Keep my head in them books, I'm sharp but you don't care to know I'm smart.

I would say most employee reviews are more rigged than a carnival game. Even at my very first job I asked why I didn't get any "Excellent" marks, the highest rating. "Because there is always room for improvement, and upper management told us no one can get any excellent marks" was usually the answer I got.

Dating is tough, but I have forged down a long and bumpy road in St. Louis. I have, three times, sent an email to males that I thought would be candid with me, per my request, when they ceased contacting me after a date, even if the feeling was mutual.

Most read: Hello you. I appreciated how much honesty you used when we talked/met. Can I ask a question honestly? Why did you not contact me further after our date? Was it personality, physical or other? Thanks dear

I have had zero responses. Do I get excellents in any category? Am I perpetually '3 of 5' or worse?

Tell me why don't you love me? Tell me baby, why don't you love me? When I make me so damn easy to love? -Beyonce

Antiqued Touch Clutch

Fashion Director Nina Garcia, probably best noted as a Project Runway judge, recently sat down with several fashion bloggers and was quoted in the April 2011 Marie Claire magazine "Few Internet sensations can sustain an audience for ver long- unless they're fashion-focused...It's this new generation of tastemakers- from Jessica Quirk of What I Wore to Stephanie Toms of CocoChic- who remind us daily, that from the blogosphere to our offices in the Hearst Tower, we're all in the business of getting dressed." Side note: I am in love with Jessica Quirk.

Once you start reading, and get hooked on a few fashion blogs you start seeing that there is a lot of interaction between fashion bloggers. Few are as notable as Louise Ebel of Pandora; she even has a page dedicated to paints/drawings/musings people do of her! I collect photos from almost every blog I read of projects I would like to make.

In honor of the Royal nuptials of Charles and Kate, I finally recreated Louise's Topshop clutch with vintage brooches that I loved in her April 26, 2010 post In Bloom. For legal reasons I won't post the pictures here, just visit and scootch down to the last photo- beautiful, right?! Louise also doned it in May 16, 2010's Wasn't Born to Follow.

I spent months trying to find a black clutch I liked enough, for the right price. I was sad to not find a black velvet clutch, but clutched up this black leather beauty at Marshall's for $16. All four of the vintage brooches were from Big Bend Antique Gallery from this one booth that only does jewelry. Last time I ventured with Kathleen, we spent maybe an hour and a half in this booth alone. $12 was spent collectively on the four brooches; I still search for a cameo but refuse to pay $50, which was the cheapest one I could find at Big Bend. Two dollars in trim and super glue were the only other expenses.

Now I want a military jacket with gold accents to go with it. Never satisfied.

Check it out!

I've been interviewed about my Etsy shop The Grocery Store. Peruse my interview over at Brittany's Best and make sure to "like" Brittany's Best on Facebook!!!!

Everybody's Free, to send Postcards

Postcards are such a passion. Its hard to understand why in just a few lines some people reach me more than others from my Postcrossing postcards.  Like my German pen pal, I knew after reading his first postcard we would get along splendidly.

After receiving a pretty awesome postcard from The Netherlands from Kars, I saw he has the potential for awesomeness: reads science fiction and cooks Mexican!  With such awesomeness I didn't hesitate to check out his blog, which is dedicated to the comings and goings of Postcrossing postcards.  I was aghast with the wretchedly boring postcards he had received from all over the world.

I sent him a second message, nearly demanding, his address so he could receive a postcard with life and some freaking color.  Here she is, my modern day Statue of Liberty.  A siren of liberty, of the we sing... from her bosom's side, let freedom ring.

Ring Pop Fail

Last week were you licking on your Blue Raspberry Ring Pop thinking, "This is a few Swarovski crystals away from being a Kate Middleton's 18-carat sapphire ring." 

Well good news, bad news.

Good news is that Bazooka Candy Brands heard you!

Bad news, while you admire your royal jewels, that just replaced the Bella's engagement ring knockoff, keep your tongue in your mouth. This Blue Raspberry is NOT edible. Ring Pop Fail. Sorry kids.

Like.... whatever, yeah

I remember a girl named Meredith that rode my bus in Elementary and Middle School. There are two stories I always think about when I think of Meredith. One was when she sang En Vogue's "Never Going to Get It" to my 6th grade bus boyfriend who wore the same Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? shirt every day, and had half a shaved head.

