Starsucks

So tonight it's Starbucks. I hate coming in here. I feel a little like I'm selling a piece of my independent soul, and here in Portland, where supporting local independent business is like a religion I feel like I should have a hoodie with glasses on so no one sees me through the window. Problem is there was this big architecture gathering going on at the local shop I like across the street and too much chattering. So I'm slumming it here. The thing I hate about Starbucks is that they make it such an ordeal to get online. I mean this is a major company. It is doubtful that they are loosing too much money to freeloaders who just come in and suck the internet for free. I've never seen anyone sitting at their computer without some kind of beverage in hand in any of the other coffee shops that just let you hop right on. I think they want our personal info so they can attack us with their coffee propaganda. So what I do, out of spite, is give them a bogus phone number, my junk email address which I never check, and a fake name and address. My fake name is Autumn Woods, and my fake address is 1 Heaven St. Let that be our little secret.

Cupcake Obama

This is pretty cool. It's made with over a thousand cupcakes. I follow this blog called cakewrecks. You see some pretty awful stuff on there, and occasionally something pretty spectacular.

Yikes. Two steps forward, one step back. I just wish we could follow our own

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/06marriage.html?ref=politics

Proud to be an American

OBAMA!

Awesome, awesome, awesome. What a moment. I hope whether or not you supported him that you can find some joy in the significance of this moment. This is hugely historical and says a lot about our country and it's people to ourselves, and to the rest of the world. I was really moved watching the joy of total strangers, and I just can't imagine the pride that blacks must have felt-and feel. It must feel like a whole new world. I know it does to me. I don't know. I know all the problems we have gotten ourselves into, and the terrible image we have become to the rest of the world will not disppear overnight, but it truly does feel to me like disinfectant has doused our country. It feels renewed and fresh, and I feel very proud.


On another note. I need some help. I have been considering for some time now, getting my MFA. I am doing my research to find schools to consider, but I would really appreciate you throwing some names my way. Especially if you have heard good things about the school, and doubly especially if they operate in a way that they wave tuition for their grad students. I'm probably too late for spring, although, you never know, but I can definitely make fall if I move now. Thank you, and CONGRATULATIONS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!
(sorry for the big print, but I can't get it small)

Jesus ate cookies too

This is outrageous. Guess what happened at a school somewhere yesterday? A kid was sent home from school for dressing up like Jesus. It's not like he just showed up one day like that. I can see a legitamite issue with that. But it was Halloween, and EVERYONE was dressed up. The school "official" that they interviewed was dressed like a little cowboy-bang-bang. She told the camera that his costume was distracting to education.

Now, I am not a religious person. I am, quite contentedly, rather agnostic. I have no desire to be saved again (yes I've been down that scary road before) so please, no prayers for me after this declaration. I am also a HUGE believer in separation of church and state. The idea of teaching "intelligent design" in the science room is as preposterous as churches being forced to teach evolution in Sunday school.

Should a child be allowed to stand in the cafeteria at lunchtime preaching the gospel and casting out demons from the kids? I really don't think so, anymore than I should be tolerated doing that at work. Should they be allowed to wear a crucifix around their necks? Of course. If they are given a writing assignment with the subject of who is my favorite person should they be allowed to write about Jesus? Sure. There are probably a lot of grey areas, and a lot that are likely to be agreed on as being black and white. But I just think telling this kid to go home because his costume was "distracting" is outrageous and makes me really angry. What next?

NO COOKIE MONSTERS! They are distracting because they make kids think of cookies when they should be thinking of math!


NO DRACULAS! This is one violent dude!


AND PIRATES? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Look what carnage they have created upon our beautiful seas! Dressing up as a pirate is celebrating theft! I personally find that very distracting.

This one is just plain cute. BUT IT COULD BE DISTRACTING BECAUSE IT WILL REMIND ALL THE OTHER KIDS HOW LESS CLEVER THEY WERE WITH THEIR COSTUMES!



