We were strangers once, too...

“My fellow Americans, we are and always will be a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once, too. And whether our forebears were strangers who crossed the Atlantic, or the Pacific, or the Rio Grande, we are here only because this country welcomed them in, and taught them that to be an American is about something more than what we look like, or what our last names are, or how we worship. What makes us Americans is our shared commitment to an ideal that all of us are created equal, and all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will.” 

—President Obama  during his speech to announce executive action on immigration

put a smile on my face head boppin' song of the season

Basic Purpose

view of the Potomac from The Kennedy Center rooftop 

“Each individual is capable of: 

– both great altruism and great venality. 

He has it within his means to extend the former and exorcise the latter.

– both great compassion and great indifference. 

He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the latter.

– maintaining great societies and staging great holocausts. He has it within his means to fortify the former and avert the latter.

– ennobling life and disfiguring it. 

He has it within his means to assert the former and anathematize the latter.

If he recognizes that his basic purpose is to justify his humanity, he will have no difficulty in addressing himself to these choices. 

Basic purpose and human destiny do not lie outside him, but within him.”

 quote from Norman Cousins book, The Celebration of Life

reality is politically incorrect

This powerful video has gotten SOOO much attention and I love that because I'm VERY anti Catcalling, but now the new headline has been made into a racial one, which I find annoying because yes, it's also part of the ugly truth, minority men ehhhhHem, blacks and latinos in my personal experience, are THE WORST offenders.

NPR came out with an article : 'Video Calls Out Catcallers, But Cuts Out White Men' to continue the conversation. And what it said the regular blah blah blah, but then the first comment I read below the article was spot on!



David Golann •

" I have lived in New York City for 5 years and I can tell you that cat calling is worse in minority neighborhoods. It just is, and the video reflects that. It's the reality of the situation. The video is going to be politically incorrect because reality is politically incorrect.

The reasons why there is more catcalling in minority neighborhoods are complex. It is obviously not due to the racial ancestry of the people involved. To believe that would, in fact, be racist. Instead, it is a complex cultural issue that is largely above my paygrade.

I think working class men anywhere are more likely to catcall than white collar men, who express their misogyny in more subtle ways.

The problem is that white working class men have departed from most of the inner boroughs of NYC. You don't see white working class men in the video any more than you hear the old working class white accent "fugghedaboudit" anymore. They are just gone.

The white people in the inner boroughs of NYC are now educated transplants and gentrifiers, who just don't catcall that much. I don't claim these white gentrifiers are all good people or feminists. But generally they don't catcall. "

Long live freedom of speech and expression!

1. Human Rights Watch reported last week: " Saudi's top Muslim cleric has said Twitter is nothing more than "a source of lies and evil". "If it were used correctly, it could be of real benefit, but unfortunately it's exploited for trivial matters,"complained Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh. The Sheikh's comments promptly caused a huge Twitter storm in the Kingdom, and there are unconfirmed reports that Saudis immediately began uploading cat videos and over-sharing lunch photos."
2. 1. Once again, I'm made aware of how important twitter and fb and all other types of social media are to freedom. Freedom of speech and express is a very powerful Human Right. Saudis know it and the ol' Mufti knows it too...
3. 2. I had to laugh out loud when I read that upon hearing this declaration by the Mufti, Saudis immediately responded by uploading CAT VIDEOS and over sharing LUNCH PHOTOS!!! haha that's just funny to me. Get 'em Saudi tweeters! 
4. 
   

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“In recent decades, by accepting the flagrant use of torture and other violations of international law in the name of combating terrorism, American leaders have eroded the very freedoms and rights that generations of their young gave their lives to defend. They have again set an example that will be followed by others; only now, it is one that will be used to justify the use of torture by regimes around the world, including against American soldiers in foreign lands. In losing their way, they have made us all vulnerable.” “From around the world, we will watch in the coming weeks as the release of the Senate findings on the United States torture program brings the country to a crossroads. It remains to be seen whether the United States will turn a blind eye to the effects of its actions on its own people and on the rest of the world, or if it will take the necessary steps to recover the standards on which the country was founded, and to once again adhere to the international conventions it helped to bring into being.” —A letter to President Obama from 12 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates

treat others...

"We have committed the Golden Rule to memory; let us now commit it to life." -- Edwin Markham

re-blogging myself?

Reflections of a Volunteer with We Are Family 
POSTED BY KRYSTAL ATHA ON OCTOBER 07, 2014

I moved to Colombia Heights after living in Latin America for the past 4 years. Many who live in the DC area know it’s difficult to get that feeling of community. I was looking for a solution and delivering food to elderly in need with We Are Family seemed like a perfect way to meet my neighbors. 