The second story takes place shortly before we parted same-bus-seat-sitting-circles in 7th grade. Now some may think that my later feminist adult mind made this up, but I don't doubt it. After laughing like an idiot at something a boy said, I asked her why she was acting different. By different I implied acting like a moron in front of said boy. "Boys don't like girls that are smarter than them."

After my date on Tuesday I was interested to know his last relationship didn't spark/work out because "she didn't have much going for herself." I can't shake the feeling I have too much going on. I discussed finance and politics, which he brought up and could wing a convo, but I knew more than just to be dangerous. I was everything opposite of this girl who "didn't have much going." I know that doesn't mean interest or that the spark was there, but I thought it would get me a call back. Not just two text message, where I was addressed as Sarah Michelle not Sarah Elizabeth.

We all keep our own lists of flaws we have with ourself. It juts hurts my heart that there are those out there who make girls think "Not dumb enough" should be added to that list.

The start of Bonds 101

This is going to be a tight rope act.  Please wiggle the line if I start getting too fancy with my footwork, but this is what I do... well we will start with what is a bond?  Everyone, individuals, companies, the government, ect. ect., have a balance sheet.  Assets on the left and Liabilities to the right.  I certainly consider Christian Louboutin shoes a major asset!  The average Americans largest asset is their home property, therefore making their biggest liability their mortgage payment.  Liabilities are just I.O.U.s.  That five bucks that Eric wants back, liability.  The fact he promise to pay for dinner tomorrow, that would be an asset under Accounts Payable.

On a company balance sheet bonds are their I.O.U.s to the bondholders.  You'll notice that I have painted liabilities red, which is more than just pretty colors.  If you've ever heard the term, "Back in Black" (Not via ACDC), typically means you went from (negative) cash flow to positive! 

When an entity (typically business or government) needs cash cash money they could just charge it on their credit cards, but lets say they need millions of Benjamins?  They can issue a bond, oh yeah.  One bond is 1,000 smackaroos.  The investor says hey Mr. Entity, here is my $1,000, but what are you going to give in return for this money?  Because, after all, there is no free lunch. 

The entity is like, weellllll I want to borrow this $1,000 for 10 years and I will return it to you, and in exchange I will give you 5.00% interest semi-annually on your $1,000.  Every 6 months for 10 years you receive a coupon of $25 ($50 per year is 5.00% on $1,000).  Then at maturity date, thats like the expiration date the entity pays you one last interest payment and your principal back (the $1,000). 

Neat little tid bits if you are a nerd.  The reason the interest is called coupon payments is because waaayyyyyy back in the day if you bought a bond there would be the certificate and perforated coupons on the bottom.  When it was time for another coupon payment you would rip off your coupon and cash that sucker at the bank.  These were called bearer bonds, as they bore the actual coupons. 

Yep, I'm a nerd. Any questions??

Paternalism? REally?

So my objection for today is the use of/advocation for the term "paternalism" in Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler’s Libertarian Paternalism Is Not an Oxymoron. Here's why it bothers me:
1. Duh, cause I'm a feminist. I can't reconcile myself to Sunstein and Thaler's idea that "the term "paternalistic" should not be considered pejorative, just descriptive," Yeah, I know S and T say their system doesn’t abuse paternalism because the libertarian bit always means there is a choice—but the crux of their argument is that this choice is flexibly persuadable to the point of being a non-choice, which should be exploited to everyone’s well-being ( and just who is deciding this well-being? Do we trust the authors invocation of empirical evidence-and those gathering it- to safeguard against abuse?)

2. I think it’s a flimsy excuse to include the term paternalism on the grounds that it is commonly used. This article tries to get readers to agree with the ideas set forth and also to show readers their own susceptibility to persuasion based on the way an issue is presented. It undermines S and T’s own argument when their issue is presented through the use of a term with potentially alienating power.
3. Nudge, the book based on this article, is crazy popular where I used to work, the official bookstore of the Wharton Business School. I don’t fancy paternalism in any form becoming the buzzword in a place famous for creating the “Leaders of Tomorrow.”

Don't worry, he'd want me to speak up.

