Thursday, April 30, 2009
New layout. New songs.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Ashamed.
Lost
Bride Wars
Racism and the Judicial System
Monday, April 27, 2009
Swine Flu
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Saturday, April 25, 2009
Vegetarian Souvlaki Pita Wraps
- 1/2 large eggplant, cubed
- 12 large button mushrooms
- 1 green pepper, cubed
- 6 pineapple rings, cut into 24 chunks
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 8 large pita bread rounds
Vegetarian Lasagna Bundles
- 8 lasagna noodles
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 container (15 ounces) nonfat ricotta cheese
- 1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
- 1 jar (25 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium marinara sauce
Vegetarian Shepherds Pie
- 1 1/2 pounds small baking potatoes, cut into 1" cubes
- 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 ounces) no-salt-added tomato sauce
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels, thawed
- 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Work out ideas
Loans. Stress. Diets!
I'm stressed out from working so much and all that ontop of school. I'm always so exhausted! I'm worried about next semester and getting the classes I want. I signed up for two online courses and got waitlisted so I'm hoping and praying that I get into both because they're really convenient for work schedules. I'm still stressed out about money SURPRISE SUPRISE and getting Mark his money back. Once I get a loan I think some of that money is going to go to him just so I can be done with it. I am disappointed in myself because I moved back home to save money and I haven't saved a DAMN DIME! I need to get it together. NO MORE GOING OUT and NO MORE SHOPPING, especially not on other peoples money because everytime we go and I say I don't have money everyone is always buying me drinks and I feel really bad about it cuz I can't return the favor. I've actually been really good and haven't spent money on shopping really so I'm proud of myself. My biggest problem with saving money though is NOT EATING OUT! I need to stop because it is out of hand.
I have not been on a diet of any kind, not even vegetarian. My parents always complain about me filling up the fridge with food and leftovers that I do eat. . .just not the same day I make them or the next. They're leftovers they're mean to be eaten later. . .and for convenience. I will take the blame for a lot of food going to waste because I wouldn't use it and it would just rot in the fridge but at the same time I think it started happening because my ma is always cooking so it was convenient just to eat what she made especially when I'm so tired. So it was easy for me to eat, then easy for me to leave the shit to rot. I am going to have to address this issue with her because I am so disappointed in myself and my eating and working out habits. I need to get back onto a regular schedule and not let up for anything. I've been browsing some different diets and workout plans but haven't found one that I'm really interested in yet but hopefully I do. I think I just need a strict schedule that's easy for me to stick to. Having a nearby gym membership would also be extremely helpful but that's taking more money away. Definitely worth it however in the long run. I may stop at a nearby 24 hour fitness spot to check out how much it is for a membership or how much it costs to go each time. I wish I could afford a personal trainer but have no time and definitely no money for that lol. I need a motivated partner though lol! I have to use some of the motivational quotes I posted to make some rules for myself that I have to follow to. I'll dedicate Monday to that. It's finally a day off from both jobs so I'm going to get advised by a criminal justice advisor for my minor, submitting a formal complaint on my teacher, and then doing motivational stuff.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Baseball Season
Huevos Racheros
4 (6-inch) corn tortillas
Nonstick cooking spray
1 jar(s) (16-ounce) mild fat-free salsa
1 cup(s) canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup(s) frozen corn kernels
3 green onions, sliced
1 teaspoon(s) ground cumin
4 large eggs
1/2 cup(s) loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves, thinly sliced
1/2 avocado, sliced into thin wedges
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In 15 1/2" by 10 1/2" jelly-roll pan, invert four 6-ounce custard cups. With kitchen shears, make four evenly spaced 1-inch cuts, from edge toward center, around each tortilla. Lightly spray both sides of tortillas with cooking spray and drape each over a custard cup. Bake tortilla cups 8 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Meanwhile, in nonstick 12-inch skillet, combine salsa, beans, corn, green onions, and cumin; heat to boiling over medium heat. Cover and cook 3 minutes to blend flavors.
With large spoon, make 4 indentations for the eggs in salsa mixture, spacing them evenly around skillet. One at a time, break eggs into cup and slip into an indentation in salsa mixture. Cover and simmer 8 to 10 minutes or until eggs are set or cooked to desired doneness.
To serve, invert each tortilla cup onto a plate. Spoon an egg with some salsa mixture into each tortilla cup. Spoon any remaining salsa mixture around and on eggs in cups. Sprinkle with cilantro; serve with avocado.
Fish Taco Recipe
2 limes
4 cup(s) (half 16-ounce bag) shredded cabbage mix for coleslaw
1/2 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream
1 tablespoon(s) olive oil
1 1/4 pound(s) tilapia fillets
1/4 teaspoon(s) ground chipotle chili pepper
8 corn tortillas
1 cup(s) salsa
Directions
From limes, grate 2 teaspoons peel and squeeze 1/4 cup juice.
In large bowl, combine coleslaw mix and lime juice; set aside. In small bowl, stir lime peel into sour cream; set aside.
In nonstick 12-inch skillet, heat oil on medium 1 minute. On sheet of waxed paper, sprinkle tilapia fillets with chipotle chili pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt to season both sides. Add fish to skillet and cook 5 to 6 minutes or until it turns opaque throughout, turning over once. Meanwhile, warm tortillas.
