I have a really good feeling about today. I woke up on time, had a long lovely breakfast followed by a long lovely shower, and I made my first micro-loan through Kiva.org . Kiva is a site where you can loan money to struggling entrepreneurs around the world (and you can loan as much as you want or as little as $25), and then you're paid back as their business starts to take off. The repayment rate is 98.87%, so there's almost no risk of losing your investment. I'm helping out a farmer in Ecuador named Christian Israel so he can buy seeds and fertilizer. Join me in helping someone start over! http://kiva.org/invitedby/lisa9711
If you aren't familiar with a group called Nerdfighters, I recommend looking them up. They're an internet-based community dedicated to "decreasing world-suck levels and increasing world-awesome." One of the brothers who helped found the group, John Green, made a YouTube video a few days ago about the site (his second video about it in the last three years), and in the last two days, the Nerdfighters team on Kiva has raised over $20,000 for people around the world. That's a group I can love and get behind.
I'm actually going to be doing a folklore project on the group in the coming months, so it'll be interesting to see what I dig up.
I'd keep talking about the wonderful things in life, but I'm about to late for class. That would not make today wonderful. Ciao!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
This might hurt
Hey everyone, long time no blog. I'm sorry that this blog seems to be slowly dying, but, like old diaries, I'll probably come back to it every now and then to reminisce. That said, this post is not a goodbye. I'm hoping it's actually a wake-up call for some people.
I told y'all back in February that I've gone vegan. I still am. I am not the sort of person who preaches. I grew up with one, and I understand how off putting that approach can be. Also, I appreciate it when people stay out of my business, so I try to stay out of theirs. However, I stumbled across a video interview with Ellen DeGeneres earlier today in which she was answering questions about her own veganism. She mentioned the film Earthlings, saying it was a major player in her decision. The interviewer then asked if Ellen had seen Food, Inc., and if that video had cemented what she'd learned in Earthlings. Ellen replied that Food, Inc. had seemed like a Disney movie in comparison. Having seen the film and having been disgusted by it, I was curious how intense Earthlings might actually be. Conveniently, the full film is available on YouTube and was a recommended video on the sidebar. I watched it. She was right.
People frequently ask me if my veganism is a health thing or an ethics thing. I always told them it was health. That answer has changed, now, and I honestly regret having answered any differently in the past.
I am not a perfect person. Sometimes I drink too much, I procrastinate, I can't keep an exercise schedule to save my life, I swear like a sailor, and I let dishes pile up in the sink. These are but a few of my many downfalls. I do, however, make an honest effort to improve the world I live in, and I am proud to say that I do not contribute to the brutality visited upon animals. Below, I'm embedding Earthlings in its entirety. Whether or not you click "play" is up to you.
I told y'all back in February that I've gone vegan. I still am. I am not the sort of person who preaches. I grew up with one, and I understand how off putting that approach can be. Also, I appreciate it when people stay out of my business, so I try to stay out of theirs. However, I stumbled across a video interview with Ellen DeGeneres earlier today in which she was answering questions about her own veganism. She mentioned the film Earthlings, saying it was a major player in her decision. The interviewer then asked if Ellen had seen Food, Inc., and if that video had cemented what she'd learned in Earthlings. Ellen replied that Food, Inc. had seemed like a Disney movie in comparison. Having seen the film and having been disgusted by it, I was curious how intense Earthlings might actually be. Conveniently, the full film is available on YouTube and was a recommended video on the sidebar. I watched it. She was right.
People frequently ask me if my veganism is a health thing or an ethics thing. I always told them it was health. That answer has changed, now, and I honestly regret having answered any differently in the past.
I am not a perfect person. Sometimes I drink too much, I procrastinate, I can't keep an exercise schedule to save my life, I swear like a sailor, and I let dishes pile up in the sink. These are but a few of my many downfalls. I do, however, make an honest effort to improve the world I live in, and I am proud to say that I do not contribute to the brutality visited upon animals. Below, I'm embedding Earthlings in its entirety. Whether or not you click "play" is up to you.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Book Review/Suggestion
Hey kids! It's been forever since I've posted anything, but I'm taking time out of my fabulously busy life (lies) to recommend a book to you. It's called All Unquiet Things, and it's written by Anna Jarzab. I have long been a fan of murder mysteries, but I'll be the first to tell you that this novel is nothing like the insipid life stories of some of the adult murder mystery heroines (I'm looking at you, Jill Churchill and Joanne Fluke!) who spend half the novel correcting grammar and drooling over their current heart-throb.
The story follows the lives of Neily Monroe and Audrey Ribelli (though mostly Neily) as they investigate the murder of Carly Ribelli, Neily's ex and Audrey's cousin-cum-sister. Audrey's father was convicted of Carly's murder and locked up, but some elements of the story don't add up for Audrey who convinces Neily to help her open a dangerous investigation that flirts with the world of drug dealing. A slew of colorful characters keep the story interesting and surprising, but what makes the story a success is the inner dialogue of Neily.
