I'm on the list. That used to be a good thing. That used to be what I said to bouncers and doormen upon arrival at some of the hottest clubs from coast to coast. What it means today, though, is decidedly less exciting (much like my life, I suppose). It means that I'm on someone's email list and despite my best efforts, I can't get off of it.
These things happen; companies rent mailing lists from assorted organizations I belong to and I subsequently get messages about all sorts of random things. But when I follow the instructions to unsubscribe, I'm rarely bothered again. This is fine; I'm a marketer, I know how this stuff works and I don't really mind removing myself. I also know that companies are required to provide accurate contact information and unsubscribe instructions in all such mass emails. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network, however, fails spectacularly at this.
I'm not sure how I ended up on their list. When I called a month or so ago, they told me they routinely rent lists. But they rent from other medical organizations--conference organizers, professional organizations, journal publishers, etc. How my email address suddenly became firmly lodged on an oncology professionals mailing list is beyond me.
So, yes, I called them. I shouldn't have to call someone to stop receiving their irrelevant emails, but their unsubscribe function DOESN'T WORK. I've tried repeatedly, for months on end, and finally I gave in and called the company. It's not such a big deal, an unwanted email, but by that point it was just the principle of the thing. I wanted off, and damn it, I was going to get myself removed.
The person I spoke to assured me I wouldn't get any further communication from them. And for a few weeks, it seemed that she was right. Then it started again today. Once again, the unsubscribe instructions ("reply to this message with 'remove' in the subject line") didn't work, because the email isn't even sent from a valid address on their end. And once again, I was pissed off enough on principle to call and complain. Next time I'm reporting them for sending spam.
It's sad how, in the midst of all the important things I need to do now, this is becoming my personal crusade.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Hearing shades
My dogs, like many people, seem to have selective hearing. For instance, when they decide to run off and I call them to come back, they often pretend like they didn't hear me. And yet, these are the same dogs that can hear the slight creak of a cabinet door opening two floors below and instantly determine whether it's the cabinet that holds their food (which brings them tumbling down the stairs in a panic) or one of the other cabinets (which hardly merits a raised ear). They're the same dogs who, from downstairs, can hear the whisper of my foot sliding into a flip flop upstairs, a sound that brings them flying up to my room even though they'll have to go right back down in order to go outside. I think they just want to remind me that now that my shoes are on, I have no excuse for not taking them out for a walk. They can hear the mailman coming from a block away, but mysteriously can't hear me say "no!" when they start to bark. Riley, who goes deaf when I command him to drop the tasty morsel he's found on the street, has practically supersonic hearing when anyone drops their shorts in the bathroom, which brings him hurtling up the stairs to command a captive audience. It's magical, really.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Early morning thoughts
Today is going to be a lovely day; I can just feel it. I woke up this morning bright and early, sans alarm clock. The boys have been walked and fed, and I'm heading out to the barn to ride Pitch, who was Chase's best buddy. Then I'm meeting Brian for lunch at Max Brenner (chocolate heaven!) to talk about grad school stuff, which is apparently something I never tire of discussing. I'm just so amped up about it all and endlessly overanalyzing things, so it's good to have a voice of reason, particularly one who's an alumnus of one of my top choice programs. Also, I just got an email from Mensa congratulating me on being accepted, so now I'm officially a brainiac... a card-carrying one at that. I'm not sure if this will look awesome or pretentious on my resume, but damn it, I'm putting it on there anyway. All in all, not a bad start to the day--and on top of a rare, restful full night's sleep to boot. Joy!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Almond joy
I went to the drugstore on the way home from work today to pick up a some allergy medicine, and while I was waiting for my prescription to be filled, I wandered over to the food aisle because I was ravenous. I know it's never a good idea to shop for food on an empty stomach, but I didn't anticipate having to wait for the pharmacist to get things together. Anyway, the store had tins of almonds on sale, buy one get one free. Smokehouse almonds happen to be a weakness of mine. I love the salty, smoky flavor. They stir up memories of my childhood, back in the day when Eastern Airlines was still operating and my dad flew out on Mondays and back on Fridays for his consulting job. I always wanted him to bring me something, which was a pretty tall order since he was away almost every week. One time he brought me a stuffed armadillo, but most times he brought me little packets of smokehouse almonds from the plane. I loved the silver foil packets (shiny!) and the tasty morsels within them. But thinking back, I really loved them because they meant my dad was home again. And to this day, that association remains part of the reason I indulge in this salty treat from time to time. I'll never fully recapture those carefree days, but it's amazing how a scent, a taste can bring them flooding back in a delicious way.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Behind the veil
The French's government's recent announcement that they're considering banning the burka has, understandably, been met with a fair amount of controversy. I've been meaning to comment for a while now, so here's my take on it.
First, the only strong con argument I can conceive of has to do with freedom of expression, including religious expression. I'm one of the most non-religious people you're ever likely to meet; in fact, if you read this blog regularly you know that I'm adamantly opposed to organized religion for a variety of reasons that I won't get into in this post. However, I firmly support the right of individuals to believe in--and to practice--whatever spiritual pursuits they wish.
Further, I'm an ardent champion of free speech. Just because I may not like what someone has to say doesn't mean I would revoke their right to say it. In my limited experience, I find that almost as often as not, people whose views are not in line with mine use their right of free speech to undermine their own positions by showing their true, bigoted colors to the greater population. This, of course, is just fine with me. But even if they didn't, who am I--or the government--to silence them?
Hate speech is the one exception I might consider to this stance--and in fact I have considered it on many occasions, without coming to a suitable conclusion. Hate speech by nature is designed to incite, and when it incites prejudice or violence against any group, I find it patently immoral. But my fear is that once this kind of expression is censored, what will be next? When will it end? I'd rather deal with the ramifications of incendiary speech by bigots and homophobes than the potential long-term consequences of preventing it.
But all of this is neither here nor there, as the burka is not an example of hate speech. What it is, however, is a symbol of the subjugation of women. And that, regardless of my feelings on free speech, is something I cannot abide by. I'm not a scholar of Islam by any means, and I hear that in some ways it is favorable to the dual X chromosome crowd. However, in many ways its prescribed treatment of women is abominable, and it's because of this that I'm inclined to look favorably on the proposed French policy.
