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©2003-2007
You know you need a haircut when you keep dreaming that Ted, one of the Fab Five from "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," is your hair stylist.
The funny thing is, Ted isn't even the hair guy. Kyan is the hair guy. Ted is the food and wine guy.
Another funny thing is, I'm not queer. And I'm definitely not a guy.
And I haven't watched "Queer Eye" since, oh, about episode three. That's like, what, three years ago? But I still remember all of their names.
I seem to remember more celebrity trivia and nonsense more than, say, evidence law or how to form a corporation.
Someone told me I should've been a reporter.
Although I don't care for Angelina Jolie, either before, during, or after all the baby business (people can really use the time and money they spend on the hype for better things!), I have new-found admiration for her solely for giving 1/3 of her income to charity.
Now that's my idea of a role-model.
So, today, I filled up my "first tank" of gas since we got the car. It had a little bit less than a quarter tank left, but I didn't want to wait in case I get stranded somewhere without gas. Filled it up, $34 USD for a little more than 10 gallons.
Eek. I remember the days when $20 was more than enough to fill up the tank on our old Camry.
During a dinner conversation with a family friend a few nights ago, the family friend said that he didn't think Muslims should be allowed into the country. There is apparently an Italian woman/writer (can't remember her name - Orsina? Orianna? something) who has said recently that Muslims are bad news for Europe.
I was a bit taken aback. Maybe it was a knee-jerk reaction. Me, liberal; him, liberal too, yet he suggested what's-her-name has a point. Isn't that out of character for supposed liberals?
Part of me couldn't help but think that this is imperialism coming back to bite colonialists' ass. If certain Western countries weren't so bent on colonizing and dominating other people, they now would not have to open doors for citizens of former colonies, continually fight the vestiges of historical animosity, let alone rabid fundamentalists from those former colonies with huge chips on their shoulders.
But Houston, we do have a problem, and that problem has grown beyond its imperialist legacy roots.
This morning, I was listening to some related commentary on NPR. Specifically, it was about Muslims in Canada - no doubt pertinent because they've recently caught 10 or 11 people who were planning to blow up Canadian Parliament buildings and to take over the CBC. Surprisingly or not, many of the suspected terrorists grew up in Canada or have been there for a very long time.
Let's not forget that several of the 9/11 attackers entered the US via Canada.
The commentator pointed out something that I thought was the tip of the irony iceberg: Canada, with its reputation for tolerance and embracing new immigrants, has an undeniably growing problem - a population of Muslim immigrants who do not wish to integrate themselves into Canadian society, and a portion of those openly advocating intolerance. Worse, terrorism. This problem likely afflicts the US as well.
An imam, who apparently had counseled several of the suspected terrorists while they were growing up, said something to the effect that they were Canadian, but they wanted to live the Canadian life their own way. Get this - apparently allowing a woman to work outside of the house without her father's approval is a huge problem, and Western societies give too many liberties to women. He continued to say that one should never resort to violence...but then in the next sentence proclaimed the "normal" Canadian way of life as full of sins, and come Judgment Day, those sinners will be judged.
Sounded to me like he was excluding himself and a selected group of people. And, with the condemnation of the Western way of life (whatever the hell that means), does anyone honestly expect me to believe that he meant what he said about no violence?
Whenever I hear similar rhetoric, a huge voice goes off in my head, like this: "WHY THE HELL ARE YOU LIVING THERE THEN?!?!?!?!!!!!" Put that sentence in red, blinking, surrounded by flashing lights and a thought bubble. Exclamation marks included. That's what goes off in my head.
Seriously. I am a first-generation immigrant myself. I complain about this country all the time - that is the beauty of free speech guaranteed by this country (under Dubya, sort of). But I would never ever consider resorting to terrorist activities to change this country, and if I really disapproved of this country that much, I'd simply move elsewhere, or literally go back to where I came from (oh, one of my favorite taunts from the old days). Everyone should be allowed to embrace his or her old culture and customs, but there is a reason why you ARE in Canada, the US, Europe, etc., no? You or your family chose to migrate to democratic nations, nations that speak foreign tongues, nations with existing laws, ideologies, and communities - in fact, I dare say it was a whole lot of trouble to get in, so no one forced anyone - yet you fervently segregate yourself from the rest of society, condemn it, use fighting words to speak of it, and worse, advocate the destruction of it. Why the hell are you there?! I have no doubt people with similar ideologies in certain parts of the world would welcome you with open arms.
Maybe that's precisely the goal: To do god's/allah's/whoever's bidding and rid the world of infidels and sinners. Scary. In which case, they should never be allowed in. Unfortunately, one often can't tell who is going to turn out to be a looney and who is legit. Though, get this, because it is kind of funny - at least in the US, the only ideologies for which you could be excluded from entry are communism and Nazism. Who is stupid enough to admit to being a communist or Nazi on one's visa application?!
But, once someone says the things that imam has said, and is shown to have links to terrorists, I can't help but think that his ass should be deported so fast he didn't know what hit him, or alternatively be imprisoned or deprived of citizenship, since it's obvious he does not have the country's interests in mind (which is usually a requirement for non-citizens to become citizens of a country, mind you, so the same should be required of people who are here and want to stay), so he would not be allowed to actively encourage and spread ideas that are inherently contrary to the fundaments of democracy and human rights. Yes, there is free speech, and it's going to be a pain figuring out who does or doesn't want to turn that speech into reality. But the bottom line is, even the most tolerant cannot be tolerant of intolerance. You just can't be.
So, what are we to do with this mess?
Of course, only after I've moved away does Aimee Mann decide to play in Boston, with the Boston Pops, no less.
Man.
The prep course is seriously kicking my derriere. Not because the material (so far) is completely new to me, but because there is just so MUCH all at once. 14 subjects, less than 2 months to prepare, tons of rules and tons of exceptions. Prepping for the final for just one subject is grilling enough, let alone all at once and all commingled.
I wish my memory was as good as it used to be.
4 hours of classes per day, plus tons of assignments, review, practice, and homework that must be done in the remaining time. The weather is absolutely gorgeous outside, and all I can do is sit indoors and gaze at my books rather than the lovely flowers, birds, and sun. I work well under pressure; with graduation barely several weeks ago, stamina and motivation is a problem. It seems a little, uh, early for me to start stressing out, yet studying should be run like a marathon (at which I'm not good) rather than a sprint (at which I'm fantastic).
I wish I could say I have the drive of someone whose life-long goal is to work at a big firm for 70-80 hours per week and enjoys not having a life outside of work, but I've been there and found that it wasn't for me. Those folks would have no problems burying their noses in all of this material.
Sigh. Back to the grind.
Dear Copycatter,
iNFjs do not have 300+ contacts on their Friendster list. Hello, you're supposed to be an introvert.
iNFjs also do not drive BMW convertibles or constantly relish in going to fancy restaurants.
iNFjs don't need to pretend to be iNFjs just to be cool. .
Someone needs to stop copying me on Friendster. Including the style of my photos. It's creepy, and I'm not really flattered.
Likely you don't read my blog, but if on some odd chance you do and know who I am, I must be more fabulous than you for you to copy me, but please stop.
Thank you!
