Cancer Notice (NOT) from Johns Hopkins- and why it's awesome :)

Today, I came across the following information.  Apparently, this was originally sent through email, although I found it through Facebook:  (It's long, so I have lines enclosing the email text)
After the break... why JH is awesome!
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This e-mail is NOT from Johns Hopkins
August 11, 2008

A hoax e-mail on cancer has been circulating on the internet. Because this e-mail uses the Johns Hopkins name, we thought we would post a What's New to inform the users of our web page. The e-mail in question is pasted at the end of this Whats New. To learn more visit: www.jhsph.edu/dioxins and The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center News.

The hoax email in question:
AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY (TRY THE KEYWORD) AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHN HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY.

Cancer Update from John Hopkins

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's life time
3. When the person\'s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.
4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.
5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinaltract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.
11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.
12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.
13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body\'s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.
15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positivespirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to havea loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
16. Cancer cells cannot thrive inan oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

Cancer Cells Feed On:

1. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.
2. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinaltract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being starved.
3. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, e specially to people with cancer.
4. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts)and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).
5. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tapwater. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

(PLEASE FORWARD IT TO PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT)

CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL , U S - PLEASE READ

1. No plastic containers in micro.
2. No water bottles in freezer.
3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well.

Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer.

Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.

Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.

This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as CorningWare, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.

Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life.

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I think a lot of the information, in general, is good- eating healthy is always good! :) 

What is even more awesome is that Johns Hopkins not only put this email on their page to deny it's tied to them (and to point out the misspelling), but they went further and actually addressed the different points FROM the email!  How awesome is Johns Hopkins!!!

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Cancer Update Email -- It's a Hoax!

Updated April 2009
View Spanish Version of Statement

STATEMENT: EMAIL HOAX REGARDING CANCER

Information falsely attributed to Johns Hopkins called, "CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHN HOPKINS" describes properties of cancer cells and suggests ways of preventing cancer.  Johns Hopkins did not publish the information, which often is an email attachment, nor do we endorse its contents.  The email also contains an incorrect spelling of our institution as "John" Hopkins; whereas, the correct spelling is "Johns" Hopkins. For more information about cancer, please read the information on our web site or visit the National Cancer Institute's web site at www.cancer.gov.  Please help combat the spread of this hoax by letting others know of this statement.
Another hoax email that has been circulating since 2004 regarding plastic containers, bottles, wrap claiming that heat releases dioxins which cause cancer also was not published by Johns Hopkins.  More information from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Mythbusters:  Please help curb the spread of this hoax by sending a link to this page to individuals that forward you this email.

The Truth about the "Cancer Update" Email

It has become such a problem, that the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, and individual cancer centers like the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have posted warnings on their Web sites. Emails offering easy remedies for avoiding and curing cancer are the latest Web-influenced trend. To gain credibility, the anonymous authors falsely attribute their work to respected research institutions like Johns Hopkins. This is the case with the so-called “Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins.”
The gist of this viral email is that cancer therapies of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy do not work against the disease and people should instead choose a variety of dietary strategies.
Traditional therapies, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, work. The evidence is the millions of cancer survivors in the United States today who are alive because of these therapies.   We recognize that treatments don’t work in every patient, or sometimes work for awhile and then stop working, and there are some cancers that are more difficult to cure than others. These problems are the focus of ongoing cancer research.
We’ll go through each statement in the email hoax and provide real responses from Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center experts.

Email hoax contentions #1 and 2: Everyone Has Cancer Cells

Cancer is a genetic disease resulting from a variety of mutations and alterations either inherited from our parents or, more commonly, acquired over time due to environmental exposures and behaviors, such as smoking and poor diet. These alterations turn off important cell growth regulators allowing cells to continually divide unchecked, explains Luis Diaz, a clinician-scientist in Ludwig Center for Cancer Genetics. This type of cell is called a malignant or cancer cell.  Among the trillions of cells in the human body, inevitably everyone has some abnormal or atypical cells that possess some of the characteristics of cancer cells, most resolve themselves and never result in cancer, says Diaz.
There is no single or standard test for cancer. There are ways to screen for certain cancers with tests such as colonoscopy for colon cancer, mammography for breast cancer, PSA for prostate cancer, and the Pap smear for cervical cancer, and these tests can detect cancers in a very early and curable stage.  For many cancers, there currently are no screening tests, and they are diagnosed when they begin to cause symptoms.
Diaz and other Kimmel Cancer Center researchers are working on new tests that detect abnormal DNA shed by cancer cells into blood and body fluids and have the ability to find cancers before they cause any symptoms.  Approaches like this could lead to a broad-based screening test for cancer.
Tests like these also are being used to detect cancer recurrences and malignant cells left behind following surgery, and can find cancers that are not detectable under the microscope or in x-rays.
Other researchers are studying cancer stem cells.  They are stealth cells that make up just a tiny fraction of a tumor.  While small in number, investigators believe they may be the cells that drive certain cancers and lead to cancer recurrence. Therapies that target these cells are now being tested in clinical trials.
A team of our breast cancer researchers has developed a method that could make it possible to detect breast cancer from the DNA contained in a single drop of blood.
But, while evasive cancer cells are a challenge and the focus of ongoing research, it does not mean, as the email contends, that all patients, even those treated successfully for cancer, have cancers-in-waiting—undetectable but still there.  People are treated and completely cured of cancer everyday.