To serve, cut fillets into 8 pieces. Place 2 pieces tilapia in each tortilla; top with slaw, lime sour cream, and salsa
The Hills
Saturday, April 18, 2009
"Confessions" by Glen Bucher
The idea that “one cannot be part of mainstream
To begin with, Bucher describes the American Dream as the dominance of race, sex, and heterosexual preference by white, Anglo-Saxon Protestant, straight, males over political, economic, and social aspects of society. He nicknamed these controllers WASP’s. The American Dream for WASP’s is inherited and essential for life. According to Bucher “Every American of straight male WASP orientation grows up with this dream implanted in his consciousness and gonads” and as a result it “inevitably affects his behavior” (Bucher, 12). To identify the American Dream more clearly, Bucher explains his understanding of it through his own experience while growing up. He was taught that every American community was the exact replica of his, white, Angelo-Saxon, Protestant, and straight. These communities placed an emphasis on a middle class income, family, prudence, rationality, and simplicity. The communities created the perfect amount of opportunities, success, and affluence that were easily obtained by all those who fit the criteria.
As a result of, the WASP quality of life was deemed necessary for the “development and survival of the nation and world” (Bucher, 16). The strict following of WASP beliefs, Bucher discovered, lead to the development of prejudices, and stereotypes of all who did not fit the norm, including women, blacks, and homosexuals. For blacks, labels like “shiftless, lazy, emotional, smelly, and intellectually inferior” were negatively applied (Bucher, 16). Blacks were to be viewed as dangerous challengers to the American Dream trying to take away what white straight males had. Women, although viewed as the counterpart body to the men’s head, were still stereotyped. They were viewed as “sensitive, compassionate, docile, and obedient” (Bucher, 17). They were, by nature, intended to be caretakers of the men and children. The stereotypes of homosexuals were created through the avoidance of open sexual discussion. If there was such discussion, it was focused on females only. Males never discussed themselves in a sexual manner because homosexuality was viewed as a sickness that could be treated with therapy or medicine, therefore stereotypes of “fairies” “queers” and “freaks” developed.
Bucher decided that once an individual received the teachings of the WASP quality of life and stereotypes, one of two things could be done. On one hand, the individual could embrace the teachings and do nothing about seeing the American Dream in its true context. Or on the other hand, the individual could “analyze thoroughly that which one has inherited” and understand the implications on those who are abused by this dream. Bucher chose to analyze this dream and make an attempt at changing it for the future and in order to do so he left his hometown community of suburban middle-class
During his stay in the urban community, Bucher reevaluated all of his ambitions, goals, and priorities. To challenge the American Dream he converted his Conservative religion to one of pietism, evangelicalism, sectarianism, legalism, and pacifism. He changed his political views to that of liberal assumptions of a just
Bucher dove deep into the fight by obtaining a professor position at a predominantly black college. He saw the environment as both scary, because he was in the alien world, but also ideal because of how much there was to do. Despite Bucher’s efforts reality came crashing down. Bucher realized that even graduate educated African-Americans were not as proficient as white junior high school students. These individuals worked for meager wages at meaningless jobs. They were “consumed by a subculture of poverty, depression, disease, and despair” (Bucher, 25). Black men were found wandering the streets looking for jobs and black women were found in hospitals looking for a roof over their head or a doctor. There was a steady stream of violence, police brutality, and death. Bucher realized that “blacks do not have the option of leaving alien
I believe that Glen Bucher’s article accurately describes the confessions of a white straight male who was unsuccessful at making our society better. I completely agree with his idea of the American Dream and the WASP quality of life. Whites, for many years, have benefited from our past history. I think that the WASP teachings are definitely inherited, however if they are not inherited, they are easily taught. I have made my own realization in my own prejudice from this article in that if I was unsuccessful in something, I would blame it on something externally, however if I was successful in something I would attribute it to something internal. In our society today, it would be difficult to prevent the teachings of the WASP quality of life and therefore avoid the stereotypes that accompany these teachings. It is unfortunate and bothersome that the underprivileged must suffer at the hands of reality after dreaming of obtaining American success. I think that Bucher and others made a valiant effort to make the necessary changes for our future and it was unfortunate that they were unsuccessful.
I do agree with Bucher that racism and prejudice is a white problem because whites are the creators, however I disagree in that whites can be the only ones to solve the problem. I think that prejudice happens across cultures and those who are discriminated against, discriminate themselves. For example, African-Americans are greatly discriminated against by whites; however they discriminate against homosexuals just as much. I think it is unfair to leave solving this social problem only up to whites because of their inheritance of privilege while minorities participate in only making the problem worse. Even though, stereotypes, racism, and prejudice has seemingly decreased in our society the only explanation for this decrease is due to a more covert display. We have truly made no recent progress in more forms of social justice and in order to do so I think a more collaborative effort by all races, sexes, sexual preferences, etc need to be made. An open minded attitude to both similarities and differences must be taken where no group is better than another, where there are no model minorities, and more. Societal standards and norms have to be altered to include everyone in such a way that is not enhancing one groups control over another. WASP teachings and inheritances need to be eliminated from society and the American Dream should be altered to provide opportunities for everyone. With these important changes, I believe that Buchers’ envision of change may just begin to progress.
In conclusion, Glen Buchers’ article “Confessions” explored Buchers’ understanding of the American Dream and the world that it played a major role in. Bucher realized that as a candidate for the WASP quality of life he had the option of accepting the beliefs and fulfilling his own potential at the expense of others, or challenging the teachings and changing the effects it had on those who suffered from them. After choosing the path of change, Bucher realized his minimal efforts were unsuccessful because “one cannot be part of mainstream