June 2003 Archives

I've been reading and watching many of the tributes on Katharine Hepburn. Most go on and on about what an inspiration she was for women. If all they say is correct (I have no reason to doubt any of it), she was indeed ahead of the times. I myself enjoy watching and rewatching her powerful performances in such movies as The African Queen. But I can’t help but wonder why the media and most people in general wait until someone dies to say complimentary things about them. Wouldn't it be better to do so when they are alive and can really appreciate what’s being said about them? I know I wish I had said more praising things to my own mom. Saying them to the world after, doesn't make up for me wishing I had said them to her when she was alive.

Hetrosexuals like myself who live in the East Lakeview neighorhood of Chicago (better known to locals as BoysTown), can become honorary members of the gay community towards the end of June each year if they so choose. NO it doesn't mean the we start experimenting, just that we show up on Broadway Street to watch the Pride Parade. I must admit that for the first 5 years I lived in the neighborhood, I refused to go to the parade -- even though I could hear it from my apartment. It wasn't that I'm homophoic, in fact I'm very liberal when it comes to gay politics. I just didn't want people to think I was gay. I know, stupid huh? Then about two years ago, I realized how silly that was and joined the half a million people to watch the parade. It always makes for a good time. Here are some shots from this years Parade held earlier today. Enjoy!

I've got to stop leaving my TV on at night. Time and time again, I keep waking up to horrible news like this. It's sad to say, but I'm not really surprised by the accident which happened less than a mile from me. I myself have been on one too many of these overcrowded porches for a summer party. Heck, the dinner party I was at last night ended on the roof deck. Thankfully, those are alot more secure than these back porches which are usually poorly constructed. Oh I pray for the families of the dead. This is just too sad. No one should go to a party and die.

Update: 2 of the 13 killed in this freak accident were Michigan graduates. They are Kelly McKinnell (1999) & Kelly Pagel (2000). It's all so very sad. I mourn and say a special prayer for their families.

If I were a porn star (which I'm so not -- heck I feel like a born again virgin), my name would be Trixy Rosetta. This I learnt while at a dinner party last night. So using the formula below, anyone care to share their porn name?

For a Man: Combine the name of your first pet with the street on which you grew up.

For a Woman:
Combine the name of your first pet with your mother's middle name.

Btw, for anyone out there wondering, Trixy was a dog.

Yesterday, my friend and I took the train to Milwaukee for Summerfest. Shortly after we got there, the heavens opened up and we got monsoon like rain for about 30 minutes. Then the clouds went away and the sun came roaring back. This made for a more pleasant stroll around the park. Shortly after 7pm we went to Amphitheater for Jack Johnson and Ben Harper concert. Somehow these teenagers (no more than 14-15) were in our section making a total fool of themselves. As one point, I had to tell one of them who kept asking me to move aside so she would jump to the next row, "to figure out where the fuck she wanted to be as her actions were getting fucking annoying." She gave me the evil eye, but knowing I could very well kick her ass, her and her friends calmed down and didn’t move until security came to kick them out for being in the wrong section. In any event, both Jack Johnson and Ben Harper were just awesome. Sadly, we had to leave early so we didn't see most of Ben's performance. After Jack ended his performance (around 9pm), we waited almost an hour before Ben came out. What's up with that? Oh well! Next time we go to Summerfest, we'll definitely have to get our act together and make sure that hotel accommodations are arranged. It makes no sense going up and coming back on the same day. Things go a little interesting after we left Summerfest for Greyhound bus terminal. Yes folks, in that Amtrak wasn't running a late train back to the city, we had to take the bus since my friend didn’t want to drive up. While sitting in station waiting for the 11:45pm bus, I felt like I was watching a scene out of some "pimps and hoes" movie. One too many women came in station wearing skirts that barely covered their ass. Oh and lets not forget the 3inch plastic/glass looking heals on most of the shoes they were wearing. Thankfully, the bus was only 15 minutes late and we were able to get back in Chicago at around 1:45 and by 2am I was soundly asleep in bed.

I almost wish I had signed up for Showtime so I could see Dead Like Me. From what I've read and seem so far, it looks rather interesting.

With wry humor, 'Dead Like Me' reaps revelations about life By Matthew Gilbert, Boston Globe Staff, 6/27/2003

Pop culture has certainly done its share for the post-life community -- you know, angels, the undead, Casper the friendly ghost, and the distant voices in John Edward's head. From Clarence Oddbody in ''It's a Wonderful Life'' to the lingering spirits in ''Six Feet Under'' and Anne Rice's emotional vampires, the denizens of eternity certainly can't complain about their representation on screens big and small. And how about the lively wired lady in ''Angels in America,'' soon to be an HBO miniseries? Indeed, the dead should be grateful.

But I digress from the matter at hand: ''Dead Like Me,'' a new Showtime series about the folks who grimly -- and wryly -- collect our souls at the moment of death. The show, which premieres tonight at 10, is a pleasingly sardonic addition to the canon of afterlife fantasies, as it imagines a culture of ''reapers'' who hang out in diners, pick the pockets of murder victims, and sleep in vacant crime-scene apartments when they're not on the clock.

Michigan will no longer be throwing out the first pitch at White Sox Big Ten Night next Tuesday. Michigan State sent in a late order which put them over the top. If half of my friends had committed, there wouldn't have been any doubt about our victory. Oh well. A few of us from Michigan still get to go out on the field and take a picture.

Choo-Choo is giving me the cold shoulder. Even though it was wicked hot earlier in the week, I failed to turn on the air conditioner. When I finally did last night, he stayed next to it the whole time. I guess it's kind of cruel to leave a long hair cat in a hot apartment. Hopefully, he'll forgive me. I'm trying so hard to be a good mother.

Book Club has finally come and gone. Thank goodness. As much as I enjoyed reading A Confederacy of Dunces 10 years ago, I didn't really enjoy it so much this time. Don't get me wrong, it's still up there on my list of top books, but what I thought was laugh out loud funny the first go around, was just too painful to read this time. I felt sorry for the main character Ignatius and all the supporting caricatures. Plus he was just awful to his poor mother and there were many moments when I just wanted to abandon the book. In fact, I had to dedicate much of last Sunday to sitting at Barnes & Noble to get through it all. This go around, the book seemed somewhat sophomoric and even grotesque at times. This unexpected change of heart made me get really anxious to hear what others in the group though of my selection. No surprise, the reviews were mixed. Nonetheless, it made for a lively discussion. So in the end, I am comfortable with my selection. Having led my own book club for a number of years, I know that it’s no fun when everyone feels the same way about a book. In any event, maybe I’ll reread when I’m in a better state of mind. No question about it, my current worries about the job among other things, made me less patient with Toole's masterpiece this second time around.

