Alphabet Challenge Round 20

Finding the letter Q was a bitch but I was able to do it with Q & A by Vikas Swarup. It was republished as Slumdog Millionaire after the very popular movie.

I have never seen the movie. Once I realized it was a book, I wanted to wait. I’m glad I did because I’m sure something was lost in the translation.  The story opens with Ram Mohammad Thomas being arrested because there was no way a destitute waiter could have won a quiz show.

Each chapter explains how his troubled life lead him to know the answers to all the questions he was asked. His life as full of tragedy and hardship and each piece of information he learned was hard earned. Anytime things seemed to get better, something came along to topple them all down. 

While it was depressing, I’m sure this book is a (fairly) realistic depiction of what life is like for the impoverished in India. Ram never stopped moving, never stopped trying to make some sort of life for himself. That was very compelling; it was very reminiscent of the American Dream., Well, until you get to the end and find out why Ram really wanted to be on the quiz show. It's a pretty good book and I liked it. 

A - American Virgin by Steven Seagle

B

C

D - Divergent by Veronica Roth

E - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

F - Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

G - The Great Fables Crossover by Bill Willingham

H - How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown

I - I Do But I Don't by Kamy Wicoff

J - Jane Austen Made Me Do It edited by Laurel Ann Nattress

K

L - A Little Night Magic by Lucy March

M - Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen

N - Naked City edited by Ellen Datlow

O - One of Our Thursdays Is Missing by Jasper Fforde

P

Q - Q & A by Vikas Swarup

R - Reality Bites Back by Jennifer L. Pozner

S - Songs of Love and Death edited by George R. R. Martin

T - The Tao of Dating by Ali Binazir

U - Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman

V

W - White Girl Problems by Babe Walker

X - XVI by Julia Karr

Y - Yoga Bitch by Suzanne Morrison

Z - Zoo Story by Thomas French

Current Jams: Queen of Broken Hearts by The Bigger Lights

Weighing In

One of the ways men take power away from women is to demean their appearance. If people are busy judging their weight or outfits, you won’t focus on what they’re doing or saying.

This article perfectly illustrates that point. Feministing has a nice take on it as well.

Leisel Jones has won eight Olympic medals. She is at her fourth Olympic games. She is an accomplished athlete and an incredible woman. Few women on the planet are better at this event than she is. 

Are we talking about her odds of winning a medal? Are we hearing about her training schedule? Has anything changed for these games in particular? Will this be her final Olympics? Nope. We're not talking about any of that. The world is wondering if she's too fat.

I even heard there are sites where you could vote on whether you thought she was too fat. Who are the people voting on this? Probably your average overweight, under-active American sitting in their computer chair judging a person who can float faster than they can swim on a good day.

Michael Phelps might be looking good but word is he has a sorry-ass attitude. I think his fame went to his head and rumor has it he’s being a punk. Yeah it’s tough but it’s what you signed up for. Get butch superstar. Are we voting on whether or not he’s being a punk? Of course not. He’s a man and he’s a star. Why would people ever think about a thing like that?

I’m sure there’s several men competing in events who don’t look like they’re in peak shape. Are we talking about them? Can anybody name one without doing extensive research? Didn’t think so. I don't think mutual objectification is a solution but men are not judged the same way as women. If we were, this whole thing would sound as ridiculous as it should.

When I went to search for original and I didn’t find anything. After there was such an uproar, I’m such the Herald Sun took it down. It doesn’t make them any less wrong or sexist; just capable of damage control.

Current Music: Revolution by The Murder of My Sweet

Bass Pro Shopping

I went to Bass Pro Shop today. I haven’t been in one since high school. Urbanites should be warned before going into that place. Although the sign that says “Please check your guns and crossbows with customer service” may do that.

They had entire sections of the store devoted to fishing, boating, camping, and hunting. Not only did they have guns and ammo; they had high-end metal contraptions for climbing and staying in trees. There was an entire section devoted to camo-wear. I saw a guy loading a cart with deer corn. They even have a camo dog crate because you have to keep your bird dog in something. And not only did they have a massive section of the store devoted to rods and reels, they also had boats, canoes, and kayaks.

They also had some seriously cute clothes and a lot of workout wear. Most were overpriced but I’d have felt that way in Macy’s or Eddie Bauer as well. Some of the sales were decent. They also had a really good selection of athletic shoes (why I was there) and boots. They even had fresh fudge and popcorn. I was in a skirt so I couldn’t try the rock wall.

This is not your average country boy supply store. Urbanites will get an education and then buy some North Face gear. It's what we know.

