The Daily Camera today confirms our earlier reconnaissance that the Wild Oats down the street from us will not close. Thank goodness.
Trebek has not yet called.
In "Where are we supposed to go to the bathroom?" news, AV read yesterday that the Barnes and Noble at Astor Place in New York City is closing. We do not buy books there, but we usually get off the subway at Astor Place, go to the can, and then make our way into the East Village. I guess we'll just have to hold it. Or something. Also troubling is the large spread the NYT is running this weekend about the East Village being a great place for tourists to go. I know, we're tourists, but we're knowledgeable tourists. We can get around down there with little trouble. In fact, I once (famously, right AV?) navigated us from Anthology Film Archives (2nd Avenue and 2nd street) to Union Square at night, with the clock tower visible from Astor Place as my only landmark.* I'm pretty sure that was the trip before we were stopped by a prada-wearing Texan in Grand Central who said, "You look like we do, can you help us get to blah blah location?" I puzzle over this remark even today.
*Reasonable evidence that we may have success if we ever want to go on the Amazing Race. Also, I memorize maps. That would probably help too. And both of us could be counted on in a Road Block involving fish eyeballs, large quantities of meat, goulash, and (possibly) an Ostrich egg.
Showing posts with label complaint department. Show all posts
Showing posts with label complaint department. Show all posts
September 20, 2007
September 5, 2007
Yesterday's News
Lilian Calles Barger has a link to another story about the dual-lives of contemporary women. I don't know that I'm qualified to post on this, since I'm not a mother or homemaker by any stretch of the imagination (need confirmation? try my macaroni and cheese). In any case, the discussion continues. Old pal Josh Byers has a response over at his blog - he's linked to it in the comments on yesterday's post, but I'm providing it here.
My own reticence to an idea like the one introduced in yesterday's post stems from experience - in a highly intellectual environment - where men continue to make claims about women's vocational status (i.e., what women should do, or what ministry opportunities are available to them) as a way of disguising claims about women's ontological status (equal, separate but equal, or just separate?). My Greek professor used to begin every semester with a speech directed at men who were uncomfortable with the idea of learning a biblical language from a woman - she encouraged them to drop and take another (male) professor.
Even in my own degree program, there were male colleagues who adhered to (and in one notable case, promoted loudly) the paradigm that women are suboordinate to men. When I pushed them on it, asking them in our "Christian Ethics and Modern Culture" class how I could expect them to ever take my ideas and work seriously, they responded with the answer, "but we affirm you." I don't know what being affirmed of my suboordinate status looks like, or how that's supposed to help my intellectual confidence. Even male colleagues who identified themselves as sympathetic to the egalitarian cause eventually dismissed the issue as an one of interpretation, rather than deep ontological status. Especially toward the end, my confidence that I would be well-received in an intellectual environment with men was shaken pretty soundly.
I should say, though, that a similar view about women and their work seems to be present in the secular academic world as well. In this case, though, shouldn't our Christian environments do a little better? Maybe that's unfair. In any case, the debate about traditionalism vs. egalitarianism in Christianity is old news in the blogosphere, and I'm not intending to fan any flames or start any arguments. Instead, I'm just trying to give some (admittedly reductive) context to why public statements emphasizing female "roles" bother me. In any case, full disclosure is done.
My own reticence to an idea like the one introduced in yesterday's post stems from experience - in a highly intellectual environment - where men continue to make claims about women's vocational status (i.e., what women should do, or what ministry opportunities are available to them) as a way of disguising claims about women's ontological status (equal, separate but equal, or just separate?). My Greek professor used to begin every semester with a speech directed at men who were uncomfortable with the idea of learning a biblical language from a woman - she encouraged them to drop and take another (male) professor.
