It's no secret that I'm a Political Science major -- I blog pretty often about politics (although I do try to keep it non-partisan (...I said "try," people, no writer is without bias!)), and it even says in my bio that I'm an "aspiring political activist." I am quite proud of my studies and the work I hope to do in the future, and I'm not ashamed of my major.
Which is why I get really annoyed when people treat me like my major isn't real. I almost feel like I didn't even really choose my field; Political Science chose me. By the time I came to college, the gravitational pull in that direction was so strong that no one I went to high school with even has to question what I decided to major in. I chose my major because it's what I'm passionate about, because the work I do for it is good, and because I'm very excited about what doors it may open for me when I graduate.
So let's get down to the nitty-gritty of why people seem to think my major is "fake."
My favorite question, by far, is, "What are you planning to do with that? Become the President?"* Now, if you're an Actuarial Studies major, an Astrophysicist, or studying Chemistry with plans to take up Pharmacology later in life, feel free to ignore this part of the discussion -- your unemployment rates are literally zero and you are therefore pretty much exempt from this whole issue. You will always have jobs because your fields are either too depressing, too boring, or too complicated for the vast majority of students, so we will always need people like you! Go you! But if you are planning to major in pretty much anything else, you can expect your job prospects to be pretty grim. Almost every field sees an unemployment rate of around 7%. Interestingly enough, the unemployment rate for students with Political Science degrees? 6%, according to a study done by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce**.
Let's face it, there are only so many Fortune 500 companies in the world to run (incidentally, there are 500 of them), which I'm pretty sure means that, even if everyone in charge of every one of those companies either retired or died, there STILL wouldn't be enough available positions for all of the Business School graduates from just my tiny University alone from the last three years. So I guess that makes your "job prospects" question a moot point. I appreciate your concern.
The other major (get it?) question I get a lot in relation to my major's legitimacy comes down to the number of units in my major. My major has a 10 unit class requirement (which equates to about 35-40 credits for all you crazy credit-system students out there), which is, admittedly, on the lower end.
There are a few reasons I think this complaint lacks legitimacy. First, we're all still required to complete the minimum 32 classes to graduate that everyone else is. We don't suddenly get to call it a day after a year and a half. Second, part of the reason the major is so small and flexible is because they encourage us to pick up minors, second majors, research, or study abroad semesters, and they want the major to be flexible enough to accommodate that. I actually feel bad for some of my friends in the hard sciences or business programs who just don't have the flexibility to go abroad. Third, and in my opinion, most importantly -- trying to take an entire semester of Political Science courses is crazy. If your brain doesn't explode from all the readings (which often contradict each other because theories contradict other theories and often those contradict practice), your fingers will probably freeze up and develop early-onset carpal tunnel from all the papers you'll write.***
It's not that I think other majors don't deserve credit -- I absolutely do. Most students I know work hard and get stressed, and everybody has their own skill sets. I, for one, am glad my best friend from high school is the Engineering major and I am not, because I would build bridges that would collapse and kill people. But while most people I know in my field recognize and respect the legitimacy of other majors, it makes me sad that we don't get the same respect in turn. Our skills are different than yours and our paths and passions took us in a different direction. Why does that make us any less worthy?
Studiously yours,
Rachel Leigh
* Leaving aside the fact that very few of the Political Science majors I know want to become politicians. That's a post for another day (one which is currently in the works).
** Source: http://graphicsweb.wsj.com/documents/NILF1111/
*** Shout out to Dr. Dagger and Dr. McDowell for combining to make me write more papers as a first semester freshman than many of my friends will write their entire time in college!
This is a blog about things, about thinking about things, about talking about things, and about being as snarky and poignant as I can manage. I hope you enjoy it.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
On Danish Kids (also, an update)
It's been ridiculous recently, sorry I haven't been posting.
As you may or may not know, I was in Brussels, the Hague, and Amsterdam all last week, so my internet access was unreliable at best. Lessons I learned on that trip:
Today, we took a tour of the Danish Parliament, the Folketing. Admittedly, I'd done this before, but it was kind of cool to get one from a prominent Parliamentarian and we ended up talking about our impressions of Denmark - namely Danish attitudes towards children.
Which is what I thought I'd talk to you all about today. The Danes have a very different idea about children and childhood than we have in the States. Children are given a lot of freedom - I've seen 6 or 7 year olds riding the Metro alone or in small groups, and apparently in a kindergarten class one of my friends is working with, the students are given a lot more free choice about what they're going to do with their time.
The stereotypical example is that Danish mothers will often leave baby carriages (with the babies inside) outside of stores and cafes while they go inside, because the likelihood that your child will get kidnapped in Copenhagen is unfathomably small.
But I just think the level of independence and choice they give children is really interesting. We structure the lives of children so much to help and protect them, but from what I can see, Danish kids seem to do pretty well on their own.
Pedagogically? yours,
Rachel Leigh
As you may or may not know, I was in Brussels, the Hague, and Amsterdam all last week, so my internet access was unreliable at best. Lessons I learned on that trip:
- Even most EU citizens are confused about what the EU does
- Sharing a room with 11 other people is detrimental to my ability to sleep
- A man with a faucet on his head isn't normal, but in Amsterdam it is
Today, we took a tour of the Danish Parliament, the Folketing. Admittedly, I'd done this before, but it was kind of cool to get one from a prominent Parliamentarian and we ended up talking about our impressions of Denmark - namely Danish attitudes towards children.
Which is what I thought I'd talk to you all about today. The Danes have a very different idea about children and childhood than we have in the States. Children are given a lot of freedom - I've seen 6 or 7 year olds riding the Metro alone or in small groups, and apparently in a kindergarten class one of my friends is working with, the students are given a lot more free choice about what they're going to do with their time.
