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I wonder....
I wonder what the country would have been like if Robert Kennedy hadn't been assassinated and become President of the United States. I wonder who the president's after him would have been. I wonder who our nominees would be now.
Heath Ledger's death has left me unsettled.
I was at work today, talking to a co-worker about Bran Renfro. She didn't hear that he died last week until yesterday. I was reading an article online about how he has a son living in Japan. As soon as our conversation ended, literally, I got an email from a friend saying that Heath Ledger died. My immediate reaction was "no way." I thought perhaps my friend was looking at the same picture of Brad Renfro that I was and mistook him for Heath Ledger. I wrote her and attempted to corrected her. Curiosity piqued, I Googled Heath. Nothing popped up at the top. Then I clicked the news tab and was presented with a long list of links saying "Actor Heath Ledger, dead at 28."
I couldn't believe it was true.
I loved him in "The Patriot" and his performance in "Monster's Ball," however brief, makes me cry every time. I wasn't thrilled with Brokeback Mountain - I wanted so much more from the movie, and I also thought Jake Gyllenhaal's accent wasn't that great. I did see Heath in "I'm Not There" and I enjoyed it. Though, sitting here thinking about it, I think he was a great actor (it's funny to write "was") - what I am experiencing is not a fan girl reaction, because he wasn't someone who was ever really in my mind. But when I read the news, I just couldn't believe it.
I immediately IMed everyone who was online on my buddy list practically. Why was it so hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that some guy died? I mean, yes, he was an actor, but he was a human like you and me. I thought about it for an hour, until personal problems of my own began to dominate my thoughts.
When I made it home in the evening and turned on the news, his death was the top story, after the storm we're experiencing. I felt sad again. Sad for him, sad for his daughter - who is now without a father, sad for Michelle Williams, Heath's family, and anyone else who was close to him. Maybe part of the surprise is because he wasn't out, going crazy, in and out of court, or beating people up. I'm sure no one really saw this coming for this guy at this point in his life.
No one really knows yet what exactly happened. The autopsy hasn't happened yet. Could have been suicide. Could have been an 'accidental overdose.' I heard Harvey Levin of TMZ say he had pneumonia at the time of death. Regardless of the outcome, it just made me get to thinking about the lives we live behind closed doors. To the world, he seemed fine. But if it was suicide or drug addiction, clearly he wasn't fine. Did anyone have the slightest idea? I could spend my nights drinking away the hours, ruining my liver, and not a soul would know. I could be shooting heroin, eating sticks of butter, running in circles while naked. I could have a live in lover, a stipper pole in the center of the room...or anything. And no one would know - even the people who know me best. Who we are when we are alone could be drastically different from who we are when we are around others.
I still can't put my finger on why this particular death has been bothering me so. But clearly it's bothered me enough to write a long post about it.
You've probably all heard it by now
But man, what was up with Miss South Carolina in the Teen USA pageant?
I just couldn't believe how she just made NO sense...
That hurts...it really really does.
I guess if you're going to be a prostitute, it's good to have protection
From Wired.com:
"Where would a good prostitute be without her (or his) signature platform shoes? In trouble, that's where. The Aphrodite projects has taken steps to protect street-walkers with Platforms. The shoes have a built in audible alarm to scare off attackers, and when the alarm is triggered, the prostitute's position is transmitted to either the police (in places where prostitution is legal) or to sex worker's rights groups."
Apparently, some facts in the article are wrong, which I guess means they aren't facts. And as usual, the comments are interesting. I guess if you're going to be a prostitute, it's good to have some protection. But maybe a watch or something would be better than a shoe. When I feel my life is being threatened, the last thing I want to do is SQUAT DOWN or BEND OVER and press a button on my shoe. I'm just sayin'...
GPS Alarm Shoes for Sex Workers
Teen Marries Track Coach
If you pay attention to the news, this story might have crossed your path. Apparently a 16 year old student married her 40 year old track coach this week. Hopefully, your response was similar to mine "what the hell?!?" You just have to wonder how this stuff happens.
The parents claim no one could convince her this wasn't a good relationship and apparently the coach wouldn't stay away from her. Now, I am trying *really* hard not to judge anyone's parenting - but don't you think that as her parents if you were really against this, you'd do anything to keep this from happening. But these parents went ahead and signed the papers to OK the marriage - and their hope is that it won't last and that she'll return home.
