the GOP is not doing well financially, which could seriously hurt the party's chances for victory in the November mid-term elections.) Finally-- and perhaps most importantly-- Obama will inevitably turn our economy around for the better. So, those are my political predictions for 2010. Now, let's get busy helping our president make them a reality!

Out with the Old, In with the New

2010-01-02T10:36:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've devised a little project for this weekend: cleaning out all my crap-- in the literal and metaphorical senses-- that I accumulated last year. In the literal sense, I'm going to pitch all the paper mess and clutter (my biggest domestic downfall!) that has gathered in my house and car. In the metaphorical, spiritual sense, I'm working to release all my old, worthless emotional baggage. It'll be a big ole, all-around catharsis. So, that's my little New Year's project. I'll update y'all periodically to let y'all know how things are coming along with it. Alright, time for me to sign off in order to usher in a clean, fresh decade. Namaste, y'all!

Happy New Year/Decade!!!

2010-01-01T12:18:00.000-08:00

Well, folks, it's officially 2010 and the beginning of a whole new decade. As I've said before, I have high hopes. Based on all the news stories I've heard and read, I'm not alone in expressing this sentiment. Anyway, I had a very nice New Year's Eve last night (read: very peaceful and quiet; perhaps this is a sign of things to come). I had a couple beers and vicariously watched the ball drop in Times Square, courtesy of ABC's New Year's Rockin' Eve w/Carson Daly. BTW, did any of y'all see Green Day's live-from-L.A. performance of "21 Guns"? Simply amazing! Alright, I hope everyone else out there is enjoying a lovely New Year's Day 2010, and I'll talk to y'all later. Peace and good vibes during this year and every year to come.

More Uncensored Thoughts on This Final New Year's Eve of the Decade, As Well As My Hopes and Predictions for the Next One

2009-12-31T08:18:00.000-08:00

Yes, folks, today is New Year's Eve 2009-- the very last New Year's Eve of the decade. And, dang, what a decade it's been! This year was particularly interesting, to say the least. Of course, I attempted to sum up the entire decade in one post yesterday. Well, I think the good folks at jibjab.com did a better job at that than I could possibly ever hope to do. Y'all have to check out their "2009 Year in Review" original, "Never a Year Like '09." It's hilarious (and so true)! The link is: http://sendables.jibjab.com/originals/never_a_year_like_09. There are lots of other great originals on the site, especially "This Land," a satire of the '04 election, and "Time for Some Campaignin'"-- a spoof of the '08 one.

Alright, now for my predictions and hopes for 2010 and beyond. Well, for starters, I think things will continue to improve overall in this country and that President Obama will be elected to a second term in office. (IMHO, 2009 and the whole decade actually concluded on somewhat of a high note.) And, regardless of what Dick Cheney claims, the prez does indeed realize that we're in a war (which Obama didn't start, BTW) and will work-- with our help, of course-- to end it by the end of his first term. I also believe that Obama will prove himself to be a resounding success, both domestically and in terms of foreign affairs. Finally, on a personal note, I think 2010 will be a pretty danged good year in the Ashleyverse as well. I will meet Mr. Right, have an awesome, positively life-altering Eurotrip this coming summer, and see things continue on the upswing careerwise. I know things are far from perfect, but I'm hopeful about the coming year and decade. So, those are my hopes and predictions for 2010. Mark my words, y'all: all this and more will happen. That said, peace, love, and, yes, happiness on this final New Year's Eve of this crazy, not-so-bad-after-all decade! Let's go out there tonight and spread good karma and vibes to the universe for the up-and-coming one. Oh, one more thing: my friend out in San Francisco reminded me today via e-mail that there's going to be a full, blue moon tonight. Once again, 2010 should be very interesting!

What a difference a decade makes!

2009-12-30T12:09:00.000-08:00

Well, folks, we're nearing the end of yet another year, as well as another decade. And what a decade this has been! Ten years ago this week, many people were all wigged out about this thing called Y2K, and a subset of religious fundamentalists were even predicting the end of the world. (For the record, I knew all along that that was a bunch of right-wing b.s. propaganda.) A year into the decade, we seemed headed for real doom in the form of the election of Dubya, 9/11, terrorism, and war. (Aside: President Obama's handling of the attempted Christmas Day airline bombing is, imho, a major improvement over his predecessor's handling of 9/11 and the Bin Laden briefings Dubya was receiving the entire summer of '01 while he was playing cowboy at the ranch in Crawford, Texas.) And, speaking of President Obama (love being able to use that phrase!), his victory seemed virtually unlikely to many in 2000. Of course, the growth of the Internet is largely responsible for this turn of events. In addition to revolutionizing American elections, the Web has made unlikely (and often undeserving!) superstars out of a lot of folks. Take, for instance, the music industry. At the beginning of the decade, it was dominated by cookie-cutter (read: blonde, vapid) pop princesses like Britney Spears. Now, thanks to the Internet and reality TV (don't even get me started!), a Susan Boyle can become an overnight sensation. It's funny, but I actually remember the days when you had to work for fame and celebrity. The times-- they are a'changin'! LOL! Last but certainly not least, I've undergone a lot of personal changes during the past ten years. For example, on Jan. 1, 2000, I was a community college student living at home and somewhat unsure of my future. Today, on the other hand, I'm a community college instructor, grad student, writer, activist, up-and-coming leftist blogger, freelance journalist, and soon-to-be world traveler. My, my, how things have come full circle! Okay, that's a very brief dissertation on the past decade. I want to wish everyone peace, love, and happiness in 2010 and beyond. Here's to another eventful and history-changing decade. Who knows what we'll be discussing here on Dec. 30, 2019!

Additional Info About My Online Dating Debacle

2009-12-29T10:51:00.000-08:00

Continuing on the online dating theme, I got a couple more "winks" today. This time, they were from seemingly half-way compatible, decent guys (for me). For example, one of the "winks" was from an apparently okay 28 year old from Greenup, Ill., and I received a "wink" from a cute 29 year old from Palestine, Ill. (originally from Chicagoland). One guy even said he really liked my profile photo. (I guess I'm not totally hideous. LOL!) Interestingly enough, most of these guys have commented more on my personality aspects, which is a good sign. There's still a few "good" ones out there! I think I might check these dudes out and perhaps even "wink" 'em back. Last night, this lonely, widowed, 44-year-old soldier, who's just returned home from a tough deployment in Iraq and is looking for companionship, "winked" me. He seemed sweet and also happens to be well-educated, but he also doesn't want kids (yikes! big-time deal-breaker in the Ashleyverse!). Still, I suppose "debacle" might be too strong a word to use to describe my dating situation-- at this point, anyway. I remain optimistic that I will find Mr. Right in a timely fashion one way or another, online or otherwise. Stay tuned!

