where have I been

Oy - it's over a month. No nibbles on the job front put me in funk. Didn't feel like entering the Palin fray; she's a sad testament on the state of politics, gender issues, and on the human tip--it's all so sad how cranky and nasty we are to each other. 

Saw an article today about Andy Martin, the purported originator of the Obama-is-a-Muslim rumor.  See today's NYTimes if you want to see the story. Martin sounds as if he's been unhappy about his lot in life for a long time. 

Re: economy. I keep listening when the debacle is explained; my remaining question, where does the money go? Who has it? We are all losing money--where is it? 

Why The Hassle?

Why worry about Obama being elected? Why bother dissecting every minute movement, year of his life (see Slate magazine) and where he spends his vacations (Cokie Robert 8/11/08, NPR).

---Last Saturday (Aug. 9th) NYTimes printed the results of poll with some sobering percentages about what white people think; for instance: 48% oppose programs which make special efforts to help minorities get ahead; 19% believe race relations will get worse if Obama is elected as opposed to 9% who think they will get worse if McCain is elected; 33% don't work with any black people; 24% don't think America is ready for a black president and 27% feel too much has been made of the problems facing black people. And, 26% feel they have been discriminated against because they are white. 

--- Just yesterday, Cokie Roberts of NPR said he shouldn't have vacationed in such an exotic place as Hawaii (visiting his grandmother) when he calling himself the candidate from Kenya and Kansas. C'mon Cokie, where would you rather go for a vacation in the summertime? 

The Politics of Uppity

So all the news is talking about Sen. Obama's trip abroad.  But the big news (if this is news?) is well, he's acting presidential. Already. Why, he hasn't even been officially nominated, let alone elected. He's walking around shaking hands, making speeches, talking to foreign leaders, visiting the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, making shots outside the paint. What the heck's going on? 

Uh. Please. What happened to dress and act like the job you want? 

Reminds me of the dichotomy that happens when certain actions and behaviors are described according to gender. Good thing Sen. Obama is acting presidential. Someone has to do it. 

FYI this week's New Yorker has several thoughtful letters in response to "that cover." 

...NEXT

Good and bad news on looking for work: good -there are millions of opportunities on the Web, bad -there are millions of opportunities on the Web. Now that my CV is registered on the numerous sites, one still has to fill out individual company applications after filling out an application to register on the big job sites. So for practically every job one applies for, you have to fill out two applications.

What gives? Would it be to much to ask the major recruiters to coordinate? My personal peeve is that little increasing bar that shows your progress on filling out yet another form. I wonder where all this info is going. And my second favorite thing is the automatic answer that my resume and application have been received. You are welcome! (Or in the modern vernacular, Thank You.)

Talking to my out of work also friend, and we'd rather see Continue Shopping or Add to Cart...

Baby Mama

Scooter's birthday and it was also Mrs. Ling's.  RIP Doug. 

Sybil on Tom Joyner speaking about Fox Tv referring to Michelle Obama as "Obama's Baby Mama" - why is it wrong? why is it right? Wrong because Fox appropriated black idiomatic speech in the wrong way--right because it's a free world.  Fox -- with another example of how to get black speech wrong. How should "babymama" be used? Keep it for arguing in the street; wheeling an 'outside' baby into the beauty parlor as the other "babymama" is getting her weave tightened, and similar actions. Can anyone really place Michelle Obama in a situation like that? Media doesn't lump white people in the same group. Is McCain the same white as the whites meth producers who might live in a trailer?