Well, honestly, short of him tying her up and keeping her in the basement until she dies (or some other form of overt abuse), I really don't see this lasting. When she's ready to have some sort of life, she'll cheat, or leave, or cheat and then leave. And perhaps he, after accomplishing this task, will get sick of her when the novelty wears off. Or he'll leave once she starts popping out kids and he wants another 16 year old to go after.
I find so many things wrong with this whole situation, one of them being that the coach took a "special interest" in her when he met her as a 14 year old freshman. I saw it on the news this morning and searched online for something to link to - it was pretty hard surprisingly. So here are two links - from the same local news network, same story, but two different sets of comments, and comments are always interesting. Some of the comments are apparently from people who had this coach as a teacher at other schools. They don't have favorable things to say (surprise, surprise).
Sixteen Year Old Marries Coach
High School Coach Resigns
Racist Dogs?
Sometimes I'm really amazed at the random news stories that cross my path.
Snippet: BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A Belgian businessman rejected a Nigerian job applicant because the businessman said his own dog was racist and would bite non-whites, Belgian media reported Saturday.
Full Story: Job seeker rejected due to "racist dog."
What's wrong with people?
I mean, really?
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (AP) -- Police in northwest Georgia have rescued a boy from a hot car where his mother's companion is accused of tying him up.
Full story: Couple finishes restaurant meal while child tied in hot car
Obama's Running
In personal news, I got the boot from my best friend on Monday. What a weird thing to happen to a person. So, it's been a strange week to say the least.
In political news, Barack Obama has decided to run for President (CNN Story). I don't think most people are surprised. I personally think he's a decent guy and could probably make a great President. I am, however, thinking back to something my aforementioned best friend said when we were discussing Obama and Hillary Clinton. We both like Clinton and Obama and think they could do a good job as President, but what's their likelihood of winning? I'd like to say it's good. I'd like to say that America is a place where a woman or a Black person could be elected President as easily as a White man. But really, it's so not true. Racism and sexism are still so rampant in America that I really can't tell what their chances are.
Is it wiser to vote for another candidate in the same party who actually has a chance of winning? I'm not super liberal. I'd like to think I'm progressive. Unless the Republicans put forth a candidate that I can really stand behind (not sure how likely that is), I'll be voting Democrat, as usual. I'd gladly cast my vote for Obama, but would he even win in a state like California? I'd like to think so. But if he doesn't win major states and the Rep. candidate wins the electoral college, that's what counts in the good 'ol U.S. of A. Is it better for me to put my support behind another Blue candidate who has a good chance of defeating his/her Republican opponent.
I'm very interested to see how this all pans out.
ABC News: Civil Rights Pioneer Rosa Parks Dead at Age 92
Link: ABC News: Civil Rights Pioneer Rosa Parks Dead at Age 92.
I'm sure it sounds strange, but with certain people, don't you sometimes think "they'll never die" or at the very least, you never actually contemplate their passing.
Well, when my MSN Today screen popped up and it said "Rosa Parks Dead at 92" I thought "that's not possible!" I mean, logically, it's more than possible, but it's just one of those things that seems so unreal. I mean, she played a major role in American history. Rosa Parks! I'm not good with words, so read that article if, for some strange reason, you need to know why Rosa Parks was/is so important.
What the hell is going on here?
This hurricane relief stuff is really pissing me off...or rather, the lack of relief.
I heard someone
make a good point - it was easy for us to get stuff to the Tsunami
victims over night...the people in the South have been waiting for
something, anything for 4 days. TV crews are making it down there.
Harry Connick Jr went down there in a private plane because that's
where he's from. Obviously people are making it in and out so I just
wonder why the government can't do anything more than send thousands od
national guard troops in to do "crowd control" but they can't feed
people or bring the water. I don't understand how the TV crews can get in and out and 'round the clock reporting - are they bringing food with them? Medicine? Anything?
Earlier on the news, I heard a nurse speak of how she broke into a pharmacy in order to get medicine to help the people around her. TV crews are getting in...is anyone bringing doctors in? I mean, one of our local Los Angeles ABC reporters is down there...how is it that supplies can't get down there just as easily as she can. It really baffles me.
Old people and children (and others too, obviously) are
dying and I don't understand why it doesn't seem like anything is
getting done. I'd hate to think that it's because the majority of the people are poor and/or black. I want to hope there's actually some sort of a good reason why people have been suffering like this for four days. It's very sad and very frustrating.
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