January 6, 2009

A twittered discussion on feminism

This morning one of the people I follow on Twitter posed a question: “Do you consider yourself to be a feminist? Why or why not?”

The discussion that ensued between us was interesting, and I so appreciated that we were able to exchange some very different views on not only what the term meant, but the perception of the people who use it liberally in relationship to themselves, without things degenerating. This is one of those topics that’s easy for people to get passionate about, and to take very personally, but Shawna handled my remarks with grace and tact - some of which, based in straight logic on my part, might be considered insensitive.

You can read the discussion in its entirety below (click it for a more readable version) - beginning with my response to Shawna’s initial question. I post it here because I would love to keep this going and hear others’ thoughts on the issue; it’s a topic I’ve rarely ever broached because as it’s not a social segment I find myself in/near or familiar with, and maybe I could use some educating. So please feel free to comment with your own feelings about it, reactions to the discussion, or questions. All points of view are welcome, even heated debate, but I ask that you just be civil and respectful or I’ll pull the comment.

Fair warning, I’m prone to very socratic, logic-based, potentially politically incorrect responses and questions, and those never fail to get me in trouble. Understand that I don’t mean to offend anyone or call anyone out, only to whittle down to real truths about belief systems once the emotional layers are peeled away.

The conversation is fragmented, but you get a general picture of how I feel about the term, the movement and my place (or lackthereof) in it. But what about you? How do you feel about it? I’d especially be interested in some anecdotal responses, some solid examples that support or dispute either position.

Posted by tee in sidetracks
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January 4, 2009

Flipping over the Flip MinoHD

Testing the Flip MinoHD on Sarah as she exchanges tickets for loot at the Grand Sierra’s FunQuest arcade. I love this video camera; top-notch quality in a super compact, lightweight package. Barely noticed it in my pocket all night. Big thumbs up. I’ll be posting more videos to Flickr throughout the day today.

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January 1, 2009

Krumkake (a Norwegian treat)

Follow me for the recipe.

Posted by tee in de la vida, photos
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December 29, 2008

QOTD

“We have not laid off anybody yet, but I would hate to lay somebody off and think that we just burned up $30,000 in fireworks.”

- Reno Mayor Bob Cashell on why the city and several downtown hotel-casinos are foregoing fireworks this year, despite the crowd of tourists and downtown business they draw each year.

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December 29, 2008

Topaz Lake, Nevada

Yesterday afternoon we took a short road trip two hours south to Topaz Lake, just across from the California border, to pick up a beautiful, authentic Norwegian aging barrel we found on Craigslist. It was really just an excuse to take the trip, but the barrel is beautiful and is now serving as a very Hemingway-esque end table between our two couches.

More photos.

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December 27, 2008

Living space

More photos of the new living area here.

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December 26, 2008

Earthquake!

Quincy, California earthquake 4.5

This morning at 4:19 a.m. a 4.5 magnitude quake struck at a depth of less than two miles just outside of Quincy, California - about 80 miles northwest of Reno. Exactly one minute later I sat straight up in bed, alarmed out of sleep and thinking I must have just had a bad dream, but had no recollection of one. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the timing and the strange physical energy that followed would be too much of a coincidence otherwise - it was probably a barely-there sensation from the quake that woke me.

That brings my experienced-quake tally to three (a 5.1, 5.4 and 4.5), and despite all the places on the western North American coast I’ve lived or spent substantial time in, all of those have been in Reno.

Shane and the kids slept through it; I only found out about it because I got up to get a glass of water and sat down at my laptop for a few minutes, which still had the recent quakes map up (a favorite). Out of habit I refreshed it, and was surprised and very, very giddy to see the big then-red box on the quake map.

I ran back to bed, tweeted it and then woke Shane up to rub it in that he slept through it, then proceeded to keep him awake for the next 20-30 minutes while I went on and on about it until all that buzzy energy faded (he even pretended to listen intently between periodic snores). Ahhh, l’amour.

Anyone else here feel it?

Edit: make that four quakes — forgot about the Loma Prieta quake of 1989 when I lived outside Sacramento (though even that was less of an experience than two of the three Reno quakes were).