More Crazy, Strange Stuff

2009-12-28T13:21:00.001-08:00

Okay, I've some more characteristically weird Ashleyverse news for y'all today. A few days ago, in my favorite-things-for-2009 post, I mentioned that I'm doing Yahoo! Personals. Well, I've gotten lots of "winks" on the site, and some of the guys seem alright and basically attractive. The problem? Most of them either live far, far away and/or have employment (read: a general lack thereof) issues and/or crazy, strange living situations. Worse, many of my "matches" appear to be, um, sort of anti-social and not too terribly concerned with pursuing education and making a sustainable living. Arghh... dating is so frustrating!!! I swear, for some bizarro reason, I'm a total weirdo magnet. What's up with that?! Anyway, I'm going to keep trying, and maybe I'll get it right someday. Better yet, perhaps I'll meet Mr. Right the old-fashioned way at school. That would be great, since a guy I would meet at school would more than likely be much more compatible with me than some random yahoo I met on the Internet. Plus, I prefer face-to-face communication. (Yeah, I'm soooo strange. LOL!) Hopefully, I'll find a that special freak among many, who, like me, actually values relationships, education, work, and real communication. I'll keep y'all posted as things continue to develop in regards to this endeavor. Peace!

You say you want a resolution...

2009-12-27T10:24:00.000-08:00

I know it's not quite New Year's yet, but it's never to early to start thinking about New Year's resolutions. As for my own resolutions, well, for starters, as I mentioned a year ago, I'm trying to become more domesticated (easier said than done!). Secondly, I want to work on not being so hard on myself and just accepting me for who I am (likewise!). Finally-- and this may seem contradictory-- I'd like to lose 5-10 lbs. by February 3 (which, incidentally, happens to be my 30th birthday). Honestly, I want to work on having an overall positive body image and self concept. I also think I need to stop letting other peoples' issues, hang-ups, and negativity get to me. In order to achieve these goals, I'm going to focus on working toward them for my personal well-being, not to please anybody else. (I think this is what has messed me up in the past in terms of making my resolutions a reality.) So, here's to a happy, healthy 2010!

'Twas the day after Christmas...

2009-12-26T11:20:00.000-08:00

Today is December 26, the day after Christmas. More importantly, it's Boxing Day. What is Boxing Day, you may be asking? Well, according to Wikipedia, it's a holiday that's celebrated in England, Canada, and Australia, and a few other countries on which, traditionally speaking, the gentry switches places with servants of the manor. The day is so named, because presents are typically given to the needy and those in service positions. In the military, officers switch places with enlisted personnel. (I learned about this custom from a M*A*S*H episode called "'Twas the Day After Christmas (#10.9, to be exact)" in which a British contingent of officers visits the 4077 at Christmas and suggests that their American counterparts adopt Boxing Day customs in order to boost morale and combat the war-induced ennui that has set in in the camp. Col. Potter takes the suggestion to heart, and the 4077's officers switch places with their enlisted comrades in arms, which yields some hilarious results. Winchester and Margaret on KP? LOL!) The holiday has sort of caught on "across the pond," and Americans who live near the Canadian border have begun to celebrate Boxing Day. Since I'm enamored with all things British, I'm also observing this occasion. I think I might possibly use it as an impetus to attend to a few domestic duties this weekend. (Uhh... we'll see about that!) Anyway, regardless of what holidays you celebrate-- Happy Boxing Day!

So (once again!), this is Christmas...

2009-12-25T05:54:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's Christmas (or whatever holiday y'all celebrate) once again. I'm just reflecting on 2009 atm. It ended up being a half-way decent year in the Ashleyverse-- personally and politically. (I started grad school, my job situation improved, and, imho, the country's finally headed in the right direction.) I know there's still a lot of work left to do, but at least we'll more than likely have healthcare. The war's (as in the cluster o' conflicts in the Middle East) not over yet, but with our help, the president can begin to make that goal a reality in 2010. Remember: War is over (if we want it). Anyway, I'm going to spend today with my mom's side of the family. I'm sure it'll be characteristically interesting. Of course, I'll observe and report and fill y'all in on all the details later. Alright, I know everyone has places to go and people to see, so I'll keep this post as brief as possible. That said, peace to all for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Al-Hijra/Winter Solstice/Festivus, etc., '09.

...'These are a few of my favorite things!'...

2009-12-24T07:02:00.000-08:00

Alright, y'all, here is a list of my favorite things-- a la Oprah-- on this lovely Christmas Eve '09.

Fave Things List & Rationale (Items in no particular order):

1.) Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" and the numerous parodies it's inspired-- This is first and foremost a good song by a good artist. Secondly, from SNL to YouTube to that new Chipmunks "squeakquel," the countless spoofs of the tune's accompanying video are very funny. Finally, I like the song's message: Being single is okay, but many of we single ladies are looking for that special guy to, well, you know...

2.) Twitter-- Alright, I've tried MySpace and Facebook and have decided that Twitter.com is the coolest of all the social networking sites out there. Since users express themselves in 140 characters or less, Twitter is ideal for we chatty gals on the go. (BTW, my username is LoneStarLady80. Send me a tweet and join me and my 19 followers, including a certain V.I.P., in discussing the issues o' the day in abbreviated form.)

3.) Clean & Clear Skincare Products-- Since I have highly sensitive, combo skin, finding the right skincare regimen has proven to be a lot of trial and error. Now, however, I think my Era of Dermal Uncertainty may be over.

4.) Yahoo! Personals-- In order to find Mr. Right for Me in 2010, I've enlisted the help of this online dating network. I've also tried other dating sites, primarily eHarmony.com (rip off!), in the past. I have to say that Yahoo! is the way to go in terms of taking steps to ensure success in cyber-romance.

5.) Watching certain politicians make total fools out of themselves-- Earlier this year, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) delighted us with his accusations that the president is a liar. More recently, we were treated to Sarah Palin's (epic fail!) latest antics (the whiny book is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak). This time around, she cut her family's Hawaiian vacation short after being recognized. ROFL-- and LMAO!!! And this is a woman who's supposedly considering a 2012 presidential run?! Either this is a publicity stunt deluxe or Sarah has issues, to say the least. We shall see about this one!

6.) My younger siblings and cousins interacting with each other at family get togethers-- As I've mentioned on numerous previous occasions, I come from a big, loud, crazy family. Certain members get on my nerves at various times (e.g. my brother, Austin, when he uses my garage as a boat dock-- in the winter months), but I love 'em even more the crazier they get. (Sorry, Hoss, didn't mean to throw ya under the bus like that.) I especially love watching my younger cousins, of which there are many-- I'm the oldest member of my generation on both sides-- playing Wii, Guitar Hero, and American Idol. It actually makes me want to have kids someday. Despite all the chaos that invariably ensues, I feel totally blessed to be part of the family I was born into.

