Jagged Little Pill

Just in case you've been hiding under a rock...the House of Representatives passed historic health care reform on Sunday night, and President Obama is expected to sign the bill today. Within the next few weeks the Senate will pass changes to the bill through the reconciliation process, and we will join the rest of the First World in our commitment to providing health care to our citizens.

Here's what Michael Moore had to say:

Thanks to last night's vote, that child of yours who has had asthma since birth will now be covered after suffering for her first nine years as an American child with a pre-existing condition.

Thanks to last night's vote, that 23-year-old of yours who will be hit one day by a drunk driver and spend six months recovering in the hospital will now not go bankrupt because you will be able to keep him on your insurance policy.

Thanks to last night's vote, after your cancer returns for the third time -- racking up another $200,000 in costs to keep you alive -- your insurance company will have to commit a criminal act if they even think of dropping you from their rolls.

Yes, my Republican friends, even though you have opposed this health care bill, we've made sure it is going to cover you, too, in your time of need. I know you're upset right now. I know you probably think that if you did get wiped out by an illness, or thrown out of your home because of a medical bankruptcy, that you would somehow pull yourself up by your bootstraps and survive. I know that's a comforting story to tell yourself, and if John Wayne were still alive I'm sure he could make that into a movie for you.


Joking and sarcasm aside, he's hit the nail on the head. With this reform, people don't have to be afraid to get sick. I speak from experience; every change in the season that causes a sniffle or a tickle in my throat, a fever or a strange pain in my side, scares me to death. I, like so many people my age and in my situation, do not work enough hours at either of my two jobs to qualify for employer-provided insurance. I am too old to be covered on my parents' respective health care plans, and I certainly don't make enough money to pay for my own -- that is, unless I'd prefer to go without food or have my car repossessed. Coverage for a 23-year-old woman is expensive, damn that pesky uterus and being of "child-rearing age". For months I've been talking about trying to go full-time, or to find a job that will give me health care so I can actually afford to be ill -- or, at least, to go to the doctor when I am.


Obviously there are political ramifications to this bill, which are being widely commented in the news. We won't know until November if the Democrats will suffer for their "arrogance" or if Republicans will reap the rotted fruit of their hate-mongering. Throw it in Google, and happy reading. For me, though, this is so much more than playing politics.


I'm sick of listening to people who haven't even looked at the bill, people who think that Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck are credible in the least. I have fielded hundreds of calls from these opponents to health care who are arguing the opposite of what is in the bill -- okay, ladies and gentlemen, the bill does not provide federal funding for abortion. There is a provision to make prescription drugs more affordable for senior citizens. It will be illegal to discriminate based on pre-existing conditions. The mandate to carry health insurance will be offset by subsidies to aid in purchasing that insurance. And before you tell me that it will further bankrupt us, think of the tax dollars we will be saving because we will no longer have to put out for ER visits by the uninsured among us.


It pisses me off when these same people claim that those without health insurance are "lazy" or "irresponsible". I. Beg. To. Differ. I work two jobs, have an internship, and volunteer in two different positions for a non-profit organization. And, I'm applying to grad school. I guarantee there are others like me. So, those of you who cry "don't tread on me": you know what they say about people in glass houses...

"Go wipe off your face, you look like a whore!"

My favorite Web site, The Frisky, ran a story today from Marie Claire UK about Katie Price's upcoming makeup for little girls (see the full story here). This got me thinking, really thinking about the culture in which we live today.

Children are not allowed to be children anymore. They are surrounded by propaganda from the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and other networks for children that market products and clothing that before would not be appropriate for anybody younger than high school. The hell raised over updating Dora of Dora the Explorer to a chic ten-year-old is just one example; while I believe the company was justified in updating her image to maintain her relevance as one segment of her audience aged, it is still troubling that "maintaining her relevance" was only attainable by giving her hip clothes and the hint of cosmetic touch-ups.

Now, I don't have children (yet). However, I'm young enough to remember the rules of our household when it came to clothing and makeup. Nail polish and Chapstick was acceptable when I was still in elementary school; the only time I was allowed to wear actual makeup was when I was an extra in our high school's production of The Music Man - I was in the fifth grade, and you bet that makeup came off the second the show was over.

As I moved into junior high and high school, my mom was slightly more lenient about makeup (as in, okay, I could wear it), but she would be the first one to tell me if I was too imaginative or had used too heavy a hand with the little pots and tubes in the bathroom. She was also my primary clothing critic as, sadly, my sartorial prowess took a fair bit longer to develop (the girl in 8th grade who made fun of my misguided decision to use every mini claw in my collection at once was right...but she's still a bitch). More than once I heard: "That's too tight on you." "You're showing off everything you have!" "Go wipe off your face, you look like a whore!"

