Not sure if Einstein really said that “the most powerful force in the universe is compound interest”, but whomever did say it is a genius.
I’ve decided to make loan payments instead of straightening my hair. This decision should make me feel good. But getting your hair done REALLY makes you feel good.. and paying monies but not receiving anything tangible in return feels like poop.
Whatever, here’s to my most recent loan payments!! (boooo..)
After a month of winter vacation, I have finally caught up with my various email accounts. I should never let it reach this point ever again. Fortunately, LeeBen set me up on Thunderbird v. 3.0 to facilitate the process. Phewwwwf. The pile-up of emails was reflective of how lazy I was this break.
Last week, I hung out with friends in downtown Santa Cruz. I was thoroughly impressed by one of my friends who attends UCSC. Despite, presumably, frequenting the area and thus having a higher exposure to homeless people than me, he was not desensitized. Actually, this friend of mine was very clearly troubled when he was asked for cigarettes, change, or food and had to decline. He’s the slickdeals-ing kind of guy, so took home some leftovers. But when I man asked him for his food, my friend gave it up–saying that his only problem was that he should have given it to a person he thought appeared to need it more. It was a very surprising and pleasant display of humanity (though my friend experienced distraught feelings–I took it that he felt distraught because he sympathized greatly). The reflection of kindness made me happy. He’s a good person. I like my friend.
It also got me thinking about my own reaction towards homeless people. And how I most frequently ignore homeless people–and how this treatment different from (read: worse than) the treatment I would give to most other strangers. With the reminder of my friend’s humanity, hopefully I can work towards increasing my own capacity for respect.
Virtual Visit Over the Web May Expand Access to Doctors
An interesting service that can compliment regular annual (or more frequent, depending on the patient) appointments. Could encourage dialogue among involved parties. But I agree that physicals require.. physicals. I just think it would be a wonderful service to supplement but not replace appointments. Hopefully we can increase awareness of one’s health this way–as it will require less hassle presumably.
For Rural Adults, Health Care Is Wishful Thinking
This is important!! Many of constituents in strongly Republican or conservative states need to realize that this health care reform is for THEM. The rest of us need to realize how terrible it is that we live in the richest and poorest country at the same time. Let’s fix this.
Ban Lifted On Federal Funding For Needle Exchange
THANK YOU, OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. This is the sort of bone you occasionally need to throw out to your supporters. This is a great step towards improving a marginalized yet significant portion of our population. The science (and common sense) supports needle exchange programs. I am excited that more funding can be given to the programs that have been strapped by limited city/county/state budgets. We can reach more people and reduce the spread of communicable diseases by spreading the word that clean needles should be accessible! FTW!!!!!
I was determined to attend either UC Berkeley or UCLA during my senior year of high school. Stanford was that surprise that then made me make a decision between UC Berkeley and Stanford. But I realize that the people I know at UCLA are people for whom I have great respect and love. Every time I go there to visit them, or hang out with them in the Bay, I am reminded just how awesome they are. Maybe UCLA is a magnet for such great people. If that’s the case, I hope to go to UCLA in my future!
I know that women’s bodies are sexualized and used to sell every product imaginable. But Reebok’s recent campaign for their Easy Tone shoes still shocked me.
The videoman has an incontrollable desire to stare at the woman’s ass. No bother paying attention to the woman.
The second commercial was especially striking. As if the only aspects of a woman that previously deserved attention were her breasts. And then a man’s voice responds with the punch line “make your boobs jealous.”
Community Standard or Double Standard?
Best line:
Women kissing women is far more common, probably because it doesn’t offend: for many viewers, two women romping together in bed registers less as lesbianism than as an extracurricular turn-on for men.
That about sums up the state of things. Buh.
‘Botax’ In Senate Health Bill Upsets Plastic Surgeons
I don’t think it’s fair to tax certain procedures more than others. But at the same time, don’t argue that:
“You’d be surprised how price sensitive people are to this…It’s a tax against women and the baby boomer generation having these procedures.”
The elective (key word; the bill does not affect surgeries to fix deformities or injuries) plastic surgery industry was built upon a paradigm that is set against women. Tighter skin, perkier boobs, lusher lips: these are the procedures that are “against women”.