Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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!!!

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

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

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

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!!!

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.