What makes one a snob?  The dictionary defines the word snob as “a person who imitates, cultivates, or slavishly admires social superiors and is condescending or overbearing to others”.  Simply being particular doesn’t necessarily make one a snob, though.

Looking down your nose at how others live, dress, or behave would make you a snob.  Preferring to live, dress, or behave a certain way yourself would not.  Appreciating fine things in life also does not make one a snob.  Defining “fine things” as better than what others may have might make one a snob.

I appreciate gourmet food, fine wine, and “designer” coffee, but I don’t consider them superior to food and beverages that others choose.  When I’m not in my work-from-home uniform of loungewear or sweats, I appreciate classy clothes.  I may have opinions about some of the clothing choices made by some, but I do my best to keep those opinions to myself.  I drive a Jag, but I don’t drive it because I think it’s better than anyone else’s car.  I drive it because I have dreamed of owning a Jaguar since before I could drive.

I worried for about a second that I might be considered a snob.  I am now comfortable with accepting that I am particular about some things.  I’m still me, though!  Take me or leave me.

1. Rejection of God’s revealed program for humanity.

2. Hatred of Israel.

3. Use of rationalistic and liberalistic arguments to undermine the Word of God.

4. Supreme contempt for those who take God at His word.

5. Naturalistic outlook on life.

6. Hostile and argumentative attitude.

7. Evolutionary view of human institutions and affairs.

8. Refusal to accept the dictates of common sense and reason.

9. Snobbish elitism.

10. Urgent need to proselytize.

Ok, das mit Wochenende gibts was neues ist dann doch nix geworden, weil ich kurzfristig mit dem Zug zu meinen Verwanten gefahren bin. Und als ich da so eine Stunde rumsaß, hab ich mich einmal fast totgelacht… und dann saß heute auch noch ein seeehr seltsamer Mann im Bus.

Ich bin eingestiegen und habe mich auf meinen Platz in der ersten Klasse gesetzt…ein paar Minuten kam ein Paar aus dem Speisewagen, er mit einem Kaffeebecher in der Hand, und…ich musste mir das Lachen echt verkneifen, einem Thermometer dadrin. Kurz darauf holte er es heraus, sah darauf und sagte zu seiner freundin: ” Ich habs gewusst…keine gute Qualität…ein Grad zu kalt!!!” Beide schüttelten den Kopf und setzten sich in den Vierer, der nur durch den Gang von mir getrennt war.Sie hatten alles mit ihren Taschen vollgestellt, die beiden freien Sizte, den Boden und sogar der Sitz hinter mir war voll. Sie sah sich arrogant um, bemerkte mich und machte einen Gessichtsausdruck als wäre ich eine Fliege in ihrem 5-Sterne Essen. Er kramte in seiner Tasche und legte ein nagelneues iPhone auf den Tisch, mit allem Zubehör, tippte darauf herum  und blickte dabei im Abteil herum, als ob er allen zeigen wollte, dass ER ein SOOOO tolles iPhone hat. Kurz darauf rief ihn jemand an. Er redete so laut, dass jeder es hören mussste: “…nein, der Urlaub war nicht gelungen. Es war kein 5-Sterne Hotel, den 5. Stern hatten die da grade verloren. Ich hab denen da auch gesagt, dass das keine tragbaren Umstände sind, und ich hab nur die hälfte bezahlt.” ich musste mir das Lachen so vewrkneifen, ich bin fast geplatzt! ja, und nach wieder 20 Minuten holten sie ihre Bücher raus: Sie :Liebe im Portmonee (der sowas in der Art) Er: Finanzen und wie man das Geld der Welt besitzen kann (jedenfalls um das ganze Geld der Welt). Kurt danach musste ich leider auch schon aussteigen, aber sobald der Zug aus dem Bahnhof rausgefahren war, hab ich mich nicht mehr vor Lachen halten und alle Leute auf den Bahnsteigen  runterum haben zu mir geschaut und sich gewundert, aber ich konnte einfach nicht aufhören…

Ihr könnt echt nict nachvollziehen wie lustig die wahren, besonders weil beide Frisuren wie Millionäre aus alten “Cloumbo”-Filmen hatten.

Naja, bis bald!

Arminiastern *

Como eu tinha comentado, semana retrasada deixei o calor infernal daqui do Rio para passar 1 semana em Sampa, à trabalho. Já que eu ficava o dia inteiro ocupada com o meu ganha pão, só me restavam as noites para eu me distrair. Como eu estava sozinha, não tinha como eu fugir dos Shoppings e das compras.

Eu estava hospedada perto da Paulista, e como já era tarde, resolvi dar um pulo no Pátio Paulista. Lá descobri um quiosque da marca Californiana NYX, até então desconhecida para mim, já que não tem aqui no Rio nem na minha terrinha natal, o Rio Grande do Sul. O Sérgio, um vendedor-maquiador super fofo  me explicou a marca e me mostrou alguns produtinhos.

