Category: Uncategorized

So those of you who actually like the food posts (weirdos that you are) – have you ever wanted to try really fancy olive oil, but not wanted to pay for it?

There’s a company in Massachusetts, Alejandro and Martin, that is giving away a sampler box of their oils.

Each olive oil comes from a different region of the world, and they say that all are made by small olive oil producers: family farms and artisan cooperatives.

And it’s free! Well, aside from shipping, which for me was about $6.50

But this is their way of advertising their company, and it’s a wonderful way to explore something new.

The offer is here.

ETA: They have given away all 800 boxes they had to give.

ETA 10/29/08: So the company is defunct. Here are the pages from the way back machine – Alejandro & Martin main page

When I was in college, I would occasionally buy flowers for myself.

When I finally got an apartment of my own, I went on a quest for the perfect vase that would fit one of those cheap bouquets from the supermarkets and some greenery comfortable while still being stable enough that it wouldn’t be likely to tip if a cat brushed up against it.

At the student pottery sale a year ago, I found the perfect vase. It is beautiful and subtle, heavy and decorative.

And then I started watching my money.

I want flowers

As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: Bread and Roses! Bread and Roses!

As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women’s children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses.

As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too.

As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days,
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life’s glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses.

Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses.

Bryn Mawr songbook

And then I remember that there are many more practical things that I want more.

My views of politics are naive and simple, and I do my very best to keep them that way.

1) I do not trust the popular media. I know how easy it is to manipulate film and images. I know how hard it is to write a story that just relates facts… and that even then our opinions bleed through in which facts are more relevant. I have listened to the news on the radio change at 5am into a completely different story.

2) I understand that I am hypocritical. No matter how much I try for internal consistency, I can not stretch the logic all the way around. *shrug* So I just go for what feels right – and am willing to change some of my opinions with enough persuading… not most of them, though.

So what do I think that is all controversial? I think that all people are human beings.

• I think that people in any country are human beings.
• I think that poor and underprivileged people are human beings.
• I think people of all sexual persuasions, identities, and proclivities are human beings – and that it’s probably none of my business.
• I think that people in wheel chairs are human beings – and the guy who sometimes rides my bus who looks like he just stepped out of the makeup trailer on a horror movie; yep, he’s a human being, too.
• I think that terrorists are human beings. And that the word terrorist does not define a country of origin or a religious belief.
• I think that paedophiles are human beings.
• I think that the perpetrators of domestic violence (of any gender) are human beings.
• I think that the Tupperware lady or man is a human being.
• I think old people are human beings.
• I think that people of any race, ethnicity, and heritage are human beings.
• I think even that religious extremists and republicans are human beings.
• I think you are a human being

And I think all human beings deserve equal rights.

Equal rights, equal responsibilities, and equal protection under law.

Now that doesn’t mean I have to actually like human beings, but that’s a different post entirely

Here is the The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: United Nations, 1948. (Thank you, brown_betty.)

Here is a clever post worth reading.

Just because the package says it is book tape does not necessarily mean that you should actually use it on a book.

One of my friends is a licensed and certified massage therapist, and he has just hung his shingle out for business.

So if you are in the vague vicinity of northern New Jersey, you should know that I think he is trustworthy, capable, and safe. I’ve been dying for one of his massages since he was still in school, but he’s just too far away to drive for a massage and then have to drive back afterward.

But you, if you are closer, should definitely give him a try.

Webpage is here —> Tact Isle <---

If you ask, I have a whole bunch of other wonderful things to say about the man, but they aren’t directly related to his massage-giving capabilities. (No, not like that. They are related to his card playing and cooking skills.)