Feeling ambivalent and strangely sad

Saddam Hussein is executed. He was hanged just before dawn on Saturday in Baghdad.

This whole ordeal is so fucken disturbing. Is justice truly served when one evil leader (Hussein) and his administration are removed by an another evil leader (Bush) and his administration?

I'm going to become a vegetarian

While watching CNN over the weekend about cloned animals, I made a vow to Kim Chee Farmer that when the day arrives in which cloned meat products are distributed and sold for public consumption, I would become a vegetarian.

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday formally endorsed the meat and milk from cloned cattle, pigs and goats as safe. Sales could begin within months.

Godammit. I didn't expect to be a vegetarian so soon.

Hungry polar bears are no fun

The Bush administration has decided to propose listing the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, putting the U.S. government on record as saying that global warming could drive one of the world's most recognizable animals out of existence. Rising temperatures in the Arctic are shrinking the sea ice that polar bears need for hunting.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials had concluded that polar bears could be endangered within 45 years. "We've reviewed all the available data that leads us to believe the sea ice the polar bear depends on has been receding. Obviously, the sea ice is melting because the temperatures are warmer."

Polar bears normally swim from one patch of sea ice to another to hunt for food, but they are not accustomed to going long distances. In September 2004, government scientists observed 55 polar bears swimming offshore in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, which was considered unprecedented, and four of those bears died. In a separate study that year, federal scientists identified three instances near the Beaufort Sea in which polar bears ate each other.

Dude, that's sick. We humans need to stop ruining the earth for other living creatures. Stop Global Warming Now! Hey, that could be a nifty t-shirt for 2007...

More ho ho ho at Hooters

That's right, bitches. Kim Chee Farmer and I went to Vegas over the Xmas weekend and stayed at Hooters Hotel for $44 a night. Sweet, huh?

Hooters was "delightfully tacky" and surprisingly pleasant. Our room was new and clean and the employees were cool. The best thing was while other establishments posed as Paris or the Pyramids, or whatever other simulacre they could conjure, Hooters was just... Hooters. The big owl is keepin' it real, man.

Here I am as a Hooters girl. A dream come true.

Simulacrum at its finest.

Happy Holidays!

DYY wishes you a wonderful holiday season!

Ho ho ho!!

A festive cross-dressing hooker in Echo Park.
Pictures courtesy of Tonkhero who literally turned his truck around and got out of his vehicle to snap a few pics of one of Santa's little ho.
Nice. Better than my karaoke pose below.

My karaoke pose

Singing Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?"
at Betty & Duane's Holiday Housewarming.
I'm sitting like such a lady.
Like Britney Spears-type lady.

Cry For You

I found an old episode of the Mickey Mouse Club featuring the very young versions of JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake and my crush Ryan Gosling (star of Half Nelson) singing one of my favorite Jodeci songs. It inspired me to whip out my Diary of a Mad Band cd...

Snow Globes and Politicos

I fear that I seem much more craftier than I am. That's not even my snow globe above. I am merely a wanna-be, an arts & crafts neophyte... but with a deep interest in projects of self-sustainment i.e. making your own shit in order to reduce corporate consumption. It's really hard not to be a cog in the consumer culture (especially for me!) but I think every little action counts. Soon, I'll be sewing my own clothes and harvesting coffee beans in my backyard. Okay, that's a lie. But if I could, I would.

Plus, it's just fun to mix arts & crafts with friends and alcohol.

Pictured above is my christmas tree ornament. It turned out to be a lovely colorful furry ball. Since we do not have tree this year, it's now hanging from the rear view mirror of my car.

It was such a surprise to arrive at Craft Night and see the gang there -- Blu-Tooth, Minnie Mouse, Tron, Lady Pun and the newest angeleno, Mkydy. I love how something so small has grown among my group of homies. I did not expect them as George and I arrived late after attending Mike Eng's Swearing-In Ceremony as the newest State Assemblymember representing the 49th District. I haven't been interested in politicians since college, but I love Mike. He's a solid, progressive leader. He's one of the few politicians that I would wholeheartedly support. In fact, if he asked me to precinct walk for him, I would, even though I hate doing that shit. Thank god he never asked.

If Mike ever asked me to be one of his political strategists, I would be on board in a heart beat and leave my job and everything. I doubt he would ask though since I have 0% experience. But it seems like something I could do and do well. It actually seems fun. Fortunately, I made George promise me that if he ever runs for an elected office, he would hire me as his strategist. Years ago, I also made my former roommate from law school promise me if she ever ran for political office, she would make me her campaign manager. Dude, you always gotta think for the future.

