questions on how to be an ally & general life update

http://recursiveparadox.dreamwidth.org/7365.html

i would love it if you loved the winter sounds.

check out my post about the winter sounds.

adults say the darndest things

you're right, actually.

it would be completely out of place for me to attempt to say anything holistic or new about patrick swayze's life or career. but, i did watch donnie darko again just a few days ago and loved swayze's role. (everyone is in this movie - seth rogan, too!)

"son, it breaks my heart to say this, but i believe you are a very troubled and confused young man. i believe you are searching for the answers in all the wrong places..." - motivational speaker and local celebrity, jim cunningham

the right time & place.

i am probably the last person on the web to offer up my opinion on this kanye/swift fiasco. i don't have much to say except that there is a proper time and place for kanye to express these thoughts, and this wasn't it.

but, he did kind of have a good point.

oh, online world!

it's ok to be fat

DIVA, europe's biggest-selling lesbian magazine, is dedicating their october edition to fat chicks. "the fat issue: big girl glamour" features an article on the "health at every size" movement.





health at every size encourages:

• accepting and respecting the natural diversity of body sizes and shapes.
• eating in a flexible manner that values pleasure and honors internal cues of hunger, satiety, and appetite.
• finding the joy in moving one’s body and becoming more physically vital.

sounds delicious, right? i was glad to discover that people beside myself are thinking these thoughts. for so long the idea has been propagated that if you want to be healthy then you should be thin, and if you are thin you are healthy.

health is actually defined as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".

for more information on the moment, visit ASDAH (association for size diversity and health) or linda bacon's HAES community.

mmm, bacon.

vloggin' and bloggin'

HFCS or "despite my near-daily nutrageous"

everyday at work i hear a deep rumbling from the lower-level, an almost audible mechanical shout of my name: "miranda!"

damn vending machine. the quarters in my pocket follow me down on the elevator, dive into the machine, and happily trade their lives with me for the company of their silver (actually, nickel and copper) brothers and sisters. and out pops a nutrageous. mmm, chocolatey candy with peanuts, caramel, peanut butter and corn syrup.

despite my near-daily nutrageous, i have been making an effort to reduce the amount of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) i consume. having been overweight my entire life, HFCS may or may not be the least of my issues to be dealt with. but, cutting down on HFCS might be a good way to reduce the amount of processed and genetically modified materials i put into my body.

most surprising places i found corn syrup: my bologna and soy sauce.

while studies about HFCS seem to remain skewed and inconclusive, katherine zeratsky (a registered dietician with the mayo clinc) offers the following advice:

if you're concerned about the amount of high-fructose corn syrup or other sweeteners in your diet, consider these tips:

• limit processed foods.
• avoid foods that contain added sugar.
• choose fresh fruit rather than fruit juice or fruit-flavored drinks. even 100 percent fruit juice has a high concentration of sugar.
• choose fruit canned in its own juices instead of heavy syrup.
• drink less soda.
• don't allow sweetened beverages to replace milk, especially for children.

ew. milk.

here's what got me thinking about HFCS.

next task: cutting out artificial sweeteners!

the winter sounds

the winter sounds is a band about which i am priviledged to say, "my friend's in this band...and, uh, yeah. they're pretty sweet. you should check it out." there's no unbalanced sound or mismatched vocals here, and these kids aren't from your neighbor's basement.

despite not knowing quite where they're from, with four members from four different states, the winter sounds have some of the most loyal fans in the southeast and midwest. when the band needed new tires for the van, in order to support their road-junkie lifestyle, they called upon their fans. in mere days, fans donated $500 to help keep these kids on the road. the band responded graciously, writing and performing personalized "thank you" videos for each fan who made a donation.

if it's not obvious by now that i am incredibly biased let me spell it out for you: i am incredibly biased. the winter sounds are four of the best, most genuine and fun people i know. so, i don't expect you to believe me when i say they're good.

here's what other people think:

nicole kibert @ the daily loaf says, "they’ve managed to successfully amalgamate all the bands you love so much into something new. so get your dancing shoes on and get ready to see the future of indie rock."

josh kirkwood @ teradyme says, "the winter sounds took me places i have never truly been. they made me feel as if i was in europe, particularly ireland, listening to eclectic music so good, i had a subconscious fear i'd never hear it again."

or just check it out for yourself:

http://thewintersounds.bandcamp.com/

last night they wrapped up their most recent tour, playing a spot-on show at martyrs' in their "hometown" chicago. the band is currently taking a nice long break from the road (one whole whopping month) but will be out and about again soon.

September 19 2009, 8:00 PM
PLAY:stl (w/ Dear Future, Love in October & many more)
St. Louis, Missouri

September 24 2009, 8:00 PM
Midpoint Music Festival (Know Theater Main Stage)
Cincinnati, Ohio

muse&amuse

muse \ˈmyüz\ to turn something over in the mind meditatively and often inconclusively.

amuse \ə-ˈmyüz\ to entertain or occupy in a light, playful, or pleasant manner.