No one knows, and if anyone does they're not going to tell. If you'd like to read the article, this is the link for it: Someone called Meg Whitman a whore, but she's being the "bigger man".
If you'd like a synopsis, Jerry Brown's team met up to discuss some campaign plans and some jackass forgot to hang up the telephone all the way after leaving a message for the LA Police Union. They brought up Ms. Whitman, called her a whore a few times, and the recording finished catching the "slur". It was then leaked to the press, Brown canceled his "get out the vote" showing, and Whitman is refusing to comment even though her aides want everyone to know that it's degrading for women everywhere!
Now, as a woman I'm not feeling too degraded. As a republican I'm not even outraged. But as a voter, I am pissed that we have to put up with this nonsense. With all the knowledge that every breath you take is being scrutinized by the public, you are stupid enough to call an opposing candidate a whore? And of all things, why whore? Do you posess knowledge that Ms. Whitman is sleeping around for money? Of course not. If you're going to resort to that kind of behavior to pass the blame and inflate your ego, I don't want you making decisions. I don't want you to blame the working class when you mess up, I don't want you to play any of those ego trip games. I believe that the issues at hand are important, more important than anything else you have to say. I want to know your plan of action.
I may not be 100% on anyone yet, but there are three things that I know right now. 1. We must QUIT deficit spending and outrageous spending. 2. We must create jobs for everyone, not just upper or lower class. We must create jobs across the board. 3. We must increase taxes, and we must be okay with that as Americans. I know people will fight me on at least the last point. But I don't believe my children should be forced to pay off a debt that was incurred without Mark and I even thinking about having children. That is unfair. This was OUR fault, this was OUR vote, or OUR lack thereof. We need to rise to the challenge and fix things ourselves, not pass the blame and pass the decline.
Love, Polly
October 11, 2010
October 6, 2010
October 6, 2010: If it's so damn cold outside, why the hell are you wearing that!
Today was a typical California winter, as in, it rained. And as expected we had the horrible drivers, but that's for another day.
What really got me today was watching a woman walking her kids in a stroller while they were dressed in clothes meant for summer! I understand that it's "Mommy's right" to dress the kinds until they're five or six in whatever the hell she wants. But since when is a tutu appropriate attire for cold, muggy, rain? You may be working out pushing that two seated stroller around town, but their little butts aren't!
This is a perfect example of Mommy pretending her kids are dolls, dressing them up in whatever cute little outfit she wants to see them in. While I'm not against dressing up your kids in cute outfits, I feel like you've just crossed the line from responsible parent to sixteen year old idiot. If it's cold outside, you would dress yourself appropriately, wouldn't you? You would wear pants, a sweater or jacket, and maybe a scarf or gloves if you're into that. Why? Because it's cold outside! So why do you think it's a good idea to put a tulle tutu skirt on your kid? Why isn't your infant wearing a hat? Those little bodies are more sensitive to temperature than you are.
Use your heads when you dress your kids, please. For their shivery little sakes.
Love, Polly.
What really got me today was watching a woman walking her kids in a stroller while they were dressed in clothes meant for summer! I understand that it's "Mommy's right" to dress the kinds until they're five or six in whatever the hell she wants. But since when is a tutu appropriate attire for cold, muggy, rain? You may be working out pushing that two seated stroller around town, but their little butts aren't!
This is a perfect example of Mommy pretending her kids are dolls, dressing them up in whatever cute little outfit she wants to see them in. While I'm not against dressing up your kids in cute outfits, I feel like you've just crossed the line from responsible parent to sixteen year old idiot. If it's cold outside, you would dress yourself appropriately, wouldn't you? You would wear pants, a sweater or jacket, and maybe a scarf or gloves if you're into that. Why? Because it's cold outside! So why do you think it's a good idea to put a tulle tutu skirt on your kid? Why isn't your infant wearing a hat? Those little bodies are more sensitive to temperature than you are.
Use your heads when you dress your kids, please. For their shivery little sakes.
Love, Polly.
October 5, 2010
October 5,2010: I'd just rather wear fur...
There are three things I love about animals. The first is that no matter what, they aren't going to judge us for eating or using them. I'm not so into steaks, but you break out some chicken and I will come running. I also love bacon and eggs for breakfast, honey in my tea, and ice cream for dessert. I hate being told that I'm a killer or murderer when death is something that animals accept, especially death at the hands of some other animal that is way bigger / smarter / faster than themselves. I also love leather, rabbit fur, and any other super soft animal product that I can wear and enjoy feeling on my skin. If I could run over a rabbit everyday and wear it's pelt on my feet, I would. In fact, I would have a whole rabbit outfit because that stuff is so soft it's unbelievable. Humans are typically smarter and bigger if not always faster than animals. That's why we can kill them and use these things. Granted, we don't kill bees for honey (well, I just kill them because I hate them) or chickens for their eggs (although I would if it needed to be done). I also believe that horse meat should take over instead of cow meat, because horses are "uninhibited raping machines" (The Oatmeal) and I hate their horsey guts, too. Eating them would make things right in the world. I don't mind cows so much.
The second thing I love about animals is that many of them are REALLY REALLY cute. I don't care if they're not meant to be caged and gawked at. I love going to zoos and petting all the animals in captivity that I can. If you have a petting zoo, I will probably touch all your animals. If you have a farm, I will still probably touch all your smelly, dying, uncared for animals. If you have a class pet or are dissecting animals in class, I want to look / touch / check out your animal.
The third thing I love about animals is that regardless of how "inhumane" some of humanity sees all of this as, animals are going to love us regardless. Not necessarily wild animals. I don't suggest trying to hug a hippo, those are some mean bastards. I also don't suggest kicking your dog, either. But this whole wearing animals and eating animals / animal products don't piss off the animals as much as you think it does. Either they already hate humans, or they don't. And if they already hate us, prepare to be turned into something useful.
Love, Polly.
PS. PETA, I'm not afraid of you.
The second thing I love about animals is that many of them are REALLY REALLY cute. I don't care if they're not meant to be caged and gawked at. I love going to zoos and petting all the animals in captivity that I can. If you have a petting zoo, I will probably touch all your animals. If you have a farm, I will still probably touch all your smelly, dying, uncared for animals. If you have a class pet or are dissecting animals in class, I want to look / touch / check out your animal.
The third thing I love about animals is that regardless of how "inhumane" some of humanity sees all of this as, animals are going to love us regardless. Not necessarily wild animals. I don't suggest trying to hug a hippo, those are some mean bastards. I also don't suggest kicking your dog, either. But this whole wearing animals and eating animals / animal products don't piss off the animals as much as you think it does. Either they already hate humans, or they don't. And if they already hate us, prepare to be turned into something useful.
Love, Polly.
PS. PETA, I'm not afraid of you.
October 4, 2010
October 4, 2010: Get rich quick schemes
They only work for people who have money and time to burn and the skills to make things happen. I don't believe in luck, and I don't believe that you can get by with just a great idea. It takes a lot more work than anyone thinks, and for things to be successful they must start with great ideas, great planning, and lots of money. You can make do without money, but it will make your journey to Bill Gates-dom even harder than it had to be.
Many get rich quick schemes are so difficult to avoid because they're often scams built to sucker you in with a promise of some crazy monthly income! Well, some people are good at things like this, and unintentionally being a con artist is something we really don't tend to think of ourselves. We're not all graceful actresses that can put on a show with everything we do, and often times while we have some strengths we may not be able to beat the all-around acceptably performing competitor.
Another way that these schemes reel us in is by stating that we can work from the convenience of our own home and make our own hours. That's execu-speak for "We only pay you commission" and what they aren't telling you is that in order to make the crazy amount of income that they promise you, you need to work 24 hours a day, every day, without fail.
It's one thing entirely if you see things like Avon or whatever as something fun to do here and there to maybe add fifteen dollars to your wallet. It is a whole 'nother thing to expect your entire paycheck to come from these things.
Be smart, and get a real job. Don't get your hopes up with stupid pyramid schemes and scams that never pan out. That's how you get job security, not by trying these things at home with no resources except hope.
Many get rich quick schemes are so difficult to avoid because they're often scams built to sucker you in with a promise of some crazy monthly income! Well, some people are good at things like this, and unintentionally being a con artist is something we really don't tend to think of ourselves. We're not all graceful actresses that can put on a show with everything we do, and often times while we have some strengths we may not be able to beat the all-around acceptably performing competitor.
Another way that these schemes reel us in is by stating that we can work from the convenience of our own home and make our own hours. That's execu-speak for "We only pay you commission" and what they aren't telling you is that in order to make the crazy amount of income that they promise you, you need to work 24 hours a day, every day, without fail.
It's one thing entirely if you see things like Avon or whatever as something fun to do here and there to maybe add fifteen dollars to your wallet. It is a whole 'nother thing to expect your entire paycheck to come from these things.
Be smart, and get a real job. Don't get your hopes up with stupid pyramid schemes and scams that never pan out. That's how you get job security, not by trying these things at home with no resources except hope.
October 3, 2010
October 3, 2010: MAN, my stock car is so cool, I do time attacks, and I think that I'm a real racer!
Fanboiz, stop. Please stop, because you're making my brain hurt. I love car guys, the kind of guys that actually appreciate the mechanics of a car and performance. I despise fanboiz with every ounce of disgust I can muster.
True car guys know three things. The first thing that they know is that stock or not, the mechanics of a car are amazing and therefore something to be admired. They don't admire cars for their parts, but rather they admire the way that the parts function together for the most efficiency. They love their cars and acknowledge that it's the system itself that is amazing. Each part is like an organ and the whole car is an organism of it's own. You don't have to be a gearhead to understand that either, but once you get your fingers wet, you understand. A car itself is something any brain dead fourteen year old pizza face could figure out, given enough time. It's several simple things that work together to become something amazing.
The second thing they all know is that features should emulate function. The car you use to pick up the kids from school shouldn't be something that you like to use to show off with your buddies. Luxury cars shouldn't be going off-roading, and big damn trucks don't belong in "compact" parking spaces. And stop calling your cars "track ready" like that means anything other than it will pass tech. So your positive battery terminal is covered and your floor mats are out, great. In five seconds I can get the Escort "track ready". (But I won't.)
The last thing they all know, is that if you have to argue whether or not you're a fanboi, than you are. Real car guys are, if nothing else, completely at ease with their endeavors and expect their performance as drivers / mechanics / etc and the performance of their vehicles to speak for themselves. They are humble and confident in their abilities because throughout all of their world some strange worldly truth as shown itself to them. I don't what truth it is, but you can see that it's there.
Love, Polly.
True car guys know three things. The first thing that they know is that stock or not, the mechanics of a car are amazing and therefore something to be admired. They don't admire cars for their parts, but rather they admire the way that the parts function together for the most efficiency. They love their cars and acknowledge that it's the system itself that is amazing. Each part is like an organ and the whole car is an organism of it's own. You don't have to be a gearhead to understand that either, but once you get your fingers wet, you understand. A car itself is something any brain dead fourteen year old pizza face could figure out, given enough time. It's several simple things that work together to become something amazing.
The second thing they all know is that features should emulate function. The car you use to pick up the kids from school shouldn't be something that you like to use to show off with your buddies. Luxury cars shouldn't be going off-roading, and big damn trucks don't belong in "compact" parking spaces. And stop calling your cars "track ready" like that means anything other than it will pass tech. So your positive battery terminal is covered and your floor mats are out, great. In five seconds I can get the Escort "track ready". (But I won't.)
The last thing they all know, is that if you have to argue whether or not you're a fanboi, than you are. Real car guys are, if nothing else, completely at ease with their endeavors and expect their performance as drivers / mechanics / etc and the performance of their vehicles to speak for themselves. They are humble and confident in their abilities because throughout all of their world some strange worldly truth as shown itself to them. I don't what truth it is, but you can see that it's there.
Love, Polly.
October 2, 2010
October 2, 2010: Mold grows in the fat flaps of morbidly obese people.
It's true, that's why they smell funny. And you can't tell me you haven't noticed the stereotypical "fat people" smell. And please, please, please don't expect me to buy the "I have big bones" or the "I have a glandular disorder" bullshit. You're just fat and don't take care of yourself and that's all there is to it.
I have several things against truly fat people and unfortunately America is full of them. First of all, they usually smell bad and I hate bad smells. I'm a woman and I have a nose that tends to be the human equivalent to a bloodhound. Then, the fact that they care no more about taking care of themselves or their things. I like things in their place, and I especially hate being mistakenly yelled at for things that are not in their place when NOTHING has a place. Also, I despise people that are too lazy to be efficient nor productive. The least you can do while you're being fat is be efficient and productive since you're probably not doing anything important and you don't want to use up too much of your energy doing anything. You're going to need it just to walk to the bathroom later.
I don't understand why truly fat people take so much offense at being truly fat and are so upset when you make note of it. Of course we're noting that you're fat and that we're looking down on you! When you refuse to make some semblance of effort into your general well being, you SHOULD be looked down on and judged. Don't pull this, "I'm self-assured and I don't need your approval" bullshit on us either. Whether or not you like it, the world revolves around other people's approval.
Why don't you try this one on for size, instead of having low morale, energy, and faith in yourself because you're fat, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Being fat is a life style, and unfortunately a pretty shitty choice. I'm not talking about being pregnant and gaining some weight because you're at risk and can't get out of bed without worrying about it. I'm talking about being so fat that you're actually lumpy looking. Go for a walk after dinner, eat less fried food. Do something! If you won't do it for your health, won't do it to live longer, than do it so we stop laughing at you behind your back. If you want self esteem, GET SOME.
Love, Polly
I have several things against truly fat people and unfortunately America is full of them. First of all, they usually smell bad and I hate bad smells. I'm a woman and I have a nose that tends to be the human equivalent to a bloodhound. Then, the fact that they care no more about taking care of themselves or their things. I like things in their place, and I especially hate being mistakenly yelled at for things that are not in their place when NOTHING has a place. Also, I despise people that are too lazy to be efficient nor productive. The least you can do while you're being fat is be efficient and productive since you're probably not doing anything important and you don't want to use up too much of your energy doing anything. You're going to need it just to walk to the bathroom later.
I don't understand why truly fat people take so much offense at being truly fat and are so upset when you make note of it. Of course we're noting that you're fat and that we're looking down on you! When you refuse to make some semblance of effort into your general well being, you SHOULD be looked down on and judged. Don't pull this, "I'm self-assured and I don't need your approval" bullshit on us either. Whether or not you like it, the world revolves around other people's approval.
Why don't you try this one on for size, instead of having low morale, energy, and faith in yourself because you're fat, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Being fat is a life style, and unfortunately a pretty shitty choice. I'm not talking about being pregnant and gaining some weight because you're at risk and can't get out of bed without worrying about it. I'm talking about being so fat that you're actually lumpy looking. Go for a walk after dinner, eat less fried food. Do something! If you won't do it for your health, won't do it to live longer, than do it so we stop laughing at you behind your back. If you want self esteem, GET SOME.
Love, Polly
October 1, 2010
October 1, 2010: If you join the military, you're going to die.
This split mentality of the United States is irritating me, all we do is talk and nothing changes at higher levels because change isn't building at the lower ones. Do you know what I think? I think our economy hurting, our troops being sent abroad and getting hurt, and our country falling behind are all things we can solve at home instead of complaining. You know how I feel about this, either do something or shut up.
