Tat it up...Colbert Style!

Wow! Dedicación!

18 holes and relentless sexism

I attempt to read an article off of nytimes.com once a day. I'll browse the page, and what catches my eye, is what I'll read first. Today it was "Women Battle for Rights at Phoenix Country Club." I was interested because, I will admit, I have a slight tendency to make presumptions about the "type" of people that are members of country clubs. My presumptions usually lead to prejudices. Not something I am proud of, but its the truth.

Basically, what I am saying is, I'm not remotely surprised that the women in a country club don't have equal rights to men within the country club.

At the country club there are two grill rooms. The one for the men is opened all the time with a bar. The grill room for women isn't opened all the time, therefore women cannot eat when they please, and there is no bar. Men who have sense, and decided to bring their wives into the the men's grill room have been harassed, and their property defaced.

"As teenage boys saunter into the sumptuously appointed men’s grill room, their mothers are relegated to the ladies’ grill, down the hall with a hot plate, some card tables and no bar. The club also has a formal dining room, where men and women are welcome, but it is closed between meals and is not a spot to get a drink."

Due to pressure the country club is making renovations to the dining room (where the women are able to eat with the men...did I mention THIS IS RIDICULOUS) and the two grill rooms. The grill rooms will remain separate, but will have the same accommodations. *cough* This sounds a little something like "separate but equal," and we all know IT DOES NOT WORK.

This has to be one of the most archaic institutions that I thought did not exist anymore. I mean we all know they are out there, but to think people are so avid about keeping men and women separate, while men obviously have the upper hand.

"Charges of sexism against private golf clubs are not uncommon; the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, where the Masters is held each year, does not permit women to be members."

McCain has ties to the county club. *insert unsurprised face* Although he is not a member, his son Andrew McCain is one.

You can read the article by using the below link.
Cozy Spot to Eat After Golf, but Women Are Barred

H.I.V. tests for everyone

The healthcare professionals of New York are instituting an ambitious plan to have all adult citizens in the Bronx tested within the next three years. The test will be administered regularly alongside other visits to the hospital/emergency room. The Bronx has the highest number of death due to the socioeconomic aspects of the people living in the borrough. Manhatten has a higher number of infections, but lower number of deaths.

"AIDS killed 357 residents of the borough in 2006, about a third of all AIDS deaths in the city."

Basically, if you are interested, you should read the article. The statistics are interesting and I think it will be interesting to see the progress the project makes.

Since HIV/AIDS is not an issue just in the US I looked up some other stats. According to this website Swaziland has the highest adult prevalance rate of HIV/AIDS. It continues to show the other percentages and other countries in comparison.

Pussycat Dolls advocate Feminism...

I was watching an episode of So You Think You Can Dance with my sister, and the Pussycat Dolls performed. I personally believe they have very little talent, but that simple fact is disguised by their "costumes" and the body seizures that last the entire "performance." A perfect example would be the video below.

I cannot get the video to show up, so use this as your clip.

I also might note that if you turn the volume down, they could pass as strip show.

The video is 2 minutes and 32 seconds of torture, and I would NOT wish it on my worst enemy.

Since they paint their clothes on, the song sucks, and they as an entirety have no talent, my sister and I were automatically intrigued. We immediately began to do our research on this group (we were also bored, and had NOTHING else to do). We were lead to http://www.pcdmusic.com/. The sight is full of surprises and goodies, including their bios, their ages, relationship status, and of course, zodiac sign. There are also overpriced Pussycat Doll paraphernalia.

Our favorite part was when we discovered that the song "Dont Cha" --'dont cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me'--is meant to be "empowering." A Pussycat Doll should be "hot" but also be able to say something with "real feeling."

I will admit I have a song or two on my ipod, but yesterday was just humorous for me when it came to the Pussycat Dolls. Feminism does come in a plethora of ways, and I suppose the Pussycat Dolls just bring an intersting side to it all. Who am I to judge...eek!

Boy loves boy and girl loves girl

As many of us know, California joined in on allowing same-sex marriage. I find that most people are either strongly anti- or pro- gay marriage. (note pic below) I find it unnecessarily prejudice and an example of my former comment.

Anyway, an article in the New York Times covered gender in marriage, which is not a new issue, but consistently a problem.

"Notably, same-sex relationships, whether between men or women, were far more egalitarian than heterosexual ones. In heterosexual couples, women did far more of the housework; men were more likely to have the financial responsibility; and men were more likely to initiate sex, while women were more likely to refuse it or to start a conversation about problems in the relationship. With same-sex couples, of course, none of these dichotomies were possible, and the partners tended to share the burdens far more equally."

There is much more to the article. My point is that everyone could learn from homosexual couples, I find it that many people tend to focus on the fact that they are homosexual instead of the positives and the qualities within their relationship. Like...love.

Once, Twice, Three Times a Virgin?

As I was browsing around the New York Times webpage I found an article about restoring virginity, especially in Muslim women.

The article emphasizes the importance of virginity in the Muslim culture. For a woman to have her hyman reinstated, especially a Muslim woman, as mentioned in the article, is a small price to pay for the credibility of her family, and possibly keeping her life.

I was shocked to learn that families actually have the female checked before the wedding night to assure that she is a virgin. Everyone appears to be involved in the sexual life of the married couple, leaving no privacy or room for secrets.

In Europe and in the US, women have fought for (and continue to fight for and justify) the right to control their bodies. Being forced or allowing your partner to pursuade you to have the procedure (for his pleasure) seems to be a step back. It seems to be a regression in the progression of women's rights.

To to each her own.

Revolution

Sarah Jones is a spoken word artist. The video is of a piece of her work called Revolution, that is, as she says, a remix of Gil Scott Heron's, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.

She says everything that I feel, but could not think to say in such an amazing manner. I can listen to again and again and still enjoy more than the last.

What? It's only been a week...

I've put in my time.
That one obligatory sucky college summer.
The one where you're excited to see those friends from high school.
The one where you discover that after all, you all have become different, but hey...you can still be friends.

And now...
The second summer has rolled around.
I undiligently looked for a summer project...and now...
I'm back.
This summer is the one where everyone has discovered that you all have changed...and why bother to hang out when you have those other friends away at college.
The one where you get that sucky job, although you know that in two years exactly what you will be doing; and it DOES NOT include asking if "you want candy with this movie rental."
The one where you begin to hang out with your 13 year old brother, and your parents begin to feel sorry about you.

Oh...this is that summer.