One Girl Revolution

Ok, so I was talking to theycallmeboy tonight, one thing led to another, and...

Well, all I can do is apologize to every single Harry Potter fan on my flist. And plead with JK Rowling and The Dead Milkmen not to sue my ass into oblivion.

That said, I hope you enjoy it.

First, watch this video:

( I LIKE YOU. )

Then, read these (modified from the original) lyrics:

( You can't build on it, you can't grow anything in it... )

Last, but not least, play the video (for the sound) and read the words along with it. All in all, I think I managed to fit things pretty well.

So, there's your Sunday night fun. Don't hurt me.

Well, this is potentially good news. I'd better get my passport asap - I paid extra for faster processing, after all.

I've been contemplating doing another Forever Fifteen giveaway, and I think that my happening upon this comic is proof that I should. Should I make it some sort of contest?

the_davemyster imparts more of his gentle wisdom.

I've heard of Beth Ditto, but I've never heard her. However, thanks to this column that she's written for The Guardian, I'm pretty sure I like her already.

Got the co-worker started off with three books for the crossing today. She's really excited about it, so I hope she has a good experience with the whole thing. I haven't had many "caught" books, but it's still fun to leave them around for people to discover. I just hope they are caught, and not thrown away or something. I mean, who throws away books, right? Then again, in this day and age...

And just as an FYI, theycallmeboy has joined BookCrossing as well. He, like me, has the same BC and LJ name, so if any of you care to add him there, I'd say go for it.:)

Speaking of books, teaandbitchery got me a lovely one for my birthday called Milagros. Though it's certainly not an exhaustive volume on the subject, it seems like a really good introduction to the practice. And it's strange - while this isn't something that (as far as I can tell) is practiced extensively in my family, it seems...familiar. And I know that my mom is big on charms (she's been all about getting me a charm bracelet for years now, though she never seems to get around to it), and my grandmother has little medallions and things like that around the house, and especially around any pictures of Jesus and Mary. I don't know why I never bothered to ask about it before.

This also seems to coincide with a vague desire I've had recently to explore a little bit more about my cultural heritage. I finally bought a Virgin of Guadalupe candle after wanting one for a while. I don't know why all of this has come over me all the sudden, but I really am curious about some Mexican traditions, especially spiritual ones, which is all the more strange for me considering that I'm not particularly religious. The Mexican stuff has always been subtle in my family - we've never really done the whole "cultural pride!" thing, but we also haven't shut it all away. I guess we're just subtle about it, which is fine. I just wish I knew a little more, so I want to indulge myself a bit in that. Or maybe it's an indication that it's time for me to grow and change a bit. It is my first day of being 26, after all - what better time to make with the personal transformation?

ETA: And again with a random connection! (Rodriguez was my grandma's maiden name.)

I just got a co-worker to sign up for Bookcrossing! I think that's pretty neat.

For a while now, I've been telling myself that I need to read more books. I read plenty of magazines, but until recently I hadn't really read any books from beginning to end since college. theycallmeboy has been a wonderfully positive influence in getting me to read long things again - before he came along, I was pretty much confined to magazine and online articles. And there's really, truly no excuse for that, since the reading glasses have solved the whole, "Why do I feel crappy when I read for a long time?" mystery. He's been wonderful and bought me some very wonderful books for Christmas and my birthday; I'm currently loving every second of 31 Songs by Nick Hornby, and I can't wait to read the books he got me for my birthday before I get to some of the other books he's sent along (including a signed Pat McCabe novel!). However, I would like to read a Bookcrossing book in between, just so I have something else to drop or trade.

So basically, I want to start using Bookcrossing more and more. I love the library, but ours sucks, and thanks to my schedule, I usually need more than two weeks to read a book. (I always forget to renew the damn things.) I may even use Bookcrossing to get the book I need for my Rock Hall docent class, if I can find it. It'll be a lot cheaper than buying the thing, that's for sure.

Since I've been out of the book reading loop for so long, I have no idea what to read, what authors to check out, and so on. I know a few names I like - Neil Gaiman, Pat McCabe, Hunter S. Thompson, George R.R. Martin, Dave Barry - but beyond them, I'm sort of lost and overwhelmed by the vast amount of reading material out there. So I'm turning to the flist to see if they can help. Can you guys recommend some "must reads" for me? Feel free to link this page - the more, the merrier. Once I have some names and titles, I'd like to make an entry that's basically a list of all the suggestions. I'll put it in my link bar and use it as a checklist. I'll also let you guys know when I've finished a book so you guys can recommend another, if you like.

There's no rush on this - I have plenty of stuff I'd like to read first - but I would like to get some suggestions. I consider it a self-improvement project, and I'd like to thank you all in advance for making me a more well-rounded person. :)

So last night, I made a big mistake.

I had an idea.

You see, I was listening to NPR on the way home, and they were talking about a group of soldiers over in Iraq who spent their downtime playing dominoes because there was nothing else to do. No Internet, no TV. Apparently it's dangerous enough in their area that providers don't want to come out and set that stuff up. (And really, who can blame them?)

