amazing read

“Likewise, there’s growing evidence that a cheap way to help keep high-school girls in school is to help them manage menstruation. For fear of embarrassing leaks and stains, girls sometimes stay home during their periods, and the absenteeism puts them behind and eventually leads them to drop out.  Aid workers are experimenting with giving African teenage girls sanitary pads, along with access to a toilet where they can change them.”

The Women’s Crusade (New York Times)

Welcome, sir.

I tried to upload this the day OF the inauguration –

but wordpress was OVERLOADED with bloggers.

Welcome, President Obama.

GOD – That sounds cool.

Mr. President…

 

Texts I recieved last night following the announcement that Barack Obama had won the next Presidency of the United States.

“Can you feel a brand new day?” – Brent

“Welcome to a new world!” – Annie

“GObama!” – several people.

Though I would have loved to have been among the tame and happy throngs of people downtown at Obama’s rally last night, I made the decision that getting home from downtown would be a nightmare, so instead – after a long workout – I joined Eric at his apartment for the election results, brought to us by a tag team of CNN and Comedy Central.

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert were my backup plan – If by some sad occurence McCain HAD won, I wanted to hear it from their lips instead of Wolf Blitzers. And, by the grace of God, while laughing at  Colbert monologue, Stewart cut in and made the announcement.

And, I swear, the world erupted in cheers.

After a surprisingly gracious concession speech from McCain, and an eloquent and powerful speech by Obama, Eric and I met Brent and Chris at Sidetrack (who had been having their own election night party complete with Obama cardboard cut-outs and more red, white, and blue balloons than I’ve ever seen) for a celebratory drink. Cars were honking and people were cheering.

All around, it was a lovely night.

And now, it’s a lovely day….  There are challenges to come, but at least we will soon have a leader with the integrity, smarts, and – I truly believe – heart, to make good things happen. He won’t be a perfect President (but then again, who has ever been a perfect President?)  but he’s a man who cares, and his caring brought together a whole new demographic of voters who came out in spades.

My generation just won our first election.

Now, we bide our time until GWB steps out of the office (Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out) and then, as some dude talking on his phone on the bus this morning said – “Shovel the coal into the hope train, ’cause we got some mountains to get through.”

Go Obama. You got this.

Rock the vote.

 

I voted last week as part of the wonder that is early voting — So I won’t be standing in line today waiting to cast my ballot with most of America. I’ve never felt this much electricity around an election before.

Time to slay the dragons, kids –

Rock the vote.

Good, American, Me…

I did my obligatory American duty yesterday and voted. I decided to take a day off work and handle a bunch of things that couldn’t be handled from my office – closing my Bank of America account (THIS JUST IN! If you can’t get people to pay attention to the fact that they stole your money, email the CEO crankily. His lovely assistant will get back to you and the whole thing can be solved in a matter of days! Just sayin..), some other things, and voting early.

Thank goodness I took the whole day off. And thank goodness it was a gorgeous day.

Voting early took me a little over 2 hours – I waited in line at the Merlo Public Library on Belmont with a long line of other wannabe voters. I didn’t bring a book, but fortunately there were copies of The Onion. Watching all these people get told it was going to take 2+ hours and seeing how many got in line anyway was heartening.  People really do care.

I can’t wait to see this one play out.

ALSO – I’m reading Sarah Vowell’s “The Wordy Shipmates,” about the history of Puritanism in America. Check it out. It’s a delightful read. Vowell’s conversational style makes even the drudgery of pilgrims seem entertaining.

The pathetic campaigning of the McCain campaign

Things are getting ugly.

McCain and Palin are leading a pathetic campaign – using narrow-minded fear to try and cling to an election they’re losing.

Seriously. Go vote.

 

 

“Joe Six-Pack” is not my homeboy.

Can I just rant for a few? Please.

I don’t want “Joe Six-Pack” to be my Vice President. I know Palin thinks she’s appealing to average, everyday (ie, simple) Americans when she keeps throwing around that phrase to prove how mainstreet she is – but seriously. I’m from Alpena, Michigan – a town filled to the brim with “Joes.” They drive pick-ups and farm and shop at Wal-Mart and god bless them, they’ve lovely salt of the earth people, but that doesn’t mean I want them one step away from the most powerful position on earth.

I want someone with knowledge into how policies and government procedures work. Simply, I want someone qualified. Especially if that person is backing up the oldest man who has ever lived. (Have you been to thingsyoungerthanmccain.com yet? Do it. Riot.)

Joe Biden remains my homeboy. To quote that noted intellectual blog, Jezebel – “Biden gets shit done. Bitch is the new Black, and Biden is the new bitch.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Paliln – If the mean income of the American family is $47,000/year and you make $250,000/year, how are you “middle-class”….. Anyone? 

God, this is an awesome election.

Stupidhead #10 – Sarah Palin

hee

Originally uploaded by confettigirl

In tribute to the great opus of comedy that will surely be tonights Vice Presidential Debate, I’ve decided to add Sarah Palin to the moxie list of Stupidheads.

There are so many reasons for this – if you’ve been at all paying attention to the news you know what I mean. I’m sure she’s a nice enough woman, but seriously – she’s in over her head, prone to gaffes, can’t answer a direct question, throws around the word “Maverick” to a gross degree, plays up her “down-home-ness” by eliminating the “g” at the end of every word she says (“I’m just thinkin’…runnin’….workin’….) as if it’s going to make “real” Americans think she’s the second coming.

I’m also annoyed that every time she’s asked a question and flubs it, the media points it out, and then the Republicans say she’s being picked on and that the media is sexist. Isn’t it more sexist to not let her fight her own battles? To keep her hidden away? She’s a dumbass. Let her exercise her god given right to make a dumbass of herself.. by herself.

There’s a good reason the media’s access to her has been limited. I can’t wait to see what happens tonight when she’s on her own.

Oh, and Joe Biden is my homeboy.

The Dream Team

The Dream Team

Originally uploaded by confettigirl

Genius.
Absolute Genius.
If you haven’t tuned in lately, these two fine gentlemen have NEVER been so on top of their game before.

Letterman & Ferguson v The Republican Presidental Campaign

Last night, I stayed in my apartment and escaped from the world.

However, I also watched some television that I think folks’ll be talking about for a while.

John McCain was scheduled to appear on the Late Show with David Letterman last night, but due to the economic crisis, he had to cancel and head back to Washington to “save the country.” (Like he’s on Heroes or something) Well, Letterman was not cool with the situation. Especially when the in-house CBS cameras were turned on and McCain was revealed to be getting prepped for an interview with Katie Couric.

 

“You don’t suspend your campaign. This doesn’t smell right. This isn’t the way a tested hero behaves…I think someone’s putting something in his metamucil…He can’t run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sarah Palin. Where is she? What are you going to do if you’re elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We’ve got a guy like that now!” – David Letterman

 

For more highlights –

Also not cool with the situation was Craig Ferguson, who immediately follows him on CBS. Craig, my favorite late-night monologist, used the opportunity to get a little angry. Which I love.