If you had the opportunity to throw out first pitch at a White Sox baseball game, would you take it? Or give it to someone who really cared about the game and the team? This is my dilemma.

Update: Someone else will represent Michigan and throw out the first pitch. But I get to be on the field. Oh goodness. Trying to stay calm.

Only in Boston could it be possible for one brother (Bill Bulger) to be president of a major university while the other (Whitey) is allegedly running the Boston mafia.

Newsweek, June 30 issue — Bostonians follow the Bulgers like they’re “The Sopranos.” For decades, “good brother” Bill ran the Massachusetts Senate while “bad brother” Whitey ran Boston’s underworld.

ONE PUSHED THROUGH legislation on child abuse while the other pushed out his Italian competition by becoming an FBI informant. Whitey was so wily that he made a de facto gang member out of his FBI handler, who was arrested in 1995 while Whitey fled and took up residence on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list.

Bill, now president of the University of Massachusetts, has battled allegations that he aided Whitey and benefited from mob influence. Under immunity last week in Washington, Bill, 69, told an incredulous Government Reform Committee that he didn’t know where Whitey was. He worries that his critics will seize on minor inconsistencies in his testimony. “I hope everyone knows that if you tell a story eight times you’re going to get eight different versions,” Bulger told NEWSWEEK. He lambasted the Feds for forcing him to testify. “At one time it was effective to put people on a rack, too,” he said. “Is it ethical to play family member against family member?”

Well the US Supreme Court has finally ruled re Michigan affirmative action cases. I suppose it could have been a lot worse.

Court Upholds Use of Race in College Admissions With Limits By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Monday June 23rd, 2003

WASHINGTON-- In two split decisions, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that minority applicants may be given an edge when applying for admissions to universities, but limited how much a factor race can play in the selection of students.

The high court struck down a point system used by the University of Michigan, but did not go as far as opponents of affirmative action had wanted. The court approved a separate program used at the University of Michigan law school that gives race less prominence in the admissions decision-making process.

The Constitution "does not prohibit the law school's narrowly tailored use of race in admissions decisions to further a compelling interest in obtaining the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body," Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote.

The court divided in both cases. It upheld the law school program that sought a "critical mass" of minorities by a 5-4 vote, with O'Connor siding with the court's more liberal justices to decide the case.

The court split 6-3 in finding the undergraduate program unconstitutional. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist wrote the majority opinion in the undergraduate case, joined by O'Connor and Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Stephen Breyer.

Justices John Paul Stevens, David Souter and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented.

If you haven't yet done so, check out Gapers Block a new web publication here in Chicago.

Gapers' Block is a Chicago-centric news and events site, but it's not just another online newspaper or webzine. It contains a collaborative weblog on a wide range of topics (Merge), a calendar highlighting events you might not have heard about (Slowdown/Headlights) and a weekly feature (Detour), as well as a daily photo (Rearview), featured music (Jam) and a question to ponder and discuss (Fuel). Consider it an antidote to all those sites infatuated with the coasts.

As of this very minute, my blogshares portfolio is valued @ $2,117,729.61. Wow! I so wish this was real money. If I had that much in real life, I'd quit Corporate America and start my around that world travels.

Sean Duffy of Real World Boston fame and professional lumberjack competitor is thinking of running for Congress. Oh goody! Actually the former MTV star is now the district attorney for Ashland County. But since he's only been doing that job since June 2002, maybe he should wait a bit longer. Either way, he'll still have an uphill battle if he really wants to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Obey who has been in Congress since 1969. Yikes. Maybe it's not such a bad thing that Sean wants to run. No one should be in Congress that long; even if they are a Democrat.

Speaking of Congress, is anyone watching Nathan Lane's new sitcom show: Charlie Lawrence? It's halfway funny.

Choo-Choo has informed me (yes I speak Cat-ish) that he is on strike. From doing what I have no idea since all he does is sleep, eat, poo and run around chasing his own tail. In any event, said strike will continue until I go out and get his favorite treats -- Pounce. If I do not, he will continue his non stop meowing to annoy the heck out of me. This will remain at a high pitch particularly when I'm trying to sleep. Can you believe this? Spoiled beyond belief. Oh, what was I thinking when I adopted him. Crazy cat!

Following Robyn over at Ain't Too Proud To Blog (who is a Oklahoma Sooner fanatic), I had to check out the Sports Illustrated preview for Michigan Wolverines. And let me say that I completely agree with their analysis of Michigan's chances this year. More importantly, Sports Illustrated is correct when they write: “anything less than a trip to a Bowl Championship Series venue will be regarded as a failure.” But hey, are you really surprised?

Michigan's offense got bogged down [last year] against the three best defenses it faced -- Notre Dame's, Iowa's and Ohio State's. That cannot happen this year, because the defense will have to fill holes with underclassmen. Navarre has to display continued progress after a strong junior year. New passing threats to replace Joppru and fullback B.J. Askew and another running option to complement Perry must emerge.

Defensively, a steady playmaker must be unearthed to replace Hobson, and a banged-up linebacker corps has to get healthy by opening day. A favorable schedule, with Penn State and Wisconsin replaced by Northwestern and Indiana, sets the Wolverines up to challenge Ohio State for Big Ten supremacy. If they can survive early tests against Notre Dame and Oregon, the Wolverines could be Sugar Bowl-bound.

Oh yeah! GO BLUE!!

I came home tonight to find two different packages waiting for me. I was completely surprised as I hadn't ordered anything. After opening, I realized that two of my blog readers sent me books. From my Amazon wish list, Becky from Becky's Journal sent me: Tepper Isn't Going Out by Calvin Trillin. The second book sent by "His Written Words" is: The Moviegoer by Walker Percy. After reading the description on Percy's book (which was not on my wish list), I couldn't help but laugh out loud. It's just the sort of book I like to read. So can't wait to tackle both. Unfortunately, I can't start until I finish rereading A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole since I'm leading book club next Thursday. In any event, a public THANK YOU to both Becky and His Written Words. You've both made my day. I'll be sure to report back after I finish reading them both.

