C-SPAN Junkies

sunlitx

Subject:	Teen Goes to Prison for Nooses
Time:	9:45 am.
Mood:	disappointed.

Teen Goes to Prison for Nooses

It's weird to admit, but I am torn on this decision. As a student of government, a citizen of the U.S., and yes, a black woman, I feel like the government has a responsibility to protect the freedom of speech. After all, without appropriate valves for expression, the resulting unrest will cause the loss of innocent lives.

But then, to what extent does free speech become a legitimate death threat? Where are we supposed to draw the line? I mean, these are nooses, a symbol of black oppression and terror; and goodness knows how we feel about terrorism in this country. Was this young man expressing his opinion about the protest, or was he trying to suppress the speech of his fellow Americans?

Drawing the line at the wrong place has proven to cause a terrible state for everyone involved. Not responding to any threats result in grief for those who must constantly live in fear. Of course, those who are fearful also lash out and may not necessarily hit those they are aiming for. Innocent people are most often collateral damage. If we stop everyone from speaking, then we get environments where everyone must be subservient or shot. People with unhealthy opinions don't get the opportunity to put them out into the air and perhaps be gently persuaded to take on a better frame of reference.

I don't want white supremacy to be forced into the shadows. Although I do enjoy the popular condemnation of it, to push it out entirely won't extinguish it nor will it even weaken it. It will simply make the world more insidious with secret enemies ready to overcome me at my lowest moment. Life is hard enough without all that.

All of this also begs the question: What the hell do these kids have to do in Georgia?! For God sake, buy them a skateboard. Give them some basketballs. An arcade. Something! Well nurtured children have less time to spew vitriol at strangers. Teenager have angst and they need somewhere to express themselves. If the only venue in Georgia is racism, then the problem extends well beyond the racism itself. This child, who is now prison bound, is also a victim of the idiotic environment that raised him. Somebody, somewhere did not take responsibility for his emotional well being and now here he is in the public's notice for something as simple and stupid as nooses. Do I deny his ability to choose his own fate? Absolutely not. But someone should also point out that his parents didn't give him many weapons for his logic arsenal either.

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sunlitx

Subject:	Moving Along
Time:	7:08 pm.
Mood:	blah.
Music:	"Homecoming" by Kanye West.

Work:
Friday I asked my boss for a raise because I would be working fewer hours in the fall. She said that wasn't a good enough excuse for a raise. I reminded her that she told me that she couldn't give me a raise because I worked too many hours before the summer started. She tried to get me to work at C2 in Fullerton, but I told her that I would prefer to get another job for my Tuesdays and Thursdays.

But really, I want to get another job for all days of the week. Do I love my job? YES. Absolutely. I love the kids. I love teaching all the different things... Hell, sometimes the schedule fluctuation is nice because I never get bored. It's the perfect job for me right now. But I can't be demoralized. I can't take abuse, do twice the work as others, and then settle for less pay.

Yesterday they had me work as an instructor and as the secretary. They gave me one admin hour even though I lost two hours of my time, but they didn't just cheat me. They cheated those kids out of their money by making me their phone monkey while trying to teach them something. I have no problem with doing this from time to time, but if they're not paying me any extra WHILE I'm teaching to man the phones and do paperwork, why should I?

Management has sensed my ethics and devotion, and have used it against me. They underestimate my ability to try to play harder and/or walk away. My resume is far from ugly. My abilities have been well honed over the past 9 months. And quite frankly, I know students complain when they're not in my class. I won't be shy about telling them that I'm quitting and why I'm doing it. Management can get upset at me, but I'm under no legal obligation to not compete with their services (thank you, California).

Relationships:
The Committee has interrogated the Victim. I feel like he's done well, but I can't be sure until sometime next week. In any event, I'm feeling a lot less anxiety about my love life because I know I have the greatest support system ever. There's no such thing as a sure thing, but there is such thing as beautiful, wonderful friends. I feel so very wealthy and blessed.

Home:
Still excited about going home. I really can't wait to see those beautiful mountains and kiss the faces of my loved ones. I am a little bit nervous because thinking about going home makes me think about how much I miss my grandfather. I'm afraid I left a bit of my grief back in Texas and that it's going to be there to greet me at the airport. Even so, my heart says I have to go home and my head knows when to listen.

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naniwa

Subject:	Moving in.
Time:	8:01 am.
Mood:	anxious.

Just moving into my new digs. Relatively quiet neighborhood in NorthEast Tokyo (imagine where the East Tokyo United from Giant Killing is based out of... yeah!). There is a liquor store across the street and a western snack stand next door (fried foods and yakisoba for almost nothing). It's nice but man do I get a ton of light. I need to get some curtains fast.

Oh and is it me but does anyone else get a Yosaku Godai feel from this video. I dont have the hentai that he had (yet but today is the start to comiket) but the narrow hall, the small desk and bed taking most of the space... I like it.

Comments: Read 4 or Add Your Own.

sunlitx

Subject:	Work and Crazy Ideas
Time:	11:47 pm.
Mood:	sad.

Today at work I had to say good bye to my kids because I will no longer be returning to that location. "Mean" boss is not comfortable around me (she says) and is going to have whoever she can work in my spot.

