As per the title of this entry:
1) Shape-ups.
If you honestly believe a pair of shoes alone is going to help you lose weight, there's a bridge in Brooklyn I could sell you. Sure, I will accept the fact that maybe they help people with back problems. Or maybe they tone your muscles a tiny bit because they have you walking on an elevation. Maybe they even do help you lose a negligible amount of weight. But the point is that you're WALKING. Not that you're walking in Shape-ups. If you wear the shape-ups and walk to the fridge for a soda, they're not going to do anything for you.
Just f*&%ing exercise. Diet pills, weight loss miracles - it all REALLY makes me angry. Simple diet modifications and exercise are the healthiest and most effective ways to lose weight. Not some $100 pair of shoes. DUH.
2) Celebrities who say they eat like pigs, yet are a size negative 3.
God. I read about this all the time. Annalynn McCord (who the hell is she anyway?) loves burgers. Shakira loves food. Kim Kardashian probably loves stuffing her face with lard. Yet... they still all have no body fat. Why? Probably because after they splurge on that burger or that lard, they spend 3 hours in a gym with a $1,000/session personal trainer. But no one ever says that, now do they? Stars who claim they eat whatever they want and don't work out and still look like a pencil are lying. LYING.
Also, stars who say they were dorks in high school are lying. Except maybe the guy who plays Screech. Or Justin Long. I could believe he was a dweeb-monger.
Ok. Glad I got that off my chest. Now I'm going to go eat 10 burgers and then walk 15 steps in my shape-ups. That should do the trick. Slimmer, toned thighs - here I come!!!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Grammar Gripe of the Week
From Yahoo (r) answers. Just pitiful. First off, it's a dumb question, which sounds like it was written by a teenage kid working on a D.A.R.E. (to keep kids off drugs!) project. Have you got a phrase? No, dillwad. I don't own any phrases. I may KNOW a few phrases. Also, "in courage" is something they would put on a soldier's badge. I think you were going for "encourage." It's called vocabulary. Learn it.Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Oh Goody! A typo in the WSJ!
Going from the NYTimes to the WSJ is like going from day to night. The two are completely different - and I like to get the contrast when I'm reading the news. And while I'm reading the news in either publication, I LOVE finding typos (but you already knew that). So here's a little gem I found in an article today:
But this downtown has brought heavy layoffs to the financial and auto industries, two places where generous exit packages remain more common.
New York City has brought heavy layoffs? Or maybe the author was talking about DC. Or MAYBE... the author meant DOWNTURN?
The article, should you choose to read it after this typo, was also indicative of one of the main differences between the WSJ and the NYTimes. This article is about people who are burning through severance pay and can't manage their finances, including a CEO who tossed away around $300 and still hasn't gotten a new job, though he has had a few offers, which he turned down. They expect me to feel sorry for this guy? No way.
But this downtown has brought heavy layoffs to the financial and auto industries, two places where generous exit packages remain more common.
New York City has brought heavy layoffs? Or maybe the author was talking about DC. Or MAYBE... the author meant DOWNTURN?
The article, should you choose to read it after this typo, was also indicative of one of the main differences between the WSJ and the NYTimes. This article is about people who are burning through severance pay and can't manage their finances, including a CEO who tossed away around $300 and still hasn't gotten a new job, though he has had a few offers, which he turned down. They expect me to feel sorry for this guy? No way.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Oh Goody! A typo in the NYTimes!
It probably reflects very poorly on me that I get my kicks from seeing typos in venerable newspapers such as the New York Times. But whatever. I can't help that warm and tingly feeling that creeps up on me when I realize the editors who fill the country's most coveted editorial positions aren't perfect.
So let's celebrate this article, which contains this typo:
Ms. Block went to the company’s Web site and filed an application online, which many others had not. By doing do, her application went directly into the company’s system.
Sounds like something that transpires when my boyfriend is in the bathroom, right?
It's gonna be a good weekend. I can just tell.
So let's celebrate this article, which contains this typo:
Ms. Block went to the company’s Web site and filed an application online, which many others had not. By doing do, her application went directly into the company’s system.
Sounds like something that transpires when my boyfriend is in the bathroom, right?
It's gonna be a good weekend. I can just tell.
