tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53373209374955740702024-03-05T09:44:57.273-08:00leftie writes"well behaved women rarely make history."kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-29671025880321543372010-05-09T13:48:00.001-07:002010-05-09T13:49:37.614-07:00Google is so cool...I love this Mother's Day search engine design...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59quHjkG-U0dvrk7LPEZaSnKvI-EPaYYugHvGeKeWK-RZU-WjR4pb8GytmKD68WhhC-IpAqzrihA4L3TFRi9qlhJXqiOyVBcazejwLV6Jez6KtWP-tLQKNutjm-9gEBXUXpUywXlZ71ev/s1600/mothersday10-us-hp.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59quHjkG-U0dvrk7LPEZaSnKvI-EPaYYugHvGeKeWK-RZU-WjR4pb8GytmKD68WhhC-IpAqzrihA4L3TFRi9qlhJXqiOyVBcazejwLV6Jez6KtWP-tLQKNutjm-9gEBXUXpUywXlZ71ev/s400/mothersday10-us-hp.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469375178287596338" /></a>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-90872542949701726002010-03-11T11:30:00.001-08:002010-03-19T18:51:21.310-07:00Finding My Voice (and Boosting Confidence Muscles)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndZUW-I2jyuKJBFdfD5yt3pyzTMywg2eZC33GSX8p-eBDIUYKXQth7eImNo3_8ZMVipXXxXj9UBqkWpGqkL2WL9dfcixlS_c4BMh6PV6ZTSvhYnkCHOjaDp7DlRxh59t4XBhw1QRI0CQu/s1600-h/18135_557039830610_5902604_32755197_121222_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndZUW-I2jyuKJBFdfD5yt3pyzTMywg2eZC33GSX8p-eBDIUYKXQth7eImNo3_8ZMVipXXxXj9UBqkWpGqkL2WL9dfcixlS_c4BMh6PV6ZTSvhYnkCHOjaDp7DlRxh59t4XBhw1QRI0CQu/s320/18135_557039830610_5902604_32755197_121222_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447466324913382306" /></a><br /><br />When I was 23, and working as an executive assistant at a high profile consulting firm, I remember my boss used to chuckle over what he called my "phone voice." At the time, I had no idea that I was speaking any differently over the phone, but in retrospect, I was certainly putting on a show. <br /><br />The funny part is, about half of the people with whom I spoke each day were hot-blooded Latino men, and I apparently put on this thin, sultry, phone voice... making some of them swoon over my, "Hablo Kelly... como puedo auydarle?" Now, it is so obvious why I felt I had to hide behind this persona... I was not yet comfortable in my skin and I felt I had to be somebody else... someone softer, more demure, and at the same time, bolder and savvier. Yet, that thin, high voice really only conveyed one thing: weakness. <br /><br />Sometimes I still overhear women using what I now call "the phone voice." When a woman answers the phone and her voice suddenly goes up about three octaves, I get this sort of knee-jerk reaction. I want to take her by the shoulders, shake her, and say, "Deepen your voice! Don't be phony! Be yourself!" <br /><br />Of course, it's not just about the intonation and sound of the voice that irks me. It's that sound of uncertainty, fear, and lack of confidence. And I only am bothered by it because I can relate to it... I have been there. And I often wonder, "Do men have a 'phone' voice? Do they feel they have to be someone they are not, and pander to the listener? Or is this something uniquely female. I just do not know...<br /><br />I do know, however, that what has helped me find my "voice" is surrounding myself with confident, strong, inspiring women. My co-workers, friends, and the women in my family are some of the most self-assured, beautiful, and smart women I know. The more I surround myself with these women, the easier it is for me to speak my mind, to be myself, and to learn more about my dreams and ambitions. <br /><br />As a result, I lost the thinness in my voice, and speak straight from the gut.... making a deeper, richer, more authentic sound and message. In doing so, I convey a much clearer picture of the woman I am, and the woman I am supposed to become. <br /><br />Among the many women who have inspired me over the year is Ana Ottman, a DC entrepreneur who has formed a business around helping women find their voices. Ana left the world of lobbying to launch her own life coaching business, and has recently re-branded herself as "<a href="http://reddressstudios.com">Red Dress Studios</a>," a business that "helps women entrepreneurs build their confidence muscles." <br /><br />Ana is launching her new brand tomorrow, and you should join her virtual launch party to learn from Ana, and possibly win one of the "door" prize giveaways. For more info, check out the <a href="www.reddressstudios.com">Red Dress Launch Party registration</a>.kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-13858345812154057142010-02-16T06:44:00.000-08:002010-02-16T06:53:23.490-08:00Social Media Equals Opportunities for Women<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwB-oo91gCzs4vSR-jg7fk4lAHvcIoDk-8u6HDp8ancWiwis9Jg0aMlWN_43Jb0mP-k8gVRZGBzKYuq_jvEVnVPV1uLANwTzom8UsTScf5-6tK8dqnBL0KmJUQwKUWEnypLO8eiZkJbaM/s1600-h/12946_557492743123_21203775_32494010_3551601_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwB-oo91gCzs4vSR-jg7fk4lAHvcIoDk-8u6HDp8ancWiwis9Jg0aMlWN_43Jb0mP-k8gVRZGBzKYuq_jvEVnVPV1uLANwTzom8UsTScf5-6tK8dqnBL0KmJUQwKUWEnypLO8eiZkJbaM/s400/12946_557492743123_21203775_32494010_3551601_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438854448239668962" /></a><br />Historically, women have always been the foundations of communities. While men have had the task of breadwinning, women have always been the crux of family life, the home, and their communities. Women rely on each other for support, advice, bonding, and even life happiness. (Did you know that the more time both men and women spend around women, the happier they are? Conversely, there is no gain in happiness for more time spend with men). <br /><br />So, it is not surprising that social media presents vast opportunities for women to excel at what we do best: network, support each other, and build [online] communities. For a great synopsis of the social media opportunities for women, read <a href="http://blog.converget.com/2010/02/16/why-social-media-means-big-opportunities-for-women/">"Why Social Media Means Big Opportunities for Women." </a>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-33408022031386438472010-02-13T14:49:00.001-08:002010-02-13T14:59:47.843-08:00Snowmantic Valentine's Day<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/02/13/1047.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/02/13/s_1047.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/02/13/1048.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/02/13/s_1048.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/02/13/1049.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/02/13/s_1049.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Snowpocalypse has left a beautiful wintery scene in Washington, and we have taken total advantage of it. <br /><br />We started our Valentine's weekend with a homemade heart-shaped pancake breakfast and French pressed coffee. Next we bundled up, laced up our snow boots, and ventured down to the Sculpture Garden, where Brandon ice skated for the first time ever!<br /><br />Afterwards we stopped at the National Gallery where I snapped a shot of my favorite painting (the above Degas) and perused the latest exhibits. Next, we were off on a search for hot cocoa, but settled on tea and cappuccino at Hotel Monaco's Poste (worst service ever btw!). <br /><br />Now we are stopping at the Portrait Gallery before heading to U Street for dinner at Coppi's, where we had our very <br />first date four years ago!<br /><br />I just discovered the blogger app on iPhone a few moments ago, and am thrilled. This will help me meet my resolution to post four times a week... or so I hope!<br /><br />A Happy Valentine's Day to you!<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br /><br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Washington%20DC&z=10'>Washington DC</a></p>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-47864149472886760182010-01-06T07:07:00.000-08:002010-01-06T07:41:49.411-08:00The MEANING of LIFE?!?!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvPd6sAdcFuUNQ_wsptUKDxyQxU3iOgEtavNHmmu18jmoVBoK5bviEcCgjRTmO-S0Iq1uP8RC-_C4d9cWkuweFybldHd3EM6U7yAn_HTIQ8suT9HD2BmP5bJcBeFomSF3A-yE4tvHIa7k/s1600-h/photo-4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvPd6sAdcFuUNQ_wsptUKDxyQxU3iOgEtavNHmmu18jmoVBoK5bviEcCgjRTmO-S0Iq1uP8RC-_C4d9cWkuweFybldHd3EM6U7yAn_HTIQ8suT9HD2BmP5bJcBeFomSF3A-yE4tvHIa7k/s400/photo-4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423648057263614162" /></a><br />Holy shit. I think this New York City lawyer-turned-writer has uncovered it! The MEANING of LIFE! Well, perhaps that is a bit lofty. But after reading just two chapters of Gretchen Rubin's book, <a href="http://www.happiness-project.com">"The Happiness Project,"</a> I am hooked. Her concept is simple: she picks eleven virtues she wants to work on for one full year, starting with energy, then marriage, and so on, and in the twelfth month she aims to attain growth in all eleven areas. (Sound familiar? Ben Franklin, anyone?). <br /><br />You are in for a good read if you can get past the slight lawyerly, type-A, neuroticism (she starts the book by listing the countless thinkers and writers she relies on for research, citing the likes of Plato and Thoreau alongside contemporary writers like <a href="http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/eatpraylove.htm">Elizabeth Gilbert</a> and the woman who wrote the <a href="http://blogs.salon.com/0001399/">Julie/Julia blog/book</a> and in the first chapter she actually tracks how many steps she takes each day... I mean, really?! Really?!).<br /><br />Though, my favorite tidbit of wisdom is one she evokes from William Butler Yeats:<br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote>"Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing." <br /><br />Hmmm.... this gives me lots to ponder this week and as I set my goals for 2010...kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-1626772999011773192009-12-14T14:20:00.000-08:002010-01-06T07:43:20.402-08:00Out With the Old....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0r6-U1dNfLJb2Fc3zgW65NoBhOCkqQ9CmDNJluX8HoKqlin0fIxJxaMZbJaMWMyDGtuO2R4qi75Zqj9tgk0srHE6sOuoygrDzEesqOLv9_pejo1z1HeqqP2WQP-QkmExgl9gMlluP44Wr/s1600-h/Yes+We+Can.