The kids were kind of sad, but they were warm and wonderful. They asked if I could visit again, and I said yes, but not in the near future. I brought them all root beer in a glass bottle as a treat and managed to successfully irk people who thought that it was actually alcoholic. The kids got a kick out of it to. Most of them wanted to save the bottle caps and the bottles after drinking them. Their appreciation for little things like that made it especially poignant for me. Although I'm happy to be out of "Mean" boss' control, I hate leaving them behind to deal with that crazy dictator without another adult as a buffer (at least one that isn't scared of her).

In the mean time, I am waiting on some sort of conference between the bosses to discuss work place conflict. Hopefully this will result in some effort at team building and reconcilliation... or something even better, but since I am supposed to be a Christian or something I'll pretend I really want that first thing.

In other news, I applied to a job in Ilsan, Korea as an SAT instructor. I mostly did it as a way to leverage a raise, but now I'm actually considering it. I just got a request for an interview time. The job would provide room, board, airfare, and a $2000 a month stipend. That would make me immensely happy. I would pay off my debt/save money while traveling and getting to know a new culture. They may want me to start in the fall, but I'm trying to arrange to start in the Spring as I have already bought my plane ticket to go home in November for Thanksgiving.

It's only been a year since Peru, but I feel like now is the time to see everything I want to see before I go to grad school or get married. Picking up and leaving again is scary and difficult, but not impossible if I take care of myself.

I think I'm crazy.

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sunlitx

Subject:	Nice Boss, Mean Boss
Time:	7:24 am.
Mood:	pissed off.

( Dinosaur Comic: How to Dump Someone )
Work pissed me off yesterday. The secretary, who's been instructing me on how to my job while consummately managing to fail hers, pulled two students from my class and effectively cancelled my class because the kids didn't feel like having class and then taking the SAT. I got pissed and went to the gym. "Nice" boss showed up and started cleaning up, but by then I'd already prepped for 5 students I didn't actually have and had lost 2 hours of work. I asked to have admin hours so I can do some of the secretary's jobs to stop future disruptions. Admin hours are less than my normal rate of pay, but you can't put a price on things like "sanity" and "not killing the secretary."

Talked to "Nice" Boss Yesterday:
- Reg. Coor. is having a meeting with her and "Mean" boss.
- Mean boss cut my hours because I make her "uncomfortable."
- "Nice" wanted to confirm accusations about "Mean."
- After Tuesday (today) I will no long be returning to "Mean" boss' location. All of my hours have been taken over by another teacher.

Michael Phelps is a DA MAN.

No new news from the Committee. Mostly because they have lives. Go "having interesting friends"! Anyway, I'm too distracted/pissed to feel particularly rushed in this matter.

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greggums

Subject:	Screenwrite Andrew Klaven in the Washington Post
Time:	3:42 pm.

Good article on conservatism in Hollywood. Read the whole thing. An excerpt:

"Whenever I raise these issues in public, someone says, "Well, Hollywood's all about money. They just make what sells." That sounds like cynical wisdom, but it's only half true. Artists want love, praise and respect, which money represents but which can also be found in reviews, awards and good publicity, almost all of which encourage leftist distortions and teach us to respond to plain speaking with outrage."

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sunlitx

Subject:	Scared Bosses and Stolen Bras
Time:	11:00 pm.
Mood:	weird.
Music:	"The Metro" by Berlin.

So the following happened today:

- I tried to talk to my mean boss at my nice boss' behest. I was freaked out about the entire thing, but I sat down and wrote down a list of things I wanted to address, and then I completed my work early and waited. I sat outside my boss' office from 5:30 to 6:40 while she talked to 1 family about a 6 year old. When that kid was out (the parents practically fleeing) I asked her to talk.

Her: May I help you?
Me: Can I talk to you?
Her: Well, I have a conference right now.
Me: What time is it over?
Her: Uh. Well. I really don't want to talk to you because you walked out on me. I really don't have any more to say to you.
Me: Okay. Thank you very much. *smile*

So, I tried to sit down and have a civil conversation with her about the other day and she refused. I was slightly surprised, but she had confirmed my characterization of her: if she doesn't like what you have to say, she shuts you out. Listening calmly to my concerns would have been totally out of character for her... And after realizing that I would no longer stand to be abused, she was even a little bit scared. I've tried the appropriate channels, so now matters are out of my hands.

So I go for a post work swim. It was nice. It was after the aerobics class, so it still reaked of gross oldness, but I didn't want to back out. So I swam for half an hour. Then I return to my locker, get out my clothes, and hang them on the hanger just outside the shower.

When I try to dress, I realize that my bra is now gone! I half dress, drape the towel over my upper half and check and recheck the locker to make sure I didn't leave it behind. Nope. No bra. I check the trash cans in the locker room (maybe somebody saw my crappy old bra and made a judgment call). No bra.

I throw my bikini top into the bathingsuit dryer (still awkwardly clenching the towel) and dry enough so that I can wear it out. I go to the front desk and meekly ask if any articles of clothing have been turned in. Of course, they make me specify and I have to confess that it's a bra. And of course, there is no bra.

I am so SICK of the stupid ass kleptos at my gym! There are so many thefts! And it's always the things I worry about least... like say a stupid library book or a 9 year old bra (yes, I am also admitting the puberty was woefully disappointing). But these things which are of little value to others put me at a great incovenience! I had to pay $15 for a library copy of the book plus a $5 processing fee. And now, I just had to deal with the indignity of asking a complete stranger if they've seen my bra. MY BRA!

Oh well... At the very least the multi-colored bikini top only looked vaguely slutty under my white camisole.

I love that gym, but the people that go there are super ghetto.

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