Email hoax contention #3: A Strong Immune System Destroys Cancer

When it comes to cancer and the immune system, it is not a matter of strong or weak as the fictional report contends, but rather an issue of recognition.  "The immune system simply does not recognize cancer. In its complexity, the cancer cell has learned to disguise itself to the immune system as a normal, healthy cell.  Cells infected with viruses or bacteria send out danger signals setting the immune system in action.  But cancer cells do not, explains Elizabeth Jaffee, co-director of cancer immunology and leading expert on cancer and the immune system."   By deciphering the methods cancer cells use to make them invisible to the immune system, Jaffee and team have developed cancer vaccines that have successfully triggered immune reactions against prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, and multiple myeloma.

Email hoax contention #4 and #5: Cancer is caused by Nutritional Deficiencies and Supplements Will Correct Them

Dietary habits and lifestyle choices, such as smoking, contribute to the development of many human cancers, says Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson. Our experts recommend a balanced diet (see response #11) as a way of reducing cancer risk.  In terms of supplements, Nelson points out that while they may help mediate vitamin deficiencies, taking doses above what the body needs provides no added benefit.

Email hoax contentions #6, 7, 8, 9, and 10: Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Harms Normal Cells. Surgery Causes Cancer to Spread

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy kills cancer cells with remarkable selectivity, says Nelson.  There are some temporary and reversible side effects common to cancer therapies, including hair loss and low blood counts.  Limiting and managing these side effects is an integral part of treatment.
Surgery is the first line of treatment for many types of cancer. It does not cause cancer to spread. Cancers spread to other tissues and organs as a tumor progresses and cancer cells break away from the original tumor and travel through the bloodstream to other body sites.

Email hoax contentions #11, 12, 13, and 14: Cancers Feed on Certain Foods

The premise is that cancer cells feed on certain foods, and if a person refrains from eating these foods, the cancer will die. According to our experts, a poor diet and obesity associated with a poor diet is a risk factor for the development of cancer.  However, there is no evidence that certain foods alter the environment of an existing cancer, at the cellular level, and cause it to either die or grow.
While there is such a thing as tumors that produce mucus, the mucus made by a tumor does not result from drinking milk.  And, eating less meat, while a good choice for cancer prevention, does not free up enzymes to attack cancer cells, explains cancer prevention and control expert Elizabeth Platz.
Moderation is key, says Platz. As part of a balanced diet, sugar, salt, milk, coffee, tea, meat, and chocolate—the foods the “Update” calls into question—are all safe choices, she says.  The real concern with many of these, particularly sugar, is that it adds calories to a diet and can lead to obesity, and obesity is a major risk factor for cancer. A balanced nutritious diet, healthy weight, physical activity, and avoiding alcoholic drinks may prevent as many as 1/3 of all cancers. Platz recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day and limiting red and processed meats, like hot dogs.
Several Johns Hopkins experts participated in the World Cancer Research Fund - American Institute for Cancer Research report Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective, published in November 2007, which is considered by cancer prevention experts to be an authoritative source of information on diet, physical activity and cancer. Their recommendations for cancer prevention and for good health in general are:

1. Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.
2. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.
3. Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods (particularly processed foods high in added sugar, or low in fiber, or high in fat).
4. Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes such as beans.
5. Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.
6. If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and 1 for women a day.
7. Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium).
8. Don't use supplements to protect against cancer.

Our experts recommend that people meet their nutritional needs through their food choices. While vitamin supplements can be helpful in people with nutritional deficiencies, evidence suggests that supplementation above what the body can use provides no added health benefit.