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0r6-U1dNfLJb2Fc3zgW65NoBhOCkqQ9CmDNJluX8HoKqlin0fIxJxaMZbJaMWMyDGtuO2R4qi75Zqj9tgk0srHE6sOuoygrDzEesqOLv9_pejo1z1HeqqP2WQP-QkmExgl9gMlluP44Wr/s320/Yes+We+Can.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423652889952149314" /></a><br />I want to start this blog fresh. So, I have revamped the layout and have given it a new description. I found the old one, "Culture, Law, Politics, Insights," to be prohibitive and uninspiring. I want my blog to be a place where I feel creative and inspired, and the old format simply was not doing it for me. <div><br /></div><div>So, I have decided to make the theme of this post about getting rid of old habits and ways of thinking, and welcoming a new frame of mind. To me, this seems appropriate and natural as 2009 comes to a close. I want to welcome 2010 with fresh thinking!</div><div><br /></div><div>So what did I learn in 2009? Plenty. More than anyone would care to read on a blog, I am sure. But I want to share something that speaks to the new tag line of this blog, where I dub myself a "third wave feminist." To be honest, I didn't even know what the term meant until about one minute before I wrote it. I came across because it struck me that I have become somewhat of a post-feminist over this past year, and googled the term, only to discover on wikipedia (thank you!) that the term has evolved into <a href="http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-wave_feminism">third wave feminism</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>What do I mean by a "third wave feminist"? Well, I think I mean that I have been afforded all the opportunities of the feminist movement... good public schooling, two working parents, an academic scholarship to Boston University, a collegiate high jump career (thanks Title IX), the chance to run a marathon without fear of infertility, the opportunity to earn my law degree... the list goes on and on. I graduated from law school almost two years ago and have a plethora of opportunities that my mother, a lifelong public school teacher, never had. </div><div><br /></div><div>But what do I want to do with these options? Honestly, I have no idea. But I do know that I want a simple life, I want to be a good mother, I want to have time to come home and cook my family a meal, I want to enjoy my weekends, and I want to be a part of my community. I also know, after leaving law barely eight months at my first job, that I need to feel emotionally connected to my work. I know that, if someday I am going to be leaving my kids to spend my day at work, I better feel somewhat invested in it. </div><div><br /></div><div>One year ago, I was an utter wreck. I went to sleep fearing work because it meant doing something about which I felt passionless. I woke up each morning feeling utterly inauthentic, and unable to get out of bed. (Leaving the comfort of my bed was hard to do because it meant living a life that was out of tune with my inner thoughts and my heart). </div><div><br /></div><div>So I left law after less than a year, and found myself working full time at lululemon, and it was the best decision I ever made. </div><div><br /></div><div>There, I found a community of bright, strong, confident, independent, fun, AMAZING women. With these women, my confidantes and co-workers, I share my inner thoughts, my everyday experiences, and my dreams and goals for the future. I feel supported, loved, and most of all... inspired. I know that I am not alone in this feeling of backlash against the paths that our mothers carved for us. I know that while we still define ourselves by a sense of obligation and duty to our parents, we are moving away from their dreams and finally uncovering our own. I have been on this journey for almost one year now, and have learned so much. I cannot wait to see what happens in 2010!</div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-61989563658239336572009-10-06T06:46:00.000-07:002009-10-07T07:33:07.131-07:00America, The Myopic<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Forgive me, I am about to rant. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia">But first, a backward look. I spent two days during this past week perusing The American History Smithsonian, on the National Mall. Whenever I visit the story of America's founding, I am always in great awe of the many men who dedicated their lives to creating a future for our country. Of course, it can be argued that pride, ego, power, the want for scarce resources, and money were at the root of America's birth. But regardless of the characterization, it cannot be denied that this country was founded by men of great strength, aptitude, and foresight. To borrow an overused phrase, the country truly was founded by geniuses so it could be run by idiots. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">This is not to say that we are a perfect nation, or that our history is not tarnished by divide, namely racism and greed. Just take a trip to Baltimore to see evidence of racism, with slums and ghettos reminding us of the "white flight" that began to occur the 1950's. Or venture to 14th and U Streets in Washington DC to see the vestiges of the race riots of the 1960's. Open a history book and read about how glamorized greed for wealth toppled the economy and lead to the Great Depression. To experience déjà vu, pick up a copy of the New York Times to read about the 21st century greed of investors, bankers, mortgage brokers, and consumers that lead to our current economic crisis. <br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia">But I am not as concerned about what has happened in our nation or how far astray our national landscape may have wandered from our founding father's original vision. Rather, what concerns me is how myopic and immature our leaders have become when engaging in political discourse and planning. Since when did <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/15/AR2009091502943.html"><span style="color:#4A2486">Senators yell, 'You lie'</span></a> during a congressional session? Or cheer when the President lost an economic opportunity for the nation in a time of despair, as the c<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/conservatives-revel-in-ob_n_307794.html"><span style="color:#4A2486">onservatives did when Obama lost the Olympic bid for Chicago 2012</span></a>? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia">In troubled times, our government desperately needs to focus on nation-building, and not bickering. The United States needs to create incentives for businesses to go green (as China, yes China is doing). Congress needs to pass a national health care plan so senior citizens can afford medication, and the average American can cover medical costs and save that money to purchase a home. The President needs to create FDR-like stimulus programs to lift America's workers out of joblessness and under-employment and back into the work force. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia">But it seems that all we can do is bicker, pick sides, and name call. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia">So my question is: since when did we become such a myopic, immature nation? When did we lose our vision of the future, in lieu of short term agendas and band-aid, quick fix solutions? Are we truly the "idiots" trying to run a country designed by geniuses? If our founding fathers could have a glimpse into 2009 and see what bickering idiots we have become, I bet they would want to jump on a boat and start all over again elsewhere. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Again, given the current political landscape I am in complete awe of our nation's founding. It boggles my mind that the framers of the Constitution had the foresight to plan for centuries of future scenarios, when our Congress cannot even pass a plans that are past due, like climate change initiatives and health care. Instead, our elected leaders allow themselves to be bribed by the auto, health insurance, finance and construction lobbies. They selfishly plan for their re-elections and personal bank accounts rather than plan for the future and the good of the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia">And it was not beyond the imaginations of the Framers that Congress would become a breed of selfish, short-sighted pigs. After all, The Federalist #51 designed the system for checks and balances, forewarning that, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary." So, we are not a perfect nation because humans are not perfect people. But America has the framework to move forward, if only our leaders could stop acting like petulant teenagers and come to some selfless, forward-thinking agreements. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-58470052176674062112009-09-29T06:36:00.000-07:002009-09-29T20:49:19.644-07:00It's Not About YouIt is unbelievable how time flies. It is nearly October 2009. I am 28. It has been over a year since I graduated law school. It has been almost four years since I've been in my relationship. And it has been over six years since I graduated from Rutgers and moved to Washington, DC to begin my adult life. <div><br /></div><div>And as quickly as time flies, I still remember my first day of kindergarten. It was 1986. My father sat me down on our old, beaten-up love seat. On a piece of notebook paper, he drew three stick figure people (because that was the limit of his drawing capabilities). He colored one green, one purple, and one orange. He then proceeded to talk to me about tolerance, acceptance, and extending kindness to others. He told me that, like the stick figures, everybody is different. Sometimes its skin color, other times its religion, or perhaps a disability. But he told me that no matter what, I was to treat everybody with equal respect. </div><div><br /></div><div>As a five year old, this meant that I should probably be as nice to boys as to girls, even though boys were icky and different. But over the years it has come to mean so much more... from embracing various cultures, religions, and races, to working on behalf of developing countries in Latin America, doing mission work in Peru, defending criminals, and fighting insurance companies and governments on behalf of injured patients. When I look back on my life, and especially my past six years living in the nation's capital, I feel like my adult life has remained true to this simple lesson from my father. Treat others how you would like to be treated. Be kind to others. Show respect to everyone, and everything will be okay. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes this is not easy. Sometimes we bicker with loved ones. Sometimes a co-worker or a boss tests us. Sometimes a cab driver almost swipes us while we cross the street. Sometimes we just have a bad day and cannot find peace with the world, no matter how hard we try. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last week I had one of those weeks where it just seemed like no matter how hard I tried or what I did, things went wrong. It seemed like I constantly failed to find the right words, to communicate my thoughts, or to make peace. It seemed like every conversation ended in argument, misunderstanding, or tears. I felt like I had no options, like I was stuck. </div><div><br /></div><div>My initial thoughts in each situation went something like this: Why weren't people treating me with respect? Why was everybody angry with me? What had I done to deserve this treatment? </div><div><br /></div><div>My initial gut told me to react. Defend myself. Lash out. Fight back. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then my mind kicks in and I immediately feel regret. Sorrow. I want to learn and develop from the misunderstanding. I want to understand my shortcomings, and grow from these lessons. </div><div><br /></div><div>But my heart tells me something different. I think back to a tidbit of knowledge I gained from Toltec Wisdom (The Four Agreements, for anyone curious)... and its first, most basic principle, "Don't take anything personally." My heart tells me, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic" class="Apple-style-span">It's not about you, Kelly. </span>It may not even be about the other person. </div><div><br /></div><div>Rarely is conflict about the people involved. Rather, conflict is usually about misunderstanding, frustration, or lack of direct communication. It is about the hang-ups and the baggage that each person brings to the conversation, that is, our little knapsack of experiences, arguments, and daily frustrations that grows heavier as we age. Conflict then becomes about how we let that knapsack weigh us down, and permit our past experiences and interactions to shape our future conversations and experiences. </div><div><br /></div><div>But what if we unload that knapsack? What if we drop our baggage? What if we remember the simple lessons our parents told us as children, and apply them to our adult lives? <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic" class="Apple-style-span">Treat everyone with equal love and respect. </span>And what if we add to that: <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic" class="Apple-style-span">No matter what. </span>No matter if the person is orange, purple, or green. And more importantly, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic" class="Apple-style-span">no matter what baggage you are carrying in your knapsack. </span>Simply, let it go. It's NOT about YOU. </div><div><br /></div><div>I recently had this conversation with a group of friends over dinner, and one friend related this Toltec philosophy to the 4:8 Principle, which I had neither studied nor heard of prior to last week. The 4:8 Principle is based upon the New Testament passage from Paul's Letter to the Philippians, Chapter 4, Verse 8, which states, <blockquote>"...[W]hatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."</blockquote>The author Tommy Newberry has created a following by embracing this principle, which he set forth in his book, <a href="http://www.the48principle.com/">The 4:8 Principle</a>. I have not read the book, but choose to interpret this passage in the context of my past week. To me, this simply means letting go of the knapsack of crap that holds me back. Letting go of my fights, failures, shortcomings, disappointments, and whatever else ails me. Don't keep tabs, don't get into tit-for-tat pettiness, don't let ego overcrowd thoughts, and don't worry about the things that cannot change. Literally, we should purge ourselves of the nonsense. </div><div><br /></div><div>Once we let go of the baggage, we make ourselves lighter and freer. We are no longer weighed down by negativity. We open ourselves up to the good things in life, and all that God has to offer us. And, all that goodness is there for the taking. We just have to prepare ourselves to focus on it. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic" class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic" class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div></div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-57424760851670276612009-04-16T07:23:00.000-07:002009-04-21T06:42:00.371-07:00I Fought the Law, and the Law Won<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QyFlwRcAtuIaDgDgATriGoBpGe9gmiq_CIq1LlYNkcKTz0CvVtnzItrdeRbTr5kdd9fHcmcIZno_C2qpe6CyS8tifE0ktG2MTOh8GyEceaX652fnP-5x5YF424hyphenhyphenUPZ3jRhabLzu37po/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325309528709220466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 123px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 123px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QyFlwRcAtuIaDgDgATriGoBpGe9gmiq_CIq1LlYNkcKTz0CvVtnzItrdeRbTr5kdd9fHcmcIZno_C2qpe6CyS8tifE0ktG2MTOh8GyEceaX652fnP-5x5YF424hyphenhyphenUPZ3jRhabLzu37po/s400/images.jpg" border="0" /></a> Since I was 12, I wanted to be a lawyer... or so I thought. Part of me also thought that, given that my knowledge of the job market was limited to my New Jersey beachside community, I probably was not yet aware of where my future job lay. Because my parents were teachers with limited means, and because half our family lived in Colorado, my childhood experiences were more or less confined to New Jersey and Colorado. Thus, books became my escape. With each novel I devoured, I would learn about the rest of the world that I had yet to explore, and the people I hoped to one day meet.<br /><br />Books also became a type of career guidance counselor for me, as I wanted whatever the job was of the protagonist in the latest novel I was reading. So it made perfect sense that when I became obsessed with John Grisham books at age 12, I wanted to become a lawyer. I loved how the protagonist-lawyers in his novels were always uncovering conspiracies or fighting the law in nontraditional ways. I guess I can blame John Grisham for my early career choice, considering I had absolutely zero real world contact with the law, and knew not one lawyer. (I come from a family of teachers, accountants, and engineers).<br /><br /><br />So, I went through high school and most of college on the notion that I would go to law school and then my post-graduate life would somehow magically become a legal thriller novel. It was not until the last year of college, when I spent a semester in the nation's capital, that I was introduced to a whole world of opportunities-- careers I never knew existed because of my limited exposure. That semester, I worked in an international non-profit that helped the developing world put into place the building blocks of democracy. I found the work interesting, but still felt compelled to complete my goal of becoming a lawyer.<br /><br /><br />Shortly after graduating from college, I got a paralegal job offer from a large law firm in Manhattan, called Cleary Gottlieb. I knew the firm would pay for my LSAT and preparation courses, and would be a good "in" to the big firm opportunities later on in life. The HR woman who hired me, Paula, was wonderful. I remember that during the interview she told me that she loved her job, and was able to find her passion by listening to her friends. Her exact words, "We can learn more about ourselves from others, than we can from our own head sometimes."<br /><br /><br />I thought about her words, and decided not to take the job... even though I had spent 30 hours a week for the last six months applying to big law firm jobs, and had spent the greater part of the last decade of my life dreaming of becoming a lawyer. Instead, I took a job at a start-up consulting firm in DC, because it excited me. I loved the idea of being back in DC, using Spanish everyday, and helping companies bring new commerce and industry to the developing world. I wrote Paula a letter, thanking her for the opportunity, but letting her know that it was ultimately her own advice that lead me to take a different opportunity that was more fitting for me.<br /><br /><br />As it turned out, the consulting firm was a partnership between former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and ex-White House oficios from the Clinton administration. (Though, they did not advertise that in the interview because they did not want to attract people who were there simply for the prestige and network). It was my first professional job, and my first real taste of working with big businesses. I threw myself into my work, and was excited to learn each morning what my day would bring. To this day, that job experience was one of the most amazing and eye-opening experiences of my life. Even when I had days at work when I wanted to cry, I never looked back.<br /><br /><br />It was only when I started law school that I began to have regrets, and constant bad dreams. I always felt like a circle trying to fit into a square. I constantly felt like I was forcing myself into a mold, while suppressing qualities that came natural to me. For example, law is about finding the precedent in the past that might allow us to make a move in the future. But I believe that we make our own futures, and the only limits in life are the ones we create. Even now, a year later, I cannot force myself to like being a lawyer simply because it is the path I happen to be on. Every day I come to work, I feel like I am living a big lie. I feel a strong sense of dissonance between who I am, and what I am doing.