Our economy is failing right now due to several things. The one that pisses me off the most is banking deregulation, which is what I think started it all. If you encourage millions of people to "guess on the high side" of what their income is and tell them they can afford things they can't afford as an "expert on finance", they will believe you. We believe the expert talking heads, that's all there is to it, because there must be a reason why we call them experts. Sometimes this logic fails us miserably, and leads to what we experiencing now. This inability to pay your own bills because we bought something we couldn't afford anyway leads to people hoarding every last dime, which then forces buisnesses to close or lay off employees since they're no longer generating the revenue they were when people weren't hoarding every last dime. How do we fix this at home? We start spending, so people can get jobs again. We don't spend on shit that is COMPLETELY beyond our means anymore, and we give credit card companies the finger for the most part.
Alright, I understand that some of you are anti-war and no one wants to say they're really pro-war. Either you're really proud of your yellow "Support the troops" magnet on the back of your car or you're arguing that this "war" we're in is President Bush's way of finishing what his Daddy (Pres. Bush Sr.) started. First of all, everyone should support the troops regardless of how they feel about this "war". Don't take things out on them, when they're following orders with the best intent. Regardless of how you feel about the executive powers in this country, don't take it out on the military. And as for them getting hurt, don't act so suprised or outraged. We are joining the MILITARY, not the knitting club. We understand from the get-go that we are bound to get hurt. It's one of the cons of the situation, and we acknowledge that there is some danger regardless of where we go or what we do as military members. Oh, PS. I'm pro-war. (I'll explain why next week.)
And last, the reason our country is falling behind is because we're proving that we're the self-entitled jackasses that are doing all this stupid shit instead of using the power of democracy and knowledge that we have all around us.
Love, Polly.
Our economy is failing right now due to several things. The one that pisses me off the most is banking deregulation, which is what I think started it all. If you encourage millions of people to "guess on the high side" of what their income is and tell them they can afford things they can't afford as an "expert on finance", they will believe you. We believe the expert talking heads, that's all there is to it, because there must be a reason why we call them experts. Sometimes this logic fails us miserably, and leads to what we experiencing now. This inability to pay your own bills because we bought something we couldn't afford anyway leads to people hoarding every last dime, which then forces buisnesses to close or lay off employees since they're no longer generating the revenue they were when people weren't hoarding every last dime. How do we fix this at home? We start spending, so people can get jobs again. We don't spend on shit that is COMPLETELY beyond our means anymore, and we give credit card companies the finger for the most part.
Alright, I understand that some of you are anti-war and no one wants to say they're really pro-war. Either you're really proud of your yellow "Support the troops" magnet on the back of your car or you're arguing that this "war" we're in is President Bush's way of finishing what his Daddy (Pres. Bush Sr.) started. First of all, everyone should support the troops regardless of how they feel about this "war". Don't take things out on them, when they're following orders with the best intent. Regardless of how you feel about the executive powers in this country, don't take it out on the military. And as for them getting hurt, don't act so suprised or outraged. We are joining the MILITARY, not the knitting club. We understand from the get-go that we are bound to get hurt. It's one of the cons of the situation, and we acknowledge that there is some danger regardless of where we go or what we do as military members. Oh, PS. I'm pro-war. (I'll explain why next week.)
And last, the reason our country is falling behind is because we're proving that we're the self-entitled jackasses that are doing all this stupid shit instead of using the power of democracy and knowledge that we have all around us.
Love, Polly.
September 30, 2010
September 30, 2010: May you live in interesting times
Right now, we have our pokers in so many things that it would be impossible to not live in truly interesting times. Sorry ancient Chinese proverb writer, your curse is no longer effective because living in interesting times has become the norm. Maybe we should start cursing each other with, "May you live in boring times" until that becomes normal. But because we're all idiots, this generation is going to take culture and society as we know it to hell in a hand basket. Instead of engorging our minds with things that will stimulate it we spend our time watching things like, "The Real Housewives of..." or "Keeping up with the Kardashians". I don't understand how we can be appalled that other countries are exceeding us intellectually when that is the kind of shit we watch and mimic our lives after. What are you thinking, America?
Old folks are actually great to look at as an example of where we are going wrong. Why doesn't anyone do cross word puzzles, read real news (not things that can be found on Fark.com), play chess, or hold debates? Are those things so outdated? Maybe do a sudoku once a week or something, those were trendy not too long ago. We no longer force ourselves to exceed, and are becoming stupider by the day as a general public while the world is becoming more and more interesting around us.
We don't give a shit about the world around us and the mysteries that we're uncovering. And do you know why? Because the brilliant scientist who did some gene therapy with a plant and changed it's entire lifestyle has no clue what Prada or Gucci cost and will probably never purchase them. But you know who does love Prada / Gucci / Designer's Name Here? Whatever big breasted, empty headed reality show TV star is the new "It girl".
Use your brains or they'll go to waste. We are living in interesting times, that are unfortunately completely unbeknownst to us right now. And if we continue not giving a shit about these things, some day when the sun implodes we are going to wish we kept making this fantastic strides. But it will be too late, and life as we know and accept it is going to be over. And when the interesting times as they are now end, the interesting times as they will be then are going to interesting in a way that we wish they weren't.
Love, Polly.
Old folks are actually great to look at as an example of where we are going wrong. Why doesn't anyone do cross word puzzles, read real news (not things that can be found on Fark.com), play chess, or hold debates? Are those things so outdated? Maybe do a sudoku once a week or something, those were trendy not too long ago. We no longer force ourselves to exceed, and are becoming stupider by the day as a general public while the world is becoming more and more interesting around us.
We don't give a shit about the world around us and the mysteries that we're uncovering. And do you know why? Because the brilliant scientist who did some gene therapy with a plant and changed it's entire lifestyle has no clue what Prada or Gucci cost and will probably never purchase them. But you know who does love Prada / Gucci / Designer's Name Here? Whatever big breasted, empty headed reality show TV star is the new "It girl".
Use your brains or they'll go to waste. We are living in interesting times, that are unfortunately completely unbeknownst to us right now. And if we continue not giving a shit about these things, some day when the sun implodes we are going to wish we kept making this fantastic strides. But it will be too late, and life as we know and accept it is going to be over. And when the interesting times as they are now end, the interesting times as they will be then are going to interesting in a way that we wish they weren't.
Love, Polly.
September 29, 2010
September 29, 2010: Salt Lake Mormon, Utah.
God, I love Utah. Who doesn't love the concept of multiple wives (mostly unattractive ones), shitty booze, and criminal miscarriages? Just think of all the times that your wife or girlfriend couldn't make you a sandwich and have sex with you at the same time! And even more, think of all the stupid women who didn't get enough sleep or who couldn't afford proper medical care that we're going to put in jail! They're going to learn their lesson, aren't they?
There are some men out there that will avoid the concept of marriage until they die. They see no need to tie themselves down with that kind of commitment. There are also men that believe marriage is an outdated ritual that is only justified by the legal or financial benefits. And there are yet again others that believe that when the time is right, you just know that's what you want. Regardless of your religious views on marriage, I'd like to know who has the financial and emotional resources to participate in any kind of polygamy? I imagine this sort of behavior to be much like having a hoard of children. How much money do you have to make to keep multiple spouses happy or at least healthy and how can any person stretch themselves that thin? You'd have to either make lots of money yourself or split the finances between each member. And I would think you would have to have at least one submissive spouse. Or at least no more than one spouse that is like me.
Also, shitty booze. No one really likes shitty booze, what's the point? I'm not even just talking about the alcohol content. I'm talking about the fact that this stuff tastes like shit.
The real ringer with Utah right now is the criminal miscarriages though. Who the hell does that? You are going to jail for murder because you are stressed out that the house you rent is going into foreclosure and you found out today that you must leave by tomorrow, which killed your unborn child. Great job Utah, gotta love it. Since when is the natural response of the body when the parent is physically unfit to be a parent illegal? I understand if you're doing crack and you have a miscarriage, but come on Utah! This guilty until proven innocent crap is just making you seem even stupider. The rest of the United States thinks you were dropped on your head as an infant. We can't seem to explain or justify any more of your bat shit craziness. You're giving Florida a run for it's money now, and that is something we never thought would happen.
Can you just get some common sense separate your religion from your basic government for a minute? I understand that the judicial branch recognizes God, but when you start adding religion into your government you run the risk of discriminating against other religions. And we don't play that shit here.
Love, Polly.
There are some men out there that will avoid the concept of marriage until they die. They see no need to tie themselves down with that kind of commitment. There are also men that believe marriage is an outdated ritual that is only justified by the legal or financial benefits. And there are yet again others that believe that when the time is right, you just know that's what you want. Regardless of your religious views on marriage, I'd like to know who has the financial and emotional resources to participate in any kind of polygamy? I imagine this sort of behavior to be much like having a hoard of children. How much money do you have to make to keep multiple spouses happy or at least healthy and how can any person stretch themselves that thin? You'd have to either make lots of money yourself or split the finances between each member. And I would think you would have to have at least one submissive spouse. Or at least no more than one spouse that is like me.
Also, shitty booze. No one really likes shitty booze, what's the point? I'm not even just talking about the alcohol content. I'm talking about the fact that this stuff tastes like shit.
The real ringer with Utah right now is the criminal miscarriages though. Who the hell does that? You are going to jail for murder because you are stressed out that the house you rent is going into foreclosure and you found out today that you must leave by tomorrow, which killed your unborn child. Great job Utah, gotta love it. Since when is the natural response of the body when the parent is physically unfit to be a parent illegal? I understand if you're doing crack and you have a miscarriage, but come on Utah! This guilty until proven innocent crap is just making you seem even stupider. The rest of the United States thinks you were dropped on your head as an infant. We can't seem to explain or justify any more of your bat shit craziness. You're giving Florida a run for it's money now, and that is something we never thought would happen.
Can you just get some common sense separate your religion from your basic government for a minute? I understand that the judicial branch recognizes God, but when you start adding religion into your government you run the risk of discriminating against other religions. And we don't play that shit here.
Love, Polly.
September 28, 2010
September 28, 2010: Dear Katrina Victims, Quit being such pussies and grow a pair.
Excuse me for my inability to feel sympathetic to you and your families. I feel like knowledgeably living in a place that is below sea level and being emotionally distraught when it floods is just beyond my capacity for stupid in this lifetime. And to the celebrities that are appalled at how slow aid came to the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, either get your hands dirty or shut the hell up with your high and mighty "for the cause" publicity crap. Katrina was a disaster, don't get me wrong. But it was a disaster in a place that had it coming, knew it had it coming, and just couldn't muster up enough energy to give a shit. I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel completely justified in telling them all to suck it up, grow a pair, and get the hell over it.
Another obvious reason to tell Katrina Victims to quit being pussies is that they don't have it that bad. Compared to the rest of the United States and other first world countries they do, but that's not what the Katrina affected areas are right now. They are not first world areas, and compared to some of the third world areas of the world, they are doing GREAT. Suck it up Katrina victims, rural Africa still uses children as slaves. When you revert that far, then we'll talk. Until then, use your "First World" education and SUCK IT UP AND FIX YOUR SHIT. As a "First World" area you should have had emergency supplies. Did you? No. You should have made the appropriate emergency plans. Did you? No. Did you have the opportunity and ability to do those things? HELL YES. Why did you need aid? Because you fucked up. You took things for granted and fucked yourselves over. I'm not going to pity you, that's just not in me considering that you were ill prepared and chose to be that way when you could have chosen otherwise.
All that is really left now, is did you learn your lesson? Probably not. Did I learn anything from this? I should probably prepare for the natural disaster that will eventually hit Los Angeles. Will I? No. Will I give you free reign to talk shit when I don't and do exactly what you did? Yes. Will I be happy about that? No. But that's life.
Love, Polly.
Another obvious reason to tell Katrina Victims to quit being pussies is that they don't have it that bad. Compared to the rest of the United States and other first world countries they do, but that's not what the Katrina affected areas are right now. They are not first world areas, and compared to some of the third world areas of the world, they are doing GREAT. Suck it up Katrina victims, rural Africa still uses children as slaves. When you revert that far, then we'll talk. Until then, use your "First World" education and SUCK IT UP AND FIX YOUR SHIT. As a "First World" area you should have had emergency supplies. Did you? No. You should have made the appropriate emergency plans. Did you? No. Did you have the opportunity and ability to do those things? HELL YES. Why did you need aid? Because you fucked up. You took things for granted and fucked yourselves over. I'm not going to pity you, that's just not in me considering that you were ill prepared and chose to be that way when you could have chosen otherwise.
All that is really left now, is did you learn your lesson? Probably not. Did I learn anything from this? I should probably prepare for the natural disaster that will eventually hit Los Angeles. Will I? No. Will I give you free reign to talk shit when I don't and do exactly what you did? Yes. Will I be happy about that? No. But that's life.
Love, Polly.
September 27, 2010
September 27, 2010: Man, that guy's penis must be THIIIIIIIIS BIG!
I'll start with admitting that I'm part of that population of very tiny people that wants to drive an obscenely large truck to compensate for the lack of space I take up in the world. I only consider such a scenario with fuel efficiency, environmental footprint, and damages / deaths resulting from my bad driving aside. That note made, I'm going to be a hypocrite and make fun of everyone else with that mentality that has already done so because they have taken the next step (or steps as that may be) and actually bought the ridiculous truck for overcompensation.
You know we were already laughing at you, right short stuff? As much as I want to say that I don't laugh at men that are shorter than me, I can't. I'm exactly sixty inches tall, which translates into five feet. Not only do I laugh, I find you slightly creepy in the way that most of us find people with "pony-play" fetishes. I don't want to be your friend usually, because small men don't give me the impression that they are valuable for any reason except humor. That sucks, but it is what it is. When shorty goes off and buys an F450 to tow his child sized pit-bike and tries to justify that he needs that big of a truck when I could fit the bike into the back of a Ford Escort, I laugh in his face. And I laugh hard. I see you compensating for your height and trying to prove to me that you worth the trouble for reproductive means, but I don't want your midget babies.
I recognize that anthropologically men are biologically coded to try and prove their worthiness as
sperm donors (for lack of a better base term). I know that we are animals, and that our only true objective as far as the laws of nature go, is to reproduce. And I know that deep inside you feel threatened that your penis may not be big enough or that you may not biologically be what we are looking for. But you know what, buying a truck doesn't make your pee-pee bigger. It makes you look like an ass, and when you look like an ass, women don't want to talk your pee-pee or anything else.
For those of you that have large trucks but bought them for true functionality (towing cars, horses, large things of that nature) than ignore this post. I am totally willing to accept true functionality, but if you bought the biggest truck you could find for no other reason than to show off and maybe get some, (even if you won't consciously admit it), it's not working. Women across the world are still laughing at you, not with you.
Love, Polly.
You know we were already laughing at you, right short stuff? As much as I want to say that I don't laugh at men that are shorter than me, I can't. I'm exactly sixty inches tall, which translates into five feet. Not only do I laugh, I find you slightly creepy in the way that most of us find people with "pony-play" fetishes. I don't want to be your friend usually, because small men don't give me the impression that they are valuable for any reason except humor. That sucks, but it is what it is. When shorty goes off and buys an F450 to tow his child sized pit-bike and tries to justify that he needs that big of a truck when I could fit the bike into the back of a Ford Escort, I laugh in his face. And I laugh hard. I see you compensating for your height and trying to prove to me that you worth the trouble for reproductive means, but I don't want your midget babies.