The stereotypical example is that Danish mothers will often leave baby carriages (with the babies inside) outside of stores and cafes while they go inside, because the likelihood that your child will get kidnapped in Copenhagen is unfathomably small.
But I just think the level of independence and choice they give children is really interesting. We structure the lives of children so much to help and protect them, but from what I can see, Danish kids seem to do pretty well on their own.
Pedagogically? yours,
Rachel Leigh
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Greetings from my never-ending struggle to adjust to the cold and to gain a grasp of what "hygge" really means!
This isn't really a post so much as a quick update to let you all know how things are going --
1. I am running out of the delicious cheap chocolate stash that I got on the way back from Germany - but luckily I'm set to run out right before we leave for Brussels. Belgian chocolate, here I come!
2. There was this massive international food fair in Gammeltorv, the square near DIS, yesterday. I ate my weight in delicious things.
3. It's starting to get cold - so glad I bought my winter coat to keep me warm! Now if only my room had a fireplace, then we'd be in business.
Hope to have more to update soon!
This isn't really a post so much as a quick update to let you all know how things are going --
1. I am running out of the delicious cheap chocolate stash that I got on the way back from Germany - but luckily I'm set to run out right before we leave for Brussels. Belgian chocolate, here I come!
2. There was this massive international food fair in Gammeltorv, the square near DIS, yesterday. I ate my weight in delicious things.
Yes, that is a waffle with whipped cream, strawberries, and peaches. Judge all you want, it was delicious.
3. It's starting to get cold - so glad I bought my winter coat to keep me warm! Now if only my room had a fireplace, then we'd be in business.
Hope to have more to update soon!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
On Study Abroad Problems
Oh my lovely, lovely readers. I have encountered a number of #studyabroadproblems (kind of like firstworldproblems, in that they're soaked in privilege and kind of ridiculous, but specific to experiences of culture shock or differences spurred by being in another country) since I've been here, some of which I've told you about, and some of which I haven't.
The first is the fact that the Danes swear almost entirely in English. In between the words I don't understand, the j's that sound like "y," and the d's that are definitely actually the letter L, you'll here good old American f-bombs. Or my European Politics professor who likes to start class by yelling "Shut up, you assholes!" According to my Danish professor, it comes down to the fact that, kind of like "Merde!" sounds less harsh to an English speaker than its English equivalent, cursing in English to the Danes is almost not like cursing at all -- god forbid someone actually use a Danish curse word or she would be horribly offended. It's just really hard to get used to not understanding entire conversations except when an English swear is snuck in.
The other is just that junk food and junk drinks (like soda, which you all know is an addiction of mine) are super expensive here and also the closest place to get them is like a fifteen minute walk and yes I am so lazy that that is too much effort.
To make up for my whining, here are some pictures from Denmark!
Still-not-Danishly Yours,
Rachel Leigh
The first is the fact that the Danes swear almost entirely in English. In between the words I don't understand, the j's that sound like "y," and the d's that are definitely actually the letter L, you'll here good old American f-bombs. Or my European Politics professor who likes to start class by yelling "Shut up, you assholes!" According to my Danish professor, it comes down to the fact that, kind of like "Merde!" sounds less harsh to an English speaker than its English equivalent, cursing in English to the Danes is almost not like cursing at all -- god forbid someone actually use a Danish curse word or she would be horribly offended. It's just really hard to get used to not understanding entire conversations except when an English swear is snuck in.
The other is just that junk food and junk drinks (like soda, which you all know is an addiction of mine) are super expensive here and also the closest place to get them is like a fifteen minute walk and yes I am so lazy that that is too much effort.
To make up for my whining, here are some pictures from Denmark!
Rachel Leigh
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
On Election Season and Why I'm Glad I Have an Absentee Ballot
Darling readers, as much as it pains me to be out of the country during the first presidential election I can vote in (shout out to the Bucks County Board of Elections and my awesome mother for making sure I still get my absentee ballot!), I do have to say I'm not lamenting missing out on the irritating onslaught of campaign ads.
Don't get me wrong, between the daily emails, the political Facebook posts, and the fact that for some reason the Danes do actually seem to care about the outcome of the American presidential election, I'm still bombarded with campaign slogans and election information (and the occasional request to canvas or come to a rally, but sorry guys, it's hard to do that from Copenhagen -- best of luck though!). But it's refreshing to get a break from every ad I see on YouTube or TV, or hear on the radio, being a political ad.
But the thing is, I didn't miss it entirely. Because what they neglect to tell you is that campaign season in the States starts long before the primaries. In fact, especially for House elections, it's reasonable to say that campaign season never stops. Even before the campaign ads start airing, the media is full of policy critiques and comments from one side on the actions of the other.
What this means is that our politicians can rarely enter into that lull where they can actually govern as opposed to dancing around like trained monkeys trying to win your approval. The second-term presidencies are really the only chances politicians get to actually do their jobs without worrying about the ramifications at the polls -- after all, they don't GET another shot.
What I've noticed here, though, is that while campaigning can get a little tough (especially in the UK because politics in the UK are so absurd they're actually funny), once an election has passed and a government has taken over, they're given the chance to DO THEIR JOBS, with the understanding that they may have to pay the price in the next election cycle, but that it won't really be an issue until then.
An outside perspective on American politics is actually kind of refreshing, really.
Absently yours,
Rachel Leigh
Don't get me wrong, between the daily emails, the political Facebook posts, and the fact that for some reason the Danes do actually seem to care about the outcome of the American presidential election, I'm still bombarded with campaign slogans and election information (and the occasional request to canvas or come to a rally, but sorry guys, it's hard to do that from Copenhagen -- best of luck though!). But it's refreshing to get a break from every ad I see on YouTube or TV, or hear on the radio, being a political ad.