My best guy friend (Toonces the Driving Cat), links to the list of 100 GREATEST AMERICAN MOVIES OF ALL TIME according to American Film Institute. He's seen 28 of the movies list. I've seen exactly 50 which is quite respectable (so is 28 for that matter), but still surprised that there are many classic that I have not yet viewed (see below). So wondering, how do other people fair with the list?

At the monthly meetup event on wednesday night, I had dinner and drinks at Third Coast restaurant with fellow Chicago bloggers who are worthy of a shout out. So go check out their sites: Alice, Andrew, Paul, Phineas, Rachael, Shylo, and Nikolai.

Today is Juneteenth Day. Go forth and celebrate.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future.

I need to stop reading Fucked Company. It's depressing the heck out of me.

With the Chicago Tribune article coming up, I’m starting to tell more “real world” friends about my site. Earlier today, I forwarded the link to one of my best guy friends from LexisNexis who is this very minute on his way to Scotland. He wrote back:

This comment pleases me to no end. It's a shame we don't live in the same town anymore. He moved from Chicago to Washington DC a few years ago. During the four years we worked together, he was like a big brother to me. I’ve missed that. I remember one time I was in such a crappy mood at work and he went and got me a dozen yellow roses. I still have those rose pedals. I'm sure he'll be surprised to find out that I kept them.

I laughed out loud when I read:

Link via Becky's Journal.

My best guy friend told me a funny story last night about his burning bush. Hoping that my mentioning it here will encourage him to write about it at his livejournal site: Toonces, the Driving Cat's Journal.

I'm not 100% sure where David Blankenhorn @ MarriageMovement.org gets this data below, but if correct, it’s definitely good news.

TRENDS: Thinking back on recent reports, it appears that the following things have happened since about 1995. Proportion of African-American children in own-two-parent married couple homes, up. Proportion of all U.S. children in two-parent homes, up. Martial fertility, up. Reported marital happiness, up. Proportion of children born to unwed parents, roughly stagnant. Teen pregnancy, down. Teen sex, down. Abortion, down. Child poverty, down. Concentrated poverty (live in neighborhoods where 40 percent or more are poor), down. We have to grow up and face facts: there is some good news.

Andrew Hecht writes about his job as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Samoa via: American Idle. Go check out his blog. Particularly the photo gallery. From reading his blog and looking at pictures, it looks like he's working hard but also having a great time.

Martha Stewart’s fall from grace makes me sad. While I think she might actually be guilty of the charges, there are others who have done more egregious things that are not being prosecuted. As my friend Leigh pointed out earlier this month, she is being "singled out for selective prosecution of what is, at best, a minor infraction that should normally be handled by a fine." Plus, what happen to all those crooks from Enron & WorldCom? While I'm sure Martha is a demanding diva, you've got to give proper props to a woman who marketed her name into a billion dollar brand. So even if she has to serve a little time, I'm sure she's rise again.

Chicago Tribune Red Eye: Tuesday, June 17th, 2003. Martha Stewart's indictment led to jokes like: Wonder what the decorating diva's going to do with her jail cell?

Within a day after she was served her court papers last week, a contest was under way to help Martha decorated her potential new digs. Worth1000.com, Photoshop contest Web site, supplied the basic jail cell image and asked for entrants to decorate it "in a way that would be suitable for the green of gracious living."

Entries were posted with names such as "Doing time in style," "Home Sweet Cell" and "Pretty in Stripes," which included Martha in a matching striped suit and hat.

RedEye's favorite is a mock-up of a Martha Stewart Living magazine cover featuring article topics such as "Special Linens for Cot-sized Beds" and "The Zen of Concrete."

Check out all 27 entries at http://www.worth1000.com under Martha's New Digs.

Ok, so some of the designs are kind of funny, but I'm thinking Martha will have the last laugh.

While at Playboy, here's a little survey I found that in quite interesting.

The odds a married woman will have an affair

Before 2 years of marriage: 1 in 8
Between 2 and 10 years of marriage: 1 in 5
After 10 years of marriage: 1 in 5

The odds a married man will have an affair:

Before 2 years of marriage: 1 in 7
Between 2 and 10 years of marriage: 1 in 4
After 10 years of marriage: 1 in 3

No wonder the divorce rates are so high. Hmmm. Perhaps its not a bad thing that I'm still single.

Btw, in case you're wondering why prudish me was at the Playboy site, well I was there reading this article. Really, I was. :)

Have you had sex at a Wal-Mart? If so, Playboy wants your story.

Playboy: Wal-Mart recently stopped selling a trio of salacious and sophomoric lad rags after reporting "customer complaints" about their cock-tease pictorials and dumpster-diving humor. It's the corporation's latest puritanical move to stop you from reading anything even remotely racy (women's mags are now covered with binders to conceal sexy cutlines, and even the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue once got booted off its racks). While the world's largest retailer may think its decision to nix these men's mags will make its millions of customers and employees less lusty, we bet all it has done is increase sexual frustration along their aisles.

With all that pent-up passion, we had to wonder -- what kind of sex is going on inside Sam Walton's 2,700-plus stores? Have you ever saddled up in a stockroom? Gotten frisky in the intimate apparel section? Shot off in the gun department? Send us your sexiest stories -- or your funniest romantic misadventures -- from within Wal-Mart's walls. We'll publish the best responses this summer.

Yet another gimmick to get you to buy overpriced water.

NEWSWEEK: June 23 issue; Body: Is It All Wet? A drink that promises to help improve your skin.

How much would you pay for a drink that promises to help improve your skin? Adam Zizmor hopes it’s at least $3. His SkinCola beverage, launched in February and now heavily —advertised, contains only purified water, activated oxygen and trace amounts of 16 minerals. (It’s $18 per six-pack at skincola.com.) Zizmor claims it’ll hyperhydrate your skin. But several medical experts—who haven’t analyzed it, but have checked out the list of ingredients—say it’s no better than basic tap water (though it manages to taste worse). Emory University dermatologist Carl Washington concludes, “This is Madison Avenue, not science.” Zizmor stands by his product: “In our extensive research, we know this helps people feel better about themselves.”
—Barney Gimbel

People, don't believe the hype.