I recognize that anthropologically men are biologically coded to try and prove their worthiness as
sperm donors (for lack of a better base term). I know that we are animals, and that our only true objective as far as the laws of nature go, is to reproduce. And I know that deep inside you feel threatened that your penis may not be big enough or that you may not biologically be what we are looking for. But you know what, buying a truck doesn't make your pee-pee bigger. It makes you look like an ass, and when you look like an ass, women don't want to talk your pee-pee or anything else.
For those of you that have large trucks but bought them for true functionality (towing cars, horses, large things of that nature) than ignore this post. I am totally willing to accept true functionality, but if you bought the biggest truck you could find for no other reason than to show off and maybe get some, (even if you won't consciously admit it), it's not working. Women across the world are still laughing at you, not with you.
Love, Polly.
September 26, 2010
September 26, 2010: Stay classy, America.
As a culture, America has always been known to be risque and almost trashy at times. The current trend of buying jeans for about $100 pre-ripped and worn for a "vintage" look speaks volumes about who we think we are. We are too good to get our jeans that way by honest work, too snooty to get down on our knees, dig in, and get dirty. Instead, we buy them made that way by someone who wasn't too snooty so we can look like we aren't! How about that, America? Where did our class go? Where did our pride in the blue collar hard working American goods that were built right go? Where did dressing in functional and yet simple clean cut clothing go? I have a few pairs of ripped jeans, and I wear them when we're working on the car or if I'm doing laundry. I don't wear them when I go to spend some time with some friends. Dress to impress or at least make the people around you think you care about what they think about you. Being sloppy in your wardrobe just mimics the other sloppy habits you have. It shows a disregard for yourself, and if you can't have some respect for yourself than you can't have some respect for other people. Wearing your ratty clothes just says, "You are unimportant to me, I do not have time for you".
And another thing, less is not more ladies! I understand sex appeal, I really do. I like wearing frilly underwear and knee high stockings as much as the next girl. But those are things that we shouldn't be displaying to everyone in the world. When we have some modesty in regards to our body, it allows us to make connections to people that are far deeper than any bond we could create otherwise. When we converse and make connections about the world around us, we are more fulfilled than when we act like we're going to have sex with everyone we meet. And even worse, ladies, PLEASE stop dressing this way and then wondering why no one takes you serious. If your ta-tas are hanging out for the whole world to see, a gaggle of hormone charged males are going to use you because that's all they see. Don't complain, dress appropriately. You could be the next Marie Curie, but if you dress like a hooker no one will take you seriously intellectually. Dress for what you want. If you want attention or if you want to be taken as a tramp, then fine. Ignore me. If you want people to take you seriously and truly be interested in mental complexities, dress appropriately. DRESS FOR SUCCESS, however it is you define sucess.
Love, Polly.
And another thing, less is not more ladies! I understand sex appeal, I really do. I like wearing frilly underwear and knee high stockings as much as the next girl. But those are things that we shouldn't be displaying to everyone in the world. When we have some modesty in regards to our body, it allows us to make connections to people that are far deeper than any bond we could create otherwise. When we converse and make connections about the world around us, we are more fulfilled than when we act like we're going to have sex with everyone we meet. And even worse, ladies, PLEASE stop dressing this way and then wondering why no one takes you serious. If your ta-tas are hanging out for the whole world to see, a gaggle of hormone charged males are going to use you because that's all they see. Don't complain, dress appropriately. You could be the next Marie Curie, but if you dress like a hooker no one will take you seriously intellectually. Dress for what you want. If you want attention or if you want to be taken as a tramp, then fine. Ignore me. If you want people to take you seriously and truly be interested in mental complexities, dress appropriately. DRESS FOR SUCCESS, however it is you define sucess.
Love, Polly.
September 25, 2010
September 25, 2010: Political idiots
If I see any variation of, "I won't vote for Meg Whitman because she's a slandering whore" I might just have to shoot someone. I love the involvement and I love hearing multiple views being discussed. I absolutely despise people who make complaints about things with absolutely no support to thier view or some generic term of offense as their reasoning. I would love to hear why you think that Candidate A is better than Candidate B. I would love to hear how you interpret the measures and propositions being put on the ballot. And I definately love knowing that there is involvement in our government at any and every level. But I find that kind of slanderous behavior to be rude and completely uncalled for. We know very little if anything at all about our politicians true character, and although we believe that actions speak louder than words our actions are just as poor, if not just as broadcasted. We are more in outrage over our politicians than the video of the girl that threw newborn puppies into a fast moving river with the exact same amount of information. We have the actions but not the ability to understand the true impact of any decision. Most of us just listen to the radio or television commercials instead of actually reading the ballots. We take propaganda laced interpretations from biased parties and use that as our primary source of information. These measures and propositions are NOT that difficult to read if you break them down sentence by sentence. I promise, if you take your time you will understand them. Likewise, if we sit down and really do some research on the things that our politicians and candidates have done we will see what their stance is on many things. We will be able to make truly informed judgements and THAT is what is going to help us now. We need to stop jumping on these band wagons and do some real independent research and learn how to sift through the important and unimportant. Learn the facts, process them, and make our own decisions. Support our viewpoints with solid information and debate them amongst ourselves. Open ourselves up to different viewpoints and different ideas, so that things get better. It isn't the media at fault, we are at fault. We refuse to be involved in our government until infamy or scandal show up, and then all we have to talk about is the negative. We are no longer the proud nation we were, the proud, informed nation that believed in it's government. The proud nation with a government that was recognized at being in the forefront of the entire world. We need to get back on our feet, I know things are difficult now and that we want someone to blame. Blame ourselves, for being ignorant and ENJOYING our ignorance. If we want change, we must bring it ourselves.
Love, Polly.
Love, Polly.
September 24, 2010
September 24, 2010: What you know at four is not what you know at forty.
The things we know as children are not the same things that we know as adults. We are immediately instilled with a sense of wonder about the world around us because there is so much that we cannot yet explain ourselves. We have a drive to learn and make sense of all the things around us, a sense of awe at the life and energy that makes up the world. We do not yet take it for granted, because we cannot for the life of us make any of these things plausible yet. The boundaries that we draw in our lives are constantly changing and pushed further out. They know the limits of their small bodies and unformed minds and are in awe of the perceived lack of limits that those older than them don't have.
The things we know as adults are not the same things we knew as children. The boundaries we see are no longer just boundaries of inabilities, they are boundaries of financial capabilities, political beliefs, moral and ethical values. The boundaries that were then so phenomenally unlimited are more complicated than those untrained eyes could see. And it pains us, that we are bound by these things. We look at children and wish that we could be as free as they can. We see them as having the constitutional rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And we see ourselves as being inhibited and kept from those rights.
I believe that we need to embrace the human experience of life, that we need to encourage growth amongst ourselves and never believe that there are any limitations into the things that we can do. That life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are things that we have innately and we lose them if we believe we lose them. The power of our minds is amazing and what we think has the power to change our beliefs and how we live our lives.
Love, Polly.
The things we know as adults are not the same things we knew as children. The boundaries we see are no longer just boundaries of inabilities, they are boundaries of financial capabilities, political beliefs, moral and ethical values. The boundaries that were then so phenomenally unlimited are more complicated than those untrained eyes could see. And it pains us, that we are bound by these things. We look at children and wish that we could be as free as they can. We see them as having the constitutional rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And we see ourselves as being inhibited and kept from those rights.
I believe that we need to embrace the human experience of life, that we need to encourage growth amongst ourselves and never believe that there are any limitations into the things that we can do. That life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are things that we have innately and we lose them if we believe we lose them. The power of our minds is amazing and what we think has the power to change our beliefs and how we live our lives.
Love, Polly.
September 23, 2010
September 23, 2010: Practice makes permanent
Habits, by definition are things that have become rituals in our daily life right underneath our noses. But habits can be both good and bad, and once we settle into something we find ourselves unable to stop. That is, if we even notice that we do these things at all. Habits can be anything, and don't just tsop at biting fingernails or twirling hair. A habit that we're seeing far too often now is the habit of being lazy. Of coming home and watching television or eating a bunch of things that are almost certifiable heart attack ingredients. My primary concern is not the health related issues of this kind of laziness, because we know that Americans are fat and lazy already. We know that Americans are more likely than any other country to have heart failure or diabetes. My concern is that with this economy, how can we justify that spending and not forsee the medical costs that we will face in the future?
Most of us like to eat or multitask when we're watching television. Some of us just like it for the noise while we're working on other things. But when we're at home, we indulge in all the comforts we can without a second thought. We blast our air conditioners, eat anything we can find in the pantry, maybe we're on the internet while we're watching television. This is consumer America being wasteful and fining ourselves hidden fees! Instead of taking a walk after dinner, or taking the kids to the park to play, we are losing ourselves in the habit of constant consumerism. Our inner economist is yelling, "THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH!" and I'm here to tell you that is a LIE. There is no financial cost to be outside, there is no financial cost to walk around the block, and there is no financial cost to enjoy your backyard. The opportunity cost? A few extra bucks in your wallet instead of in someone else's.
Love, Polly.
Most of us like to eat or multitask when we're watching television. Some of us just like it for the noise while we're working on other things. But when we're at home, we indulge in all the comforts we can without a second thought. We blast our air conditioners, eat anything we can find in the pantry, maybe we're on the internet while we're watching television. This is consumer America being wasteful and fining ourselves hidden fees! Instead of taking a walk after dinner, or taking the kids to the park to play, we are losing ourselves in the habit of constant consumerism. Our inner economist is yelling, "THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH!" and I'm here to tell you that is a LIE. There is no financial cost to be outside, there is no financial cost to walk around the block, and there is no financial cost to enjoy your backyard. The opportunity cost? A few extra bucks in your wallet instead of in someone else's.
Love, Polly.
September 22, 2010
September 22,2010: If you can't see the bottom of the rear bumper of the car in front of you, just gun it and rear end them.
So many people are under two misconceptions.
1. Driving unpredictably and unsafe but not killing yourself makes you a great driver.
2. Speeding is more likely to cause an accident than tailgating.
These are both insanely wrong and some of the most dangerous things that plague us on the road today. I'm going to start with driving unpredictably and unsafe but not killing yourself based on sheer luck even though you were pretty much about to shit your pants. This is not okay people, it doesn't make you an AWESOME DRIVER and you're really not driving that well or fast. Flooring it and then slamming on your brakes destroys your momentum. You're not going that fast to begin with and you're not using the optimum line that grants you control while still accelerating and taking your speed with you. So stop it, Speed Racer. Those fifteen tickets and two license suspensions you've had are not just because the police are "Asshole douche bags". No, in fact, you're just THAT bad of a driver. Slow down, and if you want to know how to really drive well there are several racing sanctions and event producers that host events to teach you the line and help you learn high performance driving. Most of the learning courses are actually not as expensive as you would think either and offer great instruction.
Second, speeding is less likely to cause an accident than tailgating. If you're going 100 mph and are only five feet behind a big rig truck that slams on it's brakes because somebody cut him off than say good bye to your car and most likely parts of your face. It is totally okay to speed a little bit, but know your limits. If you know that you have slower reflexes (like I do), give yourself enough space to assess the situation if anything changes and make the necessary adjustments. Don't make the mistake of over-estimating your reflexes either. Take it easy, and keep about a car's length ahead of you as a general rule. This saves you, your insurance payments, and any potential damages to people and cars.
SAVE LIVES, DON'T TAILGATE. Great drivers are speed hungry, they are predictable and drive as safe as possible at speed.
Love, Polly.
1. Driving unpredictably and unsafe but not killing yourself makes you a great driver.
2. Speeding is more likely to cause an accident than tailgating.
These are both insanely wrong and some of the most dangerous things that plague us on the road today. I'm going to start with driving unpredictably and unsafe but not killing yourself based on sheer luck even though you were pretty much about to shit your pants. This is not okay people, it doesn't make you an AWESOME DRIVER and you're really not driving that well or fast. Flooring it and then slamming on your brakes destroys your momentum. You're not going that fast to begin with and you're not using the optimum line that grants you control while still accelerating and taking your speed with you. So stop it, Speed Racer. Those fifteen tickets and two license suspensions you've had are not just because the police are "Asshole douche bags". No, in fact, you're just THAT bad of a driver. Slow down, and if you want to know how to really drive well there are several racing sanctions and event producers that host events to teach you the line and help you learn high performance driving. Most of the learning courses are actually not as expensive as you would think either and offer great instruction.
Second, speeding is less likely to cause an accident than tailgating. If you're going 100 mph and are only five feet behind a big rig truck that slams on it's brakes because somebody cut him off than say good bye to your car and most likely parts of your face. It is totally okay to speed a little bit, but know your limits. If you know that you have slower reflexes (like I do), give yourself enough space to assess the situation if anything changes and make the necessary adjustments. Don't make the mistake of over-estimating your reflexes either. Take it easy, and keep about a car's length ahead of you as a general rule. This saves you, your insurance payments, and any potential damages to people and cars.
SAVE LIVES, DON'T TAILGATE. Great drivers are speed hungry, they are predictable and drive as safe as possible at speed.
Love, Polly.
September 21, 2010
September 21, 2010: That's your first kid, isn't it?
Recently, new mothers everywhere have been in a fantastic (I don't mean awesome, learn context please) fuss over the Similac formula recalls. They found small domestic beetles inside some of the formula and recalled all the formula just to be safe. I don't know about any of you, but I distinctly remember a five year old filipino boy in my kindergarten class that admitted to eating a whole praying mantis and living to tell the tale. Honestly, kids eat dirt and bugs and all kinds of gross things no one wants to think about. They wipe their snot on their hands and wipe those cute little screw-on hands on things other kids touch. It's just a fact of life that your children will get messy and dirty and in general be gross.
The message of today is, new moms take a breath. Similac has already released a statement saying that the little creepy crawling beetle parts won't harm your baby. I'm inclined to believe them, three children and the annual battle with the flu and strep throat later. Eating a little bug leg won't hurt your baby, I promise. There are scarier things out there than a little bug leg in some formula if you happen to miss it and don't scoop it out. Try this one on for size. Anything put on your skin absorbs into your blood stream within 27 seconds, so if you ate something with peanut oil in it with your hand and touch your baby...well, baby has it's first peanut exposure and you may be stuck with an allergy later down the road.
All Moms that have been around the child raising block a few times will tell you two things. The first it that you will always be the most panicked and overprotective of your first child. They will also tell you to stop, because this is how your baby is going to develop an immune system since you're not giving them your antibodies through breastfeeding.
Now, I don't mean to say you should ignore your child when it's about to roll off the couch and just let it fall so it will learn. I mean, calm down and really assess the situation. One bug leg in the only can of formula that wasn't returned during the recall dates doesn't mean to raise the alarm or start a lawsuit against Similac. It means you just need to dig the little sucker out, toss the can if it makes you feel better, and move on. Maybe call your mother or a best girlfriend for moral support. But if you want your baby to be healthy, it needs a chance to get sick once in awhile. Don't stray from the normal precautions, but if there is a kid at school with chicken pox and your child didn't get the vaccine, have a play date. Don't wait until the child is sixteen to get chicken pox. Get it while they're still little enough that it won't be too severe. Let em eat a little dirt, it's good for them. (Ok, maybe not. But let them get away with it once anyway.)
