Before we break for the weekend…

I’ve been pretty vocal about my stance on California’s budget problems. For anyone not from California, these posts are probably annoying and you breeze right pass them. But I read this article and couldn’t let it pass by without a comment. Not only has California’s budget problems affected state workers and civilians, but our public colleges are taking massive blows.

What kills me the most is that the students, the poor kids who now can’t afford to go to school because lack of available grants and higher tuition costs, are silently suffering. No one is paying attention to this! And it’s not acceptable. I am forever thankful for the education I received at CSUS and while it may not be an Ivy League college, I earned a degree that will take me as far I want in the professional field. To see it and those who attend CSUS suffer like this is just awful.

I can’t imagine how the students at my alma malter, CSU Sacramento, will feel when they start their fall semester and realize that campus and professors are being forced to take a furlough to ease the fiscal situation. Why should the students suffer? Don’t the California Lawmakers understand how hard it is to get a quality education under these circumstances? When I attended CSUS last year, it was hard enough to even speak with my professors outside of class when I needed guidance and help. Now, with teachers taking eight furlough days throughout the semester, their availability will be non existent.

I hate ending the week like this, especially when there is so much to be happy be out (it’s summer! you can sleep in! you aren’t dying!) but I feel sympathy for those CSUS students. Hopefully they can get through these next couple of semesters with some positive feelings.

Ok, off my sopabox. You all have a great weekend and enjoy yourselves….

a letter to the lawmakers

Dear California legislators,

Hi, my name is Amanda and I am one of the 300,000 employed by the great state of California. Every day I get up and work to keep this state running, and I am a little anxious about the state’s future. I know you are having a rough year. You haven’t had time to for your luxurious beach vacations. That ritzy timeshare off the coast of Santa Barbara has been empty for most of the year. Heck, you can’t even grab a bite to eat at your favorite steakhouse without feeling pressure. I know, I know, life must be tough. The missus isn’t happy that most of your days are spent up in Sacramento but you have a job to do.

You see, I love working for California. Seeing how the state operates and knowing that your work benefits many gives me the kind of job satisfaction I never knew was possible. I remind myself every time I help solve some potentially disastrous issue at work that I am lucky to work for a state that I believe completely in.

“While we breathe, we hope.”

Guys, I feel energized. Invigorated. Earlier today, I was on pins and needles now later tonight, I feel like all the worrying and stress has been washed away. To say that tonight night’s events were memorable would be selling Super Tuesday short. All day, I thought about what this election means for me, for my generation. So many big decisions, so many voices to be heard. Hearing him talk last night, graciously accepting his election, I couldn’t help but think of all those minorities who have been underrepresented, ignored, erased. The time for them to be represented is now, and it’s about goddamn time.
Can you feel it, that slight shift? I don’t know, it kind of feels like hope. Strange, that one can feel hope amidst financial crisis and economic turmoil. But when a man like Obama comes along with his promise of change and hope, you can’t help but feel that history is being made. Hope has been restored.

Looking at the people at Grant Park, tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces, I just felt moved to tears. I’m not normally such a sap, but there was something about their eager faces that killed me. To know that their future is in good hands, and to see their participation in an election that will break records… Well, it’s just fantastic. 

I’m not delusional, and I know that he has some major work to do. Cleaning up the past 8 years, fixing the system that has been broken and abused for so long… It will take time, but he’s got our support. The world is watching. Our time is now America. And I, for one, and full of hope.

One downside to Super Tuesday was the potential passing of Prop 8, which I can’t even talk about without getting angry. It’s unbelievable how some special interest groups feel that it is their duty to regulate the lives of others. I hope that the many people who will be affected by this unfair measure know that no matter what, California will continue to fight for their rights. I only pray that by the time the measure goes in to effect, karma will have come back around and kicked those losers in the butts. (When I typed this up, results for Prop 9 were still being counted so I will recap the results later.)

To pass the time on Super Tuesday, I nibbled on this cookie from Whole Foods. It was a tasty Espresso Chocolate Chip cookie, and had been calling my name for the past few months. Every time I enter the store, the bakery greets me with open arms, but I resist it’s call. Crazy, right? Well, this time I was looking for comfort in the form of a cookie and boy did I find it. 