7.) Those Christmas movies, TV show episodes, and specials that you can watch over and over again every year and never seem to get tired of-- Wow! So many great Christmas movies, TV show episodes, and specials to mention, so little time. LOL! Among my many all-time annual faves are: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, It's A Wonderful Life, The Family Stone, and the original Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. As for yuletide TV, the other day I mentioned that M*A*S*H episode and that My Name Is Earl one that's an absolute hoot, folks. Also, I always chuckle at the Seinfeld Festivus (the holiday for the rest of us, invented by Mr. Costanza of "Serenity now!" fame) celebrations. In addition, The Office Christmas parties are always guaranteed to garner a few laughs. That 70s Show holiday episodes likewise usually guarantee at least a few laughs. Finally, I personally feel that the Peanuts' Christmas Special (not quite sure of the exact title; it's the one where Charlie Brown "rescues" the crappy Christmas tree) is the best of the best. And, I'm afraid to say, my brother and sister, Augusta (now ages 25 and 21, respectively), as well as I, like to indulge our decidedly juvenile sides with A Beavis and Butt-head Christmas and A South Park Christmas. Of course, I love the SNL holiday retrospectives (having worked in radio, "Schwetty Balls" has got to be the funniest skit I've ever heard), plus there's a few decent celeb variety specials out there.

8.) Blogging-- I think this one kinda goes without saying. In a sense, I owe my life to Blogger and Google. 'Nuff said!

9.) Eating ethnic cuisines on holidays-- Last Christmas Eve, I regaled y'all with tales of my family's Tex Mex-infused celebrations. Well, this year, we're going out for Chinese. I believe this tradition originated from our zillionth viewing of A Christmas Story. (The narrator, Ralphie's, family ends up eating Christmas dinner in a Chinese restaurant after the redneck neighbors' dogs destroyed Ralphie's mom's turkey. That didn't actually happen in real life, but we just thought it was a cute, fun, and multi-cultural idea to have Chinese food on Christmas Eve.)

10.) Googling a host of really bizarre topics and actually conducting research on them-- I know I'm really flying my nerd flag big time here, but I love doing research about anything and everything. My latest "scholarly" obsession? Giant camels! WTF?! Yes, that's right-- giant freakin' camels. I was actually introduced to this particular bizarre topic via some of my students' reading material, which contained a news blurb about the finding of supposed ancient giant camel fossils in the Middle East a couple years ago. Oddly fascinated, I had to delve deeper into the subject matter. So, I guess that in one sense, the public education system is a success, for some teachers have also become students. LOL!

Well, folks, those are a few of my favorite things for this helluva year that has been 2009. Please let me know what some of y'all's favorite things are.

More Great Past and Present Holiday Hits

2009-12-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I reviewed the 36 tracks on the two Now That's What I Call Christmas!-- Vol. 1 CDs. For those just tuning in today, I'm going to provide y'all with a rundown of the tracks on Vol. 2-- a.k.a. The Signature Collection.

CD Reviews:

Disc One: Now and Forever-- This multi-genre assortment of 18 traditional and non-traditional seasonal tunes has its share of hits and misses. For starters, Destiny's Child performs a magnificent version of "Opera of the Bells." Secondly, Stacie Orrico offers up a delightful rendition of "O Come, All Ye Faithful." On the third track, *NSYNC declares "I Don't Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You"-- which is a far better song than the boy band's Vol. 1 contribution. On Track #4, Aussie pop tart Kylie Minogue sings the classic "Santa Baby" in a way that would make the late, great Eartha Kitt proud. Next, Brit boy band B2K does an okay version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," although Springsteen's Vol. 1, Disc 2 version is obviously far superior. Selection #6 is "Step Into Christmas," a nice little tune by Elton John. Jimmy Buffet provides lucky #7 in the form "Jingle Bells"-- done reggae style. After that, Mariah Carey belts out the radio and video channel holiday staple "All I Want For Christmas Is You," which has proven to be perennially fun and festive. Then, Vince Gill does a countrified styling of "Do You Hear What I Hear?"-- a traditional religious song I like, even though I'm not a country music fan per se. Nawlins boy Aaron Neville wails out a timeless variation of the beautiful "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" for the tenth track. Track #11 is a total childhood flashback, courtesy of WHAM!'s "Last Christmas." Not to be mean, but I just can't take #12, Gloria Estefan's "Christmas Through Your Eyes." The good folks at Capitol Records redeem themselves with lucky #13-- The Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping." Okay, I could seriously do without #14, which is Amy Grant's sappy "A Christmas to Remember." On #15, onetime teenage opera phenom Charlotte Church delivers some Christmas goodies in the form of "Silent Night." For #16, Luther Vandross also delivers on "Please Come Home for Christmas." The penultimate track features a singer I don't care for, Celine Dion (not a big fan of the soft rock/easy listening/adult contemporary genres!), singing a traditional carol I adore: "O Holy Night." Finally, Norah Jones (whom I do like a great deal!) entertains with the adorable "Peace." Depending on your individual musical taste, this is a fundamentally decent collection with something for everybody.

Disc Two: Then and Always-- I must begin this little discussion by saying that I like this CD much better than Disc One of this set. For instance, the starter track is Louis Armstrong's simply amazing version of "Winter Wonderland." The second song, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is sung very well by Barbra Streisand (not one of my faves, but the song is a classic). Thirdly, Johnny Mathis croons "Silver Bells," providing your celebrations with that retro vibe. I absolutely love the fourth track: Lou Rawls' beautifully unique take on "The Little Drummer Boy." Fabulous #5 is Peggy Lee with a jaunty, uplifting "Happy Holiday." Then, Rat Packer Dean Martin turns things down a notch with "The Christmas Blues." Next, Chuck Berry goes full throttle on "Run, Rudolph Run," which I actually hit the replay button on sometimes. Track 8 is a spectacular duet between Welsh-born retro hottie Tom Jones and Cerys from Catatonia, who stand out among most of the other artists on this collection with "Baby, It's Cold Outside"-- a total blast. Number 9, number 9, a live version of Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad," has lots of sentimental value to me, since I heard this song constantly this time of year growing up in South Texas. The tenth tune, Burl Ives' classic recording of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," is always a reliable way to get into the Christmas spirit. For those who like traditional/religious carols, Andy Williams' "The First Noel" doesn't disappoint. Number 12 is another nostalgic tune; here, Texan cowboy crooner George Strait sings the very cute "I Know What I Want for Christmas." In addition, you really can't go wrong with gospel star Yolanda Adams' soulful "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Then, things start getting a little, er, cheesy. First, there's Kenny Rogers' "Kentucky Homemade Christmas." Then, Andy Griffith sings a rather embarrassing version of "Go Tell It On the Mountain." Never fear, for #16 is Luciano Pavarotti's (accomapanied by the National Philharmonic Orchestra & the London Voices, conducted by Kurt Herbert Adler) totally sweet-- especially with some red wine and pasta and dark chocolate!-- "Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)." Listen to #17, Barry Manilow (lame!) with "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays," at your own risk (the Perry Como version on Vol. 1 is much, much better). Finally, Guy Lombardo performs the always apropo "Auld Lang Syne." This CD may not be perfect, but it would be great to play at any Christmas party, and, given the popularity of AMC's Mad Men series, it would be the ideal soundtrack for a 60s-themed holiday soiree (hmm...).