But the thing is, I didn't miss it entirely. Because what they neglect to tell you is that campaign season in the States starts long before the primaries. In fact, especially for House elections, it's reasonable to say that campaign season never stops. Even before the campaign ads start airing, the media is full of policy critiques and comments from one side on the actions of the other.
What this means is that our politicians can rarely enter into that lull where they can actually govern as opposed to dancing around like trained monkeys trying to win your approval. The second-term presidencies are really the only chances politicians get to actually do their jobs without worrying about the ramifications at the polls -- after all, they don't GET another shot.
What I've noticed here, though, is that while campaigning can get a little tough (especially in the UK because politics in the UK are so absurd they're actually funny), once an election has passed and a government has taken over, they're given the chance to DO THEIR JOBS, with the understanding that they may have to pay the price in the next election cycle, but that it won't really be an issue until then.
An outside perspective on American politics is actually kind of refreshing, really.
Absently yours,
Rachel Leigh
Sunday, September 9, 2012
On European Politics and "Bad Words"
Greetings again from across the Atlantic! After spending the last week gallivanting around southern Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, going to lectures taught by former VCU professors who now work in a Belgian think tank, a Fatboy Slim concert, and getting a winter coat, I finally have the chance to sit down and write a little bit.
We had a couple meetings with officials from both the Danish and German governments, which was really eye-opening in a lot of ways. We met with a woman in the Danish parliament (called the Folketing), and it was truly refreshing to hear a politician who wasn't so afraid to give a direct answer when asked for their position on something -- even something as conflicted as whether Denmark should join the Euro zone (spoiler alert: they totally should, the currency is already tied to the Euro so it's stupid not to).
But because most of European Union and European domestic politics come down to a culture of consensus, I thought the coolest thing was that the word "compromise" and "lobby" weren't bad words. They weren't things to be afraid of. Lobbying - pitching the facts and rubbing elbows to make the right friends to assert your political agenda - is just a necessary part of getting things done in a system that isn't strictly majority based. And they recognize the difference between compromise and rolling over and playing dead. Especially within the EU, compromising and giving up a little bit of what you want allows you to influence the direction the discussions and decisions take, so maybe you might lose one thing you wanted, but ultimately you come out with the things that were really important.
When the system is less driven by conflict and campaigning, it doesn't become such a bad thing to make some sacrifices for the good of the greater cause. And that, to me, is cool.
You know what isn't cool, though? How expensive soda is here. I'm superthirsty right now and I don't want to walk all the way to Netto for a five dollar can of soda. Rawr.
Politically yours,
Rachel Leigh
We had a couple meetings with officials from both the Danish and German governments, which was really eye-opening in a lot of ways. We met with a woman in the Danish parliament (called the Folketing), and it was truly refreshing to hear a politician who wasn't so afraid to give a direct answer when asked for their position on something -- even something as conflicted as whether Denmark should join the Euro zone (spoiler alert: they totally should, the currency is already tied to the Euro so it's stupid not to).
But because most of European Union and European domestic politics come down to a culture of consensus, I thought the coolest thing was that the word "compromise" and "lobby" weren't bad words. They weren't things to be afraid of. Lobbying - pitching the facts and rubbing elbows to make the right friends to assert your political agenda - is just a necessary part of getting things done in a system that isn't strictly majority based. And they recognize the difference between compromise and rolling over and playing dead. Especially within the EU, compromising and giving up a little bit of what you want allows you to influence the direction the discussions and decisions take, so maybe you might lose one thing you wanted, but ultimately you come out with the things that were really important.
When the system is less driven by conflict and campaigning, it doesn't become such a bad thing to make some sacrifices for the good of the greater cause. And that, to me, is cool.
You know what isn't cool, though? How expensive soda is here. I'm superthirsty right now and I don't want to walk all the way to Netto for a five dollar can of soda. Rawr.
Politically yours,
Rachel Leigh
Sunday, September 2, 2012
On Little Kids and Amusement Parks
This is less a Dane-centric post and more one of my traditional rants inspired by something I noticed.
Yesterday I went to LEGOLAND in Billund, Denmark, which is about three and a half/four hours from Copenhagen. It was a) totally awesome and b) full of small children, because that is what amusement parks generally are.
Which led me to notice how many of these small children looked absolutely miserable. Which got me thinking -- How much of "children loving amusement parks" is really their parents WANTING them to love amusement parks? I'm sorry, but your two year old doesn't want to be here. Your two year old is too small to ride most of the rides, is probably overwhelmed and distressed by the number of strangers, and would probably rather be taking a nap than coming to Legoland where they cannot eat or poop on anything, which, from what I gather, are babies' favorite pastimes.
I always had a love-hate relationship with amusement parks, especially when I was younger. As much as I love the lights and sounds and games and park food, I was always really terrified of most park rides which meant that I was stuck either going on rides that scared me (and crying because I was miserable) or waiting for everyone else to go on them (and being bored). As much as I did genuinely enjoy going to amusement parks, there were parts that sucked, parts that I couldn't really vocalize the suckage of until I was much older.
So take your kids to amusement parks when they're seven and can tell you whether or not they really like it. Don't drag them there when they're too little to have any fun or to tell you that they're not.
Yours exhaustedly after a long day at Legoland,
Rachel Leigh
Yesterday I went to LEGOLAND in Billund, Denmark, which is about three and a half/four hours from Copenhagen. It was a) totally awesome and b) full of small children, because that is what amusement parks generally are.