Snowman Puppets

Creations of DYY and WhyJaneInsane at Craft Night at Akbar.
Mine is named Stony the Snowman. Of course. The other one is Stony's very fashionable supplier.

I have been so domesticated lately. See above. Also, I have been baking cookies! Thanks to the 99 cents only store and the Pillsbury Doe Boy, I have placed and baked chocolate chip cookies, smores cookies and reeses peanut butter cup cookies all this week! And I don't even eat that shit! I make it for my loved ones. You know, to show that I care.

This is why I love the legal profession

or maybe it's the advertising industry that I should love. I can't tell anymore, both seem the same sometimes with their slick and deceptive ways.

World peace is possible

I love morning radio. I wake up to NPR/KPCC and delight in the short soundbites I hear before I snooze my alarm for another 6 minutes. My clock radio continues to stay on while I get ready for work. It has become part of my routine and like the ultimate nerd, I really enjoy it.

This morning I was elated to hear that world peace is possible.

First, the bully John Bolton resigned today from his short-lived tenure as UN Ambassador.

This news bring joy to my heart because the Bush Administration is slowly but surely crumbling.

Moral of the Story: Bullies never win.

Then I hear this crazy story about how Lionel Ritchie is LOVED by the people in Iraq. Apparently, when Lionel last toured the Middle East, warring factions set aside their differences to watch Lionel perform. The radio commentator playfully said, "Sunnis and Shiites have two things in common: their love for Allah and their love for Lionel Ritchie."

This brings joy to my heart because I too love Allah and Lionel Ritchie.

Moral of the Story: Lovers never lose.

Before there was Borat...

There was MAHIR CAGRI! Check out his fabulous website. Thanks to Lady Pun for the good find.

I also just watched the entire first season of DA ALI G SHOW... waiting impatiently for the second season to arrive via Netflicks. His show is so much better than his movies.

Sacha Cohen is my newest crush. I love him!!

Appalachian Art

So awesome.
I want one like this but with Judas helping me navigate my veggie car.
Like so many others, wondering where is Appalachia?
Check this to find out.

The corn industry is evil

Hey people... check it. My first post on BEHIND THE NEW WORLD ORDER. It's about the seedy underbelly of the corn industry.

Public Art

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Mural of Ole Dirty Bastard in Bedford-Stuyvesant

Art + Graffiti in Crown Heights

What's wong with my Engrish?

This ad haunted me throughout my travels in NYC.

St. Judas in the Big Apple

Judas riding on the train from Brooklyn to Manhattan

Judas in front of a correctional facility in Downtown

Judas at Washington Square

Judas on top of garbage on a Manhattan street

Judas befriending a hamster at K-Train's pre-school

Serendipity

DYY and Kim Chee Farmer in NYC at the same time...
total coincidence and lucky karma.

We're resting at a trendy tea shop on 5th Avenue and 14th, after a looooong walk through Lower Manhattan.

There was a DJ spinning techno at the tea shop.

Judas was into the 1s & 2s.

St. Judas in the house

Judas with his indigenous mule.

Literally. We brought Judas home from the local Good Will store in Ben-Stuy. Our favorite apostle blessed our offerings to the Lord.

Ritu's chicken curry

DYY & Duncan Hines' low-fat devil's food cake made with apple sauce

K-Train's black steam engine

my new BFF

That's right, bitches. I made a new Best Friend Forever. Meet K-Train.

DYY and K-Train checking out the Thomas & Friends exclusive website.

K-Train giving DYY a big morning kiss.
(and yes, I'm wearing a muu muu)

Boogie down in Brooklyn

Miss Ritu Singha (producer of upcoming movie, TRON -- watch for it) and I went to the Caddyshack in Brooklyn on Friday night. With this description from the Village Voice, we couldn't resist:

Sadly, there are no strip clubs for dykes in the city. If lady lovers wanted to see the gravity-defying acrobatics of pole-dancing, they had to visit a gentlemen's club. That is, until Cattyshack began featuring women working the pole, which is positioned on the bar with a red light for extra effect. Friday night's Cirrah party features the best of the lot. Hostess Aja announces each of the dancers, who saunter their way to the bar in occasionally elaborate, always shimmery ensembles from bikini tops to pasties. These ladies have a way of making you feel like every split and spin is just for you. They climb the metal with an ease that's almost unsettling and with just as much skill as any hair-swinger at the local strip bars for dudes. Just don't forget your singles.

