Jennifer Livingston

I don't always go on blog rants, but this pissed me off just enough to do it.  First, read this article and take the time to watch the 4:20 video clip.

TV Anchor Responds to Viewer's Attack on Her Weight

Also on MSNBC

If your blood is not boiling, you probably have never struggled with your weight.  I challenge this moron that sent the e-mail to gain 100 pounds and try to lose it before he EVER criticizes another soul.  For many, if not all, obesity is just as much a choice that someone makes as being born with brown eyes is a choice.  Unfortunately, being a bully is a choice - and a poor one at that.  For someone to call out a complete stranger in such a horrendous way is cowardly and I hope to God he does not have the ability to reproduce.  I've come across the offspring this type creates and it's not pretty.  

To start, Jennifer's response was proof that she is a class act and, contrary to what the e-mail stated, she is indeed a role model - especially for young girls and women.  Success is not measured by a dress size or a number on a scale and having only people that fit a certain look in the public eye is ridiculous.  I commend her for taking it to the morning news and addressing it.  By doing this publicly, she wins.  Somewhere right now, the author of that e-mail is, I hope, sitting somewhere feeling mighty ashamed of himself.  This aired this morning on the local news and already tomorrow she is going to be making appearances on national television, including Good Morning America on ABC.

In this country, one third of children and adolescents are obese and 35.7% of adults are obese.  (http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html)  I bet there is not one person in that group that doesn't have a story to tell about being bullied.  It takes a special kind of asshole to think that a nasty e-mail is going to be the inspirational motivator that cures obesity.  For those of us who have struggled or are struggling with weight and body image issues, there are sometimes underlying issues that small minds like this guy can't even begin to comprehend.  

Seventh Year Senior Vs. The Second Year Freshmen

What is a second year freshman, you ask?  A second year freshman is defined as a sophomore college student who has somehow managed to get through their first year of college while still acting, dressing, and talking like a high school freshman.  I will be sharing some observations and real-life run-ins I've had with this population. 

BIO LAB:  What do you expect to find in a biology lab?  If you think back to high school Biology, odds are you dissected something.  Typically, it's a frog. So, we're sitting in a biology lab.  To get into this particular biology lab, you need to meet the prerequisites, which means that by this point, you've cut open squids, pigs, worms, and starfish.
With that in mind, we show up to lab and there are no dissecting tools to be seen.  Instead, laptops are set up.  What could be better for the passer-outers than a virtual lab?  The lab wasn't really even a dissection.  We had to surgically implant some stuff in the head of this rat.  No virtual cutting.  No virtual blood.  Nothing.  The second year freshman across from me covers her eyes and says, "I CAN'T WATCH THIS."  Maybe she had some sort of bad experience with Super Mario?!  It didn't stop there.  She continued to make a scene and at that point I just became embarrassed to even be in the same room as her.

DUMB QUESTIONS: I've heard so many people say that there is no such thing as a dumb question.  Let me tell you, YES, Virgina, there are dumb questions.  Here are some classic examples from the Second Year Freshmen.

STUDENT:  Uh, Dr. -----, What's worse: Getting kicked out of class, or skipping class?

SAME STUDENT: (to the professor) Have you ever wanted to kick me out of class?
PROFESSOR: I'm not going to answer that.
SEVENTH YEAR SENIOR:  Okay, then I'll
answer it. 

STUDENT 1: Okay... so ... like... what's the best way to get your door lock unfrozen?
STUDENT 2: Your car door is frozen?

STUDENT 1: No, my apartment door.
STUDENT 2: Your apartment door is frozen?
STUDENT 1: Uh - Yah!  And I was inside!!!

STUDENT: Can we have extra credit?  
(Nothing screams FRESHMAN like this question!)


STUDENT: Okay, so, I'm wondering how, like, when you have that ummm.... that thing... umm...(long pause)... Nevermind.    

Senioritis Goes to the Torchlight Parade

Melissa should have stayed home tonight.  Instead, she ventured over to the north side of town for the Torchlight Parade.  If you aren't familiar with this parade, it is part of Octoberfest and it starts when it's dark.  Basically, it's an epileptic's worst nightmare.  And a senioritis sufferer's excuse not to do homework.  (Like an excuse is needed, though...)

Do you ever notice that when people gather in extremely large crowds, the stupid ones always stand out?  I have over 230 college credits and six years of college under my belt.  Trust me.  I can pick out stupid people.  Add alcohol to the idiots and you have a disaster waiting to happen.  Something to look forward to reading in tomorrow's Tribune, I guess.

So, in an attempt to meet up with some friends, I ended up driving through the herds of cooler-toting families, texting teenagers, and the elderly.  Oh yes, the elderly.  My favorite was the soccer mom in the mini-van that stopped for an imaginary stop sign and held up traffic.