At 10am a group of 30 plus volunteers gathered together to unload a van full of grocery bags, receive a list of names and addresses, load up a shopping cart, and deliver! (Kinda) In between the loading and the delivery of bags, Mark, the Co-Director of We are Family had all the volunteers introduce themselves, say where they were from, where they wanted to go, and where they had served if they were returned Peace Corps volunteers. 

My DC mentality kicked in and I thought, “Seriously??? This is going to take forever!” 

But then I realized, this is it, this is what its about -- community. 

This set the stage for the 26 or so doors our grocery delivery team would be knocking on during the next couple hours. Some of my neighbors where not home, others only opened the door a crack, while a few invited us is in and even offered candy, showed family photos and told us about the history of the neighborhood. It was a beautiful day, and I’m so glad to be serving in my home country. 

This blog post was written by RPCV/W Member Krystal Atha, who served in El Salvador from 2010 to 2012. The project was organized by RPCV/W Community Service Director Allison Nye O'Donnell, Honduras 07 - 09. 

Low battery = one bar closer to humanity

I"m fighting the good fight to stay connected. But the longer I'm in the US with our 4G constant connections the harder it becomes.

#AskLena

Love her Show,
Love her spunk,
Loving these videos,
and hopefully, I'll get the book and love that too!

"breakdance is an art and a sport." - bboy chiky

Check out this awesome breakdance video of my friend B Boy Chiky! A year ago he was in a coma now he's back spreading his positive attitude to all he encounters. For the non-spanish speakers, you can skip to the end to see the sick moves! 

Sam Smith : Stay With Me

My end of Summer Jam

4 day work week = higher productivity & greater happiness = Winning!

I'm a HUGE fan of the corporate culture shifting towards integrating both the Living to work and working to live mentality. Its not one or the other, its both. We want meaningful work but we also have a life outside this work. And both are important.

Much of my knowledge started with learning about Google Company Culture and their flexible work week,  casual dress, free food on site, extracurricular activities, game rooms, nap rooms, etc... insane right? nope. Its not just google anymore. Its spreading. Whole foods is transparent about salaries! whoa. that's awesome. The Motley Fool has unlimited vacation days, lets you bring your dog to work, has not policies but rather figured out a way to create a culture around desired behaviors.

Now I work from an office in DC that has free PBs&Js! Coffee! sodas, beers, wine, and occasional lunches provided along with a treadmill desk people can sign up for to get the blood flowing, and for that 3pm slump a number of spaces where comfy couches can pull you thru those last few emails of the day.

And these places are not doing this just because they are saints or like free food or bringing their dog to work but because it's actually better for business.

>>> This Salon Article <<< spells it out, but here are the cliff notes:

1. Makes workers more productive.
2. Good for the environment.
3. Makes employees happier.
4. Creates a healthier workforce.
5. Brings America into the 21st century.

word of the day: Ossify

Ever since having to study a book full of vocabulary for the verbal section of the GRE I've been a word smith.

ossify |ˈäsəˌfī|

verb (ossifies, ossifying, ossified) [ no obj. ]

1 turn into bone or bony tissue: these tracheal cartilages may ossify.

2 (often as adj. ossified) cease developing; be stagnant or rigid: ossified political institutions.

Today's word used in a sentence:

"The District has been struggling with rampant poverty and crime for decades now, and due to an ossified local government, that's not changing any time soon."

Vice writing about Washington D.C. and why its a hell hole. Now I disagree with that statement BUT in some ways I don't. My power went out last night, and it was a bit stuffy after 7 hours w/out power and that means no A/C. 

#WentToWorkEarly

Shakey Graves - Built to Roam

Another one for ya daddio!

 I'm feeling this guy's voice and his unique suitcase drum.


 

mean tweets BBall edition

I enjoy the Kimmel Mean Tweets series.
Although, I can't pretend to know any of these guys... its still funny and I'm sure my dad does.
Soooo.... this one goes out to you daddio!

happiness in ...

the little things in life.

carrier.

“A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.” 

~Tom Stoppard

Welcome to America series: TROLL (INTERNET)

After my extended time abroad it's no secret I have much to learn being back in the states.

I guess between 2010 and 2014 a phenomenon that existed has now been named.
It first came up when I tried to join a women's tech group. I had heard so much about it and was excited to join and meet amazing women etc. etc.... I went to the website to sign up for their newsletters that I had up until then, only been receiving as a fwd from a friend who was already "in".

