For me to poop on!

Dear Senator McCain:

Are you fucking kidding me?

Love,
Jennifer Myszkowski

p.s. Shut the fuck up about Joe the Plumber.

(Aside to SNL: Please feature Joe the Plumber Saturday night.)

Cycle of poverty

My pal Josh Shear has a great post today about poverty.

In my previous job at a hunger-relief agency, we talked regularly about the cycle of poverty. I remember taking a group of potential donors on a tour of the facility and talking about hunger and poverty. This one lady started yammering on about how when she was a younger mother, she made all their food from scratch and went on and on about why can't the people who are hungry make their food from scratch too.

I waited until she was done.

I asked her if she worked when her kids were young. No.

But someone in the house worked? Yes, my husband.

Oh. Hm. I see. And you had money to buy groceries? Yes.

And you had a kitchen with working appliances? Yes.

Did you have pots and pans to cook with? Yes.

What about cooking utensils? Yes.

And did you know how to cook food? Yes.

Pretty soon, she had a different outlook on the situation.

I think that's part of the problem among people who are doing okay. They think, "Well if I can, so can they." One thing that people fail to notice sometimes is that they are just a couple paychecks away from the soup line themselves. It's just a matter of circumstance.

When I was interviewing for the job at the hunger-relief agency, they asked me what the root causes of hunger are. That's a heavy one to spring on a person, and certainly one I didn't have a definitive answer for and still don't. But what I ended up talking about is how I happened to learn how to properly shake hands, a necessary skill if you're trying to get a job, for example. I learned how to speak appropriately to other people, including bosses and peers. I can't exactly say how I learned these things, but I did and they've come in handy.

I was coaching someone before an interview a number of years ago. I started asking the tough questions you dread, but have to be prepared for, for example, "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" The person had not really been employed many places outside food service at the time, and said, "They're not going to ask that."

I said, "Yes, they are."

The person said, "No they aren't."

Pretty soon, the person was storming out of my apartment and days later called to tell me that they had, indeed, asked the question. The person told the interviewer that s/he didn't have any weaknesses.

S/he didn't get the job.

Education counts for a lot, sure, but so much of being successful in America is about these "soft skills" that are hard to quantify. Knowing how to speak in sentences, answer questions, finesse situations, shake hands, etc., makes the difference between working in an office for a decent salary and working at Burger King for minimum wage.

There isn't one answer that will solve the poverty problem in this country. Government programs help - if they're accessible to people and if the people are willing to use the services. Sometimes the fear of stigma is enough to keep a person away from services. No one wants to eat a meal that came out of a silver can that says, "USDA Pork" on the side of it. No one wants their friends to see that can in their cabinet.

It's tricky, poverty is, but we can make a difference. We just have to start.

Another link to another place

At the risk of becoming one of those blogs that just links you to other places, I'd really like you to read this essay by Garrison Keillor on Salon.com.

It's about the bailouts. It's not long, and it makes valid points you'll wonder why you didn't make yourself. And then you'll remember you work for a fortune 500 company and you may have bought into the bailout bullshit by accident.

Oops!

I got this essay via e-mail. I stopped reading Salon 'round about the time I stopped wanting to watch ads to read quality content (while at the same time not being willing to pay). Maybe I'm going to change my mind about that.

White privilege

May I recommend this essay by Tim Wise? My friend Fernio Iglesias sent it to me via e-mail and I found it online for you so I could share it. It's really startling and enlightening, and yet also so obvious I can't believe I didn't articulate this myself. Please read it, if you have a moment to get angry.

Talking about white privilege is one of those things that scares the living bejesus out of cracker-ass white people. I admit to being uncomfortable with the subject myself, which isn't really all that cool to admit as a bleeding-heart liberal. Whatever. Facts are facts.

Anyway, it's worth your time, that essay.

An open letter to Ed O'Reilly

Dear Ed O'Reilly:

I'm all for the democratic process -- really, I am -- but you have got to step aside.