I was going to use my John Stuart Mill reading (On Liberty) assignment as the Guinea Pig for a new segment here on 2BF called "At Least He Tried" in an effort to deal with my annoyance at people that I mostly like but who are a teensy bit sexist, racist or classicist (usually because they live in the way-back-then.) Some cursory wiki scrounging, however has altered my judgment of Mr. Mill, and I am pleased to report that he was a strong advocate for women's rights and disavowed slavery. So, we now have "At Least He REALLY, TRULY Tried:"

List of Grievances:
-some races are excepted from liberty because they are still barbarous and uncivilized ( this is such a weird moment in the text that I wonder if he is just pandering for support. An Emily Dickinson situation?)
- assumption that there is THE TRUTH to be found AND
- it is probably Christian


Ways that he REALLY, TRULY tries:
- He stands up for contrary opinions ( a sassy lady’s fav kind)
- There is room for whatev he says about barbarous races (and also what he assumes about Christianity) to be challenged in his model where folks are encouraged to speak up

It’s not perfect (it never is) but what good fem’nist is against free speech?

DIY: A serenity activity for people with ideological rage

1. Find an article, blogpost, or facebook status written by someone who not only disagrees with you, but is also openly hostile and insulting.

2. Don't read it until you've looked over this statement:

"It is only when we are in the habit of recognizing our opinions as a partial experience seen through our stereotypes that we become truly tolerant of an opponent." --Walter Lippmann

3. And heard what I have to say about it:
This also means that if our opponents refuse to see their own opinions as only one of many ways of perceiving the world, they aren't going to be tolerant either. I found this incredibly helpful in reading a critique of Lippmann done by the full-on snob H.L. Mencken. Usually Mencken’s name-calling would make my blood boil, BUT reading the Lippmann article first made it kind of nice to see how this diatribe proved Lippmann's very point. Mencken clearly has a set of stereotypes (particularly that the working man is a near-Neanderthal) that he won't look past. He’s writing for people who already agree with him and there is no use arguing. This is sort of refreshing in its own right. Here’s how:

4. NOW read your article, blogpost or facebook status, keeping in mind that the author is NOT going to change their position, and certainly not because you wasted time getting mad at them. This is an excellent opportunity to laugh at their bluster instead of spiking your blood pressure.

hullo my english major fem'nists. what d'ye say?

This Nick Carr is a wily one.
Carr’s post responds to this Adam Kirsch article. Kirsch proposes Google as a tool for breaking down the elitism of literary allusion by making information easily accessible.

Carr acknowledges that it’s a “dicey proposition” to speak against a “culture democratizer” like Google, though he does it anyway. In fact, he warns against the “hegemony of the Google view.” Fair point. He’s good at those. For instance, I’d also concede his point that allusion doesn’t have to be elitist. Exclusionary, yes, but not restricted to the “choice part of society” as per the OED definition. I would say it has been appropriated to great effect by minority artists (Think Kara Walker).

So why’d I call him wily? Because he uses the terms “allusion” and “literary allusion” so interchangeably that we lose sight of the qualifier: literary. He almost manages to throw us off the scent when he invokes filmmakers, painters and composers, but don't be fooled: it is literary allusion that he sees in danger (allusion is alive and kickin. See 30 Rock, or following my Professor's example Girl Talk).

“Literary” refers to a canon historically determined by mostly white, patriarchal standards that you betcha are elitist. Allusion is not necessarily elitist, literary allusion in the style of Yeats and Shelley sure has a history of being inaccessible. And if both of these dudes broadened what qualifies as literature they’d see the tradition of biblical allusion thriving in the works of Stephenie Meyer.

Socrates lays the smackdown

So Callicles is hosting a party and Socrates and Chaerephon show up late. Gorgias is the guest of honor and he’s brought along his fanboy Polus. The deal with Socrates is that he asks people questions to the point that they are caught in some sort of contradiction (like Columbo does). In this case, he is trying to figure out what the hell Gorias does for a living. Gorias says he is a "rhetorician" and his medium is i discussion in the same way your medium is craft supplies. It goes like this:

S: But don’t you have to talk in most of the arts?
G: Yeah but mine works only through language. Special Language.
S: ?
G: Persuasion. I can get people to do what I say.
S: Isn’t that a dangerous thing to teach to others?
G: Nah. A rhetorician always does the right thing. And in any case, if one of my students didn’t do the right thing, I just taught him the skills.
S: I’m calling b.s. on that doublespeak.

