Today on Hardball there was a discussion about McCain finally addressing the de-Americanization and, as Keith Olbermann has suggested, race-baiting, of Barack Obama by the McCain campaign. McCain was at a rally of some sort and asked by a woman if Obama was an Arab. McCain replied that he was a "good man, a family man" something along those lines.. and that he did not view him as dangerous to put in the White House, quickly clarifying that he viewed himself as being better. What I am struck by in all of this is the thing that is not being said, the thing that McCain implied, the thing that even Obama is implying when, rather than saying (in a more eloquent way), "Why the fuck should it matter?" he strongly refutes being a Muslim or being Arab.
Our presidential candidates and our press are doing nothing to say what needs to be said: there is nothing wrong with or un-American about being Arab and/or a Muslim. Instead, Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann and the fuckwits at Fox News are focusing on whether or not it should be acceptable for Obama's middle name to be brought up. The semantics of it is unimportant, and the media and our presidential candidates are failing us in not saying (for the benefit of every American, prejudiced or not, Arab or not) that there's nothing wrong with being Arab.
I feel incensed by this because I feel the prejudice; it's not something you can comprehend when you don't have the surname, the family in the Middle East, the accent, or identifying features. You can casually feel bad about it, know it's wrong, but you'll never know what it's like. It means less when you don't have a brother who's been called a "sand nigger" or when you haven't had someone tell you they don't hold it against you that you come from an Iranian family. It means less when you don't hear people saying "lets just bomb all those towelheads" and realize that they're referring to your grandmother, your uncles and aunts, your dad.
I was walking down the street the other day to get to a class when I heard two girls spewing vitriol about Eye-raynians. The girls happened to be black. At the time I remember being enraged, thinking how can two girls, who no doubt have, or will, feel prejudice in their lives be so low? And now I realize: if blacks are the Other to the majority culture of the United States, Arab Americans are the other Other--the Other that even other minorities--blacks, Latinos, Asians--will join in with the dominant culture in shitting upon.
I'm voting for Obama next month but I feel saddened that I'm voting for someone that won't come out and say aggressively that the undercurrent of our election is whipping up a prejudice against Arabs and Arab Americans, a prejudice that, much to my dismay, must have always existed.
Morrissey "Last of the Famous International Playboys"
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I got in yesterday at 5:35. The flight was abhorrent. Friends, avoid Southwest like the plague. I was trapped in that sardine can with a baby that sat near me and must have been shitting its pants the entire flight. It was also hot and more cramped than any other flight I've ever been on. Not to mention, as an airline, their method of getting people on the plane and seated is the most arbitrary and useless I have ever encountered. I wasn't even sure there would be a seat for me because rather than actually assiging individuals seats, they have a first come first serve policy, which allows for fuckery.
Last night I fell asleep way too late. Consequently, my eyes are still burning.
Today I have washed my mom's car, watered the garden, cleaned some dishes and emptied the dishwasher, made grandma, Safieh and myself a delicious raspberry-banana-cantaloupe smoothie, and bought groceries to make a scrumptious Jamaica-inspired feast of jerk chicken, fried plantains, Jamaican rice and peas, and rum punch. I vaguely thought about texting Mohammad to invite him and Leah but truthfully, he's probably got other things to do. I printed out a FAFSA worksheet and before I leave I'm determined to help him fill it out.
My goal today is to spend some time meditating, bake a banana nut bread loaf, feed the chickens, maybe go for a walk, and pick up some of grandma's prescriptions from Wal-Mart for her.
I just got done shopping at the Sunshine Liquidators. God, I can't believe that gem is closing down. 10% off everything in store now, and the savings is just going to grow. When it hits 50% I will probably go in there and buy there whole supply of Butter Waffles. Also, I want fish oil. And I'm tempted to buy their escargots. I mean, isn't that the best way to experience something that otherwise you would never eat? Free or cheap?