So as I rode along in the car, I had that subtle feeling in my chest that I get when I want to help someone out. This immediately prompted my brain to start generating ideas until I hit on one that I was sure would work.

I have books. I bookcross. Why not send a book or two over to a couple of soldiers, along with a note encouraging them to share the book when they're done, maybe send it on to a family member, whatever?

It seemed like a good, foolproof, "Why would anyone want to mess with this?" sort of idea. But of course, nothing is ever as easy as it should be, especially when you want to make a small, simple gesture.

As it turns out, you can't just send a letter or package to "any soldier" anymore - there used to be a program for that, but it was discontinued. These days, you have to have a specific name and address - and I know no one who is currently deployed overseas.

Ok, I said to myself. I'll go online and see if there are any organizations that will allow me to send a book to a specific soldier, that he or she may read and learn and share and all that good stuff. Because everyone loves that.

Someone recommended this website. On first glance, I was heartened. It looked like three simple steps. After all, how hard should it be to send a book to someone?

But then I saw Step Two. Did you see Step Two?

A notarized application. That's more documentation than what I need to get my passport renewed.

So I checked out this website, since it didn't look like you needed a notarized application to send anything through them. And I was cruising along quite happily when I stumbled about the following message at the bottom of this page:

WARNING!!

If you use this site and send anything prohibited or illegal to any of our Soldiers, you will be hunted down, caught and prosecuted! I can tell you for a fact that the F.B.I. is and will continue to investigate any and all violations. The Soldiers and Any Soldier Inc. are fully cooperating in this effort.

Needless to say, this gave me some pause. There's something about the thought of being "hunted down" and "caught" that makes me a little nervous about the prospect of sending anything along. The illegal stuff is simple enough to avoid, but what's that about "prohibited"? What, exactly, would be prohibited? Sure, there's a list on the site already, but I doubt it's exhaustive. Are used books prohibited? For that matter, are there particular types of books that are prohibited? I had images of one of my books being detained as it's checked against the Official United States Armed Forces Approved Reading List, which I imagine would look something like this...

***

The Official United States Armed Forces Approved Reading List:

1) The Bible
2) The Very Hungry Caterpillar
3) My Pet Goat

***

So imagine if I sent along something by Richard Bach or Hunter S. Thompson or Michael Moore, or even something a little more sedate and mainstream that was nonetheless "prohibited." What the hell would they do to me? Would I walk out of my office one day, only to be thrown to the ground and handcuffed while FBI agents barked out orders to stay perfectly still or risk getting shot? Would I be dragged from my home, screaming in the night, whisked away to some interrogation at the hands of federal investigators because I'd dared to send along reading material to an unsuspecting man or woman in uniform? What would they do to me?

I get the feeling it would involve me missing Electric Picnic.

So - any ideas on how to smuggle a paperback?

I've made it a goal to read more (and spend a little less) in 2007, so I thought I'd ask if anyone was interested in trading some books for books. There are a few specific books I'm looking for, and then just some authors whose works I'm curious about. I've provided some links to some of the books as well:

1) Reallivepreacher.com by Gordon Atkinson.

2) New Poems of Oriel, edited by Mary Kearns. I own a copy of this, but I'm unwilling to part with it - theycallmeboy wrote two of the poems featured in it, so it's in my permanent collection.

I'd also like to read some poetry by Patrick Kavanagh, Charles Bukowski, Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsburg. Also, I'm ashamed to say that I've never read Walden, so if someone would like to help me remedy this, I'd be greatly appreciative.

My list of books is here. I'm hoping to start a Bookcrossing Zone, so that's why so many titles are "reserved." However, disregard those labels for now - if you see a reserved book that you're interested in, let me know and I'll send it your way.

Well, it looks like 2007 will see me do something else I've wanted to do, but told myself I couldn't.

theycallmeboy and I talked tonight, and we're going to set up bookcrossing zones. Hopefully what will happen is that we'll get them started, and then get people interested enough that they'll continue without the need for us to supervise. This is important, because...

...well, because the second part of the pact is that when we're together, we'll set one up in a new place, that being wherever we end up.

I declare 2007 to be the year when I stop second guessing and just do it, whatever "it" happens to be. Bookcrossing, getting a new job, getting my own place, being with the one I love. I'm going to stop worrying about the "how" I'm going to get things done, and just leave that up to The Powers That Be. It's so liberating, just declaring and knowing.

I know I keep saying it, but 2007? Is going to be an awesome year.

And those of you who aren't bookcrossers? There's no time like the present. www.bookcrossing.com

Just a reminder that there are two days left for The Great kiji_kat Book Sale. Come Saturday, they are long, long gone to a faraway Half Price Books that is probably too far away for you to visit.

Avoid that tragic, bookless fate and check out what I'm selling! Remember: 50 percent of the proceeds will be donated to World Education.

And a news story, courtesy of nebris: According to UNICEF, over 1.5 million children under the age of five die each year for lack of clean water and proper sanitation.