At this point Polus starts getting touchy on Gee’s behalf and wants Socrates to answer the questions. Socrates is pretty sassy about it. He uses this great analogy; rhetoric is related to justice in the same way cooking is related to medicine, in that rhetoric and cooking are what you might prefer because they sound/taste good but justice and medicine are the actual good. Rhetoric is a highfalutin name for flattery.

Wanna help me with a class project?

So in my Writing Persuasion class I have to respond to readings and one of the options is to write my response as though it were a blog post geared towards a particular audience. I figured i could do it on my real blog, and gear it towards you, Sarah Elizabeth Rogers. I am supposed to be persuasive, so I think my goal will be to persuade you that you can be interested in/ understand what is going on with all these philosophy texts I have to read. You, if you would like a task, can endeavour to explain to me in clear and simple terms with examples that are accesible to me what exactly you do on a day-to-day basis because I still don't understand. Sound Fun? Let's begin!

Thursday last

Being in.... Grad School

Being in.... Grad School by kathuhleen on Polyvore.com

In Richmond

I am currently visiting the family in Richmond, VA. I am Livin In... June Bug. I'm not freshly married to some young tart and I don't have an accent. It's hard in some ways to come home. A home that has stayed mostly stagnet but has a graivational pull that wants to bring you back in. I will do Amelie. For me I want you to do a Livin In... Grad School. This being Grad School from Kathleen Shaw's perspective. I can't wait.

Hoochie Coochie

How would one dance the western hoochie coochie? The reference to dancing the hoochie coochie is actually in Meet Me in St. Louis the song: "We will dance the hoochie coochie. I will be your tootsie wootsie. If you will meet me in St. Louis, Louis. Meet me at the fair."

today i dressed like a cowboy

i meant to be sort of chic and seventies but i ended up looking like a western hoochie coochie.

Dressing in....Amelie

y'know how Design*Sponge does the Living in.. section? Today your task is to pick an outfit for tomorrow that is Amelie inspired. y'know, think black lace, doc martens, polka dots, green, cardigans, red. then give me a task because i am BORED with my wardrobe and could use a little costume inspiration (an era, a movie, someone else's awesome outfit will do)

Floral Saddle Shoes

So my Daydream Saddle Shoe by Rachel Antonoff for Bass will be shipping this week! I have been sitting on my hands since I saw the preview on Calivintage.com back in Sepember 2010. In anticipation I have ordered the navy shirt dress, the Old Navy white sweater and a slimmer pair of jeans. On my buy list is a blue blazor an a skirt to maybe go with it. Should I play it safe? Play it feminine? Or play it bold? I am trying to think of other accessories too. I now own sheer white anklet socks but I'm realing gunning for a small neckscarf ala 1950s. Can't wait!

Floral Saddle Shos by iCraft featuring old navy coats

Old Navy crewneck sweater
$30 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old navy coat
oldnavy.com

Cotton skirt
$65 - modcloth.com

Moon Collection skirt
$38 - modcloth.com

Skirt
$35 - modcloth.com

Old Navy stretch jeans
$25 - oldnavy.gap.com

Free People low heel shoes
$109 - freepeople.com

Free People low heel shoes
$109 - freepeople.com

Free People low heel shoes
$109 - freepeople.com

Women's Plus Roll-Up Shirtdresses Old Navy
$37 - oldnavy.gap.com

Took My Plant, and Patted It Down.

Sunday events. Bad (for you) McDonalds lunch. Stopped "A Royal Wedding" with Fred Astaire; not enough dancing. Turned on "The Royal Tenenbaums." Questioned getting a land line in order buy a Margot Tenenbaum's phone. Contemplated this came out in 2001, damn. When I graduated high school, double damn.Performed surgery on a coworker's quilted teddy bear; her foster dog mistook it for a inbetwen-meal-snack. Watched some "How I Met Your Mother." Made Swan towel. Watched the last half of "Kate and Leopold." Repotted my aloe plant to Carly Simon. Thinking meatball sub for dinner, yep. Oh and wash underwear, I've been going commando. Where is my meatball sub??

Pig Truck Love Affair

Ah, (cough, cough) got me a truck to use fer haulin’ pigs.
It’s a big dirty truck and not clean like other rigs.
My pig haulin’; truck is caked with rust, pig shit and piss.
Ugly, stinkin’ flithy mess, impossible to miss.