Friday, October 16, 2009
The French Taxi Cab
Well tonight was interesting, in a things-come-full-circle kind of way. The day was dreary, rainy and cold - apparently now it's cool to just go from Summer straight to Winter and skip Fall completely. After work, some coworkers and I headed to a bar to watch the Phillies game. I left there around 5:40 to meet some college girlfriends for dinner, and I could not for the life of me get a cab. The ones with lights on didn't stop. The ones without lights on didn't stop. And there were long lulls where nary a taxi was even in sight. On BROAD STREET. A MAIN ARTERY of the city.
I was perplexed. So I walked, hoping to find a taxi as I strode, but my search was in vain. I ended up at 8th and Pine, about 8 blocks away from my final destination, and decided a cab wasn't even worth it at that point. So I made it to dinner flustered, but okay. We sat around at the restaurant for a while talking, and then headed back to my friends' apartment to watch La Vie en Rose, the move about French singer Edith Piaf. It was great. Piaf has an intriguing life and a great voice, and of course all songs sound so much more flowy and dramatic in French than they do in English.
I didn't stay for the whole thing, as I didn't want to have a late night. So another girl who was there offered to drive me home and we left. But as we were driving away, we noticed the car was clunking along making a sound like we were driving on ground up road. So we pulled over at 2nd and Washington, in South Philly, and sure enough my friend had a flat tire. Drat.
I sat with her for a while as she called Triple AAA, and wondered what a nice Jewish girl was doing at the intersection of 2nd and Washington, next to Snockey's crab shack, waiting for Triple AAA to come and rescue my friend's Honda Civic Hybrid. My friend told me I could go, in fact, she insisted I go. So we called a cab and it came within 5 minutes.
And the whole drive back to my apartment, the cab driver sang. In French.
I was perplexed. So I walked, hoping to find a taxi as I strode, but my search was in vain. I ended up at 8th and Pine, about 8 blocks away from my final destination, and decided a cab wasn't even worth it at that point. So I made it to dinner flustered, but okay. We sat around at the restaurant for a while talking, and then headed back to my friends' apartment to watch La Vie en Rose, the move about French singer Edith Piaf. It was great. Piaf has an intriguing life and a great voice, and of course all songs sound so much more flowy and dramatic in French than they do in English.
I didn't stay for the whole thing, as I didn't want to have a late night. So another girl who was there offered to drive me home and we left. But as we were driving away, we noticed the car was clunking along making a sound like we were driving on ground up road. So we pulled over at 2nd and Washington, in South Philly, and sure enough my friend had a flat tire. Drat.
I sat with her for a while as she called Triple AAA, and wondered what a nice Jewish girl was doing at the intersection of 2nd and Washington, next to Snockey's crab shack, waiting for Triple AAA to come and rescue my friend's Honda Civic Hybrid. My friend told me I could go, in fact, she insisted I go. So we called a cab and it came within 5 minutes.
And the whole drive back to my apartment, the cab driver sang. In French.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Grammar Gripe of the Week
A large part of my job is writing career advice, so I pay attention to all the career advice that's out there. (And there is A LOT of it online. Seriously. When I started my job search I can't believe I didn't just google "resume tips". It would have been extremely smart of me.)
Sometimes, the advice is good. Sometimes it downright sucks. And occasionally I find people who can't write for their lives. I would never take career advice from the person who wrote this, as part of an article about resume mistakes:
1. Ambiguous Job Objective: A career objective is the most important part of the resume. A lot depends upon your career objective. It tells the employer regarding your goals and what exactly you want to be. The mistake what people commit is that they write lengthy sentences. No one really has the time to read such long statements. So, keep it as short as possible. Your objective should be simple and easy to understand.
Not only is it painful to read, it's riddled with mistakes. "It tells the employer regarding your goals and what exactly you want to be"? "The mistake what people commit"? Really? PLEASE read your writing before you post it.
This isn't grammar related but the advice also sucks. Resume objectives are redundant. The employer already knows you want a job with them - you wouldn't be applying otherwise. Don't waste resume space saying that. Instead, write a professional statement summing up your strengths and background in 2 or 3 lines. SHEESH.