I know it's not fair. I'm sorry. But if you took Kerry's senate seat, Massachusetts would be fucked. Like, for real.

Here's why: Ted Kennedy is knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door. Heaven forfend, but facts are facts. If you oust John Kerry, we'd end up, in effect, with two junior senators (although one would be a senior senator on a technicality).

Do us all a favor, would you? Get the hell out of Kerry's way. We need someone with pull pulling for us in Washington. Kerry's got it. You don't. You might have it some day, but you don't just yet.

Now, when Ted bites it, I'm all for you running for the open seat. I'm not going to work for your campaign or anything because, if your Web site is any indication, you're a bit of a clown, but I wish you godspeed in your quest. In the meantime, I'm throwing my spare time behind getting you the hell out of the race come primary time in September.

Please take the extra time you'll have now to hire a writer who has some marketing acumen to rewrite your Web site. Sweet God! Your pandering is so obvious that it's painful to read. You're going to have to get better at subtly playing to the crowd if you want to win Ted's seat.

Sincerely,
-Jennifer Myszkowski

Compassion where I least expected it

Scott and I watched American Experience: George H.W. Bush last night and tonight.

To be more precise, Scott watched last night's program while I slept through about ¾ of it. We watched the second and final episode tonight.

I always welcome an opportunity to develop compassion for someone, particularly when it's a person I don't like. I don't often turn up liking them, but I enjoy understanding their point of view a little better.

This program was so well done that I wrote an e-mail to the producers telling them so the moment it was over (about 10 minutes ago) and I'd like to encourage you to see it if you haven't already. Check your local PBS listing for a rebroadcast date.

Of course they glossed over some serious problems with the Bush 41 presidency, and that's to be expected in a piece like this, but they showed him in a very human light -- a light I don't think he ever showed himself in. It was a refreshing change of scenery.

Also, in my head, I've lumped the George Bushes together, but George H.W. was no moron. I have a decidedly different world view, by and large, from him, but he made every move with deep thought and he acted with the courage of his convictions.

Old Dubya acts with the courage of his convictions too, but I don't think he's had a deep thought in his life. They actually showed a photo of Dubya and H.W. together in the oval office and Dubya was smirking and acting a fool and H.W. was super classy.

I suppose this will be no surprise to you, but I was weeping openly at the end of this program, so much so that the Count had to do a little mocking. I can't say I blame him.

Anyway, I recommend you watch this program if you can catch it.

Thank you and good night.

Listen to this

I heard this NPR story Thursday morning about how people are planning to vote in Houston. Listen to this and you'll hear a little piece of my childhood. Listen particularly to the woman who says she grew up in a Christian home. You'll know you got there when you feel your blood boiling and an undeniable rage welling up inside you.

Now just imagine that times about 100 and told to a young person nearly every day in church and at home.

Welcome to my world. Is it any wonder that I turned into me?

Nerding out, Count style

Super Tuesday is wrapping up and the Count just can't stop counting. I tried to get a photograph of him doing his math and what have you, but he kept goofing around. Instead, I took a photo of the stack of notes he's making so you could get a glimpse into his world.

Early in our relationship he told me, "My favorite math is probability."

My favorite nerd is Scott.

Interesting aside: Margaret named Scott the Count before she even knew he had a favorite math. She sure does know how to assign a nickname.

'We are not as divided as our politics suggest'

Now that my man Kucinish is out of the race, I don't know how I'm going to vote tomorrow. I've been getting letters from friends encouraging me to vote for Obama. One sent this very compelling MoveOn video.

His "Yes We Can/Si, Se Puede" message is powerful. But it's really Cesar Chavez's message from years ago. What's funny is that I heard a story on NPR about how Chavez's United Farm Workers endorsed Hillary Clinton.

And of course because I linked you to it earlier you read the NYT op-ed by Gloria Steinem about Hillary. I think Steinem makes the most compelling argument to vote for Hillary of all that I've heard.