We go down the highway, yeah, oink, oink, squeal!
It’s a job, it’s a life, yeah, it’s how I buy my meals.
The engine shakes and groans in the engine well
as my pig truck rolls on the road to little piggy’s hell.

To Disneyland or Canada go families in their mini vans
with the kids waving at the truckers with their sticky hands.
If your little kids ever waved at me it would be a fluke,
’cause my truck is nasty and makes most people puke.

I could of had a different job, driving a different truck.
A beer van, a city bus, even a taxi cab wouldn’t suck,
but like Lucifer, I am a sort of angel that fell,
instead of brimstone or lakes of fire, I have piggy smell.

Pig haulers never cry in their beer, or bitch or whine.
No, we just roll down the road with a truck load of swine.
It’s a lonely life, ya stop up the tears with a cork
’cause if it weren’t for me then you’d have to haul the pork.

It ain’t so bad, ’cause my truck is mine and mine alone
I’m the king of pig hauling, yeah, my truck is my throne.
On my own, I got no boss, or a back that’s ah achin’
the pay is good, so you can say I really bring home the bacon.

When I ride in my pig truck, I thank the Lord above.
Hauling pigs is more than a job, man, it’s an act love.
And some day when I die I hope it’s in my rig.
Don’t bury me, just grind me up and feed me to the pigs.

by Robert Silvera

Picture original source unknown.

The Lost Art of Towel Origami

On Claire, my baby sister's, honeymoon she went on a Carnival cruise to Mexico. There was lot of drinking involved and Joe, my brother, chasing chickens down the streets. Claire came back in time for my 24th birthday. She came bringing a statue of a brick guy, a glass chicken and Carnival Towel Creations 40 Designs. While Kathleen wants to sing a Grad school swan song, I can roll a towel swan.

You're #1! You're #1!

At the end of your thesis I will get you something to recognize your awesomeness. You are like a marathon competitor of the mind. Did you ever do Odyssey of the Mind? I always thought you had to be smarter than adults to get to do it, so I never thought I had a chance.

Did you ever wear bike shorts? I was kinda obsessed with them in like 3rd to 5th grade. One of my favorite pairs were black with fluorescent pink strips down the sides.

The ribbons: 3rd place was for 7-8 Girls 25 Freestyle, my time was 23.89, 2nd place was for 7th grade middle school Olympics co-ed tug-of-war (my boyfriend Parker was on my team) and first place was 7-8 Girls 25 Backstroke (my best stroke), my time was 29.34.

I Take My Job Seriously

Kathleen Elizabeth Shaw, I will see your challenge in entertaining you via inspiring posts. Be prepared because between now and Tuesday you don't know what I'll post!

First for your viewing pleasure I have three items currently coming over from jolly England! I have been a fan of Tatty Devine fr a couple of years and finally sent in an order. I ordered The Trapeze Necklace and The Volume Button Brooch (Quantity: Two). Who doesn't wish at one point or another that they could turn my volume down! I invested in two because I would also use them as sweater clips (of course I would put a chain between them).

I am hoping this summer to get the creme de la creme of their necklaces- Dinosaur Necklace! But do I get it in black, gold or white?

NEW and IMMEDIATE TASK

Sarah--
I need you to post and/or email multiple inspiring things so that I have a treat to look at while I try and write 5 pages of a 14 page paper that is DUE ON TUESDAY. I need to take internet breaks frequently and having something specific from you would be a thousand times better than mindless facebook wandering.

Begin.

I know you all already know

but check out e's blog anyway!
also let me know if any of you want to guest write for it, he's usually lookin for a sci-fi aficionado or two.

http://www.thepennydreadfulreview.com/

Wrong Seattle!

Remember umbrella hats?  You probably can only buy them at novelty stores now, but for the most part they are multi-primary colored with a band to fit snugly around your forehead. 

When I visited Seattle there is such a demand for umbrellas and rain boots, and it made me think how tired my arm would be holding an umbrella if I lived there.  The Seattle people tried to also inform me that umbrella hats are out of style.

Well you are wrong Seattle! Straight from Yumi Katsura's Spring/Summer 2011 couture line the elegant bridal lace umbrella hat/gazebo. 

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