Sometimes, the advice is good. Sometimes it downright sucks. And occasionally I find people who can't write for their lives. I would never take career advice from the person who wrote this, as part of an article about resume mistakes:
1. Ambiguous Job Objective: A career objective is the most important part of the resume. A lot depends upon your career objective. It tells the employer regarding your goals and what exactly you want to be. The mistake what people commit is that they write lengthy sentences. No one really has the time to read such long statements. So, keep it as short as possible. Your objective should be simple and easy to understand.
Not only is it painful to read, it's riddled with mistakes. "It tells the employer regarding your goals and what exactly you want to be"? "The mistake what people commit"? Really? PLEASE read your writing before you post it.
This isn't grammar related but the advice also sucks. Resume objectives are redundant. The employer already knows you want a job with them - you wouldn't be applying otherwise. Don't waste resume space saying that. Instead, write a professional statement summing up your strengths and background in 2 or 3 lines. SHEESH.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Grammar Gripe of the Week
From a website I came across:
She started her own Intern company, with the goal of raising internship awareness and connecting student’s with their future in 2006.
Can you spot the mistake? I sure hope you can. Apostrophe mistakes are some of my BIGGEST pet peeves! Not only that, but the sentence is clunky, "future" should be plural for consistency, and I think "in 2006" is a misplaced modifier. If their futures were in 2006, I wonder what they're doing now? Gah.
She started her own Intern company, with the goal of raising internship awareness and connecting student’s with their future in 2006.
Can you spot the mistake? I sure hope you can. Apostrophe mistakes are some of my BIGGEST pet peeves! Not only that, but the sentence is clunky, "future" should be plural for consistency, and I think "in 2006" is a misplaced modifier. If their futures were in 2006, I wonder what they're doing now? Gah.
Obama and the Peace Prize
I really do like Barack Obama - he works hard for his initiatives, he frequently addresses the public to keep us abreast of issues and include us in the democratic process, and it goes without saying that he's well spoken. But I wonder if he really deserved the Nobel Peace Prize that he was awarded today...
Does anyone else have thoughts?
Does anyone else have thoughts?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Scenes from the City
So I am taking a photography class at the Fleisher Art Memorial in Bella Vista, and it's been a good time. I am learning all about the different symbols on my camera, like the little face symbol and the mountain symbol and the Eiffel-Tower-with-the-moon-behind-it symbol. (Really, who designs these things?) Anyway, I wanted to share some of the photographs I've taken recently. So here they are!
This is a pretty design on a Hookah at Leila Cafe.
LOVE this picture of broken glass in a window on South Street.
There are mosaics like these all over the South Street area.
I like the colors in this one... the yellow against the blue sky.
Again with the yellow and the sky.
I used the Tungsten setting to make this one really blue.
Tried my best to get the pinky-purply sky in this one.
Playing around with digital macro - my new favorite setting on my camera.
Scenes from Rittenhouse.
Travelling on Septa. Exhilarating.
Whizzing past a stop on the R3.
This is a pretty design on a Hookah at Leila Cafe.
LOVE this picture of broken glass in a window on South Street.
There are mosaics like these all over the South Street area.
I like the colors in this one... the yellow against the blue sky.
Again with the yellow and the sky.
I used the Tungsten setting to make this one really blue.
Tried my best to get the pinky-purply sky in this one.
Playing around with digital macro - my new favorite setting on my camera.
Scenes from Rittenhouse.
Travelling on Septa. Exhilarating.
Whizzing past a stop on the R3.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Grammar Gripe of the Week
Because I am the grammar police, I constantly obsess over how much I despise people who can't speak English. And by that I don't mean native speakers of other languages - they're okay. It's people who were brought up speaking English who still can't speak English that get me. I admit I occasionally make a mistake, what person frantically running their fingers over a keyboard doesn't? But chronic mistake makers really get my goat.
One thing that's been bothering me lately is people who don't know common phrases. Here is an example, from someone's Facebook status (no names, sorry if the person who had this status reads this):
So-and-so is not to sure what this day in tales.
I first thought this must have been a joke. Of course the person knows that it's "entails" and not "in tales". I mean, what does "in tales" even mean in this context? It makes no sense. But I don't think the person was joking. Another one that bothers me is when people say "could of" or "would of" when they really mean "could have" or "would have".
