Weekend Update

Is it just me or do you feel kinda creepy supporting Yahoo via creating content for them while they turn in Chinese dissidents? I am too old for Myspace and Facebook. I do have my own blog I could return to or one of the other blog communities, but I would miss my buddies here. I would want you all to come with me. Yahoo really does bother me though that they would sell their souls so deeply to get marketshare in China. How do you guys sleep or is Kurasawa right, "The Bad Sleep Well?" Speaking of "The Bad Sleep Well" you should know that this is a worthwhile piece of cinema by Akira Kurosawa. It is based on Hamlet and is set in post-WWII Japan. Like the original Hamlet, it doesn't end on a happy note.

Girlfriend's Guide to Oppression

There are two books I highly recommend and I find them oddly complementary as they both have female protagonists who have been around long enough to remember time when women had freedom. One is a memoir and one is a novel. The memoir is Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. The other is The Handmaiden's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Reading Lolita in Tehran is a memoir by Azar Nafisi that is so good on so many levels. On one level it is a meditation on the value for fiction for its own sake and the role of fiction in an oppressive society. There is romance and comfort in a rebellious act of reading literature when the world around you is chaotic and brutal. The rebellion is reading things that cause discomfort and seeing shades of grey in a world that only sees black and white. Instead of having students who groan about reading literature you have people try to seek out copies, read, discuss, write, and argue over books -- people flock to classes even if they don't belong to the school. It offers a look into Iranian society through the experiences of a wide variety of women -- women who risk losing their identity from freer pre-revolutionary time and women who never knew they had the right to a seperate identity. The book also goes into what it feels like to feel lost in your own homeland and what reasons we cling to stay and try to change things and what reasons we finally give up and go into exile. Some live in exile in their own country.

The Handmaiden's Talewas written in 1987 and is a decidedly darker fictional account of America under a neo-puritan society where women have no rights nor are allowed to read. Atwood leaves the circumstances of this transformation vague. Eerily she suggests that some sort of event --perhaps a nuclear attack -- in the Autumn (9/11?) leads to this regime that controls women and their reproduction. Like Reading Lolita, the husbands of the lead characters are sympathetic to their wives, but do not feel the full weight of the oppression the women in their lives feel and have an easier time adjusting to the change.

Tip of The Day For George W. Bush

Replace Attorney General Gonzales with Sanjaya. After Ashcroft and Gonzales it never really was about qualifications, was it? Can you imagine Sanjaya's famous hair against the Judiciary Committee? How could they NOT confirm that after confirming men who defy sanity and logic?

Quote of the Day

"The trouble with Eichmann was precisely that so many were like him, and that the many were neither perverted nor sadistic, that they were, and still are, terribly and terrifyingly normal. From the viewpoint of our legal institutions and of our moral standards of judgment, this normality was much more terrifying than all the atrocities put together. "
- Hanna Arendt

Friends Don't Let Friends Abuse the Adult Content Flag

Something real uncool happened to me on Yahoo 360. Someone who had a problem with my politics decided to flag my blog post for March 31st entry with the graphic "Friends Don't Let Friends Vote Republican" as adult content. There was one word in a very long post that I could conceivably be anywhere near adult and I changed it from balls to Guts, but I have no way to get the flag taken off. So what protects authors from harrassing flagging? Of course, Yahoo can say that the adult flag isn't censorship since they didn't remove the post, just made it invisible to people who have the adult filter on like myself and give no way for me, the author, to make it right.

A while ago as part of a writing contest I posted an artwork with a naked, mutilated, woman that was posted elsewhere on the 360 world and was in the context of writing about abused women, or women who mutilize themselves for beauty. One of my 360 friends wrote me to tell me that this painting could be offensive to some cultures with more modesty standards. I instead linked to it giving people an opportunity to see it or not. I have always strived to avoid the adult rating. I don't take invites from people who have adult content on their 360 site, because I do not want people to access that stuff from my page. If people had problem with what I write I would hope they would have the GUTS to tell me and allow me the opportunity to make amends. I am a mother and a long time Internet citizen since 1992. I was even named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Women on the Web. I don't deserve to be treated this way -- no one does.

I can only conclude that they didn't because they wanted to harrass me for my political views which may differ from others, but are quite reasonable and reasoned.

I am mostly upset at Yahoo 360 who allowed this harrassment to occur and gave me no means to appeal or make good within their Terms of Agreement. I had to use their own harrassment reporting to let them know what had occured. If this doesn't get resolved, I don't know what I will do.

The thing is I see a lot of offensive things that are not flagged adult. I don't flag it, instead I let the person know what it is offended me and why, and say that I cannot visit their site again unless they fix it. It would be tempting to be hardnosed and go around flagging things as adult, but I believe in freedom of speech and expression too much to do that. I would protect the right of everyone to express themselves even if I passionately disagreed with. I guess there are people out there who lack the moral and civil fortitude to do the same.

So whoever did this, thanks for ruining my day. I assume that was your intent. Bravo! You succeeded! Next time, If you have a problem with what I say have the ***** to tell me directly.