I found a recipe for bastani and all I need is rose water, vanilla ice cream, pistachios and heavy whipping cream. I can't wait till Dennis gets paid.
I planted the crocuses and I created an essay on the implications of the current global response to the situation in Darfur that has overshot the 500 word max limit. I need to make a sleek, edited version now that falls within the 300-500 word guideline. I put five crocuses each in two separate pots, which I'm setting on the steps to the house and the remaining three crocuses I planted in a cute out-of-the-way area that the dogs couldn't get to. If all goes well, sunlight will hit the spot and they'll grow like little champions.
If I had excess money, in addition to paying off my debts, I would change the fencing to this place, obtain a plastic cutting board, a bag-less vacuum cleaner and various cleaning supplies like bleach, Windex, grease fighters, and a heavy-duty industrial carpet cleaner. I feel so overwhelmed by how unattractive our space has become. It's not like it was ever a grandiose home, but it seemed good enough before. Now it just seems dirty and hard to maintain. The pet hair that lines the perimeter of each and every room is mildly horrifying. The filth that just accumulates in spaces really make you wonder, "Why? How?" (behind the toilet, under the automatic water dispenser). I've given up on mopping the kitchen and laundry room in the winter because the animals track mud in anyway. There is literally a pile of fur under the dining room table that wasn't there before I left. The trash container accumulates dirt and hair. Why? Why? Why?
Dear Mom, if you read this, obviously I'd never ask you for this because it's just too much--but if you're reading this now somehow, for my birthday, for next Christmas, for eid-e-Noruz .. I'd like a good vacuum cleaner. Or a mattress. Either or.
Researched Prices on Books 1. For Creative Writing Steering the Craft by Leguin (through PCC $12.15 new/$9.15 used) 2. For Business Admin, something entitled "Business Custom Book w/ Eduspace" ($79.05 new/$59.30 used) 3. For Math, "Int. Algebra w/ Solutions Manual Custom Pkg 2008" ($88.35 new/$66.30 used) 4. For Spanish, "Dos Mundos" ($107.05 new/$80.30 used)
..All right then. The Creative Writing coursebook isn't hurting me too bad. The Spanish book on the other hand? Ay carumba! I got word from the instructor that Dos Mundos is a custom textbook made specifically for PCC, but if I could find it cheaper that would make my life a whole lot better.
We got grocery shopping done and dropped off library materials. My goal now is to finish scholarship essays so that I can pop into NELA some time next week, have the essays evaluated, and get help filling out my FAFSA.
Jens Lekman isn't changing my life.
Now, on to the Powell's database and Craigslist!
edit: I found the math text at either $50-55, the $50 being completely unopened on Craigslist. I haven't had such luck with the business administration or spanish materials, and I don't think it's worthwhile to hunt down a cheaper version of the creative writing text.
To-Do 1. Hunt down cheap text books for the winter term (yay!) 2. Heal my back 3. Get laundry done 4. Go grocery shopping
I got back from California the day before yesterday? and I've just sort of been lying in my own discomfort. I'm having back-issues, which the Vicodin, heatpacks and Icy-Hot my mother sent me off with have only mildly soothed. I've noticed an improvement in the way I felt after I slept, but it's been extremely trying on the patience to laze about all day. I'm not a marathon runner. I'm not wildly active. But I want to plant my bulbs and clean my house, and I really can only be upright for about ten minutes before I start feeling woozy and losing feeling in my pelvic region and lower back. I keep telling myself "Tomorrow is the day it will be all better" and so far.. it's more like "Tomorrow is the day it will be marginally better."
I want a bicycle lock. I'm determined that--as soon as I can be upright for more than ten minutes--I bike to Cascade campus.
Per Martha Stewart's "Living," I poached chicken breasts. I'm anxious to try them, and worried that they might not be flavorful enough. The only herb I used was dill, and the ensuing broth (flavored by dill, salt, pepper and oranges) was just not quite flavorful enough. I should have known better when I read the caption of the photo--"the perfect color!"--of a pale breast.