When did we lose sight of our own language? Oh, it depresses me.
I think I'll make this grammar gripe thing a regular feature, as I really like pointing out people's mistakes. For other grammar nerds (and members of the police force) I'll also direct you to another woman who does this, The Sentence Sleuth.
One thing that's been bothering me lately is people who don't know common phrases. Here is an example, from someone's Facebook status (no names, sorry if the person who had this status reads this):
So-and-so is not to sure what this day in tales.
I first thought this must have been a joke. Of course the person knows that it's "entails" and not "in tales". I mean, what does "in tales" even mean in this context? It makes no sense. But I don't think the person was joking. Another one that bothers me is when people say "could of" or "would of" when they really mean "could have" or "would have".
When did we lose sight of our own language? Oh, it depresses me.
I think I'll make this grammar gripe thing a regular feature, as I really like pointing out people's mistakes. For other grammar nerds (and members of the police force) I'll also direct you to another woman who does this, The Sentence Sleuth.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
I will write better. I will write better. I will...
I always delight in hearing my boyfriend's story about how his handwriting was so atrocious in elementary school that a teacher made him stay in from recess and write "I will write better" over and over again on a piece of paper. Unfortunately, his printing has not gotten any better. I still find it atrocious today how he scribbles carelessly and squashes his letters and makes lowercase e's by drawing the curve first, then inserting a haphazard line.
I was also thinking about handwriting this weekend while we were up in NH for the wedding of one of my boyfriend's childhood friends. We were browsing through some of his old yearbooks, and as I read the "autographs" of girls in his class, it seemed exactly the same as the handwriting my friends and I used to have. I wondered - 'is handwriting trendy?' Are some types of handwriting "cool" at times, and others not? Was it "cool" to write in swirly, bubbly, big letters that conjured up images of giggly girls with braces? It might have been, because I remember striving to that effervescent handwriting... though I could never quite get it.
And now with all this texting and emailing, will kids not even regard handwriting as a form of communication anymore? What does the "cool" handwriting look like today? (And don't say: Times New Roman.)
This article doesn't really answer that question; it's more about how cursive is a silly way to teach kids to write. But it is what inspired this post, so check it out: here.
I was also thinking about handwriting this weekend while we were up in NH for the wedding of one of my boyfriend's childhood friends. We were browsing through some of his old yearbooks, and as I read the "autographs" of girls in his class, it seemed exactly the same as the handwriting my friends and I used to have. I wondered - 'is handwriting trendy?' Are some types of handwriting "cool" at times, and others not? Was it "cool" to write in swirly, bubbly, big letters that conjured up images of giggly girls with braces? It might have been, because I remember striving to that effervescent handwriting... though I could never quite get it.
And now with all this texting and emailing, will kids not even regard handwriting as a form of communication anymore? What does the "cool" handwriting look like today? (And don't say: Times New Roman.)
This article doesn't really answer that question; it's more about how cursive is a silly way to teach kids to write. But it is what inspired this post, so check it out: here.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Two Kick Butt Articles Today
Today I am excited for two completely unrelated, yet awesome-beyond-belief articles. Let's start with the not-gross one:
Tetris gives you more brain
Oh joy of joys. Now I can justify to my boyfriend why I can't just watch TV - instead I have to break out the old school Game Boy Color that should probably be dead right now, and jam away to the hardest level of Tetris. I find infinite joy in getting the spaceship and the little dancing Russian men, and I've since made it my mission to get TWO Tetrises in every game I play. Think an average of 1 hour/night of Tetris will rot my brain? Au contraire... it will make my brain BETTER!
And the gross (but so true and not usually talked about) topic:
Tonsiliths.
Ever cough up a little foul-smelling white chunk and wonder what crawled into your throat and died? It's called a tonsilith, and it's basically debris that gets caught in your tonsil cavities, which acquires bacteria that makes it smell. The good news is that EVERYONE suffers from these, but hardly anyone knows what they are or what they're called. Well, a few weeks ago, I got curious and Googled "smelly white throat piece," and eventually came upon a wealth of tonsilith (or tonsil stone) literature. I felt like a great weight had lifted from my shoulders, and I was amused when the NYTimes did a piece on something I had just discovered. It was like they were inside my mind!
