Dictatorship in Iran

They say that Ahmadinejad won 62% of the vote in Iran... including majorities in the hometowns of his challengers. As far as I can tell there entirely too many protesters on the street for 62% of Iran to be content with the results. He ought to have taken lessons from the Russians and won with a much smaller margin.


Now the question is are we about to see another revolution in Iran, the young people are fed up with his conservative war mongering ways.... here is hoping

Support of Gay Marriage

This NY times op-ed better explains my previous post-->

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/13/opinion/13suozzi.html?ref=opinion

For those of you who need a little faith in humanity

So there is a homeless man who pops up near my place several days a week, always wearing the same green coat and lugging the same warn duffle bag. I have always felt sorry for him but with so many people on the streets due to drug and drinking problems didn't want to give him cash. Instead I have made the decision to try and give him a sandwich once a week in a way to help in some small way- no this is not the bit to make you feel better about humanity.

Today I gave him his sandwich per usual and he seemed to be in quite good spirits- he informed me that he had been given lots of food that day which was good because it meant he had more to share. Aside from the fact I was glad to hear that the bar across the way occasionally fed him what impressed me more was that he shared with the other homeless men he knew. Most people walk by this man on an almost daily basis without even looking at him, let alone giving him something, even though many of the people who live in my neighborhood have plenty to share (if you can afford starbucks every morning you can afford to help). Meanwhile this man has nothing except for what he can carry and does not always know where his next meal is coming from. Despite all that- he shares- and no one would fault him for not hoarding every crumb of food he gets. So my faith in humanity is in tact because the homeless man on my street shares his occasional luck with others.

Why the tube workers who are thinking of striking should be grateful for what they have

Once again the tube workers are threatening to strike and seriously disrupt the London transport system for several days. Now I do not know all the details of the strike (are they forced to work too long of hours, is their pay not increased to account for inflation and raised cost of living etc.) As far as I understand these issues are not the center of the debate so much as they just want more money (and who doesn't?) What is unfortunate about this strike is that these workers make more than many highly valued workers in society such as teachers and nurses. I am not saying that tube workers are not valuable people, we clearly rely on them on a daily basis- I just think they are being selfish. Not only are they demanding more money when they already are in a mid-level paygrade... but they are preventing those who teacher their children or care for their sick relatives (who also make far less money) from getting to work. If the teachers (who are educating their children so they can pursue whatever career they want) went on strike I am willing to suspect these people would have very much sympathy. The tube workers are abusing the system, they know that simply by threatening to strike they can create mass havoc in London.... and no one wants to call their bluff for fear of being wrong. So whenever they decide they want something they can go on strike. Meanwhile the people who really ought to go on strike cannot because unions are not encouraged/ well organized (think of the fast food servers who are horribly abused) or teachers and nurses who are less likely to go on strike because it would punish those they try to help (such as the kids or sickly). The tube workers ought to be thankful for their pay and stable jobs in an unstable economy.

To see exactly who earns what check out the link below.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/2014002.print/

Because Caroline told me to do it!

I found a fun little meme thing to keep me occupied on this rainy day. If you are reading this, you are officially tagged. If you do not have a blog, put it in my comments, cuz I'm nosy :)

----

What is your current obsession?
finding new hip and trendy places to eat in London.


What's for dinner?
Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup (said "toematoe" because I am in England).


What's the last thing you bought?

the ageless issue of Vogue


What are you listening to right now?
the noises on my street

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Sorento Italy

What's your favorite quote (for now)?
I've got two...

That line from Boondock Sts. about what is worse than evil men is the indifference of good people.


What's your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
My hotpink pumps

What's your dream job?
Lobbyist for Human Rights Watch

What's your worst habit?
I lack patience

Do you admire anyones style?
My style icons don't really match but Audrey Hepburn, Posh Spice and SJP

Describe your personal style?
I mix of classic and occasionally bold, but during exams pretty much grunge.

What are your favorite movies?
Breakfast at Tiffanys, Love Actually, Overboard.

What inspires you?
Selfless people.

What's your favorite book?
Pride & Prejudice (also anything by Jennifer Weiner)

Do you collect something?
I purposefully collect beer coasters, accidentally collect rubber ducks

What do you like most about yourself?
that when I decide I want something I go for it

What's your go-to nail polish color?
pink duh

Your turn :)

WTF California

One I love how the only dissenting vote was from the one liberal judge. Two how can people genuinely be so horrible?

I believe that a Church has the right to define marriage in what ever way it wants to- that is religion people have a choice, but to take away fundamental liberties that are available to everyone else in the state? You have a choice to follow a religion, you have a choice to buy a car, you have a choice to wear solids or stripes... you don't chose between gay or straight and that should not result in a division between liberties and non-liberties. What are people so afraid of? The state of California was not asking Catholic churches to agree to perform ceremonies and there is supposed to be a separation of church and state anyway! This was not a threat to anyones children or families, homosexuals don't eat babies for breakfast for goodness sake.


Come on California stop the hate.

Tourists will always loose a game of chicken with a runner

Running USED to be my sanctuary. It always made me feel better and less angry... then I moved to London. I happen to be very luck to live in one of the most beautiful areas of London- it also happens to be home to the famed tower bridge, golden hide (ship) and the Queen's walk among other things meaning that from 9:45am to 9pm it is packed with tourists. For anyone who happens to be a local in a tourist hot spot you will appreciate. Good people seem to loose all sense of decency when they become a tourist, they walk four abreast down a narrow road, stop mid-walk to gawk at something, fail to walk in a straight line. All of this makes it terribly difficult for a runner. I would normally simply submit and use a treadmill but I am training for a marathon meaning I need to run outside to get the proper training. Furthermore I think it is a bit silly to take a twenty minute tube ride to find a bit of greenery to run in meaning I must run along this tourist packed river walk. It is my neighborhood I can run where I want to! Needless to say constantly having to dodge tourists who started out on one side of the sidewalk only to drift to your side can be a bit annoying. Aside from the constant weaving you have those walking four abreast acting as a road block that you cannot get around. My person fav is the people who have one person posed for a picture on one side of an enormous sidewalk and then the person with the sidewalk all the way on the other (meaning anyone who needs any bit of the sidewalk risks going through their photo). They always seem sooo annoyed when I run right through as if they actually expect me to stop in deference to their hogging of a significant piece of property and jog in place while they get the set up just right and take the picture. Dear tourists- if I stopped for any of your pictures my thirty minute run would take two hours! It is not going to happen. Needless to say putting so much effort into getting from point A to B and back is way more stress than one needs on their run. As a result I have become a cranky lady when I run. This means I will brush against people in an effort to get by, glare, run through photos and on one occasion where a tourist turned around-saw me coming- and continued to amble in my way- swear under my breath. Needless to say tourists you will loose a game of chicken with me when I am running because I want to get my run in and you are in my way- sorry.