Email hoax contention #15: Cancer is a Disease of Mind, Body, and Spirit

Cancer is a disease caused by genetic alterations.  Many times, these alterations occur through our own behaviors—cigarette smoking, a poor and unbalanced diet, virus exposures, and sunburns, says cancer prevention and control expert John Groopman.
How stress, faith, and other factors influence this is largely unknown.  We would like people to be happy, loving, and stress free, simply because it is a nice way to live and can contribute to an overall feeling of well being, says Platz.  There is no evidence, however, that a person prevents or causes cancer based on his or her state of mind.
Still, we understand that a cancer diagnosis can make patients and families feel stressed and anxious, and these are not pleasant feelings.  So, we offer extensive patient and family services, including a cancer counseling center, pain and palliative care program, chaplain services and a meditation chapel, an image recovery center, and the Art of Healing art and music program.

Email hoax contention #16: Oxygen Kills Cancer Cells

Platz recommends regular exercise as a part of any healthy lifestyle, but says there is no evidence that breathing deeply or receiving oxygen therapy prevents cancer.
On its Web site, the American Cancer Society includes the following statement about oxygen therapy, “Available scientific evidence does not support claims that putting oxygen-releasing chemicals into a person's body is effective in treating cancer. It may even be dangerous. There have been reports of patient deaths from this method.”  Read more
Please pass this information on to family and friends.

Questions?

Contact:
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center
Office of Public Affairs
410-955-1287

Laptop Lunches

Laptop Lunches- Bento boxes

So, this is a random post (I'm obviously trying to get behind on my work.... See the picture at the bottom of this page)...

I love bento boxes.  I'm not so good about MAKING them (damn $4 cafeteria lunches!), but I love the idea of them, the look of them, the nutrition of them, and the making of them.

You can buy traditional Asian bento boxes from places like H-Mart and other Asian markets, but I also like how we now have "American" counterparts.  Pottery Barn kids has one, but I really like the company Laptop Lunches.

Why? 

1. Unlike Pottery Barn's boxes, you can move around and take in an out the compartments.  Even with traditional Asian boxes, I don't always find this (or I have to go to different sites and the like).

2. Their webpage and blog is AWESOME!  Besides having lots of cute products, Laptop Lunches' webpage has a ton of menus... and they are all flexible to Americans!  (yay!)  As in, they have menus with leftovers and vegetarian and for holidays and seasonal- it's great!!

So, random article and plug, but when I see a product I like, I like to share it!!

Ciao, ciao!

Oh- here's that picture I was talking about... to give you an idea of what I do :P

Picture fun

Home, DC Auto Show

Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy

Yesterday I got to (finally) see the movie Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy.  I've been wanting to see this movie since last Nov; although I gather that it didn't actually get released in full (in the U.S.) until this month.  

It was a very good, very British film.  It's a Cold War drama, very unapologeticlly so, and was quite fun to go back to a film so into that time period.  There is no hints really to our current time; it was quite refreshing to see everything in the bi-lateral power system that was present during the Cold War.  

It's taken from the book by the same name, written by John le Carré, who wrote many Cold War spy books, focusing on the MI-5 and 6.  His style is to take the same genre as the James Bond type stories, but bring in more complexities.  As in, his dramas are more psychological than black and white spy thrillers.

I personally love this.  On the downside, you can leave this movie not feeling like everything is 'right.'  But, I haven't seen a movie in a while that was quite so realistic- and so 'just so.'  As in- this is how it was and is and that's that.  It's not perfect, but it's reality.  And it's how we all live.  It's taking a very complex situation and bringing in the personalities- you can see how the personal decisions, perceptions, paranoia, weaknesses and loves affect great histories.  I love that complexity.

I recommend the movie highly, although you may want to know going in that it's not an action film like MI:4 and it's British and so can move at a rather timed pace.  (I haven't read the book, but I'm going to guess the flashbacks may have been added to lively things up a bit... hmmm, I now need to read the book and see for myself)  You may also want to refresh yourself with Cold War history a bit, although I suppose you just need to know about the Soviet bloc.

On a more superficial side, I LOOOOVE all of the actors in this film (in this film, but anyways).  I also love how Benedict Cumberbatch's hair is blonde.  He looks soooo different! (I personally like it more)  I also love all of the film locations and the camera angles were superb.  More than anything, I just love it being the cold war drama.  There was such a style to this type of drama and the world was so... interesting. :P  But, I think that the film reflected very well how much little things really impacted every day life in Europe during this time...