The ban would in no way compromise the right of individuals to practice the Islamic religion. What it would do is free thousands of women from life behind the veil--a life that renders them not just anonymous but invisible. How can one become an autonomous human being when unable to make a simple decision about showing one's face? I also feel that when women are seen--and heard--their role as subordinates to their husbands will diminish. This one small act could be the beginning of a tidal wave of change.
I don't know whether this ban will become law, but I do see it as a shining example of the French government's commitment to women's rights. I can't imagine something like this ever happening here in the States, but I do hope the same logic--a woman's right to choose--becomes a part of every important decision made by our legislature.
First, the only strong con argument I can conceive of has to do with freedom of expression, including religious expression. I'm one of the most non-religious people you're ever likely to meet; in fact, if you read this blog regularly you know that I'm adamantly opposed to organized religion for a variety of reasons that I won't get into in this post. However, I firmly support the right of individuals to believe in--and to practice--whatever spiritual pursuits they wish.
Further, I'm an ardent champion of free speech. Just because I may not like what someone has to say doesn't mean I would revoke their right to say it. In my limited experience, I find that almost as often as not, people whose views are not in line with mine use their right of free speech to undermine their own positions by showing their true, bigoted colors to the greater population. This, of course, is just fine with me. But even if they didn't, who am I--or the government--to silence them?
Hate speech is the one exception I might consider to this stance--and in fact I have considered it on many occasions, without coming to a suitable conclusion. Hate speech by nature is designed to incite, and when it incites prejudice or violence against any group, I find it patently immoral. But my fear is that once this kind of expression is censored, what will be next? When will it end? I'd rather deal with the ramifications of incendiary speech by bigots and homophobes than the potential long-term consequences of preventing it.
But all of this is neither here nor there, as the burka is not an example of hate speech. What it is, however, is a symbol of the subjugation of women. And that, regardless of my feelings on free speech, is something I cannot abide by. I'm not a scholar of Islam by any means, and I hear that in some ways it is favorable to the dual X chromosome crowd. However, in many ways its prescribed treatment of women is abominable, and it's because of this that I'm inclined to look favorably on the proposed French policy.
The ban would in no way compromise the right of individuals to practice the Islamic religion. What it would do is free thousands of women from life behind the veil--a life that renders them not just anonymous but invisible. How can one become an autonomous human being when unable to make a simple decision about showing one's face? I also feel that when women are seen--and heard--their role as subordinates to their husbands will diminish. This one small act could be the beginning of a tidal wave of change.
I don't know whether this ban will become law, but I do see it as a shining example of the French government's commitment to women's rights. I can't imagine something like this ever happening here in the States, but I do hope the same logic--a woman's right to choose--becomes a part of every important decision made by our legislature.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Random tidbits
Wow. I just saw that I was quoted in the editorial reviews section for a book on Amazon.com. I like these little virtual pats on the back. They reaffirm my contribution to the universe--which is, apparently, that I say nice things about people's products. I suppose that's a good start.
I've had good communication today with several people who may help me on my quest to get into excellent graduate programs, for which I am immensely grateful. One program that I'd written off is actually recruiting me, and upon further research I feel that they may be a good fit for me after all. They certainly have cache as the number one program in their field, and at an Ivy League school to boot. So, I am excited about that possibility as I continue to make inroads at other noteworthy programs.
My class is almost over, and I'm surprisingly relieved. This has nothing to do with the amount of work involved (which was negligible for me, though apparently not for others in the class). It's more about the time commitment. Two hours a night, three nights a week doesn't sound like much, and I suppose it really isn't. However, when considered against the insane backlog of self-assigned reading I have to do, it's certainly an imposition. I've enjoyed the class even though it wasn't particularly intellectually stimulating. And last night my professor took me aside and told me not to bother taking the final, as my grade is so high that I will get an A no matter what. This was a welcome surprise.
I'm rethinking my part-time job at the barn, mostly because it is another time commitment that I'd just as soon do without. I started working there mainly so that I could keep riding, but I'm usually so tired at the end of a shift that I don't even feel like dragging out a saddle (though the thought of riding bareback did cross my mind a couple of times). I'll try to stick with it through the summer, but the fact that today is a gorgeous day and I elected to stay home instead of going to the barn is telling.
Also, I wish everyone would shut up about Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson already. They were celebrities. You did not know them. You cannot be personally touched by their deaths. Sorry, but your ridiculous need to add your voice to the fray on Twitter and Facebook is just that--ridiculous. I'm also very offended by all the press releases I've gotten from publicists in the past 24 hours, as everyone tries to capitalize on these events. It's tacky and makes me want to write horrible things about their clients.
I've had good communication today with several people who may help me on my quest to get into excellent graduate programs, for which I am immensely grateful. One program that I'd written off is actually recruiting me, and upon further research I feel that they may be a good fit for me after all. They certainly have cache as the number one program in their field, and at an Ivy League school to boot. So, I am excited about that possibility as I continue to make inroads at other noteworthy programs.
My class is almost over, and I'm surprisingly relieved. This has nothing to do with the amount of work involved (which was negligible for me, though apparently not for others in the class). It's more about the time commitment. Two hours a night, three nights a week doesn't sound like much, and I suppose it really isn't. However, when considered against the insane backlog of self-assigned reading I have to do, it's certainly an imposition. I've enjoyed the class even though it wasn't particularly intellectually stimulating. And last night my professor took me aside and told me not to bother taking the final, as my grade is so high that I will get an A no matter what. This was a welcome surprise.
I'm rethinking my part-time job at the barn, mostly because it is another time commitment that I'd just as soon do without. I started working there mainly so that I could keep riding, but I'm usually so tired at the end of a shift that I don't even feel like dragging out a saddle (though the thought of riding bareback did cross my mind a couple of times). I'll try to stick with it through the summer, but the fact that today is a gorgeous day and I elected to stay home instead of going to the barn is telling.
Also, I wish everyone would shut up about Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson already. They were celebrities. You did not know them. You cannot be personally touched by their deaths. Sorry, but your ridiculous need to add your voice to the fray on Twitter and Facebook is just that--ridiculous. I'm also very offended by all the press releases I've gotten from publicists in the past 24 hours, as everyone tries to capitalize on these events. It's tacky and makes me want to write horrible things about their clients.