I finally found a parking spot about 7 or 8 blocks from where I was meeting my friends.  Ever try walking through crowds of kids, adults, adults with beer in their hands, adults with dogs, and vendors selling glow sticks?  One block in and my polite "excuse me" turned into a borderline-barking "MOVE IT!"

People just stand in their huddles, looking around at all the glowing things as if they are in la-la land.  I could have just moved to the street and walked the parade route, but really?  I wasn't in the mood to be out parading in front of the city of La Crosse.  Mostly because I wasn't entirely sure I could keep my mouth shut and not verbally bash the morons who obviously got better parking than me.

By the sixth block I realized that either big crowds are not my thing, or I need to double the meds.  Again.

When I finally met up with my peeps, I felt more relaxed and was ready for another great Torchlight parade.  Unfortunately, some people just don't know proper parade etiquette.  So, for all of you who were born yesterday, or just happen to act like it, here's a Top Ten List just for you.

Top Ten Ways to Piss off the People at a Parade:

10.  Ask this lady about my camera's flash!!!

9.  (Refer to # 10) Ask me if I care.

8.  Let your kid bop everyone with their brand new inflatable shark and not say anything.  Heaven forbid we discipline our kids in public.

7. (Refer to #9) When another  mom tells your brat to stop hitting her infant with the inflatable shark, give her the "how dare you yell at my child" look.

6.  Don't stand when the flags go by.

5.  Three words: Brats and Kraut

4. Shoot off loud obnoxious fireworks that only make noise and have to aesthetic value whatsoever. 

3.  Three More Words:  Christmas in September!












2.  Walk in groups in front of the crowd and block their view of the parade.

And the number one way to piss off people at a parade...

1.  (Refer to #2) While walking in front of the crowd as the parade is going on, get hit by a float and halt the parade, making everyone down the route think it's over.

The Texting Take Over

Here it comes.  Brace yourselves.

I've found a great table outside of the Reinhart Center to people watch.  The vast majority of you walk right by me and probably don't even know I'm sitting here staring you down because your eyes are locked on your cell phone screen.  Or, you have your ear conveniently attached to your device.

Well, you don't look cool.  You look stupid.  Not to mention anti-social.  Sure, you're texting which is, I guess 'social' in a completely anti-social mode of communication.  I am right now making a pledge not to text unless texted to, and not to text in environments where real socialization could be occurring.

Generally, I'm a shy person.  That doesn't mean that I can't smile at someone or say 'hello' as I walk by, but when their running their fingers across a touch screen, tripping over their own shoes, it makes it a little difficult for any type of interaction.

We have a global "lights out" day to conserve energy.  How about a global "turn off your cell phone" day. Honestly, believe it or not back in the day, people actually left their house without a phone.  The world will keep spinning if just for one day we all put away our cell phones and tried face-to-face communication instead.

I even wish they would start offering a Cell Phone Etiquette 101 in high schools and colleges.  Seriously,  shouldn't it be common sense that you leave your phone in the car when you're having your senior photos taken?  Even though you may not think so, when you're in a check-out texting or talking on the phone - you are holding up the line.  And, have you noticed how much a movie ticket costs these days?  You're really going to dish out that cash to sit and text during the entire movie?  Ridiculous.

The rudest of all is when you meet up with someone - as in Face- to - Face.  No skype, no IM chat... actually sitting down in person and you spend the time talking on the phone, browsing the 'net, or texting.  You may as well look at the person you're supposed to be talking to and tell them that they really aren't that important and you'd rather play with your gadget.

Let's not even get Melissa started on texting while driving.  To me that falls in the same category as drunk driving and people should be pulled over and punished appropriately.  That's another post.  

Happy Friday.

Cigarette-Flicking Idiot

Dear Inconsiderate Smoker,

As you passed me on the street on Tuesday morning, you just so happened to flick the ash of your cigarette into my eye.  Had I known it would turn out to be a day-long irritant, I would have stopped you, physically removed your cell phone from the side of your head, and shoved your cigarette up your...

but I just kept walking.  I had things to do.  Places to be.  You apparently know all about that because you were in such a rush you didn't even notice that you sent me into a blinking fit.  Something lodged under my left eyelid and instantly my eye began to water.  So, I went to class and tried to ignore the fact that every time I would blink, it felt like my lid was rolling over broken glass.

After class, I proceeded on with my day and went to work.  By this time, all around my eye was red and more irritated than me.  After several attempts at removing whatever was in there, I gave up and went to the walk-in.  They sent me directly to an opthamologist, flipped my eyelid inside out, and dug it out with a silver instrument that I'd like to introduce YOUR eyeball to.  

Well, I hope you enjoyed your cigarette that I'll be paying $250 for. 

Sincerely,
  Melissa McCarthy