Which led me to notice how many of these small children looked absolutely miserable. Which got me thinking -- How much of "children loving amusement parks" is really their parents WANTING them to love amusement parks? I'm sorry, but your two year old doesn't want to be here. Your two year old is too small to ride most of the rides, is probably overwhelmed and distressed by the number of strangers, and would probably rather be taking a nap than coming to Legoland where they cannot eat or poop on anything, which, from what I gather, are babies' favorite pastimes.
I always had a love-hate relationship with amusement parks, especially when I was younger. As much as I love the lights and sounds and games and park food, I was always really terrified of most park rides which meant that I was stuck either going on rides that scared me (and crying because I was miserable) or waiting for everyone else to go on them (and being bored). As much as I did genuinely enjoy going to amusement parks, there were parts that sucked, parts that I couldn't really vocalize the suckage of until I was much older.
So take your kids to amusement parks when they're seven and can tell you whether or not they really like it. Don't drag them there when they're too little to have any fun or to tell you that they're not.
Yours exhaustedly after a long day at Legoland,
Rachel Leigh
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
On Danish Transportation
At a Phillies game that I went to before I left the states (because I'm originally from the land of the Phightin' Phils and because my best friend's family is awesome), they made this announcement to "Stick around until the 7th inning to hear why our fans LOVE SEPTA!" To which I called shenanigans, because no one loves SEPTA (SouthEastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority). At best, people tolerate SEPTA because it kind of gets you where you need to go sometimes.
But public transportation here in Copenhagen is top notch. I am obsessed with how simple the Metro system is (two lines, which go pretty much exactly the same places except for like 5 stops), then there are busses and the S-train, which is the regional train that takes you out to the outerlying neighborhoods of Greater Copenhagen. And everything runs pretty consistently so you never have to wait more than like 10 minutes. It's awesome.
But this evening, my lovely American roommate and I managed to get completely lost because we got on the right bus going the wrong way. We were off in search of food: fun fact, they pretty much force you to go into the city from our little suburb-type neighborhood by just not having food anywhere around here. So we hop on the 33 bus, which runs between our neighborhood and the City Centre.
...And, apparently, the outer reaches of Vestamager, which is two zones past what our school-provided transportation passes cover. And the fine for getting caught on public transportation without a pass or with an insufficient pass is 750 kr (or about 125 USD). So, thank god, we just pulled the "stupid, confused Americans couldn't understand the Danish bus schedule and accidentally got on the wrong bus" card and the bus driver was pretty understanding and took us home.
Today's lesson: Don't stray from the path. Accept the role you have and don't try and adventure, because otherwise you will end up in Zone 4 which is nothing but houses anyway and you could get in lots of trouble.
Confusedly yours,
Rachel Leigh
But public transportation here in Copenhagen is top notch. I am obsessed with how simple the Metro system is (two lines, which go pretty much exactly the same places except for like 5 stops), then there are busses and the S-train, which is the regional train that takes you out to the outerlying neighborhoods of Greater Copenhagen. And everything runs pretty consistently so you never have to wait more than like 10 minutes. It's awesome.
But this evening, my lovely American roommate and I managed to get completely lost because we got on the right bus going the wrong way. We were off in search of food: fun fact, they pretty much force you to go into the city from our little suburb-type neighborhood by just not having food anywhere around here. So we hop on the 33 bus, which runs between our neighborhood and the City Centre.
...And, apparently, the outer reaches of Vestamager, which is two zones past what our school-provided transportation passes cover. And the fine for getting caught on public transportation without a pass or with an insufficient pass is 750 kr (or about 125 USD). So, thank god, we just pulled the "stupid, confused Americans couldn't understand the Danish bus schedule and accidentally got on the wrong bus" card and the bus driver was pretty understanding and took us home.
Today's lesson: Don't stray from the path. Accept the role you have and don't try and adventure, because otherwise you will end up in Zone 4 which is nothing but houses anyway and you could get in lots of trouble.
Confusedly yours,
Rachel Leigh
On Those Fashionable Danes
I wanted to do a post dedicated to dressing like a Dane...but in all honesty, we're still trying to figure it out, really. They told us during Orientation that the Danes don't wear colors, but that's not entirely true.
Yes, there are a lot of neutrals (grey, black, navy blue, dark brown, white). But there are also a lot of Danes that wear colors, especially the kids. As far as I can tell, you can still blend in pretty well in blue, red, and dark purple. They also tend to have really bright shoes and umbrellas, which makes me laugh. The point is, though, you may want to leave the neon lodge clothes at home, unless you WANT to stick out as an American.
The biggest thing is dressing for the weather -- it rains a lot and gets cold inexplicably, so layers are absolutely necessary...and rain boots are probably a good choice. Also, the Danes walk or ride bikes everywhere (because there's a 200% tax on cars), so comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. If you're going to wear heels, make sure they're not going to get caught in the cobblestone sidewalks.
If I notice anything else relevant, I'll make sure to post it.
Too colorful for Denmark,
Rachel Leigh
Yes, there are a lot of neutrals (grey, black, navy blue, dark brown, white). But there are also a lot of Danes that wear colors, especially the kids. As far as I can tell, you can still blend in pretty well in blue, red, and dark purple. They also tend to have really bright shoes and umbrellas, which makes me laugh. The point is, though, you may want to leave the neon lodge clothes at home, unless you WANT to stick out as an American.
The biggest thing is dressing for the weather -- it rains a lot and gets cold inexplicably, so layers are absolutely necessary...and rain boots are probably a good choice. Also, the Danes walk or ride bikes everywhere (because there's a 200% tax on cars), so comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. If you're going to wear heels, make sure they're not going to get caught in the cobblestone sidewalks.
If I notice anything else relevant, I'll make sure to post it.