School daze
Aha! This is my solution to listing the schools I want to apply to without making them show up in search results. Crafty, no? I started off making it so that the more interested I am, the larger the school name would appear, though some of them are slightly off. At any rate, I don't really have the time, energy or money to apply to all of them, so I'll probably whittle the list to a more manageable eight to 10 by the end of the summer. This will be based on a combination of faculty research interests, geography, history of funding graduate students and placement record.
(You can make cool word art too at Wordle.)
(You can make cool word art too at Wordle.)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Reading in the rain
Will this incessant rain ever stop? It's really putting a damper on my normal spring/summer jubilation. So is the oddly cool weather, though I suppose I should be thankful for that as it means I don't have to turn on the air conditioner yet. Still, it's a pain to walk the dogs in the rain (and walk to work or to the subway). And it means no riding as the arena and trails are nothing but mud at this point. Sigh...
On a positive note, I just did a quick house cleaning that left me feeling so much better about the state of things in general. An organized environment works wonders when it comes to organizing my thoughts. Speaking of which, I'm trying very hard to think of all the wonderful things about Philly--and to sort out any issues I might have--in order to make sure my newfound passion for New York is not just a fluke of timing and odd moods. Because, to be honest, it could just be the rain or my mortgage payments or any number of silly things that have triggered my sudden interest in moving.
That said, I am quite enamored of the program I'm applying to there. The more I look into it, the more I think it's an excellent fit for me. Also, I've discovered a very useful site for current and prospective grad students and have been poring over the message boards there. The posts I'm seeing generally reinforce my initial choices of schools to apply to. Of course, they also reinforce that the competition will be fierce, because my top choices are many other people's top choices. (Then again, when I see the GPAs and GRE scores many people are posting, I know I have somewhat of an advantage in those areas.)
I'm still trying to nail down a topic for my research paper that will be submitted with my applications. Perhaps after I make my way through my summer reading list, something will suggest itself. With all these thousands of pages to digest, it better.
On a positive note, I just did a quick house cleaning that left me feeling so much better about the state of things in general. An organized environment works wonders when it comes to organizing my thoughts. Speaking of which, I'm trying very hard to think of all the wonderful things about Philly--and to sort out any issues I might have--in order to make sure my newfound passion for New York is not just a fluke of timing and odd moods. Because, to be honest, it could just be the rain or my mortgage payments or any number of silly things that have triggered my sudden interest in moving.
That said, I am quite enamored of the program I'm applying to there. The more I look into it, the more I think it's an excellent fit for me. Also, I've discovered a very useful site for current and prospective grad students and have been poring over the message boards there. The posts I'm seeing generally reinforce my initial choices of schools to apply to. Of course, they also reinforce that the competition will be fierce, because my top choices are many other people's top choices. (Then again, when I see the GPAs and GRE scores many people are posting, I know I have somewhat of an advantage in those areas.)
I'm still trying to nail down a topic for my research paper that will be submitted with my applications. Perhaps after I make my way through my summer reading list, something will suggest itself. With all these thousands of pages to digest, it better.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The city that never sleeps
I've just returned from a wonderful trip to New York during which I achieved multifarious goals: attending an excellent conference, making some good contacts for grad school, reconnecting with old friends, and eating and drinking myself silly. Actually, that last one wasn't a goal, but it happened nonetheless. I believe I have a built-in margarita locator. Luckily, my internal compass is also becoming accustomed to the NYC subway system and the city grid. I'm feeling quite accomplished all around.
I used to spend a good bit of time in the Big Apple--one or two weekends a month for a couple of years. Then I went several years without even setting foot in the city. When I went back in December, I had a strange feeling of camaraderie with the city. As much time as I'd spent there, I'd never wanted to live there. But last winter, the thought did cross my mind. When I went back this week, it did more than cross my mind; it danced a tango in my head, over and over. I think I could do this.
I already had plans to apply to one university in NY. Now I think I'll apply to three, just to broaden my options. I was lucky to meet a professor from the school I'd originally set my sights on at the conference. She was gracious enough to spend some one-on-one time with me in her office and I feel quite good about my prospects there. All three of the schools I'm considering there have highly ranked sociology programs, so I can't go wrong. And of course I'll still apply to the two here as well. I suppose it will come down to a combination of who offers me the most money and which one has the best research prospects for me.
I still can't get over how enamored I've become of the city. Between browsing for books at The Strand, gobbling gooey dessert crepes at Max Brenner, lounging on the grass in the park, wandering through museums and soaking up the energy of the streets, I'm just smitten. I'm waiting to see if that will wear off now that I'm back home. It's entirely possible, and I've not discounted the fact that part of my crush may be due to escaping the stress I've been feeling at home lately. Perhaps Philly is really my true love and NY just my mistress. That would be OK, too.
I used to spend a good bit of time in the Big Apple--one or two weekends a month for a couple of years. Then I went several years without even setting foot in the city. When I went back in December, I had a strange feeling of camaraderie with the city. As much time as I'd spent there, I'd never wanted to live there. But last winter, the thought did cross my mind. When I went back this week, it did more than cross my mind; it danced a tango in my head, over and over. I think I could do this.
I already had plans to apply to one university in NY. Now I think I'll apply to three, just to broaden my options. I was lucky to meet a professor from the school I'd originally set my sights on at the conference. She was gracious enough to spend some one-on-one time with me in her office and I feel quite good about my prospects there. All three of the schools I'm considering there have highly ranked sociology programs, so I can't go wrong. And of course I'll still apply to the two here as well. I suppose it will come down to a combination of who offers me the most money and which one has the best research prospects for me.
I still can't get over how enamored I've become of the city. Between browsing for books at The Strand, gobbling gooey dessert crepes at Max Brenner, lounging on the grass in the park, wandering through museums and soaking up the energy of the streets, I'm just smitten. I'm waiting to see if that will wear off now that I'm back home. It's entirely possible, and I've not discounted the fact that part of my crush may be due to escaping the stress I've been feeling at home lately. Perhaps Philly is really my true love and NY just my mistress. That would be OK, too.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Feeding a fried brain
Hmmm... that last blog was pretty angry. I'm now torn between modifying the language a bit or just letting it stand, because I am angry about the whole situation. For now I suppose I will leave it as is. For now, actually, I plan to leave a lot of things as is (as are?) because I am too utterly exhausted to do anything else at this point.
