Well, so much for Chanukkah blogging.

Yeah, sorry about that. Rabbi Michael Lerner has an interesting take on that, too. Chanukkah is still going on, right? Only the first night was on xmas? Well, maybe I'll get to it later this week. NPR's Hanukah Lights special was very good last year--I don't know if it's the same every year.

In other news, there is a War on Muppets going on, and we have to fight any way we can. Please, click the link to "Savethemuppets.com" and sign the petition.

And if you feel up to it, you might want to write to Disney, who owns the Muppets but clearly has no clue how to use, value or nurture this valuable cultural asset. A 50th Anniversary tour was planned for Kermit this year, but after only 2 of the 50 planned stops, it has been cancelled, and Disney execs "didn't think the public would notice." (this info I read originally on tvguide.com but cannot currently find there...current link is to muppetnewsflash blog)

There are somethings being done well on the Muppet front. Case in point, the reissuing of original Muppet shows on DVD (first season, complete with pilot and test real is out now). Previously there was an issuing of "Best Of" Muppet show episodes from each season (these are currently out of print, but if anyone comes across a cheap used one, please do contact me! The Season 5 DVD has the episodes for Steve Martin, Gilda Radner, and the Emmy-winning Carol Burnett episode which is just great! Like a Muppet Concept Album.) Fraggle Rock DVDs are coming out now, too.

On the other hand, let us count some of the crimes against Muppetkind: "Muppet Wizard of Oz," the last Muppet Xmas special, and to a much lesser extent, "Muppets from Space."

Not all recent Muppet ventures have been regrettable (shining examples are "Muppet Christmas Carol" and "Muppet Treasure Island") but maybe the lesson is that at some point we have to accept that the future cannot be like the past and at some point we can only be stewards of our cultural heritage rather than active participants. For example, I think that's the problem with religious fundamentalism: it just doesn't make sense to literally interpret those texts! It's time to move on and look for other ways to find meaning and value in our lives--ways that are not fundamentally superstitious or knowledge-fearing. And simultaneously we can value and cherish the stories and the lessons that *are* applicable, and the historical roots.

That's one of the things I do like about Rabbi Lerner's co-opting of religion (ok, that's not the best description, but bear with me for now): he's looking for--and finding?--ways to honor and value traditions and culture, while adapting them to an understanding of the world that takes into account the things we as a species have learned since the Abrahamic texts were written. Or take the Dalai Lama as another example: his latest book concerns reconciling the Buddhist
understanding of the world with the modern scientific one. Not throwing either one out, but seeing how they can co-exist.

- posted by k @ 12:30 AM

 
Talk amongst yourselves....I'll give you a topic

The True Meaning of Christmas is:

a. Celebrating the birth of Jesus, a wise man and philospher.

b. Celebrating the birth of Jesus, the son of god who died for our sins.

c. (courtesy of Rabbi Michael Lerner): "There is a beautiful spiritual message underlying Christmas that has universal appeal: the hope that gets reborn in moments of despair, the light that gets re-lit in the darkest moments of the year, is beautifully symbolized by the story of a child born of a teenage homeless mother who had to give birth in a manger because no one would give her shelter, and escaping the cruelty of Roman imperial rule and its local surrogate Herod who already knew that such a child would grow up to challenge the entire imperialist system. To celebrate that vulnerable child as a symbol of hope that eventually the weak would triumph over the rule of the arrogant and powerful is a spiritual celebration with strong analogies to our Jewish Chanukah celebration which also celebrates the victory of the weak over the powerful. And many other spiritual traditions around the world have similar celebrations at this time of year.The loss of this message, its subversion into a frenetic orgy of consumption, rightly disturbs Christians and other people of faith."

d. Presents! Loot! Shopping!

e. Spending time with family (of origin)

f. Spending time with family (of choice)

g. Family feuds

h. Ritual and tradition

i. Music and lights, tinsel

j. A big dinner with turkey or ham

k. A big dinner with lutefisk

l. Baking and baked goods

m. Chinese food

n. Booming business

o. Slow business

p. A day off

q. A day with overtime

r. A breach in the separation of church and state

s. An attack on people of faith by secular humanists (*gasp*)

Tomorrow: Chanukkah blogging!
- posted by k @ 12:15 AM

 

- posted by k @ 6:41 PM

 
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- posted by k @ 6:36 PM

 
Happy Festivus, Everyone!

