I hate blogging.

So.

I've been having so much fun not blogging this week.

And I've been kind of trying to think of something to blog about, but realizing I just don't care.

So, let's just say The Internets and I, we are on a break.

I'm going to spend some time in real life.

I don't want to brag.

But this semester, while going to school full time and working and taking care of a baby, I managed to pull off a 4.08.

Just thought y'all should know.

She bites...

I'm totally crushed.

A friend of mine from high school came to visit with her sweet little one year old daughter today. The two babies got along swimmingly.

Until. Abbie bit the cute little girl right on the cheek. Which left a bright reddish purple mark on her cute little face.

I know, I know, all little kids do this sort of thing eventually. But still. I feel so bad.

Ugh. Now I know how my parents felt when I came home drunk one time.

(Well, the time they caught me.)

It's okay, though.



How long could I possibly be upset when she's such a cutie?

Gone Fishing.

But in a good way, not in a burned-out way. It's just summer, the baby is at grandma's for the weekend, and I've been meaning to catch up on all the projects around the house I can never get done while the baby is here.

Plus, drink beer in the middle of the day. And, get past that stupid demon wall in the Dynast-King's tomb in Final Fantasy 12.

Hey, I may be pushing 30, but I'm still technically a college kid!

So have fun, kids, and don't mess up the carpets. I'll be back on Monday.

Happy Belated Mother's Day

Mothers win the Oppression Olympics, I've decided.

They less likely to be hired or taken seriously in the workplace.

The basic idea is this: Correll wanted to see if there was a motherhood penalty in the job market. So she and her Cornell University colleagues created a résumé for an ideal job applicant. This imaginary woman had a successful track record, an uninterrupted work history and a great curriculum vitae.

But for other résumés, Correll and her colleagues added a little something extra: They described the woman as an officer in a Parent-Teacher Association.

I mean, that's a good thing, right? Wouldn't PTA involvement be the mark of someone who was committed, responsible and involved -- qualities that would probably translate well from personal to professional life?

Apparently not. According to Goodman, the "mothers" in the study were seen as less competent and committed, were half as likely to be hired as childless women or men with or without children, and were offered $11,000 less in starting pay than their childless peers. (Goodman points out that they were also judged more harshly for tardiness.)

And on a note that I find more personally affecting, they're apparently less able to write politics for a parenting blog.

However, I must assume that despite the fact that the site asserts that life doesn’t end when one becomes a parent, political life does indeed end when you have kids.

Why must I assume that?

Well, see, if Amanda Marcotte, who doesn’t want children, er, wait, I’m sorry, she calls them ‘Virility Objects,’ has to do the political writing at Offsprung, then I must assume that there aren’t any parents out there that care about politics. There must not be any feminist moms out there. Any democratic dads. That’s really the only explanation I can come up with.

Honestly, Amanda's a good writer and all, but really? There weren't any parents blogging about politics they could think of? 'Cause I can think of a few right off the top of my head.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Jerry Falwell, R.I.P. I guess.

***ADDED*** Inspired by Kyra in the comments of this Feministe thread, I'm asking readers (cricket noises) to donate to these groups in Falwell's name.

Planned Parenthood.

GLAAD.

The National AIDS Fund.

PFLAG.

The Lambda Legal Defense Fund.

The ACLU.

And last but not least, PBS, home of the Teletubbies.

May Fred Phelps visit his funeral.

**ADDED II** Anyone know of any atheist charities?

**ADDED III** Apparently Fred Phelps will be protesting at Jerry Falwell's funeral. Jesus Fucking Christ on a Goddamn cracker, how much of a fucking whackjob is Fred Phelps that Jerry Falwell didn't hate gays enough?

Somebody please tell me...

Why does it take four to six weeks to process unemployment? They know I'm applying for it because I need the money now, right?

Otherwise, I'd just wait four to six weeks and then file for it.

Meanwhile, T-Mobile...please don't cut my phone off!

Yay!

All done! Finals go bye-bye!

Now I'm off to play a video game or something like a proper unemployed student during the summer.

Just when I thought I was out...

...I pulled myself back in.

Okay, so inspired by Belledame I was browsing Pink videos on YouTube.

Don't tell the me from five years ago. But this is the best song ever.



I even kind of like it better than the original. Even though Christina Aguilera looks like Dee Snider.



Although, I kind of prefer the sparkly-boob-crotch costume.

Now. I am stepping away from the computer.

Whhhyyyyyy!!!!

But I don't want to study! I want to plaaaaayyy!

My dad took the babes for the night. So I'm giving myself *one hour* to aimlessly play on the internets before I put my nose in a book for the final time this semester.

Seriously, one hour. If you see me commenting somewhere tell me to go study!

Hmm.

Haloscan comments appear to be having issues. Just an FYI.