<br /><br /><br />Fortunately, I have people in my life who keep me focused on following my heart (which is currently calling me to pursue my passion for connecting people, and start a career in PR/consulting). I have a wonderful boyfriend (and his family), who believes in stopping at nothing to pursue your dream. I have supportive friends, who I know will be there for me no matter what happens. And most recently, and perhaps most importantly, I have amazing co-workers at lululemon, with whom I can be myself and talk freely about my goals and ideas, and who inspire me to pursue my dreams relentlessly.<br /><br /><br />Little did I know how important and to my life the words of Paula the HR lady would become. By listening to others, I am learning about who I am, and what I am supposed to do with my life.<br /><br /><br />I don't think I will look back and have regrets for leaving the law and exploring something that excites me. The only things I ever regret are the decisions I make with my head and not my heart. Perhaps I fought the law until I let it beat me down, until the law made me realize that I am not cut out for it. In the end, I fought the law and the law won. And I am perfectly okay with that.kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-74490797470243144402008-11-03T07:54:00.000-08:002008-11-03T11:37:10.444-08:00A Letter To My Mother For Election Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUDyJsvQtyh3iEIik6H6XQPaVVyu1Pu50iA2MCb_fz4ohdL4-wS_gwlDmgNb_nRgxVgcGz2bC2LXsMmCYpIkYcbxXp6x6Ceu1aXIOT3_X-Uk6nwZl6ByxF8dlRWIVl1wMUaJLLuJ0LrOQ/s1600-h/obama-color.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264461625680878530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUDyJsvQtyh3iEIik6H6XQPaVVyu1Pu50iA2MCb_fz4ohdL4-wS_gwlDmgNb_nRgxVgcGz2bC2LXsMmCYpIkYcbxXp6x6Ceu1aXIOT3_X-Uk6nwZl6ByxF8dlRWIVl1wMUaJLLuJ0LrOQ/s200/obama-color.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>I sent this email to my mother, a life-long public school teacher in New Jersey, and an undecided voter whose only reservations about Obama stem from 1) her anti-abortion beliefs, and 2) a vicious lie a neighbor told her that Obama's tax plan would raise taxes for families making $120,000 or more (instead of families earning $250,000 0r more). </em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>To Mom (Because Daddy always just votes Republican):<br /><br /><strong>Top Five Reasons You Should Vote For Barack Obama<br /><br /></strong>1) <strong>A vote for Barack Obama, is a vote for your children's future.</strong> And your children's children's future. Barack Obama's policies are forward-thinking. Under his tenure, we would see more investments in energy, education, and nation-building in <em>this </em>country... all of which is good for the future of the economy and our national security. Barack Obama supports green energy, and clean coal technology. The more we invest in green fuel, the sooner we can become energy independent. In the process of "going green", we can create more jobs and fight the effects of job outsourcing to China and India that has occurred over the past decade. If more Americans have jobs, more will have financial security. If more Americans have financial security, then consumer confidence will go up, and the stability of the market will rise with it. This means that your 401k and pension will again increase.<br /><br />Moreover, Barack Obama supports public schools and in failing school districts, he supports charter schools. On the other hand, John McCain supports school vouchers. So basically, John McCain is saying that when the going gets tough, the answer is to abandon the problem. You and daddy hate vouchers, and you know that vouchers will do nothing but leave public schools behind and make education an enterprise for the rich. I know you are retiring soon, but think of all the younger public school teachers who would be so much worse off if education were privatized. Your vote for Barack Obama is a vote for all those future teachers, and the future of education for your grandkids.<br /><br />2) <strong>A vote for Barack Obama <em>does not</em> conflict with pro-life beliefs.</strong> When it comes down to it, pregnancy is a private matter. It is between a woman, her body, and perhaps her spouse or partner. Regardless, Congress and the Supreme Court have gotten involved. The Supreme Court has preserved the woman's right to choose in Roe v. Wade, and no president is going to overturn it. The only potential for limiting Roe is the nomination of another conservative Supreme Court justice, and the Court would have to overturn a decision, violating 30 years of history and the principle of stare decisis. (Basically, this is not going to happen).<br /><br />Mom, you have raised your daughters well and have done all you can. No president in the White House is going to make us get or not get an abortion. So, you can be rest assured that we are going to produce life should we ever get pregnant. And if you really care about what other women are doing with their bodies, then you can go rally at the local Planned Parenthood, or pray for their souls. (But personally, I cannot tell a person what to do unless I have lived her life or walked in her shoes... I only know that I won't get an abortion, and I am not in a position to judge others who make a different decision).<br /><br />Finally, the Republican party is completely contradictory when it comes to being pro-life. Republicans are pro-death penalty, pro-guns, and pro-war... doesn't that contradict the belief in "pro-life"? If we had better gun control in this country, think of all the school shootings and crimes that would not occur. And look at all the innocent civilians that have died in Iraq and Afghanistan!!! I understand that the leaders themselves had blood on their hands, but where in the Bible does it say that two wrongs make a right? Or that if our neighbor kills, we kill him? Nowhere in the new Testament does Jesus condone killing of any kind. Republicans are contradictory when it comes to pro-life. A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for policies that support the liberties and freedoms of women, and life all around the world. This is what the Bible is about, and this is what Christianity (free from Republican distortion) is supposed to be about.<br /><br />3) <strong>You will save money on your taxes.</strong> You fall into the "$250,000 and below" tax bracket for which Obama would provide relief. Whatever your neighbor tells you is a lie. As a CEO and small business owner, he is likely one of the people earning $250,000 and upwards, so he maybe feels like he has a lot to gain or lose in this election. He is telling you false information. I don't understand what his motivation is, but I know that what he is telling you is not accurate. Here is a link to calculator that helps you determine what your savings would be with an Obama tax plan. <a href="http://taxcut.barackobama.com/">http://taxcut.barackobama.com/</a> Basically, a vote for Barack Obama is a vote to save you and daddy $1800 a year. </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, if you still have reservations about taxes, just think about all the good stuff taxes help buy. You and daddy always complain that your taxes are too high, but then you complain that teachers don't get paid enough. Well, your salary has to come from somewhere, and if not from taxes, then from<em> where</em>? Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, "I like paying my taxes. With them I buy civilization." So, before you moan about taxes, think about all the paved roads, new schools, sanitation services, and, perhaps most importantly, <em>teacher salaries </em>that would not be possible without taxes. A vote for Obama is a vote for a better civilization from which we will all benefit as taxpayers and citizens.<br /><br />4) <strong>Obama will do more to energize and unify the country.</strong> We are in a huge economic crisis, and everyone is going to suffer at the hands of it... regardless of who is in office. We need a smart leader who can talk to the American people and galvanize the country to action. This means somebody who inspires people to save, volunteer, be smarter with their financial choices, and most of all... to change. To date, Barack Obama has inspired millions of Americans, and brought out millions of new voters. For the first time in American history, Democrats are the ones coming out by the tens of thousands to vote early. Why would he be any different as a leader? This is a man who is clearly inspiring Americans to action, and I think the American people will work hard for change under an Obama presidency. A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for domestic nation-building and national unity.<br /><br />5) <strong>A President Obama would help America re-gain its place on the world scene.</strong> George Bush's leadership and policies have left America as the country that is out-of-touch with the rest of the world, and quickly falling behind other countries. Basically, we are the laughing stock. If we put McCain and Palin as our face to the world, we will continue to be the laughing stock of the world. For the first time since World War II, we have lost our dominance on the world scene. We need a leader who can advocate on behalf of Americans to other countries, particularly Europe and China. Currently, Barack Obama has an international approval rating of about 80% or higher. Most importantly, the European Union and China favor Obama. As a result, Obama would have the ability to talk these countries, and help make favorable world policies that will get our country out of the trillions of dollars of debt we have accrued under Bush.<br /><br />Finally, other nations think that the nomination of an African-American President would send the message of unity, tolerance, and acceptance to all countries. Think about all the countries today with in-fighting because of difference in religion or culture. America's nomination of a black leader would send a message of peace to the world. A vote for Barack Obama would be a vote to make America the role model for change.<br /><br />AND THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULD CAST YOUR VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA ON NOVEMBER 4TH!!!<br /><br />And if you are still not convinced.., and feel you must vote for John McCain... then I will tell my future kids that grandma doesn't care about them. I swear, I will!