• Had plenty to blog about on my mind, including my trip to Union Square yesterday and some fascinating bizarre things I learned on Wikipedia yesterday (ok, one example: did you know there is such a thing as Pakistani black metal music? I'm not sure I believe it)

• BUT I am leaving in about 20 mins for the airport, so no blog for you.

• Feeling pretty much unprepared (and prematurely premenstrual), but needing some sort of break. I could really use 4 days not working and not going anywhere. Oh well.

• Packed a heavy book in my suitcase only to find this morning that I won't need it. D'oh. If I could have checked my email at home I would have known. But between my lame-assed dial-up and my laptop spazzing out, no luck.

• This frequent spazzing-out of the laptop really worries me, but Zone Alarm didn't find any viruses. Why is my CPU usage always between 90-100%? What is going on?

- posted by k @ 2:37 PM

 
Health update:
Seems like those sick people I told you about are mending slowly, or at least not getting worse. Let's just hope that we all have the sense to rest when we need it. As for myself, sinuses feel fine today, thanks for asking. Maybe they were reacting to the change in weather? The bad news is I now have one of those zits you get in your ear. Don't you just hate those? Oh, and I remembered to take my multivitamin today.

The Weather:
Still rainy, temps forcasted in the 50s and 60s, which makes it a little warm to wear my peacoat, though it is a very good thing to wear against the rain. I am noticing that all this temperate humidity is making smells more smellable. When this happens in the spring, it is a good thing because a lot of the smells that are around are flower and growing plant smells. However, currently I am getting a lot of wet dog and old B.O.-type smells emerging from my sofa cushions.

In other weather-related news, Happy Belated Solstice! I think it was yesterday, or maybe the day before.

So, many years ago I decided to observe the Spring Equinox by sending or posting a poem that summed up a Spring sentiment (originally there was one by a Bronte sister I liked, then some by Housman--though he can be a bit broody for Spring--and Hopkins, and most recently Tagore). This last couple of years I have tried to do the same with Fall.

So, given that we had this Solstice thingy yesterday I decided to see what I could find. You know what? No one really likes winter as far as I have found. The few poems about winter at best describe it, but never celebrate it. Most winter-related poems I found were about hunkering down, or otherwise coping with the cold and precipitation. Even the pagan celebration of the Winter Solstice is about the rebirth of light in the darkest times--it's not really about enjoying the dark or cold. Which makes sense, I guess, if you consider that the environment that we are adapted to is mostly not cold and dark and that we need flowering plants to survive. (if anyone out there knows of a cultural variation in which the dark and/or cold are celebrated, please do let me know) (and here's a fun list of winter holidays)

So, here are a couple of winter poems:

ORCHARD TREES, JANUARY by Richard Wilbur

It's not the case, though some might wish it so
Who from a window watch the blizzard blow

White riot through their branches vague and stark,
That they keep snug beneath their pelted bark.

They take affliction in until it jells
To crystal ice between their frozen cells,

And each of them is inwardly a vault
Of jewels rigorous and free of fault,

Unglimpsed until in May it gently bears
A sudden crop of green-pronged solitaires.


A GLEE FOR WINTER by Alfred Domett (1811–87)

HENCE, rude Winter! crabbed old fellow,
Never merry, never mellow!
Well-a-day! in rain and snow
What will keep one’s heart aglow?
Groups of kinsmen, old and young,
Oldest they old friends among;
Groups of friends, so old and true
That they seem our kinsmen too;
These all merry all together
Charm away chill Winter weather.

What will kill this dull old fellow?
Ale that ’s bright, and wine that ’s mellow!
Dear old songs for ever new;
Some true love, and laughter too;
Pleasant wit, and harmless fun,
And a dance when day is done.
Music, friends so true and tried,
Whisper’d love by warm fireside,
Mirth at all times all together,
Make sweet May of Winter weather.