Even in my own degree program, there were male colleagues who adhered to (and in one notable case, promoted loudly) the paradigm that women are suboordinate to men. When I pushed them on it, asking them in our "Christian Ethics and Modern Culture" class how I could expect them to ever take my ideas and work seriously, they responded with the answer, "but we affirm you." I don't know what being affirmed of my suboordinate status looks like, or how that's supposed to help my intellectual confidence. Even male colleagues who identified themselves as sympathetic to the egalitarian cause eventually dismissed the issue as an one of interpretation, rather than deep ontological status. Especially toward the end, my confidence that I would be well-received in an intellectual environment with men was shaken pretty soundly.
I should say, though, that a similar view about women and their work seems to be present in the secular academic world as well. In this case, though, shouldn't our Christian environments do a little better? Maybe that's unfair. In any case, the debate about traditionalism vs. egalitarianism in Christianity is old news in the blogosphere, and I'm not intending to fan any flames or start any arguments. Instead, I'm just trying to give some (admittedly reductive) context to why public statements emphasizing female "roles" bother me. In any case, full disclosure is done.
April 12, 2007
Does it help that it's a spring snowstorm?
Not much.
According to the weather wizards at 9news, up to a foot is possible in the city. This saddens me, because the trees in our front yard are flowering and I expect the snow will take the nice blooms (and possibly some of the branches) off the trees.
The old "we need the moisture" bit just isn't working for me.
According to the weather wizards at 9news, up to a foot is possible in the city. This saddens me, because the trees in our front yard are flowering and I expect the snow will take the nice blooms (and possibly some of the branches) off the trees.
The old "we need the moisture" bit just isn't working for me.
February 24, 2007
Around Town Yesterday
Last night, AV and I took in the opening performance of the Town Hall Arts Center's Footloose! Yes, we went to a show. I'm continually making good on my promise to see only musicals that my brother is performing in. If you scroll down on the link you'll see the production photos (and some stonewashed jeans). His performance as Ren McCormack has busted the metaphysics of the six-degrees game. I am screamingly proud of him, and last night as I was watching him swing his partner about during the closing number I was immediately grateful for all of the swing nights I dragged him to during college. But what we saw last night was all him, and it was fantastic. I did have some roberto cavalli-related flashbacks last night as I was rudely bumped by many ladies in horrid fur coats.
Yesterday I also answered phones at KUVO, and there I learned that the major public radio outlet in Colorado has outsourced all their fundraising drive functions. As if recorded local information wasn't enough, when you call to pledge funds to Colorado Public Radio, you speak to someone in Iowa or elsewhere who they've contracted to answer the phones. Basically, CPR has us all over a barrel. That's too bad. However, it also drives home the importance (at least to me) of the work KUVO does, not only in their format choices, but in their symbiotic relationship to the community. If you've not connected with KUVO yet, you really should. And I'm not just saying that because I give time and energy (and funds) ... it's a real gem in a sea of absolute rocks.
Earlier this week I learned that Wild Oats has been bought out by Whole Foods. This is bad news for a variety of reasons, but like other Wild Oats customers, I have two concerns. The first (and most major) having to do with the potential closing of stores. The Capitol Hill Wild Oats (aka our Giant Refrigerator) is excellent in terms of customer service and quality of meat and produce. I go there almost every other day to get fresh food stuffs for our evening meals, and if this went away it would change the character of our neighborhood. Also, I would be really upset. The second has to do with the quality of product and customer service once Wild Oats gets brought under the behemoth's umbrella. There's a reason (or a variety of them, really) that Wild Oats customers shop there and not at Whole Foods (sorry Mom -- I know you like the olives and cheese). As a fellow KUVO volunteer and down-the-street neighbor said yesterday, "They ask you for ID when you're shopping in Cherry Creek." We're all crossing our fingers that the Whole Foods aura won't infect our neighborhood grocery, and in this age of big-box stores and wacky rules about lobsters and foie gras, the Cap Hill Wild Oats is really the closest thing we've got to that concept.
Not in town: dooce's insightful and, frankly profound, commentary on the Britney Spears situation. We were remarking last week that the media and public that cares about this particular tragedy are the ones that built her up and now she's suffering at their mercy. Heather Armstrong contends that it may be evidence of postpartum depression which only adds to the tragedy and to the marked severity of the situation.
