There are many things I wonder about, but here are some specific ones:
1) Why do they continually call it "health care reform"? Isn't it really "health insurance reform" and isn't that really the issue? Health care is not going anywhere and will still be handled in the same ways. The real problem is health insurance companies who, by the way, did not need to be bailed out in the past couple of years.
2) Are hockey officials the most in-shape of all professional sports referees? I mean, they skate forwards and backwards, jump up on the boards to avoid the puck as it moves around, and blow a whistle. Absolutely phenomenal - most girls want to skate like Michelle Kwan, I want to skate like those guys!
3) Who will be the next head coach for the Redskins? I'm not so sure I care about this. What I really care about is who will be the next owner!
4) Why did the box of outdoor LED icicle lights I bought say, "Clear" when they are really blue? Yes, I know all about LED being blue. However, they said "clear." I expected clear. I can live with blue, though.
5) How did that guy get on the Delta flight, when he was on the terror suspect list and his father had contacted officials about his concerns that his son was a threat? When do we actually begin to hold the airlines responsible for whom they let on airplanes? Good grief, this guy was practically handed to authorities and he still got on a plane with incendiary items.
That's it for now...look for my upcoming post on "Why women in their 40's love facebook!"
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Party Crashing as an Art Form?
I have followed very carefully the stories following the Salahi's party-crashing ways. It's fascinating how the story has moved over the past week to the point where the Office of the Virginia Attorney General is now investigating their charity. What follows is a list of things I like about this whole situation.
1. People were actually incensed at bad behavior from an etiquette perspective. I have been very concerned that basic etiquette is dead in our society, or at best a dinosaur that is resurrected for people who think it's quaint. Attending an event uninvited where invitations were issued is clearly an etiquett violation and these people are being severely criticized from almost every sector of society.
2. Charities get away with a lot, saying that they are to benefit some specific group and are thus above careful examination because of the good of the cause (and, yes, I include religious entities here). To me, no organization should be above careful examination in their actions and finances simply because of a mission statement. The careful examination of the Salahis' charity is occurring because their antics got them noticed, and what is being discovered will bring out more bad behavior on the part of these people.
3. There is still something to be said for dressing and acting the part. So often I am told that appearances matter too much and that we should not be so focused on how people look and act but on their talents. The Salahis' talents clearly lay in looking and acting like they fit in. He looks good in a tux - she is attractive, trim, and can wear both formal and informal clothing like a model. Her hair and makeup are good. This is how they get in places, and get all those photos, bringing me to the next item....
4. Photos on the internet are not always what they seem. Information on the internet is not always correct. Our practical minds know this, but many see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe.
5. This is NOT an example of hind sight, but there is no substitute for careful planning and implementation. Clearly, there were a lot of slip-ups, but the worst transgressions were by the Secret Service and Desiree Rogers. The Secret Service did not check credentials, and Ms. Rogers did not do her job. She should have been working the event, not acting as a guest. For me, who has as much fun planning an event as attending, the emphasis that the party crashers have had on the importance of thorough planning is a type of vindication to my lifestyle!
Lastly, many of us addicted to pop culture might be enjoying more proof that the lifestyle found in the film "Wedding Crashers" actually exists. Party crashing just might be an art form to some, but it appears to have some intense consequences!
1. People were actually incensed at bad behavior from an etiquette perspective. I have been very concerned that basic etiquette is dead in our society, or at best a dinosaur that is resurrected for people who think it's quaint. Attending an event uninvited where invitations were issued is clearly an etiquett violation and these people are being severely criticized from almost every sector of society.
2. Charities get away with a lot, saying that they are to benefit some specific group and are thus above careful examination because of the good of the cause (and, yes, I include religious entities here). To me, no organization should be above careful examination in their actions and finances simply because of a mission statement. The careful examination of the Salahis' charity is occurring because their antics got them noticed, and what is being discovered will bring out more bad behavior on the part of these people.
3. There is still something to be said for dressing and acting the part. So often I am told that appearances matter too much and that we should not be so focused on how people look and act but on their talents. The Salahis' talents clearly lay in looking and acting like they fit in. He looks good in a tux - she is attractive, trim, and can wear both formal and informal clothing like a model. Her hair and makeup are good. This is how they get in places, and get all those photos, bringing me to the next item....