Part of this exhaustion stems from the fact that I spent the bulk of the last week helping friends in crisis mode. A missing persons report was almost filed, but we narrowly missed the joy of dealing with the police when said missing person was located, unconscious, in the ICU at a local hospital. I'm being intentionally vague so as not to spill someone else's business on the interwebs, but I am happy to report that all appears to be right in the world again--or at least this little piece of the world. And I'm happy I was able to return the favor, as these friends did much the same for me when I was in a bad situation last year. It's the trying times that really remind you who your true friends are, and it's good to know that I have true friends and can be one, too.
Now we're all talking about moving somewhere together, perhaps Massachusetts. One of the graduate programs I'm interested in is up there, so that could work out well. Another program I really like is in NYC, and I'm going to do a bit of in-person investigation over the next few days while at a conference there. I'm still not sure I could/would leave Philly, but I'm certainly more open to the idea than at any time in the recent past (i.e., since I moved back from L.A.). I guess it all depends on which schools I get into and who gives me the most money to go there.
I'm tempted to blog about the pros and cons of each program, if for no other reason than to help me sort things out for myself. However, I don't want this blog to come up if someone at the school does a search for mentions. In fact, when my applications go out in the fall, the blog may be temporarily suspended and locked, at least until I get my acceptance letters.
Of course, in order to get those, I have to get busy with the writing, particularly my scholarly writing sample (I'm not quite as worried about the personal statement, as that comes much more easily). I was hoping to have a paper due for class that I could repurpose, but all we have in this class are tests. I did just score 100 on my midterm, though (yay, me).
Speaking of class, I'm thinking of dropping my fall class and using the money I would've spent on tuition to go to the ASA conference in San Francisco instead. I feel like I'll get more bang for my buck that way, since I should be able to network with professors from most if not all of the schools I'm applying to. I wish the conference was on the east coast, though; that would make it so much easier (and cheaper). Cheap is good right now, especially since I've developed a tendency to spend my grocery money on books. They're all piling up around my house much more quickly than I can get around to reading them. Still, I think they're wise investments. Books are like food for the mind and soul.
Part of this exhaustion stems from the fact that I spent the bulk of the last week helping friends in crisis mode. A missing persons report was almost filed, but we narrowly missed the joy of dealing with the police when said missing person was located, unconscious, in the ICU at a local hospital. I'm being intentionally vague so as not to spill someone else's business on the interwebs, but I am happy to report that all appears to be right in the world again--or at least this little piece of the world. And I'm happy I was able to return the favor, as these friends did much the same for me when I was in a bad situation last year. It's the trying times that really remind you who your true friends are, and it's good to know that I have true friends and can be one, too.
Now we're all talking about moving somewhere together, perhaps Massachusetts. One of the graduate programs I'm interested in is up there, so that could work out well. Another program I really like is in NYC, and I'm going to do a bit of in-person investigation over the next few days while at a conference there. I'm still not sure I could/would leave Philly, but I'm certainly more open to the idea than at any time in the recent past (i.e., since I moved back from L.A.). I guess it all depends on which schools I get into and who gives me the most money to go there.
I'm tempted to blog about the pros and cons of each program, if for no other reason than to help me sort things out for myself. However, I don't want this blog to come up if someone at the school does a search for mentions. In fact, when my applications go out in the fall, the blog may be temporarily suspended and locked, at least until I get my acceptance letters.
Of course, in order to get those, I have to get busy with the writing, particularly my scholarly writing sample (I'm not quite as worried about the personal statement, as that comes much more easily). I was hoping to have a paper due for class that I could repurpose, but all we have in this class are tests. I did just score 100 on my midterm, though (yay, me).
Speaking of class, I'm thinking of dropping my fall class and using the money I would've spent on tuition to go to the ASA conference in San Francisco instead. I feel like I'll get more bang for my buck that way, since I should be able to network with professors from most if not all of the schools I'm applying to. I wish the conference was on the east coast, though; that would make it so much easier (and cheaper). Cheap is good right now, especially since I've developed a tendency to spend my grocery money on books. They're all piling up around my house much more quickly than I can get around to reading them. Still, I think they're wise investments. Books are like food for the mind and soul.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tragic... and infuriating
Today was my first day working at the barn. That's what I intended to blog about tonight, with my last remaining bit of energy. Instead, I logged on to find that Dr. George Tiller was murdered today. If you don't know, Dr. Tiller was one of only three late-term abortion providers in the country. Three. Only three people in this entire country are courageous enough to allow women to make this critical choice beyond their 21st week of pregnancy. And now there are only two.
This is so fucked up that I don't even know where to begin deconstructing it. But let's start with the irony of the fact that someone who is pro-LIFE murdered this man in cold blood. Let me get this straight: it's not acceptable to "kill" fetuses that aren't even viable human beings, but it's just fine to kill a productive, compassionate, law-abiding citizen because you don't agree with his views? I've always felt the pro-life crowd was a bit deficient in the logic department and this just serves as further evidence to support that theory.
Beyond the obvious disconnect between ideology and action, this piece of shit shot the doctor in his church. IN HIS CHURCH. What the fuck? It seems to me that most pro-life folks are deeply religious. (Why else would they insist on forcing their views on everyone else? That's pretty much the modus operandi of organized religion.) So it stands to reason that these people might have a little respect for for what's supposed to be the house of God. But then again, reason isn't exactly a strong suit of the devoutly religious.
Another thing that really pissed me off is a quote by the head of a militant anti-abortion group in this article. He said, "Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice." Brought to justice? How so? NOTHING he was doing was illegal.
Newsflash, Newman: justice is about the law, not about your personal opinion. And why do you even care? You don't have a uterus. So how about keeping your anti-woman sentiments to yourself?
I also find it interesting that all the anti-choice groups are scrambling to denounce the shooting, even though many of their members are probably privately applauding it. Why? Because once again, it's Supreme Court nomination time, and once again, abortion is sure to be a central issue in the confirmation process.
Personally, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this creates a HUGE backlash against the anti-choice movement. It's about time the pendulum swings back in women's favor.
R.I.P. Dr. Tiller. Your courage and compassion will be sorely missed.