So, this concludes the second installment of this Ashleyverse broadcast. This is Ashley Waggoner, signing off on this hopefully peaceful, love-filled, and happy Christmas Eve Eve.

Now That's What I Call Awesome Christmas Music!

2009-12-22T10:33:00.000-08:00

Alright, as I promised yesterday, I will discuss a few of the selections from the Now That's What I Call Christmas! CD Collection today. In the following paragraphs, I will provide commentary on the 36 songs on the original volume of this series.

CDs & Commentary*:

Now That's What I Call Christmas! (Disc One)-- Wow! This disc is loaded to the gills (or would that be grooves?) with great classic holiday tunes. The opening track is Nat King Cole's delightful version of "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" and the closer is Bing Crosby & David Bowie's duet, "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth." (I discussed this highly unique medley last year. The former tune is one of my fave traditional carols, and the latter song is absolutely amazing.) In between, listeners are treated to the seasonal stylings of the likes of Elvis ("Blue Christmas," of course) and those of Rat Pack members; for example, Sinatra croons "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and Dean Martin declares "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!". In addition, recording artists from Christmases past, including: Tony Bennett ("Winter Wonderland"), Ella Fitzgerald ("Sleigh Ride"), Perry Como (("There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays"), Johnny Mathis ("The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"), Burl Ives ("A Holly Jolly Christmas"), Gene Autry ("Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer"), Elmo & Patsy ("Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer"), Brenda Lee ("Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"), Bobby Helms ("Jingle Bell Rock"), and The Beach Boys ("Little Saint Nick")-- will bring a smile to your face, bring back happy memories, entertain your ears, and warm your heart. A couple tracks to skip, though, are country singer Kathy Mattea's "Christmas Collage" (downright grating; I've heard better versions of the collage's elements, especially "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "O Come, O Come Emanuel," and "We Three Kings," elsewhere) and the Carpenters' "Merry Christmas Darling" (depressing-- Who needs that around Christmas?!). Overall, this disc is well worth your while.

Now... ! (Disc 2)-- This CD is very eclectic, to say the least. To begin, there's some socially conscious stuff on here, particularly my all-time fave non-traditional Christmas anthem: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," by John & Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band w/the Harlem Community Choir. Of course, I've discussed this song-- as well as the primary artist-- here quite extensively. Its unfortunate timeliness cannot be overstated. Speaking of socially conscious Christmas songs, this disc also features Band Aid's (a collection of prominent 80s artists performing on behalf of Africa-- remember "We Are the World"?) "Do They Know It's Christmas?". Then, there's a lot of fun stuff by rock 'n' roll royalty; for instance, Bruce (a.k.a. The Boss) Springsteen performs "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" live with his E-Street Band, and John's Fab Four bandmate-- Sir Paul McCartney-- sings the reggae-tinged "Wonderful Christmastime"-- a tune Macca released in the 70s with Wings. Honestly, I usually end up skipping over a lot of the tracks on this disc, like Michael Bolton's (Dork Alert!) "Our Love Is Like a Holiday," Gloria Estefan's (sorry, can't go there) "Love on Lay Away," and Celine Dion's (don't even get me started!) "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day." Next, there's a bit of a rather pleasant jazzy influence in this collection, courtesy of Harry Connick, Jr. (the fun, Southern-fried "(It Must Have Been Ol') Santa Claus") and Diana Krall ("Jingle Bells"). In addition, a couple tracks are old-school holiday instrumentals. Manheim Steamroller supplies an admirable version of "Away In a Manger"-- another one of my fave traditional carols, and Ottmar Liebert does a decent "Deck the Halls." (Couldn't they have at least included something by the Transiberian Orchestra?) One thing I like about this CD is its nod to classic Motown in the form The Isley Brothers' (featuring Ronald Isley) rendition of a song called "Special Gift." Actually, a lot of the songs appeal to younger listeners. These include: Joe's "This Christmas"-- which I can't assess because I haven't heard it, The Big Yard Family's (featuring Shaggy) "All We Need Is Love (Christmas in the Yard" (fun!), Britney Spears' "My Only Wish (This Year)" (have to admit, surprisingly half-way okay), and *NSYNC's "You Don't Have to Be Alone (on Christmas)" (don't even bother; Justin Timberlake's SNL musical comedy vignette "D--- in a Box" is way better than this). Finally, you're treated to two R&B versions of traditional carols. First, the late Luther Vandross sings a beautiful version of "O Come All Ye Faithful." Secondly, Boyz II Men harmonizes a sure-to-be-a-classic "Silent Night." (Incidentally, I also love these two carols.) Despite some lackluster and not-so-great tracks, this CD is basically enjoyable.

So, that concludes my broadcast for Tues., Dec. 22, 2009. For tomorrow's edition of The Ashleyverse Show, I will discuss the tracklist for Now That's What I Call Christmas, Vol. 2. Stay tuned and peace out!

*Songs are grouped according to genre/recording date/category, not by order on CDs' tracklists.

More Thoughts and Info About Montazeri and Murphy, Plus Some Christmas-Themed Stuff

2009-12-21T11:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I talked about the deaths of Brittany Murphy and Iran's opposition leader-- Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri. In regards to the former, Ms. Murphy was ill prior to her passing. According to her husband, writer Simon Monjack, and family and friends, Brittany was reportedly suffering from "flu-like symptoms." (I don't know about y'all, but in light of the supposed swine flu pandemic and the fact that it's officially flu season, I don't like hearing that a seemingly healthy celebrity in my age bracket has died after feeling "flu-like" symptoms. And, yeah, that SNL sketch is rather distasteful in retrospect.) As for the latter, I just wonder how and to what extent Montazeri's passing will affect U.S. relations with Iran. I also wonder what our president thinks about all this. I'm sure he'll let know sometime sooner as opposed to later. R.I.P. Brittany and Montazeri. (Is it just me, or has this been a helluva year in terms of celeb deaths, or what?)

Secondly, I'd like to discuss some more Christmas-y things with y'all. I think I'm going to have a "favorite-things-type" post on here, and I'll more than likely discuss my fave seasonal tunes. Speaking of music, I've been watching VH1's "Top 40 of 2009" countdown. I think music has been pretty danged good this year. Songs and videos by the likes of Beyonce, Taylor Swift, the Foo Fighters, John Mayer, Lady Gaga, Pink, Green Day, Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi, Kings of Leon, Colbie Caillat, Rob Thomas, Jay Sean, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, the Plain White Ts, Owl City, Michael Franti, etc., are among my faves on the list (interesting mix, huh?). Well, I hope everyone's feeling peaceful, loved, and happy out there right now, and I'll talk to y'all later.