4. Photos on the internet are not always what they seem. Information on the internet is not always correct. Our practical minds know this, but many see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe.
5. This is NOT an example of hind sight, but there is no substitute for careful planning and implementation. Clearly, there were a lot of slip-ups, but the worst transgressions were by the Secret Service and Desiree Rogers. The Secret Service did not check credentials, and Ms. Rogers did not do her job. She should have been working the event, not acting as a guest. For me, who has as much fun planning an event as attending, the emphasis that the party crashers have had on the importance of thorough planning is a type of vindication to my lifestyle!
Lastly, many of us addicted to pop culture might be enjoying more proof that the lifestyle found in the film "Wedding Crashers" actually exists. Party crashing just might be an art form to some, but it appears to have some intense consequences!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Have you walked a mile in their...hair?
In the break room, a coworker looked over my shoulder at the article I was reading about D.C. School Chancellor, Michelle Rhee and commented, “Isn’t there more important news than her hair style?” Well, that got me thinking. First, I had been enjoying the article and looking at Ms. Rhee’s new ‘do. Then I began to wonder if that made me shallow, superficial, and not truly caring about the District’s children and their education.
It’s hard not to be aware of the problems that exist throughout the D.C. Public School system. This is neither new information, nor is it unique to the District. Problems with infrastructure, support, teacher quality, test scores, and the myriad of difficulties experienced by urban public schools fill newspapers and websites. We all know this. We may have our own ideas about what is wrong and how to fix it. However, we do not have the credentials or authority to implement change.
On the other hand, Ms. Rhee does have the credentials and the authority. I have watched her as she works to address problems that seem to me overwhelming. But, Michelle Rhee and I have one thing in common. Every day we deal with our hair.
Hair is a great equalizer, even if we no longer possess it. Good hair days, bad hair days, new styles, addressing hair loss, color mishaps, and finding the right product are things anyone can appreciate. I admit I have a “thing” about hairstyles. I appreciate good hair on anyone, male or female, and am a little jealous of someone with a perfect coif. I possess an abundance of naturally, curly (I would call it “unruly”) hair that never looks the same twice. I used to blow dry it straight, until I finally decided to stop fighting my hair and accept what genetics had decreed. (However, I do believe that my hair color is meant to be experimented with, especially since I got my first gray hair at age 26.)
So, I’m not being shallow, superficial and uncaring about the education of the District’s children when I take note of the Chancellor’s new ‘do and consider the effect it has on how I see her. I am finding common ground and relating to her on a human level, which serves to remind me that she is just a person attempting to do a very big job.
It’s hard not to be aware of the problems that exist throughout the D.C. Public School system. This is neither new information, nor is it unique to the District. Problems with infrastructure, support, teacher quality, test scores, and the myriad of difficulties experienced by urban public schools fill newspapers and websites. We all know this. We may have our own ideas about what is wrong and how to fix it. However, we do not have the credentials or authority to implement change.
On the other hand, Ms. Rhee does have the credentials and the authority. I have watched her as she works to address problems that seem to me overwhelming. But, Michelle Rhee and I have one thing in common. Every day we deal with our hair.
Hair is a great equalizer, even if we no longer possess it. Good hair days, bad hair days, new styles, addressing hair loss, color mishaps, and finding the right product are things anyone can appreciate. I admit I have a “thing” about hairstyles. I appreciate good hair on anyone, male or female, and am a little jealous of someone with a perfect coif. I possess an abundance of naturally, curly (I would call it “unruly”) hair that never looks the same twice. I used to blow dry it straight, until I finally decided to stop fighting my hair and accept what genetics had decreed. (However, I do believe that my hair color is meant to be experimented with, especially since I got my first gray hair at age 26.)
So, I’m not being shallow, superficial and uncaring about the education of the District’s children when I take note of the Chancellor’s new ‘do and consider the effect it has on how I see her. I am finding common ground and relating to her on a human level, which serves to remind me that she is just a person attempting to do a very big job.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)