Archive for February, 2008

Politics, feminism, and the Mrs. getting lost in translation

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beccataylor
7 months, 2 weeks ago
in Musings
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The two aren’t exclusive, nor do they necessarily always present themselves together. My mom isn’t the only one a little fired up by this year’s electoral wrangling. My new addiction is POTUS ‘08 on XM Radio. POTUS stands for “President of the United States” and is an XM Radio station devoted to all things 2008 election, presented from Democratic and Republican perspectives.

I’m not normally a person who’s sensitive the political correctness that dominates our times. At least I thought so.

This afternoon Rebecca Roberts interviewed Joel Kotkin, author of “Ohio and Texas: A Tale of Two States,” and I’m still shaking my head. Repeatedly, and I don’t recall an instance when he didn’t do this, Kotkin referred to Hillary Clinton as “Mrs. Clinton.” But Barack Obama was just “Obama.”

And I almost just typed, “I’m sorry.” I was going to say, I’m sorry for being picky, and sorry for noticing such a “small” nuance. But ya know what? I’m not sorry. In this day and age, and in this usage, I don’t think “Mrs.” was a sign of respect or deference. I’m not saying it was an outright and malicious sign of disrespect either. But I think it’s telling that a man would so easily say that.

It’s too easy for that to become a subliminal label of inferiority, like Mrs. Clinton is only worth the hill of beans she’s standing on because she’s a Mrs. who is attached to a Mr.

I am a Mrs. who is attached to a Mr., but you don’t need to know that or address me as such when you’re conversing in a business, academic, or other formal setting. When I’m writing a business memo or an article, I don’t refer to a researcher or professional as Mrs. Taylor or Mr. Taylor. Taylor is just fine.

I’m all for equality without overcorrection, but I also know when I’m being condescended to.

Booking Through Thursday with heroines

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beccataylor
7 months, 2 weeks ago
in Books
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btt2.jpgWho is your favorite female lead character? And why? (And yes, of course, you can name more than one . . . I always have trouble narrowing down these things to one name, why should I force you to?)

This week’s is a hard one! I know I’m going to forget someone, but here’s my list:

  • Lessa in the Pern series by Anne McCaffrey: Lessa is a down-trodden girl who grows into a strong and compassionate leader. It was the Pern series that began my love of fantasy and sci-fi novels.
  • Lizzy Bennett in Pride & Prejudice: Witty, head-strong, and impossible to stop. I’m always surprised how a female character created all that time ago can still ring true today.
  • Cass from the Circle series by Dolores Stewart Riccio: Cass follows her heart with humor and trust.
  • Claire Fraser from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon: I have to admit that it took me forever to get started on the Outlander series. But once I did, I was hooked. I love that Claire brings her 20th-century knowledge and principles, but discovers she’s happiest in the 18th Century.
  • Moira in the Circle trilogy by Nora Roberts: Moira kicks ass. Smart, bookish, and perhaps plain, she grows into her innate strength, and through love (not just romantic, but for her friends, family, and subjects) discovers herself.
  • Mia in the Three Sisters trilogy by Nora Roberts: Okay, Mia kicks ass too. She’s a perfect blend of feminine strength and otherworldly mystique. A loving witch who knows that people only need love and support to find their own best selves. And I’ve always wanted red hair. :)
  • Ellie from Contact by Carl Sagan: The ultimate skeptic who learns to open her heart to the mysteries of the universe. She changed my life.
  • Aerin from The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley: Aerin was the first character I encountered who made me realize that girls need heroines.

Okay, there have got to be more, but those are off the top of my head. I think I need to re-read some of these now… :)

The James Lipton meme

Published
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beccataylor
7 months, 2 weeks ago
in Random miscellany
. 2 Comments

I’ve been tagged! Trish over at “Hey Lady, Whatca Readin?” sent me this meme.

What is your favorite word?

Aardvark and Shiny

What is your least favorite word?

Chick (in reference to a female; I’m okay with chick in reference to a chicken) :)

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Acceptance–knowing I’m accepted and loved for who I am, and being able to reciprocate that.
Openness–the willingness of someone to open themselves, their heart, their art to inspire someone else.

What turns you off?

People who throw their cigarette butts on the ground.
One-uppers–you know, the person who has to have the last say in a conversation by topping everything you say.

What is your favorite curse word?

Lately I’ve been over-using “Holy Toledo” to an alarming extreme.

What sound or noise do you love?

Rain on the roof, wind in the trees, water gurgling in a fountain or in a stream *sigh*

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

If I could choose anything, I’d like to be a housewife.

What profession would you not like to do?

The poor person who has to clean up roadkill. I definitely couldn’t handle that.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

“The Library for Eternity is open, and there’s a chair just for you.”

I’m going to tag Jo and Mom, just to make them blog something. Get going!

Monday Madness - Smile, you’re on camera

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beccataylor
7 months, 2 weeks ago
in Monday madness
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This week’s fun and kooky diversion: Improv Everywhere.

I just about laughed myself into a coma watching customers react to people who brought their entire desktop computer setup into a Starbucks. And the Frozen Grand Central Station bit is very impressive! Enjoy. :)

Booking Through Thursday with format

Published
by
beccataylor
7 months, 3 weeks ago
in Books
. 7 Comments

btt2.jpg This week’s question: All other things (like price and storage space) being equal, given a choice in a perfect world, would you rather have paperbacks in your library? Or hardcovers? And why?

I’m a book whore, everyone who knows me knows that. Sometimes I think the only habit I have that truly annoys my hubby is my aptitude for collecting books. It’s truly painful to get rid of a book, and I agonize over whether it’s a keeper (but I suppose what makes a book a “keeper” is a whole new topic!). I digress.

I’m not terribly choosy about the format of a book: I’ll read it no matter whether it’s hard cover, mass market paperback, trade paperback, even large print. I do get picky wanting all books in a series to be in the same format. I’ve been known to troll used book stores for months seeking the first series title in hard cover because I bought the newer ones in hard cover when they released. But these days, I only have a few series that I’m religiously collecting.

For the stand-alone titles, often my decision about format is purely aesthetical. Perhaps the dust jacket has really pretty graphics, or the trade paperback version has those groovy rough-edged pages. I love the feel of the pages beneath my fingers, the smell of a book, the sound of the pages turning.

There’s something, though, that has thrown a wrench in my book-collecting works: the Kindle. I also love having my books with me wherever I go. So to Kindle or not to Kindle is my big format dilemma now. Because more than the tactile pleasure of reading a physical book, I crave words and stories.