For some reason I forgot that I was leaving Tuesday and not Wednesday for NYC for work and spent the day rushing around trying to get two days of prep work done in one. But since I've ventured into the world of mature women and got my fake nails, one of the critical things was a visit to the nail shop. I didn't realize how tense I was until Jimmy kept telling me to relax as he prepared my nails for a more natural look (which doesn't include broken or chewed on apparently).
Finally, in desperation, to distract me, Jimmy asked what I did and then exploded into a riff on teachers and culture. Listening to him expound on his personal experience of learning English and going to school, I decided that the real experts in this world are the people we take for granted: Jimmy, my nail guy who thinks in English now and rarely talks in his mother tongue, Sami, the girl at the drive thru at McDonald's who makes sure you got Diet Coke and a straw while her kids are at school, Tammi who cleans hotel rooms and has 7 kids- her only boy is in trouble again with the police and she's moving to the country to change his environment. Nobody listens to them or what they've learned about the important things in life. Nobody says, "Here's a guy who dropped out of high school his senior year because he was bored and lost and who loves his current job." Or... "Tammi understands what it's like for a teenage boy to cave under the pressure- even when he knows the consequences." Or... you want to talk health care? Sami's youngest has asthema and they don't have health care. A trip to ER for a breathing treatment wipes out all the money she's saved this month. I need to spend more time listening, I decided.
In the 70's and 80's there was a management system based on listening to the experts on the job talk about their job. I've read recently that we no longer think that is an effective strategy and are returning to top down leadership models. Was it really not effective or was it that we didn't want to change based on what the guy tightening bolts had to say needed fixing? Was our ego so caught up in what we thought was wrong that we couldn't acknowledge the person below us? How often do we begin telling someone what we think before they're done talking?
As I begin three days learning about how people think from another kind of expert I feel myself getting tense again. I can hear Jimmy saying, "Relax. Relax. If you're doing something that makes you happy, it'll all work out- in spite of the side trips you take." No bad life advice....
A couple of years ago, I was mesmerized by a funky Korean reality TV show that featured a new band, 200 days after their debut, being woken up weekly by a host with video cameras and a variety of tricks. From the first episode to the end of the second season, I watched, totally fascinated, in spite of the lame concept. There was something so... engaging about the premise. Since then, nearly four years later, this same group is incredibly hot. SS501 is getting thousands of hits a day on my asian media site. I still listen to their music fairly regularly, but I can't tell them apart when they're not in pjs! (Mostly bc none of their music videos were subbed and finding translations to their lyrics was nearly impossible, so I just loved their sound).
Here is part of that first episode that captured me so completely... SS501 awakes to doing whatever it takes to become famous.
Now... they're very very hot and I wonder if they're counting the cost of fame in their exhaustion...
In the meanwhile... they keep doing whatever it takes... whenever it takes it...
truly worth the SS (Super Stars) in their name...
SS501
Super Stars- 5 for 1 for eternity
What would you do to be famous?
I don't think I'd let a film crew film me sleeping!
Holy COWWWW!!! I leave for NYC TOMORROW NOT WEDNEDAY~
Can't believe I messed that up.
Thank goodness for automatic reminders to check-in!!!
I've got big dreams but no self-esteem, you know? I'd reach for the stars but I can't find my arms All this time we've accomplished so much Why can't I believe why can't I just feel love?
Goin' away leavin’ today you've gotta find a brand new hero I let you down when you're not around you know I can't be trusted with anything All this time we've wanted so much to just belong why can't we just feel love? Goin’ away leavin today you've gotta find a brand new hero What will they say when I've gone away? Gotta find a brand new hero...
I've been here a long time and while there are others who have been here longer, I find it interesting that no matter how many times I've been tempted to shut it down and walk away, I haven't. And now I'm glad I didn't. Started because I was stuck and needed an outlet, even after all this time, I still tend to work out my writer's block and frustration here.
I think it's because writers need readers. Nearly as many people read here weekly as the actual number of new books sold by the average new author who published traditionally. Isn't that amazing? Seriously... even though most of them never comment, they stop by faithfully and read. If you multiple that number by five years, that's a big number of readers. And I'm not the only one with that kind of readership. In fact, my readership is fairly low here compared to my asianmedia site which averages double or triple that amount weekly (with no comments). If you look at the more popular xangans, their counts are as high as the number of books J.K. Rowlings has sold internationally over the lifetime of their site.
Being here has given me a voice, a place to play, and a community. I"m grateful that I've not left- but more importantly- I'm glad you haven't left either. Thanks for being here- day in, day out... when I'm moody, frustrated, irritated, grouchy, or just fighting demons. Thanks for being supportive, encouraging, and believing me in me. Thanks for educating me, loving me, and laughing with me. Thanks for letting me share my love of Asian media, my love of toys, and most importantly my love of people here without tearing me down or belittling me. It's rare to find a place where one belongs... it's a rare gift indeed.
Come back as often as you like, and comment if you feel like it... or if you have something to say, but know either way, I appreciate you- friend, reader, supporter, encourager, cheerleader, demon killer.
Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men? It is the music of a people Who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart Echoes the beating of the drums There is a life about to start When tomorrow comes!
Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Beyond the barricade Is there a world you long to see?
Then join in the fight That will give you the right to be free!
Will you give all you can give So that our banner may advance Some will fall and some will live Will you stand up and take your chance? The blood of the martyrs Will water the meadows of France!
Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men? It is the music of a people Who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart Echoes the beating of the drums There is a life about to start When tomorrow comes!
