the biggest bargain tip I’ve got

I was thinking about this bargain hunting business … I’m part of several message boards (some regional, some local, some national) and there are always threads on things like “what’s your best bargain tip?” or “what do you do to save money?” and I have never had enough nerve to post it, but I honestly think what saves me the most money is Self Esteem. I am happy with who I am. I don’t wear make up (huge money-saver right there) or need to have the latest fashions for myself or my kids (I can shop at WM or Goodwill without shame or guilt). I don’t want a fancy car or house; I don’t need the latest electronic gadget or gizmo (although I will confess to drooling over them as far as admiring what they can do, I certainly don’t covet them for myself all that much). Except for foreign travel/airfare, I have relatively inexpensive hobbies (scrapbooking, crafts, gardening, etc.). I think that helps me save money more than anything. There are a myriad of ways to spend your money out there in the world, and I’m completely unimpressed by most of them.

women in politics

I have had a soft spot in my heart for Pakistan ever since I read Rushdie’s Shame back in college. Perhaps the only woman I adore more than Benazir Bhutto in world politics is Aung San Sui Kyi. I wish Bhutto the best. I do believe she is the only person still on the planet who can help that country. It’s often literature that draws me to a place. The Far Pavilions makes me love that part of the world as well. I’ve only been to India once and never to Pakistan or Bangladesh, but I hope to go to those countries some day.

what he said

Aaron Belkin says it much better than I did or can. His essay on Craig crystalizes why this whole incident has bothered me. It’s not that I’m a fan of Senator Craig – I’m not – but this being arrested for basically being gay is what has my injustice (ironic injustice though it may be) alert going off.

there is something here that I am missing

I don’t get it. I don’t understand how what Larry Craig did was illegal. Seems like totally random gestures to me. Then again, I don’t know a lot about soliciting for sex in a public bathroom. Or why we even have “stings” trying to catch people doing that. Personally I don’t know why asking for sex (from anybody) is wrong in the first place. I see where paying for sex is wrong (although I am capable of making a post-structuralist, feminist argument based on French philosophy that can not only justify paying for sex but can turn it into a pro-feminist and empowering idea, but that’s a whole other post). I understand that having sex in a public place is wrong, but asking if someone wants to? If so, then why isn’t everyone in a bar/club (gay or straight) not immediately arrested upon seeing if someone wants to “hook up?” I don’t get why this is such a big deal (the arrest, sure, I don’t want any of our elected representatives to be arrested, but then again, being arrested does not equal being convicted, even if you do plead guilty in this crazy judicial system of ours). I also don’t understand why he plead guilty if he wasn’t guilty. Most of all I don’t see why being gay is a bad thing (I realize the Republicans do), but if he is I wish he’d just embrace it and move on. Good lord, it isn’t like he is a child molester or rapist or murderer.

I’m sure there is more to this story than I’ve heard or read or even that is available to hear or read. But right now, there is just something that seems a bit off about the whole thing.

good article

What a thoughtful piece on working and motherhood by Peggy Drexler. The best line in it is that she writes, “I accepted the fact that motherhood was not the choice. Work was.” I think she is spot on about that. Even with all the so-called emancipation that birth control has supposedly brought us, motherhood is not a real choice for many women. It is foist upon us regardless of our stance on sex, abortion and family planning. The “personal is political” has never been more appropos than in regards to women’s choices or lack of choices regarding motherhood.

we feel so sorry for him

Again we hear that Tony Snow is leaving his job so he can make more than $150K a year. Wow, don’t we wish that all Americans could quit their 6 figure income to make more money?! what, because he has three children?! well, la-di-da. does he know what the poverty rate in this country is? as press secretary, he should (CJ Cregg certainly would have – hee!). Doesn’t he realize he is in the top 1% of people in the world?! Good lord, I continue to be appalled at this story and its spin. The audacity! The unmitigated gall!

international news

Musharraf stepping down as military leader is HUGE. Bhutto returning is amazing. Both events will have a tremendous impact on Pakistan, that region and eventually the US (as our interests over there seem to continue to grow). Naturally the US media will not fully analyze this situation with any degree of intelligence or even knowledge and will miss entirely all this can potentially mean for the world.

cue the violins

Tony Snow is leaving his job because of finances? He needs to learn to live on a budget. Ain’t nobody in my neck of the woods nor my profession that’s gonna feel sorry for someone making 6 figures. What a jerk. A hell of a lot of people in this country live on less than half his salary and still manage to send their kids to college, too.

explosion

The lead article in the Charlotte Observer today talks about NC’s population. We now have nearly 9 million people. The last time I paid attention to that sort of thing I think we had 6 or 7 million. Now we are the 10th most populous state in the nation. We are also the 7th fastest growing state. Dammit, I wish folks would stop coming here in droves. I want to live somewhere nice (like NC is) that nobody else knows about.