Don't fight a losing battle, compromise with yourself.
Love, Polly.
The message of today is, new moms take a breath. Similac has already released a statement saying that the little creepy crawling beetle parts won't harm your baby. I'm inclined to believe them, three children and the annual battle with the flu and strep throat later. Eating a little bug leg won't hurt your baby, I promise. There are scarier things out there than a little bug leg in some formula if you happen to miss it and don't scoop it out. Try this one on for size. Anything put on your skin absorbs into your blood stream within 27 seconds, so if you ate something with peanut oil in it with your hand and touch your baby...well, baby has it's first peanut exposure and you may be stuck with an allergy later down the road.
All Moms that have been around the child raising block a few times will tell you two things. The first it that you will always be the most panicked and overprotective of your first child. They will also tell you to stop, because this is how your baby is going to develop an immune system since you're not giving them your antibodies through breastfeeding.
Now, I don't mean to say you should ignore your child when it's about to roll off the couch and just let it fall so it will learn. I mean, calm down and really assess the situation. One bug leg in the only can of formula that wasn't returned during the recall dates doesn't mean to raise the alarm or start a lawsuit against Similac. It means you just need to dig the little sucker out, toss the can if it makes you feel better, and move on. Maybe call your mother or a best girlfriend for moral support. But if you want your baby to be healthy, it needs a chance to get sick once in awhile. Don't stray from the normal precautions, but if there is a kid at school with chicken pox and your child didn't get the vaccine, have a play date. Don't wait until the child is sixteen to get chicken pox. Get it while they're still little enough that it won't be too severe. Let em eat a little dirt, it's good for them. (Ok, maybe not. But let them get away with it once anyway.)
Don't fight a losing battle, compromise with yourself.
Love, Polly.
September 20, 2010
September 20,2010: I deserve it!
No, you probably don't. This idea of self-entitlement is beyond an annoyance. Long gone are the leagues and leagues of immigrant blue collar workers with a work ethic and patriotism that was unparallelled during the high of it's glory. We will most likely never see that again, unfortunately. This pains me because I feel that things are going in the wrong direction. I understand that resources are as a general rule are finite in quantity. That is why our economy is turning into a service based economy, in addition to the fact that as a country we are technologically adequate to be figuratively "all over the world". However, by losing that blue collar work ethic we are teaching our children to feel entitled to everything, and even the young adult generation of today has echoes of this belief. Just because you have a job that you do fairly well does not mean that you deserve your paycheck. If someone can do your job just as well, if not better than you can, for less, you deserve to be fired unless you for some reason can justify that pay gap. If it's an untrained job that anyone can do at entry level, you do not deserve your job. It is a privlege to have a job, not a right. Just like driving, but everyone seems to take it for granted and complain about officers doing thier jobs. Stop forgetting that your rights and privledges are different things. You are entitled to five freedoms according to the first amendment. Those are speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. Not driving, working, owning houses or cars, or money. Those are things you must work for, not things that you are entitled by law or otherwise. And if you cannot be responsible or tolerable those things will be revoked from you. Man up, America.
Love, Polly.
Love, Polly.
September 19, 2010
September 19, 2010: Democrats are money spending bastards but Republicans are only for rich people.
Stop blaming whole political parties! I am so frustrated by everyone saying that one political party or another is evil, when the truth is that no party is evil and we function as a two party system. Democrats and Republicans have long fought against each other's core beliefs and principles but only recently has the fight transfered to the people themselves instead of the issues at hand. I am not evil to the core nor a spawn of Satan himself or even worse the Devil Incarnate. I am a stout conservative republican that believes that the government should be of minor involvement in our lives and that the money we make should be our money. I am also a capitalist that believes that we should embrace the entrepreneurial spirit that made our country and strike out on our own or work our way up the ranks to earn the money that is all around us. However, as a swing voter, I also don't believe that any person should be without health care or be unable to receive proper health care because they cannot afford it. I feel that health care is one of the limited places government should be involved. I believe that schools and education should be of a higher priority than salaries for government employees. I believe that we should encourage public transportation in any way possible and use the funds we generate through that to repave our roads as well as funds collected from sales tax on gas. I believe that we should start utilizing high speed lanes sectioned off from regular lanes, and impose a toll to use them. Use that to continue funding the roads. I believe in public works projects, and I believe that those are what will strengthen our economy. And if I could find a candidate that believes in all these things, he would have my vote, democrat or republican.
Love, Polly.
Love, Polly.
September 18, 2010
September 18, 2010: Children are NOT pets!
I've become more frustrated as I see more and more parents relying on the public school system to act like child care. This is not what teachers are for! They are not to be the sole disciplinary power in your child's life, they are not to be the only sense of structure they have ever seen. When your child's teacher says, "John had a bad day today, he threw a chair" do NOT take John for ice cream and Chuck E. Cheese. Take your child home, and spank him. John won't be throwing a chair tomorrow, I'll bet you. If you don't believe in spankings (which is fine, I'm rather archaic compared to the current parenting trends) then do time-out or whatever it is you do. You should be involved in your child's life. Don't let someone else raise them because you're too busy. You brought that ankle biting wonder into the world, you will damn well take responsibility for it.
Feeding your child, taking them to the doctor, and just in general providing for them should be your first responsibility. I understand that some of you are single parents trying really hard to make ends meet. But when you don't have money for food and you spend the money you should have had on clubbing, you're going to piss me off. Booze or cigarettes or whatever crap you do recreationally are NOT greater than your child's needs. If your child needs crayons for school than that better come before that new toothbrush you need.
I know this sounds harsh, but the younger that parents get the more they think they're good parents just because they're struggling. They believe that they DESERVE to have nights out because they had to be "Mom" or "Dad" all week. But the truth is, being a parent is a full time job with no sick days. That's all there is to it, you don't deserve anything. You get whatever you can scrape together. But don't take out your inability to be responsible on your children. When other parents or coaches or teachers know your child better than you, that is a problem. A serious problem that means you need to be back in the loop.
Feeding your child, taking them to the doctor, and just in general providing for them should be your first responsibility. I understand that some of you are single parents trying really hard to make ends meet. But when you don't have money for food and you spend the money you should have had on clubbing, you're going to piss me off. Booze or cigarettes or whatever crap you do recreationally are NOT greater than your child's needs. If your child needs crayons for school than that better come before that new toothbrush you need.
I know this sounds harsh, but the younger that parents get the more they think they're good parents just because they're struggling. They believe that they DESERVE to have nights out because they had to be "Mom" or "Dad" all week. But the truth is, being a parent is a full time job with no sick days. That's all there is to it, you don't deserve anything. You get whatever you can scrape together. But don't take out your inability to be responsible on your children. When other parents or coaches or teachers know your child better than you, that is a problem. A serious problem that means you need to be back in the loop.
September 17, 2010
September 17, 2010: If homosexuality is a disease, let's all call in queer to work: "Hello. Can't work today, still queer."
[Title quote attributed to Ryan Tyler]
As I was talking to a local head shrinker, I mean, bartender, our talk segwayed into the world of gay marriage, gay rights, and all other things gay. I'll be putting down my piece on this today.
Gay marriage: I believe that homosexual couples have the same right as a heterosexual couple to marry. Their sexuality should never come in the way of the financial and emotional privileges that a marriage can bring to a couple. All this bullshit about legalizing gay marriage raising the divorce rate is just that, bullshit. All couples who marry now have the possibility of joining that statistic, and it's no fair to disclude them because we don't want to see that statistic rise. The truth is the divorce rate is rising because couples now don't feel the same shame of divorce that they did forty years ago. Then, divorce was unacceptable. It led to women who had never worked before having to join the work force with no true skills or marketable assets working for minimum wage, if that, to support themselves and their children. Now, we have powerful women doing powerful things. We are finding a more stable gender ignorant working world. Albiet, women are not exactly equal as men, but they are capable of doing so much more for themselves if they have the right motivation. However, I understand the right of religious ceremonies being being subject to that decision. It is fully within the power of any religious body to deny their particular marriage ceremony to homosexual couples. I will only support the right of gay marriage as a legal and financial event, not as a religious event. I cannot force the church to turn it's back on it's founding principles. What I ask from the church is acceptance into the world, to accept that gays are people, too. To keep their religion to themselves, instead of forcing it on the world.
Gay religion: If gays want to make their own religious system, more power to you. I can't force all religions to accept you. But there are religions for EVERYTHING. There is a church for body modification! Make a church for gays! If you don't like their rules, make your own. It's okay to do that, and no one can fault you for it. There is a church for marijuana users! All of these churches may seem to be "fake" churches, but they have a moral code, a system of beliefs, and that makes them real religions to me. If you want to make your own church so you can have a religious wedding, alright. There you go, but don't force other religions to take back fundamental beliefs. Accept thier beliefs and respect them, and you'll teach them to respect yours.
Gay rights: If people are equal and legally have equal rights, and gays are people, too, it follows that gays are equal and legally have equal rights. /END.
As I was talking to a local head shrinker, I mean, bartender, our talk segwayed into the world of gay marriage, gay rights, and all other things gay. I'll be putting down my piece on this today.
Gay marriage: I believe that homosexual couples have the same right as a heterosexual couple to marry. Their sexuality should never come in the way of the financial and emotional privileges that a marriage can bring to a couple. All this bullshit about legalizing gay marriage raising the divorce rate is just that, bullshit. All couples who marry now have the possibility of joining that statistic, and it's no fair to disclude them because we don't want to see that statistic rise. The truth is the divorce rate is rising because couples now don't feel the same shame of divorce that they did forty years ago. Then, divorce was unacceptable. It led to women who had never worked before having to join the work force with no true skills or marketable assets working for minimum wage, if that, to support themselves and their children. Now, we have powerful women doing powerful things. We are finding a more stable gender ignorant working world. Albiet, women are not exactly equal as men, but they are capable of doing so much more for themselves if they have the right motivation. However, I understand the right of religious ceremonies being being subject to that decision. It is fully within the power of any religious body to deny their particular marriage ceremony to homosexual couples. I will only support the right of gay marriage as a legal and financial event, not as a religious event. I cannot force the church to turn it's back on it's founding principles. What I ask from the church is acceptance into the world, to accept that gays are people, too. To keep their religion to themselves, instead of forcing it on the world.
Gay religion: If gays want to make their own religious system, more power to you. I can't force all religions to accept you. But there are religions for EVERYTHING. There is a church for body modification! Make a church for gays! If you don't like their rules, make your own. It's okay to do that, and no one can fault you for it. There is a church for marijuana users! All of these churches may seem to be "fake" churches, but they have a moral code, a system of beliefs, and that makes them real religions to me. If you want to make your own church so you can have a religious wedding, alright. There you go, but don't force other religions to take back fundamental beliefs. Accept thier beliefs and respect them, and you'll teach them to respect yours.
Gay rights: If people are equal and legally have equal rights, and gays are people, too, it follows that gays are equal and legally have equal rights. /END.
September 16, 2010
September 16, 2010: Dumpster babies, who doesn't love a dumpster baby?
I'm in a mood this week, bear with me. I've been reading TONS of political chatter lately and sorting through some issues that I've been falling behind on. (Life gets in the way of EVERYTHING, see?)
One fight I'm getting pretty tired of is the fight about legalizing abortion. Some say that it's a woman's right to make that decision and others still will say it's murder. (I'm a swing voter, remember?) Who are we to decide when life begins? Are you REALLY telling me that every female and male that have reached puberty and are capable of having children should if the event arises, America? I would hope not. More sixteen year olds having children is not my cup of tea. More people who are incapable of being financially secure that probably share the Greek sense of where the government can shove their income tax? I don't think so. I believe in taxes, and I believe in raising them. I believe that abortion should be OUR right, not as mothers or wifes, but as RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE who KNOW deep down inside that this world is NOT a place for a newborn. That in our own way, we are RESPECTING life by not subjecting it to this painful time of need and inability to support it. Abortion and adoption are two of the most emotionally painful aspects of child bearing. Who are we to judge them? Why are we judging them? Because we think that they should believe what we believe? We're all entitled to our right to liberty, liberty of our life and our thoughts. Or is it because the Bible or other holy books disdain abortion? I think you should keep your religion out of my uterus, if you want it in yours so be it. I understand where people say that life begins at conception, and I'll ask you this. What do you call a microscopic cell that takes nutrients from another organism? It's called a parasite, and until we stop deworming our cats and dogs, I'll give the right to abortion a thumbs up. And don't tell me it's different, that is life, too. Let's discuss this, comments will be open like always. I want to know what you think.
One fight I'm getting pretty tired of is the fight about legalizing abortion. Some say that it's a woman's right to make that decision and others still will say it's murder. (I'm a swing voter, remember?) Who are we to decide when life begins? Are you REALLY telling me that every female and male that have reached puberty and are capable of having children should if the event arises, America? I would hope not. More sixteen year olds having children is not my cup of tea. More people who are incapable of being financially secure that probably share the Greek sense of where the government can shove their income tax? I don't think so. I believe in taxes, and I believe in raising them. I believe that abortion should be OUR right, not as mothers or wifes, but as RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE who KNOW deep down inside that this world is NOT a place for a newborn. That in our own way, we are RESPECTING life by not subjecting it to this painful time of need and inability to support it. Abortion and adoption are two of the most emotionally painful aspects of child bearing. Who are we to judge them? Why are we judging them? Because we think that they should believe what we believe? We're all entitled to our right to liberty, liberty of our life and our thoughts. Or is it because the Bible or other holy books disdain abortion? I think you should keep your religion out of my uterus, if you want it in yours so be it. I understand where people say that life begins at conception, and I'll ask you this. What do you call a microscopic cell that takes nutrients from another organism? It's called a parasite, and until we stop deworming our cats and dogs, I'll give the right to abortion a thumbs up. And don't tell me it's different, that is life, too. Let's discuss this, comments will be open like always. I want to know what you think.
September 15, 2010
September 15, 2010: The internet is not omiscient, take it with a grain of salt.
To begin with, I'd like to start with this fun little political cartoon. It tells you something very frightening about the voting public today. (They're all idiots.) Granted, I'm a swing voting Republican who believes in capitol punishment, strict immigration laws, and public works projects instead of this "Economic stimulus" nonsense. So sue me, but if you disagree then the floor will be yours in the comment section. Naturally, I'm also under the impression that the voting public is comprised of complete idiots who believe that government should get the hell out of the way unless we want money. I don't believe that we as a people are capable of true social responsibility. We CAN'T moderate ourselves, and because WE are incapable we have this wonderful entity called GOVERNMENT to do it for us. Because we don't know how to get along, we don't know how to compromise fairly. And you know what? I LOVE GOVERNMENT, even in this screwy teenage phase it's going through. Government only fails when we fail to be responsible citizens. How can you say that your vote doesn't matter? It only didn't matter because you didn't give it! How many people do you think said the same thing? "My vote doesn't matter so I won't do it" can't be going through just one person's mind. But it DOES matter, believe it or not. Your one vote may not be enough to tip the scales, our votes aren't that close. But for every person that does get out and vote, there is another. We rub off on each other, I promise. And when you vote, CHANGE HAPPENS. It's just a fact of life, folks. Voters change things as one man because they become one entity of solidarity together. If we want change, we need to VOTE. We need to be aware of how we can work within our government to create the changes we want to see. And we need to KNOW what we want, we need to KNOW what we DON'T want. When we bless ourselves with that knowledge, we become truly aware of the situations around us. And we need to learn to filter out the propaganda and internet nonsense that makes people believe President Obama, our Commander in Chief, is a Muslim. Remember being in school and having teachers tell you that Wikipedia may be a great place to get some direction, but to take things with a grain of salt because it's not all written by experts? Well, the rule applies to all of the internet. Make decisions yourselves, don't let the media run your life. Learn, vote, and make change happen. Be smart, and the changes will be sound. Please, do it for my sanity if not your own.Love, Polly.