A six-storey £20 million pink-tinged palace in Shanghai has become the world's biggest Barbie store in China. Tens of thousands of Chinese fans turned out to welcome Barbara Millicent Roberts, or "Ba Bi Wa Wa" as she is known in the country. After a number of delays, Barbie's new 37,000 sq ft home opened which is poised to be the world biggest ever store and is supposed to help capture the massive Chinese Market.
Eating disorders, feelings of insecurity, playing at dating and other "adult type" relationships, inferiority complexes, dissatifaction with ethnicity, body shape, hair color, etc... yeah... let's take all the negative female issues, tie them to a plastic doll who doesn't look like a real human being, give her expensive clothing and toys, perfect friends, and a beautiful if somewhat incomplete boyfriend, and then... let's market her to girls around the world.
In her dream world, with her choice of careers, Barbie is supposed to let little girls pretend that they can accomplish their dreams, attain anything they want, but in reality, most girls will never look like Barbie (unless they have surgery and starve themselves), and while they can accomplish anything they can dream (for the most part), it takes hard work, real support, an education, and a determination to make the sacrifices Barbie never had to make (being pretend, plastic, and unrealistic). Barbie's not meant to live a quiet life in a modest setting with real satisfaction. No... Barbie is about consumption... more cheap clothes that don't fit well, more accessories, more fake little animals, more vehicles, more houses, and even... more Barbies. If you're growing up poor in an affluent society, you're already struggling with want-or-need, and when your friends at school have twenty barbies, one seems like a miracle.
A spokesman for Mattel, which manufactures Barbie, said: “Barbie allows girls to dream that they can be anything they want to be when they grow up. Barbie is not modelled in human scale and we will continue to talk to girls and mums and monitor their opinions.” From Times Online about a study showing young girls were dissatisfied with their own bodies after seeing pictures of Barbie.
While Mattel continues to remodel Barbie so she looks like more of a teenager (so that current fashions fit- not because they see a problem with her image- thank you Brat dolls), and adds more careers and ethnicity to the Barbie line, I worry. Already the pressure to look "American" (meaning white, blond, and sexy) is heavy- eye lid surgery so you have American looking eyes, American brands, straightening your hair, dyeing your hair, bleaching your skin all help you fit the wish list of American looks (not that most of us look like than either). And Mattel has Asian Barbies (with double eyelids, I think) but if you look at the Shanghai store pictures, they are promoting the white skinned, blond haired Barbie and she's the one the little girls want.
Exactly what is the role of a doll in a young child's life (the under 9 crowd)? Is it to let the child pretend to nurture? Good luck nuturing a Barbie doll with all her pointy parts. Is it to expand her world and let her try on new experiences? Then let her have multicultural dolls and dress up clothes so she can learn early to love the different. Is it to allow her a voice in a world where few listen? Exactly what can Barbie let her say? What does a child under 9 have to say about relationships, dating, clothing, and accessories that she can't say with other toys?
Toys are a way into the adult world, but Barbie tends to bring children too soon into the shadier, sadder side of adulthood. Many feel that to give Barbie any bigger role than that of a desirable toy is wrong and are quick to put the blame on the parents or society for the image of white perfection that Barbie promotes. Of course that's true, but have you ever tried to ban Barbie from your house? She sneaks in! (Mcdonald Happy Meals, Birthday parties, gifts from well meaning family friends).
One can counter-act Barbie by providing your child a loving, accepting home where who you are matters more than what you look like and what you do is more important that what you own. You have to do that, but what if... what if you just grew up playing with Barbies and your mom grew up playing with Barbies and no one thought about the message behind the doll? What if... she's the hottest thing to own in a country where consumption had been outlawed until recently and no one sees the damage she can do? What if... Barbie pink becomes The Color... ok, so I'm joking about the Barbie pink (kind of), but it's at least worth talking about the concerns here. Let's teach our children that they are beautiful, inside out, imperfections and beauty marks, crooked smiles and heartfelt tears, for being silly, loving, and perfect as only God can make them. And, I guess you can buy them Barbies, not that I will- she's not the only toy choice out there. There are plenty of others that don't come Barbie pink...
From one of my earliest xanga entries.... a long time ago... revisiting it now because it's the motivation behind my newest character's meltdown....
The Chorus.... translated.....
You are always gonna be my love Even if someday I fall in love with someone else I'll remember to love, you taught me how You are always gonna be the one Now it's still a sad love song Until I can sing a new song.
You will always be inside my heart Cause I have a place there just for you I hope that I have a place in your heart too Now and forever you are still the one Now it's still a sad love song, Until I can sing a new song. ~Utada Hikaru
So talk to me. Tell me about your first love and if you still have a place in your heart for him/her.
Is it still a sad love song or do you have a new song to sing?
They keep saying we could have one more big snow.... I hope not!
I'll go out and take spring pics today... maybe... maybe even a few of the inside for you! We have flowers up, but they seem so randomly placed to me!
I have lots of perfect work areas in the Hobbitry, but I tend to work right here on the second floor, sitting on the floor, leaning against the futon, with music videos blaring.
Today is... water aerobics and finish the children's writing book for work....
then I can file a couple of reports and begin on something of my own.... the new screenplay is begging for some attention!
NYC in 9 days, Alexandria, VA in July (hear that poet? You will come rescue me at least once???) ....so I'm working some!
For some reason I forgot that I was leaving Tuesday and not Wednesday for NYC for work and spent the day rushing around trying to get two days of prep work done in one. But since I've ventured into the world of mature women and got my fake nails, one of the critical things was a visit to the nail shop. I didn't realize how tense I was until Jimmy kept telling me to relax as he prepared my nails for a more natural look (which doesn't include broken or chewed on apparently). 
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