Political Drama...Reality TV...Neo-Puritanism...The Culture War...and People who need to Hug-it-out



1984

I finally got around to seeing what all the fuss was with that faux commercial about Hillary Clinton and the old 1984 Apple Ad. Am I the first person who just has a, "YAWN!" Is that all? Are we that starved for controversy this early in the campaign that we have to dig up a lame Youtube hack video?

"You're Fired"



First it was Donald Trump who made terminating someone's potential job famous, now we have Al Gonzales and perhaps Rove and other high level White House firings of 8 federal prosecutors that are getting people up in arms. Bush supporters on Fox and on talkradio have been screaming about how Clinton fired 93 prosecutors and complain that people all upset about only 8. Of course, they fail to say that the 93 came at the beginning of Clinton's presidency when it is completely normal for all presidencies to do such housecleaning. The difference is that Bush Jr.'s administration picked a curious time fire these prosecutors, for dubious reasons, and lied about why they fired these prosecutors. Again, I think that it is not the firings that will get them in trouble, but the lies. They would have such an easier time if the copped to being an administration that is evil incarnate willing to delve in the dark arts of dirty politics. I guess there will be supoenas all around. Will we finally get these guys under oath? Oh, please. Oh, please.

If Sanjaya Stays, The Evil Doers Win

I am desperate as I watch American Idol and Sanya remains safe week after week, despite crucifying every song. Every time he sings I cringe. Now I learn Howard Stern and "Vote for the Worst" blog is campaigning to keep him in the competition. It is just wrong! Stop this madness. Some people on Myspace claim to be on a hunger strike. Of course, I am the one who proudly hasn't cast a vote in the entire six seasons of this show. I vote actual elections that mean something (smirk!). It is crazy that more Americans vote for their American Idol than vote in elections. Lordy!

Get Out Your Porn, Kids

It seems that the courts have overturned the law that would make it illegal to provide "harmful" material to minors. Of course, the government fears the worst now.

"It is not reasonable for the government to expect all parents to shoulder the burden to cut off every possible source of adult content for their children, rather than the government's addressing the problem at its source," government lawyer Peter D Keisler wrote following the four-week hearing, the Associated Press news agency reported.

It is all about being in the room while your kid is on the computer and knowing what they are doing. It is about talking to your kid's friends' parents and making sure someone is paying attention how they are using the computer. It is also about talking to your kids and telling about the values you care about. Ultimately, if you kid sees a naked woman or a naked man it isn't going to be the end of the world. As parents we need to talk to our kids about sex. It is also important to make sure your kids protect themselves from predators and scams. As parents it is our job to know what our kids are doing.

360 "HUH?" Files



[75th] Heartbreak - "All Liberal mothers, who are pregnant, should abort there babies now, to save the world from an epadimic of waterhead babies!! " Nice Guy.

Nerdman - "I am quite sure that there will be more attacks on American troops because of the Democrats election. It has shown the terrorists that their tactics work. October being the most americans killed during the war month was the "Tet Offensive" of the Iraqi campaign! Do you think it was a coincidence it was so close to the mid-term elections!" or "Some say that it is wrong to say that a vote for the Democrats is a vote for the terrorists. If that is the case then why is their only strategies "Anybody but Bush" and ALL they seem to talk about is "pulling out of Iraq." I thought we would never forget 9/11. Now it seems that most of America doesn't even know what happened."

Rachmanpianoplayer -"Outraging Liberals Is The Best Work Of Life!"

Maven's Yahoo! FAQ! (or Yes, I am REALLY married)

A FAQ from actual instant messages!



1. Are you single?

No. I am a married woman. That means I am unavailable, off-the-market, and completely disinterested in anybody else but my husband. Did I tell you I was married?



2. Are you bi-sexual?

No. I am absolutely heterosexual, even though I sorta get the attraction to Angelina Jolie. I am a heterosexual who fervently supports equal rights and compassion for those who are gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual.

3. Are you into transsexuals/transgender?

No, but I do believe in equal rights and compassion towards those who a transsexuals and the transgendered.


4. Do you have a webcam?

Yes, but I only do so with family and real life friends. Often it is just a matter of trying to dig it up from under my desk amongst wires.

5. Will you accept my invitation to be a friend?

First, it would be nice to introduce yourself to me first rather than lock me into having to accept or deny your invite without knowing who you are or why you want to invite me. It puts me into a terrible spot. I just wish people would be more polite.


/rant on
It is really nice that people say nice things about the photos and I do appreciate compliments. They do make my day, but what IS up with all the personal questions? Is instant messaging just an invitation for instant intimacy? What is wrong with just talking about politics, culture, parenting, religion, or just being friendly without lurid intent? I am just old fashioned or what?

I know people are just searching for love and intimacy online, and I do have compassion for people who are lonely and reaching out. I just wish I didn't have to feel like when I log on I am logging onto a singles bar.

/rant off

Yahoo Chat Blues

Getting my hair done is so girlie-cathartic.

Been trying the whole yahoo chat thing, but it is sort of frightening. There is such a sexual undercurrent to most of the chats that it really alienates me. I am married...geez. I am so not into that scene. I talk to guys about politics and tv, but then I worry that their significant others will think, "What is this chick doing talking to my man!"

Can't we just chat about ideas? So if you IM me, read my profile. Novel concept I know. People who do, get a generous response unless I am busy or going offline.

Peace. No, really. Peace.