Now I know why celebrities hate having their pictures taken. After awhile, all the fake smiling starts to hurt. How come you ask I can relate to this? Well for about half an hour today, I had my picture taken by photographer for the Chicago Tribune. She must have taken 200 pictures from various angles within my apartment and I know they'll only use one, maybe two at most. Why? Well, I'll be profiled along with 3 other women bloggers in upcoming Chicago Tribune's Woman News section. I'm sort of nervous about it all. So I just hope that whatever the reporter quoted me as saying doesn't make me sound stupid. I gave the interview shortly after coming back from New York vacation. Plus, this means that I’ll have to tell some close friends about my blog. Yeah to some it's still a secret. I told my family (really my two sisters), but didn't really tell some of the girls I hang around with on a regular basis. I suppose I just wanted to remain anonymous with the group. Oh well! They were bound to find it eventually as I’m using my real name. In any event, I'm not sure about exact day when article will be published, but it's sometime not in the distance future. So stay tuned.

[Udpate 9:12pm]: Emailed reporter to get timeline for publication of article. She indicated it would be either July 9th or 16th. Once it goes live, I'll be sure to provide the link. In the mean time, I'll try and get ready for my 15 minutes of blogging fame. How will I get ready? Well, I'll be blogging of course!!!

I found a new toy. No, I won't talk about it --- but it's fantastic!!!!!

I often fantasize about moving to London, but in that it continues to be one of the most expensive cities in the world, that might not be the smartest idea. Know that London is only ranked 7th on list. Toyko is the most expensive city in the world. Yikes!

(CNN) -- Monday, June 16, 2003 Tokyo has regained its mantle as the world's most expensive city, replacing Hong Kong, according to a new cost of living survey.

Hong Kong has fallen to fourth, while Moscow retains the No. 2 spot. Japan's second-largest city Osaka, is in third position.

Beijing is in fifth place, giving Asia four of the world's five most expensive cities.

The South Korean capital Seoul ranks No. 8, behind London.

The strength of the euro against the dollar has pushed Geneva and Zurich into the top 10 for the first time at 6th and 9th respectively, while New York, which provides the baseline cost, has fallen to 10th spot.

Two cities that were in the top 10 last year, Shanghai and Russia's St Petersburg, placed 11th and 12th this year, reflecting the rapid rise of Geneva -- up from 28th spot in 2002 - and Zurich, which was 32nd last year.

The annual survey by human resources consultants Mercer looks at 144 cities around the world and measures the comparative cost of more than 200 items. These include housing, food, clothing, household goods, transport and entertainment. The Mercer index assigns New York as the base city with 100 points.

WORLD'S TOP 10
Rank and score
1. Tokyo 126.1
2. Moscow 114.5
3. Osaka 112.2
4. Hong Kong 111.6
5. Beijing 105.1
6. Geneva 101.8
7. London 101.3
8. Seoul 101.0
9. Zurich 100.3
10. New York 100.0

Btw, U.S. cities White Plains (25 miles north of New York), Los Angeles, Chicago and Miama ranked 20th, 22nd, 25th and 27th.

According to Forbes magazine, Austin is the top city for singles. Chicago ranks 11th on list of top 40 largest metropolitan areas. Pittsburg is ranked 40th. Cities are ranked based on the following areas: nightlife, culture, job growth, number of other singles, cost of living alone and coolness. Below you'll find a list of the top ten.

1. Austin

2. Denver-Boulder

3. Boston

4. Washington-Baltimore

5. Atlanta

6. San Francisco-Oakland

7. Los Angeles

8. New York

9. Raleigh-Durham

10. Dallas-Fort Worth

As Forbes pointed out, things are really happening in the heart of Texas. It has two cities on the list of top 10. In addition, Austin topped their list of places for business and careers last month. Dallas was 9th. I suppose it's time for me to throw out all those stereotypes I had about Texas.

Tonight's 60 Minutes episode had a great segment on the "children of blacks who once fled the South and segregation are now returning to find better lives than they had in the North." If you missed the segment, go check out article titled: Going Home To The South. Here is an excerpt from the article:

Children of many blacks who once fled the South and segregation are now returning to find better lives than they had in the North. Reporters who covered the civil rights revolution of the 1960s know the bitterness felt by those who were back then known as Negroes - bitterness at the humiliation inflicted on them by Southern whites.

As a result, millions fled North in search of jobs, education, dignity.

But now, millions of their children are finding out that their best chance of living the American Dream is in the South, in places like the suburbs around Charlotte, North Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Houston, Texas; and especially Atlanta, Georgia.

And ironically, while their parents and grandparents may have fought for integration, many of them have chosen to live in all-black communities. Black suburban Atlanta may look like Beverly Hills, but it’s Mecca for many new migrants who are buying homes worth from $200,000 to more than $2 million. And new subdivisions keep sprouting, marketed especially to blacks.

Jeff Moten and his wife, Wanda, were in the first wave of this new migration. Ten years ago, they moved here from outside New York City. Most of their neighbors are also former Northerners.

“I blazed a trail to get out of New York,” says Moten. “I just wanted a better way for my kids.”

That better way includes a lower crime rate than up North, easy access to athletic facilities and to the arts, and several performances a week at Atlanta's Chastain Park – which includes champagne, Chopin and Nancy Wilson.

It’s a marvelous life, one that more blacks can now afford. Black buying power nationwide has doubled in the last decade. Half of all black households are now middle and upper income. And more blacks are graduating from high school and college so they're able to land better jobs and buy better homes.

Moten's neighbors, Eduard and Shari Weathers, and Keith and Detra Burrell said moving South brought them the promised land.

“My father used to always say, 'Stop asking for a piece of the pie. Make your own damn pie.' And this is us making our own pie,” says Detra Burrell.

Heck, maybe I need to move South. I too, would like to find the promise land.

On this father's day, I have no one to say Happy Father's Day to. It's sad really, but that's my reality. It sucks to be an orphan. Ok, well maybe I'm not an orphan per se, but it feels that way. My mother has been dead for almost 10 years and my contact with my father has been minimal for twice that long. I know where he is, but I haven't made the effort. Mostly because every time I reach out, I get hurt. The last time was my college graduation. He made a big deal about wanting to be there, and then he never showed up. We later learnt that he was walking another daughter down the isle that same weekend. Someone we were not aware of. Supposedly, he has 12 children. My older sister and I were the first and second. Besides my older sister, I really don't know any of them. One wrote me once asking for money, I never responded. It's sad really. He never acted like a real father would. In many respects, he was just a sperm donor.