We had a lovely time. Here are some highlights and observations:

(1) No matter what kind of club you are in, or sexual preference you may have, pole dancers are hot. No one can deny this.

(2) Race is deep, man. There is racial segregation in our cities, in our schools, in our workplaces... so why not at the local lesbian bar? The upstairs of the Caddyshack was occupied by all white women while the downstairs had all the women of color. The upstairs played 80s music while the downstairs played hip hop and dance music. Coincidence? I doubt it.

(3) Any bar that has a Ms. Pac Man machine is an excellent venue.

(4) We received major attitude from some of the women (particularly the ones from upstairs, maybe because we crossed racial lines?) for absolutely no reason. For reals, no reason. Hello, Ladies, what happen to sister solidarity? I love you bitches, you don't even know. Haters need to bring back happy in the gay...

(5) Why is it that every time I hang out with Miss Ritu, management tells us to shut up?

And why is it that we never listen and end up mocking them instead?? Ah, good times.

Day after Thanksgiving

Now that's HOT.

My Jet Blue Experience

As the week led up to my Thanksgiving trip to NYC, I was super excited for my first-ever experience on Jet Blue Airlines... admittedly, even more excited than my actual trip to NYC! I was looking forward to the leather seats, the extra leg room, and the individual tv on every seat!

The ride was definately a step up from the Southworst accomodations that I am accustomed to, but it really wasn't that much more spacious or comfortable. It's not like business class, though I'm not sure why I had expected it to be like business class. Also, I felt ambivalent about the TV, as it distracted me from my reading (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, a recommendation by both Josh and Jane).

Despite my ambivalence, I gladly watched Malibu's Most Wanted, starring Jaime Kennedy -- a movie which I would have NEVER EVER watched if not for the fact that I was stuck on a plane for five hours.

It's comedy about a rich white boy (Kennedy) who grew up in Malibu, but honestly thinks he's black inside. So the staff of his father's gubernatorial team considers Kennedy a threat to the campaign, and hires two "white" black actors to act "black", kidnap "black" Kennedy, and take him to "the ghetto" (South Central) to be scared "white". Of course, it doesn't quite work out that way because, as we know, racial politics just ain't that simple... so I'm sure you could imagine all the hijicks that followed.

Not only was it sooo stupid that it was funny, I was actually impressed with the movie's direction on issues of race, class and identity. I mean, the underlying message "to be yourself" is far from deep. In fact, I would testify that this movie does not add any value to the world whatsoever. But I do think the movie successfully tackled many sensitive and provocative racial topics and stereotypes with grace, humor and honesty. In other words, Kennedy and his crew pulled it off quite well. Believe me, I would have never expected it (especially with a movie poster like the one above). It was, indeed, a sweet surprise.

Damn, graphic artists are fast

The Women of Biodiesel

Women continue to rock.

If you've been wondering what to get that renewable energy fan in your life, look no further. The Women of Biodiesel is an illustrated calendar featuring idiosyncratic photographs of 12 women involved in sustainable biofuel production. Not only will it bring a smile to your face, but it serves as a sweet introduction to a community where people convert waste vegetable oil into fuel for their diesel Volkswagens, acting locally while thinking about the Big Energy picture.

We need a Southern Cali version! You know I would LOVE to model on the hood of my station wagon!

Grrrl Power

This is a great month for women. Britney and Whitney each filed for divorce from their good-for-nothing husbands. Representive Nancy Pelosi was chosen to be the next Speaker of the House. The janitors, particularly female janitors, in Houston prevailed in their month-long struggle for a better wages and health care. My good friend Khanum beat a penis-shaped pinata with a cricket bat at her bachelorette party.

There is still so much to do in pursuit of social and economic justice for women and girls... but for today, I feel so blessed to be a woman.

I feel so safe

Check this out. It's a series of safety posters designed by Department of Homeland Security to protect us from terrorism. As suspected, they aren't very helpful, but extremely hilarious when interpreted creatively. Below are my favorites:

If you spot terrorism, blow your anti-terrorism whistle.
If you are Vin Diesel, yell really loud.

If you've become a radiation mutant with a deformed hand, remember to close the window. No one wants to see that shit.

If your building collapes, give yourself a blowjob while waiting to be rescued.

Teacher, pick me!

When cultural appreciation goes terribly wrong...