September 15, 2010
First off, let me apologize. It's been a long quiet three months here, and I won't hesitate to give my excuse. LIFE happened, and it happened with no regard to the other things going on in my life. Unfortunately for me, this is just how these things tend to happen. Unexpected, with complete disregard for anything else. Life is pretty rude, isn't it?
I'll be back as of RIGHT THIS MINUTE, but I hope those of you who DO read this forgive me.
Love, Polly.
I'll be back as of RIGHT THIS MINUTE, but I hope those of you who DO read this forgive me.
Love, Polly.
May 1, 2010
May 1, 2010: Civility shouldn't end after you stop being within punching distance.
I'm as guilty of this as anyone else is, and I'm just as guilty of being nasty and spiteful in person. I can't say I'm the most graceful and level-headed person the world has ever come to know. But I can rest assured of two things. First, that there will always be a more awful person than me. And second, that there will always be growth in my life and that I will learn more and more grace and level-headedness as I get older and mature. I still have room to grow, and I always will. I can't beat myself up over my imperfections. But at the same time I don't want to take two steps back for every step I take forward.
It's important to remember that you really can be a bigger person, that you can apologize for being mean, rude, spiteful and immature. It's hard, and you don't have to mean it. That makes it a little more doable. But if you CAN mean it, that's so much the better for you.
Let's face it, two people with opposing views cannot both win an argument, and things only get worse when one person can't just sit down and shut their trap. You don't have to fight all day over a trivial matter that isn't the end of the world as we know it. You just have to swallow your pride and accept that just this one time, you were wrong. You're not stupid, ignorant, or retarded. Those are unfair. You were just wrong. And it's okay to be wrong, there is nothing to look down upon about being wrong.
Being wrong lets you grow, and let's you learn a bit more. Maybe you didn't understand all the complexities, or you just had an idea that grew it's own legs and tried to run. But either way, you need to be able to accept that you were wrong and stop looking for retribution. It's not about getting even, it's about getting over it.
Getting even doesn't solve problems, it just instigates more of them. Our lives are already full, what are we doing making it worse for ourselves? It just makes no sense, and that in itself should be enough to deter ourselves from going that route. Maybe getting even is part of the "getting over it" side, but the truth is if we just focus on getting over it instead we'll get there faster.
Adults should act like the adults that we are, and children should strive to mature themselves. Playground antics should end at the playground. Your life isn't over, your life just began.
Love, Polly.
It's important to remember that you really can be a bigger person, that you can apologize for being mean, rude, spiteful and immature. It's hard, and you don't have to mean it. That makes it a little more doable. But if you CAN mean it, that's so much the better for you.
Let's face it, two people with opposing views cannot both win an argument, and things only get worse when one person can't just sit down and shut their trap. You don't have to fight all day over a trivial matter that isn't the end of the world as we know it. You just have to swallow your pride and accept that just this one time, you were wrong. You're not stupid, ignorant, or retarded. Those are unfair. You were just wrong. And it's okay to be wrong, there is nothing to look down upon about being wrong.
Being wrong lets you grow, and let's you learn a bit more. Maybe you didn't understand all the complexities, or you just had an idea that grew it's own legs and tried to run. But either way, you need to be able to accept that you were wrong and stop looking for retribution. It's not about getting even, it's about getting over it.
Getting even doesn't solve problems, it just instigates more of them. Our lives are already full, what are we doing making it worse for ourselves? It just makes no sense, and that in itself should be enough to deter ourselves from going that route. Maybe getting even is part of the "getting over it" side, but the truth is if we just focus on getting over it instead we'll get there faster.
Adults should act like the adults that we are, and children should strive to mature themselves. Playground antics should end at the playground. Your life isn't over, your life just began.
Love, Polly.
April 30, 2010
April 30, 2010: Maturity isn't something you just stumble upon.
We all have that stupid friend frustrates us because they won't grow up and handle responsibility. There are so many ways that irresponsibility is fostered it's no wonder they exist either. Just a fact of life that we have to accept no matter what goes on. Sometimes they even have the gall to tell us that we're being irresponsible with our lives as well, and we can't see where they happen to get off saying those things.
Being the friend who won't grow up, the friend who thinks they're all grown up, or just the person who is all grown up doesn't mean that we're ever in a place to judge anyone else really. I'm not really sure of my religious stand point yet, so I'm not going to be the person that says, "Only God can judge". But I'm considering the fact that there will always be the friend who won't grow up or who thinks they're all grown up, and not always the person who is all grown up.
But it doesn't really matter which of them you are in the long run, life runs it's course and you'll just have to deal with things as they come. For the people who won't grow up, they find ways to enable that, be it through their parents or other people. Maybe they just didn't learn the lessons that they need in order to mature more. And for the people who think they're all grown up, well that's great for them. If they're not, eventually they'll fall upon a hard time that will force some kind of growth, we hope. I've never met a person who could always say that they were all grown up, and had become everything they wanted to be. Even Bill Gates wants to be a person in a perfect, healthy, livable world. He has money beyond the imaginable, and he still goes to help those who are less fortunate. Something inside him says, I am not yet the person I want to be and I cannot be that person until the world is functioning in a way that allows that. Not to say that he's unfulfilled or unhappy. I'm sure that he experiences both those pleasures. But something compels him to do those things, and that is the knowledge that the world is not in a state that he can be the person he would love to be in it.
As with each variation of persons, there is a variety of ways to handle it. You can complain or try to help foster the things that you believe that person should have. Personally, I think the only way to combat any of the issues with irresponsibility is to work yourself. Strive to mature, mature your thinking, mature your beliefs, and mature your moral and ethical code. The body matures at it's own pace and there is little you can do outside of wishing or hoping on your own to help spur the process. The mind is different, when you expand it, you grow. With growth comes maturity. I'm going to strive to grow, and I'm going to strive to be better in all the ways that I can. Instead of complaining or badmouthing, I'm going to push myself to show the most responsibility I've ever shown in life. Self-responsibility and social responsibility, together.
Love,
Polly.
Being the friend who won't grow up, the friend who thinks they're all grown up, or just the person who is all grown up doesn't mean that we're ever in a place to judge anyone else really. I'm not really sure of my religious stand point yet, so I'm not going to be the person that says, "Only God can judge". But I'm considering the fact that there will always be the friend who won't grow up or who thinks they're all grown up, and not always the person who is all grown up.
But it doesn't really matter which of them you are in the long run, life runs it's course and you'll just have to deal with things as they come. For the people who won't grow up, they find ways to enable that, be it through their parents or other people. Maybe they just didn't learn the lessons that they need in order to mature more. And for the people who think they're all grown up, well that's great for them. If they're not, eventually they'll fall upon a hard time that will force some kind of growth, we hope. I've never met a person who could always say that they were all grown up, and had become everything they wanted to be. Even Bill Gates wants to be a person in a perfect, healthy, livable world. He has money beyond the imaginable, and he still goes to help those who are less fortunate. Something inside him says, I am not yet the person I want to be and I cannot be that person until the world is functioning in a way that allows that. Not to say that he's unfulfilled or unhappy. I'm sure that he experiences both those pleasures. But something compels him to do those things, and that is the knowledge that the world is not in a state that he can be the person he would love to be in it.
As with each variation of persons, there is a variety of ways to handle it. You can complain or try to help foster the things that you believe that person should have. Personally, I think the only way to combat any of the issues with irresponsibility is to work yourself. Strive to mature, mature your thinking, mature your beliefs, and mature your moral and ethical code. The body matures at it's own pace and there is little you can do outside of wishing or hoping on your own to help spur the process. The mind is different, when you expand it, you grow. With growth comes maturity. I'm going to strive to grow, and I'm going to strive to be better in all the ways that I can. Instead of complaining or badmouthing, I'm going to push myself to show the most responsibility I've ever shown in life. Self-responsibility and social responsibility, together.
Love,
Polly.
April 28, 2010
April 28, 2010: Franzia, because wine in a box is more environmentally friendly!
A friend of ours came by not too long ago and brought a box of Franzia over with her. It's been sitting on my desk all week since she left it there, and I keep reading the side panel of it where it lists all it's ecological achievements. They are as follows.
But I digress, the environment is definitely something that people should really consider now. Before, we didn't have the knowledge that we do now, and we should move forward. A lot of people say, "Oh, I recycle my cans" or "I use reusable bags at the grocery store". Well a fat lot of good that does when you're driving your HUMMER across country for whatever stupid reason you've got.
We should stop undoing the good we're doing, because it looks like for every step forward we take, we also take a half step back. It's really important that we continue to learn more about our environment, how to take care of it, and more economical ways to live our lives. But at the same time, we need to incorporate those things on a daily basis. We're not going to save the world tomorrow, of course not. But every step backwards we take is just going to make it take longer.
Also, stop looking at band-aid solutions. Really think about what you're doing and whether there might be a better, friendlier alternative. I'm not saying I don't love reusable bags or recycling, but maybe getting a friendlier car to drive around town in might be a better idea? Not only that, but it'll save you some money.
Nowadays, it's easier on your pocket in the long run to be environmentally friendly. But if you think for just a second, is that two extra seconds it's going to take you really that bad anyway?
Love, Polly.
- Significantly less CO2 emissions
- Significantly less packaging waste
- Smaller carbon footprint
- Less wine waste
But I digress, the environment is definitely something that people should really consider now. Before, we didn't have the knowledge that we do now, and we should move forward. A lot of people say, "Oh, I recycle my cans" or "I use reusable bags at the grocery store". Well a fat lot of good that does when you're driving your HUMMER across country for whatever stupid reason you've got.
We should stop undoing the good we're doing, because it looks like for every step forward we take, we also take a half step back. It's really important that we continue to learn more about our environment, how to take care of it, and more economical ways to live our lives. But at the same time, we need to incorporate those things on a daily basis. We're not going to save the world tomorrow, of course not. But every step backwards we take is just going to make it take longer.
Also, stop looking at band-aid solutions. Really think about what you're doing and whether there might be a better, friendlier alternative. I'm not saying I don't love reusable bags or recycling, but maybe getting a friendlier car to drive around town in might be a better idea? Not only that, but it'll save you some money.
Nowadays, it's easier on your pocket in the long run to be environmentally friendly. But if you think for just a second, is that two extra seconds it's going to take you really that bad anyway?
Love, Polly.
April 26, 2010
April 27,2010: Letting go
Letting go is always the hardest part of everything, but it's very likely the most important part of surviving in our world. With all the things we put ourselves through, and all the things that occur to us on a daily basis we really need to learn to find our grace under pressure. So much of the time we spend brooding because we're angry, frustrated, or hurt we could be spending doing things that we love or things that we find fulfilling.
In relationships, if you only consider the awful things that happen you don't learn from them. You brood darkly and it hurts every relationship you have in the future. As each relationship progresses, you begin to focus on the similarities that hurt you before. Pretty soon you only have eyes for what could go wrong, for the bad things. Then it becomes the only thing you notice in your life. Practice leads to permanence, and if you practice bad perception then it becomes all you see. You'll never have a good, lasting, stable relationship if you're too busy looking for ways that it will fail.
Friendships fall under much the same vein as relationships, and this particular point is no exception. It's best to value the good in all your relationships including friendship, even if they don't last. That way you won't be prone to pointing out the annoying little things and have them take over, and instead point out the fabulous things that you enjoy so much about them. Part of being in relationships (platonic and romantic) is maintenance, and any decent self-help book can tell you that if you feel like your relationship is failing you need to make sure that it's not your fault, too.
Value the good in yourself, the good in each other, and the great things that could come from that. I'm not saying ignore any bad things that give you the opportunity for growth, but change the things you can't and let the things you can't be.
Love, Polly.
In relationships, if you only consider the awful things that happen you don't learn from them. You brood darkly and it hurts every relationship you have in the future. As each relationship progresses, you begin to focus on the similarities that hurt you before. Pretty soon you only have eyes for what could go wrong, for the bad things. Then it becomes the only thing you notice in your life. Practice leads to permanence, and if you practice bad perception then it becomes all you see. You'll never have a good, lasting, stable relationship if you're too busy looking for ways that it will fail.
Friendships fall under much the same vein as relationships, and this particular point is no exception. It's best to value the good in all your relationships including friendship, even if they don't last. That way you won't be prone to pointing out the annoying little things and have them take over, and instead point out the fabulous things that you enjoy so much about them. Part of being in relationships (platonic and romantic) is maintenance, and any decent self-help book can tell you that if you feel like your relationship is failing you need to make sure that it's not your fault, too.
Value the good in yourself, the good in each other, and the great things that could come from that. I'm not saying ignore any bad things that give you the opportunity for growth, but change the things you can't and let the things you can't be.
Love, Polly.
April 26, 2010: On being asked if female drivers were as strong as their male counterparts - You drive the car, you don't carry it.
[Janet Guthrie-quote as title]
Growing up in this era of equal opportunity and gender equality, I've long been taught of the struggles of gender and race. I have no stories of true struggle or strife in regards to them. Instead, I only have the misconceptions of a young, wet behind the ears lady thrown into the auto-sport world. I've had a few glancing touches before, like when you accidentally brush shoulders with a stranger in public. But I'll be honest, I'm not of the mechanical mind and I would prefer (infinitely) the so called "softer sciences".
After my first brush with deathly illness (this is an exaggeration, but it sure didn't feel like one) at Cal Speedway, I'd vowed to never again be talked into coming out. Not for anyone, not for anything. Since then, I'm glad I've changed my mind.
My second encounter was much more smooth although it did blow any preconceived notion out of my mind. I made my debut at Miller Motorsports Park as the "Driver's girlfriend" for NASA's
National Championship Event 2009, and it's been an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. I was afraid I wouldn't fit in since I didn't know anything or anyone, and that being so far away from home for a week would be boring since the only involvement I had was sitting on top of the garages biting my nails during the races.But I was pleasantly surprised by how wrong I was.
At first, I'd been warned that there wouldn't be very many women out, that there never are. We must have been very lucky because in the garage next to us there was another "Driver's girlfriend" and in the week we were there we made friends very quickly. The ratio of men to women definitely favored the men, but all in all I didn't feel like a zebra in the city. In fact, many of them had levels of involvement I can hardly fathom, and each event seems to enforce that in my mind.
Since then, I've managed to come a long way. I've gone to every event since, learned a bit about hubs, axles, tires, and other car related things. I've also experienced SEMA, my first endurance race, and participated in tire changing. Honestly, I couldn't be more shocked at how involved I'm becoming with racing as a sport. But I can't say I don't enjoy every second of it. The best part is that my involvement as more than just the "Driver's girlfriend" helps him out too. We've had women come over and say how great it is to see women actually out there helping out, and taking pictures. But even more than that, it's nice to know that no one else notices that I'm a woman, they treat me as an unlearned person. Everything they teach me is just dragging me farther into their life and passion, and making it mine. I don't mind at all.
