I guess I should be happy that I'm getting a spike in traffic right now. The frustrating thing is, though, that yesterday the post I wrote a long time ago about Victoria's Secret models has gotten over nine times the traffic the post I wrote yesterday about family has gotten. For those of you who have forgotten what post I'm talking about, here is the link to the original post.
Now, while I admit that my writing has faltered in quality a bit over the last month due to a medication I'm trying out for my fibromyalgia, overall what I write is pretty good quality. Conversational, yes, and so a little more casual than some people like, but overall, decent quality. I also admit that I like couture fashion and, therefore, support the fashion industry. I am so frustrated, though, with the fact that 90% naked underfed women are getting this much attention for walking in a straight line down a catwalk and back up the catwalk while I work my butt off and go essentially unnoticed unless I have a post in which I am 90% naked (not something I'm really into).
I don't necessarily want to be famous. I don't want "celebrity status." I don't want to have to hide from paparazzi. I just wish that our society cared more about quality work that actually matters instead of 5'11" girls with concave stomachs who wear bedazzled wings and lingerie. I know this sounds like a massive case of envy, but it's not. I've done the super-skinny thing, and I'm fine. I don't need to do that anymore. What this little penned outburst is about is that our society doesn't care about what we need to care about when it comes to thriving and not just surviving (cliche, I know, but it's what I mean).
I think when Hurricane Sandy tore up the Northeast we all saw how people of every tax bracket and political party and race and sexual orientation came together and helped the people who needed help, no matter who they were. Going back even further, I think we all saw the nation come together right after the 9/11 attacks happened. The thing is, though, it shouldn't take a catastrophic event to bring people together for a common cause.
Now I know that fashion isn't something we all need to come together against or anything crazy like that. But I do know that there are better ways than watching unrealistically skinny women walk around in next to nothing to discover your fantasies. That's Victoria's Secret's "thing" whenever anyone says anything about their print ads or their runway shows: "It's about fantasy." Gag me with a spoon. That's absolute bulls#!t, in my opinion. I worked for them for a summer and their schtick to sell overpriced lingerie is by attempting to make you look like the girl in the ad.
By taking a quick look around, it seems to me that I'm on the outside this time. Sex sells and just because I don't like it doesn't mean it's going to change. While I understand it's not going to change, I am disappointed. I don't mean to sound snobbish, but I guess I just expect more from people than I should.
Goodness, I've allowed myself a rather excessive rant. As always, thank you so much for reading and continuing to support my site. I'll see you tomorrow!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi
Showing posts with label hurricane Sandy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hurricane Sandy. Show all posts
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
5 Halloween Party Household Item DIY Ideas
Happy Halloween! I got to thinking about the 8.5 million people without power in the Northeast and how they are going to spend their Halloween. I'm sure they have kids who are really tired of being inside and for the kids staying at other people's homes and shelters, Halloween is going to be kind of a bummer. I know that Gov. Chris Christie is going to reschedule Halloween, but here are 5 ideas of things to make and games to play this Halloween with things already in your house! Note: I know that people without power can't read this, since it's online, but please share it around!
1. Make a paper plate Batman mask! This is something I just made up this morning. I got a paper plate and just cut out a mask shape. Then I colored it black with a Sharpie. This takes about 10 minutes, so it'll give the kids something to do. Then I added some ribbon for the tie and, voila! Batman mask it is.
2. Grab a bunch of plastic cups and a decorative ball from the coffee table and go "bowling"!
1. Make a paper plate Batman mask! This is something I just made up this morning. I got a paper plate and just cut out a mask shape. Then I colored it black with a Sharpie. This takes about 10 minutes, so it'll give the kids something to do. Then I added some ribbon for the tie and, voila! Batman mask it is.
2. Grab a bunch of plastic cups and a decorative ball from the coffee table and go "bowling"!
3. Make a tiara out of a 2-liter bottle! Cut the top and bottom of the bottle off. Then cut a shape into it. Decorate with anything and everything you've got! I used ribbon, beads and stickers.