Now when my kids were little there was a rule about excessively violent and bloody costumes at school. No bloody eyeballs hanging out, no one carrying decapitated heads etc... I could kind of accept that, although it did have the effect of cutinizing the day to the extreme. I mean how many princesses and kittens can one really take?

This thing with Jesus is just wrong. I wonder if they sent home all the little boys dressed up like devils? What if someone dressed up as the Flying Spagetti Monster? Where does it end? I don't need Jesus in my heart to feel this is really wrong.

Jellybeans are tasty

This is another politically based post, but it's very important to know. It's amazing how something so stupid, can be so important. Many of you are probably aware of this, but there is an attempt being made to broaden the definition and enforce a law regarding electioneering. I'm not an expert on the subject, but electioneering generally refers to ACTIVELY engaging in campaigning for a candidate. For instance the canvasing which I wrote about in my last post, or entering data, calling people on the phones, and likely those who stand outside courthouses and on street corners with signs and acting way too excited (but good for them).

Voter disenfranchisement is a big problem and it is used more often, at least from what I have observed, from the Republican campaign. Two big ones that immediately come to mind are redistricting and caging. Redistricting is something along the lines of literally re-doing district lines to gain voter results favorable to your desired party. Caging is sending mail out and if it comes back as undeliverable, then the party creates a list of all of these names and uses it to try and challenge voters at the polls if their names are on these lists. The Republican party is currently attempting to cage and create a list based on names sent to forclosed houses. Some people who have had their houses foreclosed on are still using that address as their legal address. I can think of reasons why, such as being temporarily homeless, trying to apply for benefits and needing to provide and address, etc. Many might also remember the phone jamming scandal during the 2002 election, initiated from the Republican party in which they jammed Democrat campaign headquarters phone lines.

So back to the electioneering issue. The problem, and I don't know if this applies to every state, is that a Republican led initiative is attempting to broaden the definition of electioneering regarding the wearing of t-shirts, pins or hats that show support for your candidate. If you show up at the polls and your t-shirt says Obama, or McCain than they have the discretion to turn you away and not allow you to vote unless you change your shirt or remove the item. Generally speaking, and this is just an observation, Democrats tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves a little more than Republicans, so while this would apply to both sides of the election, it is more likely to AFFECT the side of the Democrats. Those on the Republican side trying to enforce this law are referring to the wearing of t-shirts and such as PASSIVE electioneering.

There is obviously the possibility that this is an infringement on a persons individual rights. Free speech, if you can even call it that, being one. Perhaps it's a legitamite concern and should be enforced-that's something the courts should decide and then make very publicly known before the next election. It's not something that should be barely slipping over the radar that no one knows about and used this election as a way to disenfranchise voters. Some people stand in line for hours to vote, and the idea that they will be told that they will not be allowed to vote because of a t-shirt they have on is just plain disturbing, and will likely result in many of them not coming back to wait in line again. That is the desired outcome of this Republican led initiative and one we can not allow to happen.

So, to be safe, it is being recommended that if you think this law is bogus that you not use this election to protest your concerns by wearing your tshirt anyway. Go to the polls in your plain white Hains, cast your vote and then get involved after the election in trying to change or clarify these laws. Also, AND THIS IS THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS POST, TELL ANYONE YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS, AND ASK THEM TO TELL ANYONE THEY KNOW. DO NOT GO TO THE POLLS WEARING ANYTHING SHOWING SUPPORT FOR YOUR CANDIDATE. ITS NOT WORTH THE RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO VOTE. THIS ELECTION IS TOO IMPORTANT.

Thanks for reading. By the way, you probably figured out that I titled my post just to get your attention. How devious.

Race and Music

Just me, kinda checkin in with ya folks. I don't want to keep Joe six-pack wondering what I've been up do, dont-cha-know? (That's my Palin impression there).