Also found yesterday: and disgusting, is this tidbit from a Greenwich Village Taco Bell/KFC (it just sounds like a bad idea, doesn't it?): here's some YouTube of rats on parade. Disgusting. According to one report, the Taco Bell/KFC where these rats were running wild was open to customers and serving food just the previous day.
Yesterday I also answered phones at KUVO, and there I learned that the major public radio outlet in Colorado has outsourced all their fundraising drive functions. As if recorded local information wasn't enough, when you call to pledge funds to Colorado Public Radio, you speak to someone in Iowa or elsewhere who they've contracted to answer the phones. Basically, CPR has us all over a barrel. That's too bad. However, it also drives home the importance (at least to me) of the work KUVO does, not only in their format choices, but in their symbiotic relationship to the community. If you've not connected with KUVO yet, you really should. And I'm not just saying that because I give time and energy (and funds) ... it's a real gem in a sea of absolute rocks.
Earlier this week I learned that Wild Oats has been bought out by Whole Foods. This is bad news for a variety of reasons, but like other Wild Oats customers, I have two concerns. The first (and most major) having to do with the potential closing of stores. The Capitol Hill Wild Oats (aka our Giant Refrigerator) is excellent in terms of customer service and quality of meat and produce. I go there almost every other day to get fresh food stuffs for our evening meals, and if this went away it would change the character of our neighborhood. Also, I would be really upset. The second has to do with the quality of product and customer service once Wild Oats gets brought under the behemoth's umbrella. There's a reason (or a variety of them, really) that Wild Oats customers shop there and not at Whole Foods (sorry Mom -- I know you like the olives and cheese). As a fellow KUVO volunteer and down-the-street neighbor said yesterday, "They ask you for ID when you're shopping in Cherry Creek." We're all crossing our fingers that the Whole Foods aura won't infect our neighborhood grocery, and in this age of big-box stores and wacky rules about lobsters and foie gras, the Cap Hill Wild Oats is really the closest thing we've got to that concept.
Not in town: dooce's insightful and, frankly profound, commentary on the Britney Spears situation. We were remarking last week that the media and public that cares about this particular tragedy are the ones that built her up and now she's suffering at their mercy. Heather Armstrong contends that it may be evidence of postpartum depression which only adds to the tragedy and to the marked severity of the situation.
Also found yesterday: and disgusting, is this tidbit from a Greenwich Village Taco Bell/KFC (it just sounds like a bad idea, doesn't it?): here's some YouTube of rats on parade. Disgusting. According to one report, the Taco Bell/KFC where these rats were running wild was open to customers and serving food just the previous day.
January 25, 2007
Dear Television:
Since you and I spend time together willingly -- and not mindlessly (except for that thing with the Real World, which I know you won't tell anyone about) -- can we come to an agreement about some things? Please?
Can you please tell the writers of Heroes to start applying Strunk and White's principle #17 of ommitting needless words to the storylines and subplots? Tell them to x-out some of that ridiculous dialogue and sappy plot development and just get to the cool comic book stuff. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the Hiro-Ando business (because it's somehow the best written stuff on the show...except for the incessant mentions of the "Nissan Versa, it's right outside!"), and I have high hopes for the new Christopher Eccleston character. Nathan Petrelli, on the other hand, needs a hair cut. He looks like Jughead. And Mohinder Suresh's psuedo-philosophical narrating is tiresome and puts me to sleep. More powers and using them, less finding out about the dynamics between the people with the powers. Oh, and tell them that HRG really shouldn't have a gun. It's not convincing.
Also, send a memo to those folks at LOST about Jack and Kate. WE DON'T CARE ANY MORE. And by "We," I mean me.
I will reserve my usual ire about the Food Network programming you've somehow let continue. I've let the thumbs-down button on the TiVO remote do the talking for me (and you're "on notice" as it were, Sandra Lee, Cans McMange, and Rachael Ray). By the way, thanks for cooperating with the TiVO. Your work together has given me much less to complain about.