Experimentei alguns batons e tive uma feliz surpresa-dupla: Em primeiro lugar amei demais a textura dos batons, deslizam na boca e possuem uma ótima cobertura, principalmente os não-cintilantes. E em segundo lugar, o precinho amigável, R$29 cada batom da linha Lip Smacking Fun Colors. Além disso, tem muitas opções de cores.

Foi aí que eu descobri um batom muito parecido com o Snob da MAC, o Power (n. 629) da linha Smacking Fun Colors. A diferença é que ele é levemente mais malva, ou seja, um pouco mais fechado. Talvez para algumas pessoas isso até seja uma vantagem, pois tem gente que tem dificuldade em se acertar com o tom do Snob. Comprei ele e o Sky Pink (n.579), que na luz do shopping, parecia ser um Snob mais cintilante.

Nos Swatches dá para ver que o Power e o Snob são bem parecidos… Porém, a luz escura do shopping me enganou a respeito do Sky Pink…

Mas a prova final mostra que existe diferença visível entre o Snob e o Power. O Sky Pink foi uma decepção, mas se mostrou interessante quando aplicado por cima do Power. Mais do que a cor, a textura do Power é diferente do Snob. O Power é como se fosse o “Lustre” da MAC, tem média cobertura, mais fininho (embora dure mais), desliza bem e fica com aparência levemente “molhadinho”. O Snob é  “Satin”, boa cobertura, mais sequinho e grossinho.

A conclusão é que o Power da NYX é menos azulado que o Snob, mas esta característica pode interessar a quem acha o Snob muito contrastante. Porém, na falta do Snob há meses no mercado brasileiro e com o preço super convidativo da NYX, pode ser uma opção. Mas no final das contas, para mim o Snob é insubstituível!

If you’re wearing that on our walk, I can hold it.

Picture by: dunno source Caption by: MallardVHS via Loldog Builder

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Do you ever wonder why you get deliberately snubbed by someone?  Odd isn’t that someone who wouldn’t give you the time of day thirty plus years ago still won’t acknowledge your presence.  I’m hard to miss.

After another futile job interview, I stopped to treat myself to a cup of over-priced trendy coffee.  As I waited for my grande mocha latte, (which is definitely not in my budget and would have Suze Orman yelling at me) I stood next to a woman I went to high school with.  I said hello to her by name, saw the flicker of recognition in her eyes and chuckled loudly as she turned her back on me.

Funny how some folks never change.

I checked two books (Sor Juana by Octavio Paz and one of Sor Juana’s plays, El divino narciso) out from my own school’s library for the first time. It turns out the library is not open 24 hours on Saturdays. What a shame–people need to find a productive outlet away from their eerily quiet dorms during the weekends, especially when their roommates are out all day having fun while you are stuck inside wondering why that friend down the hall didn’t answer your text about going to dinner together. The library should be open around the clock.

At least checking the books out got me out of the stuffy dorm for a while and into the cool, fresh-feeling air that follows East Coast rain. And now I can sit, cozily and peacefully, reading books about Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz.

Speaking of Juana–while searching the vast open web for the said poetess, I found the online version of my great-grandmother’s obituary. I spent a good few minutes just reading, then staring, at it before I could peel my eyes from the screen. I had never gone to the funeral the obituary publicized. I now wonder why my mom couldn’t have just picked up that 2003 issue of the SF Chronicle. The good side of this is that now that I have found that same information, I can still go visit my great-grandma Juana; it’s not exactly a limited-time engagement.

My roommate has become good friends with a few of the girls on our hall who I know don’t think very highly of me. Once all I did was say hi to one of them as I passed her in the hall and she gave me this up-down look of mild disapproval. My roommate hangs out with this girl all the time. They go to folk concerts and museums and dinners and parties together.

And what do I do? I dream of a 24/7 library (besides Butler) and I eat my dinner alone.

For information on why I named this post as I did, read:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nun#Catholic (specifically look at the paragraph starting with “cloistered nuns”).