This is so fucked up that I don't even know where to begin deconstructing it. But let's start with the irony of the fact that someone who is pro-LIFE murdered this man in cold blood. Let me get this straight: it's not acceptable to "kill" fetuses that aren't even viable human beings, but it's just fine to kill a productive, compassionate, law-abiding citizen because you don't agree with his views? I've always felt the pro-life crowd was a bit deficient in the logic department and this just serves as further evidence to support that theory.
Beyond the obvious disconnect between ideology and action, this piece of shit shot the doctor in his church. IN HIS CHURCH. What the fuck? It seems to me that most pro-life folks are deeply religious. (Why else would they insist on forcing their views on everyone else? That's pretty much the modus operandi of organized religion.) So it stands to reason that these people might have a little respect for for what's supposed to be the house of God. But then again, reason isn't exactly a strong suit of the devoutly religious.
Another thing that really pissed me off is a quote by the head of a militant anti-abortion group in this article. He said, "Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice." Brought to justice? How so? NOTHING he was doing was illegal.
Newsflash, Newman: justice is about the law, not about your personal opinion. And why do you even care? You don't have a uterus. So how about keeping your anti-woman sentiments to yourself?
I also find it interesting that all the anti-choice groups are scrambling to denounce the shooting, even though many of their members are probably privately applauding it. Why? Because once again, it's Supreme Court nomination time, and once again, abortion is sure to be a central issue in the confirmation process.
Personally, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this creates a HUGE backlash against the anti-choice movement. It's about time the pendulum swings back in women's favor.
R.I.P. Dr. Tiller. Your courage and compassion will be sorely missed.
Friday, May 29, 2009
A horse is a horse, of course
I'm still riding the high of two amazing days at the horse show. It was so good that I almost went back for more today (and may still tomorrow). I had great seats, a tasty wine and cheese picnic and excellent company. It was fun running into equestrian friends there, too--it reminds me that I'm integrated into this wonderful community, even if I'm back to riding other people's horses for now. Come to think of it, probably half the competitors were riding other people's horses, so there you go.
I did have one minor mishap, which I actually think is pretty funny. I was back in the barn area canoodling with one of the horses and after nuzzling my head a little he bit my ear. It didn't hurt all that badly, but when I went into one of the shops that had a mirror, I realized there was blood running down the side of my head!
I start working at the barn this Sunday and I'm pretty excited about that--more excited than one ought to be at the prospect of shoveling shit, I suppose. I've got a lesson this weekend as well, which I'm also looking forward to. I'm not sure who I'll be riding for this one, but it should be interesting. I'm prepared to be sore, since I haven't ridden in over a month.
Other than that, I'm buried in my books, trying to cram as much theory and history and literary goodness into my little head as I possibly can. Five more weeks of class, then I have a break until fall semester. I should also find out in about a month what (if anything) I'll be teaching at the college this fall. I'm working on teaching some test prep classes as well, since I managed to defeat the tricky folks at ETS.
So, in summation, my life is still books + ponies + more books + more ponies. In other words, life is good.
I did have one minor mishap, which I actually think is pretty funny. I was back in the barn area canoodling with one of the horses and after nuzzling my head a little he bit my ear. It didn't hurt all that badly, but when I went into one of the shops that had a mirror, I realized there was blood running down the side of my head!
I start working at the barn this Sunday and I'm pretty excited about that--more excited than one ought to be at the prospect of shoveling shit, I suppose. I've got a lesson this weekend as well, which I'm also looking forward to. I'm not sure who I'll be riding for this one, but it should be interesting. I'm prepared to be sore, since I haven't ridden in over a month.
Other than that, I'm buried in my books, trying to cram as much theory and history and literary goodness into my little head as I possibly can. Five more weeks of class, then I have a break until fall semester. I should also find out in about a month what (if anything) I'll be teaching at the college this fall. I'm working on teaching some test prep classes as well, since I managed to defeat the tricky folks at ETS.
So, in summation, my life is still books + ponies + more books + more ponies. In other words, life is good.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Pony dreams and happy things
I awoke this morning from a lovely, lovely dream in which I found a perfect apartment on a horse farm in a cypress forest. The forest was hauntingly beautiful, with twisty, weeping, moss-covered trees and tiny rutted paths. The apartment was huge and looked right out over the barn and riding ring. I had a horse again--not Chase, but a gorgeous Gypsy Vanner. All my friends lived in the same neighborhood, and I even saw people from my high school and college days. When I woke up, it was so disappointing that I screwed my eyes shut, squinched up in a tiny ball and willed myself back to sleep for more.
Then I woke up again and remembered it's horse show day! That got me out of bed and motivated, even with the lingering wisps of delicious dream still clouding the edges of my mind. I managed to score grandstand seats for two days at Devon. Mo's coming with me for the grand prix tomorrow, but today Kristin and I are watching the hunter classes and the sidesaddle ones. Sidesaddle! Who even knew that people still rode like that? And not only that, but they jump! I'm so excited to see this.
Now I'm off to pick up some wine, cheese and assorted other goodies. I think I managed to pull off the perfect mainline horse show look (for me, anyway). It's sort of butchy, sort of sporty, a little classy yet punky and totally cute: tight jeans, 55DSL polo, Diesel sneaks, A&F belt, Cartier and Yurman jewelry (plus one studded wrist band). I don't know why, but I'm thoroughly pleased with myself for pulling this together. I think I have to indulge my frivolous side on occasion and write about such things. It's a good foil for all the serious academic work I'm immersed in lately. More on that later, but now it's equine time!
Then I woke up again and remembered it's horse show day! That got me out of bed and motivated, even with the lingering wisps of delicious dream still clouding the edges of my mind. I managed to score grandstand seats for two days at Devon. Mo's coming with me for the grand prix tomorrow, but today Kristin and I are watching the hunter classes and the sidesaddle ones. Sidesaddle! Who even knew that people still rode like that? And not only that, but they jump! I'm so excited to see this.
Now I'm off to pick up some wine, cheese and assorted other goodies. I think I managed to pull off the perfect mainline horse show look (for me, anyway). It's sort of butchy, sort of sporty, a little classy yet punky and totally cute: tight jeans, 55DSL polo, Diesel sneaks, A&F belt, Cartier and Yurman jewelry (plus one studded wrist band). I don't know why, but I'm thoroughly pleased with myself for pulling this together. I think I have to indulge my frivolous side on occasion and write about such things. It's a good foil for all the serious academic work I'm immersed in lately. More on that later, but now it's equine time!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A door closes, a window opens
It's over. After two months of spending every spare minute studying, I'm free. I took the GRE on Friday and I'm pleased as punch to report that I aced it. I'd set a goal for myself that I thought might be a stretch goal (1500), and I not only met it but surpassed it (1540!). This puts me solidly in the running for just about every school I want to apply to, as well as plenty of fellowship opportunities. My next project is to start planning my application essays while I work my way through my summer reading list.