Okay, the second one is an exaggeration and the third one never actually happened, but sometimes I like to dream that I have an angry Jewish mother.

At the time I resented her intrusion, much less the idea that this old(er) woman could possibly understand the fashion woes and wishes of a teenager. Looking back, though, I find that I developed a much greater respect for looking classy and age-appropriate than I would have otherwise -- not to mention the fact that I avoided subjecting myself to even higher levels of peer hostility by listening to Mom and rethinking whether I would "really wear that out in public".

My challenge for parents and my hope for my own family, then, is that we get off of this propaganda whirlwind that causes children to lose their innocence far too quickly, all for the sake of product placement.

"You need to be mad as a hatter...which luckily I am."

After months of waiting, I finally got to see Tim Burton's new adaptation of Alice in Wonderland when it opened last Friday. (Get tickets without the wait at Fandango.) Though we saw it in 2D, I highly recommend that you have the 3D experience as well -- more to follow on that when I get the chance!

Australian ingenue Mia Wasikowska shines and inspires as 19-year-old Alice Kingsley, who falls back down the rabbit hole and into a "Wonderland" that is strange and familiarall at once. Old friends become new guides in her quest to wake up from a dream that is suddenly too real, and through her journey Alice learns an important lesson not only about where she is, but who she is.

Tim Burton, as usual, does not disappoint. His Wonderland is a beautiful and twisted place brought to life with the latest cinematic technology -- after watching it, you may just want to go there yourself. Unlike the original Disney treatment, Burton's Alice is more faithful to the original Lewis Carroll books and reintroduces some central characters that may be unfamiliar to fans of the animated version. As with the 2005 remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Burton has taken the lens and revealed a world that is darker and ultimately more real than the fantasies created by their predecessors.

Of course, this would not be possible without a stunning line-up of talent: Johnny Depp once again proves his aptitude for lending depth to difficult roles with his portrayal of a Mad Hatter who is something of a mix between Braveheart and totally bonkers. I spent most of the movie trying to make sense of things he said, which is probably the best compliment I can give. His interactions with Wasikowska were at once amusing and touching. 

Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs. Tim Burton, for the 2 people in the world who don't know) is perfectly impetuous as the Red Queen whose infamous temper is a poor disguise for her own shortcomings. And Anne Hathaway's White Queen is wise, regal, and outrageously saccharine -- you may need to shield your eyes from all the white in both the scenery and her personality. The supporting cast is equally delightful (I have a special place in my heart for Alan Rickman's Absolem), with the possible exception of Crispin Glover's Red Knave -- I have to agree with others, I don't really feel like he's acting...

Movie prices may be out of control, and you're crazy if you even think of shopping the concession stand, but with Alice in Wonderland you will definitely get your money's worth. Don't miss out, or you may lose your "muchness".

Rating: A+

Why don't you put it on a blog baby, rockin' like it's my job...

So...what do you do when your boyfriend is in a bromance that's just causing too much drama?

I've learned a lot of lessons about love and relationships, especially in the last four years. And I couldn't be happier that Brian and I are back together, where we belong. It hasn't been absolutely perfect, but it's been right and we're both working on communicating and using what we've learned to make our relationship even better. Because of that, I'm acutely aware of how much time we spend together and I try not to make it every waking moment. We both have our own lives and we'll be even better together if we keep those separate parts going strong as well.

Unfortunately, the last week has been totally jacked -- between Amy's funeral, being almost literally sick to death and moving, Brian has been at my side nearly every day. I'm so grateful to have a partner who is so tuned to me and who considers me to be such an important part of his life that he will spend the time and energy to be there for me in such a meaningful way. I couldn't have survived this week without him. Of course, being with me means that he hasn't been  spending as much time at his house, with his friends...and this is where the problems start.

Long story short, his friends either don't understand or don't appreciate that ours is a serious and lasting relationship, and because of their own views would prefer to think that I am leading him by the nose and/or taking over his life. This is beyond irritating because a: I'm not the one giving him shit for not being around, and b: this is a two-person relationship that doesn't involve anybody but Brian and me. 

Here's a clue: in five years, you may or may not be there -- but I will be. In ten years, I will be there -- where will you be? You want your friend, and that's fine, but don't be a pissy bitch because you disagree with his priorities. Trust me, he's a big boy who can make up his own mind. And one day you'll fall for somebody who will become your top priority, if you're lucky -- maybe then you'll finally get it.