Does this post make me sound like a concern troll?

You know, upon reading some responses to a post by a certain matriarch of a certain segment of the feminist blogtopia (y!sctp!) I have to wonder...where are my tool-of-the-patriarchy rewards? (Also, this has been on my mind ever since Ren started getting all the shit from a similar quadrant of the blogosphere.) Honestly, what prize am I winning? Is it like frequent-flyer miles? Do I have to redeem something with a promotional code at checkout? Because, honestly, I feel like I'm missing out.

I just don't get it. How do I , by being myself, by being what La Twisty and the Twistophants would dismissively term "empowerful" or "fun feminist" or "sexbot," how do I gain anything? What have I won? If anything, people take me *less* seriously when I wear a dress and makeup and heels or whatever.

Also, I have a hard time separating that attitude from this attitude.

It makes me think of Biting Beaver's situation a while back (which, BTW, is the situation millions of women are in around the world). You know, something that happened to a real woman, not a theoretical construct based on outdated 1970s ideological philosophy. What, what may I ask you, could Biting Beaver have worn or not worn that would have made her situation better? If she had said she 'supports porn' or something would she have avoided all of the problems she had?

I don't think so.

Certainly many of the women who die from unsafe septic abortions were wearing heels at the time. What did they win?

There is no avoiding the patriarchy (and let's leave aside any arguments as to what that is, exactly, for the moment). 'They' hate you because you're a woman, not because you're a woman with comfy shoes and pants on. It's going to get you no matter how you dress. If I'm wearing heels it won't make it easier for me to get adequate reproductive health care, or make it easier for me to prosecute a rape. Lipstick won't get me paid maternity leave. Long hair doesn't win me equal pay.

(Granted, there are the jobs that require a 'professional' dress code...but this goes for both sexes, no? The only person I know in real life with a 'professional' job is a male lawyer friend, who bitches constantly about having to sweat under his suit and tie, and shave, and be all kempt and manicured and stuff.)

I do think it's possible to talk about these things without sounding like a huge, shaming asshole (see, for instance, this post by Zuzu) but mostly it just makes me want to tear my hair out.

So please, put the Sherry Ortner back on the shelf.

Now, I really really need to go study for my last final.

Arrr.

You scored as Captain Jack Sparrow. Roguish,quick-witted, and incredibly lucky, Jack Sparrow is a pirate who sometimes ends up being a hero, against his better judgement. Captain Jack looks out for #1, but he can be counted on (usually) to do the right thing. He has an incredibly persuasive tongue, a mind that borders on genius or insanity, and an incredible talent for getting into trouble and getting out of it. Maybe its brains, maybe its genius, or maybe its just plain luck. Or maybe a mixture of all three. Captain Jack Sparrow 88% Maximus 71% William Wallace 67% James Bond, Agent 007 67% Indiana Jones 63% Lara Croft 63% Batman, the Dark Knight 58% The Terminator 54% El Zorro 46% Neo, the "One" 42% The Amazing Spider-Man 42% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

Okay, now I *have* to study for my Archeology final.

Studying For Finals - Yes!!!

Wish me luck.

**update** Two down, two to go. Kill me now.

Friday Random Ten

The "Studying for Finals - Not!!!" edition

1. The Pixies - Holiday Song
2. Violent Femmes - Please Do Not Go
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Breaking the Girl
4. The Buzzcocks - I Don't Mind
5. Blondie - I'm Gonna Love You Too
6. Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
7. Hedwig and The Angry Inch - Tear Me Down
8. David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World
9. Cake - Hem of Your Garment
10. Rasputina - All Tomorrow's Parties

She's walking...

Oh shit.

Guess I better start babyproofing now!

Uh huh.

Presented without comment.

WASHINGTON - In a survey of U.S. troops in combat in
Iraq, less than half of Marines and a little more than half of Army soldiers said they would report a member of their unit for killing or wounding an innocent civilian.

More than 40 percent support the idea of torture in some cases, and 10 percent reported personally abusing Iraqi civilians, the
Pentagon said Friday in what it called its first ethics study of troops at the war front. Units exposed to the most combat were chosen for the study, officials said.

Because really, what is there to say?

In case anyone notices...

...Or is keeping track or anything (not that I think anyone is, but just in case) I'm going to try to start making sure to comment everywhere as Vanessa and not as plucky punk. I noticed I've been commenting at Feministe as Vanessa, and at Blogger sites as Vanessa, but as plucky punk in other places.

Just didn't want to be confusing.

Oh my God.

This woman is my mother.

The accent, the backwards political opinions, the saying "Osamaaaaa" like that, everything.

It's totally freaking me out. Growing up with my mother in New Mexico you kind of come to think of her as unique in her fantastic insanity. But really, she's just out of context, apparently.

I love you, though, Mom. Really.