So last night I did some volunteer work. It was quite boring I can tell you. But, work that needed to be done. I'm going to try and go back this week some night. I did overhear something disturbing. You might remember if you've been following my post about puking and politics and the comments, that I mentioned that I had heard that some people have come right out and said that they will not vote for Obama because he is black. I sadly overheard a conversation last night from one of the canvasers (the ones who are out knocking on doors). He said this woman, who usually votes Democrat, said she just can't do it this time. "That America just isn't ready for a black president". What is this? Some new secret code of racism? By lumping yourself in with the nation, and assigning responsibility for your biases, to the nation, that this is now what, a statement of logic instead of a statement of intolerance and racism? Why can't she just say-there's no way I'm voting for a black guy for president-. That's what she meant. American isn't ready-what the f... does that say about our country if it is true anyway? And why would anyone want to support the perpetuation of that mentality? There is so much hatred out there. Obama is potentially making a huge sacrifice, as is his family. I fear that if he wins, that his presidency won't last for long. And that's a sad, sad, sad commentary on this nation.

So, on a lighter subject, I forgot to mention that I've played out at a couple of open mics this week. It's been a few months maybe since I had, and I don't play enough anymore, so I get really rusty, but it's always such a great feeling to get up there. Thursday night I played three songs that I wrote ... and a Jewel song. I'm almost embarassed to write that. Chick music, I know. I would like to play three songs I've never played out next week and so I'm working on: Landslide, This is the Life, and Closer to Fine. I'll let you know how it goes!

Bama Baby

This is just a written post. I have my little grandson today until tomorrow, and we were downtown looking for a couple of books for him and when I spied the McCain headquarters, I thought to myself, why not stop into the Obama headquarters and see if I could get a yard sign. I've got a bumpers sticker, but I heard this comment on NPR the other day, that often people in a neighborhood might want to vote for a certain candidate, but feel like they need reassurance kind of, from their neighbors if the candidate is someone they might not ordinarily vote for. Most of the people on my street are at least in their 60's or 70's and so if any of them are wanting to come to the light side but just need a little mental push, I figured I might as well give it a shot. The Obama people have been to my house three times now, while I've working in my studio and I have never heard them knock. They must be like little mice. So, I got my sign and they gave the little guy a sticker and then the cute, way too young for me guy asked if I'd be interested in volunteering. My first reaction of course is to believe I couldn't possibly find the time in my extraordinary complicated and full life for such a thing, but that's really not true, and so when I got home I gave him a call and I'm pretty psyched that tomorrow night I will be volunteering to enter data, whatever that means. I told him I'm not the knock on door and call people on the phone type, and so this is what I will do. I'm pretty jazzed. It's nice to get involved. So today and tomorrow are pretty much shot as far as getting work done. I really can't afford the time right now, but I'll figure something out. I can probably push my firing to Thursday and still pull everything off. I need to drop my third review shipment off by the 20th, and if all went well with the second one, and all goes well with the third, I will officially be accepted and be done with all this and take a breath!

Politics that make me want to puke

I'm getting ready to glaze. Everything that has texture on it is stained. I usually use mainly RIO to stain, but this mix has some other stuff in it, and so will probably be a little more on the black side. Could be nice. I have lost three of my platters from cracking. Really frustrating because of the time involved in them. Fortunately two I discovered before bisque, and so can reuse the clay, this one cracked during bisque. I really like the platter, so I am going to glaze it anyway and use it for myself. I refuse to sell items with s-cracks, so it's really disappointing when this happens.