Crispy and fragrant, the cookie was good without being overwhelmingly good. Does that make sense? It wasn’t as good as some homemade cookies, but it was good enough to satisfy my nibbling in-between commercial break bites. I think I might be able to make it better on my own, but for a store-bought $1 cookie, it was pretty damn good. Alright, off to bed now. The adrenaline rush has gone and lord knows I need my beauty sleep :) 

PS. the book above is Moose by Stephanie Klein, and it’s pretty good. I tend to read nonfiction during school because it makes me feel more scholarly. Ha! It’s like reading a personal diary. So good, and a little creepy…

protect your interests

As I walked on to campus today, I noticed that the political campaigns had finally kicked in to full force. This is what they call crunch time, guys. With less than 3 weeks till election day, booths for both presidential candidates and propositional campaigns sat next to campus walkways. It made me happy to see all the college kids asking questions, picking up brochures. A curious students is always a good thing because it means their interest has been piqued. You’ve got their attention, now it’s up to them to be pro-active about it.

Surprisingly, I’m big on politics. I say surprisingly because my mom is the exact opposite. The only reason she knows their is an election going on is because of the news coverage, which isn’t a good thing. Despite my numerous attempts to help educate her more on the issue, her views on the government and politics will never change. On the other hand, I fiercely believe in equal rights, a woman’s right to choose, and that by not voting, you are essentially giving the government the opportunity to f**k with you life. It’s not had to figure out who I will be voting for, right? 

I talk to other female college students and it makes me infuriated to hear them say that they don’t care about politics. They say, “Why talk about the government when talking about Paris Hilton or The Girl’s Next Door is much more important?” I enjoy my fair share of celebrity gossip/fashion/frivolous things, but this is your life. The government is there to protect and serve you. The keyword is YOU.

As a woman, I am deathly afraid of what might happen if McCain is president. I think it’s important for ALL women to get to know the facts about both candidate’s opinions on women’s issues. Why would you vote for someone who won’t make your life better? I received this great flyer from Planned Parenthood and wanted to share the facts with you. What you do with these facts is your choice.

“10 things every woman should know about John McCain.”

1. John McCain opposes equal pay legislation, saying it wouldn’t do “anything to help the rights of women.'”

2. John McCain oposes requiring health care plans to over prescription birth control.

3. John McCain opposes comprehensive medically accurate sex education.

4. John McCain opposes common sense funding to prevent unintended and teen pregnancies.

5. John McCain opposes funding for public education about emergency contraception.

6. John McCain oppoes restoring family planning services for low-income women.

7. John McCain opposes Roe v. Wade and says it should be overturned.

8. John McCain wants to nominate Supreme Court justices who are ‘clones’ of conservative Justices Alito and Roberts.

9. When asked whether contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV, John McCain said he was “stumped”

10. In his 25 years in Washington DC, John McCain has voted against women’s reproductive rights and privacy 125 times.

To check the facts presented or for information, visit Planned Parenthood. Thanks to Planned Parenthood for the facts.

what is on your dinner plate?

Like many today, my mind is on my wallet. With the holidays fast approaching, I can feel my unease continue to grow. How can I afford this, what will I do if I can’t buy that? A spending-diet is imminent, and while it pains me to say it, I won’t be visiting my beloved J. Crew for quite some time. 

Also, my going-out habits have been shelved as well. Instead of buying two drinks at a bar for $5 per drink + tip, I nurse my homemade cocktails in the comfort of my own home. Gone are teh days of enjoying yummy Moroccan food because I can’t afford the $12 + tip entree. Basically, my social life has been cut in half, and while it has taken some getting used to, I think I’m starting to see the positive side. 

For one thing, my kitchen has been very busy. Besides my needed trips to Starbucks (sorry, I need something to ease the pain), I spend most of my time either reading books at the kitchen table or baking up treats from those books. The added bonus to this new habit of mine is that my consumption of artificial ingredients and processed foods has dropped from sporadic to nil. It’s all about living and eating naturally. 

I picked up a few great reads at the library on Saturday, both of which have inspired me immensely. Super Natural Cooking, written by Heidi Swanson, makes me even more dedicated and resilient in weaning myself off the artificial diet so many of us have been on for years. The other, Jamie’s Italy, shows me that food can be dynamic, passionate, and saitisfying. Why pay the extra 10 bucks + tip at a restaurant when Mr. Oliver will show you how to do it? 