<br /><br />Love,<br />Your Daughter</div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-28540028434864410542008-10-08T12:34:00.000-07:002008-10-08T12:40:38.494-07:00Philly Voters Told "Stay Away From the Polls"In Philadelphia, a flyer has been circulated telling people not to vote. The flyer is targeted at low-income neighborhoods, and warns that if you don't have a clean record (i.e. traffic tickets, criminal history, etc.) then registering to vote can give you problems at the polls, resulting in a potential arrest. This is obviously an absurd tactic, and clearly Republicans are behind it. What's even more absurd is that some Republican commentators blamed Dems, claiming that the Dems are doing it to make it look like the Republicans are being underhanded. Puh-lease!?! When was the last time anyone needed to do anything to make the Republicans look underhanded? They are doing just fine at being underhanded, they don't need any P.R. help from the Dems. Here's the article: <a href="http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20081002_Vote-scam_fliers_target_black_neighborhoods.html">http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20081002_Vote-scam_fliers_target_black_neighborhoods.html</a>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-22088558580719980052008-09-26T07:00:00.000-07:002008-09-26T10:27:56.157-07:00Dems Blame Lack of Progress on Bailout Negotions on McCain's "Political Theater"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDlZjsnjuN7sxZcBB6vhvIUM91j1Gr07V6yDHIls81L3JQfMFHo_SViXQsRCC-FORC_WdAC4N9XeBM8i_6oJilAbP2vvFxb8ihQRIqXJBI7W226C4U-iRB3CdKnXsMNgWZFXN60XC_E1X/s1600-h/1_fullsize.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250338014165193618" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDlZjsnjuN7sxZcBB6vhvIUM91j1Gr07V6yDHIls81L3JQfMFHo_SViXQsRCC-FORC_WdAC4N9XeBM8i_6oJilAbP2vvFxb8ihQRIqXJBI7W226C4U-iRB3CdKnXsMNgWZFXN60XC_E1X/s200/1_fullsize.png" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thankfully the Democratic Congressional Representatives are calling out McCain for turning the negotiations into "political theater," as Christoper Dodd (D-Conn.) so eloquently put it. But Obama's campaign spokesperson said it best:<br /><br />"... <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Bill+Burton?tid=informline" target="">Bill Burton</a> was more blunt, accusing McCain of turning 'a national crisis into an occasion to promote his campaign. It's become just another political stunt, aimed more at shoring up the senator's political fortunes than the nation's economy.'"-Washington Post <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092504603.html?hpid=topnews">Article</a>, September 26, 2008.<br /><p>And E.J. Dionne, an Op-ed columnist for the Post had this to add: "But McCain's boisterous intervention -- and particularly his grandstanding on the debate -- was less a presidential act than the tactical ploy of a man worried that his chances of becoming president might be slipping away." </p>Basically, I just imagine McCain coming into the talks like a bull in a china shop. What an arse!kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-61001585503675927132008-09-25T11:52:00.000-07:002008-09-25T11:57:09.677-07:00From Sarah Palin, to Sarah Silverman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpZmO5qll_8sXw3-BrDwMSTyClSJc3Oqg9tLANLUOsS6Dwvgs4ApZ1y5IwRT7w8A0rkRWci7pMFrwqWeLNlpAJ7ExYVMYZv1o_k9r_Iig6qW-3MD_je1K8q0GkicoLUgb7m1PMrqBAIdD/s1600-h/the-sarah-silverman-program-20070131111105336.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250034934273896466" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpZmO5qll_8sXw3-BrDwMSTyClSJc3Oqg9tLANLUOsS6Dwvgs4ApZ1y5IwRT7w8A0rkRWci7pMFrwqWeLNlpAJ7ExYVMYZv1o_k9r_Iig6qW-3MD_je1K8q0GkicoLUgb7m1PMrqBAIdD/s200/the-sarah-silverman-program-20070131111105336.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Have you seen Sarah Silverman's endorsement of Obama? She is just hilarious. <a href="http://thepage.time.com/sarah-silverman-video/">Check it out here. </a></div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-618014052377492272008-09-25T09:53:00.000-07:002008-09-26T10:18:21.396-07:00Sarah Palin, Beauty Queen Extraordinaire<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eZmZ3F5SJqWVdSBpL6IUc1xa5U7jKH06wqL5-m9exC7OC9Lg_pdekoMGWFHkkbzwDXx6gPvsAlVWp5GsRyUpc_HI-ndLlnIrhHTbzE16U4VlFEOsORbDKNeIMWwyAgp1Y3d76qYoHXW3/s1600-h/Miss%2520Wasilla%25201984.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250380591466842114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eZmZ3F5SJqWVdSBpL6IUc1xa5U7jKH06wqL5-m9exC7OC9Lg_pdekoMGWFHkkbzwDXx6gPvsAlVWp5GsRyUpc_HI-ndLlnIrhHTbzE16U4VlFEOsORbDKNeIMWwyAgp1Y3d76qYoHXW3/s200/Miss%2520Wasilla%25201984.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I think I nearly choked on my own tears of laughter (or fright?) when I watched this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbg6hF0nShQ">Katie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Couric</span> interview</a> of Scary Sarah <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Palin</span>.<br /><br />She looks like a beauty pageant contestant who is clearly in over her head during the Q&A. Sarah comes across as a cheerleader for McCain, skirting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Couric's</span> pointed questions about the recent Wall Street meltdown with comments like, "McCain's such a maverick!" Or, "McCain has so much experience." But after five minutes of her gloating over McCain, when Katie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Couric</span> asks her to name one thing John McCain has done in the past 25 years, she cannot name ONE thing. "But I'll look it up and get back to you!" she says with a smile. She is SUCH a typical Beauty Queen personality (read: clueless bullshit artist).<br /><br />But I must admit that after watching this, I sort of felt bad for the position that the Republicans put her in. I mean, she really is this small town mom with a BA in communications (and REALLY scary neo-conservative views) who is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">waaaaay</span> in over her head with all this gosh darn <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">tootin</span>' talk of Wall Street and foreign policy matters. Communications teaches a person how to smile for the camera and convey messages: it is not a discipline that delves into the specifics of law, policy, finance, economics, and foreign diplomacy. So, when pressed by the reporter, she merely flashes her best smile and gives a knee jerk response, saying almost anything just so she has said something.<br /><br />Out of curiosity, I looked into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Palin's</span> education. I found out it took her almost 6 years to get that BA in Communications, which she did by attending 4 different schools in three different states, starting with Hawaii, then two years at community college in northern Idaho, then back to Alaska for pageantry, then back to Idaho to finish. This is not meant to insult Communications majors or those with a college degree or lesser. I merely want point out that what the Republicans are doing to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Palin</span>-- namely, putting an inexperienced and unqualified person a heartbeat away from the presidency-- is absolutely cruel. But I feel much worse for the rest of the country, who, if the McCain-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Palin</span> duo get elected, will have to suffer at the hand of incompetence.</div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-19513073980723586962008-09-25T09:44:00.000-07:002008-09-25T09:51:03.770-07:00McCain's Pullout: This guy says it so well.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQchvoC2vfZqayj7lgG20DBfSjvykLQPWimq-Jv2eof9r71fdLCXJS6bqcVnnsnqguTnh0AZBKL745DhpBBml1_fKqNRConGr3UHHAmOCBkr4abxPyKnOtz2JjlAkWhU1WdBOzYsd838a0/s1600-h/hp9-25-08b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250002281012168034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQchvoC2vfZqayj7lgG20DBfSjvykLQPWimq-Jv2eof9r71fdLCXJS6bqcVnnsnqguTnh0AZBKL745DhpBBml1_fKqNRConGr3UHHAmOCBkr4abxPyKnOtz2JjlAkWhU1WdBOzYsd838a0/s200/hp9-25-08b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I would use this post to write about the fact that McCain's pullout to "focus on the economy" is a calculated, spineless political move... But why re-create the wheel? <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/24/AR2008092403918.html?hpid=opinionsbox1">This Washington Post Article</a>, an Op-ed by Meyerson says it so well. </div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-55685408377018532892008-09-05T07:27:00.000-07:002008-09-05T13:29:23.317-07:00Why the "Average Hockey Mom" is the Worst and Best For the Job<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qVYi2W7q5hHw941Iq4NBSZWHo2ebC1-qLF3hJfS2hnDDQFB008sc6oB17CqEIXDYbN3uEAHvp0sgs-_4bH7G2uEmi67OR9MJhiubXKQz1g_BfudFJIuJ9GvMk9gFkNGF_LRRVWfqFlXT/s1600-h/_44985977_getty_palin466x270.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242556461798299250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qVYi2W7q5hHw941Iq4NBSZWHo2ebC1-qLF3hJfS2hnDDQFB008sc6oB17CqEIXDYbN3uEAHvp0sgs-_4bH7G2uEmi67OR9MJhiubXKQz1g_BfudFJIuJ9GvMk9gFkNGF_LRRVWfqFlXT/s200/_44985977_getty_palin466x270.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and author of "Diplomacy" once wrote: </div><br /><div><br /><em>"A leader who confines his role to his people's experience dooms himself to stagnation; a leader who outstrips his people's experience runs the risk of not being understood."</em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div>One can understand how this quote rings true today, applying equally to the campaigns of Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AK)... or rather, campaigns that have now become about the parallel biographical backgrounds of Barack Obama and McCain's VP pick, Sarah Palin. (See <a href="http://http//voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/04/about_those_community_organizi.html?hpid=topnews">WP Post Article</a>). Both are young, dynamic, energizing, and making waves in their respective parties. Both have also been criticized for their lack of experience. But Palin's latest taunt that Obama has "never led anything" shows just how stagnant and inexperienced she is, as per Kissinger's quote. But it also places Obama in that dangerous dilemma of being the severely misunderstood yet overqualified leader. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We know that Sarah Palin is a leader, a resume detail respected by the corporate CEO and blue collar wage earner alike. She had led the town of Wasilla with a population of 5,000. She has led the state of Alaska as Governor. She has also been the leader of her family, raising five children and even sending her eldest off to fight in Iraq on September 11, 2007. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We also know that Sarah has that down-home appeal, a quality that helped President George Bush clinch the White House in two executive presidential elections. Her comment about pitbulls and hockey moms has seemingly made her the darling of the Republican party, and she has energy and a pretty face to boot. But then again, she has no choice but to emphasize her relatability and likability. Because she truly is the "leader" whose experiences are confined to that of the average American. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Palin's lack of foreign policy experience is her softest spot. But over the next few days I am sure we will see the GOP transform Palin's image from Average Hockey Mom to The Next Madeleine Albreight. I have no doubt that she will come equipped with some sound-bytes that might make her look slightly more knowledgeable than the average hockey mom.... But how will she stand up in debate against Biden? I doubt her lipstick jokes will help her navigate her way through an argument about North Korea, Iran, or China. Hopefully, Americans will come to understand that the position calls for more than the average pretty-faced mom, who happened to be elected Governor of one of the more remote and least densely populated states in the nation. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Or maybe the GOP will take the low road. Perhaps they will tell Palin to he honest, admit where she is weak. When Biden takes a shot at her, to back off. Admit her ignorance. Because she only has a BA in Communications, and limited domestic experience. Maybe the GOP will play the card that all Americans want is someone to whom we can relate, and understand. Because perhaps that someone is more likely to understand us, right? And what do we Americans know about complex foreign policy issues anyway? But sports, pitbulls, and lipstick... now <em>those </em>things we understand. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And on the other side of this election is the strange paradox of the intelligent, Harvard Law - educated U.S. Senator, balanced by his grass roots activism, plight as a minority, consistent American values, and charm. A man that is willing to shed his partisanship for national unity, his patriotism for international unity. Now <em>that </em>is wisdom beyond the average American. Resumes, education, experience (or lackthereof) aside, this is a leader who truly outstrips his people. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Sadly, Obama may be too far beyond America... too far beyond what we can understand, appreciate, and desire as our leader. And perhaps we don't want to be outstripped by our leader. After all, such a nomination would send half the nation into a spiral, perhaps causing some people to <em>do</em> things. Like question themselves. Or want change... Oh no, we better stick to what we know, and to what is safe... like recycled lipstick jokes, boilerplate speeches, and a failing economy. Give us more stagnation! Give us McCain-Palin!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-26960447026571823702008-08-29T07:35:00.000-07:002008-09-05T08:38:21.287-07:00Inspire Me, Obama!“I love my President.” Those words sounds so foreign and strange to say. But they are words that I would actually believe if Barack Obama were elected President.<br /><br />What separates Obama from the Hillary Clintons and John McCains (and Sarah Palins... but really, who knows anything about her anyway?) of the world, is that he is actually lovable. His ability to say what is on his heart in an unfiltered, uncensored manner makes him a unique politician, or perhaps an ironic politician. I do not get the feeling that when Barack speaks, he is pandering to the masses, or telling people what they want to hear. However, his frank, direct, value-laden speeches are exactly what we didn’t know we need to hear: the truth.<br /><br />For me, Barack’s appeal is his ability to reconcile contradictions. For example, how a multi-racial man born to a single mother can go to Harvard, become a U.S. Senator, and then run for President… and do in 15 years what most people will never dream of doing in a lifetime. Politically, he is wise to address the contradictions that we Americans are so hung up on: like gay marriage or abortions, and sadly, the war. But he is even wiser to acknowledge that these are issues we need to get over, and the real problem is that most Americans are working for sub-par pay and struggling to make ends meet. The real problem is the state of the economy that George Bush has left in the wake of his presidency.<br /><br />Watching Obama, I feel inspired to be the change I want to see in this country: I want to go volunteer, work at my church, raise money for good causes. I want to forget what I think are my problems, and focus on making the world right again. I also want to feel stress-free and without fear. I do not think that Obama will necessarily make my life better, but his story sure as heck motivates me to be different, and to be better.kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-27260827934567654982008-05-04T09:57:00.001-07:002008-05-07T07:36:17.250-07:00Before You Save The World, Clean Your Closet!If you haven't yet read <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/opinion/04friedman.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin">Thomas Friedman's op-ed "Who Will Tell the People?"</a> in today's NY Times, you should. It has been a while since an article regarding national affairs has resonated with me on a personal level. Friedman eloquently weaves together what were once my mere disjointed thoughts. <div><br /></div><div>Friedman's main argument is that Americans- although long tired of campaigns and a President starting wars and telling Americans to "go shopping" in times of fiscal and national crisis- do indeed want to partake in nation-building. However, we want to start our nation-building right here at home, and not in Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan. This is because we feel like our nation is falling apart. Many of his points got me thinking about the extent to which my life is a product of the times, closely intertwined with world events. </div><div><br /></div><div>First, reading this article, my head started spinning thinking about all the ways that Americans have made important, long-term, structural changes in their lives. The first and foremost that comes to mind is the "Green Revolution," promoting hybrid vehicles, walking or biking, and partaking in other fuel-saving activities. These are the kinds of changes that Bush should have employed, and are the types of take-it-into-your-own-hands, honest, long-term changes that a thoughtful leader like Obama inspires. I have to admit that I felt proud of my fellow Americans while reading this article at an urban sidewalk cafe, watching passers-by carrying reusable shopping bags, walking rather than driving, and generally making themselves aware of the much needed shift from oil to more viable resources. We are indeed taking matters into our own hands. </div><div><br /></div><div>My thoughts naturally turned inward, as I contemplated how the world events of late have shaped a very important period in my life. Less than three years ago I started law school, and will graduate into the worst economy during my twenty-sevens years on this earth. I started my program head strong, self-assured, and planned to continue working in international trade or business. Latin America was my passion, and I wanted to continue to partake in the economic revolution of our poor neighbor. But for all the reasons that law school makes one question their confidence and abilities <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">plus </span>the less-than-stellar shape of the country, I began to question myself. </div><div><br /></div><div>I no longer felt I wanted to save Latin America or the world. Instead, I became fixated on my immediate surroundings. I soon began volunteering as a Sunday school teacher at my local church, teaching thirteen- and fourteen-year-old first-generation Latinos. I found the work extremely rewarding, and sought ways to continue reaching out to inner city students, eventually teaching legal rights classes to homeless teens, and working with Street law, a non-profit that teaches law, democracy and human rights to students. I fell in love with my Education Law course, because I learned how think in terms of making structural changes to education systems. I also stopped paying attention to international headlines, and barely flinched when learning of the latest fatalities in Iraq, or the fact that a former <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">cocalero</span> became President of Bolivia. </div><div><br /></div><div>I do however, remember crying when my roommate's bicycle-- which I had borrowed for the day-- was stolen from its locked-up location outside the law firm where I was working that summer. This was just a few months after my car had been stolen, and only a few days after someone stole my vaccuum cleaner from the vestibule of the house where I was renting a room-- neither for which I had shed a tear. But I cried and cried about having to replace a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">borrowed</span> bike, tears spilling down my red face as I sat across from my boyfriend at a local coffee shop. "What am I going to do?" I asked. "How am I going to come up with the cash to pay for this bike?" But the problem went much deeper. The problem, I confessed, was that I had gotten ahead of myself in life. I was working, volunteering for other causes, and taking out tens of thousands of loan dollars for a legal education, was mired in debt-- and I felt that I had absolutely no grounding. I realized that if something as small as a $200 setback could send me into such a state, I had to be doing something wrong. I realized that I needed to clean out my proverbial closet. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I did. I spent the next year getting my finances in order, moved to a safer location with less crime and higher security, and trying to gain more legal experiences in order to figure out whether I had chosen the right profession. This past year, I made yet another move and cut my expenses nearly in half, earned back my good credit score (and the ability to sign for the last of my law school loans), and dramatically improved my grades by focusing solely on law school. I recently passed my first standardized test for the bar exam-- the professional responsibility portion-- and now I will take my last school exam in two days, graduate with my class on May 23rd, and sit for the Bar Exam in July. Just two years ago, these all seemed like utter impossibilities. </div><div><br /></div><div>And now, as I head into the world with a law degree- despite not yet having secured a job-I feel confident, happy, and ready to answer whatever may be my call to action. I am happy I chose the path I did, and think I will love practicing law. I do not see myself saving the world (at least, not yet), but rather, continuing to acquire skills and confidence to put to use whenever I do get that call. That probably means continuing to focus on myself, working hard, and earning money to buy financial freedom. The "American Dream"-- the six-figure job, the wedding, picket fence, and 2.5-- all seem secondary, just pieces of a bigger puzzle that will fall into place on their own terms. For now, there's still a lot of work to do on myself, and then a lot of work to do for my community, city, and one day perhaps, my country. But I never would have been so open and happy had I not set to the task of internal cleaning. </div><div><br /></div><div>One small anecdote seems like a fitting analogy: a good friend recently told me that he felt like he had to dedicate himself to personal and career goals before he was ready to dedicate 100% of himself to a relationship. He had lost his love over this realization, but is now open and prepared for whatever his future has in store. Because after all, you can't fully dedicate yourself to anyone or anything until you understand the extent of your capabilities and your place in the world. To me, this is what cleaning my closet has been about: working on myself before "saving the world." So why shouldn't America's "nation building" adhere to this same philosophy? We are getting ahead of ourselves as individuals, following suit to a government borrowing more than it can pay back from neighbors like China and Singapore-- just like when I borrowed that bike. I fear that if this trend continues, we are going to fall apart as a nation, and the clean-up won't be solved with some tears and re-organizing. This is why we need a leader, as Friedman suggests, that is going to be more than what Hillary deems as "tough" enough to stand up to the Republicans. This is why we need a leader that will inspire us to take matters into our hands and clean the closets here first. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-24119345883023887292008-04-30T13:44:00.000-07:002008-04-30T14:01:41.556-07:00We ALL make mistakes...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyRovPgLb-PNhLSRwoNH5hpXKZuAXOvOJCHwAOzCxXRA3DMSSuNGkS9U4EFX8NJf048mxydMmIuJJ-cwdiPvBlPjrcvJEVRMhJVJw-273NiF5rRLJS5_QCXoCj3EBIAELE7ZgHgF8m69H/s1600-h/BXP27209.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyRovPgLb-PNhLSRwoNH5hpXKZuAXOvOJCHwAOzCxXRA3DMSSuNGkS9U4EFX8NJf048mxydMmIuJJ-cwdiPvBlPjrcvJEVRMhJVJw-273NiF5rRLJS5_QCXoCj3EBIAELE7ZgHgF8m69H/s200/BXP27209.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195146281849990994" /></a><br />So, I asked Maddy-- a fourteen-year-old I used to babysit, who happens to be a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">huge</span> Miley Cyrus fan-- what she thought of the Cyrus "scandal." And I have to admit I am impressed by Maddy's defense of Miley, a much more intelligent and and empathetic view of the situation: <div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"[Miley] said she felt embarrassed about it. Also, she wasn't topless... the photo just looks like it... I kind of feel bad for her because she has so much pressure on her to be like everybody else, and also, I think she wants to stay grounded. But it seems like everybody is out to get her for every little mistake she makes. Also, she's a teenager... and that's what we do... we make mistakes... and learn from them. But only time will tell if she'll learn from her mistakes."</span> </div><div><br /></div><div>Well put, Maddy! I'm sorry for beating up on Miley... we all make mistakes ;-)</div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-56779890710367651032008-04-29T04:44:00.000-07:002008-04-29T11:12:43.229-07:00Oh, Miley!The last time I willingly listened to Miley Cyrus was during her televised February 2008 interview with Barbara Walters just before the Oscars. It was her comment, "I like to think of myself as a light to the world," that made me decide to turn off the radio or television whenever one of her songs aired. (Well, that and the fact that she can't sing and rides on the coattails of famous father Billy Ray). I also had to stop reading Miley-riddled tabloids at the long lines at Giant, opting instead for substantive news. *Sigh* OK, its one thing to takeover and ruin the radio and tabloids for me, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/28/AR2008042802828.html?hpid=topnews">but now THIS</a>? Did she really have to cross into "artistic" territory and ruin for me what was once my <a href="http://www.corcoran.org/exhibitions/previous_results.asp?Exhib_ID=190">favorite celebrity photographer</a>? I mean, for Pete's sake, the girl is only <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">fifteen. </span>Isn't this illegal or something? (And where are all you child porn whistle blowers when we need you?). Thanks a lot, "Smiley Miley," for the nightmares I am going to have for the next week. And please-- put your clothes back on or I'm telling your mom! kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-28689451868363213782008-04-29T04:22:00.000-07:002008-04-29T04:28:54.618-07:00It's a Load of CROC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9OtFNu6n7-Iqvt-CuZlfq5AKo1DMENxCD1CMsLvumKZ_0oTVC8LWNVaderCzq1SQR7BUBZwkMMchL2nHlQxCOPXFj4kj9t4UtWJuHjGydjwj37r2ym4TFC4RGUaZMLNvrzjVBcIisur2/s1600-h/169062_820205_big.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9OtFNu6n7-Iqvt-CuZlfq5AKo1DMENxCD1CMsLvumKZ_0oTVC8LWNVaderCzq1SQR7BUBZwkMMchL2nHlQxCOPXFj4kj9t4UtWJuHjGydjwj37r2ym4TFC4RGUaZMLNvrzjVBcIisur2/s200/169062_820205_big.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194627716088606514" /></a><br />What is just about the worst shoe to venture off the river raft? You guessed it! And now you can officially declare your disdain for the worst fashion statement ever by purchasing <a href="http://ihatecrocs.spreadshirt.com/us/US/Shop/">one of these tee shirts</a> , which I spotted on a friend's boyfriend. You can also vent with your fellow Croc haters on the <a href="http://ihatecrocsblog.blogspot.com/">Official I Hate Crocs Blog</a>. kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-26882666048002155762008-04-29T03:28:00.000-07:002008-04-29T16:35:59.871-07:00Cabonomics<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph2mRsEs8hx7nKvMQuE_HOyX-w9RT9_92-_YsZ57R4eMJJYzYWy-E0cV-uO2htDZyEnu26JzG9F0n4r4f2J5WnEZVhSLtUbymBDzcxzybdpwGsjp_-mfvJuLUGMdqWCEXvaC12dsGn6rS/s1600-h/get_image.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph2mRsEs8hx7nKvMQuE_HOyX-w9RT9_92-_YsZ57R4eMJJYzYWy-E0cV-uO2htDZyEnu26JzG9F0n4r4f2J5WnEZVhSLtUbymBDzcxzybdpwGsjp_-mfvJuLUGMdqWCEXvaC12dsGn6rS/s200/get_image.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194621595760209698" /></a>Saturday was warm, sunny and despite the swampy D.C. air-- very pleasant. That is, of course, until I decided to venture out of my Logan Circle apartment for the evening. Buckets of hard rain greeted me as I headed out to meet some friends for a beer at the Saloon. With a sigh, I rolled up my jeans flood-style and crouched under my umbrella. Luckily, after walking a block from my doorstep and before the rain did too much damage to my new flip-flops, I hailed a cab. A warm, dry cab with-- get this-- a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">nice</span> cab driver. <div><br /><div> </div><div>While I am usually the first one to complain about D.C. cabbies and berate the cab system that relies on zoning to determine fares, I am actually starting to feel bad for the drivers. Somehow during the four-minute drive, my cab driver and I started talking about the inflated gas prices, which led naturally to a discussion about the economy. "You know how much a gallon of milk costs now?" he asked. "Three dollars?" I guessed (I cannot actually recall the last time I bought an entire gallon of milk, though I think it must have been back in college when I shared an apartment with four soccer players). "It's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">five dollars</span>!" he complained. (I inquired whether he purchased this $5.00 milk from Whole Foods, but he said he hadn't). He went on to say that its not the gas prices that make him feel the pinch, but rather, when he goes home with his pay and realizes that he cannot afford as much food. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>And I had always thought that high price of gas was what hurt cabbies the most. On the contrary, he told me, high gas prices help cabbies. In a city with one of the highest ratios of cabs per residents (1 per every 1000), D.C cabbies have to fight each other for customers. So when gas prices go up and more people use metro or some combination of metro and cabs, it becomes easier for cabbies to snag a fare. They can also charge an additional $1.00 during this so-called gas crisis to soften the blow. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>But what is going to hurt cabs even more during this economic downturn-- and what I don't agree with-- is requiring cabs to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">purchase</span> a $400 meter, as Fenty's deadline for mandatory meters is approaching. I wonder why D.C. could not alleviate the burden on cabbies' wallets by trying to get corporate sponsorship for the meters in exchange for ads (for example, like NYC did when it mandated citywide TV installation in its cabs)? I think that the zoning system is definitely a step in the right direction, but requiring cabbies to pay for the installation themselves is a step backwards. While I hate the old system of zoning, I still appreciate a dry cab on the occasional rainy night out. For a related article, check out today's <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/28/AR2008042802559.html?hpid=topnews">Washington Post</a>. </div></div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-38691028470040896782008-04-28T12:31:00.001-07:002008-04-29T06:17:56.107-07:00Supreme Court Upholds Indiana Voter ID<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zHUkZBOFvOm-xA2L0t2HM2UqrhgWWjS3L6ibj_To4RbC9T7OFUpaRqJi701Ll_2sIbuIm3GzeRBE-Y4FNE_LM7bqNIQH-N_FWC4F56vdOzNy2OBA7-xXB_wo-vPpbISnwmqyCC_zVvZ4/s1600-h/i_voted.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zHUkZBOFvOm-xA2L0t2HM2UqrhgWWjS3L6ibj_To4RbC9T7OFUpaRqJi701Ll_2sIbuIm3GzeRBE-Y4FNE_LM7bqNIQH-N_FWC4F56vdOzNy2OBA7-xXB_wo-vPpbISnwmqyCC_zVvZ4/s320/i_voted.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194395805034491634" /></a><br />Today the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Indiana voter ID law. Stevens, writing for the majority, held that the Indiana statute requiring voters to present a photo ID at the polls in order to prevent voter fraud was constitutional. The court weighed the state's ID restriction as slight compared to its substantial interest in protecting the integrity of the voting process. The Court failed to view this law as severe a restriction as the poll tax, but rather, as a permissible "time, place, manner" restriction. (Read the <a href="http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/07-21.pdf">full opinion</a>). <div><br /></div><div>It seems partisan politics are the source of this case, with the Petitioner-Indiana Democratic Party (and several <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">amici) </span>claiming that the Voter ID statute will significantly deter the poor, the disabled, and the elderly-- who typically vote Democratic-- from casting a ballot in the November 2008 Presidential elections. As a result, the argument goes, the Democratic party will lose votes. Petitioners also claim that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">several </span>voters were already turned away from the polls in a Nov. 2007 local election because of this statute (However, the record in evidence demonstrates that only about 30 people were in fact impacted in this Indianapolis election). </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course the State contends that the burden is slight-- what's the big deal, they essentially argue, about presenting a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">free</span> photo ID at the polls? (In response, petitioners argue that the class in question-- the poor, disabled, and the elderly-- typically do not drive or own vehicles. Therefore they have neither the requisite driver's license, nor the ready access to transportation to a local DMV to obtain the free photo ID). But the Respondents also exaggerate their evidence regarding the problem supposedly at issue, namely, voter fraud. In my opinion, this is where the state's argument really loses its credibility. Respondents cannot cite one instance of actual voter fraud in Indiana, but rely instead on occurrences in other jurisdictions. </div><div><br /></div><div>Personally, I don't agree with the voter ID law, or any law that adds layers of governmental bureaucracy to what should be a basic, fundamental right. But I also find it hard to believe that Indiana is going to lose any major Democratic votes over the statute. Whatever issues face the non-ID holders before the election-- i.e. lack of time, money, transportation, etc-- will likely be the same issues deterring that same class on election day. And whatever tools the Democratic party uses to bring voters to the polls-- i.e. bussing and other GOTV efforts-- can also be employed pre-election day to help voters get a photo ID, get registered, and get ready to cast a ballot. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think that Petitioner's case is a waste of precious judicial time and resources. The claim itself highlights legal hurdles, when we know that no amount of bureaucratic obstacles can contend with what truly draws voters to the polls in droves: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">excitement and passion</span>. The Obama-Clinton race has already brought voters to the polls in <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/27/AR2008042702272.html?nav=most_emailed_emailafriend">record numbers nationwide</a> (i.e. the <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/25/democrats-hit-voter-record-hold-near-majority-in-pennsylvania/">Pennsylvania Primary</a>) and more Democrats are registered than ever before. And with the May 6th Indiana primary election just around the corner, things are getting heated in the Photo ID state. According to the <a href="http://www.local12.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=08206f33-d417-4e86-b723-f84f470940f1&rss=31">WSBT-South Bend poll</a>, 48 percent of Indiana voters favor Barack Obama while 47 percent favor Hillary Clinton. If this tight race isn't enough to get voters excited about going to the polls, nothing will. So, whatever loss in votes results from the photo ID law will be counterbalanced by the gain in votes from excited, first-time ballot-casters.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5337320937495574070.post-31357701709626204772008-04-27T21:30:00.000-07:002008-05-07T07:41:45.151-07:00Money Talks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhV2_W9dsmZ0MsYrpDucvUW8VTSMEDDhWOsCCKQtDz7PK9srQZ_r4YUWe3PA3QOu3TY4Jfi5MHawWUc5yrcaAOnyEnPf5jFCfl7WW3Da3ueMy6lsSUlDUsH4CeLnWBFn92hlCl-3WNAtm/s1600-h/images.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhV2_W9dsmZ0MsYrpDucvUW8VTSMEDDhWOsCCKQtDz7PK9srQZ_r4YUWe3PA3QOu3TY4Jfi5MHawWUc5yrcaAOnyEnPf5jFCfl7WW3Da3ueMy6lsSUlDUsH4CeLnWBFn92hlCl-3WNAtm/s320/images.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194397402762325762" /></a><br />When was the last time you discussed your salary, the cost of a major car or home purchase, or your personal finances with your friends? If you are not unlike the rest of us mid-twenty-somethings, it was probably pretty recently. In today's Sunday Styles section, NYT writer Alex Williams explores the openness of our generation when it comes to personal finances. (See <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/fashion/27salary.html?ref=fashion">Williams article</a>). Williams attributes the phenomenon of glib to generational and cultural characteristics.<br /><br />Williams concludes that the reasons we blab, unlike our predecessors, is generally three-fold. First, technology (i.e. blogging, MySpace, and Facebook) helps facilitate a constant flow of communication. Second, we are a generation with a "shared struggle," who have come into our own against the backdrop of 9/11, a sluggish economy, and a major credit crunch-- making us more open and of the mind that "we are in this together." Third, unlike our parents, we don't measure our success in terms of dollars, and therefore don't mind sharing such trifles as salaries. <br /><br />I agree with most of Williams' assertions, but for different reasons. First of all, as a graduating law student with nearly $200,000 in student loans (guffaw!), how can I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">not</span> talk about what consumes every fiber of my being? Second, I am surrounded by peers who share my financial woes and can relate- so talking about it helps alleviate some of the stress and helps us take solace in the fact that we are all in this together. <div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, and what I think Williams overlooks, we are caught in what I call the Brooklynization of America. That is, I think many Gen Y-ers find it unappealing to work 120 hours a week for some corporation or law firm because we do not care about the status. We are a generation raised to believe that our value lies in cooperation, participation, and making a contribution to the greater good. Growing up, we were told that we were "special," and its not about winning or losing, but how we play the game. So, we talk about salary because it simply does not matter. We don't equate our self-worth with numbers. And, as my friend Ian points out, our high-earner peers talk about money to alleviate their guilt about choosing large salaries over do-gooder work. </div><div><br />The irony is-- while we are a culture becoming ever the more open about finances and ever the more detached from valuing ourselves according to salary, we are also becoming increasingly materialistic. I think that every one of my girlfriends owns a Coach purse, and a few other choice "status purchases." And the obsession with money is hitting us earlier on in life. Last summer, while strolling in Manhattan, I saw a girl of no more than thirteen carrying around her accessory puppy in her Louis Vuitton handbag while sipping an iced mocha frappe from Starbucks, all whilst struggling to answer her cell phone. "What is wrong with this country?" I thought to myself. How are we going to support the up and coming generation, who are becoming material-obsessed at younger and younger ages? </div><div><br />Maybe our job is to bridge the gap between our elders-- who fear talking about money-- and our successors-- who can't seem to get enough of flaunting their parents' money. Perhaps opening a healthy dialogue is a good way to alleviate our financial fears, continue to work together for solutions, and combat the up-and-coming cash-crazed culture. </div></div>kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294157339505432388noreply@blogger.com3