Ok, so we’ve all seen batman as a grownup: incredibly awesome and guaranteed box office GOLD. Batman as a kid would be boring: boohoo dead parents and all that. But what about batman as a TEEN?!
BOOMPOW!
Enter Gotham High,
Wait, what is that?
Is that success I smell a-brewin’?
Before I lay it all out, I’ll ease your mind by saying we already have a sequel in the works: Gotham University! (and a threequel: Gotham post-grad!)
Now, strap into your pampers because this movie is going to shit money. Literally.
Batman and Joker: two seniors in high school. They both have built their reputations or the past three years, and now they’re the top dawgs of Gotham High. This means one thing of course: RIVALRY!
They’re totally rivals!
We see them pass each other in the hall and Batman’s like “something smells poor. Joker must be nearby!” Then he and his snob friends chuckle and Batman’s monocle falls out of his face from laughing so hard and he almost spills his martini. Also Catwoman is his girlfriend and she’s the head cheerleader.
Then Joker punches him and the teacher, who is the Green Lantern, breaks them up and is like “superheroes aren’t supposed to fight! Get back to class you knuckleheads before I send you to principal Spiderman!” and they’re both like shrugging their shoulders and looking cool and like “whatever.” They both know mean old principal Spiderman is mad at them for always being rivals and tearing the school spirit in half instead of acting like the brothers they are. Also Catwoman is the joker’s girlfriend and she’s head of the spirit squad.
All of a sudden, this rivalry is about to explode!!! why?
Because Samantha Campbell is a new transfer student who just moved from New York out here to California to attend Gotham High School. And she is totally mind-blowingly hot! You’d better believe it!
So they’re in chemistry class throwing insult-notes at each other and then, in walks Samantha Campbell, and BAM! jaws=on floor. heads=turned.
Batman’s all like “you can sit here Samantha!” and joker’s like “i got you flowers Samantha!” and Batman’s like “you can wear my varsity jacket Samantha!” And the teacher, who is the Punisher is like “everyone settle down! There are two things I know about: Chemistry and punishing!”
so they all sit down, and Batman and Joker make angry eyes at each other so it’s clear to the audience that it’s ON!
So we see Joker at home and hes family’s all mean and his dad’s a gambler-drunk and he’s like “no one understands me!” and he runs into the yard and gets into his purple camaro and peels rubber outta there! Then we see Batman at home and his mom’s like “why don’t you buy her things? That’s how your father and I met.” and his dad’s like “she’s not good enough for you son. We need a family that’s fat with mutual funds and banking! I raised you better than this!” And Batman cries a single tear because he’s rich and rich people don’t know how to cry properly. Then he leaves on his harley, and puts on his leather jacket, which has a skull on the back (skulls are scarier than bats).
Then Batman pulls up to the red light and who should be there but the joker in his purple camaro. And they both look at each other all sad, and we can just tell that they used to be best friends because of family stuff. Then before they can be best friends again, or say a word, Samantha pulls up to the light in her daddy’s ferrari, which is candy red, like Samantha’s blonde hair, which is dyed black now to match the car. Batman sees her black hair and he winks at joker like she dyed it black to match his batman suit. Joker revs his engine and batman revs his motorbike and the light turns green and they’re off! We blast Sammy Hagar’s “Heavy Metal” as loud as the theatre speakers can go, BLASTO!
They race all through town, and Samantha is following to see which one will win her heart, and they both have gadgets in their vehicles like james bond, but the joker’s are all krappy like with duct tape and milk jugs, but they’re still powerful (he’s poor, but scrappy!).
This race signifies that snobs will always be versus slobs in life and teenagers should get used to it and find out who they really are inside, so it’s kind of a feel-good life lesson movie too.
Then they both crash into fireballs in the side of a building that ironically is owned by the evil Daredevil corporation.
And Iron Man comes out of the building in a tuxedo and he’s like “you’ll pay for this damage, you knuckleheads!”
They both look at Samantha, who is eating a popsicle, and they realize they can’t run away like cowards. It’s time to team up and fight together! So Batman uses his gadgets and Joker uses his laughing and they both are winning the fight against Iron Man, but then he turns into the HULK and says “it’s clobberin’ time!!!” they both get their noses bloodied, but after a sweet 45-minute cgi battle, they emerge victorious. They look at Samantha, but she is eating a banana with her throat and isn’t impressed with either of them yet.
So they look at each other and they’re like “i guess now it’s time to fight each other for her love.”
they are both bloody and broken-nosed and batman’s cape is all beat up and then professor Punisher shows up and he’s like Samantha, you’re causing all of this?!”
Samantha says “Mr. Punisher, I really need straight A’s if you catch my drift.” (the audience is like “Oh ho-HO! It’s an erection thing!)
and the Punisher and Samantha walk away arm in arm and Batman and Joker learn a valuable lesson about women and vow never to fight each other again. But then another hot girl comes into the screen (EVEN HOTTER than Samantha!!!), and she’s like “I’m Nadia, the new exchange student from Norway.” Then Batman and the Joker look at each other and make angry eyes and the credits roll as we kick in with ACDC’s “Back in Black”.

There was an article on the web today about how McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts and other outlets are giving Starbucks a run for their money. (I know that I’m supposed to supply a link to the article, but I don’t think too highly of internet journalism. See Take It or Leave It.) The economy is hurting, so the idea that people stopped buying overpriced items is a no-brainer to me. But the best part were the comments. Actually, the comment section is one of my favorite pastimes on the internet. People say the darndest things. I love it when someone gets in a good zinger, either about the article or another comment, and I try to get one in myself.