Too colorful for Denmark,
Rachel Leigh
Thursday, August 23, 2012
On Denmark (Part 1)
Greetings for (surprisingly) sunny and (unseasonably) warm Copenhagen! Fun fact, while Copenhagen is usually about 15 degrees colder than Richmond, it has actually consistently been warmer here (at least during the day) the entire time I've been here. The day we arrived was the hottest day Denmark had in two years. Just throwin' some knowledge your way.
This post comes at the end of my first day of classes (by which I mean my first class, because most of my classes are tomorrow...also it's only 11:30 and I've already been to class, commuted home, and done my reading for tomorrow).
Things I love so far:
More to come (especially once I upload some of the photos of things I find bizarre).
Tusind tak,
Rachel Leigh
This post comes at the end of my first day of classes (by which I mean my first class, because most of my classes are tomorrow...also it's only 11:30 and I've already been to class, commuted home, and done my reading for tomorrow).
Things I love so far:
- Everything is easily accessible by Metro
- The people really ARE the happiest people on Earth, and it just exudes from the attitudes at certain places
- Not understanding half the signs I read (though I'm picking up on some (Udgang=Exit) and I start Danish tomorrow)
- The Danes are REALLY quiet people. I can already start to pick out the Americans on the Metro...just follow the loud ones.
More to come (especially once I upload some of the photos of things I find bizarre).
Tusind tak,
Rachel Leigh
Friday, August 17, 2012
Why is packing the worst thing ever?
That might be a hyperbole, but I think it's pretty accurate. Packing and cleaning combine to be the thing I hate most in this life.
That being said, I leave for Denmark tomorrow! I'm so excited, but I wouldn't expect any new posts or anything until I am done unpacking/going through orientation. I will miss you all oodles. In the meantime, enjoy the slight layout update!
All the best and Europe-bound,
Rachel Leigh
That might be a hyperbole, but I think it's pretty accurate. Packing and cleaning combine to be the thing I hate most in this life.
That being said, I leave for Denmark tomorrow! I'm so excited, but I wouldn't expect any new posts or anything until I am done unpacking/going through orientation. I will miss you all oodles. In the meantime, enjoy the slight layout update!
All the best and Europe-bound,
Rachel Leigh
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
On Weirdness
I think it's funny how someone's response when I call them weird is
always to shoot back, "No, you're weird!" I mean, yes, I am. I'm
totally weird. I'm like the weirdest person I know. But why does MY
being weird preclude your ability to be weird? Does my being tall
somehow stop other people from being tall?
I can understand noting the hypocrisy, if I were
somehow saying that you're a bad person because you are weird, but it's
not like that. You may have done or said something that I found odd
because it doesn't make sense to me or it's unconventional. That
doesn't make it bad, but it does make it, at least to me, weird. Why
does the fact that I am also a weird person somehow make you not-weird?
One of my favorite quotes comes from Dr. Seuss: "We're
all a little weird, and life is weird, and when we find someone whose
weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in
mutual weirdness and call it love." The fact that you're weird doesn't
make you somehow less -- it makes you capable of mutual weirdness. But
just because I point it out, doesn't mean you have to go "Nuh uh, you
are!" like I just called you smelly on the playground.
Embrace the weirdness -- but recognize it.
Yours in mutual weirdness,
Rachel Leigh
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
On My Life As a Domestic Goddess (Or: Cupcake-Decorating 101)
This post is completely unrelated to what I normally post, but then again, I normally post whatever anyway.
If
you know me, you know I like to bake. If you REALLY know me, you know I
worked as a cake decorator for four years and still take my decorating
very seriously (especially on my cupcakes). As such, I've gotten a
couple questions on everything from the materials and techniques I use
to the virtues of professional training.
So, here are Rachel's Tips and Tricks for decorating:
- Buy cheap pastry bags and good decorating tips. A cheap decorating tip will warp, bend, clog, and generally be a pain to work with. Invest in sturdy ones. Pastry bags, on the other hand, are disposable. Even if you take excellent care of them, they rip, fray, and stain after a couple uses. If you have to choose where to splurge and where to save, splurge on the decorating tips. If it comes down to it, you can even use a Ziploc bag with the corner cut off to save money on pastry bags.
- Know your materials and how they behave. Cold, stiff frosting is harder to work with, but it holds up better than a warmer frosting, which wilts, melts into the cake, and falls apart if you look at it funny. Don't try to use cookie frosting on a cake -- they behave completely differently and serve different purposes.
- Practice and experiment. It took me a good six months before I could pipe a frosting rose that didn't smoosh up or fall apart the second my hand moved. Everything from learning the amount of pressure needed to pipe certain shapes and patterns to deciding if a design that looks cool in your head actually works in reality requires practice and a willingness to experiment.
- Don't be afraid to get messy. I worked one shift in high school where I had to leave immediately after to go set up and help out with senior class graduation, and it took me 12 hand washes and a shower to scrub all of the food coloring and icing off of my hands and arms. You WILL end up covered in food coloring and having to wipe down your work station a lot, but it gets neater and easier with practice. Don't wear anything you'd be horrified to see ruined until the mixer and food dye is safely away.
Letting them eat cake,
Rachel Leigh
Monday, July 30, 2012
On Perspective 2 (or Fighting Real Problems Instead of Making Up New Ones)
This post might very well lose me friends. But I just calls 'em like I sees 'em, and this isn't something I take lightly.
I have never backed down from the idea that I am a feminist -- I'm kind of one of those people of the belief that if you or someone you care about identifies as a woman, than you have no right or sense to not support things that would help make the lives of women everywhere better.
But maybe I haven't been clear on my views towards those people who calls themselves activists who are, in reality, looking for something to complain about. I came across this tumblog that literally blasted everything from meat eaters to a child abuse awareness campaign. The campaign in question won the Gold Lion award at Cannes and depicts the cycle of child abuse, showing each child being abused and eventually growing into their abuser. Actually, you can see them here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/copyranter/powerful-child-abuse-ads. And why was she targeting this campaign? Because the verbal abuse image depicts a woman yelling at her children.