Dumped in a wildly public and embarrassing fashion by Carly for resident bad boy Adam, Neily seems intent on convincing both the reader and himself that, even though she's dead, he hates Carly more than he loves her and that forgiveness for her actions is not an option. While it's clear from page one (well, maybe page two) that this is not the case for the reader, Neily's struggle with himself is raw and touching. You can feel the ache of the boy who can't understand what happened to the girl he loved. His inability to reconcile the Carly he knew with the girl who was murder at the start of their Junior year makes for an emotional read.
Audrey, on the other hand, is determined to clear her father's name. A life-long alcoholic, Enzo Ribelli estranged his family and has only begun to rebuild his relationship with his only child now that he's locked behind bars. Having lost her father once before to booze, Audrey is unable to lose him again to the legal system without fighting what she knows is a lie. Yes, her grief over losing her cousin and the closest thing she had to a sister is a motivator for her, but Enzo's incarceration is by far the most important injustice she's fighting. Nevermind that her boyfriend of two years and Adam's best friend, Cass, dumped her after her father was convicted because it would tarnish his name.
The eventual conclusion of "who done it" seemed a little unnatural to me, and I had trouble believing it when Neily and Audrey ultimately realized it, but I can't seem to fault the book for that. To me, this story was primarily about Neily's struggle to forgive Carly, and all other plots were secondary.
3 1/2 of 5 stars.
The story follows the lives of Neily Monroe and Audrey Ribelli (though mostly Neily) as they investigate the murder of Carly Ribelli, Neily's ex and Audrey's cousin-cum-sister. Audrey's father was convicted of Carly's murder and locked up, but some elements of the story don't add up for Audrey who convinces Neily to help her open a dangerous investigation that flirts with the world of drug dealing. A slew of colorful characters keep the story interesting and surprising, but what makes the story a success is the inner dialogue of Neily.
Dumped in a wildly public and embarrassing fashion by Carly for resident bad boy Adam, Neily seems intent on convincing both the reader and himself that, even though she's dead, he hates Carly more than he loves her and that forgiveness for her actions is not an option. While it's clear from page one (well, maybe page two) that this is not the case for the reader, Neily's struggle with himself is raw and touching. You can feel the ache of the boy who can't understand what happened to the girl he loved. His inability to reconcile the Carly he knew with the girl who was murder at the start of their Junior year makes for an emotional read.
Audrey, on the other hand, is determined to clear her father's name. A life-long alcoholic, Enzo Ribelli estranged his family and has only begun to rebuild his relationship with his only child now that he's locked behind bars. Having lost her father once before to booze, Audrey is unable to lose him again to the legal system without fighting what she knows is a lie. Yes, her grief over losing her cousin and the closest thing she had to a sister is a motivator for her, but Enzo's incarceration is by far the most important injustice she's fighting. Nevermind that her boyfriend of two years and Adam's best friend, Cass, dumped her after her father was convicted because it would tarnish his name.
The eventual conclusion of "who done it" seemed a little unnatural to me, and I had trouble believing it when Neily and Audrey ultimately realized it, but I can't seem to fault the book for that. To me, this story was primarily about Neily's struggle to forgive Carly, and all other plots were secondary.
3 1/2 of 5 stars.
Monday, June 27, 2011
:D
So I haven't posted in a bajillion years and this is random, but does anyone else watch those home improvement shows and wonder if they're the only woman in the world who isn't afraid to bash a wall with a sledgehammer? All these useless wives stand around tapping the walls with the hammer, making that pathetic "ehn, eeehn" noise because the hammer weighs more than them. Totally ridiculous.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Pro Tip of the Day!
Hating someone because a person or a book told you to is generally considered foolish and makes you into an asshole.
As a side note: If the Bible was written by men who are not infallible, it can be logically reasoned that the Bible is also not infallible. But Bible-thumpers aren't really into logic or reason, are they?
As a side note: If the Bible was written by men who are not infallible, it can be logically reasoned that the Bible is also not infallible. But Bible-thumpers aren't really into logic or reason, are they?
Saturday, May 28, 2011
No Angst This Time! :D
Hey kids, it's time for a post on a particulaly awesome day in my life.
Thursday night, I discovered the perfect cut jeans for myself but couldn't find my size in my price range, so Friday started out with me finally finding them (and my butt looks stellar in them, thank you), and the library had one of my favorite movies (Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie), and then boyfriend and I shared a bloomin' onion for dinner and caught a movie I've been dying to see since it was in production. It's called "FORKS OVER KNIVES," and it's a documentary on how nutirtion affects diseases of affluence (heart disease, cancer, strokes, diabetes, hypertension, etc.). It's based, largely, off the work of Caldwell Esselstyn, MD, and T. Colin Campbell, MD. I don't currently have time to write a full review of the film (will follow, no worries), but it's amazing. I can't say it changed my life because Campbell's book, The China Study, already did, but it changed boyfriend's. That alone makes driving past four theaters to get to the only one showing FOK worth it.
