jessannstevens's Xanga

I am science

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:41:28 GMT

Flipping through Women's Health at work today and I spot this little gem. And I quote *ahem*:

"Research shows that blue is a natural appetite suppressant, so using blue plates, napkins, or placemats may make you eat more slowly..."

...or make you not eat at all. I hate blue dinnerware. I'm not crazy and there is research to prove it.

I'm hooked on a feeling.

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:24:50 GMT

"Mmmm, Fall."

That's right. I held this sentiment today. Can you believe it? I can't decide if it's progression or digression. Fall has never been my style and yet today I was okay with having to wear long sleeves and jeans (cuffs rolled). The light is changing and it's beautiful. The place even smells different...and good. I'm not gonna fight it. Not this time.

But man, do I love summer. I mean physically LOVE summer. If I could I would make out with Summer. In front of my parents. That's how much I love Summer. I told my boyfriend last winter, "if you think I'm great now just wait until summer. I'm totally ten times more fun in the summer!" How many times do you think I could say Summer in one sentence? Summer.

Leaving work tonight I hated stepping outside and feeling a little chill. I really hated seeing the stupid scarecrow on the dentist office window next door. That kind of jump start on a holiday/season is like talking about somebody before they completely leave the room. It's rude. Poor Summer. I will love you till the very end.

For the record, it is not Fall yet.

Ooh, I have a list idea, and you know I love me the lists. Good and bad of Fall:

Good: Smelly kids go to school.
Bad: Damn school buses slow me down.

Good: Can run outside in the middle of the day without fear of heat stroke.
Bad: Soggy runs in the rain. Especially multiple days where your shoes don't even get a chance to dry before you go out again.

Good: Oktoberfest! Two of 'em! (I love you Fremont)
Bad: Beer belly. Oooh did I get a beer belly last year!

Good: Cute new sweaters to buy.
Bad: Uh, I can't afford new sweaters and my skin misses the sun.

Good: Candy Corn!
Bad: I don't have dental insurance.

Good: No more weddings.
Bad: I don't see how this could be bad at all.

What do you love about Fall?

I weep for the future: A Book Review

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:01:11 GMT

Do not read this book in any attempt to garner important information regarding feminism.

Jessica Valenti's "Full Frontal Feminism" is an attempt to reach out to young women and invite them into the Feminist fold with a raw and in-your-face style which, unfortunately, comes off as bratty and pithy. It's a shallow commentary on what I think are merely left overs from second wave feminism.

She doesn't sound like someone who blogs in the post-modern age. In a post-modern age these sort of -isms just don't work. She attempt's to rally young woman around a highly politically charged word by making it look glamorous and when that doesn't seem to work she resorts to fear (Anti-abortionists don't want anybody enjoying sex).

Her introduction sounds like a pitch for Am-Way or a cult. Feminism according to Valenti is a better way of life and only the coolest of women are doing it. Feminism is supposed to be liberating for women and yet this book feel more like a rule book: don't date Republicans, don't have sex with pro-lifers, don't wear an engagement ring. She completely dismisses those who are sexually abstinent for religious reasons and makes fun of girls that make some sort of pledge to remain virgins until they are married because "I never really understood what the big deal was about virginity." I understand that in many situations/communities/cultures a woman doesn't make the choice rather the decisions surrounding her sexuality are made for her. What bothers me about Valenti's approach is that she doesn't engage the arguments and feminism is, once again, exclusive and inaccessible, ultimately defeating her own purpose.

She greatly underestimates her audience. I can assume that I may fall into the "young woman" category to whom she is writing and I am insulted. She adds trite commentary, makes sweeping generalizations ("When you're a feminist, day to day life is better. You make better decisions. You have better sex.") and calls her opponents juvenile names. Instead of responding to the opposition with thoughtful criticisms she chooses to make her case with the short, "Yeah, I know," as if you can read her mind and agree with her that what you have just read is ridiculous, or the deliberate ironic, "Lovely" and, "Sweet huh?". There is a place or two in the book when she actually takes the time to retort with a bit of factual information but loses me when she follows it up with a "So there!" There is something very Anne Coulter-ish in her style.