I'm quite excited at the prospect of reading something other than GRE study guides and math books. So what's on deck? My book pile includes bell hooks, Kate Bornstein, Judith Butler, Anne Fausto-Sterling and Michel Foucault, among others. I've also got the textbooks and syllabi for a couple of sociology courses at M.I.T., which I'm going to follow thanks to the very cool OpenCourseWare Consortium.
Given my excellent performance on the test and the end of my cramming for it, this was a celebratory weekend. I went to the steeplechase at Radnor Hunt yesterday with Noe, Jasmine and Ipo, and we snagged blanket space right on the rail by the start/finish lines. There were six races and countless glasses of sangria. I also carved a melon basket, which I felt oddly compelled to do because of vague memories of my mother doing that when she and my father went to steeplechase every year. The horses were stunning and the picnicking was top notch. The weather even cooperated and I got a little bit of a tan again.
This weekend was also the Italian Market festival, one of my favorite weekends of the year. I hit the festivities today, but I didn't gorge like usual; I just had one amazing pork sandwich, fresh off the pig, and half of a very tasty cannoli. Then Amy and I headed out to the barn to collect my tack and other stuff. I'd been putting it off because it made things seem more final, but Chase was supposed to move to his new barn today and I didn't have any more time to procrastinate.
It was lovely to be back at the stable after a month away, even under somewhat sad circumstances. Chase didn't get moved today, so I got to spend some time with him after I loaded my car. I also started lining up other horses to ride and traded some of my tack to the barn manager for lessons on her horses. And then, when I was getting ready to go, she mentioned that they needed someone to work Sundays. So, it looks like I'm going to have a part-time job at the barn, which means I'll get a good dose of horse time every week. It'll be a change of pace from being a boarder there, but I'm looking forward to it.
Summer is just getting started, and already I feel like it's going to be fabulous. Busy, but fabulous. I can't wait.
I'm quite excited at the prospect of reading something other than GRE study guides and math books. So what's on deck? My book pile includes bell hooks, Kate Bornstein, Judith Butler, Anne Fausto-Sterling and Michel Foucault, among others. I've also got the textbooks and syllabi for a couple of sociology courses at M.I.T., which I'm going to follow thanks to the very cool OpenCourseWare Consortium.
Given my excellent performance on the test and the end of my cramming for it, this was a celebratory weekend. I went to the steeplechase at Radnor Hunt yesterday with Noe, Jasmine and Ipo, and we snagged blanket space right on the rail by the start/finish lines. There were six races and countless glasses of sangria. I also carved a melon basket, which I felt oddly compelled to do because of vague memories of my mother doing that when she and my father went to steeplechase every year. The horses were stunning and the picnicking was top notch. The weather even cooperated and I got a little bit of a tan again.
This weekend was also the Italian Market festival, one of my favorite weekends of the year. I hit the festivities today, but I didn't gorge like usual; I just had one amazing pork sandwich, fresh off the pig, and half of a very tasty cannoli. Then Amy and I headed out to the barn to collect my tack and other stuff. I'd been putting it off because it made things seem more final, but Chase was supposed to move to his new barn today and I didn't have any more time to procrastinate.
It was lovely to be back at the stable after a month away, even under somewhat sad circumstances. Chase didn't get moved today, so I got to spend some time with him after I loaded my car. I also started lining up other horses to ride and traded some of my tack to the barn manager for lessons on her horses. And then, when I was getting ready to go, she mentioned that they needed someone to work Sundays. So, it looks like I'm going to have a part-time job at the barn, which means I'll get a good dose of horse time every week. It'll be a change of pace from being a boarder there, but I'm looking forward to it.
Summer is just getting started, and already I feel like it's going to be fabulous. Busy, but fabulous. I can't wait.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Views from a broad
It's been three days since my adventure at circus school and I am STILL sore. As it turns out, aerial arts are one hell of a workout. You can read all about that here. My dad asked if I was going to run away and join the circus for real. I've certainly considered it, both literally and metaphorically. But right now all the downward dogs in the world aren't helping stretch out my overworked muscles. I'm doing yoga in between writing, practicing math, and drinking wine while attempting to stand perfectly still on my balance board. I'm failing at at least one of these pursuits.
In other news, I attached my new numbers to my front door (they look lovely), made a delicious risotto and broke a mirror. And it wasn't just any mirror--it was a mosaic one, a big main mirror with lots of tiny little mirrors all around it. So in effect I broke something like 84 mirrors. How many years of bad luck does that give me? I did salvage most of the pieces though, and I am going to use them when I make an Isaiah Zagar-style mosaic mural on my back wall. This will likely be a post-GRE project.
I'm currently on something of a Brazilian music kick. My hair is doing some sort of weird pokey-outy thing that I'm not sure I approve of. I've consumed roughly half a bottle of olive oil in the last week. That's about it. Well, there was something else I wanted to write about but I've already forgotten. My brain cells have been taken off random trivia remembering duty and reassigned to storing and efficiently recalling things like the definition of adumbrate and the formula for the surface area of a right cylinder. Sigh...
In other news, I attached my new numbers to my front door (they look lovely), made a delicious risotto and broke a mirror. And it wasn't just any mirror--it was a mosaic one, a big main mirror with lots of tiny little mirrors all around it. So in effect I broke something like 84 mirrors. How many years of bad luck does that give me? I did salvage most of the pieces though, and I am going to use them when I make an Isaiah Zagar-style mosaic mural on my back wall. This will likely be a post-GRE project.
I'm currently on something of a Brazilian music kick. My hair is doing some sort of weird pokey-outy thing that I'm not sure I approve of. I've consumed roughly half a bottle of olive oil in the last week. That's about it. Well, there was something else I wanted to write about but I've already forgotten. My brain cells have been taken off random trivia remembering duty and reassigned to storing and efficiently recalling things like the definition of adumbrate and the formula for the surface area of a right cylinder. Sigh...