I signed up and then was informed there was a backlog waiting list kind of thing and I would have to wait...gasp!
" WHAT? WHY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND??? this model is ridiculous. Is this the equivalent of a night club creating a line outside the door when really it's empty inside just to create some illusion of awesomeness?" I huffed to my friend and later to the founder of the women's group in the ladies aisle of Target weeks later...

It's then when the ladies gently helped me remove my foot from my mouth as they kindly explained the concept of "trolling" and how they carefully vetted those who were accepted into the group as to create a safe and inclusive environment. Apparently they had problems in the past and these TROLLS are everywhere!
ugh...
So I waited, and a couple days ago, I was ACCEPTED! and it's glorious.
But I digress....
for those who may have been living under a rock, or just in the warm bosom of Central America like I was for the last few years, here is the TROLL skinny.


TROLLING as defined by wikipedia:

In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a forum, chat room, or blog) with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

And to drive home the point, I've added Jimmy Kimmel's great series "Celebrities Read Mean Tweets"



#REadjustment

best time of year

“Behold, my friends, 

the spring is come: 

the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, 

and we shall soon see the results of their love!” 

— Sitting Bull

spring is joy.

“When spring came, 

even the false spring,  

there were no problems 

except where to be happiest."  

― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

Total Lunar Blood Moon Eclipse

I've been reading up on this and my favorite tid-bit would be this:

 " ...the entirety of the lunar surface will be in Earth's shadow. It will be glowing red, because even though our planet is blocking out direct light from the sun, the light of all the sunsets and sunrises on  Earth still make it to the lunar surface." 

What??? THAT'S SO AWESOME! 

And of course IF i'm able to stay up to see this awesomeness... I'll be playing this on repeat. 



#SorryImNotSorry

#TurnAroundBrightEyes

#OrMaybeThisNSFWversion



Current Status: fighting off a case of the mondays

The Bechdel Test

What is the Bechdel test?

It's three simple questions asked of any movie.

1. Are there two or more women in it who have names
2. Do they talk to each other
3. Do they talk to each other about something other than a man?



I'm all for supporting movies that pass the Bechdel Test, but like most things, its not black and white, in many of the movies where they may score 3/3 on the test, there still may be sexist content or the women speak only for a little more than 60 OR they are not talking about men, but rather about marriage or babies.
Now, I don't know 'bout you ladies and gents, but I would like women to be shown in our true beautifully complicated nature. I have more depth and range of concerns other than men, babies and marriage.

Bechdel isn't perfect BUT when measuring gender equality in film... it's all we got. Sooooo

WHAT NOW you ask?

I'll tell ya what.... Check out the Bechdel website and see how movies stack up! And support with your wallets those that pass the test!

Some of the 3/3 movies of 2014 so far:

Alles Inklusive
Barbie: The Pearl Princess
Camp Takota
Cesar Chaves
Dead Snow 2
Divergent
Fields of hte Dead
Flowers in the Attic
The Lego Movie
Lies I told my sister
Lizzie Borden Took An Ax
Noah
Non-Stop
Our RoboCop Remake
Pompeii
Queen
Rio2
That Awkward Moment
Vampire Academy
Veronica Mars
Winter's Tale

side notes:
a. yes I am a feminist  !
b. So are you (if you believe women should be politically, socially and economically equal to men)

Current status: #FilmsForThought

The Mindy Project

Great interview, and I might just get on Hulu to watch an episode.
Preach it Girl!

 

EL SALVADOR HAPPY

Well... I'm racking up all the happy places I've lived.

Here is El Salvador:

irreducible to language

It's no secret I LOVE me some TED. Whether its their videos, websites, articles, podcasts... i just can't get enough. And typically they truly are "ideas worth spreading" as their motto proclaims. And through the years I've shared many videos on this platform.

So when my dear friend Mama Ellie Elloise Ellington Stephens posted a TEDactive blog entry written by her brother Joe Stephens (Who I've never met but the Stephens family fame proceeds it!) I quickly clicked and opened in a new tab. What I found written was beautiful. Below is the link to the full article. And an excerpt I enjoyed.
Reflecting on all the wonderful experiences in my life I can smile and be glad, laugh, maybe even cry. But put into words? words that give it justice? That convey's what I feel... yeah. right.

My bff of the Stephens Clan and I in Xela, Guatemala

>>>  An Experience Beyond Words : by Joe Stephens

"The beauty of emotion, sometimes, is how irreducible it is to language. That’s why people place hands over hearts when they talk about love. It’s why they sometimes shake their head, gaze up, and use their hands when they search for the right way to describe something." 

