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20 Random Thoughts about the 2016 POTUS Race

by | Blog, Blog Post, Random musings

  1. Talk about why people should support your candidate and not why the other candidates suck.
  2. Check the methodology and dates for all polls.  If the methodology is crap, so are the results. Don’t reward bad polls.  And don’t make bombastic claims based on those bad polls.
  3. Everything is horrible.
  4. Can everyone just stop yelling?
  5. Having a JV debate before the Varsity one just means that Twitter has more to snark.
  6. You can be a progressive democrat and not support Bernie Sanders.
  7. You can be in favor of a single-payer health care and think that Bernie Sanders’ plan is not a good one.
  8. You can be a feminist and not support Hillary Clinton
  9. You can be a woman and not support Hillary Clinton.
  10. #notallsanderssupporters – but those that aren’t “BernieBros/Bots” should do more to minimize the impact of the unhelpful ones.  I know campaigns can’t control their supporters and what they say and do, but do something because the folks are not helpful to your cause.
  11. Check Urban Dictionary before giving your event a witty name.
  12. We are entitled to our own opinions but not our own facts.  Don’t just make something up to prove your point.
  13. If your response to a question is to tell someone to “f*ck their life”, maybe you should do some research to have a conversation like an adult.
  14. We still don’t really know if Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are eligible to run for president.  I think.
  15. Online polls are non-scientific.
  16. Lawnsigns apparently do matter, but not as much as TALKING DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE.
  17. You can make comments about a campaigns activities and not be a shill for an opponent.  Sometimes you just make observations.
  18. Congress matters. Down ballot races matter. Ignoring this is shortsighted and dangerous.
  19. Tina Fey playing Sarah Palin on SNL is one of the only bright spots of this election so far.
  20. The second bright spot is all of the Hamilton memes/quotes/references that people are making.

A glimpse inside

by | Blog Post, Random musings

In a recent post (The Lies I Tell Myself), I shared what it is like to struggle with anxiety.

It was a hard post to write, and I still sometimes want to delete it and just hide from it.  But, it is a part of what makes me the person I am, and if you’re going to judge me for it, that’s on you.

For most people, the thoughts that anxiety causes don’t make sense.  Or they really don’t understand what the thought process is.  Well, thanks to Sara Bareilles, I can offer a small glimpse of what types of thoughts go through my head when I have to meet new people, or really just interact with people in general.

I stick with real things,
Usually facts and figures.
When information’s in its place,
I minimize the guessing game.
Guess what?
I don’t like guessing games.
Or when I feel things,
Before I know the feelings.
How am I supposed to operate,
If I’m just tossed around by fate?
Like on an unexpected date?

 

Sara Bareilles “When He Sees Me”

 

Aside: This song is from a musical that she wrote the music and lyrics for called “Waitress“.  It just did a short run in Boston and will be hitting Broadway starting next March.  A selection of songs from this show was recently released, and I took a short break from listening to “Hamilton” on repeat to listen to it.  Both are really good albums and I want to try to get to NYC to see both.

 

Planning on taking a picture with your smart phone? Read this first.

by | Blog Post, Commentary on the world around me, Random musings

Here are some cameraphone #protips to kick off 2015.  You can thank me later.

1.  If you don’t look your best in a selfie (remember to hold the phone with your arm extended above your head for the most flattering angle), or it is not in focus, or your finger is in front of the camera – just take another!  No shame in aiming for your best look in each and every selfie!

2.  Clean off your cameras on the regular.  There are likely fingerprints on it, which leads to smudgy photos.  This includes the forward facing one.

3.  FOCUS.  Before you click, select your focus point.  Please.

4.  If it is super blurry – consider not posting.  While your moment across the room from the President may have been amazing, the crappy blurry photo that makes him look like a blob doesn’t really help us be in the moment with you.

5.  Background awareness.  Make sure you aren’t capturing anything uber-awkward in the background of your photo.  You don’t want to end up on a Buzzfeed list of the most inappropriate photo backgrounds of all time, do you?

6.  Just say no to the selfie stick.

7.  Choose your filters wisely.

8.  Don’t auto cross-post – except at times from Instagram to Facebook.  Since Twitter no longer shows Instagram photos in Twitter streams, people may not click to look at your masterpiece.

9.  Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.  Don’t overshare.

10.  Have fun.  Explore.  Share you world with others!

“We’ll be shooting stars just passing by”

by | Blog Post, Random musings

It’s summer in Minnesota – finally!  The sun is shining.  I can drive with my windows down and the sunroof open.  I can hangout in my backyard and not *have* to have a fire going.

I am happy.

Still plugging away at the whole yoga thing.  It’s actually been kinda fun since I can go at my own pace and not feel like I’m being judged by others in a class. I can already feel some of my muscles responding (with some discomfort – but not pain!) and my shoulder isn’t protesting.

It’s also amusing to be in the downward facing dog during my sun salutations, and look over to see this guy doing the same thing. It seems as if Scout may like the whole yoga thing too.  The cats, not so much.

I’m happy to have also found some creative inspiration again.  I’m also working on reorganizing my existing photography and other projects so I can share.  Expect some of the results to show up here soon.

Time for some relaxation and more House MD on Netflix.