For the record, I do not like Starbucks. Their regular coffee is very bitter, and their other concoctions are milkshakes. All of which are overpriced. I also don’t like how there’s a Starbucks every thirty feet. There’s one in my grocery and every time I see someone walking around with a cup, I think, this person has no idea what coffee is and they’re a lemming. This goes double when they’re a yuppie. C’mon, you know what they look like, it’s not just me. They have that I-just-threw-on-my-designer-sweats look and I’m on my cell because I’m so important that I can’t even go to the grocery on Sunday morning without someone calling.

What I really enjoyed were some of the comments that tried to defend Starbucks. Some used the sympathy angle. Starbucks apparently has some charitable programs, like, one where a dollar goes towards creature comforts for our troops. Good for them. But they’re hardly the only ones and, like any charity, I wonder how much is a PR stunt and how much of the funds actually get to the intended recipients. Sorry, I’m a skeptic.

Here’s the fun part. Fun for me anyway, I’m a sick puppy. There were people selling the snob appeal. This is at the core of Starbucks’ success. If all those yuppies didn’t think it was ‘in’ to walk around with that cup, the company would have been on hard times long ago. Then there’s the trickle-down affect. Middle Class and even poor people buy this crap and choke it down, swearing they’re addicted and boy, it’s so good! If it were ‘in’ to walk around setting fire to their clothes, they’d do it. I’m so with it! Feel the burn! So, they stroll bookstores, malls, grocery stores, gas stations, daycare centers, parole boards, et all, their clothes smoldering, drinking swill, all because of snob appeal.

Some posts stressed the snobbery of how Starbucks gets their beans from all over the world (how international) and the beans are put through some special precess (whatever) to make it like they drink it in Turkey, the Middle East and, here’s the killer locale, Europe! If you have an overpriced product, advertise that it’s so European to buy it. You’ll soon be rich. Come to think of it… Ok, I’ll finish this blog first.* Should anyone questions your poor taste in coffee, say that they’re ignorant Americans, out of the loop, hicks and bumpkins. This works because many Americans are self-loathing and hate anything American, especially anyone or anything outside of a metropolitan area. (This is a blog by itself for another time.) In one of the Indiana Jones movies, one of the really bad sequels, like, Indiana Jones and the Two Hour Commercial for Toys, there was a gross-out scene where they’re at a banquet with all these disgusting foods. It was set in India, so you were supposed to believe that these were local delicacies. Monkey brains, bugs, snakes, all to make the audience squirm, but I’ll bet there were yuppies watching who thought, “How international, we should serve monkey brains at Kaytlyn’s Sweet Sixteen! Meghan and Lexus will be so jealous! If anyone complains, we’ll just point out that it’s an international dish, and we could get them a hamburger if they like.” (Saying hamburger like it was something they stepped in.) Haagen Dazs ice cream is a great example of euro-snobbery. The company started in New York and is now owned by Pillsbury, so it’s not imported and has always been an American endeavor. The words are made up and mean nothing, but in a stroke of brilliance, the founders created a name that has incredible snob appeal.

Claiming that it’s an acquired taste is lemming for, it tastes like crap, but I’m drinking it because I’m supposed to like it. News flash: Everything is an acquired taste. Some things are just acquired more easily than others. If you try something twice and still don’t like it, why would you want to acquire that taste? You can also use the well-if-you-can’t-afford-it ploy. This works really well with working stiffs who would kill their grandmother to appear like they’re successful. You can usually spot them wearing a bluetooth. The only people who wear those are tools, and people who want to look like tools. Finally, if you’re short on time and you want to trash someone who doesn’t buy into getting ripped off by the latest fad, tell them they just don’t get it.

I don’t get it. I don’t want to get it.

The preceding rant was provided by Dave Carr.

*Steal this idea and I’ll kill you! Buy a few tons of paperclips for a couple hundred bucks. Then sell them for $5 apiece after you get the word out that Europeans love to shove them up their noses. They have to be my special, imported paperclips though. In no time, you’ll see yuppies in the grocery, Starbucks cup in hand, paperclips up their nose and talking loudly into their cell phone so everyone knows they’re ‘with it.’

(clicky) Quiet Storm (album download) (clicky)

Without further ado, let’s go on with the show!  Here’s part i of the walkthrough, covering tracks 1-6 of the album, if you need to read.  Once again, please enjoy and you can download my album at the link above / at the bottom of the page if you haven’t already!

7. Touch Me

This was the first single off the album, and it samples “Nobody But You” by Cassie and The-Dream.  I added some more drums and extra instruments (like the piano line) to give it a little extra kick.  Sonically and lyrically, it’s a little bit lighter than the songs which have come prior, because I didn’t want the album to be too heavy all the way through.  Life isn’t like that, and we all need to have some fun and not be so serious sometimes.  The theme of this one is about liking somebody  and having a crush on them, and just being flirtatious and wanting to have a good time with them – letting whatever happens, happen!  After a comment from my friend Emma who heard the song today, it’s interesting that none of the songs on the album have any relation to anything that’s happened in the last couple of months (I finished writing and recording the album at the beginning of September), because this song lyrically is more than a little appropriate right now. It’s also an unofficial part 2 to one of the very first songs I did, called “Reach Out”.