On that note, I had some people over for board games last night. I often worry that the games will detract from actual talking and getting to know people, but my impression was that the game actually helped promote interaction among people who didn't all know each other. I had a good time, anyway--a couple of times I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. But the winner, far and away, was Trader Joe's frozen Mixed Berry Streudel. High scores on taste, texture, freshness, ease of preparation and low price ($2.49). How can you compete with that?
- posted by k @ 11:00 AM

 
Weather:
More rain today. Apparently there's a high surf advisory and someone on the radio said "That means don't go down and look at the waves, even though I know everyone will." ??? Which--of course--made me curious. So here is a webcam view, so you don't endanger yourself watching the waves: http://cams.exploratorium.edu/CAM2/

The temperatures have definitely been more comfortable since all this rain started and I certainly appreciate it. If anyone is doing a survey, I prefer a couple months of mild temps and rain to cold and dry. Funny, I realized today that I've been living here so long it no longer strikes me as odd that we should have spring-like weather in the winter.

Health:
Well, the flu people sounded a little better last night, or at least one of them did, and there was not-worst-case scenario news from the hospital person, so that's good. I wonder if they'll be past the contagious phase by the time I get down there?

Oh, look! An edutaintional mah-jongg game from WebMD about moods. What I like about it is the lack of obnoxious drug company ads and the emphasis on less alcohol and caffeine and more exercise, sleep and vegetables. There are certain people I might pointedly direct this information toward, but I am cutting back on nagging. For now.

Myself, I seem to be struggling with some kind of sinus dryness/pre-headache, which is very odd when you consider the weather. Maybe I need to start taking my vitamins again, or maybe I'm not drinking enough water?

And I've also got the munchies...bad! I can't believe it's not time for lunch yet. My leftover broccoli-and-vegi-"chicken" is calling me.

This morning the bagel boy overcharged me and when I told him he corrected the mistake and gave me $1.25 back, which I am afraid is just about to fly into the vending machine downstairs. Sometimes I swear it's like I just take money out of my pocket and light it on fire.

Ok, and as a reward for reading through all this dreck, here is a review in which Roger Ebert just HATES a movie: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051122/REVIEWS/51120003/1023 and in fact he disliked it so much even continued to trash it in his review of another similar movie: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051220/REVIEWS/51214002/1023
- posted by k @ 11:33 AM

 
I didn't really feel anti-xmas before, but yesterday I came into work and found a gift from one of my co-workers. Homemade chocolate chip cookies with walnuts in a festive-but-hip tin. She had made some for everyone--the cute tins were all over, including on my boss's desk. What a slap in the face!

I was not planning to give my co-workers or boss gifts because I didn't think I really knew them well enough, but I had thought perhaps I would do a little baking this week if I had time. I don't have time! WTF was I thinking??? Now I have to come up with *something*. I would hate to get something cheap and impersonal, but I think that is all I have time and resources for. So I will feel like a shmuck: "My regard for you can be translated into a $5 Trader Joe's gift card."

And let's not talk about xmas cards. I was planning to send a few thoughtful messages to people I want to stay in touch with, but if I'm including professional contacts my list is about to spiral out of control.

This has all made me realize that a War on Christmas just isn't enough. No. What we need is a Jihad on Christmas. Unfortunately, I am now too busy buying lame gift cards to launch one (also I don't want my blog to be mysteriously unavailable).
- posted by k @ 5:56 AM

 
The Weather
Lots of rain this weekend (3 inches), even a little thunder. High winds (up to 60mph).

Everyone's Health
Of my immediate family, 3 members are in LA right now. Of those, 2 have the flu and one is in the hospital. The fourth non-me member is due to arrive there Weds evening after her finals. My flight is for Friday, but I wonder if I shouldn't head down sooner so that someone without the flu or jet lag can take charge.

I don't know. What do you think? Vote in the comments section.
- posted by k @ 11:23 AM

 
Oh sweet jeebus.

I seem to have left my headphones at home. That means I have no way of blocking out my kvetchy co-workers and no way of making it look like I'm too busy to talk to the chatty ones. I don't see how I could possibly get anything done today. Oy vey.

The good news is that I am able to stream Capitol Public Radio (from Cal State Sacramento) over my little speakers. Can you believe there isn't a public classical station closer than that?
- posted by k @ 11:20 AM

 
In case anyone was wondering...

There seem to have been 3 Muppet Christmas TV Specials:

• A Christmas Together with John Denver 1979(I haven't seen it, but I heard the soundtrack this weekend and it was charming)
• A Muppet Family Christmas 1987(I've seen this long ago and I think it was pretty good) featuring regular Muppets, Sesame Street and also Fraggle Rock characters, which leads to the indelible scene in which the Swedish Chef thinks Big Bird would make an excellent entree.
• It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie 2002(in the "It's a Wonderful Life" mold. I've seen it--it had its moments)

And of course the feature film The Muppet Christmas Carol 1992.