Thoughts on the Passing of Brittany Murphy and-- More Importantly-- Iran's Opposition Leader

2009-12-20T14:02:00.000-08:00

Hey, folks! I just found out that quirky actress and former Ashton Kutcher flame Brittany Murphy has died. She was 32. I enjoyed Murphy's voice-over work on the animated TV series King of the Hill and in cutesy movies like Just Married (co-starring then-boyfriend Kutcher) and Uptown Girls (a collaboration with Hollyweird's woman-child du jour Dakota Fanning). I also think she was superb in more disturbing fare, especially in regards to her role as Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder's bulimic, suicidal fellow mental institution inmate in Girl, Interrupted. In addition, she did a good job alongside Alicia Silverstone in the 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel Emma, Clueless, and was pretty funny in the hilarious Kirsten Dunst beauty pageant film Drop Dead Gorgeous. Lastly, she was excellent as Drew Barrymore's character's best friend in the based-on-a-true-story vehicle (pardon the pun) Riding in Cars with Boys. So, this is a very sad story indeed.

Okay, now for some really important news: Iran's foremost dissident cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, passed away today at age 87. Montazeri was a "spiritual father" who led the opposition movement against the founder of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini. Throughout his distinguished career, Montazeri accused fundamentalist clerics of imposing dictatorship in the name of Islam. This past summer, he energized a youth-led contingent of activists and protesters-- supporters of opposition party leader Mir Hossein Mousavi-- who railed against the re-election of incumbent radical Iranian president Mahmoud Amhadinejad. Montazeri bravely and openly decried the arrests of many of these dissidents as "despotic treatment" at the hands of ruling theocrats. In addition, he denounced current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as being unfit to rule. Most importantly, Montazeri broke taboos against civil disobedience. For these reasons, his passing is a significant current event. (Note: I found so much info on Montazeri while conducting research for this post that there will be further discussions of his life and work in upcoming ones. As always, stay tuned.)

How a Little Christmas Present Became a Big Part of My Life

2009-12-19T11:23:00.001-08:00

Way, way back on Christmas 1999, I received a present that changed my life in a number of ways. The positively life-altering gift? Answer: Billy Blanks' Original Tae-Bo Workout set on VHS (y'all remember VHS, right?). Anyway, I have long since given away all but one of the four tapes in this collection-- I still use the one tape I kept regularly-- but I have rediscovered the complete set on DVD, courtesy of Amazon.com. Billy Blanks is an inspiration, and the four workouts provide you with the holistic (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.) fitness experience. He has released many other workouts in the past 10 years, but the originals are his all-time best. Accordingly, I will discuss them in this post.

The Four Original Tae-Bo Workouts & My Usual Commentary:

1.) Instructional Workout-- This 40-min. intro to the world-famous martial-arts-style workout program isn't really much of a workout. It's simply a tutorial that teaches those new to the method about alignment and proper technique. I've actually done it a couple times since receiving the compilation DVD as a refresher course. (Actually, you can get a sort-of workout from Instructional if you go all out on the kicks. Just don't rely solely on it for exercise, because Blanks & Co. only work one side of the body to demonstrate the moves, plus it's too slow to provide any real fitness benefits.)

2.) Tae-Bo Basic-- When you're feeling a bit more confident, give Basic a whirl. This 30-min. workout is a workout. More importantly, it's a good one that only takes half an hour. (What more could a gal ask for?!) Anyway, you're treated to an energizing mix of punches and kicks and Blanks' patented spiritually tinged (but not heavy-handed) words of wisdom. The tai-chi cool-down alone makes this workout worthwhile. Great for those busy workdays when you want to burn calories and work up a sweat-- but don't have all day to do so. (I've been getting up at 5 a.m. to squeeze this in on my glorious, teaching-at-8 a.m. days.)

3.) Advanced Tae-Bo-- All y'all have to know about this 55-min. aero/tone workout is that it's awesome and tough! First, you sweat your way through approx. 30 mins. of kicks and punches. Then, it's about 15 mins. of intense ab work. (After over a decade of serious working out and experimenting with just about every fitness trend in the universe, I actually have some semblance of ab muscles at almost 30 years of age, thanks largely in part to doing this tape on a regular basis. This is the one I pull off the shelf when I want a challenge or feel that I need to tone up and/or drop a few pounds. Does the trick every time!) Finally, there's a 10-min. squat-and-stretch cool-down in which Billy provides more of his heart-felt spiritual motivation (e.g. "Tap into a higher power.")-- which, trust me, is necessary after completing this routine. If you're wanting to take your fitness regime to the next level, then this is the video for you. One word of caution, however: Make absolute dang sure that you've mastered Instructional and Basics before moving on to this workout. I learned that little lesson the hard way. LOL!

4.) 8-Minute Workout-- Okay, it sounds great in theory: An uber-mini workout with maximum intensity and subsequent results. Unfortunately, the practical application leaves a little to be desired. Still, this brief routine does pack a passable punch-- literally!-- and a little something is always better than nothing. If you're really pressed for time, do this for some half-way decent cardio benefits.

My Interpretation of "Dreams"

2009-12-18T13:33:00.001-08:00

I recently discussed Season 7 (1978-79) of the anti-war show to end all anti-war shows-- otherwise known as M*A*S*H. Today, I'm going to talk a little about Season 8 (1979-80). This season is defined by a number of highlights, including the two-part episode "Good-bye Radar (#s 8.4 & 8.5; 10/1 & 10/8/79)" in which the perpetually youthful company clerk is discharged and returns home to Iowa to attend to family issues. However, imho, the real highlight here is Ep. #8.22, the conceptual (and very misunderstood, I might add) "Dreams (2/18/80)." In the paragraphs below, I will offer my interpretation of "Dreams."

The opening dream sequence is that of Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan. In her dream, Margaret is wearing a wedding dress. She is greeted by her "Mr. Right," who is wearing a tuxedo. Just as the happy couple is about to kiss, a war erupts around them. Margaret's white dress becomes stained with the mens' blood. This is often referred to as the show's "Lysistrata scene." (For those who haven't read any of my earlier posts, Lysistrata is an anti-war play by Aristophanes in which a group of women in war-torn Ancient Greece protest war's devasting effects on family life. Incidentally, "Lysistrata" is my stage name when I perform my spoken-word pieces.) Margaret herself is all-too aware of how war is bad for marriages, since she divorced her soldier husband in the show's seventh season. I think this scene is very timely in that the number of divorces related to long and multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan is reportedly quite high.

Next up is Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt's dream. Here, B.J. imagines that he is at a gala of some sort and is about to dance with his beloved wife, Peg, but is abruptly jolted back to the reality of the O.R. In a sense, Beege's dream is the male answer to Hot Lips'. Through this sequence, viewers see just how much of a devoted family man Hunnicutt is and that he just wants the war to end soon so that he can go home to California in order to take care of Peg and daughter Erin.

Then, Col. Potter dreams that he is at home in Missouri, horseback riding, celebrating the Fourth of July, and enjoying his wife's cooking. This one's pretty obvious; Potter is subconsciously wishing to be back in the good ole U.S.A. in order to celebrate the freedom he and so many others are supposedly fighting for in Korea.