8. High Fashion

With “Touch Me”, this portion of the album is the ‘uptempo / club ready’ section, the part of the night when you just want to dance, have a good time and feel fierce.  I was inspired a lot by working at the Perfume Shop and being surrounded by a lot of luxury or designer brands like Prada, Gucci, Dior, and how tempting and intoxicating that whole world is.  For me, designer is increasingly a natural fit, though I try not to be snobby with it – I want my jewellery and accessories to feel special to me, not a normality.  But I like the authenticity of real designer, real luxury items – “I’m a real boy / I like real things”.  Originally, I envisioned the song being a midtempo like “Hook Boy”, but the lyrics have a bit of swag and confidence and I fell in love with a Garageband sample which was very poppy and uptempo – this is the poppiest song on the record, in my opinion.  I also enjoyed shouting out my half-Italian heritage, because my favourite designers are almost all Italian (Christian Dior is the exception) houses.  In short, the song’s message is that fashion is more than just what you wear, it’s a part of who you are and inherent in your attitude, outlook and all sorts of things.  And I honestly believe that.

9. Theory (Interlude)

This one’s a spoken interlude just explaining why I enjoy wearing designer items, and what things like that mean to me.  I do feel special with the right necklace on, I won’t deny it.  But I also think that looking put together is both a savvy self-promotion, and a convenient barricade between the outside world and the vulnerability I keep inside.  This interlude just explains that.

10. Armani Earrings

Can you say “SWAG”?!? I love this song, the lyrics were so much fun to write (and I challenged myself to include lots of polysyllabic words, because I’m a literate boy!), and this is my rap song!  Rapping is something I’m seeking to improve at, and I liked my flow on this song a lot.  I wanted to honour my Armani studs (my signature look), which have paid for themselves in compliments alone! Originally, the whole thing was rapped, but I’m a singer and not a rapper, so I made the bridge and final chorus more melodic, which ended up adding to the force of the song, rather than detracting away from it.  I love the bassline, which was inspired by a HOT track I saw on youtube, by Tila Tequila called “I Fucked The DJ” – it goes hard!!  I also shout out one of my favourite CDs back from when I was a teenager, which was Tatyana Ali’s Kiss The Sky.  Originally, “Armani Earrings” was supposed to be slightly slower, with a more gangsta beat, but once I heard that song, I knew that I wanted that kind of sound to make my song really club-ready – it took a little while to get it right, but I love this song now.  Although I don’t really believe that my boyfriend is more expendable than my bracelet, it’s fun to sing!  And it depends on the boyfriend

11. Quiet Storm

There’s a reason why this song is the title track of the album, and why it’s slap bang in the middle – for me, this is the centrepiece of the whole record.  Production-wise, I’m so proud of it – the stuttering beat and the mysterious piano really embodies a night-time jam. I was inspired on this track by Danity Kane’s “Right Now”, Jennifer Lopez’s Hex Hector remix of “Waiting For Tonight”, and Lil’ Wayne’s “Got Money” – that’s the “tick tick boom” lyric explained for you!  The guitar solo in the middle (and the heavy breathing shots) emphasises sensuality and sexuality, and the song is just about being in this perfect moment surrounded by a pounding bass in the middle of the club, just seeing somebody and being irresistibly attracted to them to the point where everything melts away.  So it’s very sexy, very captivating, very seductive, but also very mysterious and nocturnal.  It’s about love and attraction being a force of nature that is literally more powerful than music – and if you know me, you’ll know just how powerfully I feel music.  I wanted a song that I could dance to in a club, that I could chill to and feel the lyrics, that I could wind to on my patio at night.  And this song ticks all those boxes for me, so I wanted this song to be the album’s signature track and indicative of all that I wanted to achieve with this project.

Part iii coming soon! Hold tight

(clicky) Quiet Storm (album download) (clicky)

People keep telling me that they find the subject of wine intimidating.  It’s a little bit frustrating, because I keep on trying to take the snobbery out of wine and make it less intimidating and accessible to anyone.

But then I stop and remember some of my first encounters with wine (which I touched on in the last wine post).

For years living in Northern California, I resisted getting into wine.  I figured it would be a dangerous hobby for someone who likes to hoard foodstuffs.  And I was right.  But eventually my stance on wine softened as I got more and more into food.  Getting into wine was a natural transition.

A block away from my apartment was a small wine store.  It was a solid local place, filled with interesting bottles and a friendly knowledgeable staff.  Wine lined the walls, and there were wine crates stacked throughout the store with more bottles of wine on top of them.