She said the campaign disgusted her -- not the acts portrayed as a part of it -- but the fact that it only depicted a woman yelling, which she thought fueled the "nagging" stereotypes about women. Statistically, it might have made sense to make the abusers in all three images men (each image represented a form of domestic abuse -- sexual, physical, and verbal) because an overwhelming percentage of abuse is male-dominated, but doing so would have been unfair to both men and women because, due to the structure of the campaign, it would eliminate the possibility of women as perpetrators or victims, and they do, in fact, fill both roles, more often than we'd like to believe. And, unfortunately, women are far more likely to perpetrate verbal abuse than any other kind of domestic abuse -- and would it really have been better for the global image of women to have the only woman in the campaign be a sexual predator or a violent monster? Or simply to put a woman as a passive victim?
This is just one case, among many, I'm afraid, where people get so caught up in the politics of activism that they forget what's actually important. This campaign should disgust you, but not for it's content. What it depicts, and the fact that child abuse is still a prevalent issue in America, one that's still not talked about because it's taboo, which creates a self-perpetuating cycle of violence as children who feel mistreated grow up to mistreat others. Your need to be confrontational, to take an issue with everyone just so you have something to say -- has made you blind to the real issue, which makes you unable to do anything to stop it.
So until you start complaining about the real issues and stop letting the small details distract you from the problem at hand, I am still going to take issue with the way you handle things like this. Your loss of perspective is terrifying.
(infinitesimally) yours,
Rachel Leigh
I have never backed down from the idea that I am a feminist -- I'm kind of one of those people of the belief that if you or someone you care about identifies as a woman, than you have no right or sense to not support things that would help make the lives of women everywhere better.
But maybe I haven't been clear on my views towards those people who calls themselves activists who are, in reality, looking for something to complain about. I came across this tumblog that literally blasted everything from meat eaters to a child abuse awareness campaign. The campaign in question won the Gold Lion award at Cannes and depicts the cycle of child abuse, showing each child being abused and eventually growing into their abuser. Actually, you can see them here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/copyranter/powerful-child-abuse-ads. And why was she targeting this campaign? Because the verbal abuse image depicts a woman yelling at her children.
She said the campaign disgusted her -- not the acts portrayed as a part of it -- but the fact that it only depicted a woman yelling, which she thought fueled the "nagging" stereotypes about women. Statistically, it might have made sense to make the abusers in all three images men (each image represented a form of domestic abuse -- sexual, physical, and verbal) because an overwhelming percentage of abuse is male-dominated, but doing so would have been unfair to both men and women because, due to the structure of the campaign, it would eliminate the possibility of women as perpetrators or victims, and they do, in fact, fill both roles, more often than we'd like to believe. And, unfortunately, women are far more likely to perpetrate verbal abuse than any other kind of domestic abuse -- and would it really have been better for the global image of women to have the only woman in the campaign be a sexual predator or a violent monster? Or simply to put a woman as a passive victim?
This is just one case, among many, I'm afraid, where people get so caught up in the politics of activism that they forget what's actually important. This campaign should disgust you, but not for it's content. What it depicts, and the fact that child abuse is still a prevalent issue in America, one that's still not talked about because it's taboo, which creates a self-perpetuating cycle of violence as children who feel mistreated grow up to mistreat others. Your need to be confrontational, to take an issue with everyone just so you have something to say -- has made you blind to the real issue, which makes you unable to do anything to stop it.
So until you start complaining about the real issues and stop letting the small details distract you from the problem at hand, I am still going to take issue with the way you handle things like this. Your loss of perspective is terrifying.
(infinitesimally) yours,
Rachel Leigh
Sunday, July 22, 2012
'Sup Darling-Type-People?
I think one of the coolest things about the internet is this seemingly-endless desire to give back to the people who have made it a community. I really first noticed it with crossover and guest comics on Questionable Content -- how the creators of these really different webcomics in different artistic and narrative/comedic styles could come together to create a really interconnected community that credited the people who have helped and inspired each individual creator.
And then there's YouTube, which I think has the single strongest Creator-Community of any site I've seen. Users promote other users' material and form not only working relationships but real friendships with their co-creators. I think the coolest example I've seen is the Liker Chain, where prominent YouTubers go on to list the channels that either made them want to start producing videos or make them continue to want to be a part of the community.
In this same spirit, I've tried to, in the past, credit the people on the internet who have made me want to become a content creator and have, mostly unbeknownst to them, helped me hone my style and realize the kind of blogger I want to be.
So, to the YouTubers who help me understand myself -- Jenna Marbles/Mourey and Tyler Oakley, for helping me realize that being snarky and weird for no reason can actually be cool. Philip DeFranco and SourceFed for helping me see that being serious is not only okay but can actually be important and something of a responsibility. The VlogBrothers for turning the internet into a community.
To the bloggers, columnists, and writers who helped me realize the writer I want to be -- Dan Savage for being no-holds-barred awesome about the things he writes about in "Savage Love," Allie from "Hyperbole and a Half" for the single funniest blog I've ever read, The Ticking Time Bombshell/BerkeleyBabe for being a hot mess and totally honest about it.
And, of course, to the friends and family who help make me feel like I don't just write this blog for my own selfish entertainment, even though I totally do.
Love you all, darling readers!
Rachel Leigh
I think one of the coolest things about the internet is this seemingly-endless desire to give back to the people who have made it a community. I really first noticed it with crossover and guest comics on Questionable Content -- how the creators of these really different webcomics in different artistic and narrative/comedic styles could come together to create a really interconnected community that credited the people who have helped and inspired each individual creator.