4. Cut a piece of yarn, tie the ends together, and you've got Cat's Cradle for days!
5. Lunch bag puppet! Get out those Crayolas and get busy drawing a character. If you have yarn or any other fun things, use those to decorate the bag, too.
I made all of these things in about two and a half hours this morning, but you can embellish all of these to stretch it out for a whole afternoon.
Please keep knitting and sewing Sandy Scarves and Hurricane Hats for the victims of Sandy. I made six scarves yesterday. All donations (scarves and hats as well as clothes, toys, and any other donations) can be sent to:
Hurricane Sandy Relief Foundation
295 Central Ave
Wyckoff, NJ 07481
Stay safe, stay strong. Happy Halloween!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi
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| The Sandy Scarves I've made so far. |
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sandy Relief: How You Can Help
I've never had a writer's block before, but all of the photos and stories of Superstorm Sandy's devastation have left me without a lot of words. What do you say after millions of people have been displaced, are without power and communication, and don't know if their families are safe?
I was going to write something about how it's "just stuff" that people are losing, but after this morning, seeing entire neighborhoods on fire, whole towns flooded, and the death toll rising, I don't want to be that person. This is absolutely devastating the Northeast. The fact that this is the biggest "first responder" movement since 9/11 kind of brings the gravity of the situation into focus.
Please do whatever you can to stay safe. Once you're safe, help the people around you. Please donate money or supplies. Links for a couple of organizations that are taking disaster assistance funds are below.
Red Cross
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
SandyRelief.org
My mom, sister, friends, and I are making "Sandy Scarves" and "Hurricane Hats" to send to the victims of Sandy. Winter is coming and if they've just lost everything, the least we can do is send scarves and hats to them. If you want to join us, please let me know either here or on Twitter (@ChickOpinion). I'm still waiting for an address to send the scarves to, but please start knitting or sewing. I'll update this with an address as soon as possible.
Stay safe, stay strong.
"Be the change you wish to be in the world."
I was going to write something about how it's "just stuff" that people are losing, but after this morning, seeing entire neighborhoods on fire, whole towns flooded, and the death toll rising, I don't want to be that person. This is absolutely devastating the Northeast. The fact that this is the biggest "first responder" movement since 9/11 kind of brings the gravity of the situation into focus.
Please do whatever you can to stay safe. Once you're safe, help the people around you. Please donate money or supplies. Links for a couple of organizations that are taking disaster assistance funds are below.
 |
| My first "Sandy Scarf"! |
Red Cross
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
SandyRelief.org
My mom, sister, friends, and I are making "Sandy Scarves" and "Hurricane Hats" to send to the victims of Sandy. Winter is coming and if they've just lost everything, the least we can do is send scarves and hats to them. If you want to join us, please let me know either here or on Twitter (@ChickOpinion). I'm still waiting for an address to send the scarves to, but please start knitting or sewing. I'll update this with an address as soon as possible.
Stay safe, stay strong.
"Be the change you wish to be in the world."
Monday, October 29, 2012
Keeping Perspective: Hurricane Sandy
This morning the biggest story on everyone's televisions is about Superstorm Sandy. This superstorm is slated to make landfall tonight in New Jersey; specifically, very close to Atlantic City. This is The Weather Channel's top 5 things to know about Sandy. Keep an eye out and stay safe.
It's very interesting to hear people talking about this hurricane. I've been through a couple hurricanes, since I lived in Vanuatu for five years. In 2002, my family and I survived the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere: Cyclone Zoe, a Category 5 storm. The winds got up to 150 mph--and then the anemometer was blown off the national weather center after a gust of 220 mph!
We lived about a quarter of a mile away from the ocean. We only had two inches of water on the floor, so we were fine, but the people who lived in coastal villages were devastated. Zoe doesn't make any of the "worst storm" lists because in terms of dollar amounts, Zoe didn't do a lot of damage. The reason for this is that Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands are third-world countries; there aren't a lot of expensive buildings, electricity, or transportation systems there. Also, no one died during Zoe. The local people know exactly how to get through a storm like this. They've been doing it for 4,000 years, so they had to learn to survive.