Earlier today, I spent some time at The Old Towne Art Fair. It's the oldest outdoor juried art fair in the country with "more than 250 invited artists displaying their paintings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics, jewelry and more." I can't say I really looked at the art, as I was more chatting it up with friends and people watching. Then we stopped by my coworkers party for drinks before heading to Las Piñatas for dinner. The plan was then to head to the St. Micheal's Celebration but as we were all under-dressed for this cold weather, the group split up and most headed home. Speaking of cold, what is up with the weather here in Chicago? We have yet to have a day over 80 degrees. This is really starting to get depressing. Plus it must be hurting sales at all these summer festivals. Lots of people were out and about today, but it wasn't as crowded as it normally is. Thinking the weather had something to do with that.

I don't remember entering any spelling bee contest when I was younger, but apparently 9 million children do each year. Of those 9million, 249 win regional contest and are offered the chance to compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee held in Washington DC each spring. Spellbound a documentary movie I saw last night "follows eight boys and girls of various ages, backgrounds, and social classes as they chase the same dream: winning the 1999 National Spelling Bee." Very cute. If you have a chance, and want to get a peak into this world or better yet relive your own spelling bee memories, go see the movie. It's amazing to see how much time and energy these kids put into chasing this almost elusive dream.

Wrigley Company just got a patent to deliver 'Viagra' via gum. I wonder if you'll need a prescription for that.

I talk about my years at Michigan and my involvement with the Alumni Association so much that I thought it was time to show my true colors: Maize and Blue. For those of you who liked the old colors (which were just a tad too Ohio State), don't worry, they'll make an appearance again. Perhaps sooner that you think. For now let's all sing: HAIL TO THE VICTORS!!!

I don't think I can go to my favorite lunch place anymore. Today, just as the waitress was putting food down at another table closeby, a bug (really cockroach) crawled across the plate. I didn't see the bug but it was supposedly HUGE. All four people who were at the table were so traumatized that they bolted out of restaurant. I can't say I really blame them. In that we had already eaten our lunch and were just sitting around shooting the breeze, we sat there in shock. And now I don't want to go back there. But bummed, as this burger pub was convenient, it had a great atmosphere and it served decent food. So I'm wondering, if you were there when this happened, would you go back?

Now if only they could find a cure.

Researchers Track Down AIDS Virus to Monkeys 1 hour, 32 minutes ago Add Science - Reuters to My Yahoo! By Sue Pleming WASHINGTON (Reuters) - European and U.S. researchers tracking the origins of the AIDS (news - web sites) virus said on Friday they had traced it to monkeys in Africa later eaten by chimpanzees who were then butchered by humans for meat.

Four years ago, the same researchers argued humans probably got the AIDS virus from chimpanzees carrying the simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV, the precursor to the HIV virus (news - web sites).

"This highlights some parallels between chimpanzees and humans in that humans have acquired HIV (news - web sites) by eating and butchering chimpanzees and chimps have got SIV by eating monkeys," Paul Sharp, a genetics professor at the University of Nottingham in England, told Reuters in a telephone interview.

SIVs are a large family of viruses carried by many species of monkeys in Africa but chimpanzees are the only apes known to be naturally infected.

Sharp and researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Duke University, Tulane University and the University of Montpellier in France published their findings in Friday's edition of Science magazine.

I'm quite pleased to read that a member of the Michigan "Fab Five" team is giving back to the community.

In February 1994, Juwan Howard founded the Juwan Howard Foundation. The Mission of the Foundation is to embrace at risk inner city children living with little hope. The Foundation provides assistance for a better education, expanded recreational opportunities, moral support and encouragement to at-risk children living in the inner cities of Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Chicago, and Michigan communities.

The Juwan Howard Foundation has been successful in providing over 31,000 articles of warm clothing to area children and adults living in Metropolitan Washington and Chicago, through its Warm Hearts Drive. The Foundation has also provided free basketball/educational camps to kids at-risk in Washington, D.C. and Chicago.

The Juwan Howard Foundation also sponsored a Literacy Challenge for Chicago students in 2002, rewarding frequent reading with a chance to attend Celebrity Basketball Camp. The Challenge objectives were to motivate elementary students to become avid readers; to develop lifelong readers and a love for reading; to improve achievement test scores; and to involve parents in their child's reading development.

Btw, Juwan was the first NBA player to leave college early, and yet graduate on time with a B.A. in communications and a minor in business. Go Juwan!

My list of recommended blogs is getting long, so be forewarned, if you haven't updated in a month (yup I'm giving people that long), you are in jeopardy of being removed from my blogroll.

Invisible Adjunct has a few interesting posts that discuss the value and relevance of a liberal arts degree. It's quite timely that I stumbled upon this discussion, as I've actually been thinking about this very same thing. If you've been reading me awhile, you know that I'm somewhat jaded about the sales profession but I'm not sure what to do next. More importantly, while I got a well rounded liberal arts degree from Michigan, I'm not sure it really prepared me to enter a "profession". Sometimes I wish I had majored in say nursing or engineering instead of political science/communications. Of course, those wouldn't have been good choices for me since I'm not really interested in either -- but at least they would have been more tangible, more marketable.

In any event, go read the posts below. They make for interesting reading:
What is the purpose of a liberal arts undergraduate education?
Pursue a Liberal Arts Degree and Join the Ranks of the Non-Industrial Proletariat?

An oh yeah, when you're done with that, if you have time, check out:

1 in 5: Thomas H. Benton Explains Why You Shouldn't Go to Graduate School.

Go listen while it's still there...

BBC News, Thursday, 12 June, 2003, 13:34 GMT 14:34 UK An extract from the audio recording of the fifth Harry Potter book has been made available on the internet. It gives fans, awaiting the global release of the book on 21 June, a brief glimpse of Harry's next adventure.

Details of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix have been kept a closely-guarded secret ahead of its release.

There is a legal injunction forbidding anyone from revealing any of the plot, but the extract can be found on the Amazon and AOL websites in the United States.