Finally, can you please do something about that Alex Trebek? He is weird, and the only reason we know this is because Jeopardy! is on twice a day. If, somehow, I make it past the contestant's pool into the random contestant search and then onto the show I might recant, but in the mean time just have him read questions and cut the ancillary comments. You might consider sending him a copy of Strunk and White as well.
PS: How is it that Explanator remains the highest-rated show on Monday nights? Honestly. For a show that relies on David Caruso explaining something and then a cg zoom to that thing which he just finished explaining, it sure is catering to the least attentive denominator out there. You, my dear friend, can do better.
Can you please tell the writers of Heroes to start applying Strunk and White's principle #17 of ommitting needless words to the storylines and subplots? Tell them to x-out some of that ridiculous dialogue and sappy plot development and just get to the cool comic book stuff. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the Hiro-Ando business (because it's somehow the best written stuff on the show...except for the incessant mentions of the "Nissan Versa, it's right outside!"), and I have high hopes for the new Christopher Eccleston character. Nathan Petrelli, on the other hand, needs a hair cut. He looks like Jughead. And Mohinder Suresh's psuedo-philosophical narrating is tiresome and puts me to sleep. More powers and using them, less finding out about the dynamics between the people with the powers. Oh, and tell them that HRG really shouldn't have a gun. It's not convincing.
Also, send a memo to those folks at LOST about Jack and Kate. WE DON'T CARE ANY MORE. And by "We," I mean me.
I will reserve my usual ire about the Food Network programming you've somehow let continue. I've let the thumbs-down button on the TiVO remote do the talking for me (and you're "on notice" as it were, Sandra Lee, Cans McMange, and Rachael Ray). By the way, thanks for cooperating with the TiVO. Your work together has given me much less to complain about.
Finally, can you please do something about that Alex Trebek? He is weird, and the only reason we know this is because Jeopardy! is on twice a day. If, somehow, I make it past the contestant's pool into the random contestant search and then onto the show I might recant, but in the mean time just have him read questions and cut the ancillary comments. You might consider sending him a copy of Strunk and White as well.
PS: How is it that Explanator remains the highest-rated show on Monday nights? Honestly. For a show that relies on David Caruso explaining something and then a cg zoom to that thing which he just finished explaining, it sure is catering to the least attentive denominator out there. You, my dear friend, can do better.
December 12, 2006
Rodents: How I love Thee
At six this morning I found myself attempting to reason with squirrels. I literally said, "Now come on, squirrels." I sounded just like my mom (mom, I know you read this, and it doesn't bother me that I sound like you sometimes. I actually think it is funny).
There is a healthy squirrel population that lives in the large spruce tree out in front of our house. They like to run across the roof at all hours of the night. Often I confuse squirrels and their surprisingly loud hoofbeats with either a herd of very speedy cows, or (much worse) someone coming in our house. This is always the worst when AV leaves for work and in that half an hour that passes while I'm waiting for my alarm to go off.
Squirrels also make this noisy chattering sound. In their discussions, I wish they would be quieter. I also wish they would have the common courtesy--shared by other rodents--to scatter when I'm nearby, even if "nearby" means "laying in my bed." They are pestering.
Also, I am a scrooge by nature. Our downstairs neighbors have hung a very smelly wreath in the hallway, whose smell is magnified when the heater comes on. Bah humbug. Maybe I could feed the wreath to the squirrels. Hmmm.
Update: I do suppose it could be a lot worse: 3 Million Bees removed From Kitchen of Couple's Apartment.
There is a healthy squirrel population that lives in the large spruce tree out in front of our house. They like to run across the roof at all hours of the night. Often I confuse squirrels and their surprisingly loud hoofbeats with either a herd of very speedy cows, or (much worse) someone coming in our house. This is always the worst when AV leaves for work and in that half an hour that passes while I'm waiting for my alarm to go off.
