If you have a sports-obsessed husband/boyfriend, you will understand what I am about to say.
D is a Red Sox fan. He is, for lack of a better term, HARDCORE about his Red Sox. He got me into the game of baseball, too, and I love watching my Red Sox, but I am by no means as dedicated or in love with the team as D is. D grew up with baseball - and the Sox. He loves the sport, how it brings people together, how baseball stadiums smell and how they sound. It's an amazing thing, watching someone you love experience something they love.
However, I have one complaint.
When you're significant other is watching their sports team on TV, you do not exist. You could parade around naked in front of the TV, and your boyfriend would throw his hands up and yell "GET OUTTA THE WAY, THE GAME'S ON!" Believe me. I've tried. You could sit down on his lap, and he'd push you out of the way and ask you to grab him a beer and a bag of chips.
D isn't that bad. In fact, he's the perfect sports-watching boyfriend: he explains the nuances of the game, answers my questions, and lets me sit next to him on the couch during the game. And I understand my role as girlfriend, and when the Sox are on, I try to keep the chatter to a minimum. I ask questions during commercial breaks.
However, I must report a "personal victory" of sorts - I managed to pry D away from the Sox last night. Of course, I came up with a strategic plan to lure him away, but I knew that there was really only a 50/50 chance that it would work. And it DID work. Me - 1, Sox - 0. At least when I am keeping score.
It's the 4th of July again. Time for fireworks, hot dogs, bonfires...and DUIs, obnoxious drunk people, and hangovers. Be safe. No drinking and driving. No drinking and hooking up, either. Be careful with those fireworks.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Kuff's Favorite Things
Oprah does it - so why not compile my own list of "Favorite Things?"
Designer Jeans
I am short - about 5' 2" - and curvy, so finding a pair of jeans that fits me right away, without tailoring, is an impossible feat. I have come to terms with this. In fact, it was really the handsome D [my boyfriend] that got me hooked on having clothing items tailored. Anyway, the hunt for a pair of jeans that meet all of my denim criteria can be compared to finding the man of your dreams. You have a very specific list of what you want and you have to try on several pairs before you find a pair that fits. My list of criteria include a bootcut or trouser cut, as I look ridiculous in skinny jeans [but I think that anyone who wears skinny jeans look ridiculous] and the flare style brings me back to middle school, when the flared jean trend first took flight. I also prefer a darker wash with a medium rise, so that I do not subject innocent people to a glimpse of my buttcrack if I happen to bend over.
I have found that Paper Denim and Cloth jeans are by far the absolute best. My favorite pair of PDC jeans date back to 2005, and I have worn them more than any other clothing item that I own. I have a second pair of PDC, a darker wash with a sexy fit, that I wear only with heels. PDC jeans accentuate the behind [which I refer to as "my highness"] and they have the perfect amount of stretch in the legs - however, they do not stretch out in the rear and give you diaper-butt.
I also love Joe's jeans. I just purchased my first pair, and I adore them. I actually wore them downtown for the very first time last night with an ultra-high pair of Steve Madden heels. I felt like a skinny rockstar. My pair are the Honey fit, which is a curvy, sexy fit for a curvier woman. I love love love them.
I am also a fan of 7 for All Mankind jeans; however, they are grossly overpriced [in my opinion] for the way that they fit. They are incredibly soft, though, and they wash well. I just purchased my first pair and had them tailored. They are perfect for work and for more relaxed occasions, as they are perfect flip-flop length.
I am fiending for a pair of Chip and Pepper jeans. I have yet to locate a pair that fits perfectly, though. They have maternity jeans - note to self for possible pregnancy in five + years.
If you are unwilling or unable to pay for designer jeans, I also like certain styles at Gap and Express. I worked at Express for a year and find that the big downfall is that their jeans, without fail, will stretch out and loosen in the behind every time that you wear them. You have to throw them in the dryer every time that you wash them in order to maintain the fit.
PiperLime
Forget Zappos. PiperLime is a Gap company [along with Banana Republic & Old Navy] and they sell every style of shoe imaginable, at every price point. And they have killer sales. I have yet to order from PiperLime, as all of the shoes that I lust after are far out of my price range, but I love to browse.