Also, I'm trying to broaden my horizons by downloading some of the music that has been broadcast as being The Album/Song of the Year. It's probably not normal to only ever want to listen to bands that have been disbanded and artists that are dead, or should be. While I was in California staying with my family I listened to M.I.A.'s "Kala" and was shocked that I really, really enjoyed it. So, there's that.
Today Safieh and I went and got Christmas shopping about finished. About being the keyword; we may actually have to brave crowded areas to purchase something for Majid. My mother has decided this year to not do stockings, but Safieh and I have decided we can easily do it on our own. We're going to go to the dollar tree, purchase stockings, then fill them with chocolates--except Grandma, who only gets sugar-free whatever--and little things, like iTunes gift cards, candles, decks of card, etc. My mother is going to make out like a bandit, thanks to Safieh, who is gifting her with both an iPod shuffle and the collected Persepolis works. Grandma also got her a Dremmel (sp?) drill/grinding kit. For the first time in my memory, maybe due to the enormous number of people here, maybe due to the rampant consumerism, our tree is very hard to find space underneath.
I'm still working on the mix cds that I wanted to give my mom. I'm unbelievably exhausted. Tomorrow I'm responsible for shuttling my god forsaken grandmother around to drop off letters (anyone heard of a mailbox?) and stop by the bank. I'm going to do it as early as possible, then drop her burdensome ass off at home and Majid, Safieh and I are going to head to the city, hopefully to stop by Chinatown and do any last minute cutesy Christmas shopping.. and just mainly to get away.
Tonight we began watching the first season of Arrested Development and my grandma (of course) had to ruin it by making her usual horrible comments. I told her she was being unpleasant and she shut up quickly. She needs to die, like yesterday.
Tomorrow is our traditional Christmas eve dinner of lasagna, pesto pasta, bread, salad and such. We haven't bought a turkey, but that doesn't matter. Maybe we'll make Mexican food for Thanksgiving. I still haven't managed to convince my mom to do Indian buffet or House of Slam. Oh well. There's always tomorrow.
Today I took my mom's car and got the oil changed, did some laundry to catch her up, made a cake and decorated it like a poinsettia, and I created my delicious cranberry tart. Also, I served a dinner of herb crusted chicken, garlic mashed red potatoes and long green beans.
I rented some movies but unfortunately, from the moment Grandma wakes, the television is turned on to some mediocrity that she is adamant about watching. Boo, hiss.
When I went to the grocery store, I purchased Haagen Daz's (sp?) pomegranate-chocolate chip ice cream. It was different, but oddly good. It made me think of the food network episode where three or four people were in competition to make the next Haagen Daz ice cream and they chose unusual flavors. What if they made Maman Bozorg Baklava? What would that entail? And would it be better than just the most basic bastani? ..maybe I can make bastani.
Tomorrow I have no idea what I will do. Maybe make some gingerbread and sugar cookies for my mom to take to work? Plan a dinner? I don't know.
I arrived in San Jose today at 11. My flight was fucking fantastic. The flight attendants gave me everything I wanted and I didn't have to sit next to anyone.
Since then, I've been to Gaeta's (their carne asada platter is still delicious), braved Costco (hey, anything for my mom, right?), and suffered a fart in the face by the most spazzy dog ever, Ebony. She actually attempted to eat one of the blown-glass balls off of the Christmas tree. I built a gingerbread house, nervous-cleaned, made a fruit platter and inspected the pantry. Apparently someone in my family wanted to make .. Matzo balls? Yeah, weird. Also--I discovered the most awesome satchel ever, and my mom gifted it to me. Dooney & Burke, quality, well-cared for leather despite its age, and excellent hardware. Understated. I'm totally replacing my canvas crap-purse with it. Later tonight I think I may put the purple lights on the Christmas tree.