So I'm really pissed and disgusted with the McCain campaign. I try to keep my political opinions to myself to keep my blog pretty neutral, but things are just going too far. You know, I don't think the Republican party in itself is evil. I personally hold a lot of opinions that could be deemed Republican. I'm a huge believer in personal responsibility. This bailout makes me sick. It also really annoys me that homeowners who made very bad financial decisions and are now paying the price for their bad decisions with huge mortgages and foreclosures, might be bailed out by the government (although if you are waiting for that, I wouldn't hold my breath because if the government had any intention of doing so, I feel they would have included it in the bailout bill). We own a home, we are struggling, but because we stayed within our means and so are barely getting by, there will be no bailout for us. I am already considering suing someone if/when I find that the government begins forcing banks to refinance peoples loans at lower interest rates. I don't see why our being responsible and exercising common sense should not entitle us to the same treatment. I'm sick of listening to the irresponsible cry foul.

I usually vote Democratic, but am not opposed to voting Republican. I voted Republican for George Bush's first term. It didn't take long for me to realize I had made a huge mistake and was desperate to get him out before his second term. So, that's all sad, bloody water under the bridge now. I vote Democrat, even though I hate in many ways, the groups and entitlement mentality that this often aligns me with. But I can't stomach the idea of aligning myself with the narrow minded, religious fanatics, corrupt wealthy CEO's and racists.

If you've been paying attention at all to this campaign it should be clear that McCain is sort of disgusted by Obama. I don't know of any personal history that should justify his distaste. It is very clear to me however, by his language, demeanor and behavior toward Obama. One can only guess what that distaste might arrise from. Anyone who refers to someone, a human being, as "that one" has shown a disregard for that person as a human being. It is not very far off from refering to him as "you boy". That? Are you kidding? What does he think he's doing, shopping for a sofa? Yes, I'll take that one.

You all probably know this, but two days ago, at a rally where Palin was using her prowess and wit to excite her political base, someone shouted out, in reference to Obama: to kill him. Imagine that. Kill him! Kill him! Nice huh? At the same rally, one of the nice, God-loving, attendees told a black cameraman to "sit down boy" and called him a racial name. No one is saying the name out loud of course, and since I only know one I'll have to guess that it was nigger. So someone calls a black cameraman a nigger, and tells him to "sit down boy". Maybe he should have said, sit down "that one", and maybe it wouldn't have made such big news (although there is still that n-word hanging out there). You know, it could be argued that these comments were not heard by Palin at the rally, but unless they spent the next 24 hours with their heads crammed into eachothers asses, then they should know about them now, and should have made a public apology for them, making it very clear that they did and do not condone them. I hope we still might see that, my guess is that we will not.

Afternote: I heard the next day that McCain has condemned some negative comments that have been made, but I heard it as third hand news so know no specific details of what he said. Just thought I should update my post with that.

It ain't no five-dollar t.v.

Yesterday I had a last minute porch sale to try and unload my seconds and older work. There was a town-wide yard sale going on and I thought I'd take advantage of the traffic. I was selling my stuff CHEAP. So cheap that I sometimes did not fully understand why someone would by one mug and be done. Okay, I am kind of embarrassed to say how cheap, but I was selling almost all my mugs, cups and bowls for 1$. Yes, 1. I just want to get rid of it. So I set up at noon, and sold till 3:30 and made 158$. I wish I had set up in the morning because I think I would have unloaded a lot more. I was kind of depressed about the whole thing though. One, I hate devaluing my work like that. It was de-moralizing for me, and as I thought about it through the sale, I worried that I was de-valuing my work, or pottery in general in the publics eye as well. I really want to get rid of this stuff though as it mentally keeps me down. I want to move forward, and when the past is staring you in the face . . .

When I talked to Adam about it later he said that I shouldn't take it personnally, that yard-salers are bottom feeders. As someone who is not above stopping at a yard sale occasionally, I don't subscribe to that theory, but I do think he was correct when he said that when people go out yard-saling they have a certain mindset about them. They are scrounging for a deal. The five dollar T.V. that they think is worth 300 as he said. Unfortunately they might not appreciate that they are holding a 1 dollar pot worth twent-five. So if I market my work in an evironment of cheapness, and sell it cheaply, I shouldn't be too surprised when I feel like shit about it. Oh well.