Following Potter's dream, Maj. Winchester has one in which he is a magician performing all sorts of magic tricks. The rest of the 4077 is cheering Charles on as he performs more and more challenging feats successfully. All of a sudden, while Winchester is simultaneously tapdancing and holding lit sparklers, a dying patient is wheeled into the O.R. on a gurney. Charles starts dancing and twirling harder and faster, but the wounded soldier eventually dies. The symbolism here is that hot-headed Charles is becoming increasingly frustrated with the fact that some of his patients may die under his care, regardless of what he tries to do for them. Being extremely image conscious and narcissistic, Charles fears that if he cannot save a patient, it will reflect negatively on him and tarnish his carefully constructed public facade.

After Charles' "magic act," Corp. Max Klinger dreams that he has boarded a train for his hometown-- Toledo, Ohio. Once he arrives there, Klinger finds himself in proximity to all his old stomping grounds and is immediately comforted by the familiar surroundings. His comfort is short-lived, for upon peering into the window of his favorite neighborhood bar, Klinger sees Col. Potter standing inside, wearing bloody scrubs. Once again, this terrifying vision emphasizes the fact that war is disruptive to every facet of peoples' lives.

The next restless dreamer is Father Francis Mulcahy, who imagines being named Pope. To me, it always seems that Mulcahy is struggling to be a sort of spiritual leader amid all the chaos. Throughout the show's 11 seasons, Mulcahy expresses concern that he feels lost in the shuffle and that his words of priestly wisdom often fall on deaf ears. I feel that the primary poignance of Mulcahy's dream, however, is that political and religious leaders wage wars (or, in politispeak, "police actions"), but, ironically and tragically, these are the individuals who are usually least likely to listen to those who oppose them.

Finally, and perhaps most disturbingly, Hawkeye Pierce falls asleep and dreams that he is being asked to remove both his arms. Undoubtedly the most vociferously anti-war member of the 4077, Hawk frequently rails against the fact that he is often forced to commit perceived violations of his Hippocratic oath ('First do no harm.'), including gruesome and disabling limb amputations. Hawk's dream illustrates the ultimate bitch of war: Young people who serve in it achieve "hero" status in the eyes of society, but often at the expense of life, limb, and/or sanity. (On a personal note, this dream sequence illustrates precisely why I named Hawkeye Pierce the greatest TV character of all time on this blog during Emmy week in September.)

To conclude, I'm one of those who prefer the later, anti-war dramedy years of M*A*S*H. Season 8's conceptual episode "Dreams" is one of the main reasons why. I strongly urge everyone to view this episode conscientiously and with an open mind. This episode is pure genius and should be viewed as nothing else.

A Very Ashleyverse Christmas

2009-12-17T10:31:00.000-08:00

Today is my semester finale at work. Yay! However, I'm feeling a little under the weather atm. I swear, it never fails-- my immune system is always shot during finals weeks. Anyway, I'm just going to rest up tonight and try to get into the yuletide spirit with SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas (8-10 PM ET, NBC), a retrospective of holiday sketches past and present. The title is a reference to that creepy Kristen Wiig character, Bridgewater Elementary School's most infamous student (Tagline:"Uh-huh, yeah, what?, sorry!"). Honestly, the show's been rather, well, lame lately, although I did enjoy the Taylor Swift episode. Of course, it helped that-- as mentioned in Ms. Swift's musical monologue-- Kanye (overrated jackass!) wasn't there. LOL! As for Wiig, she gets on my nerves. That infernal Penelope (the pathological one-upper character) makes me want to bust my TV screen. For some reason, though, I find the Target Lady mildly funny. I'm basically going to tune in to see the classic Christmas skits. The ones from the 70s are my faves. There's a lot of great 90s SNL Christmas-themed comedy, too-- especially a certain sketch featuring Alec Baldwin. Well, time for me to get going and get started on prepping for yet another Ashleyverse Christmas. Peace!

More Wacky, Weird, and Wild World News for Your Wednesday

2009-12-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

Well, it's Hump Day once again, so to break up the monotony of this workweek, I'm going discuss some crazy current events. From the Duggar Family to health care to Afghanistan, there's a lot of wacky stuff going on in this crazy sphere today. So, here goes:
In general weirdness, the Duggars (as in Jim Bob, Michelle, & Co.-- the prodigious procreators from Arkansas) have welcomed their 19th J-named offspring, Josie Brooklyn, into the world. Josie is three months premature and weighed under two pounds at birth. I'm sorry, but I hope this is a wake up call to this family that there are other ways to prove your holiness besides extreme breeding.
In political news, the single-payer health-care bill died in the Senate. Oh, well, we just have to keep pushing on this one. Also, I'm still optimistic about President Obama's Afghanistan strategy. Here's the deal, folks: This is a means to an end. I predict we'll be on our way out of the Middle East by the end of the president's first term in office.
Lastly, in Ashleyverse news, tomorrow is the last day of the semester. Incidentally, today is also the third anniversary of my graduation from "regular college." On Sat., Dec. 16, 2006, I received my bachelor of arts degree in English from EIU. So, I have a few things to celebrate tonight. Accordingly, I will now sign off to do just that. Until next time, peace in all things.

Final Analysis

2009-12-15T14:24:00.000-08:00

Well, folks, I gave my communications final early, early this morning-- too danged early, in fact-- and it went very smoothly. Everyone showed up this time, which was a vast improvement over last year. (Two or three students completely blew off my fall semester final a year ago. It's like, 'The college prints out those finals schedules for a reason, people!' ) Anyway, I also graded my requisite mountain o' papers in Flex-Op this afternoon. It looks as though almost everyone's going to finish up in there, so I'm basically pleased with that endeavor.
Also, I received my grade for my EIU class via e-mail today. I got an A! I was pleasantly, pleasantly surprised. I thought for sure I was going to get a B. Then again, I always downgrade myself and am definitely my own worst critic. I've gotta work on that. LOL! Apparently, the research proposal went well after all. I think what ultimately synched the grade for me was the post-presentation Q&A session with my professor and classmates, during which I expressed a desire to further explore my paper topic ("The Politics of Otway's Venice Preserved") and hinted about how I might go about doing that. For example, I alluded to this concept that's been circulating throughout my insane mind as of late, which falls somewhere along the lines of paralleling Otway's Restoration tragedy to current political events. Um... I'll get back with y'all later on that. Okay, I need to stop analyzing everything and just be happy. (Note to self: Stop being so analytical and enjoy your success for once!) Alright, I'd better stop while I'm still ahead. Peace, Love, & Happiness on this lovely mid-December's eve.

The Last of the Mondays

2009-12-14T17:42:00.000-08:00

I am so happy right now! Why? Answer: I just completed the last loooong Monday of the semester at work. I spent the better part of today typing up my communications final, which I'm giving at-- you guessed it-- 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. (Ughhh... so glad to not have to do that for a little while!) My last official workday before Christmas break is Thursday. Going to school and teaching simultaneously has been fun, but it's also been a lot of hard work. Needless to say, I wish I could fast-forward to Thursday night. Anywho, that's all I can think of for now, so bon voyage until next time. Namaste!