Film rating: A+

Some photos from my new camera

Here are two pictures I took over the holiday!  (I'll try to get more; most of my pictures are family and I don't want to post those here)

Presents and Cookie Monster!

Amazing chicken for New Years Eve!

New Year Resolution

I have re-installed Blogger on my phone (HTC EVO 3D- love it!) and have a new resolution for 2012- to read and write a book review every 1-2 weeks.  (we'll see how long this last; I don't have the best track record for these things)

Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch

I have TONS of books in my library and need to start finishing them!  I start reading and love my books, but seem to switch before I finish!  So, hopefully, this will help focus my reading.  Plus, I think reading is more fun if you can then talk about what you liked or didn't like about...

I have added a book list to the side of my blog so that you can see what I am currently reading.  I tend towards a lot of historical stuff, but I'll mix in some fiction in there too.  I'm excited actually- I have a Nook (OMG- this has TOTALLY re-energized my reading!) and you can get ebooks for free if the copyright has expired (over 100 years old).  So, I have tons of classics to read or re-read.  Plus, Barnes and Noble gives you free books every week and there is a mix of good and bad in those... This will be fun!

My husband is awesome

I got my Christmas present early!
Nikon D5100

Flying with baby

I'm SUPER excited- we are going to Jordan THIS MONTH!!!  It's been 3 years since we were there and this will be the FIRST TIME I will be there in SUMMER!!!  I won't freeze- yay!

Yummy food in Madaba, Jordan

So, right now we are finishing shopping for everyone (and some stuff for us) and then packing and making a schedule. It makes SUCH a big difference to pack for summer rather than winter!  I'm almost done and it's only 3 bags!  Weight is still an issue- as in, my bags are not bull, but they are at 50 pounds-, but I amazed by the room.  We will probably still do 4 bags though- I need the space for Baby Z's travel high chair.

We are flying Turkish Airways to Jordan this time- this is my first time with them and I have heard great stuff about them!  I'm pretty excited- just look at their food choices!  That's their special needs section- with baby, we will be all set; although I'm still bringing our our food- just in case.  But, it's nice that it's all Halal and it's nice that they have all of the special diet stuff.  Baby Z has some allergies now and we don't want to take any chances!!!

Felafel sandwiches in Amman, Jordan

Otherwise, it looks like their flight entertainment and services are pretty similar to other international airlines (non-U.S. airlines).  Yes, I'm a flight snob, but I really find that non-U.S. airlines, when it comes to in flight entertainment and services and comfort are GREATLY better than the U.S. carriers.  But, I know Delta just updated their fleets, so maybe it's better now.  (last time I flew Delta was direct from Amman to NYC and it was an older plane with the TV screens at the front of the cabin- not cool!  And last long flight (over 8 hours) I did for United was to China and my TV screen - along with some others- were broken going over there; they canceled my flight to Shanghai and didn't tell us until we got to the airport, put me automatically on a flight for the next day, and I had to work with them because I was only going to be in Shanghai for like a day before flying up to Beijing (I did a flight to Beijing --> Shanghai which got me in about 3 hours latter than my original arrival, but they also could have put me through the routes IAD--> Tokyo--> Shanghai; IAD--> SFO--> Shanghai; or IAD--> Atlanta---> Shanghai because ARE YOU REALLY NOT GOING TO WORK WITH SOMEONE DOING A 13 HOUR FLIGHT?  You'd think the dates would be important!!!)  Anyways, I don't think I've flown American Airways overseas- they may be a redeemer because I have liked their U.S. domestic flights.)

*end of U.S. plane rant*

So, the other interesting thing about this flight will be flying with a 15 month old baby.  :)  My biggest worry is that she won't sleep enough.  12 hours would be normal, but - as the flight is only 10.5 hours to Turkey- I don't think that will happen.  I would be happy if she did at least 6 hours straight.  We have a 3-ish hour layover in Istanbul and then go to Jordan where we get in around 9 pm.  Which, will be good in that I can (hopefully) get home and get her into bed by 11 pm or so.  She usually sleeps well, but only sleeps in her bed or her car seat.  I'm hoping we can either lie her down on our laps or the floor to sleep or that she will fall asleep easily with the movement of the plane. 

Ajlun, Jordan

I will be going to her doctor tomorrow to check that she doesn't have any ear infections and to see if they recommend anything to help her sleep (ie, Tylenol or Dimetapp) if she doesn't go down easy.  I figure, worst case, she will cry for about an hour before exhausting herself to sleep.  (Yay, people next to us!)  I've heard of people who bring 'treats' for the people around them; what do you think?  I haven't decided if I should do that or not.