Love, Polly.
Growing up in this era of equal opportunity and gender equality, I've long been taught of the struggles of gender and race. I have no stories of true struggle or strife in regards to them. Instead, I only have the misconceptions of a young, wet behind the ears lady thrown into the auto-sport world. I've had a few glancing touches before, like when you accidentally brush shoulders with a stranger in public. But I'll be honest, I'm not of the mechanical mind and I would prefer (infinitely) the so called "softer sciences".
After my first brush with deathly illness (this is an exaggeration, but it sure didn't feel like one) at Cal Speedway, I'd vowed to never again be talked into coming out. Not for anyone, not for anything. Since then, I'm glad I've changed my mind.
My second encounter was much more smooth although it did blow any preconceived notion out of my mind. I made my debut at Miller Motorsports Park as the "Driver's girlfriend" for NASA's
National Championship Event 2009, and it's been an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. I was afraid I wouldn't fit in since I didn't know anything or anyone, and that being so far away from home for a week would be boring since the only involvement I had was sitting on top of the garages biting my nails during the races.But I was pleasantly surprised by how wrong I was.
At first, I'd been warned that there wouldn't be very many women out, that there never are. We must have been very lucky because in the garage next to us there was another "Driver's girlfriend" and in the week we were there we made friends very quickly. The ratio of men to women definitely favored the men, but all in all I didn't feel like a zebra in the city. In fact, many of them had levels of involvement I can hardly fathom, and each event seems to enforce that in my mind.
Since then, I've managed to come a long way. I've gone to every event since, learned a bit about hubs, axles, tires, and other car related things. I've also experienced SEMA, my first endurance race, and participated in tire changing. Honestly, I couldn't be more shocked at how involved I'm becoming with racing as a sport. But I can't say I don't enjoy every second of it. The best part is that my involvement as more than just the "Driver's girlfriend" helps him out too. We've had women come over and say how great it is to see women actually out there helping out, and taking pictures. But even more than that, it's nice to know that no one else notices that I'm a woman, they treat me as an unlearned person. Everything they teach me is just dragging me farther into their life and passion, and making it mine. I don't mind at all.
Love, Polly.
April 25, 2010
April 25, 2010: Overworked, overwhelmed, and overdoing it.
There are really two kinds of people in the world, those who handle stressful situations with all the grace they can muster and those who lack any kind of grace at all. When you're forced to decide how important things are and overwhelmed by a list that is always growing, it's important to know your limitations and boundaries. I can't count on my fingers (or even my toes) how many times I've gone overboard with to-do lists. I'm the kind of person that lists every single step of the way, so that something as simple as "cleaning the desk" becomes a seventy step job. As my list grows and things start to take longer and longer because I'm finding more detailed steps to add, I get overwhelmed by the sheer immensity of the list and at a certain point I cease functioning in a rational and productive manner.
I love t0-do lists, probably more than the average person does. My lists look like they contain every single motion or action that one specific broad statement like "clean the bedroom" could be encompassed by. The longer the list gets the more fanatical I am about adding things and the less time I spend actually doing any real work. As the afternoon progresses, I find that I'm going to at some point just give up and start ignoring larger things and do the bare minimum.
It isn't a problem to do something thoroughly and in a manner you can be proud of, but it's a problem to start acting as OCD compulsive as the TV character Adrian Monk. You shouldn't have to bleach every section of your house minute spot by minute spot until you're one hundred percent sure that you've covered every single place. When you become so overly detailed, even the smallest jobs turn into Mt. Everest like adventures, where success and completion are things that few people in the world can obtain.
To really find success, it's important to pace yourself and force yourself to understand the merits of a job well done and not overly done. The difference seems like it's just in the details and that a job overly done is still a job well done. Well, when it's something that you're expecting to do repetitively, why would you want to burn yourself out and never want to do them again? That's not fair to yourself, to take away your enjoyment in something because you're failing to exercise self-control. When you enjoy the work you're putting yourself through, you can't seem to get enough of it. But a lot like a much loved sweater or blanket as a child, suddenly those things aren't so wonderful when you become in an adult. Granted that's much to do with emotional, mental, and physical growth as well as the inevitable wear and tear, the end result is still the same.
Not only do you stop enjoying the things you're doing, it's bad for you in other ways as well. Most people develop a poor habit to encourage them to continue on with a behavior they no longer enjoy. When I'm feeling burnt out on writing or any of the other things I do, I start to chain smoke. There go my lungs, as well as the passion and the intensity of really loving and enjoying what I'm doing. That and you can tell, the work you're doing might become sloppy, eventually, unacceptable.
The big deal here is that practice makes permanent, so make yourself practice pacing yourself so that you will always enjoy the things you do. Take the time to do them well, but not overly so. Moderate yourself, you'll be happier, you'll do better, and progress is always directly correlated with morale. So concentrate on helping yourself maintain high morale, it's in your best interest.
Love, Polly.
I love t0-do lists, probably more than the average person does. My lists look like they contain every single motion or action that one specific broad statement like "clean the bedroom" could be encompassed by. The longer the list gets the more fanatical I am about adding things and the less time I spend actually doing any real work. As the afternoon progresses, I find that I'm going to at some point just give up and start ignoring larger things and do the bare minimum.
It isn't a problem to do something thoroughly and in a manner you can be proud of, but it's a problem to start acting as OCD compulsive as the TV character Adrian Monk. You shouldn't have to bleach every section of your house minute spot by minute spot until you're one hundred percent sure that you've covered every single place. When you become so overly detailed, even the smallest jobs turn into Mt. Everest like adventures, where success and completion are things that few people in the world can obtain.
To really find success, it's important to pace yourself and force yourself to understand the merits of a job well done and not overly done. The difference seems like it's just in the details and that a job overly done is still a job well done. Well, when it's something that you're expecting to do repetitively, why would you want to burn yourself out and never want to do them again? That's not fair to yourself, to take away your enjoyment in something because you're failing to exercise self-control. When you enjoy the work you're putting yourself through, you can't seem to get enough of it. But a lot like a much loved sweater or blanket as a child, suddenly those things aren't so wonderful when you become in an adult. Granted that's much to do with emotional, mental, and physical growth as well as the inevitable wear and tear, the end result is still the same.
Not only do you stop enjoying the things you're doing, it's bad for you in other ways as well. Most people develop a poor habit to encourage them to continue on with a behavior they no longer enjoy. When I'm feeling burnt out on writing or any of the other things I do, I start to chain smoke. There go my lungs, as well as the passion and the intensity of really loving and enjoying what I'm doing. That and you can tell, the work you're doing might become sloppy, eventually, unacceptable.
The big deal here is that practice makes permanent, so make yourself practice pacing yourself so that you will always enjoy the things you do. Take the time to do them well, but not overly so. Moderate yourself, you'll be happier, you'll do better, and progress is always directly correlated with morale. So concentrate on helping yourself maintain high morale, it's in your best interest.
Love, Polly.
April 24, 2010
April 24, 2010: Here's to alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.
Prom season is coming up and I remember so clearly how I spent the last six hours of my prom night. Belligerently drunk to a level I had been unable to reach ever before. But hey, free booze does that to a girl. Now, I didn't do anything stupid that night, and I didn't drive nor did anyone else. We were as responsible as you could consider a group of just graduated high schoolers, and that was fine by me. In fact, it's still fine by me, and it will always be fine by me.
I don't see a problem with letting loose one night a week, having some wine with a group of girlfriends, or enjoying a beer after a long day at the track. My tolerance is still fairly low, and by most standards I tend to be a lightweight when it comes down to it. Granted there are some nights where I go a little bit farther than I need to. Even though I cut myself off at a point others think is fairly early in the night, I still have my stories of nights where I had one too many.
The problem I have isn't so much with only underage drinkers, because it's something that even those who are of age do. The problem unfolds in two parts, first being the inability to exercise self-control, and secondly using alcohol to excuse bad behavior.
We all know that one person that goes above and beyond and makes a fool of themselves every time they end up drinking. They always have to drink too fast, too much, and end up doing something stupid that makes you think you're in high school again. They become "that one drunk girl / guy", and the truth is they really do know what they're doing, they just don't care. They think the story will be funny enough in the morning or whatever it is. Well, if this is you, please stop. You know that you don't have to do the things you're doing and that the ideas you're getting really aren't that great. Exercise some self-control and reign yourself in, you don't really need a baby sitter and you don't need to be the center of attention. If you've hit the point where you do, then you're heading on a fast track to being one of the persons that makes America a little less great.
My second issue is using alcohol to excuse poor behaviors, especially the behaviors you should have utilized self-control with and didn't. "I was drunk" or "I don't remember, I was sooo fucked up" is not an acceptable excuse for poor behavior. Even worse is when they say, "I know I shouldn't have kept going, but I did anyway". If you know you're at your limit, then stop. Not just for your dignity and composure, but there go your kidneys and liver, and I hope you enjoy having your stomach pumped.
I'd love to see a comeback of the times where sharing just a drink or two with some close friends in an intimate and private setting is how we're drinking. It should be something that brings us together on a more intimate level, not something that we do in excess of excess. Binge drinking until you vomit should stop being the trend, and responsibility and accountability should be held for going past your limits.
Love, Polly.
I don't see a problem with letting loose one night a week, having some wine with a group of girlfriends, or enjoying a beer after a long day at the track. My tolerance is still fairly low, and by most standards I tend to be a lightweight when it comes down to it. Granted there are some nights where I go a little bit farther than I need to. Even though I cut myself off at a point others think is fairly early in the night, I still have my stories of nights where I had one too many.
The problem I have isn't so much with only underage drinkers, because it's something that even those who are of age do. The problem unfolds in two parts, first being the inability to exercise self-control, and secondly using alcohol to excuse bad behavior.
We all know that one person that goes above and beyond and makes a fool of themselves every time they end up drinking. They always have to drink too fast, too much, and end up doing something stupid that makes you think you're in high school again. They become "that one drunk girl / guy", and the truth is they really do know what they're doing, they just don't care. They think the story will be funny enough in the morning or whatever it is. Well, if this is you, please stop. You know that you don't have to do the things you're doing and that the ideas you're getting really aren't that great. Exercise some self-control and reign yourself in, you don't really need a baby sitter and you don't need to be the center of attention. If you've hit the point where you do, then you're heading on a fast track to being one of the persons that makes America a little less great.
My second issue is using alcohol to excuse poor behaviors, especially the behaviors you should have utilized self-control with and didn't. "I was drunk" or "I don't remember, I was sooo fucked up" is not an acceptable excuse for poor behavior. Even worse is when they say, "I know I shouldn't have kept going, but I did anyway". If you know you're at your limit, then stop. Not just for your dignity and composure, but there go your kidneys and liver, and I hope you enjoy having your stomach pumped.
I'd love to see a comeback of the times where sharing just a drink or two with some close friends in an intimate and private setting is how we're drinking. It should be something that brings us together on a more intimate level, not something that we do in excess of excess. Binge drinking until you vomit should stop being the trend, and responsibility and accountability should be held for going past your limits.
Love, Polly.
April 23, 2010
April 23, 2010: Deliver what you promise.
We've all seen the commercial with the couple in bed separated by their lawyers. The point to the commercial is that whatever wireless company it is won't screw you over with contracts. I'm not going to get into how reading and clarifying a contract is your responsibility before you sign them today. (Even if it's something that drives me crazy, but still, I'm saving that for another day.)
Contracts used to be the way to force someone to keep their word legally, because you didn't trust them or because you couldn't be sure that their word would be kept in their absence of presence. And sometimes it was just to make sure that someone wasn't being slick with their word choice. They were just meant to be a binding legal document that showed each party AGREED to something.
I don't know where that started to change and when people started using contracts in just a malevolent manner. I'm not talking about people being stupid about signing things and not reading them and clarifying where they don't understand.
But contracts themselves are becoming more and more tricky to follow, and in a way they're forcing a lack of trust amongst ourselves. Even worse is when the agreement isn't followed through. If you can't agree to something on principle, then why would you agree to it? But this inability to be reliable when it comes to things that can be proven (i.e. legal contracts) is just another way of our unreliability as people manifesting.
Long gone are the days where a man's word was what he was worth, and for some reason just being able to say something even if you are completely aware that there is no way you can follow through is acceptable. Networking is such a great art now, even more than ever, because it comes down to finding the persons to connect with that will follow through with everything they say. Even worse is when we look to people around us, our family and friends that support us, and having them flake out on us. It's probably the number one pet peeve of most Americans and the biggest relationship-ender in the books aside from dishonesty and mistrust.
I'd really love to see us go back to a time when your word was everything, and you did your best to follow through with what you could. Reliability is something that we can't take for granted anymore, and we should be able to take each other at face value instead of putting everyone through tests and trials. If we all take one day to make a list of all the things we've ever promised and go through that list to finish the things we gave our word we would do, the world would function in a much more efficient manner. I'm tired of seeing people being disappointed because a persons word has to be tested, and it pains me to know that for every one person that manages to succeed a million more are disappointing. Following through has never been so important, and if we start small we can work big. Now is the time for us to start changing, because we've all seen how difficult life has become as a result of our current decline. Something to think about, how are you going to follow through with one thing today?
Love, Polly.
Contracts used to be the way to force someone to keep their word legally, because you didn't trust them or because you couldn't be sure that their word would be kept in their absence of presence. And sometimes it was just to make sure that someone wasn't being slick with their word choice. They were just meant to be a binding legal document that showed each party AGREED to something.
I don't know where that started to change and when people started using contracts in just a malevolent manner. I'm not talking about people being stupid about signing things and not reading them and clarifying where they don't understand.
But contracts themselves are becoming more and more tricky to follow, and in a way they're forcing a lack of trust amongst ourselves. Even worse is when the agreement isn't followed through. If you can't agree to something on principle, then why would you agree to it? But this inability to be reliable when it comes to things that can be proven (i.e. legal contracts) is just another way of our unreliability as people manifesting.
Long gone are the days where a man's word was what he was worth, and for some reason just being able to say something even if you are completely aware that there is no way you can follow through is acceptable. Networking is such a great art now, even more than ever, because it comes down to finding the persons to connect with that will follow through with everything they say. Even worse is when we look to people around us, our family and friends that support us, and having them flake out on us. It's probably the number one pet peeve of most Americans and the biggest relationship-ender in the books aside from dishonesty and mistrust.
I'd really love to see us go back to a time when your word was everything, and you did your best to follow through with what you could. Reliability is something that we can't take for granted anymore, and we should be able to take each other at face value instead of putting everyone through tests and trials. If we all take one day to make a list of all the things we've ever promised and go through that list to finish the things we gave our word we would do, the world would function in a much more efficient manner. I'm tired of seeing people being disappointed because a persons word has to be tested, and it pains me to know that for every one person that manages to succeed a million more are disappointing. Following through has never been so important, and if we start small we can work big. Now is the time for us to start changing, because we've all seen how difficult life has become as a result of our current decline. Something to think about, how are you going to follow through with one thing today?
Love, Polly.
April 22, 2010
April 22, 2010: If you don't believe in ghosts, you've never been to a family reunion.