The one minute and 45 second clip, read by Carry On actor Jim Dale, gives fans the first taste of the latest wizarding tale as Harry embarks on another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The extract is taken from the US audio recording read by Dale, who has now narrated all five Harry Potter books.

Jim Dale voices the Harry Potter books in the US
In the UK the audio recording is voiced by actor Stephen Fry.

British actor Dale creates 134 characters for the latest recording, which runs for more than 26 hours over 17 cassette tapes.

When Harry Potter is released it is expected to be an instant bestseller, with shops holding midnight openings to allow readers to be among the first to get hold of a copy.

The four previous Harry Potter books have sold 200 million copies in 55 languages.

Btw, once at the Amazon page for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, you'll need to scroll to middle and then click on RealOne Player link to listen to audio excerpt.

This article is good for a chuckle:

Reality Bites: Law Firm Drops 'Love or Money' Bachelor By Lisa de Moraes, Washington Post Thursday, June 12, 2003; Page C07

Like the Trojan women -- at least in the movie -- the women of "For Love or Money" (FLOM) have risen to moral victory over skanky man Rob Campos.

Campos, the lawyer-bachelor on NBC's pick-a-chick series, has been dumped by his Dallas firm because, the law firm's founder says, the FLOM Women were so repulsed by Campos's behavior in this week's episode.

The report that appeared earlier this week on the Web site thesmokinggun.com, which said Campos had been pulled out of the military's judge advocate general training program for drunkenly groping a female officer, didn't help either, Mathur Law Offices founder Sanjay Mathur told the TV Column yesterday.

To read the actual press release from Mather Law Offices, expressing their outrage (yeah right!) go here.

I went to Garcia's Restaurant for dinner with two friends. One is in the middle of planning a wedding. The other just recently started dating someone. So after catching up on their love life, they start asking me about mine. Well as you and I know, it's non-existent. I even found myself saying that while it would be nice to have a boyfriend, I'm not sure that I really want one. As I sit here now thinking about it, can't believe those words came out of my mouth. Who am I kidding? It really would be nice to have a steady boyfriend. So here's hoping cupid will be kind and send one my way sometime this summer. In the meantime, I'll continue enjoying the single life.

Do you see a pattern here?

Conscious self	Overall self

Take Free Enneagram Test

Ok. I swear. I'm officially done with these personality type test.

When I'm tipsy as I am now, I get chatty. Too bad no one is here for me to get chatty with. Too bad it's too late to call a certain person. Maybe Choo-Choo will talk to me. Perhaps I can tell him about the brother/sister I almost adopted today when I went with a friend to The Anti-Cruelty Society. My friend, really coworker was adopting a cat. They had the cutest kittens there today. Choo-Choo will be most pleased to hear that no one will be moving in to claim a part of his domain but I was so tempted. I decided against a second cat as I don't want to become the crazy cat lady. Btw, in case you're wondering, no I wasn't at home drinking alone. After beach volleyball we went to Duffy's where I partook in all that is good but bad for me.

A word to the wise, watch what you say to friends because during difficult times the information you share in confidence could potentially will be used to further destroy your character and credibility.

I would like a signed first edition copy of Senator Clinton's book: Living History. With 1million in print, I won't have a problem getting a first edition copy. But getting a signed one will be more problematic. I just checked ebay and already the prices are out of whack. One auction is at $222 with two more days to go. I googled to see if I could find out whether or not she'll be in Chicago but Newsday article indicates that Simon & Schuster "is not releasing the tour itinerary for logistical and security reasons." So I guess I'll have to take my chances and hope she visits sometime this summer. $50 is as high as I'll go for a signed copy. So with ebay prices what they are, my chances of owning one are probably slim to none. Oh well!

Andrew Sullivan is having another pledge week to raise money to run his blog. As mentioned over at Ain't Too Proud to Blog, "I read Andrew's blog, but I have no intentions of sending him a dime." I don't pay to read The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe or any other major publication out there, so I'm sure as hell not going to pay Andrew to read his blog. Besides, he raised $80K six months ago. Now he's saying he needs more because he's spending more time on the blog and expenses continue to go up and he "needs a salary of sort". Oh cry me a river. I think it's irreprehensible of him to be asking his readership for more money so soon. Even with paying for hosting expenses and having a part time assistant, the $80K raised should be enough to carry him for a year. Besides, doesn't he get income from his other jobs? If he really needs additional funding to run his blog, then I suggest he solicit corporate advertising. I've given donations to a few bloggers who are raising money for charity and even one who had fallen on hard times. But I haven't given anyone money just to run their blog and I won't be starting anytime soon. Should it ever get to the point were I have to run a pledge drive to maintain my own blog, I'll shut it down. I'm not against people having amazon.com and/or paypal links which would allow someone to make a donation should they so choose, but I won't pay a monthly or annual fee to read any blog no matter how good the writing. Andrew and some of the other big name blogs offer an interesting perspective on current affairs, but I don't think they provide premium content. Thus I won’t be paying to read their opinions and commentary on national/world affairs any time soon. I know, never say never right? But I just don't think I would. Either way, it will be interesting to see if there is any backlash to Andrew's latest pledge drive. More importantly, how much money he raises this go around.

I swear, this is the last quiz for a while. Well until the next cool one comes my way.

Fun and spunky, you link, there for you are! This
is all fun and games, and you do what you
damned well please!

What kind of blogger am I?
brought to you by Quizilla

Link via Anything But Ordinary.

On The Travis Smiley Show today, Deborah Perry, senior fellow at the Independent Women's Forum, and Raymond Brown, attorney and adjunct law professor at Seton Hall University talked about swirling rumors that at least one U.S. Supreme Court Justice will retire when current term ends this month. They speculated that it might be either Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist's and/or Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Both thought the nomination process would get quite personal and Ms. Perry went so far as to say it would be with ugliest nomination process in history particularly if it’s Justice Sandra Day O’Connor who retires. She reasoned that many view Justice Connor as the swing vote protecting a woman's right to choose. So whomever the Bush administration puts up, better be pro-choice (highly unlikely), or they just might get Borked.