Tomorrow I've planned a set of activities, to be augmented by taking my grandmother shopping. It's what she wants, and I aim to please. I'm hoping to take Ebony to the beach and play ball with her, make some baked goods and bring them by mom's work, and maybe.. just maybe.. venture out to the Falafel place. YAY!!! CALIFORNIAAZZZZ!!!!
I miss Dennis and the dogs, but I'm trying to keep myself busy so I don't think too much about it.
I took my W. Civs final today and I think I did well. I'm guessing it's too early to harass Mr. Armontrout for my score. My math grade has been updated to the PCC database and I received an A. Here's hoping there's a 4.0 in my future! The next school day is in 24 more days.
Last night was the Planned Parenthood PAC's last night of phonebanking. All in all, volunteers all across the state raised $19,071, exceeding the initial goal. I did three nights of phonebanking, the first night raising $100, the second none and the third $150. So, I like to think I did my part. I was gifted with a 60 minute massage that I am so excited about. With my mattress, I deserve it. I'm thinking of splitting the time into 30 minutes and sharing with Dennis.
Tomorrow is the corgi meet-up and MSN's forecast for Portland calls for sprinkles throughout the day. I think we'll be there.
Sunday, I'm flying to California to stay with my family for two weeks. I'm going to pack tomorrow and I've made checklists so I don't forget anything.
To-Do Before Sunday 1. Finish "the Shield" Season 1 2. Watch "Friends With Money" and return it 3. Enjoy Dennis 4. Lay on Picnic and blow up his nose
notorious b.i.g. ft. lil' kim ; i need another bitch
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Yesterday I made Halloween-inspired chocolate cupcakes with purple and orange sugar and brown chocolate sprinkles.
Also, Dennis and I carved our three pumpkins tonight. We used Martha Stewart's stencils from her seasonal issue for the two orange pumpkins and the results of our carving included a huge mess and two somewhat ugly pumpkins. Martha Stewart really knows how to make the difficult look effortless, as I learned from trying to mimic her cookie-stencil recipe on my cupcakes. It smeared the frosting, so I gave up after only one try! Our white pumpkin is cute with a simple traditional jack o'lantern face. The light shines through so well.
I'm excited about Halloween! I've purchased our candy (Butter Fingers, Kit Kats and Nestle Crunch bars) and I'm panicking about finding a simple costume in the nick of time. Here are two more photos:
Oregon had about 16 indigenous languages, Alsea, Cayuse, Chinook, Clatskanie, Coos, Coquille, Kalapuyan, Klamath, Molalla, Nez Perce, Northern Paiute, Sahaptin, Shasta, Siuslaw, Takelma and Tillamook. Alsea, Cayuse, Chinook, Clatskanie, Kalapuyan, Molalla, Shasta, Siuslaw, Takelma, and Tillamook are all classified as being extinct. No information is provided on Northern Paiute or Sahaptin, and Coquille is estimated to be extinct. Coos has 1 or 2 speakers left, who are estimated to be over 50 years old, which means that this language has little chance of survival. The most robust of Oregon's indigenous languages, Nez Perce, which in 1970 had 500 speakers, and Klamath, which in 1970 was estimated to have 150 speakers, are in danger.
The Oregon legislature is currently considering a bill which would make English the official language of the state, as if Oregonians were not already acutely aware that English was the primary language of industry, education and the media here. "'What is killing Occitan?' asked a French linguist in 1986, and this was his answer: 'First, there are the modern media through which ideas are spread: the national and syndicated press, the radio, the cinema, and television. All of these penetrate the deepest recesses of the countryside, and all of them are vehicles of French, a French language that impresses itself on every consciousness.'"
I'm currently reading If This Was Happiness, a bio on Rita Hayworth and I just discovered that "The Lady From Shanghai" was supposed to be an analogy (wrong word, maybe?) of Rita and Orson Welles's marriage.
I liked this clip from the movie, so I thought I would post it. She seems to really give a lot with her eyes in this scene.
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goosh_betheh's journal
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