The first definition found on urbandictionary.com for family is, "A bunch of people who hate each other and eat dinner together." I've never found a definition to leave me speechless out of complete shock because its the word-for-word definition I would give a word before. First time for everything, no?
For me, family is one of those things that I avoid at all costs. I avoid talking to about 99% of my family members and I avoid family functions 100%. I'm more likely to get dragged to one of Mark's family functions, where I'll beg to stay in the car or try and make excuses to avoid, than I am to attend a function with my own family. As far as I'm concerned my family has too many politics and no sense of privacy, which I value above everything else.
I don't think that everything wrong I've ever done needs to be broadcasted to every family member, and the more distant the family member is the more I feel like its becoming gossip. The more family members begin to act like teenagers, the farther and farther I feel like pushing myself away from them. It's an unfortunate event, but sharing genetic markers does not give you a get out of jail free card in my book. Sharing events in your life is supposed to be something that brings a family together, not something that tears them apart. But unfortunately the only things that bring us together are shared grief and shared enjoyment, and any time the event draws opposing feelings it's a lot like a putting two magnets with the same poles together. It just pushes them away from each other with an invisible force.
The nuclear family isn't what it used to be, and that's pretty disappointing. Long gone are the days where the family was a single unit no matter what, and we ignored the things we didn't like. Now matters like sexuality, political standing, and life choices are becoming the current things to talk about, and the more that some of us are coming together, the fiercer the other half rips apart.
The most disappointing degradation of the family era is how the politics have evolved so far. Now, it's not about forgetting to call home and being surprised by a phone call from home. Now communication and assistance are determined by what can be gained in return. As a family you shouldn't be trying to get something from each other, or show that you deserve more respect or have more knowledge, or attempt to wield more power. I thought that being in the 21st century would be above that, but instead we're acting within our families like the European monarchies.
I think it's time for us to get back our old world sensibilities, and act the way we should. Act the way we know that families should, and just love unconditionally. We should treat our families with the same sanctity and respect that we treat those who have passed on, and we should conduct them within vows much like those used traditionally with marriage. Let's move forward, not backward. To those of us who haven't started our adult lives, let's behave in a manner that's civilized and start the revolution of the family era.
Love, Polly.
For me, family is one of those things that I avoid at all costs. I avoid talking to about 99% of my family members and I avoid family functions 100%. I'm more likely to get dragged to one of Mark's family functions, where I'll beg to stay in the car or try and make excuses to avoid, than I am to attend a function with my own family. As far as I'm concerned my family has too many politics and no sense of privacy, which I value above everything else.
I don't think that everything wrong I've ever done needs to be broadcasted to every family member, and the more distant the family member is the more I feel like its becoming gossip. The more family members begin to act like teenagers, the farther and farther I feel like pushing myself away from them. It's an unfortunate event, but sharing genetic markers does not give you a get out of jail free card in my book. Sharing events in your life is supposed to be something that brings a family together, not something that tears them apart. But unfortunately the only things that bring us together are shared grief and shared enjoyment, and any time the event draws opposing feelings it's a lot like a putting two magnets with the same poles together. It just pushes them away from each other with an invisible force.
The nuclear family isn't what it used to be, and that's pretty disappointing. Long gone are the days where the family was a single unit no matter what, and we ignored the things we didn't like. Now matters like sexuality, political standing, and life choices are becoming the current things to talk about, and the more that some of us are coming together, the fiercer the other half rips apart.
The most disappointing degradation of the family era is how the politics have evolved so far. Now, it's not about forgetting to call home and being surprised by a phone call from home. Now communication and assistance are determined by what can be gained in return. As a family you shouldn't be trying to get something from each other, or show that you deserve more respect or have more knowledge, or attempt to wield more power. I thought that being in the 21st century would be above that, but instead we're acting within our families like the European monarchies.
I think it's time for us to get back our old world sensibilities, and act the way we should. Act the way we know that families should, and just love unconditionally. We should treat our families with the same sanctity and respect that we treat those who have passed on, and we should conduct them within vows much like those used traditionally with marriage. Let's move forward, not backward. To those of us who haven't started our adult lives, let's behave in a manner that's civilized and start the revolution of the family era.
Love, Polly.
April 21, 2010
April 21, 2010: Reefer Madness?
As yesterday was the infamous stoner holiday, "420" and I didn't post anything related in any way I thought I'd amend my mistake and bring it up today. I'm not part of the culture, but I'm not far from it either. It exists right here, on the street I live on, in the city I call home, in the state I love, and in this country I am part of. It exists world-wide and its existed through so many cultures, eras, life styles, and people that wherever I begin and end here will only be a a minute slice of the whole.
It's so unfair that there is so much misinformation and mis-education in the world, but I think that the case has never been so clear as it is with medical marijuana. Granted, there is so much being done right now that doesn't (and rightfully shouldn't) have a leg to stand on, as well as fallacies and improper usage.
The fact is that there are studies being ignored that should be headliners, there are more people than ever who have legitimate medical uses, and marijuana is the least harmful drug known to man. You cannot overdose as you can with things like aspirin, it is less harmful to your body than tobacco (which has NO medical use), and has anyone known a stoner to rob a bank? I didn't think so. For the most part, the culture isn't one that boasts of unmotivated slacker irresponsibility. Unfortunately, that's just a small part and it gives the whole culture a bad rap. For the cancer and AIDS patients who use MMJ (medical marijuana) to cope with the struggle that is their daily lives, and for the patients truly diagnosed with something that medicine can't yet cure I think that MMJ is something we should look at. It has the best long run set of pros and cons I've yet to see, and I pride myself on keeping up with medical updates.
Some people are going to read this and say, "But it causes cancer". My response is that smoke in general is pretty carcinogenic, but there are so many ways around that. There are people saying that creating edible versions of things with THC (the active compound for marijuana's effect) will just promote more recreational use. From my standpoint, things like edible goods and vaporizers cancel out the carcinogenic effects of the smoke and give the people who use MMJ for legitimate medical uses a safer way to use them. If we can say, "The only real medical reason to withhold product A is because of negative outcome B..." the way we do for other things, why don't we just accept that there are ways around cancer and allow marijuana to be used medically.
Another big issue that is becoming an excuse against legalization is public security and crime. According to recent polls, there is hardly anyone that believes that there is too little spending on marijuana control, and it has a lower statistical amount of violent crimes than regular burglaries,etc.
I guess it's all about the spin, so we should quit spinning and look at things the way they really are. When we stop spinning, things aren't so blurry, and we'll be able to see all the colors instead of a blur. Then we can make a decision that we can be informed and proud of making.
Love, Polly.
It's so unfair that there is so much misinformation and mis-education in the world, but I think that the case has never been so clear as it is with medical marijuana. Granted, there is so much being done right now that doesn't (and rightfully shouldn't) have a leg to stand on, as well as fallacies and improper usage.
The fact is that there are studies being ignored that should be headliners, there are more people than ever who have legitimate medical uses, and marijuana is the least harmful drug known to man. You cannot overdose as you can with things like aspirin, it is less harmful to your body than tobacco (which has NO medical use), and has anyone known a stoner to rob a bank? I didn't think so. For the most part, the culture isn't one that boasts of unmotivated slacker irresponsibility. Unfortunately, that's just a small part and it gives the whole culture a bad rap. For the cancer and AIDS patients who use MMJ (medical marijuana) to cope with the struggle that is their daily lives, and for the patients truly diagnosed with something that medicine can't yet cure I think that MMJ is something we should look at. It has the best long run set of pros and cons I've yet to see, and I pride myself on keeping up with medical updates.
Some people are going to read this and say, "But it causes cancer". My response is that smoke in general is pretty carcinogenic, but there are so many ways around that. There are people saying that creating edible versions of things with THC (the active compound for marijuana's effect) will just promote more recreational use. From my standpoint, things like edible goods and vaporizers cancel out the carcinogenic effects of the smoke and give the people who use MMJ for legitimate medical uses a safer way to use them. If we can say, "The only real medical reason to withhold product A is because of negative outcome B..." the way we do for other things, why don't we just accept that there are ways around cancer and allow marijuana to be used medically.
Another big issue that is becoming an excuse against legalization is public security and crime. According to recent polls, there is hardly anyone that believes that there is too little spending on marijuana control, and it has a lower statistical amount of violent crimes than regular burglaries,etc.
I guess it's all about the spin, so we should quit spinning and look at things the way they really are. When we stop spinning, things aren't so blurry, and we'll be able to see all the colors instead of a blur. Then we can make a decision that we can be informed and proud of making.
Love, Polly.
April 20, 2010
April 20, 2010: We're not really sentient beings.
Sometimes everyone just needs a break. Being burnt out is a point so easy to get to, and if you fight it out you might burn yourself out forever on things that you once enjoyed. I know that what I really burn myself out on is people, and that if you go too long burning yourself out on particular people you'll never really enjoy them again. At first, I start by feeling like I can't handle people at all and I turn into a complete recluse. I have no desire to converse with other people, or even be around them. My behaviors become erratic, my social skills deteriorate, and I begin to stop taking care of myself as well as I normally pride myself on doing. As a social being, I can't say that I like to wallow in the realm of the recluse, soon I begin to miss the world as it was before and the interaction that I love. I can't begin to pretend that I'm over my disinterest in people but at the same time I want to badly to be back in my social sphere. Unfortunately, if I press myself too far before I'm really ready it has the effect of just being a disappointment and I'm still as burnt out if not more as before I tried. Not only that, but the relationships that I try to renew myself with during that time take a hit that might not be recoverable from.
On one hand, it's very important to just take some time away from everything and really refresh yourself before you start trying again. But just going away and taking a time-out has the potential to be even more harmful than just pushing ahead. I don't like band-aid solutions, and just stepping outside seems to be a band-aid solution if it's the only solution. Instead, I like to think of it as just taking a little break to think outside of the box. It's important to think about why you end up so burnt out. For me, being burnt out is just how I feel after experiencing a really long working period. I know that if I'm working too much on something and just not understanding then I tend to be burnt out really fast. For me, I need to just find a new way to look at things to help me understand. If I just take a break and then come back and keep pushing in the same direction without any results still, it hurts me more than not taking that break.
The importance of stepping outside of yourself is so amazing in so many ways; it's the only real way to grow personally, morally, intellectually, and physically. As people when we're repetitive with anything too much we find not only diminishing marginal gain from something as well as that our bodies and minds begin to deteriorate from them. In order to continue to maximize our gain, we need to step away and find a new way to pursue.
The biggest and most difficult challenge in all this is just figuring out how you're going to step out of the box, and it's so imperative to be honest enough with yourself to know whether or not you're capable of giving yourself that other perspective. If you can't, look for someone else that thinks in a way that's different from yours, not parallel. You already know your way and it isn't working, but if you're ready to try someone else's, even if it feels awkward or stupid, I think you'll be in the right direction. And keep in mind that failure is just your way of weeding out the answers.
Love, Polly.
On one hand, it's very important to just take some time away from everything and really refresh yourself before you start trying again. But just going away and taking a time-out has the potential to be even more harmful than just pushing ahead. I don't like band-aid solutions, and just stepping outside seems to be a band-aid solution if it's the only solution. Instead, I like to think of it as just taking a little break to think outside of the box. It's important to think about why you end up so burnt out. For me, being burnt out is just how I feel after experiencing a really long working period. I know that if I'm working too much on something and just not understanding then I tend to be burnt out really fast. For me, I need to just find a new way to look at things to help me understand. If I just take a break and then come back and keep pushing in the same direction without any results still, it hurts me more than not taking that break.
The importance of stepping outside of yourself is so amazing in so many ways; it's the only real way to grow personally, morally, intellectually, and physically. As people when we're repetitive with anything too much we find not only diminishing marginal gain from something as well as that our bodies and minds begin to deteriorate from them. In order to continue to maximize our gain, we need to step away and find a new way to pursue.
The biggest and most difficult challenge in all this is just figuring out how you're going to step out of the box, and it's so imperative to be honest enough with yourself to know whether or not you're capable of giving yourself that other perspective. If you can't, look for someone else that thinks in a way that's different from yours, not parallel. You already know your way and it isn't working, but if you're ready to try someone else's, even if it feels awkward or stupid, I think you'll be in the right direction. And keep in mind that failure is just your way of weeding out the answers.
Love, Polly.
April 19, 2010
April 19, 2010: Are we seeking or attracting certain kinds of people?
On the way back from the track this weekend during the three hour drive, a comedian came on that brought up an interesting question. Most of us tend to fill our lives with the same kinds of people; their names and faces might change, but at heart they're all the same. The question he posed was, "Are we seeking these people, or are we attracting them?"
I like eclectic people in my life, the kind of people that you can't really tell if you found them, if they found you, or if the world just threw you together like that. I like to think we aroused each other's interest initially and we decided we were attracted mutually to the idea of letting each other into our lives. I know that when I do decide that someone is interesting and that I would like them to be in my life after initial contact has been made, I make an effort to at least talk to them. Facebook is the best example so far, many of the people on my facebook are people I had a class with in high school or know vaguely from other people. I don't know some of the people on it in an intimate manner, but I find that if I see them online I might say hello through the chat function, or vice versa. We're already exposed to each other, and I've already decided that I have found something worth pursuing from them at this point.
But I think that it's a combination of seeking and attracting. I know that several of the friends I have now are a result of them being attracted to me, either physically or intellectually. The male friends I have are no coincidence, the reason we're so close now is because they found me and decided that I should be in their lives. Granted, I keep them all in an entirely platonic folder now since I'm very happily involved. Nonetheless, they sought me, I did not seek them out. For whatever reason, they've all been happy to move me from a romantic interest to a platonic interest, and I'm very pleased with the transition.
I don't think there is any answer to whether we seek or attract the kinds of people in our lives, but in my life there is a combination of both. I seek out eclectic people that I think are interesting and tend to have a probational period with them. Should they progress past that period without exposing a fatal flaw they'll be anchored into my life for an extended period of time, if not for life. On the other hand, I tend to be sought by a different kind of person, and if I pass their inspection or examination, I'm anchored into their lives. Being sought and seeking bring to my life a certain fullness I couldn't have expected from solely seeking or attracting. I only seek a single type of person, and I'm glad I'm sought by a different group. I don't think it really matters if you seek or attract, as long as the people in your life bring positive things to it. It's important to recognize the negative things, of course. But why not embrace the good that comes from just having the interactions with others?
Love, Polly.
I like eclectic people in my life, the kind of people that you can't really tell if you found them, if they found you, or if the world just threw you together like that. I like to think we aroused each other's interest initially and we decided we were attracted mutually to the idea of letting each other into our lives. I know that when I do decide that someone is interesting and that I would like them to be in my life after initial contact has been made, I make an effort to at least talk to them. Facebook is the best example so far, many of the people on my facebook are people I had a class with in high school or know vaguely from other people. I don't know some of the people on it in an intimate manner, but I find that if I see them online I might say hello through the chat function, or vice versa. We're already exposed to each other, and I've already decided that I have found something worth pursuing from them at this point.
But I think that it's a combination of seeking and attracting. I know that several of the friends I have now are a result of them being attracted to me, either physically or intellectually. The male friends I have are no coincidence, the reason we're so close now is because they found me and decided that I should be in their lives. Granted, I keep them all in an entirely platonic folder now since I'm very happily involved. Nonetheless, they sought me, I did not seek them out. For whatever reason, they've all been happy to move me from a romantic interest to a platonic interest, and I'm very pleased with the transition.