Where is the thinking? Analyzing? Not in this book. "Full Frontal Feminism" is passe. It may appeal to young women going through the anger stage of the mourning process after their first realization that the world is full of injustices and that much of the injustice is directed toward women. However, this is hardly the tool to encourage us to progress into a more woman friendly society. If this is the forecast for the future of feminism count me out.

Questions that need answers

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:29:21 GMT

Unless you've been, I don't know, tucked away at Bible college for the last two years and your RA wouldn't allow you to watch TV or use the internet then you have undoubtedly heard of this global warming business. It's hard to escape the subject after all, there was a concert dedicated to global warming awareness in frickin Antarctica (see here Antarctica Live Earth Nunatak- the band of scientists ).

The arguments seem compelling enough to me that yes, I do believe in all this "global warming" mumbo jumbo. However, my intention with this post it not to argue the points of pro-global warming pundits. I would just like to know a few things regarding those who: A) Refuse to agree that the environment is in need of some TLC B) Not only refuse to acknowledge the issue but believe it is a conspiracy.

Usually, when one believes something is a conspiracy, it is followed with fear of mal-intent. Which brings me to my question(s): what is there to be afraid of in believing global warming is occurring at a dangerous rate? What sort of doom can we anticipate if we acknowledge a problem (even if it may not actually exist) and then adjust our behavior to curb the (potentially fictional) problem. Real or not wouldn't cleaning up our act only enhance our environment to a great degree?

I have to say I don't see how anyone could be against taking personal responsibility for one's lifestyle...picking up after oneself, knowing where one's food and fuel come from and where the waist goes. I would like to remind you paranoid nonbelievers of the Golden Rule (slightly modified but definitely in the spirit of the Rule), "Pollute unto others as you would have them pollute unto you".

What are the arguments opposing global warming and why cleaning up our act is downright unacceptable.

Pedaling with Impunity

Fri, 04 May 2007 23:20:30 GMT

Thanks Murphy for the great find!

Jesus Camp

Wed, 02 May 2007 17:08:53 GMT

Me: I'm watching Jesus Camp. Have you seen it?

Housemate: No. Is it good?

Me: It's spooky. It's basically my childhood...this was what I grew up doing. It's strange to watch it on TV.

Housemate: Well, if there is one thing we can count on in this world it's change.

Me: Thank God.

I don't even want to think about the dating implications

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:12:33 GMT

I am quite convinced that I may very well be a 12 year old boy...a 12 year old boy that looks like an Asian Meryl Streep.

Exhibit A: Dinosaur Dreams. Make that Dinosaur Nightmares. Many ofthem. Except last time I woke up thinking "Cool! That was the bestdinosaur dream EVER!"

B: Laughing at farts, burps and all jokes involving farting and burping. This is always funny. So is the word "nards".

3: Favorite pass time is riding my bike around the neighborhood. Now ifonly I could convince my housemate to let me call her Mom as she givesme Kool-Aid and home baked cookies at the end of the day.

*Edit*
4: Copious amounts of cartoon watching/ quoting.

I've always thought I could pass for an Asian Meryl Streep

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:00:06 GMT

Bringin' Mexi Back

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:17:45 GMT

Dear Nation to the South,
we have been neighbors for so long. Why did we not become friends sooner? Thank you for the warm hospitality. I really did not want to leave. I will carry the spirit of Mexico- crap I mean Christmas. No. I really mean Mexico. I will carry the spirit of Mexico in my heart all year round.
Your Amiga,
Jessica

Dear Seattle,
You are incredibly lame. Why I have stayed with you for so long is beyond me. You have brought me nothing but pain. This Christmas I discovered that I can do better. Don't be suprised to wake up and find me gone.
With Low Tolerance,
Jessica

Merry Christmas

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 16:56:30 GMT

From Cabo With Love,

Jessica