Like the title refers, I'm not too big on Disney. Their cliche storylines and over the top happy endings are enough to make any self-respecting person over 5 years old lose their lunch. The classics like Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Anastasia, etc. all feature the same boring lovey dovey story line with heroes that put Superman to shame with their lameness. The only time Disney ever makes a children's movie worth watching is when they team up with Pixar, i.e. Toy Story, Monster's Inc., The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, etc. All hating on Disney aside, something really caught my eye when I saw the new trailers for Alice in Wonderland. The lifelike animation and genius that is Tim Burton along with the quirky acting of Johnny Depp make this age old fairytale classic seem promising. Most importantly, the story of Alice in Wonderland is one that seems like it could be taken straight out of the 60s classic song "Puff the Magic Dragon". The story's twisted logic and anthropomorphic characters are sure to give you and your kids the experience of a really good Leary style LSD trip, albeit a little toned down. Although Burton and Depp have teamed up before and made the super flop musical Sweeny Todd(All musicals are flops in my opinion. Yes, even Rent!), I think the crazy story Alice in Wonderland provides will be secret ingredient that makes this movie worthwhile. Who knows, I might actually take the time to check it out in theaters...er download it illegally.
Aurora
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Beauty Alert: Eyebrow Threading!
Eyebrow threading is perhaps the most amazing beauty technique to hit the U.S. in recent time! It's fast easy and a whole lot less sloppy than traditional waxing. Hailing from India and parts of the far east, this technique utilizes a single long piece of cotton thread that is moved lightly back and forth along the skin precisely removing unwanted hair. It takes less than ten minutes and usually costs just ten dollars! It's also great for sensitive skin. For more info, check out:
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Dignity in Fighting?
Earlier this year I wrote a short article calling on Americans to end the military policy of "Don't Ask Don't Tell". Here is my article:
"“Dignity to Serve”
The notion that the military cannot function with LGBT people serving openly is a myth. At its best it is an idea and policy instated by ignorant, but rather well meaning straight men trying to protect our military. At its worst, it is a policy that speaks to homophobic and transphobic paranoia and persecutes people simply for being. In the history of our world there have been many open LGBT leaders who have served and commanded greatly successful militaries, most notably, the undefeated Alexander the Great. Other LGBT military leaders throughout history include:
• Fredrick II of Prussia
• Richard the Lion Hearted
• Albert Cashier during the civil war
• The Greek special unit, The Sacred Band of Thebes
• Tiberius
• King Edward II
• The Emperor Hadrian
• Nzinga of Angola
• Joan of Arc
• Samurai practicing “bi-do” or the beautiful way.
• Horation Herbert Kitchener of Britain
The list goes on and on. That is why I am calling on the Commander –in-Chief of our United States Military, President Barack Obama, to sign an executive order to repeal this policy that puts our service men and women at risk by denying qualified capable and potentially great military leaders the chance to serve alongside their straight cisgender counterparts. In a time of two wars when many say our military is overstretched, it makes absolutely no sense to deny people simply because they admit to being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. People of America, please join me and countless others in the struggle for equal rights by telling President Obama and our members of Congress that this injustice cannot stand and that victims of this policy should be re-instated! Send letters and e-mails to the President, post videos online, do anything you can do to tell your story and show that equality is one of the most fundamental tenets of our great nation. Even if Maj. Margaret Witt isn’t re-instated, she has already shown that she is an American hero by choosing to stand up for equality in the face of the establishment at her own expense. "
At the time when I wrote this particular article I was passionate about the issue, as I remembered dealing with it in my own life. When I was in high school I disqualified my application to the Air Force Academy because of my fear of ”Don't Ask Don't Tell”. Since then, I've had heated arguments with my friends who are proponents of this policy. In looking back though, I have begun to seriously question whether this is an issue worth fighting for. At what point does equality become counterproductive? When looking at other minorities and oppressed groups I've noticed that there is a trend of slower promotions and work on the front lines. I understand the idea of fighting for the principal of equality, however, when I read past civil rights leaders like Malcom X calling for an exemption to military draft service for African-Americans, I can't help but question whether military service should be discouraged in the LGBT community altogether as well. If more gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender kids end up joining the military because “Don't Ask Don't Tell” is ended, will its repeal have really have been a victory? As liberal and a rationalist, I think war is never really worth fighting, especially if you are an oppressed minority because in truth war only serves the establishment. Even women who fought for integration in the military and are working in our armed forces have to deal with rampant rape and sexism. I agree that it is necessary to fight against the discrimination of our LGBT brothers and sisters currently fighting in the armed forces, however, I feel that as a community we should work to discourage each other from joining altogether. Besides, there are better ways of serving your country than picking up a gun! What do you guys think; do the adverse effects on the LGBT community of ending “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” outweigh the benefits?