It's time to move on with my life now, but I hope you appreciated those articles and that tiny glimpse into some issues of my life (namely Tetris addiction and smelly white throat balls).
I'll leave you with another random but awesome link - the Eagles' Shawn Andrews performing a little ditty I like to call, "Getting my Michael Phelps On". Just skip to around 2:40, the rest is boring.
Tetris gives you more brain
Oh joy of joys. Now I can justify to my boyfriend why I can't just watch TV - instead I have to break out the old school Game Boy Color that should probably be dead right now, and jam away to the hardest level of Tetris. I find infinite joy in getting the spaceship and the little dancing Russian men, and I've since made it my mission to get TWO Tetrises in every game I play. Think an average of 1 hour/night of Tetris will rot my brain? Au contraire... it will make my brain BETTER!
And the gross (but so true and not usually talked about) topic:
Tonsiliths.
Ever cough up a little foul-smelling white chunk and wonder what crawled into your throat and died? It's called a tonsilith, and it's basically debris that gets caught in your tonsil cavities, which acquires bacteria that makes it smell. The good news is that EVERYONE suffers from these, but hardly anyone knows what they are or what they're called. Well, a few weeks ago, I got curious and Googled "smelly white throat piece," and eventually came upon a wealth of tonsilith (or tonsil stone) literature. I felt like a great weight had lifted from my shoulders, and I was amused when the NYTimes did a piece on something I had just discovered. It was like they were inside my mind!
It's time to move on with my life now, but I hope you appreciated those articles and that tiny glimpse into some issues of my life (namely Tetris addiction and smelly white throat balls).
I'll leave you with another random but awesome link - the Eagles' Shawn Andrews performing a little ditty I like to call, "Getting my Michael Phelps On". Just skip to around 2:40, the rest is boring.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Some Funny Pictures
I know it's been a while since I've written. So sue me. I don't have anything to say. But I do have some things to show, as a few silly things have happened recently. Here goes:
Watching Good Day Philadelphia, as per usual, and they spelled Philadelphia wrong. As per usual. Oh hi, Marc Lamont Hill. 
Then Will and I played Scrabble. Interestingly enough, he won. But not with this word. 
And our Wii is apparently possessed. 
Phallic tomatoes. Gotta love em. 
Then I went to eat lunch at the Continental Midtown. The calamari was great. The quickie? Not so good. Hope you enjoyed!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Bang, Pow, Crash
Oh today is just one of those days - when I feel so overwhelmed with all that's going on in life, and like there's no time to do anything.
In college, my days were planned. I had specific assignments I was working on, club meetings, rehearsals - I knew what my activities were, I knew who my friends were, I knew my major, and I knew what I was working toward. In the real world that kind of structure doesn't exist. And so I have days like today, when I wonder where I'm going with my life and what happened to all my dreams and hobbies and interests. I make long lists in my head of everything I'd ideally like to do: take photography classes, speak Spanish, learn to make jewelry, sing, force myself into a regular gym routine, find a job that I love, volunteer at the animal shelter, decorate the apartment, clean the apartment, find some freelance writing gigs, become a better cook, accrue a more professional wardrobe, blog... GAH it's enough to make my head explode.
I feel as though I have no direction right now. There is so much I'd like to do, as you can see, but I have such trouble prioritizing and finding time and keeping my desires consistent. It gets very overwhelming, like I have a giant post-it note on my brain.
The biggest question I want to answer right now is: What thing(s) am I passionate about and how can I go about making a life out of that? But if I don't try a bunch of different things, how will I ever get an answer?
Boo to feeling this way. On one hand it's exciting to have so many possibilities, on the other hand...
...it's exhausting.
In college, my days were planned. I had specific assignments I was working on, club meetings, rehearsals - I knew what my activities were, I knew who my friends were, I knew my major, and I knew what I was working toward. In the real world that kind of structure doesn't exist. And so I have days like today, when I wonder where I'm going with my life and what happened to all my dreams and hobbies and interests. I make long lists in my head of everything I'd ideally like to do: take photography classes, speak Spanish, learn to make jewelry, sing, force myself into a regular gym routine, find a job that I love, volunteer at the animal shelter, decorate the apartment, clean the apartment, find some freelance writing gigs, become a better cook, accrue a more professional wardrobe, blog... GAH it's enough to make my head explode.