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Free time for a change
I'm midway through my first weekend of horselessness and yes, it sucks. I've only been back in the saddle for about a year but once again it's as natural as walking and I already miss it. The good news is that I will probably continue to ride regularly. The other good news (and I have to keep reminding myself of such things) is that I actually have a lot more free time now. When it's a nice day--and today was incredible--I can enjoy it in ways other than just astride a horse.
For instance, today I painted my front door, laid pea gravel in my back yard and planted flowers in front of the house. I know this probably doesn't sound like tons of fun, but I actually really enjoy that sort of stuff on occasion. The door is a lovely shade of purple called "Purple Royalty." Should you pass my front door, be sure to bow down. I've got awesome orange numbers from Design Within Reach to put on it, too.
Once all the work was done I plopped down on my front stoop with a glass of wine and a GRE book. I will kick ass on this test, damn it. I've been looking into other grad programs that specialize in the sort of research I want to do, and they're pretty much all out of state. I think I may just go for it and apply to all of them. Most of them seem to take 5-15% of their applicants. I'm sure there's some sort of equation I should know by now that'll tell me how many I need to apply to in order to ensure I get into at least one.
Barring that, however, I'm just going to bank on the fact that I'm smart, I made good grades, I'm going to kill the GRE, and my personal statement and recommendations will seal the deal. I always feel vaguely inferior when it comes to stuff like this, and I really don't know why. I've got a solid academic track record, so there's no reason I shouldn't be attractive to these schools. Ugh. I can't wait until all this is over and done. Living in limbo for the next year or so is going to be a little stressful.
In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy my little house and my friends here. Who knows what the future holds...
For instance, today I painted my front door, laid pea gravel in my back yard and planted flowers in front of the house. I know this probably doesn't sound like tons of fun, but I actually really enjoy that sort of stuff on occasion. The door is a lovely shade of purple called "Purple Royalty." Should you pass my front door, be sure to bow down. I've got awesome orange numbers from Design Within Reach to put on it, too.
Once all the work was done I plopped down on my front stoop with a glass of wine and a GRE book. I will kick ass on this test, damn it. I've been looking into other grad programs that specialize in the sort of research I want to do, and they're pretty much all out of state. I think I may just go for it and apply to all of them. Most of them seem to take 5-15% of their applicants. I'm sure there's some sort of equation I should know by now that'll tell me how many I need to apply to in order to ensure I get into at least one.
Barring that, however, I'm just going to bank on the fact that I'm smart, I made good grades, I'm going to kill the GRE, and my personal statement and recommendations will seal the deal. I always feel vaguely inferior when it comes to stuff like this, and I really don't know why. I've got a solid academic track record, so there's no reason I shouldn't be attractive to these schools. Ugh. I can't wait until all this is over and done. Living in limbo for the next year or so is going to be a little stressful.
In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy my little house and my friends here. Who knows what the future holds...
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Hair today, gone tomorrow
Well, I did it--I chopped all my hair off. I kind of love it, actually. It's odd how I can easily get a permanent tattoo on a whim but hesitated and debated for months about hacking off a few inches of hair that'll grow right back.
I think the reason I really went for it this time is because I'm selling Chase. It's not something I want to do, but financial and time issues have forced my hand on this one. However, I think I'll have plenty of opportunities to continue riding, both Chase and other horses. At least I've made lots of connections since I've been back in the equestrian world. At any rate, I was telling someone the other day that it feels like I'm going through a breakup--a really horrible, painful breakup. And what's a girl to do in the midst of such a thing? Why, cut her hair of course!
Other than minor cosmetic changes, I'm doing nothing but studying these days. I take the GRE exactly one month from today, which means I have one month to get myself ready to hand this test its ass on a platter. ETS and the Princeton Review say you're supposed to duplicate as closely as possible the actual test conditions when you take the practice tests. They serve wine at the testing facility, right?
I think the reason I really went for it this time is because I'm selling Chase. It's not something I want to do, but financial and time issues have forced my hand on this one. However, I think I'll have plenty of opportunities to continue riding, both Chase and other horses. At least I've made lots of connections since I've been back in the equestrian world. At any rate, I was telling someone the other day that it feels like I'm going through a breakup--a really horrible, painful breakup. And what's a girl to do in the midst of such a thing? Why, cut her hair of course!
Other than minor cosmetic changes, I'm doing nothing but studying these days. I take the GRE exactly one month from today, which means I have one month to get myself ready to hand this test its ass on a platter. ETS and the Princeton Review say you're supposed to duplicate as closely as possible the actual test conditions when you take the practice tests. They serve wine at the testing facility, right?
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Marketing and other rainy day fun
For a rainy Saturday, today is shaping up to be a pretty decent day. I woke up early this morning (which I've been doing a lot lately on the weekends) and felt happily cocooned in my bed with the dogs while the rain pelted the windows. After luxuriating in the semi-darkness for a while--the luxury hinging on the fact that I didn't actually have to get up--I finally turned on my mermaid lamp and started reviewing vocabulary flashcards for the GRE.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I'd actually learned a ton of new words over the past week and could toss the majority of the cards in the discard pile. My stack of words to learn is getting progressively smaller. Since I have just under five weeks until test time, this is a good thing indeed. Oddly enough, my performance on the math sections of the practice tests is actually outstripping my performance on the verbal section. Historically it has always been the other way around, so it's nice to see my weak areas are improving. I may ace this test yet.
Back to my lazy morning... Jackie came over to go shopping in the Italian Market, but since it's never a good idea to shop on an empty stomach, I made us strawberry-banana pancakes with the leftover fruit from last week's market trip. It's been forever and a day since I made pancakes, but they turned out perfectly: golden brown on the outside and bursting with ripe fruit. I may have to add this to my regular weekend routine, along with hitting the market to restock the coffers.
Today I came home with mangoes, grapes, a pineapple, barley, lentils, polenta, a tuna steak, a crusty loaf of freshly-baked bread and hunks of two new Italian cheeses. Cheese has become my primary culinary splurge these days, mainly because I taste first and ask questions (like the price) later. Still, the cheese guys have yet to steer me wrong.