In exciting Muppet-related news, IMDB reports that a Fraggle Rock feature film is in production and (apparently) scheduled for release in 2007! Likewise a Dark Crystal sequel , but I can't imagine that going well. Jim Henson is gone, and now Jerry Juhl, the main writer for the Muppets is gone, too. I saw his obit in the Chronicle in October. We just won't talk about the Muppet Wizard of Oz, ok? It's not representative.

- posted by k @ 11:14 AM

 
And let's not even talk about the "War on Christmas"
because I will vomit.

I'll let Jon Carroll explain it to you:
"Some ignorant people have decided that "Xmas" is part of the "war on Christmas," which is an ill-defined but fiercely held belief that secular cultural forces have combined to make Christmas less meaningful. One proof of that is the phrase "happy holidays" -- and if you'd told me a decade ago that I'd live in a world where "happy holidays" would become a flash point of controversy, I would have asked for a damp washcloth and nine Valiums.

I am unable to discern a war on Christmas, at least Christmas as I have known it. There are sparkling lights and little bells and jolly Santas and yule logs and Christmas carols and creches, creches, creches. In the supermarket, I am enjoined to come and adore him, born the king of angels, and I do not believe that they're singing about Santa -- who, as the Christian St. Nicholas, was a rather less jolly fellow than he is now. I do not notice who is wishing me "happy holidays" and who is wishing me "merry Christmas," because the operative words for me are "merry" and "happy," and for those thoughts much thanks. "

And here's another perspective, from someone's blog:
"If you see me in the next few days and I say “Happy Holidays,” keep in mind that it’s just a platitude and a formality, okay? If you want to make a big deal about it, I’ll be happy to let you know what I really think. "

• And while we're on the topic of xmas, I remembered that I would also enjoy receiving a Manu Chao CD, whether his first solo one (Clandestino) or an official copy of Proxima Estacion: Esperanza with liner notes (I've about listened a hole into my pirate copy).

In other news, the heat for the system wasn't working when I came in and someone emailed us all that the building tech people were on leave and the person filling in was really busy, so I thought "Great! Maybe our boss will decide it's too cold and send us all home early with a full day's pay" but the heater is now making noise. Ah, well.

Today's Friday Five question is really waaaay out there (thanks's Gord!), so I probably won't do it, but maybe I will make up my own question and answer it.
- posted by k @ 12:04 PM

 
Vaaat. ? You vant I should post every day? Meh.

If you're really wondering why I don't post more or about significant or interesting things that happen in my life it's because a) I start drafting elaborate posts in my head which are too long to actually type and b) some of that is none of your business! Plus I'm not 100% sure of who my audience is (if there is one out there...you'd never know from the comments) and it has to stay family friendly since

In other news, apparently Patti LuPone is in a revival of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd in which all the actors double as musicians--there's no band, pit or otherwise. And Ms. LuPone plays the tuba which it turns out she played in high school. In our playbill last night (for another show--another story) there was a picture of her with the director and a rather shapely tuba. (btw, Sondheim himself didn't do the reorchestration but seems to approve) Newsweek interview here. Broadway.com story here.

Oh and another update to my xmas list:

• State quarter display thinger. I would prefer something kind of flat and plain, but elegant. I don't feel the need for there to be a US map like some models have.

Hey! I just got a call that my City CarShare application was approved. About damn time. Stupid state of Illinois, taking so long to send my records over.

- posted by k @ 10:17 AM

 
I guess as long as I'm blogging I could do a Friday Five:

here's the question:It's getting close to New Year's Resolution time (at least it is as I'm posing the question), and that's got me thinking about having better habits. What are five things you think you should be doing every day but aren't?brought to you by Dan.

Ohh...I don't want to answer that. Bo-rrring! Where are all the weird questions with aliens and virtual reality and really long intros from Gord?

Ok, ok.

1. Workout regularly (not necessarily daily, but at least 3x/week).
2. Make a prioritized to-do list in alignment with my personal mission statement (daily). Fer reelz! And make a budget (weekly/monthly).
3. Cook home-made food.
4. Stay in touch with and arrange to spend time with friends (weekly basis, again, not daily).
5. Make contacts for jobs and grad school.

Please note that these are not my actual resolutions.
- posted by k @ 4:08 PM

 
Well, thank god for tea, anyway.