A day after Zoe skirted Vanuatu, we walked down to Takara, a village on the beach about a mile away. We had friends who lived there. They showed us how there were fish up in their gardens that had been carried in from the storm surges. They took us to their well, the only source of fresh water, and showed us how the sea water had washed into it, so it was contaminated and undrinkable. Their gardens were destroyed. The avocado crop was almost ready to harvest, and there were green, almost ripe avocados just lying on the ground. There were coconuts and mangos everywhere. Also, their houses were gone. The thatched huts didn't stand a chance against this kind of storm.
The Ni-Vanuatu in the villages have this saying: "After the storm comes the sickness." There is always food right after a storm, because all the fruit has fallen from the trees. But their fresh water is contaminated and after all the fresh fruit is gone or starts rotting, there is nothing else to eat. Then people start getting sick.
Sandy is a serious storm; it's already cost around five dozen people their lives. We need to remember, though, that so much of what we are going to lose in this storm is just stuff. We will have food. We will have water. Some people might lose their houses, but entire communities will not be in danger of dying off. I'm listening to people on TV talking about how to keep your food frozen, how to keep your car from getting flooded, how to make sure you go to the store and buy all the food you can, etc. None of this is a problem in third-world countries because they don't have electricity, cars, or money to begin with.
Keep everything in perspective. Tell your family you love them. Ride out this storm by playing cards, reading books aloud to each other, singing songs together, and laughing. I've done it a few times and doing those things helps you realize what really matters.
Please donate to help the possibly 50 million people who could be affected by Sandy. The Red Cross is taking donations. This is going to be incredibly hard for the eastern part of the U.S. to get through. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi
 |
| Cyclone Zoe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ File:Cyclone_Zoe_27_dec_2002_2255Z.jpg |
It's very interesting to hear people talking about this hurricane. I've been through a couple hurricanes, since I lived in Vanuatu for five years. In 2002, my family and I survived the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere: Cyclone Zoe, a Category 5 storm. The winds got up to 150 mph--and then the anemometer was blown off the national weather center after a gust of 220 mph!
We lived about a quarter of a mile away from the ocean. We only had two inches of water on the floor, so we were fine, but the people who lived in coastal villages were devastated. Zoe doesn't make any of the "worst storm" lists because in terms of dollar amounts, Zoe didn't do a lot of damage. The reason for this is that Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands are third-world countries; there aren't a lot of expensive buildings, electricity, or transportation systems there. Also, no one died during Zoe. The local people know exactly how to get through a storm like this. They've been doing it for 4,000 years, so they had to learn to survive.
A day after Zoe skirted Vanuatu, we walked down to Takara, a village on the beach about a mile away. We had friends who lived there. They showed us how there were fish up in their gardens that had been carried in from the storm surges. They took us to their well, the only source of fresh water, and showed us how the sea water had washed into it, so it was contaminated and undrinkable. Their gardens were destroyed. The avocado crop was almost ready to harvest, and there were green, almost ripe avocados just lying on the ground. There were coconuts and mangos everywhere. Also, their houses were gone. The thatched huts didn't stand a chance against this kind of storm.
The Ni-Vanuatu in the villages have this saying: "After the storm comes the sickness." There is always food right after a storm, because all the fruit has fallen from the trees. But their fresh water is contaminated and after all the fresh fruit is gone or starts rotting, there is nothing else to eat. Then people start getting sick.
Sandy is a serious storm; it's already cost around five dozen people their lives. We need to remember, though, that so much of what we are going to lose in this storm is just stuff. We will have food. We will have water. Some people might lose their houses, but entire communities will not be in danger of dying off. I'm listening to people on TV talking about how to keep your food frozen, how to keep your car from getting flooded, how to make sure you go to the store and buy all the food you can, etc. None of this is a problem in third-world countries because they don't have electricity, cars, or money to begin with.
Keep everything in perspective. Tell your family you love them. Ride out this storm by playing cards, reading books aloud to each other, singing songs together, and laughing. I've done it a few times and doing those things helps you realize what really matters.
Please donate to help the possibly 50 million people who could be affected by Sandy. The Red Cross is taking donations. This is going to be incredibly hard for the eastern part of the U.S. to get through. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi
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