Overstock.com is also perfect for shoes. I searched for a pair of brown leather heeled boots for winter for MONTHS and could not find a pair that I liked. I finally found a pair of Nine West Bhavin boots on Overstock, and they are the loves of my life...after D. Lord & Taylor is the best department store for shoes - they rival Nordstrom. Nordstrom had this pair of beautiful Cole Haan slingbacks in a beautiful, bold yellow snakeskin, and they were developed using Haan's patented Nike Air system, so they were like wearing a pair of house slippers. I lusted over those shoes forever.
Bottled Water
D laughs at me because I like "gimmick water." He makes fun of me and rolls his eyes whenever he sees me toting a bottle of Fiji, Ethos, or Smartwater. I don't care - these 3 brands of bottled water are far superior to Poland Springs and equivalent, and I dehydrate easily, so I usually have a bottle with me. Besides, the bottles look good. This is important!
Facebook
All of the ridiculous applications are addicting. I love sending people bumper stickers and pieces of flair. But I secretly wish that D would consent to a "Facebook relationship" with me.
Smartfood Cheddar Popcorn
It's my new snack. I adore it. And I love licking my fingers after I've eaten my fill. Yummo.
Ben & Jerry's Americone Dream Ice Cream
I suffer as a result of this, but it's worth it. It's Steven Colbert's [of Comedy Central Colbert Report] brainchild, and it's tasty: pieces of waffle cone covered in chocolate paired with vanilla ice cream with caramel swirls. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.
Check out the mug that I am drinking coffee out of as I write - my adorable Mom found this for me at JFK airport and brought it back after a week at our Florida home. I love it - it's so kitschy and over-the-top:
Yes, it says "New York Princess."
Designer Jeans
I am short - about 5' 2" - and curvy, so finding a pair of jeans that fits me right away, without tailoring, is an impossible feat. I have come to terms with this. In fact, it was really the handsome D [my boyfriend] that got me hooked on having clothing items tailored. Anyway, the hunt for a pair of jeans that meet all of my denim criteria can be compared to finding the man of your dreams. You have a very specific list of what you want and you have to try on several pairs before you find a pair that fits. My list of criteria include a bootcut or trouser cut, as I look ridiculous in skinny jeans [but I think that anyone who wears skinny jeans look ridiculous] and the flare style brings me back to middle school, when the flared jean trend first took flight. I also prefer a darker wash with a medium rise, so that I do not subject innocent people to a glimpse of my buttcrack if I happen to bend over.
I have found that Paper Denim and Cloth jeans are by far the absolute best. My favorite pair of PDC jeans date back to 2005, and I have worn them more than any other clothing item that I own. I have a second pair of PDC, a darker wash with a sexy fit, that I wear only with heels. PDC jeans accentuate the behind [which I refer to as "my highness"] and they have the perfect amount of stretch in the legs - however, they do not stretch out in the rear and give you diaper-butt.
I also love Joe's jeans. I just purchased my first pair, and I adore them. I actually wore them downtown for the very first time last night with an ultra-high pair of Steve Madden heels. I felt like a skinny rockstar. My pair are the Honey fit, which is a curvy, sexy fit for a curvier woman. I love love love them.
I am also a fan of 7 for All Mankind jeans; however, they are grossly overpriced [in my opinion] for the way that they fit. They are incredibly soft, though, and they wash well. I just purchased my first pair and had them tailored. They are perfect for work and for more relaxed occasions, as they are perfect flip-flop length.
I am fiending for a pair of Chip and Pepper jeans. I have yet to locate a pair that fits perfectly, though. They have maternity jeans - note to self for possible pregnancy in five + years.
If you are unwilling or unable to pay for designer jeans, I also like certain styles at Gap and Express. I worked at Express for a year and find that the big downfall is that their jeans, without fail, will stretch out and loosen in the behind every time that you wear them. You have to throw them in the dryer every time that you wash them in order to maintain the fit.
PiperLime
Forget Zappos. PiperLime is a Gap company [along with Banana Republic & Old Navy] and they sell every style of shoe imaginable, at every price point. And they have killer sales. I have yet to order from PiperLime, as all of the shoes that I lust after are far out of my price range, but I love to browse.