As I was putting my provisions for the week away, it struck me how radically the contents of my kitchen cabinets and refrigerator have changed as of late. Instead of pre-packaged, nutritionally suspect convenience foods, I've got a bunch of whole grain stuff, fresh fruit and even a few things that look alarmingly close to vegetables. I'm probably spending less than half as much money on food as I used to but eating so much better. It's a bit sad that it took being financially strapped to make me figure out how to manage my consumption for the good of both my body and my wallet, but at least I finally learned. If only I'd been of the same mindset when I was raking in six figures... sigh.
Now I'm lounging around with the dogs, getting ready to nip into that bread and cheese and start my second study session of the day. Boring? Perhaps. But it feels just about perfect to me.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I'd actually learned a ton of new words over the past week and could toss the majority of the cards in the discard pile. My stack of words to learn is getting progressively smaller. Since I have just under five weeks until test time, this is a good thing indeed. Oddly enough, my performance on the math sections of the practice tests is actually outstripping my performance on the verbal section. Historically it has always been the other way around, so it's nice to see my weak areas are improving. I may ace this test yet.
Back to my lazy morning... Jackie came over to go shopping in the Italian Market, but since it's never a good idea to shop on an empty stomach, I made us strawberry-banana pancakes with the leftover fruit from last week's market trip. It's been forever and a day since I made pancakes, but they turned out perfectly: golden brown on the outside and bursting with ripe fruit. I may have to add this to my regular weekend routine, along with hitting the market to restock the coffers.
Today I came home with mangoes, grapes, a pineapple, barley, lentils, polenta, a tuna steak, a crusty loaf of freshly-baked bread and hunks of two new Italian cheeses. Cheese has become my primary culinary splurge these days, mainly because I taste first and ask questions (like the price) later. Still, the cheese guys have yet to steer me wrong.
As I was putting my provisions for the week away, it struck me how radically the contents of my kitchen cabinets and refrigerator have changed as of late. Instead of pre-packaged, nutritionally suspect convenience foods, I've got a bunch of whole grain stuff, fresh fruit and even a few things that look alarmingly close to vegetables. I'm probably spending less than half as much money on food as I used to but eating so much better. It's a bit sad that it took being financially strapped to make me figure out how to manage my consumption for the good of both my body and my wallet, but at least I finally learned. If only I'd been of the same mindset when I was raking in six figures... sigh.
Now I'm lounging around with the dogs, getting ready to nip into that bread and cheese and start my second study session of the day. Boring? Perhaps. But it feels just about perfect to me.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Jury duty
I had jury duty today for the first time ever. I've had a drivers license for 19 years and been registered to vote for 17, but this is my first time being pressed into service. I did get a summons twice when I lived in Georgia, but at the time I was not living in the same county where I was registered so I was told I didn't have to serve. This time, however, there was no getting out of it.
I reported for duty at 8:15 this morning with a bag full of books and no cell phone. See, the summons explicitly stated that no cell phones were allowed in the courthouse. It also stated that there was no longer free parking (or continental breakfast) for jurors, which meant I couldn't drive and leave it in my car to check during breaks. So imagine how annoyed I was when I took my place in the jury room only to find people all around me chatting merrily and texting away on their phones with nary a peep from the court about it. Damn! I could've been twittering the whole experience if only I wasn't so good about following the rules. Six hours without my iPhone just threw my world into a tailspin.
The worst part of it was that I didn't even get called. I felt sort of like the fat kid in gym class who doesn't get picked for a team. Every time they called out another panel of jurors, I waited anxiously to hear my name but to no avail. Instead, I read several chapters of Foucault and did a bunch of math problems from my GRE study book. I guess the day wasn't a complete waste, but it wasn't nearly as exciting as I'd hoped. I had big dreams of having a front row seat to a gory murder trial. Oh well.
I reported for duty at 8:15 this morning with a bag full of books and no cell phone. See, the summons explicitly stated that no cell phones were allowed in the courthouse. It also stated that there was no longer free parking (or continental breakfast) for jurors, which meant I couldn't drive and leave it in my car to check during breaks. So imagine how annoyed I was when I took my place in the jury room only to find people all around me chatting merrily and texting away on their phones with nary a peep from the court about it. Damn! I could've been twittering the whole experience if only I wasn't so good about following the rules. Six hours without my iPhone just threw my world into a tailspin.
The worst part of it was that I didn't even get called. I felt sort of like the fat kid in gym class who doesn't get picked for a team. Every time they called out another panel of jurors, I waited anxiously to hear my name but to no avail. Instead, I read several chapters of Foucault and did a bunch of math problems from my GRE study book. I guess the day wasn't a complete waste, but it wasn't nearly as exciting as I'd hoped. I had big dreams of having a front row seat to a gory murder trial. Oh well.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Underground
I've been taking the subway to work, and I'm kind of excited about it. I'm not sure why; perhaps because it really reinforces the fact that I'm finally working in the city. Last week I took it every single day, and one day I even took an extra little field trip on it.
Aside from the fact that it's saving me money on parking and gas (and aggravation from driving in Center City traffic), it's quite the environmentally responsible thing to do. Plus, I get some exercise on my brisk walk to the station. It's just enough to feel like I've done something to burn some calories, but not so much that I dread doing it in the morning. And in the afternoon, it's a lovely walk home now that people are emerging from their winter cocoons.
I'm still sorting out the subway etiquette though. For instance, if you're sitting in the middle seat of a three-seater that faces the aisle and one of the end people gets off, should you scoot over to the vacated seat? I think yes because I like to maintain a little personal space whenever possible and assume my fellow commuters do as well. But then I worry that the person I'm scooting away from might be offended. Is there an accepted protocol for such things?
Aside from the fact that it's saving me money on parking and gas (and aggravation from driving in Center City traffic), it's quite the environmentally responsible thing to do. Plus, I get some exercise on my brisk walk to the station. It's just enough to feel like I've done something to burn some calories, but not so much that I dread doing it in the morning. And in the afternoon, it's a lovely walk home now that people are emerging from their winter cocoons.
I'm still sorting out the subway etiquette though. For instance, if you're sitting in the middle seat of a three-seater that faces the aisle and one of the end people gets off, should you scoot over to the vacated seat? I think yes because I like to maintain a little personal space whenever possible and assume my fellow commuters do as well. But then I worry that the person I'm scooting away from might be offended. Is there an accepted protocol for such things?
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