Squirrels also make this noisy chattering sound. In their discussions, I wish they would be quieter. I also wish they would have the common courtesy--shared by other rodents--to scatter when I'm nearby, even if "nearby" means "laying in my bed." They are pestering.
Also, I am a scrooge by nature. Our downstairs neighbors have hung a very smelly wreath in the hallway, whose smell is magnified when the heater comes on. Bah humbug. Maybe I could feed the wreath to the squirrels. Hmmm.
Update: I do suppose it could be a lot worse: 3 Million Bees removed From Kitchen of Couple's Apartment.
December 5, 2006
Me and Kerry and Mice
My sister Kerry and I have a completely irrational fear of mice. My sister is one of the toughest cats around, but show that girl a mouse and she will freak out. Growing up, I don't quite recall having that same fear of mice, per se, but in an incident that occurred during college (in which a mouse joined me on the family room couch, causing me to scream absolutely bloody murder, subsequently jarring my dad out of sound sleep to come to my aid) I discovered that mice really do scare me.
I cannot explain this. I also have no trouble admitting this.
We live in an old house, so in the fall and winter time we are sometimes visited by mice. Susan was over at our house for dinner one night and she saw a mouse. I jumped up, ran across the room, and then threw a box at the mouse. Smart, huh? Sunday afternoon, AV and I were standing in the kitchen when a mouse (bravely) bolted out from under the radiator. AV had not yet been party to my reaction, and when I screamed and sprinted out of the kitchen up the stairs, he was--we'll say--surprised.
'Tis the season, I guess.
Given my recent variety of issues about (a) High Fructose Corn Syrup, (b) Cows eating their own poop and developing an immunity to e. coli that gets passed along to us, (c) Cow poop making it into our food by not-so-neat slaughtering practices, I have been agonizing far more than usual about the ways in which one might dispatch mice. For example, I can't actually say that I think those sticky traps are such a good idea. However, I cannot be okay with the appearance of evidence in a variety of areas in our kitchen.
Anyway, that is what has been going on in my life...in addition to some mammoth grading and some "excitement" in one of my classes (which I'll write about another time). In case you were wondering, I have managed to faithfully keep up with Days of Our Lives in spite of my busy schedule. Philip Kiriakis, who (when we last left our recapping of the show) boarded a plane never to be heard from again, now resides bandaged from head to toe in his father's manse awaiting a face transplant.
I cannot explain this. I also have no trouble admitting this.
We live in an old house, so in the fall and winter time we are sometimes visited by mice. Susan was over at our house for dinner one night and she saw a mouse. I jumped up, ran across the room, and then threw a box at the mouse. Smart, huh? Sunday afternoon, AV and I were standing in the kitchen when a mouse (bravely) bolted out from under the radiator. AV had not yet been party to my reaction, and when I screamed and sprinted out of the kitchen up the stairs, he was--we'll say--surprised.
'Tis the season, I guess.
Given my recent variety of issues about (a) High Fructose Corn Syrup, (b) Cows eating their own poop and developing an immunity to e. coli that gets passed along to us, (c) Cow poop making it into our food by not-so-neat slaughtering practices, I have been agonizing far more than usual about the ways in which one might dispatch mice. For example, I can't actually say that I think those sticky traps are such a good idea. However, I cannot be okay with the appearance of evidence in a variety of areas in our kitchen.
Anyway, that is what has been going on in my life...in addition to some mammoth grading and some "excitement" in one of my classes (which I'll write about another time). In case you were wondering, I have managed to faithfully keep up with Days of Our Lives in spite of my busy schedule. Philip Kiriakis, who (when we last left our recapping of the show) boarded a plane never to be heard from again, now resides bandaged from head to toe in his father's manse awaiting a face transplant.
If you're just joining us...
I finally got fed up with wordpress and some of its snail-esque features, so I'm back up here at blogger. Sorry for the absence. I'm sure I'll have something to write about soon.
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