One Small Thing

My friend came up with the idea to text a guy she started seeing one random question a day. I posted about that here.

One idea I had a while back was that when you want to get to know someone you each text each other one factoid about yourself each day for a month. It can be something you did, something you love/hate, something personal that they need to know, or just something random. e.g.

I’m allergic to peanuts

I love wearing pajamas with fun patterns

My father died when I was 13

I paint my face for football games

I’ve seen BSB in concert twice

I hate mustard

I’m divorced

I love Jane Austen

I was head cheerleader in high school

I accidentally flipped off a cop and he let me go

I’ve seen every Jay and Silent Bob movie to date

I don’t know how to swim

My favorite book is Brave New World

Something like this can be a bright spot in your day especially when you don’t know what to expect. Just for fun, six of those things listed do not apply to me. Everything else is true. You can guess if you want. I’ll tell you if you’re wrong.

Current Music: Wolf & I by Oh Land

Talk to Me

What is it with my generation and their inability to have an actual conversation over the phone? I hate to break it to you guys but if you can have a conversation face to face, you can have one over the phone. Mechanics are really effing similar.

I dated a guy who said he preferred to talk over G-chat rather than over the phone. Why? He had more control over what he said. He was worried that eventually his inability to handle conversations wouldn’t be enough. Much to no one’s surprise he didn’t last long.

I’ve been messaging this guy on OKC and I gave him my number. His response? He’s “pretty averse to actual talking phone calls” so he’s unlikely to ever make one but he will answer them so he gave me his number. He’s also good with texting and face to face. Now I understand why you needed the internet because it sounds like you’re ‘pretty averse’ to ever having a girlfriend. 

I’m going to translate what you said out of Monument to Social Ineptitude and into basic Girl: “I’m pretty averse to making any effort and I can’t be bothered to ever call you but I’ll answer if you call me.” Dude, you are not that fucking special.

One of the main rules of women regardless of sexuality, age, or stance on feminism is you need to pick up a goddamn phone! You want to know how I gauge a man’s interest? By seeing if he’ll call me without me initiating it. 

I dated a shy hockey player I knew was interested. How did I know? He called me during play-off games. Yes, that’s plural. He was a reserved guy but he still called me and talked to me a couple of times a week. If he’s not calling, he’s not that interested. Period.

I have no intention of actually calling this guy. I'm not even sure if I should bother responding if he texts me. I like to talk. If you're averse to talking and making effort, I'm probably not the girl for you. 

Current Music: American Boys by Halestorm

Watch Out

My friend was asked to give an assessment of an OKC profile for a guy friend since he has a knack for picking the wrong girl. Here’s a quote from her profile: “I definitely have my sourpuss moments. I have mood swings so you'd better watch out.”

Run! Run like a black man in a horror movie. Run like a slutty cheerleader in a slasher flick. Run like a metrosexual man in the West Virginia mountains.

People prettify the truth in their on-line profiles. You’re not really effing weird; you’re an individual. You’re not an unrealistic perfectionist; you’re unwilling to settle. You’re not morbidly obese; you’re a teddy bear.

This is the best version of herself she’s presenting and she’s saying you need to watch out. She’s not a sourpuss; she’s bat shit crazy. 

She may be a new breed of bat shit crazy since I had a roommate that should've upped her dosage and even she wouldn't have put that down.

The fact that he has been doing the on-line dating thing longer than five minutes and didn’t see this immediately makes me worry for him.

Current Background Noise: Dangerous and Sweet by Lenka

Strikes Your Fancy

Last night a friend and I saw Flight of Fancy with the DC Fringe Fest. It was billed as a steampunk ballet. I loved it. If ballet is always this cool, I need to start going more. 

All of the songs were alt-rock type of songs which gave the show a much more contemporary feel. It made ballet much more accessible. A lot of younger people think of ballet as something formal and culturally distant. This made it feel fresh and fun.

It starts with the aviator visiting a world where everyone is the same. The aviator comes and changes all that. People awaken their imagination and feel alive. There was one scene where the dancers had small flashlights strapped to their bodies that I thought was just brilliant.

You saw the steampunk in the costumes but it was understated. I have friends who cosplay steampunk and it can be very other the top. Here, the costumes fit the art forms.

I’m sure reviewers complain about some of the little stuff that goes wrong in some of the smaller productions you see in fringe but that means you’re not seeing the forest for the trees. I thought this show was excellent in concept and execution and will definitely be looking into more shows from this company.

Chilling to: Abraham's Daughter by Arcade Fire