Whenever I walked into the store, quite literally, I would break out in a cold sweat.  I’d never had this happen before or since.  But I could feel it on the back of my neck.

I felt like a bull in a china shop.  I felt like I didn’t belong.  I was terrified that I would knock over some bottles, and that it would turn out to be something expensive, and that I would be on the hook for hundreds of dollars.

So I walked very straight.  And I was very very careful.  And I was full of fear.

Thinking and talking don’t come very easily to someone who is scared.  So my first interactions with the wine merchants were limited to, “no, thank you, I’m just looking.”  And I would peruse the racks, looking for something relatively inexpensive, with descriptions that sounded appealing.

After several visits to the same store without any negative incidents, I started to loosen up.  And that is when the fun began.

I had no wine words.  But at the beginning of my cheese journey, I had no cheese words either.  The words come in time.  But I figured just like the Cheese Girl could find me a cheese if I told her what I was looking for, so could the wine merchant.

So I told him, “I’m looking for a white wine to serve with a grilled chicken Caesar salad that is under $10.”

And he considered it aloud.  And he thought about the garlic, and the fresh greens, and the char from the grill, and the creaminess of the dressing.  Then he brought me to a few different choices, and talked a bit about each of them.

I picked out the one that sounded most appealing, brought it home, and was quite pleased.

This was very much the beginning of learning about wine.  The more you drink, the more you learn.  But you need to try to pay attention to the wine and find some way of remembering it longer than just the one night.

It could be as easy as buying two bottles of the same wine so you have one for later.  Some people keep a wine scrapbook, or take pictures of wine labels.  When I try a wine from a new region or a new grape, I like to research it and learn a little more about what I’m about to drink.  For me, it heightens my enjoyment of the wine and helps put the wine in a broader context.

The irony of it all is the more you learn, the more you understand how little you really know.  Wine is like music.  It’s a huge subject area.  There is literally no way for anyone to truly master it all.

But that should not stop you from enjoying it – without fear – and without intimidation.

If someone does make you feel intimidated about wine, you come here and tell me all about it.  We’ll get you back on track, and I’ll give them an earful.  I have no patience for wine bullies.

I am not a fan of Jessica “Don’t Call Me Latina” Alba, and no its not because she’s eye candy for men. It’s her attitude and cocky persona that makes me want to punch her in the face. However, lately Cash must be telling Jessica to chill out and smile when people see her out and about because Jessica has been spotted lately actually smiling.

Apparently Miss Don’t Call Me Latina atteneded the Spike TV awards to present the award to Johnny Depp for the ‘Most Anticipated Fantasy Movie’ and Miss Don’t Call Me Latina didn’t even walk the Red Carpet instead she avoided it all together and waited backstage for her turn.

Besides Jessica’s raunchy personality I actually loved the beautiful Lanvin black floral metallic lame ¾ sleeve dress with draped detailing on the shoulder she wore and the best part, she smile when presenting to the award.

soo Who WHORE it Best?

Bentley…. Bus Stop…. Self Importance….

Need any more be said?

Having money doesn’t make you important – it just makes certain people think they are.

Move it along Yahoo Yuppie.

]]> http://scrittoriprecari.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/metodica-delle-cose-inutili-andare-dallo-psicologo-e-darsi-a-pratiche-spirituali/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:01:19 +0000 scrittoriprecari http://scrittoriprecari.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/metodica-delle-cose-inutili-andare-dallo-psicologo-e-darsi-a-pratiche-spirituali/

Andare dallo psicologo e darsi a pratiche spirituali

Chiariremo subito in questo primo numero della nostra metodica che essa non vuole essere un manuale dello snob, come ingannevolmente potrebbe sembrare, ma una guida certa e sicura per chiunque voglia edificare in se stesso l’uomo futuro e progressivo a maggiore gloria delle belle sorti e gloriose del democratico Occidente. Una guida che rafforzi in detto uomo l’orgoglio e la fede in ognuna delle nostre usanze e credenze. Allora perché, si domanderà qualcuno, parlare di cose inutili? Ed è presto detto: la nostra fede deve essere senza pregiudiziali; la nostra fiducia nel sistema deve essere cieca. Con questa metodica si cercherà la via di un ritorno alle origini che ci radichi meglio in un luminoso avvenire. Quelle origini, veniamo a dire, che si aprono come purissima scaturigine nel crollo della civiltà pagana e nella fondazione di un sistema che nulla ha né di civile né di pagano, e che vive prima di tutto sotto l’insegna del credo quia absurdum. E non solo noi dobbiamo tornare a credere perché assurdo, ma dobbiamo andare oltre, e credere perché inutile. Dobbiamo riconoscere ogni singolo caposaldo del nostro sistema quale è, inutile, e credere in esso, ciecamente ed orgogliosamente, per quello che è: inutile.