Simple Math

= 

Key Island Hoping

STARRING:
Tia Guera as DJ and navigator,
Mom as back seat "consultant",
Paulina as fun,
Mama as Love
And I'm behind the wheel.... as chauffeur

All: Car Dancing and Karaoke professionals

High-Tech Lady

My g'ma's with it. . . catching up on news on her ipad :)

La Morena en Los Llaves

GIRLS TRIP : FL Keys addition

After a full day of travel everyone was ready to get some food in the belly
And in some true vacation style, with some live music surrounded surrounded by the beach people with savage tans, warn flip flops and a slow pace. 

Its an understatement to say I'm excited to spend the week with my family. It was so nice to wake up to the sounds of the women in my family chatting, laughing, and sipping coffee on the porch. *full heart* 

And this beach house is incredible.

a photo of my abuela's successful morning mission to bring down ripe papayas with a broom. 

STILL HAPPY....

SO. IT seems there are a BUNCH of different cities/ countries around the world who have made videos to Pharrell's song "Happy". So of course I had to look it up and see if any of my other home cities had videos.

I"m hoping someone in Des Moines, Denver, El Salvador, or Jerusalem (the tel aviv one didn't do it for me), makes one soon. But until then....

WASHINGTON D.C.

)

#BanBossy

I just read the article about #BanBossy in Parade this past weekend. 
Then I stumbled upon this video. 
It's official, I'm joining the #BanBossy Campaign!

You should read the whole article but if you don't have time this very moment, here is a teaser: 

my favorite quote from the Parade article:

Sheryl Sandberg (facebook COO) : "I tell parents, instead of saying, “My daughter is bossy,” try, “My daughter has executive leadership skills.” I’ve never had anyone say that without laughing. Now say it for a boy: “My son has executive leadership skills.” There’s no humor in that sentence, which reveals the difference in our expectations. Women still represent only 5 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs. And more worrisome is that the number has been stagnant for a decade. What hasn’t changed fast enough is our acceptance and encouragement of female leadership. That’s goes for all of us—parents, teachers, managers, society, everyone." 


  )

wordsmith

I know what a farce is, but didn't know about the word being used as an adjective.
hence, my WORD OF THE DAY. . .

farcical |ˈfärsikəl|

adjective

of or resembling a farce, esp. because of absurd or ridiculous aspects: a farcical tangle of events.

strengths

“Success is achieved 

by developing our strengths, 

not eliminating our weaknesses.”  

~Marilyn vos Savant

Follow the Frog!

Such a great way to start a friday. . . laughing really hard, and trying to keep my oatmeal from flying out of my mouth.

 

My Happy Place: Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua Feliz!
I lived here for a year and a half. It was the place I used all my vacation days to visit while in Peace Corps El Salvador. After my service I went to write my Masters thesis here bc it was "my happy place" and then I decided, what the heck, why don't I just live here?

.... and now a friend of mine made a video capturing what I felt the very first time I visited back in 2010. The vibe is unbeatable, not just because Antigua is beautiful, but so are the people.

I know and love most of the people in this video, and those that I don't know, I still love!

Such a great video and put a big big big smile on my face.



 

D.C. Art

Meridian Hill Park

The park is so beautiful and when cutting across town I try to walk the steps.
I"ll be happier when the weather warms and the fountains are filled. 

Stickers Everywhere. The new graffiti 

On my third time moving back to D.C. I've vowed to take advantage of the Smithsonians
(there are 18 of them)

So much amazing beauty and for FREE!
This is the National Gallery of Art.
pretty atrium. 

Loved this one.
Something about her face...

I like the contrast of old and new architecture around town

This deflated pumpkin is how I feel about this long winter. 

enjoyed this art piece at an event in Adam's Morgan
 b/c I remember using these kinds of skates at birthday parties growing up.
Memories.....

National Portrait Gallery Courtyard by night.
Felt like I was on the inside of a golf ball.
Its was awesome .. . 

If I were a Piñata, I wonder what I would be filled with? 

Took me back to my Flamenco dancin' days...
heel stompin' and castanet clickin' 

More dc street art in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood

The colorful homes gave me that warm fuzzy feeling
remembering the crayon box of colored homes of Antigua Guatemala. 

Internet Privacy

My business partner Shauna explains a bit about what we do and why at an event in December.
 

home office in the beltway

Working from home is nice. I'm going to try and be better about this blog thing. I'm back in the land of 4G fast speed reliable internet. No excuses anymore. Lets see how it goes. I'd call it a new years resolution but I wouldn't want to jinx it.