And then there's YouTube, which I think has the single strongest Creator-Community of any site I've seen. Users promote other users' material and form not only working relationships but real friendships with their co-creators. I think the coolest example I've seen is the Liker Chain, where prominent YouTubers go on to list the channels that either made them want to start producing videos or make them continue to want to be a part of the community.
In this same spirit, I've tried to, in the past, credit the people on the internet who have made me want to become a content creator and have, mostly unbeknownst to them, helped me hone my style and realize the kind of blogger I want to be.
So, to the YouTubers who help me understand myself -- Jenna Marbles/Mourey and Tyler Oakley, for helping me realize that being snarky and weird for no reason can actually be cool. Philip DeFranco and SourceFed for helping me see that being serious is not only okay but can actually be important and something of a responsibility. The VlogBrothers for turning the internet into a community.
To the bloggers, columnists, and writers who helped me realize the writer I want to be -- Dan Savage for being no-holds-barred awesome about the things he writes about in "Savage Love," Allie from "Hyperbole and a Half" for the single funniest blog I've ever read, The Ticking Time Bombshell/BerkeleyBabe for being a hot mess and totally honest about it.
And, of course, to the friends and family who help make me feel like I don't just write this blog for my own selfish entertainment, even though I totally do.
Love you all, darling readers!
Rachel Leigh
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
On "Because I'm a Psycho"
I swear, if you looked up "Crazy Cat Lady in the Making" in the dictionary, there would be a definition something along the lines of "Perpetually single, slightly demented girl in her early-to-mid-20s with an unnatural obsession with cat videos on the internet and next to no social skills." Next to this brilliantly-worded entry, you would find a picture of my face and a nice little "See Also" tag.
But, even this crazy cat lady has a wedding board on Pinterest and like six seasons of "Say Yes to the Dress" in her Netflix queue. And that got me thinking... Why? I can understand why women who are deeply, soundly in love with someone might start dreaming about their future wedding day. But what prompts the rest of us, the girls for whom the prospect of a future wedding may actually be what most people consider laughable, to fantasize about these things?
Is it some sort of way of filling in the gaps in our lives? Is it the manifestation of years of brainwashing by Disney princesses who want nothing more than to be married and live happily ever after? Is it because we're actually planning these elaborate weddings so we can one day marry those 20 cats that we're probably already on the road to having?
I honestly wish I had an answer. But, in all honesty, I don't even understand it in myself. Said Pinterest board is sub-titled "Because I'm a Psycho," so clearly I think it's as nuts as everybody else does.
Confusedly yours,
Rachel Leigh
But, even this crazy cat lady has a wedding board on Pinterest and like six seasons of "Say Yes to the Dress" in her Netflix queue. And that got me thinking... Why? I can understand why women who are deeply, soundly in love with someone might start dreaming about their future wedding day. But what prompts the rest of us, the girls for whom the prospect of a future wedding may actually be what most people consider laughable, to fantasize about these things?
Is it some sort of way of filling in the gaps in our lives? Is it the manifestation of years of brainwashing by Disney princesses who want nothing more than to be married and live happily ever after? Is it because we're actually planning these elaborate weddings so we can one day marry those 20 cats that we're probably already on the road to having?
I honestly wish I had an answer. But, in all honesty, I don't even understand it in myself. Said Pinterest board is sub-titled "Because I'm a Psycho," so clearly I think it's as nuts as everybody else does.
Confusedly yours,
Rachel Leigh
Monday, July 9, 2012
On Graffiti and the DB of the Day
Here's the thing: I love graffiti. I think a well-executed tag in the right place adds one of the coolest possible touches to an urban landscape. Aside from that, there are very few things in the world that I find as cool as spray paint.
But there's a difference between a really cool, artistically-executed signature tag on an abandoned building, and some of the crap I've seen in the last couple days. I live in a relatively small town, not particularly known for its crime, and I'll admit, the first time I saw what looked like a non-sensical tagline spray-painted on a billboard that I didn't even like anyway, I laughed.
But seeing the same tagline spray-painted on the side of a small business that had just been opened (and had the building re-done in the process)? That just makes me angry. A good tagger is an artist -- Banksy is a legend who uses spray-paint as a medium to convey intense messages about politics and society in creative and highly-public way. Someone who thinks its cool to paint a penis on the side of a mailbox or their pseudo-intellectual "tagger name" on the side of a building is nothing more than an asshole.
So today's DBotD Award goes to -- that guy. You know who you are. And you're just a dick.
Angrily yours,
Rachel Leigh
But there's a difference between a really cool, artistically-executed signature tag on an abandoned building, and some of the crap I've seen in the last couple days. I live in a relatively small town, not particularly known for its crime, and I'll admit, the first time I saw what looked like a non-sensical tagline spray-painted on a billboard that I didn't even like anyway, I laughed.
But seeing the same tagline spray-painted on the side of a small business that had just been opened (and had the building re-done in the process)? That just makes me angry. A good tagger is an artist -- Banksy is a legend who uses spray-paint as a medium to convey intense messages about politics and society in creative and highly-public way. Someone who thinks its cool to paint a penis on the side of a mailbox or their pseudo-intellectual "tagger name" on the side of a building is nothing more than an asshole.
So today's DBotD Award goes to -- that guy. You know who you are. And you're just a dick.
Angrily yours,
Rachel Leigh
Sunday, July 8, 2012
On Toys That Ruined My Childhood
A happy Sunday, my darling readers!
The other day, my mother posted a link on my Facebook Timeline (yes, my mother has a Facebook and, yes, I have Timeline...these are both old news, get over it), that Hasbro is re-introducing one of their most popular toys: Furby.