Questa rubrica si impone di offrire solo brevi e semplici esempi, con brevi e semplici parole, nella fiducia certa che più inutile della brevità e della semplicità già di suo non c’è nulla.

E allora principiamo con la psicologia e il darsi alle pratiche spirituali. Chiediamoci: è veramente tanto inutile starsi a guardare l’anima ossessivamente, fare la conta taccagna di tutti i traumi; oppure spassarsela a compulsare i chakra lungo la verticale del corpo? E questa inutilità è poi centrale nel nostro sistema?

Certo che è inutile, e certo che è centrale. Si capisce, infatti, che qualunque essere si doti di strumenti per provare piacere, si dota nel contempo di tutti i mezzi per soffrire, e che per questo tutti gli animali tendono ad usare con discrezione, parsimonia ed equilibrio i detti mezzi e strumenti. Infatti, i famosi greci, avevano varie teorie sull’equilibrio degli umori e, uno in particolare, Ippocrate, quello che ha inventato la medicina, diceva con determinazione che se uno ha l’ansia, la malinconia, o anche il mal di pancia, si vede che c’è una situazione squilibrata e (vi giuro che l’ha detto) bisogna cacciare il dittatore che ha sicuramente preso il potere nella vostra città. L’anima non sta solo dentro di noi, ma anche fuori: magari non sta da nessuna parte, e, allora, è da tutte. E infatti, pure un altro di questi famosissimi, Gesù il Nazareno, ragionando con rapidità che il maggiore dolore all’anima che si può provare è quello di essere privati dell’anima, e ragionando a un modo suo tutto fulminante che mai si è tanto privati di qualcosa come quando ci si trovi in epoca di esaltazione del privato e privatizzazioni (prima vi tolgono l’assistenza sanitaria, poi la pensione, poi lo stipendio, poi la casa e, quindi, arrivano all’anima), un giorno prese, entrò in un tempio dove era allestito un mercato e ornò di calci non so quanti sederi di commercianti. Cosa ne evinciamo? È che se siete infelici o avete il panico ci sono tante cose da combinare lì fuori di utili a farvi stare bene, mentre l’unica inutile è quella di rinchiudervi dentro una stanza con qualcuno, tu e lui e lui e te, a adorarvi le evacuazioni dell’anima; neanche può servire a niente imparare a guardarsi, punta del naso o terzo occhio che sia, la vostra vedantica essenza.

E allora sia lo psicologo! Sia il guru scalzo! Pentitevi dei peccati, prendete coscienza delle orribili colpe edipiche, vostre, di vostro padre e di tutte la discendenza in linea diretta; meditate creativamente, allargate e stringete la coscienza come fosse un pezzo di pongo, distruggetevi l’io, e digiuni, fieri di non avere toccato carne, andatevene a casa, finché ne avete una, e siate felici di voi. Felici di non avere cambiato nulla, felici di essere stati inutili per voi stessi e per gli altri; felici perché un uomo moderno e progressivo da questo si riconosce, dal coraggio e dall’orgoglio di tanta inutilità!

E tutti insieme diciamo: io credo perché inutile.

Pier Paolo Di Mino

On Saturday night, I shouted at a stranger. Two strangers, actually.

And I wasn’t drunk. And I hadn’t temporarilly gone mental.

You may not think much of my boast, but believe me, shouting at strangers is something I seldom do.

For I usually cannot be bothered to have that argument. I cannot be bothered to raise objections to ojectional behaviour when I know full well that objection will not serve any benefit. Sometimes, words are lost.

And you have to be careful mouthing off at people in London anyway. Knives and guns are more visible than policeman. I don’t like those odds.

But on Saturday I shouted at a stranger. Two strangers actually.

Two snooty, self-important girls. Stood on the pavement. Not moving. Disgust on their faces.Not letting us past.

I called them twats.

“Don’t move then, twats.”

Feeble.

I expected more from my debut.

All this time preparing, waiting, and I couldn’t even muster a cunt.

If I’d of been stabbed for a twat, well, how would I ever recover?

A cunt, it’s so much more justifiable.

Hoy me desperte queriendo tener una actitud sanpetrina, por más que lointeneto el ser mamón no se me da, al menos que este enojado pero la bondad sale a la luz y me dice – No hagas lo que no quieres que te hagan. ¿A que me refiero con una actitud sanpetrina?, pues basicamente a meter las narices donde no te llaman, a juzgar a los demás como si fueramos perfectos, a esconder nuestras debilidades y errores y a resaltar nuestros logros económicos. Cabe resaltar que en esta actitud sanpetrina no alcanzaremos la felicidad verdadera ni serremos mejor personas, solamente nos sentiremos mejor si tenemos el mejor carro, los mejores gadgets o la casa mas grande. Así que ya sabes si queires unirte a este grupo selecto de gente tendrás que empezar por “tener una actitud sanpetrina”.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend; I certainly did.  My deceptively sweet husband (I know, you think he’s a big bad mageboy.  And he is, but with a big, soft, fluffy warm heart.  Don’t tell him I told you) took me out Saturday for a long-overdue daytime date.  We went and saw Zombieland (Rule #2 is my favorite), stopped in at the comic book store and bought a pack of trading cards each (no loot, sadly), and went to the mall for some lunch and shopping.