I don't think there is any answer to whether we seek or attract the kinds of people in our lives, but in my life there is a combination of both. I seek out eclectic people that I think are interesting and tend to have a probational period with them. Should they progress past that period without exposing a fatal flaw they'll be anchored into my life for an extended period of time, if not for life. On the other hand, I tend to be sought by a different kind of person, and if I pass their inspection or examination, I'm anchored into their lives. Being sought and seeking bring to my life a certain fullness I couldn't have expected from solely seeking or attracting. I only seek a single type of person, and I'm glad I'm sought by a different group. I don't think it really matters if you seek or attract, as long as the people in your life bring positive things to it. It's important to recognize the negative things, of course. But why not embrace the good that comes from just having the interactions with others?
Love, Polly.
April 18, 2010
April 18, 2010: We all have to do it sometime.
Recently, I've read a pretty fabulous little novel called, The Stranger, by Albert Camus (translated by Matthew Ward). If you're not into deep reading, I wouldn't recommend it for you. Didn't really strike something internally until I hit chapter five at the end. Merseult is condemned to die by guillotine in the name of the French people after being tried and found guilty for killing another man. In this final chapter, the reality of his being condemned to die hits him full force, and he begins to really consider what his execution means. For Merseult, it's truly the end of the line. He recognizes that he will have to die no matter what, and meanwhile he recognizes some really impressive things.
Something of note that I picked up was that instead of deeming everything important, he has decided that almost everything is trivial with the exception of his execution. Every real life account and fictional account I've come across in my literary travels has been one of the two ways but not either. Either the person / character that is doomed to die takes the time to really stop and smell the roses, or he loses all interest in everything going on in the world around him. I've never personally encountered a scenario where a person is selectively super observant and consciously deciding to ignore other things.
I'm pretty sure that I'm not looking at impending and unavoidable doom any time soon, but it made me think about how we observe the world around us. How many people are being super observant and really taking time to learn the intimate details of their surroundings? How many people aren't? It's a common belief that if you are taking your time, you'll learn something. A truth about yourself, or the world, about anything really. In the new age hustle and bustle with our fancy new smart phones, etc. how many people are losing something? They say what you can learn from just watching can't really be learned any other way, and I believe it. You can't hear silence with your eyes and you can't see the sun rise with your ears. I'm curious if there is a single best way to deal with things in your environment, whether it really is worthwhile to smell the roses or not, whether you'll be just fine with or without that addition to your life.
[Author note: this blog has been pre-scheduled to post as I will be unavailable this weekend in an attempt to be more reliable. Thanks for reading. ]
Something of note that I picked up was that instead of deeming everything important, he has decided that almost everything is trivial with the exception of his execution. Every real life account and fictional account I've come across in my literary travels has been one of the two ways but not either. Either the person / character that is doomed to die takes the time to really stop and smell the roses, or he loses all interest in everything going on in the world around him. I've never personally encountered a scenario where a person is selectively super observant and consciously deciding to ignore other things.
I'm pretty sure that I'm not looking at impending and unavoidable doom any time soon, but it made me think about how we observe the world around us. How many people are being super observant and really taking time to learn the intimate details of their surroundings? How many people aren't? It's a common belief that if you are taking your time, you'll learn something. A truth about yourself, or the world, about anything really. In the new age hustle and bustle with our fancy new smart phones, etc. how many people are losing something? They say what you can learn from just watching can't really be learned any other way, and I believe it. You can't hear silence with your eyes and you can't see the sun rise with your ears. I'm curious if there is a single best way to deal with things in your environment, whether it really is worthwhile to smell the roses or not, whether you'll be just fine with or without that addition to your life.
[Author note: this blog has been pre-scheduled to post as I will be unavailable this weekend in an attempt to be more reliable. Thanks for reading. ]
April 17, 2010
April 17, 2010: Comment Moderation
It saddens me to say that charm school isn't known as what people send their daughters to anymore, but it's now a reality show on VH1 starring the losers from their celebrity dating shows. Every time I realize that, I'm torn between running to the bathroom and sacrificing to the Porcelain God or playing "emo-kid" and saying, "Saionara, suckers" to the world.
These girls are rude, crass, inconsiderate, and quite frankly not a tribute to themselves, their family, their friends, their gender, their ethnicities, their cultures, society, or humanity as a whole. I can't say what disappoints and scares me more about these shows being on television; that there are people who take this behavior and exhibit it themselves, or that these women feel justified in acting this way. As a person who advocates moving forward, I'm frankly appalled that mainstream media has decided to portray the current generation in this way. The truth is that what we see on television and through the media is something that future generations are going to judge and remember us through. We remember our own childhoods with the shows we woke up early on Saturday for, and the movies we watched on VHS tapes. We use classic movies, shows, and music to define generations and mark them in a time-line for our understanding.
Having not grown up so much in the world as it is right now, I hope dearly that the things I grew up with still exist. Discipline, respect, cleanliness, dependability, honesty, compassion, and a drive to find success in life (whatever that means to you). None of those things are by any means innate, you have be taught them. And if what we're looking at on television is just an example of what we have to look forward to for future generations, I'm disappointed.
How you act is something that in the end has to be regulated by yourself, and if you're unwilling to conduct yourself properly in public then I think you need to really check yourself for a minute. While I'm writing this, I can see a link for comment moderation, and the concept is astoundingly simple. It means I can keep things hidden unless I think they meet my requirements of respect and politeness. People now should moderate their life in the same manner, they should hold back and make sure that what they say or do is something that won't hurt them in the long run.
As a human being, we're reliant on each other for something at some point. There is no such thing as a completely self-reliant person, it just doesn't exist. You cannot create 100% of every good known to man in your personal space (home, farm, ranch, etc.), you just can't. So since we all have to deal with each other, let's try not to be the last person everyone else wants to deal with.
Love, Polly.
[Author note: this blog has been pre-scheduled to post as I will be unavailable this weekend in an attempt to be more reliable. Thanks for reading. ]
These girls are rude, crass, inconsiderate, and quite frankly not a tribute to themselves, their family, their friends, their gender, their ethnicities, their cultures, society, or humanity as a whole. I can't say what disappoints and scares me more about these shows being on television; that there are people who take this behavior and exhibit it themselves, or that these women feel justified in acting this way. As a person who advocates moving forward, I'm frankly appalled that mainstream media has decided to portray the current generation in this way. The truth is that what we see on television and through the media is something that future generations are going to judge and remember us through. We remember our own childhoods with the shows we woke up early on Saturday for, and the movies we watched on VHS tapes. We use classic movies, shows, and music to define generations and mark them in a time-line for our understanding.
Having not grown up so much in the world as it is right now, I hope dearly that the things I grew up with still exist. Discipline, respect, cleanliness, dependability, honesty, compassion, and a drive to find success in life (whatever that means to you). None of those things are by any means innate, you have be taught them. And if what we're looking at on television is just an example of what we have to look forward to for future generations, I'm disappointed.
How you act is something that in the end has to be regulated by yourself, and if you're unwilling to conduct yourself properly in public then I think you need to really check yourself for a minute. While I'm writing this, I can see a link for comment moderation, and the concept is astoundingly simple. It means I can keep things hidden unless I think they meet my requirements of respect and politeness. People now should moderate their life in the same manner, they should hold back and make sure that what they say or do is something that won't hurt them in the long run.
As a human being, we're reliant on each other for something at some point. There is no such thing as a completely self-reliant person, it just doesn't exist. You cannot create 100% of every good known to man in your personal space (home, farm, ranch, etc.), you just can't. So since we all have to deal with each other, let's try not to be the last person everyone else wants to deal with.
Love, Polly.
[Author note: this blog has been pre-scheduled to post as I will be unavailable this weekend in an attempt to be more reliable. Thanks for reading. ]
April 16, 2010
April 16, 2010: An Unknown Unknown
For at least person striving for perfection in their society, at least one other person is ruining it for them and I can only wonder how many times I'm the person ruining it. I don't know how true it is that it's impossible to create a perfect society for the imperfect man, because I'm not sure that all man is imperfect. It all depends on how you define perfection and imperfection, or whether you find it important to define them at all.
Naturally, there is a group of people that define perfection as being able to accept and love the imperfections in each other and themselves, society eternally perfect and becoming more perfect on a second by second basis. The imperfections of it are what make it so wonderful and worthwhile to enjoy. But because of this perceived perfection the assumption is that there is a missing desire for growth. Honestly, there is always growth, and it comes from loving the imperfections and the challenges of life. These are the people that challenge the idea of perfection, that challenge what is accepted as perfection in their lives, the lives of people around them, and the society that envelops them. They believe that perfection is found in the challenges of imperfection, of always striving for better. In some ways, that's a wonderful idealism.
Then there are the people that are more like I am, and believe that man is eternally denied true perfection, at least for now. I think that the farther we push ourselves to go, the more imperfections we will find. The limitations of how far we can go given enough time is a known unknown. The imperfections force us to strive continuously and true and honest perfection must never be known. Our societies are bolstered and strengthened by the imperfections in it. Evolution, as an example is completely dependent on imperfection of sorts. And likewise, we as creatures of evolution are completely dependent on imperfection. I also don't understand why we think we're capable of achieving perfection and why we think we're capable of comprehending comprehension once we've achieved it. I don't think that we're at a place where we can fully accept and understand the concept of perfection or able to give a definition that will satisfy all of our questions and various feelings towards perfection.
Final thoughts: perfection and imperfection are considered known, but they're so influenced on by personal viewpoints that they're really unknown unknowns and therefore something to keep considering. Because I am willing to accept that the realities of perfection and imperfection are intangible and dynamic, I can derive that they are unknown unknowns to mankind even if they're constantly wrongly accused of being known knowns and / or known unknowns.
Love, Polly.
Naturally, there is a group of people that define perfection as being able to accept and love the imperfections in each other and themselves, society eternally perfect and becoming more perfect on a second by second basis. The imperfections of it are what make it so wonderful and worthwhile to enjoy. But because of this perceived perfection the assumption is that there is a missing desire for growth. Honestly, there is always growth, and it comes from loving the imperfections and the challenges of life. These are the people that challenge the idea of perfection, that challenge what is accepted as perfection in their lives, the lives of people around them, and the society that envelops them. They believe that perfection is found in the challenges of imperfection, of always striving for better. In some ways, that's a wonderful idealism.
Then there are the people that are more like I am, and believe that man is eternally denied true perfection, at least for now. I think that the farther we push ourselves to go, the more imperfections we will find. The limitations of how far we can go given enough time is a known unknown. The imperfections force us to strive continuously and true and honest perfection must never be known. Our societies are bolstered and strengthened by the imperfections in it. Evolution, as an example is completely dependent on imperfection of sorts. And likewise, we as creatures of evolution are completely dependent on imperfection. I also don't understand why we think we're capable of achieving perfection and why we think we're capable of comprehending comprehension once we've achieved it. I don't think that we're at a place where we can fully accept and understand the concept of perfection or able to give a definition that will satisfy all of our questions and various feelings towards perfection.
Final thoughts: perfection and imperfection are considered known, but they're so influenced on by personal viewpoints that they're really unknown unknowns and therefore something to keep considering. Because I am willing to accept that the realities of perfection and imperfection are intangible and dynamic, I can derive that they are unknown unknowns to mankind even if they're constantly wrongly accused of being known knowns and / or known unknowns.
Love, Polly.
April 15, 2010
April 15, 2010: Watching paint dry
You can watch paint dry all day, and eventually you'll see the darker drier patches appear. It might only take you a few hours if you're lucky, and the person who painted the wall used quick dry paint. Or it might take you a whole day and night if they went and used a paint without the quick dry technology. There are a lot of things that could help your paint dry faster from the get go, but if you're not the person painting the wall then you don't really get to choose any of the details.
So the big question is, are you watching the paint dry or are you painting the wall yourself? When it comes to the choices and actions that need to be made or taken in your life, who is doing it? If you're watching the paint dry, then you're doing yourself a disservice. As a person, you are going to always want more than what you have, and you can't have everything you want if you're going to sit back and wait for it to come to you. Unfortunately, that's just not how the world we live in works. If you want to achieve and be somewhere better than where you are now, you're going to have to stop watching the paint dry and paint a room yourself. When you paint a room yourself, you can pick the quick dry paint and make sure you paint in thin even layers. No matter what, you're responsible for how your life turns out, if you want to be in the fast lane going forward you're going to have to step on the gas pedal yourself. You can't wait for someone else to push down the gas pedal for you, you've got to put your foot down, grit your teeth, and do it yourself.
Being pro-active in your life isn't just going through the motions though, it's about going out of your way to set yourself up with opportunities to grow. And the growth doesn't just have to be professionally or academically. So many people make the mistake of thinking that opening opportunities is only something you do in the work / career sphere or the academic sphere. It's also about meeting new people and bringing something else to your life that you can be proud of. Growing character and opinions and knowledge are things that you can learn any number of ways, and every one of those should be looked at as personal opportunity. But finding them should be personal responsibility. If you're proactive in your life and looking for those opportunities you will always find them. And when you find them, you're giving your life a chance to be great and you're giving yourself a chance to be great.
I've heard the saying, "Dare to be great" and I think it's a powerful way to think. Dare to be great, dare to be different, and dare to challenge yourself. Don't watch the paint dry, paint the room and point a fan at the walls. They'll be dry in a pinch and you can move on to the next room or just enjoy the room you've got. And if a fresh coat of paint can give a room new life, then accepting a new opportunity is just going to rocket you into personal greatness.
Love, Polly.
So the big question is, are you watching the paint dry or are you painting the wall yourself? When it comes to the choices and actions that need to be made or taken in your life, who is doing it? If you're watching the paint dry, then you're doing yourself a disservice. As a person, you are going to always want more than what you have, and you can't have everything you want if you're going to sit back and wait for it to come to you. Unfortunately, that's just not how the world we live in works. If you want to achieve and be somewhere better than where you are now, you're going to have to stop watching the paint dry and paint a room yourself. When you paint a room yourself, you can pick the quick dry paint and make sure you paint in thin even layers. No matter what, you're responsible for how your life turns out, if you want to be in the fast lane going forward you're going to have to step on the gas pedal yourself. You can't wait for someone else to push down the gas pedal for you, you've got to put your foot down, grit your teeth, and do it yourself.
Being pro-active in your life isn't just going through the motions though, it's about going out of your way to set yourself up with opportunities to grow. And the growth doesn't just have to be professionally or academically. So many people make the mistake of thinking that opening opportunities is only something you do in the work / career sphere or the academic sphere. It's also about meeting new people and bringing something else to your life that you can be proud of. Growing character and opinions and knowledge are things that you can learn any number of ways, and every one of those should be looked at as personal opportunity. But finding them should be personal responsibility. If you're proactive in your life and looking for those opportunities you will always find them. And when you find them, you're giving your life a chance to be great and you're giving yourself a chance to be great.
I've heard the saying, "Dare to be great" and I think it's a powerful way to think. Dare to be great, dare to be different, and dare to challenge yourself. Don't watch the paint dry, paint the room and point a fan at the walls. They'll be dry in a pinch and you can move on to the next room or just enjoy the room you've got. And if a fresh coat of paint can give a room new life, then accepting a new opportunity is just going to rocket you into personal greatness.
Love, Polly.
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