SO! Hometown peeps, head out to the plaza and WATCH IT. It'll make you think. This is one of the few films I've seen where movie goers clustered outside the exit to chat about what they'd seen and ask serious, thoughtful questions.
Also, boyfriend is amazing and y'all should be jealous. :D
Thursday night, I discovered the perfect cut jeans for myself but couldn't find my size in my price range, so Friday started out with me finally finding them (and my butt looks stellar in them, thank you), and the library had one of my favorite movies (Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie), and then boyfriend and I shared a bloomin' onion for dinner and caught a movie I've been dying to see since it was in production. It's called "FORKS OVER KNIVES," and it's a documentary on how nutirtion affects diseases of affluence (heart disease, cancer, strokes, diabetes, hypertension, etc.). It's based, largely, off the work of Caldwell Esselstyn, MD, and T. Colin Campbell, MD. I don't currently have time to write a full review of the film (will follow, no worries), but it's amazing. I can't say it changed my life because Campbell's book, The China Study, already did, but it changed boyfriend's. That alone makes driving past four theaters to get to the only one showing FOK worth it.
SO! Hometown peeps, head out to the plaza and WATCH IT. It'll make you think. This is one of the few films I've seen where movie goers clustered outside the exit to chat about what they'd seen and ask serious, thoughtful questions.
Also, boyfriend is amazing and y'all should be jealous. :D
Friday, May 6, 2011
Frustrations
As my junior/senior/third/whatever year draws to a close, I'm learning a few things about myself. Throughout college, I have not been a partier. I went to one frat party. It took me two years in my a cappella group to actually start going to their parties with any regularity (and I'm still an uncommon sight among them). This week, however, I apparently donned a new personality and spent both Tuesday and Thursday night partying how I never imagined I would. I went to my first bar and a boy I'm not dating bought me my first shot. I danced with strangers. I got an all-you-can-drink bracelet. I am retrospectively hating myself.
I don't get hangovers. A little dehydrated, sure. I do not sleep til noon and crawl out of bed with a headache the size of my regret and nurse coffee for the next three hours. Even so, I can feel that I'm not on my game and I hate the idea that I can't lose myself in fun unless I've had a few drinks. I also hate getting exciting news via text and being too disoriented to properly care about it.
I think there are just too many things happening at once. I start partying right before a bunch of my friends are graduating and the frustration with myself doubles the sadness and confusion of people disappearing from my life. I haven't actually hung out with my best friend in over two weeks (he doesn't drink and so did not join us for Tuesday and Thursday) and I hate ending my semester on this note. I'm going to go home for three months where my family antagonizes my veganism and everything is dirty all the time and I have to pretend that I haven't changed since high school so I can keep up with the mindless banter with the old friends who live in town. I get so accustomed to being free and totally myself here that it drives me nuts to go "home" and be someone else.
I am looking forward to being closer to Tristan, though. Long-distance, while feasible, is not something that either of us has particularly enjoyed and it'll be nice to be in the same area again. Admittedly, we'll still be 40-60 minutes apart, but that's better than 3-4 hours by a long shot. I just want to be like we were last fall when campus was warm and he was here and I got to live in my house and no one judged me for my choices and there was dancing and beach excursions and picnics and late nights watching Whose Line with the bff.
I know my life is easier than most, and I do appreciate the good in my life. I guess sometimes I just get tired of being the shoulder that's cried on and never getting to vent myself, you know?
I need to go before I whine too much more.
I need to get out.
I don't get hangovers. A little dehydrated, sure. I do not sleep til noon and crawl out of bed with a headache the size of my regret and nurse coffee for the next three hours. Even so, I can feel that I'm not on my game and I hate the idea that I can't lose myself in fun unless I've had a few drinks. I also hate getting exciting news via text and being too disoriented to properly care about it.
I think there are just too many things happening at once. I start partying right before a bunch of my friends are graduating and the frustration with myself doubles the sadness and confusion of people disappearing from my life. I haven't actually hung out with my best friend in over two weeks (he doesn't drink and so did not join us for Tuesday and Thursday) and I hate ending my semester on this note. I'm going to go home for three months where my family antagonizes my veganism and everything is dirty all the time and I have to pretend that I haven't changed since high school so I can keep up with the mindless banter with the old friends who live in town. I get so accustomed to being free and totally myself here that it drives me nuts to go "home" and be someone else.
I am looking forward to being closer to Tristan, though. Long-distance, while feasible, is not something that either of us has particularly enjoyed and it'll be nice to be in the same area again. Admittedly, we'll still be 40-60 minutes apart, but that's better than 3-4 hours by a long shot. I just want to be like we were last fall when campus was warm and he was here and I got to live in my house and no one judged me for my choices and there was dancing and beach excursions and picnics and late nights watching Whose Line with the bff.
I know my life is easier than most, and I do appreciate the good in my life. I guess sometimes I just get tired of being the shoulder that's cried on and never getting to vent myself, you know?
I need to go before I whine too much more.
I need to get out.
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