I don't know how people ever got from 3pm-5pm without it.

Actually, come to think of it, those two hours are pretty useless in general and are probably bringing down the economy. Perhaps I will write to my congresswoman to have them abolished.
- posted by k @ 4:02 PM

 
Random thoughts

Ohmygod is it only 10:30? I feel like I've been at work for hours and hours.
I brought some CDs in today because I thought it would help me stay on task if I had some music playing. Listening to NPR online usually works well, too, but lately I've had a lot of trouble connecting at work. Someone is hogging a lot of bandwidth doing something and I'm not entirely sure it's work-related, but neither is NPR, so I don't complain (esp. since I wouldn't know how to figure it out and what to do about it).

In other news, I think I would like to add to my xmas list below:

• A nice pair of grey pants. I know it's hard to clothes shop for someone remotely, but if anyone is feeling really ambitious, my size is 33"(w) x 30"(l). Just regular, solid grey pants that a person could wear to work, probably with creases. I like pockets, but I'm not talking about cargo pants here.

Surya gets home from Nicaragua today! Yay!

So it's not lunchtime yet? How about now?

- posted by k @ 10:36 AM

 
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed this article from Salon.com (ok, you have to watch an ad to see it, sorry):

The Jesus symbol, the witch and the wardrobe
The religious right is hyping "The Chronicles of Narnia." But just how Christian is C.S. Lewis' masterpiece?
By Laura Miller

"Dec. 7, 2005 These are antsy days for anyone who has loved C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia." Even people with unambivalent memories of the series have reason to be apprehensive about the new big-budget film of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." How often has the screen version of a magical world you passionately entered into as a child lived up to your own imaginings? But those of us who fell for Narnia without realizing the books' Christian subtext have particular reason to be unsettled. The movie is poised to flush us out: Can we still cherish the books without believing in their most obvious message? Will we still enjoy them after critics remind us of their flaws and unsavory organizations embrace them as pious family fare? Will we still feel like reading them to our own kids?"

My thoughts and fears exactly, only more cogent and articulate than I would have put them. I guess that's why we have professional writers.

You can also follow the links at the end of the article to some fascinating other articles, like one about the personal and professional friendship between Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein, and one on Tolkein and Romanticism vs. Enlightenment philosophy by David Bain. I thoroughly enjoyed both of those also, but I am not posting the links here because I value your productivity, even if you don't!
- posted by k @ 5:18 PM

 
2:15pm.
Sudden overwhelming desire for cheese, esp. in quesadilla form. Does Trader Joe's (across the street) have string cheese? Should I go there? Vending machine downstairs has cheese-flavored products. Should I go there? This probably isn't a mineral deficiency. I had a vitamin this morning. It could be a protein issue, but I seriously doubt it. If it's a protein issue, I do have some hummus here.
- posted by k @ 2:24 PM

 
This week had World AIDS Day and a huge storm in the Bay Area, which would have been interesting things to blog about, given the title of the blog. But instead you get:

My 2005 Xmas list (first draft)(ooo, I feel so greedy and materialistic. now decide what you're going to get me):

• Set of 2 5lb and maybe 3lb hand weights for exercise
• Simple, inexpensive, but sanitary and decently sturdy containers for spices and staples (flour, besan, rice etc.) Need not be too big!
• Tea kettle? (electric or conventional)
• Flash drive (or equivalent; brand name not important as long as it's reliable)
• Franklin Covey planner refill sheet set ("classic" size, "original" or "simplicity" flavor). Franklin Covey PlanPlus 3.0 software (30% off when you buy the planner sheets, so the planner sheets are effectively free). They have a version to use with Outlook and a non-Outlook one; I would be OK with either one.
• "Light-duty" printer
• Netflix subscription?
• Singing the Living Tradition/Singing the Journey?
• A piano-comparable-size electric keyboard (lots of buttons not needed!)

I don't want/expect to get all of these things, I just wanted to make your life easier by giving you options. I also have a partial wishlist on Amazon (under "p k") but if you can find those items at your local bookstore or through Powell's, I would really appreciate it.. I happily accept "coupons" if they are sincere and personal. Actually I will happily accept pretty much anything if it is sincere, personal, thoughtful and positive. Sweaters in approved colors and socks/booties are also welcome .

- posted by k @ 3:59 PM