Otherwise, I'm excited for this trip because 1. it's summer 2. we get to see family and everyone can meet baby Z 3. I get to go to more sites that I haven't seen in Jordan.  Like ACTUALLY GOING INTO THE DEAD SEA!  It's funny- I have been to Jordan 2 times now (we try to go every other year, but it's been 3 years since I was pregnant and all) and have gone TO the Dead Sea both times, but only to the hotels to eat and have coffee and hang out.  I'm determined to TOUCH it this time!  The other big tourist thing I haven't done yet is to the go to the Citadel in Amman.  I also want to go see the old train stop; I know, odd request, but I think it's really cool. :)

Yay- Jordan!!!  I'm soooooooooo excited!!

Men in literature (and how it effects women in literature)

I think men are often put on a pedestal in literature.  Even if they are seen as doing something wrong, they are - in the end- upheld as an example of what a good person should be.  Which, by itself is not necessarily a bad thing, as stories usually go through a character's personal development through growing from mistakes.  But, I see in so many places a relationship of the men with women that show the male 'superiority' that it is slightly troubling to the feminist in me.  Perhaps realistic, but still troubling.

In the end of many stories, the women of the story approve and acquiesce to the man with implied superiority.  I think it's very subtle, and may pull on a woman's feeling that they are never perfect.  But, in looking at men of the story, it is like you can point to the man as an ideal person who can guide women.  The men go through their ups and down- as do the women of the story- but, in the end, the men is still ahead of the women.  The woman wants the man to say something witty about them.  The women expects the man to provide for her/her kids/his family.  The women accepts that her role is by said man.

I think this is true, even when the women has her own career in the story.  Or even if the women makes more money than the man.  I'm reading The Cookbook Collector now and so far one of the women is more successful than her boyfriend, but still 'leans' on him as the more secure, strong and -almost by default- knowledgeable person of the two.  The written words say otherwise- the boyfriend in the story thinks that the girlfriend is smarter, etc- but the actions seem to lean towards this natural imbalance between men and women.  Sure, they figure that the women have their own lives/careers/etc, but the men is still the leader of the relationships- good or for bad.

So, is the male/female role something that is inherently imbalanced?  I just read the transcript from 28 February's "Tell Me More" show on NPR. Besides the fact that I love NPR and agree with most opinion pieces like those from Michel Martin, I think that she brings up a great point on the imbalanced worthiness of news stories based on the audience they 'apeal' to.  Why can't news shows talk about fashion- particularly given the amount of time we talk about rather 'male-specific' things on the same shows?  Particularly since fashion is a mult-billion dollar industry that effects millions of workers and billions of people? (I mean- everyone wears clothes, right?)  But, it's not just about talking about fashion- it's about giving value to topics based on the perceived idea that they are 'girly' or 'manly.'  And the idea that something 'girly' is unvaluable, but 'manly' things have value.

Even if it's 2 men beating the cr@p out of each other for sport. 

New Year's Update

Hello!  My sporadic writing is still.... sporadic :P

I have actually started a Tumblr account that you can find here.  Tumblr is great; it's kinda' like a blogger's Twitter.  You re-post stuff from your followers and can post text, pictures, quotes, etc.  I think I can also hook my different blogs and such together through this site, so that's nice!  

I'm trying to write a bit more and have found that Tumblr's format makes it a bit easier, but perhaps I'll try to still use this blog for long posts and the Tumblr one for shorter ones...

So, how am I doing on my New Year's resolution?

House
*Paint Master bedroom - nope
*Paint Guest bedroom - nope
*Clean out closets - nope
*Organize basement - nope

(I should have put in organize main level- I did that!!  And a REALLY thorough cleaning!)
Clothes
*Get rid of clothes that don't fit/don't wear/old and worn - nope
*Buy essentials - nope
I really would like to develop a 'style'- right now it's so scattered.  I would like to look put together and invest in a few really nice pieces instead of a bunch of crap.

(working on the 'style' thing; Tumblr is great for collecting images and thoughts! :))
Me
*Regularly trim hair - hmmmmmm; really need to make an apt
*Style hair in morning (ha!) - actually have started doing this fairly regular!
*Treat skin right - yep; amazing, huh?  Well, I'm using lotion better- I need to wash my face at night
*Cut down on sweets (1 a day?) - ehhhhhhh
*Read at least 1/2 hour a day - not every day, but working on it
*Study Arabic at least 1/2 hour a day - I swear, I'll start next week! :P