It’s a new week, though; and it’s time for a new letter.  This time, I’m covering someone we probably all know pretty well.  I actually know several of them.  They’re both an asset and an annoyance.  Sometimes they change, sometimes they never do.

Dear Know-It-All,

I have to tell you first that I really do appreciate all of your knowledge.  You’ve certainly taken time to read up on a lot of things, and that’s great.  Maybe you have more experience than I do; maybe you just have more time to research.  Either way, it really is helpful when you know the answer to my questions.

But you have to understand that it gets on our nerves sometimes that you know everything.  The fact is, you don’t.  You do know a lot, and answering questions you know about (your class, for instance) when you’re asked is fine.

Sometimes, though, we’re just chatting in guild chat.  Sometimes we’re bouncing ideas off of each other, or just wondering something aloud.  These moments don’t always require an answer.  If I wonder if Cataclysm is going to nerf moonkin, I really want the statistical chances of an incoming nerf based on previous patches.  A simple “let’s hope not” suffices.  Or don’t answer at all.  We’re used to saying things in guild chat that never get answered.  It’s okay.

Also, if you’re not an officer, please don’t boss us around.  You did this on the PTR, or you did it with another guild, or you read all about it on EJ.  Good.  When someone says, “What can we do about…?” then you’ll have an answer ready!  But you are the same rank as the majority of us.  Don’t pull some nonexistent superiority on us.   We know it’s a farce.  It comes across as snobbish and rude, and no one likes a snob.

Here are the points to remember:

1.  Not every question requires an answer.

2.  Not every question is directed at you.

3.  You don’t have to have an opinion on everything.  If you do have an opinion on everything, you don’t have to share all of them.

4.  Nobody liked the bossy kid on the playground, and we still don’t.

The best news is that this case is actually completely fixable, and you can lose your know-it-all reputation.  There was a guy in my guild back in BC days that really grated on a lot of people’s nerves.  He was exactly what I’m describing here, plus he was a real-life know-it-all (the two often go hand-in-hand).  Somewhere in there, he disappeared for a week or two.  He didn’t really disappear, he just stopped talking.  When he did start speaking up again, he was a lot more personable.  Before he left the game, I ended up liking him quite a bit.

Consider it a challenge, Know-It-All.  Can you stay quiet for a week?  Two weeks?  Can you be diplomatic and supportive about your advice, instead of a condescending braggart?

I think you can.

Sincerely,

Ambermist

Definition of Snob: a person who imitates, cultivates, or slavishly admires social superiors and is condescending or overbearing to others.

Okay people *clap clap* we need to learn to be abit more nicer to people, not just to people in your ’so called clan/group/race’ but to people in general. I seriously have a problem with people who are a lil’ wee snobbish towards other people. I seriously don’t get it, DO YOU REALLY NEED TO BE RUDE TO OTHER PEOPLE? If you can treat random people that way, remember do you really want your mom, dad or sibling to be treated the same way by others?

I was just thinking about a close friend of mine (she’s still my friend, I told her off already like years ago) who use to be SO god damn freaking rude to ANY waiters/waitresses of any restaurant we dined with in Vietnam. She would literally find fault in ANYTHING the waiter did, ‘The water is too cold’, ‘The water taste funny’, ‘The cutleries have stains on them‘… Literary ANYTHING. And so, one day I finally did it. I told her she’s a mean person. No doubt she’s really sweet to me and my friends but I swear she had this thing with people who are ‘lower class’ then her. It totally annoyed the crap out of me, especially when you’re living in a 3rd World Country surrounded by people not as fortunate as you.

So well, what I’m trying to say we have to stop this double standard and START BEING A LIL’ BIT NICER. Maybe if we say ‘Thank You’ enough and treat people who probably don’t even ask to work shitty jobs, we ourselves would be treated abit more nicer. So what do you think?

Remember, (I mean I have to remain myself too, I’m NOT perfect myself!) they probably had a bad day, worst still maybe they have been working macam lembu understaffed for a good 4-8 hours at their store/outlet/restaurant so try to be a lil’ bit patient. It won’t kill you would it?

But then again, if all fails, THEN you have the right to be rude. Or for me, its simple, I blacklist that place and NEVER would I step back at that place. Unless you’re left with no choice lah.

Until tomorrow, be nice to the next person who serves you and say ‘Thank You!’.

You don’t wanna be this do you? Think about it!