Peace and love,
Aurora
"“Dignity to Serve”
The notion that the military cannot function with LGBT people serving openly is a myth. At its best it is an idea and policy instated by ignorant, but rather well meaning straight men trying to protect our military. At its worst, it is a policy that speaks to homophobic and transphobic paranoia and persecutes people simply for being. In the history of our world there have been many open LGBT leaders who have served and commanded greatly successful militaries, most notably, the undefeated Alexander the Great. Other LGBT military leaders throughout history include:
• Fredrick II of Prussia
• Richard the Lion Hearted
• Albert Cashier during the civil war
• The Greek special unit, The Sacred Band of Thebes
• Tiberius
• King Edward II
• The Emperor Hadrian
• Nzinga of Angola
• Joan of Arc
• Samurai practicing “bi-do” or the beautiful way.
• Horation Herbert Kitchener of Britain
The list goes on and on. That is why I am calling on the Commander –in-Chief of our United States Military, President Barack Obama, to sign an executive order to repeal this policy that puts our service men and women at risk by denying qualified capable and potentially great military leaders the chance to serve alongside their straight cisgender counterparts. In a time of two wars when many say our military is overstretched, it makes absolutely no sense to deny people simply because they admit to being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. People of America, please join me and countless others in the struggle for equal rights by telling President Obama and our members of Congress that this injustice cannot stand and that victims of this policy should be re-instated! Send letters and e-mails to the President, post videos online, do anything you can do to tell your story and show that equality is one of the most fundamental tenets of our great nation. Even if Maj. Margaret Witt isn’t re-instated, she has already shown that she is an American hero by choosing to stand up for equality in the face of the establishment at her own expense. "
At the time when I wrote this particular article I was passionate about the issue, as I remembered dealing with it in my own life. When I was in high school I disqualified my application to the Air Force Academy because of my fear of ”Don't Ask Don't Tell”. Since then, I've had heated arguments with my friends who are proponents of this policy. In looking back though, I have begun to seriously question whether this is an issue worth fighting for. At what point does equality become counterproductive? When looking at other minorities and oppressed groups I've noticed that there is a trend of slower promotions and work on the front lines. I understand the idea of fighting for the principal of equality, however, when I read past civil rights leaders like Malcom X calling for an exemption to military draft service for African-Americans, I can't help but question whether military service should be discouraged in the LGBT community altogether as well. If more gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender kids end up joining the military because “Don't Ask Don't Tell” is ended, will its repeal have really have been a victory? As liberal and a rationalist, I think war is never really worth fighting, especially if you are an oppressed minority because in truth war only serves the establishment. Even women who fought for integration in the military and are working in our armed forces have to deal with rampant rape and sexism. I agree that it is necessary to fight against the discrimination of our LGBT brothers and sisters currently fighting in the armed forces, however, I feel that as a community we should work to discourage each other from joining altogether. Besides, there are better ways of serving your country than picking up a gun! What do you guys think; do the adverse effects on the LGBT community of ending “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” outweigh the benefits?
Peace and love,
Aurora
Monday, December 14, 2009
End Year Resolution!