Another reason for my newfound interest in to natural eating is my senior seminar research paper on the corn syrup industry. I’ve been studying and researching the use of HFCS and it’s not a simple subject. From farm subsidies to new legislation, it’s a tough subject but after seeing the new ridiculous HFCS ads, I’ve been on a mission. Goodbye processed food, hello mother nature. 

Slow Food- hit or miss?

 

 

Overall, my day in SF was really fun. Great weather, good food, and a nice break from the mundane. While I enjoyed the walk around the Civic Center aka the Slow Food center for activities on Friday, I was a little disappointed. It was a hyped event but lacked a lot of thought and planning for community participation. Some of the stalls and vendors were static, uninterested in speaking with public. Isn’t that the point of this event though? Building relationships with local farmers and chefs who are dedicated to the Slow Food movement? I didn’t talk to ONE chef, one farmer, and even though I had many questions, I received no answers. Everyone was too busy hiding behind the scenes, or too busy chatting up with the Food network exec’s that patrolled the scene. I think next time they should focus more on providing free events for the public in order to better educate their audience. Farmers’ Markets are nice, but not enough.

what a tangled web we weave

I know that some must be sick of the coverage around Bhutto’s assassination, but I’d rather see important news like this then watch any Britney Spears coverage on the CNN ticker, regardless of my addiction to celebrity gossip. Sometimes, real news matters more than any other frivolity.

I posted about my condolences about Bhutto’s death here, but after watching the aftermath of her murder, I felt the need to bring it up again. I read this post by Jayne Lyn Stahl and felt completely overwhelmed. It left me utterly speechless. And I’m not even a highly political person at all! But the post got to me because it touched on the many fears that I have about our government and the future.

when will it stop?

I guess asking for some kind of peace this holiday season was just too much to ask.

Benazir Bhutto

I am not from Pakistan, nor do I know anyone from the Middle East. But the assassination of the first female prime minister of Pakistan is more than worthy enough to be mentioned. It’s sad to see that those who fight for change are often silenced.

Shut up & listen

With all the chaos that is going on in the world, it’s hard to just mentally shut down and sit. Don’t worry, don’t talk, don’t run around. Don’t do anything. Every night, I try to just sit and think about some of the things I did that day, things that I enjoyed, sights that I saw, and people that I met. I make the decision to turn off the TV and internet and just relax. But I don’t do this often enough, and wouldn’t you know that those days that I don’t reflect, I get all stressed and overworked. Like I can never get caught up, or am constantly out of breathe.

What is most disturbing about those days is that I am constantly thinking about my needs. It’s completely narcisstic, and selfish, but true. When you are stressing out over work, or freaking out over projects, you don’t care about anyone else. Forget listening to other people talk, we don’t care anyone else. It’s all about me, me, me. But obsessing over things thinking that your problems are more important than any one else, and that no one will understand is not the solution. You should stop, think, and open your ears and eyes to the world around you. Who knows, you might find that by talking to a friend or neighbor, you might find an ally or someone who has gone through everything you are feeling now. 

But the importance of talking is also listening. Hearing what the other person has to say and acknowledging their opinion is not easy because we are all so “me” centered. But stepping out of your box and looking at the situation through other peoples eyes can help you be a better person. The Huffington Post recently talked about the importance of listening, and how our world leaders need to start listening in order to communicate more effectively.

The article talked about Barack Obama and how his whole campaign is focused on listening to the public and listening to world leaders. I think that no matter the candidate, the new president needs to adopt these policies. We can’t just be focused on what America needs. We have to focus on the global economy, which is suffering right now.

“I am convinced that we need a leader who listens, listens to the American people, listens to his/her advisers, and listens to the leaders of other countries around the world. If one can listen, truly listen, before taking action, the actions taken will likely be more beneficial to oneself and the world. I remember that Gandhi adopted a ‘day of silence’ once each week, perhaps to learn how to be a better listener.”

I can’t help but apply this my daily life. When was the last time you sat down with someone and actually listened to them without any distractions? No computer, no phone, no iPod. I can’t even remember the last time I talked to my friends and family without the tv or computer on… 

So I urge everyone to just shut up and listen. Turn off the tv, shut down the computer (after you read this of course), talk to your family and just listen. To everything. You’ll be amazed at what you hear.