I feel as though I have no direction right now. There is so much I'd like to do, as you can see, but I have such trouble prioritizing and finding time and keeping my desires consistent. It gets very overwhelming, like I have a giant post-it note on my brain.
The biggest question I want to answer right now is: What thing(s) am I passionate about and how can I go about making a life out of that? But if I don't try a bunch of different things, how will I ever get an answer?
Boo to feeling this way. On one hand it's exciting to have so many possibilities, on the other hand...
...it's exhausting.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Things to find out BEFORE marriage
Oh Google ads, you never fail to make me laugh.
Also, the usage of the word "if" is incorrect. It should be whether. So there. Also, I posted something just like this a while ago, but I had forgotten about it until now. So who cares?
Also, the usage of the word "if" is incorrect. It should be whether. So there. Also, I posted something just like this a while ago, but I had forgotten about it until now. So who cares?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Issues are just alright with me
Besides the fact that Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black may possibly be my most favoritest people on the planet, this clip explains why I CANNOT WAIT for the new Comedy Central show Michael & Michael Have Issues. WATCH IT!
| Michael & Michael Have Issues | Premieres Wed, July 15, 10:30pm / 9:30c | |||
| Preview - The Farting Butterfly Sketch | ||||
| ||||
Friday, June 12, 2009
People are dying, lashes are extending?
As I was huffing and puffing away on the elliptical at the gym this morning, I had the pleasure of viewing a commercial for a novel product called Latisse. This product is the "first and only FDA approved prescription treatment for inadequate or not enough eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller, and darker."
I kid you not.
Yes, folks. While people around the world are dying of all kinds of malicious diseases - AIDS, cancer, diabetes, heart disease - there are scientists toiling away in a lab to find out how women can LENGTHEN their INADEQUATE eyelashes.
All I have to say is thank god this product is here. My life depends on my eyelashes, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Finally, I can breathe easier. Or... bat my eyes at people easier. Same thing.
This just goes to show that Americans will buy anything.
I kid you not.
Yes, folks. While people around the world are dying of all kinds of malicious diseases - AIDS, cancer, diabetes, heart disease - there are scientists toiling away in a lab to find out how women can LENGTHEN their INADEQUATE eyelashes.
All I have to say is thank god this product is here. My life depends on my eyelashes, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Finally, I can breathe easier. Or... bat my eyes at people easier. Same thing.
This just goes to show that Americans will buy anything.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Speaking of Baby Killers...
Judging from what Korena Roberts did (faked pregnancy, killed an actual pregnant woman and cut out her baby) she's probably crazy.
But if you needed extra proof, check out her mug shot.
I'll be having nightmares for weeks.
But if you needed extra proof, check out her mug shot.
I'll be having nightmares for weeks.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Justifiable Homicide... YEAH RIGHT
The story of the death of Dr. George Tiller (the guy who gives late-term abortions... but as commenters on the NYTimes article pointed out, shouldn't be reduced to simply an "abortion doctor") has really been eating at me.
I just finished reading the book This Common Secret by another "abortion doctor" Susan Wicklund, and so it's weird that this murder occurred when it did. Wicklund spends a lot of time describing her encounters with pro-lifers. They were often outside her clinic terrorizing women as they tried to enter, and Wicklund herself received death threats and feared for her safety so much that she requested police protection. There was even one incident where protesters camped out on her property, and Wicklund was scared to leave her own house (the police didn't do much to mitigate the situation).
It just baffles me that people are allowed to go so far and take such strong action against something that is legal. And all because their faith tells them it's not right. Sure, I don't like abortion protesters, but I wouldn't go and kill one of them just because of what they are. I truly believe these people are crazy, immature, and unwilling to have a dialogue, which makes them all the more dangerous.
Pro-life groups are coming out and saying that this man doesn't represent them, but I think the example of this murder should bring to light the terrifying and uneccesary tactics these people use to scare doctors who are providing legal and life-saving services to women in need.