How I'm Getting Into the Christmas Spirit This Year

2009-12-13T13:20:00.000-08:00

Howdy, y'all! I'm just kickin' back and enjoyin' the first lazy Sunday afternoon of my Christmas break from Eastern. I've got a work party to go to tonight, and I just whipped up another batch of my oh-so-famous seven-layer Mexican dip. Anyway, I've been listening to some holiday "mood music," courtesy of the Now! CD series (there may be a relevant review/discussion of some of the songs on these discs here in the coming days-- stay tuned) and watching holiday-themed episodes of some of my fave TV shows on DVD. (I highly recommend "White Lie Christmas" from Season 1 of My Name Is Earl (a total riot) and "Death Takes a Holiday" from Season 9 of M*A*S*H (poignantly awesome) for yuletide viewing.) In addition, I'm trying my dangdest to make my humble abode half-way presentable for any visitors who may stop by throughout the season. So, that's a brief synopsis of my holiday plans for this year. Peace on Earth (my perennial wish) and goodwill to all my fellow human beings.

Overview of MAS*H-- Season 7 (Disc 3)

2009-12-12T12:39:00.000-08:00

Just as I've done with Discs 1 & 2 of M*A*S*H, Season 7, I will discuss the episodes on Disc 3 in this post. Episodes and commentary are as follows:

Ep. #7.18: "The Price (1/15/79)"-- Col. Potter's beloved horse, Sophie, is missing, and Hawkeye and B.J. help a Korean boy hide from the Korean Army. Another episode that provides insight into the dynamics of the two doctors' friendship.

Ep. #7.19: "The Young and the Restless (1/22/79)"-- A medical demonstrator extraordinaire travels to Korea from Tokyo to demonstrate the latest surgical techniques to the docs at the 4077. This visitor has some very interesting effects on Hawkeye, B.J., Charles, et. al. This, in turn, makes for a very interesting episode.

Ep. #7.20-- "Hot Lips Is Back in Town (1/29/79)"-- Margaret returns to work in a celebratory mood following her divorce. (This is where the show becomes explicitly feministic, which is awesome.) There's also a really cute subplot in which Hawkeye gives Radar some advice on how to attract a pretty nurse.

Ep. #7.21-- "C*A*V*E (2/5/79)"-- In order to avoid becoming the target of "friendly" artillery fire, the 4077 bugs out to a cave. Here, we get to see Macho Man Hawkeye's vulnerable side, for it is revealed that he is claustrophobic. (For some reason, I like the episodes in which Hawk is vulnerable and sensitive. Cute!)

Ep. #7.22-- "Rally Round the Flagg, Boys (2/14/79)"-- Hawkeye is accused of being a Commie sympathizer, which prompts the return of ultra-right-wing, uber-paranoid Col. Flagg to the 4077. The reason for the accusation is that Hawk treated a wounded North Korean before an American soldier. Great episode that illustrates the dangerous ignorance of the Far Right.

Ep. #7.23-- "Preventative Medicine (2/19/79)"-- Perhaps one of my top-5 fave M*A*S*H eps. In this one, Hawk performs an unecessary apendectomy on a crazy colonel with an extremely high casualty rate after Hawk learns that the colonel plans to lead a guesstimated 100 young men to their deaths by taking a notoriously deadly hill. B.J. protests his friend's decision to perform the unethical surgery, but to no avail. Hawk ultimately winds up feeling guilty and unsatisfied with his decision to proceed with the operation. Still, he is consoled by the fact that he possibly saved 100 lives in the process; however, even this consolation proves to be a hollow victory. The message here is that there really is no such thing as a fair trade in war.

Ep. #7.24-- "A Night at Rosie's (2/26/79)"-- Hawkeye is depressed and heads to the "local" watering hole to drown his sorrows. While at Rosie's Bar, Hawk hangs out with an AWOL seargeant. Eventually, all of Hawk's concerned friends and colleagues come to Rosie's in order to lure him back to camp. In addition to showing just how close this eclectic bunch of characters has become, this ep is an also an example of how the show's writers strived to increase its thematic and visual interest in Season 7. (It's filmed entirely inside Rosie's.)

Ep. #7.25-- "Ain't Love Grand? (3/5/79)"-- Klinger meets a girl who is actually attracted to his bizarre appearance. Charles falls in love with, of all people, a Korean "working girl," whom he meets at Rosie's. This ep proves once again that love is indeed a strange thing.

Ep. #7.26-- "The Party (3/12/79)"-- The 4077 has been discussing the possibility of a post-war reunion party. Then, B.J. gets another great idea: getting all the stateside family members of 4077 personnel together for a party in NYC. Following a very successful get-together, the staff receives letters from its loved ones that bear some pleasantly surprising news. For example, families that staff members feared would not get along, particularly the Winchesters and the O'Reillys (Charles is amusingly horrified that his parents have invited Radar's family to visit the Winchester family home after the war), are totally taken with each other. Fun!

Thoughts on Last Night's Presentation

2009-12-11T15:29:00.000-08:00

Well, folks, I presented my paper last night. I think it went quite well. I got lots of positive feedback, so that's a good sign. I wish I had taken a different approach to the project, though. In the future, I'll probably be more creative as opposed to focusing so much on doing straight-up research. Still, I think this endeavor was successful overall. Anyway, last night was also the final class of the semester at EIU. I still have to get through finals week at work. I've got to finish up students in the Flex-op (independent study) reading and English class, and I will give my communications final on Tuesday morning. Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to celebrating the holidays this year and getting a little R&R.

Notes on the President's Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech

2009-12-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama accepted his Nobel Peace Prize today in Oslo, Norway. This occasion was poignant in that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. accepted his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Dec. 10, 1964-- 45 years ago today. In his speech, King said that violence and civilization are "antithetical concepts." Today, President Obama praised both King and Gandhi for their committment to nonviolence. However, the president also said that sometimes war is "necessary and morally justified." I've got to be honest here-- I'm a little concerned right now. I'm worried that Obama is feeling the pressure to pander to conservatives in order to be re-elected in 2012. (Oddly enough, Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich praised the president's speech. A few commentators even likened Obama to his predecessor, George W. Bush.) Like I've said before, my biggest fear in regards to this matter is that Obama will fall into the LBJ trap with Afghanistan. Still, Obama's Afghan strategy does appear to be carefully mapped out, and I do believe that he will try to end U.S. involvement in the Middle East by summer 2011. I wish he could do so sooner, but we have to be realistic. Overall, I think that this president is pro-peace and would choose it over war if he was not backed into a corner with this ugly mess left over by the Bush administration. There's been some protests around the world against Obama this past week. There's a part of me that wants to protest, but, as King and Gandhi taught us, we can't achieve anything if we're motivated by anger. If you're going to protest, you must be informed and motivated by a desire to empower others and create peace.