People ask me why I'm so enthusiastic about collecting for the Trick or Treat for UNICEF drives and buying UNICEF cards at Christmas. Well, that's why. And that's only one of many, many reasons. Deaths like this are not only tragic, they're also stupid. This is the bloody 21st century - no one should have to die from waterbourne illness in the 21st century. And lack of clean water affects children in other ways, too. From the article:

The Unicef report says that children's education suffers because they have to walk long distances to fetch water, and that girls especially are deterred by the lack of separate and clean toilets in schools.

That, to me, is unacceptable.

There are plenty of ways to get involved and help out, even if you're not into the whole trick or treat thing. (And if you are, you'll find all sorts of info here.) Not up to leaving the house? Use this tool to set up a fundraising webpage. Want your college years to mean more than a blur of classes and hangovers? Why not join - or start - a UNICEF Campus Initiative group?

The words, "There's nothing I can do," are no longer an excuse. We're in a position to change things - and it's about time we did.

Many, many thanks to jumpinjessflash, teaandbitchery, and zarq for participating in The Great kiji_kat Book Sale! You should be receiving your items soon!

As for the rest of you - if you want to buy something, you have until Saturday to make your purchases. After that, the books will be removed from my Half.com account and taken to Half Price Books. Half of the proceeds will still go to World Education, but you'll miss out on much awesome and odd things. And you wouldn't want that to happen, would you?

Go on - go check out what I have left. And yes, I do ship international.

Thanks again for all your support! Even if you can't/don't want to buy anything, I do appreciate your support.

In an earlier post, I talked about how I was looking for a cause to support with half of the proceeds from my book sale. I wanted it to be something that would be about educating and empowering women, but plans have changed a little.

Don't worry - I'm still giving to charity. But I wanted the biggest bang for my buck, and I think it's safe to say that I found it.

So for this particular sale, half the profits will be donated to World Education, a charity that not only has a four star rating on Charity Navigator, but also does a bang-up job and helping just about everyone. This from its website:

World Education is dedicated to improving the lives of the poor through economic and social development programs.

World Education is well known for its work around the globe in environmental education, community development, maternal and child health, school governance, integrated literacy, small enterprise development, HIV/AIDS education and prevention and care, and refugee training. World Education also works to strengthen literacy and adult basic education programs in the United States. Projects are designed to contribute to individual growth, as well as to community and national development.

I'm thinking this is a pretty sweet deal. ^_^

Anyway, if you want to buy a book and help out the cause, click this link to see what I have in stock. You guys have until Saturday - after that, whatever is left is taken off the site and packed off to the nearest Half Price Books for the selling. The profits will still be split 50/50, but you'll miss out on oddities. ;)

So anyway, go. Go see if you like something. And then, tell your friends to visit and see if they like something. Huzzah and stuff!

(Oh, and before anyone asks, I'm not going to promote this in itslittlethings because it's not 100 percent charity. I'm still getting some money from it, so I don't feel right pimping it there. Though this does remind me that I have to do a final push for The Great itslittlethings UNICEF Collection Project. I'm amazed I find the time to sleep...)

Well, it looks like you guys get a bit of a reprieve, and I get a change to post more stuff!

I won't be able to make it out to my local Half Price Books today, so it'll have to wait until next weekend. This gives you guys more time to peruse the stacks, find something you like, and make a purchase!

As I've stated before, half of the proceeds from the sale will go towards my getting a plane ticket to Ireland, while the other half will go towards a women's charity, preferably one geared towards education. (It was going to be AAUW, but with only one star from Charity Navigator, I didn't feel comfortable giving my hard-earned money to them.)

If any of you know of some good women's/women's education charities, please let me know. I'll check into their CN score and if they have three or four stars, I'll give them half the profits from this sale.

Click this link to see what I'm selling! Don't delay!

jumpinjessflash, your book is packaged. zarq, I'll hold your book until you formally purchase it from the site.

Lastly, I want to thank each and every one of you for being awesome. It means so much that you guys are there to help me out, offer advice, and just be supportive. I'm blessed!

According to this page, there are currently only 10 copies of Breakfast On Pluto that are registered for the entire site. Of those, only three are currently winging their way across the world. Of those three, only one has been released in the United States.

I'll be spending the weekend visiting with friends in my state's capital. It's where state representatives and legislators meet, obviously. What you have to remember is that Ohio's politics are currently some of the most corrupt in the nation. To paraphrase a wise old sage, "Columbus. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."

So what's a girl to do? Specifically, what is a girl in possession of a book about an Irish transvestite prostitute caught up in the political turmoil of London during the IRA bombings to do?

Well, I don't know about you, but I think that the girl should take it down to the fiery red heart of that reddest of red states, the state that handed the world Dubya: The Sequel, and cross the fucker.

Here's hoping that Bob Taft himself finds it; I have a sneaking suspicion that Patrick "Pussy" Braden may just blow his tiny little mind.

...It occurs to me that I just used the word "blow" in a sentence involving the governor and a rent boy. Discuss!