Current Events

Courtesy of Belicove.com:
Q: Actress Gwyneth Paltrow and hubby Chris Martin recently gave birth to a girl they named “Apple” (Apple Blythe Alison Martin, to be more exact). How do you feel about unconventional names such as the one Paltrow and Martin bestowed upon their bouncing baby girl? Do you feel they’re appropriate, inappropriate, a hoot, no big deal, place the child at a disadvantage in any way, etc.?
I’d strive for something unique but not so off the wall that it would be ridiculous. I’d much rather my kid have a name that no one else has than one that they’ll have to share with ten kids in their class. If the kid hates it, they can always use something else. I think that children’s self-esteem has a lot more to do with how you prepare and socialize them for the world than it does with them fitting in and not attracting attention.
That being said, I’m naming my kids Cilantro, Pesto, and Little Gorgonzola. Okay I’m kidding. But those will be their nicknames. I like Eleanora Rosalind for a girl’s name — because she can shorten it however she likes, it’s pretty, and there won’t be anyone with exactly the same name. For a boy… still working on that one. I have a feeling there’d be a Daniel or a Douglas in his name somewhere, though.
Q: Tradition tells us that in the United States and much of the western world, when a man and woman marry, the woman takes the man’s last name. How do you feel about this? What about couples who combine last names in order to create a new one, or who choose to start off fresh with some random last name?
Taking the last name — I’m not in favor of it, you might be able to guess. I think it denotes a woman as a man’s property. Hyphenating or combining names is, to me, respectful of both people’s place in the new family, and the importance of both families in their lives. I guess that gets complex further down the line, but still. Starting on fresh with a random last name: weird, and I’ve never heard of anyone doing that. I think the last name should honor the family you came from.
Q: If you were told you had to change your first name, what name would you choose?
Ann. My middle name. Honestly, I never liked my first name all that well, until I met Stephanie. Now I don’t mind it at all, because it’s hers, too.
Q: Have you ever had a nickname? If so, what was (or is) it? If not, have you ever wanted one (and if so, what would you like to be called)?
Only the one I gave myself, really — ElectraSteph. And my friend Heather called me “little feet” all the time. That’s about it.

1. Which political party do you typically agree with?
The Democrats. Obviously.

2. Which political party do you typically vote for?
The Democrats. Obviously.

3. List the last five presidents that you voted for.
Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Bill Clinton

4. Which party do you think is smarter about the economy?
The Democrats. Obviously.

5. Which party do you think is smarter about domestic affairs?
The Democrats. Obviously.

6. Do you think we should keep our troops in Iraq or pull them out?
Sigh. We’re damned either way, so pull them out, and save the lives and money.

7. Who, or what country, do you think is most responsible for 9/11?
Al Qaeda, with the aid of the Taliban in Afghanistan and with the help of Islamic fundamentalists in Saudi Arabia, some of which are part of the Saudia Arabian government, and who received aid from George W. Bush & Dick Cheney through business deals. Saddam Hussein, who was a Very Bad Man, had less to do with 9/11 than our own “president.”

8. Do you think we will find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?
Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!! That’s a knee slapper. I think we’ll find some pixie dust, all those ships lost in the Bermuda triangle, and the elusive fountain of youth in the same area of Iraq as those “WMD.”

9. Yes or no, should the U.S. legalize marijuana?
Well. I dunno. Probably not. But the true answer to this question is under this another important question, i.e., Will You Keep Your Recreational Card Under New York’s Recreational Law? since there are huge chances of misusing these drugs that can be fatal in one’s life.

10. Do you think the Republicans stole the last presidential election?
Yes. Obviously.

11. Do you think Bill Clinton should have been impeached because of his affair?
Only if we first impeach George W. Bush for the 30+ crimes he’s committed in office all of which have done serious damage to the country, the economy, foreign policy, etc.

12. Do you think Hillary Clinton would make a good president?
Yes.

13. Name a current Democrat who would make a great president.
John Kerry. Howard Dean. John Edwards. Hillary Clinton. On occasions, Evan Bayh rises to the challenge.

14. Name a current Republican who would make a great president.
John McCain.
15. Do you think that women should have the right to have an abortion?
Yes.
16. What religion are you?
Agnostic.

17. Have you read the Bible all the way through?
Numerous times. I’ve read the King James version, and the New Jerusalem version, for classes in college and for my own personal enjoyment. I’ve also read the Ramayana, parts of the Kabbalah, and parts of the Baghavad Gita.

18. What’s your favorite book?
Curious Myths of the Middle Ages is one favorite. See others.

19. Who is your favorite band?
Too many to name; I really like music.

20. Who do you think you’ll vote for president in the next election?
John Kerry. As many times as possible.

21. What website did you see this on first?
Belicove.com

Courtesy of belicove.com. I’m late again, of course.
Q: What’s your favorite bagel, muffin, and/or doughnut (we’re talking flavor and/or brand)?
Not an enormous bagel fan. I’d eat them if someone put them in front of me, but I don’t generally buy them for myself. Doughnuts – I like anything with chocolate on it, and cinnamon sugar coated doughnuts. Muffins – my grandmother makes a chocolate cupcake/muffin with cream cheese and chocolate chips in the center, that they also have a version of at the coffee shop that used to be at work. MMMM.
Q: The much-anticipated environmental drama, The Day After Tomorrow, opens today in movie theaters nationwide. According to media accounts, the movie takes a special-effects-filled look at what the world would look like if the greenhouse effect and global warming continued at such levels that they resulted in worldwide catastrophe and disaster, including multiple hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tidal waves, floods, and the beginning of the next ice age. Do you think that in our lifetime we’ll be witness to the sorts of major environmental catastrophes such as the ones depicted in this movie?
Obviously we won’t have catastrophes on the scale of the movie, because their time frame for the events was compacted severely for entertainment purposes. But we’re already seeing the effects of global warming, and it will continue to get worse.
Q: Birthday and holiday greeting cards; hand-written letters from friends and loved ones… we’ve all received them. What do you do with these sorts of things once you’ve finished reading them… toss them or keep them?
Keep them. I have a storage place for them.
Q: Have you ever used a fire extinguisher? If so, what were the circumstances? If not, do you know how to use one?
Umm. No. I have one in my house, but never learned how to use it. Thanks for making me feel guilty, there. Now I have to go learn how to use the fire extinguisher.