In the NYTimes article one group, Operation Rescue, says they always used "nonviolent" measures to "challenge" Dr. Tiller. Things like bringing lawsuits against him and trying to put him out of business. They may be nonviolent, but how are they in any way right? Trying to put a doctor out of business because he does something you don't agree with? Something that's legal in this country? Something that several women need? Something that, without safe methods, could kill women or cause them mental and physical suffering?
It just seems that these people are so hateful. And it really makes me hate them in return. But still, I won't kill them, because killing is wrong. And there is no such thing as "justifiable homicide" as the murdered believed in. That is just insane. I hope Scott Roeder gets put in jail for the rest of his life, and that this story brings to light the problem of anti-abortion protesters.
I just finished reading the book This Common Secret by another "abortion doctor" Susan Wicklund, and so it's weird that this murder occurred when it did. Wicklund spends a lot of time describing her encounters with pro-lifers. They were often outside her clinic terrorizing women as they tried to enter, and Wicklund herself received death threats and feared for her safety so much that she requested police protection. There was even one incident where protesters camped out on her property, and Wicklund was scared to leave her own house (the police didn't do much to mitigate the situation).
It just baffles me that people are allowed to go so far and take such strong action against something that is legal. And all because their faith tells them it's not right. Sure, I don't like abortion protesters, but I wouldn't go and kill one of them just because of what they are. I truly believe these people are crazy, immature, and unwilling to have a dialogue, which makes them all the more dangerous.
Pro-life groups are coming out and saying that this man doesn't represent them, but I think the example of this murder should bring to light the terrifying and uneccesary tactics these people use to scare doctors who are providing legal and life-saving services to women in need.
In the NYTimes article one group, Operation Rescue, says they always used "nonviolent" measures to "challenge" Dr. Tiller. Things like bringing lawsuits against him and trying to put him out of business. They may be nonviolent, but how are they in any way right? Trying to put a doctor out of business because he does something you don't agree with? Something that's legal in this country? Something that several women need? Something that, without safe methods, could kill women or cause them mental and physical suffering?
It just seems that these people are so hateful. And it really makes me hate them in return. But still, I won't kill them, because killing is wrong. And there is no such thing as "justifiable homicide" as the murdered believed in. That is just insane. I hope Scott Roeder gets put in jail for the rest of his life, and that this story brings to light the problem of anti-abortion protesters.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Summer in the city...
... is most glorious. It's warm enough to enjoy long walks, people are having sidewalk sales, there are festivals and flea markets everywhere, and Penn's Landing has started it's series of cultural celebrations. I wouldn't trade summer in the city for anything, except maybe summer on my own private beach. But since THAT won't be happening anytime soon, I'll take summer in the city. I wanted to share a few photos of one activity we did recently: the Italian Market festival.
The Italian Market is an amazing area down 9th Street south of South that's full of little cheese, pasta, and herb places, along with vendors that sell fresh fruits and vegetables. The festival included these vendors, but also added a bunch of craft tents, live music, ready-to-eat foods on sale on the street, and a "stickball" tournament. Yeah, I didn't know what it was either, but apparently it's a traditional game in South Philly. It's much like baseball, except played with cut-in-half tennis balls and broomsticks. That's so people can play without breaking windows. And it's played up against a wall and each level of the wall entails what the hit was - like the lowest tier of the wall is a single.
And here's a kid playing stickball.
I know I've said this before but still one of my favorite things about being in the city is that there's so much to see and it's all within walking distance. I encourage everyone to check out Yelp.com or gophila.com to find nearby events. You won't be sorry!
The Italian Market is an amazing area down 9th Street south of South that's full of little cheese, pasta, and herb places, along with vendors that sell fresh fruits and vegetables. The festival included these vendors, but also added a bunch of craft tents, live music, ready-to-eat foods on sale on the street, and a "stickball" tournament. Yeah, I didn't know what it was either, but apparently it's a traditional game in South Philly. It's much like baseball, except played with cut-in-half tennis balls and broomsticks. That's so people can play without breaking windows. And it's played up against a wall and each level of the wall entails what the hit was - like the lowest tier of the wall is a single.
And here's a kid playing stickball.
I know I've said this before but still one of my favorite things about being in the city is that there's so much to see and it's all within walking distance. I encourage everyone to check out Yelp.com or gophila.com to find nearby events. You won't be sorry!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