I was 6 years old when the original Furby released in 1998, and like everyone I knew at the time, I wanted one, because they looked so damn cute, and also I secretly wanted a Gremlin (seriously, have you SEEN Gizmo? He's like the cutest thing to ever exist).
How can you say no to that face?
But what Hasbro appears not to realize is that while Furby may have made them more money than Lincoln Logs could ever possibly hope to be worth (which, by the way, is complete crap, because Lincoln Logs were the definition of awesome), no one actually liked their Furbies. What appeared to be an adorable, fuzzy knock-off of the pet every child born after 1984 ever wanted was actually a demonic, bird-like doll from Hell that most of the world was intent on destroying.
The look on its face says "I will destroy everything you love."
Hasbro, if you're listening, I'm begging you not to release these little monsters back into the homes of children everywhere. I, for one, gave mine a proper burial in the bottom of my closet for many years before finally getting rid of it. And if you don't believe that I'm not the only one who has a reason to want them gone, I suggest searching YouTube for the phrase "death to furby." There are guys there with firecrackers and drills who would gladly vouch for me.
Having nightmares about the Furby Apocalypse,
Rachel Leigh
Thursday, July 5, 2012
You know what's awesomely safe for everyone on the road?
Let's say there's an intersection. For argument's sake (or, because people are morons and this actually happened), let's say it's an intersection downtown with pretty heavy foot traffic.
Say you pull up to this traffic light, and you find yourself at a red light. Where do you stop? I, personally, would say "before the crosswalk." But, apparently, if the drivers on the road today are anything close to resembling right, then I would be wrong. The answer is, apparently, "In or even over the crosswalk."
Because nothing says "the picture of safety" quite like forcing pedestrians to walk in the middle of the intersection to get around you.
Dear FOUR PEOPLE I saw do this today: You have been rated my Douchebags of the Day. I wish I had gotten a picture of your car so I could post it on the internet just to humiliate you for apparently not knowing how to operate your freaking motor vehicle. You suck, thanks.
Let's say there's an intersection. For argument's sake (or, because people are morons and this actually happened), let's say it's an intersection downtown with pretty heavy foot traffic.
Say you pull up to this traffic light, and you find yourself at a red light. Where do you stop? I, personally, would say "before the crosswalk." But, apparently, if the drivers on the road today are anything close to resembling right, then I would be wrong. The answer is, apparently, "In or even over the crosswalk."
Because nothing says "the picture of safety" quite like forcing pedestrians to walk in the middle of the intersection to get around you.
Dear FOUR PEOPLE I saw do this today: You have been rated my Douchebags of the Day. I wish I had gotten a picture of your car so I could post it on the internet just to humiliate you for apparently not knowing how to operate your freaking motor vehicle. You suck, thanks.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
On 'Murica and Bosons
Happy Independence Day, darling readers! The day we celebrate our independence from the British by drinking, eating hamburgers, and shooting off explosives. America...f*** yeah! (If you don't know what that's from, get the internet).
It is also MOTHERLOVING HIGGS BOSON DAY. Do you know what that means?
No? Let me explain. You know how things around you have, like, mass? That thing that makes them heavy and also tangible? My chemistry teachers always described it as the amount of "stuff" in an object.
Well, in order for things to have mass, modern particle physics says that elementary particles (those little subatomic things that MAKE UP atoms, like quarks (up, down, strange, charm, top, bottom!)) need the Higgs mechanism, which is the process which gives those awesome little particles mass. And in order to explain the Higgs mechanism, they needed the Higgs Boson, which has never been discovered. (Hence the punchline, "If you don't allow Higgs Boson Particles, how do you have mass?!" (Yes, the interrobang was necessary. I think the joke involves something about a pastor. Ohwell, the punchline's the only relevant bit anyway.))
Until, you know, today, or well, yesterday in Switzerland at this point (you suck, time zones), when the awesome guys playing around with that terrifying supercollider known as the LHC at CERN found a new particle which they are more than 99% certain is the God Particle itself, the Higgs Boson.
Like...the answer to why things have mass and therefore, yknow, exist. Was discovered. We think. And for that, you get a HAPPY MOTHERLOVIN' HIGGS BOSON DAY.
Particle physicists and nerds of the world, I suggest we celebrate this holiday by drinking and setting off explosives. Hamburgers optional.
Wishing you and yours a happy day,
Rachel Leigh
It is also MOTHERLOVING HIGGS BOSON DAY. Do you know what that means?
No? Let me explain. You know how things around you have, like, mass? That thing that makes them heavy and also tangible? My chemistry teachers always described it as the amount of "stuff" in an object.
Well, in order for things to have mass, modern particle physics says that elementary particles (those little subatomic things that MAKE UP atoms, like quarks (up, down, strange, charm, top, bottom!)) need the Higgs mechanism, which is the process which gives those awesome little particles mass. And in order to explain the Higgs mechanism, they needed the Higgs Boson, which has never been discovered. (Hence the punchline, "If you don't allow Higgs Boson Particles, how do you have mass?!" (Yes, the interrobang was necessary. I think the joke involves something about a pastor. Ohwell, the punchline's the only relevant bit anyway.))
Until, you know, today, or well, yesterday in Switzerland at this point (you suck, time zones), when the awesome guys playing around with that terrifying supercollider known as the LHC at CERN found a new particle which they are more than 99% certain is the God Particle itself, the Higgs Boson.
Like...the answer to why things have mass and therefore, yknow, exist. Was discovered. We think. And for that, you get a HAPPY MOTHERLOVIN' HIGGS BOSON DAY.
Particle physicists and nerds of the world, I suggest we celebrate this holiday by drinking and setting off explosives. Hamburgers optional.
Wishing you and yours a happy day,
Rachel Leigh
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