A colleague said something to me to day about how he's voting for Obama because Hillary is dishonest. He said, "She's a politician; we need change."

Um, okay. But actually what we need to get out of this fucking quagmire Bush has snared us in is a politician.

Also, as you may know I majored in Political Science back in the day. I had a professor who said that to get elected to any office outside the city council, you have to lie, exaggerate the truth, minimize the truth, or just keep your actually views to yourself. Politics requires "creative truth telling." It's an unfortunate fact.

Everyone's got a seedy underbelly. Barack hasn't been around long enough to show us his. Hillary's been around long enough to show us about 10 different shades of her seedy underbelly. I wonder if the devil we know is better than the devil we don't?

But then there's Ann's McCain loving neighbor putting an Obama sign on his yard. That's a powerful statement.

I want a message of hope. I want someone who can rally the people and excite them about what we can do. I don't want the hawkish bullshit. But then, I absolutely want an experienced politician who knows how to run a show to clean up the fucking mess around here.

What's a girl to do?

I'll decide in the voting booth.

Primary season

Me: You know what would be an awesome ticket?

Scott: Me and you?

Ha!

I'm still voting for Dennis Kucinich in the primary because I absolutely have to, but I'd like to draw your attention to a New York Times op-ed that completely changed my mind about Hillary Clinton.

I wasn't expecting that. I hope she makes it to the general election.

Mini-break in Brattleboro

I had been on vacation since before Christmas, but we never left and went anywhere. I felt like it was the longest weekend ever. Since I was returning to work on Wednesday, it was time to do something. I needed to get the hell out of Dodge, so at the suggestion of my good friend Ann Podolske, Scott and I stayed overnight Sunday at the Latchis Hotel in Brattleboro. It's a little more expensive that the Econolodges to which I've grown accustomed, but it was well worth it.

The room was nice and clean and comfortable had linens made of cotton and furniture made out of wood. The shower alone made the whole thing worth it. I only wish I had discovered it before 10:30 a.m. (check out was at 11).

The hotel is attached to the Latchis Theatre. We saw two films: P.S. I Love You and Charlie Wilson's War.

P.S. I Love You was actually terrible. That I cried at one point fills me with such embarrassment, so much so that I can't understand why I'm mentioning it now. I need to give a hearty hats off to Richard LaGravenese, the director, who took such talent as Hilary Swank and Kathy Bates and made them party to just about the lamest movie ever.

I hadn't ever even heard of Charlie Wilson's War before I saw it on the marquee. When I found out it was Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, I was dead-set against it. I softened a bit when I saw Aaron Sorkin's name on the bill. Even so, I have said a number of times that I am Julie Robertsed and Tom Hanksed out. A series of events found us seeing it in the beautiful theater (or theatre, as the case may be) and I discovered that this film is brilliant.

I'd like to say that again on a separate line so that you maybe will read it:

Charlie Wilson's War is brilliant. I think every American should be required to watch this film. You maybe already know about the recent history of U.S.-Afghanistan relations and why it's all in the shitter now, but you can learn even more in an entertaining, interesting and even amusing forum. You may leave this film really angry at the United States, but I don't think that's bad.

I do think Aaron Sorkin is a genius. He adapted George Crile's book of the same title to the screen. Also, Philip Seymour Hoffman is in it. I can't say this enough: see that film.

We puttered around in Brattleboro for a while on Monday and we kept going places that I definitely have been before, and even have been recently, but hell if I have any idea who I was with. It's been driving me insane in the membrane, and indeed insane in the brain. I can't imagine who I was with and what I was doing there. We even went into a little cafe to have lunch and I discovered that I had eaten there. With whom? It's anybody's guess.

(Aside: if it was you, please tell me; I really am quite out of my mind trying to remember who it was.)

Anyway, we had a nice time. I'd like to recommend Brattleboro for your next getting-the-hell-out-of-Dodge outing.