Okay, so we all know that there is a lot of B.S. that goes into holidays. Faking excitement, bunnies that lay eggs, scarring children for life by lying to them about a 300 pound reverse burglar, are just some of the things we all endure on holidays. All that aside, probably the biggest B.S. holiday tradition of all is New Year's resolutions. Everyone makes them but no one keeps their promise. This year I'd like to call for an end to New Year's resolutions and a beginning to what I call "End Year resolutions". "What is an end of year resolution?", you ask. An End Year resolution is a personal acknowledgment of all the dumb stuff you did this year and a promise not repeat it in the next. Maybe it's filled with the same sort of B.S. but at least it gives you a better idea of how to keep a promise since you've already been through the consequences. So what's your End Year resolution??? I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours. ;)
Aurora
Aurora
Sunday, December 13, 2009
What am I?
Thinking of the conventional wisdom behind blogs, I feel people would usually advise against posting all the things that describe them in only their second blog post. I can't help but go against this grain. In no apparent order and as a non-exhaustive list the words that could be used to describe me are:
1. Political
2. Fashionista
3. Nihilist
4. Tall
5. Freethinker
6. Social Drinker
7. African-American
8. Transsexual
9. Hippie
10. Twenty something
11. Futurist
12. Transhumanist
13. Atheist
14. Hedonist
15. Leisure smoker
16. Edgy
17. Diva
18. City girl
19. Activist
20. Slender
21. Foodie
22. Lover of Pizza!
23. Liberal
24. Science enthusiast
25. Amateur Astronomer
26. Numismatist
27. Gamer
28. Queer
29. Marketer
30. Exhibitionist
31. East coast
32. Lover of cold weather
33. Classical music, techno, hip hop, headbanger rock, pop (I just decided to
lump my music tastes together.)
So there you have it, 33 things that you previously didn't know about me. Hopefully this will spark your interests in my future posts. If you saw something here you didn't like I implore you, don't just let that be the end of it. Engage me! I'm not someone who gets angry if their views are challenged. For me, when someone tries to show you another point of view or even tries to prove you wrong, it is a compliment since they are only trying to impart knowledge and therefore elevate your intellectual state.
Peace and love,
Aurora
1. Political
2. Fashionista
3. Nihilist
4. Tall
5. Freethinker
6. Social Drinker
7. African-American
8. Transsexual
9. Hippie
10. Twenty something
11. Futurist
12. Transhumanist
13. Atheist
14. Hedonist
15. Leisure smoker
16. Edgy
17. Diva
18. City girl
19. Activist
20. Slender
21. Foodie
22. Lover of Pizza!
23. Liberal
24. Science enthusiast
25. Amateur Astronomer
26. Numismatist
27. Gamer
28. Queer
29. Marketer
30. Exhibitionist
31. East coast
32. Lover of cold weather
33. Classical music, techno, hip hop, headbanger rock, pop (I just decided to
lump my music tastes together.)
So there you have it, 33 things that you previously didn't know about me. Hopefully this will spark your interests in my future posts. If you saw something here you didn't like I implore you, don't just let that be the end of it. Engage me! I'm not someone who gets angry if their views are challenged. For me, when someone tries to show you another point of view or even tries to prove you wrong, it is a compliment since they are only trying to impart knowledge and therefore elevate your intellectual state.
Peace and love,
Aurora
Allow me to introduce myself!
Hello everyone!
This blog is intended to chronicle a ton of information and perspectives. I am considered by many to be a complex person and for me this is a social experiment of sorts because for the first time I'll have the ability to engage others freely in conversations about the world and our experiences. I hope to get to know you as you get to know me.
Peace and love,
Aurora
This blog is intended to chronicle a ton of information and perspectives. I am considered by many to be a complex person and for me this is a social experiment of sorts because for the first time I'll have the ability to engage others freely in conversations about the world and our experiences. I hope to get to know you as you get to know me.
Peace and love,
Aurora
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