How I Feel About the Health-Care Bill and Other Topics and Issues

2009-12-09T14:37:00.000-08:00

As everyone's probably already heard by now, the Senate passed the health-care bill without the public option. While this may not be an ideal circumstance as far as we progressives are concerned, we must remember that every major piece of progressive legislation that's come down the pike-- from civil rights to women's rights and beyond-- has taken several generations to come to fruition. Change takes time, folks. Public option or no, we should regard this turn of events as progress. Meanwhile, we must continue to be vigilant and proactive so that the next generation can have full-scale health care.

In Hollyweird news, Entertainment Tonight is perpetuating ad nauseam coverage of the Tiger Woods investigation of his secret life, including seven alleged mistresses. Let's be honest here, people: Who didn't see this one coming? Honestly, the Tiger Woods mystique was practically set up to spontaneously combust. Tiger's finally let wealth, fame, and world-wide adoration go to his head. It's the oldest story in the book. Now, his wife, Elin Nordegren-- mother of the golfer's two children-- is reportedly debating whether to take a large sum of her husband's fortune to not leave him. If I were her, I'd take the money and run like Hell! Speaking of ET, they ran promos for the latest Barbara Walters special, a series of interviews with the 10 Most Interesting People of 2009 (airing tonight), including controversial American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert, whose latest "bombshell" is that he would like to-- horror of all neocon horrors!-- be a father someday. As I opined a few days ago in regards to the AMA performance scandal-- whatever! If a gay man wants to be a baby daddy (and has intentions to be fully involved in a child's life, of course), it ain't gonna rain on my moral parade.

Last but certainly not least, there's some Ashleyverse news. I put the finishing touches on my research project proposal today and am presenting it in class tomorrow night. Needless to say, I'm feeling a tremendous sense of accomplishment and relief right now. Anyway, it's a cold, snowy, windy night in my lil' neck of the woods. I'm getting ready to curl up with a piping hot cup of coffee and a nice, big stack of papers to grade. LOL! Alright, this concludes tonight's "broadcast." I'm signing off to enjoy my oh-so-glamorous evening. Peace!

December 8: A Rather Dark Day in History

2009-12-08T09:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, folks, it's December 8-- a rather dark day in world and Ashleyverse history. Two events occurred on this day that my people wish wouldn't have happened.
First, yesterday was Pearl Harbor Day (commemoration of events of Dec. 7, 1941). On Dec. 8, 1941, the U.S. declared war on Japan, effectively beginning our involvement in WWII. It's always a sad day when we go to war with another nation, regardless of the reason or justification. (Then again, at least FDR had the common decency to invade the country that actually attacked us.)
Continuing on the whole war-and-peace theme, today is the very sad anniversary of the assassination of musician, artist, deliciously sarcastic humorist, poet, humanitarian, peace activist, rebel-with-a-cause, and one of my all-time heroes John Lennon. Mr. L was gunned down outside his Dakota apartment building in NYC on Dec. 8, 1980, by Mark David Chapman, a crazed, delusional "fan," who committed this heinous crime against humanity under the guise of asking Lennon for an autograph. In memoriam, I'm going to watch my Imagine DVD tonight-- something I do every single year on this dark day for my people. I suppose the bright side of all this is that Lennon's beautiful art and music and his activist spirit have transcended the bounds of time and space and have survived for the current and future generations.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Reprise)

2009-12-07T07:58:00.000-08:00

Howdy, folks! I woke up this morning to somewhat of a winter wonderland. (My lil' neck of the woods is blanketed by a thin layer of snow atm. BTW, the title of this post is in reference to my Dec. 2, 2008, post of the same title. Y'all can check it out in the archives. It's not very interesting, though.) Anyway, I'm in the process of wrapping up yet another hectic semester and preparing for the holidays. Speaking of which, I learned last night that my dad, an endearingly (and enduringly!) eccentric character, is boycotting the rampant materialism and commercialization of the season this year. Whatever! According to my uncle, it's time to break out the Festivus tree. LOL! Well, I've got a busy day ahead of me (in the form of a meeting and back-to-back English and reading classes), so I'm signing off now. Peace, love, & happiness in all of life's endeavors.

Creative Fitness Options

2009-12-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I mentioned a kickboxing DVD from the CIA (Creative Instructors Aerobics) 2900 series. In today's post, I'm going to discuss CIA 2901, 2902, 2903, and 2904.

Workout DVDs & Commentary:

CIA 2901: Kickbox Surge & Core with Amy Bento-- I'm slightly familiar with Bento's workouts and fun-loving teaching style, as I own her Hi/Lo Extreme and Advanced Step Challenge DVDs, which are, well, challenging. This workout is just as challenging, primarily since the aerobics choreography is complex and the kickboxing "surges" are fast-paced, to say the very least. As for the core-training segment, you use a medicine ball to execute some killer moves that will have your abs begging for mercy.

CIA 2902: Step Surge with Tonya Larson-- Here, upbeat instructor Larson leads a two-woman (one of whom is pregnant and demonstrating modifications) class through a rigorous step/interval workout. The choreography is once again complex, and the dumbbell-enhanced toning surges made me feel the burn. For the toning intervals that are interwoven into the cardio combos, 3-8-lb. weights are recommended. (I prefer to use 5-lb. ones.) I don't know when I'll fully master this workout, but one thing is clear: this ain't your mom's step workout! The thing I like best about this DVD is that the music is anything but old-school elevator. For example, the warm-up song is K.C. Tunstall's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." The cool-down stretch is also pretty good.

CIA 2903: Stepping Up with Seasun Zieger-- First of all, the music on this DVD is awesome! The soundtrack consists of funky, sassy "girl power" tunes, such as Pink's "So What," Lady Gaga's "Poker Face," and Duffy's "Mercy." Secondly, the choreography is tricky, but it's a little more athletic (which is good for me) than that of CIA 2902. Finally, the toning section, which utilizes the step and light (approx. 3 lbs.) dumbells is tough but ultimately doable.

CIA 2904: Cardio Combat Surge with Kimberly Spreen-- Okay, this is that DVD I mentioned in my Fri., Nov. 27 post, and it's by far my favorite of the four. Instructor Kimberly Spreen rocks, and so does this workout. For starters, it's athletic as opposed to dancy. (I feel that athletic choreography is more compatible with my body type than the dancy variety.) Also, you get to use some interesting equipment-- a body bar and a medicine ball, to be exact-- to perform some unique, stress-relieving moves. (See Nov. 27, 2009, post for more details.) Most importantly, this DVD has a definite alternative fitness feel. There is a 15-20-min. fusion stretch at the end that is absolutely delightful. (Note: This workout is about 90 mins. long, but the chapter menu is designed so that you can easily split up the main workout (approx. 70 mins.) and the concluding fusion stretch if you're pressed for time.)