The Democrats are worried (and rightfully so) that since this is a off year for elections and the Republicans control both the White House and Congress, President Bush will probably nominate someone who is ultra conservative. Thus they are looking at tactical ways to prevent a conservative nominate from being approved. There is much talk of using the filibuster. If the prediction is true that one Justice does retire, it should be an interesting summer in the political arena.

Are you quizzed out yet? Hopefully not as here's another:

Which Peanuts Character Are You?

Btw, quiz was found over at Annessa.net.

I'm thinking of canceling my gym membership at the Chicago Sweat Shop and signing up at Pulse Fitness Center. As much as I try (and want to), I haven't gone to the Chicago Sweat Shop with any regularity for the past two years --yet I pay them about $60 a month in membership dues. So thinking about switching as Pulse Fitness offers a pay-as-you-go model. But I'm a little hesitant about making the switch because I'd be giving up access to all the classes offered at the Chicago Sweat Shop. So wondering, has anyone had any experience with these pay-as-you-go gyms? If so, I would be interested in learning more about your experience. If I really did start going to the gym on a regular basis, not sure that Pulse Fitness would be a good deal financially. However, I feel like I'm wasting money by maintaining my Chicago Sweat Shop membership. Talk about catch-22.

Jason from Negro Please! has signed up to do what I've talked about doing, but not yet made the commitment to do. That is, run a marathon with the purpose of raising money for a charity. In his case, the AIDS Project Los Angeles. One of these days, I'll get my act together and run the 26.2miles, but in the mean time, I'll just encourage those of you out there who can, to support Jason's effort. He is running for a worthy cause.

Without a doubt, one of the best things about summers in Chicago is the long list of outdoor concerts and neighborhood festivals. Last night I went to Ravina with friends for The BoDeans concert. I wasn't really familiar with their music, but concert provided a great opportunity to hang out with friends, talk and drink lots of wine and eat some good food. Thankfully the weather cooperated. Today, my friend and I spent about two hours at The Printers Row Book Fair before rain forced most of the vendors to shut things down. I got some good deals on quite a few books so I'm glad the rain didn't keep me away completely. But I really hope the weather catches up with summer here in Chicago. So far, I don't think we've had two consecutive days over 80 degrees. What is up with that? This dreary rain is starting to get depressing.

Demi Moore is taking heat for dating Ashton Kutcher who is 15 years her junior. Talk about double standards. Men in Hollywood date much younger women all the time and no one blinks an eye. A woman does it, and it's a huge deal. What gives? Personally, I see nothing wrong with this. Both are adults of legal age, and even if it's not real love (just lust) they're not hurting anyone but themselves. I'm no fan of Demi’s work, but all I’m gonna say to her is: get your groove on girl.....

I'm in the middle of doing chores, but can't stop watching the John Hughes' movie marathon on TNT. I've seen these movies (The Breakfast Club, Some Kind of Wonderful, Sixteen Candles) at least 30 times, yet I watch them every time I flip through the channels and see them on. As to be expected, these movies remind me of my years in high school during the early 80s. Not sure why I get nostalgic as they weren't the best of years, but I wonder about what's become of the people I hung around with. It's sort of sad really, but I haven't kept in touch with any friends from high school.

Most of you already know, but Sammy Sosa received a 8 game suspension for using a corked bat in Tuesday nights game against Tampa Bay. He has already appealed the suspension. Thinking he should just accept his punishment and move on. Yeah it was a mistake, but he broke the rule. Thus he deserves to be punished. So what, none of his other bats turned up with cork in them. He had an obligation to himself, the fans, the CUBS, and everyone involved with Major League Baseball. Appealing the suspension only serves to keep headlines focused on this awful situation. Thinking he would be better off without that. Plus the greater damage was done to his reputation not his checkbook. It's going to take many people, quite some time before they fully forgive him. Hopefully he learnt his lesson. Cheaters (even unintentional ones), never win.

Btw, picture at left was taken at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night after the big corking incident. Some fans booed when Sammy came up to bat, but most were pretty supportive.

It's good to hear that the U.S. Appeals Court upheld FCC rule allowing consumers to take their cell phone numbers when they switch to a different phone company. I know quite a few people who have crappy cell phone service but choose to stay with the same provider because everyone knows the number. Basically, they feel like a hostage. Starting November, they'll be able to free themselves to get better service.

Wireless Challenge to Portability Rule Rejected
Fri June 6, 2003 10:38 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld a Federal Communications Commission rule forcing wireless telephone companies to allow consumers to defect to rival carriers without having to give up their telephone number. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia turned back arguments by Verizon Wireless and the industry's trade group that the rule was unnecessary, arbitrary and capricious. The FCC said last year that the rule was needed because companies would not likely offer the option on their own, locking in consumers who wanted to change carriers but keep their number.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications VZ.N and Vodafone Group Plc VOD.L .

It's been a banner year for me with the U of Michigan Club of Greater Chicago. A little over a year ago, I got involved with the programming committee and started volunteering to help organize events and various sports teams. Through those efforts, I landed a seat on the Board a few months ago. Shortly thereafter, I met and had a five minute conversation with Michigan's President Sue Coleman at our annual meeting. Then tonight, I personally met Lloyd Carr (Head Football Coach) & Tommy Amaker (Head, Basketball Coach) at our Spring Forecast event. It doesn't get any better than this. For sure, my involvement with the Club is a bright spot in my life today and I encourage everyone out there to get involved with their school’s alumni association.

I've been thinking about my post from yesterday. I want to explain it, but as it would require me to provide specific details about work and I won't want to do that, I'll just leave it alone for now. But as I reread what I wrote, can't help but feel like I was crying wolf and that it's nice to know that there are people out there (ok, well one special person) who heard that cry and came calling. Thanks for being there.

I am having such a bad day it's so not even funny. I'm on the verge of tears. But I've got to hold things together as I'm meeting people from work in 35minutes for CUBS game. I wish I didn't have to go. I just want to curl up and cry. But I already committed weeks ago. So yeah, long before last night’s controversy. Maybe I'll drink some sparkling wine before I go. I'm so tense I'm liable to snap at the next person who talks to me.

It's going to get ugly before it's over; campaign 2004 that is. Read below.

The Truth About Bush’s “Lies” From the June 16, 2003, issue of National Review There's an idea gaining momentum among Democrats and pundits on the left: George W. Bush is a bigger liar than Bill Clinton ever was. Writers like Paul Krugman of the New York Times, E. J. Dionne and Dana Milbank of the Washington Post, and Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect have all suggested that Bush has a serious problem with the truth, while others, like The Nation's Eric Alterman, have said flatly, "President Bush is a liar." The Post's Richard Cohen invoked Mary McCarthy's famous jab at Lillian Hellman — "Every word she writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the'" — before concluding: "The same cannot yet be said about George W. Bush and his administration, but it has not been around as long as Hellman was and is not nearly as creative."

On the web, Bushwatch.com maintains a special "Bush Lies" section, while another site, Dailyhowler.com, keeps up a running commentary on the president's alleged untruths. And this fall, sometime comedian Al Franken will no doubt be pushing the idea in his book, Lies: And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them — A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right. In short, accusing the president of lying is a growth industry on the left.
What seems particularly galling to liberal writers is the notion that Bush is getting away with his lies even as his predecessor was flayed for lesser offenses. "If a Democrat, say, Bill Clinton, engaged in Bush-scale dishonesty, the press would be all over him," Drake Bennett and Heidi Pauken wrote in a recent issue of The American Prospect. "Unless the voters and the press start paying attention, all the president's lies will have little political consequence — except to certify that we have become something less than a democracy."

Former President Clinton wants back in the White House. Current constitutional rules don't allow, but Comedian Al Franken has an idea.

Newsweek, June 9th issue: Bill Clinton is the Beltway buzz after suggesting last week that the 22nd Amendment be changed to allow presidents to seek a third term. Without it, he said unironically, “you’d have had to throw me out”—failing to mention that Congress nearly did. But it turns out that if Clinton is yearning to return to the Oval Office, he might not need to change the Constitution. Here's the farfetched but arguably constitutional scenario: Clinton becomes the vice presidential running mate in 2004 for a Democrat who agrees to resign after being sworn in so that Clinton can ascend to the top job. Why would it work? Because the 22nd Amendment only bars someone who has been “elected” to serve two terms. Comedian Al Franken, a Democrat and Clinton friend, floated the notion last week. “You get Carrot Top or Strom Thurmond—or me—to run, then they step down,” he said. Scholars such as Allan J. Lichtman and Darrell West agree that Franken has a point, though the strategy would prompt an instant Supreme Court review. A Clinton spokesman dismissed the notion, though he added that his boss would relish seeing “a Franken-Bush debate.” —Howard Fineman

Btw, here is what President Clinton actually said to historian Michael Beschloss at the JFK Library and Museum last week:

"There may come a time when we have elected a president at age 45 or 50 and then 20 years later the country comes up with the same sort of problems the president faced before, and the people would like to bring that man or woman back.

I love a good catfight. Especially when it’s between two boys. One I like, the other I can't stand. I'll let you figure out which is which.

New York Post June 2, 2003 -- TEMPERS flared over the weekend in a face- to-face, TV showdown between Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly and political humorist Al Franken. A visibly shaken O'Reilly appeared to have been caught off guard by a blistering attack by Franken in the midst of a usually sedate booksellers' luncheon in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Franken, author of the forthcoming book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them," accused O'Reilly - at length - of puffing up his credentials as the former host of the TV news magazine "Inside Edition."

O'Reilly sat stone-faced during a detailed attack on his credibility - then exploded into a verbal free-for-all with Franken that was as surprising as it was intense.

Being in sales I deal with rejection all day. Normally, I don't care because I know it's almost never personal. But when rejection occurs in my personal life (no it’s not about a boy) and is of a nature that I cannot speak to, I get really sad. Hey, maybe next time right?

Paying my bills last night reminded me of why I cannot leave my current sales job never mind get out of Corporate America. So yes folks, my dream of working on a farm won't be happening anytime soon. This made me think of one of my favorite poems by Langston Hughes.

They say the best way to meet other people is through friends. So maybe I'll sign up to Friendster and invite my friends to join. Hey, it can' hurt right? Heck I might do it just to see how I connect to other people here in Chicago and across the country.

According to site, "Friendster is an online social networking community that connects people through networks of friends for dating or making new friends." Currently in Beta, site has over 200,000 members. Btw, I came across this site originally a few weeks ago via Ferra over at Every Little Thing I Do Is Magic. Now in the June 2nd issue of Newsweek, there is a little blur about the site on their Tip Sheet.

Diamonds may be a girls best friend, but pearls are a close second. So if you're looking to find that perfect gift for a special lady (Mom, wife, girlfriend) on a limited budget, check out Pearl Paradise. The prices in general are quite reasonable(for pearls that is), but you can't beat the ones listed under the fresh water category. Well it's just a thought.

Note to self and all others out there, once you have perfected your blog templates (if that’s even possible), do not continue to fiddle with them unless you have saved seperately as word or text files. You are liable to waste valuable sleep time correcting further creative efforts.

I know, not another quiz. But having seen The Matrix Reloaded yesterday afternoon, I thought it might be fun to take The Matrix persona quiz. Once again, not really surprised by the results. As for the movie, much has already been written about it, so I won't spend anytime providing summary or a review. But let's just say I was pleasantly surprised. Also, I got a kick out of seeing Harvard Divinity School Professor Cornel West in the film as a member of the council. So fitting for his personality. During my tenure at Michigan, he gave a lecture which I attended and ever since then, I've been a big fan.

You are Trinity, from "The Matrix."
Strong, beautiful- you epitomize the ultimate
heroine.

What Matrix Persona Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Since I had another movie pass that was expiring yesterday, I also went to see The Shape of Things. The theme of this movie is that people in general are overly obsessed with looks. To illustrate point, girl meets geeky boy who she pretends to like through sexual enticement, while making subtle suggestions about ways to improve his looks. Specially, she coaxes him to go on diet where he looses 25 pounds, buys new clothes, gets a stylist haircut and even a nose job. I'm going to give spoiler and tell that the climax of movie occurs went she reveals that she manipulated and ultimately humiliated him as part of her thesis project. Yup, she did it for a grade. What a bitch! He did it for love. He had even proposed marriage with his grandmother’s wedding ring. I can’t say I enjoyed the movie as there was nothing really profound about the story and it was a little weird with just four characters talking back and forth to each other in various combinations. But in the end I walked away with the following line in my head: "I choose you." No one has ever said that to me and really meant it. I wish someone would. Sad eh?