Overstock.com is also perfect for shoes. I searched for a pair of brown leather heeled boots for winter for MONTHS and could not find a pair that I liked. I finally found a pair of Nine West Bhavin boots on Overstock, and they are the loves of my life...after D. Lord & Taylor is the best department store for shoes - they rival Nordstrom. Nordstrom had this pair of beautiful Cole Haan slingbacks in a beautiful, bold yellow snakeskin, and they were developed using Haan's patented Nike Air system, so they were like wearing a pair of house slippers. I lusted over those shoes forever.
Bottled Water
D laughs at me because I like "gimmick water." He makes fun of me and rolls his eyes whenever he sees me toting a bottle of Fiji, Ethos, or Smartwater. I don't care - these 3 brands of bottled water are far superior to Poland Springs and equivalent, and I dehydrate easily, so I usually have a bottle with me. Besides, the bottles look good. This is important!
All of the ridiculous applications are addicting. I love sending people bumper stickers and pieces of flair. But I secretly wish that D would consent to a "Facebook relationship" with me.
Smartfood Cheddar Popcorn
It's my new snack. I adore it. And I love licking my fingers after I've eaten my fill. Yummo.
Ben & Jerry's Americone Dream Ice Cream
I suffer as a result of this, but it's worth it. It's Steven Colbert's [of Comedy Central Colbert Report] brainchild, and it's tasty: pieces of waffle cone covered in chocolate paired with vanilla ice cream with caramel swirls. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.
Check out the mug that I am drinking coffee out of as I write - my adorable Mom found this for me at JFK airport and brought it back after a week at our Florida home. I love it - it's so kitschy and over-the-top:
Yes, it says "New York Princess." Saturday, June 28, 2008
American People Are Stupid
I don't believe this - but most of the American's that participated in a poll conducted by The Associated Press do.
The poll asked several burning questions related to American education, and more than half of people polled believed that our education system - especially high school - needs a serious overhaul.
Most American people believe that the focus on standardized testing is diluting the experience of all students, with teachers teaching "to the test." They also believe that too much emphasis is being placed on subjects such as English, music, and art, and that not nearly enough time is spent on math, biology, or social studies.
I'm going to be the devil's advocate here. I was an English major in college. I participated in a vocal jazz group when I was in high school. Those opportunities made me a well-rounded person. They also gave me a direction in life: I knew that I wanted to pursue a career related to one of those areas. And I did.
I never did well in math. In fact, I was tested for a math learning disability when I got to college. I hated science. I don't remember ANYTHING that I learned in social studies, or government, or economics. I can add, but I generally consult the help of a calculator - thank goodness for a calculator feature on my cell phone, right?
Before I was an English Lit major, I was an Adolescent Ed major with an English concentration. I did several teaching placements in high school English classes. I taught units on Shakespeare and graded over 200 critical essays. I encouraged the kids to write poetry and we had a poetry slam. I stressed the importance of being able to write effectively, with proper punctuation and grammatical agreement. How American's can claim that English is a less-important subject than biology blows my mind.
To put this into perspective, consider this: we ALL need to understand how to write and speak effectively. Do we all need to know how to dissect a pig fetus? That's what I thought.
As far as math is concerned, I wish that I had better math teachers. I had TERRIBLE math teachers in high school. Unbelievable. I only remember having one effective math teacher, in 8th grade. His name was Mr. Jesmain, and he knew how terribly frustrating math was for me. I was often reduced to tears. I had math tutors every year that I was in school, but the year that I had math class with Mr. Jesmain, I didn't need a tutor. For once, I understood math. I didn't enjoy it, but there were less tears and fewer arguments at home over math homework or test scores. It's a shame that, in 9th grade, I regressed completely without the skill and experience of Mr. Jesmain. I think that math SHOULD be a huge focus in American schools, but do I find it to be more important than English? No way.
And as for the belief that music and art are unnecessary, I have to say that I find this appalling. Very few kids excel at sports. However, there are a great number of students who are musically or artistically inclined, and, for them, music and art are a passion. I loved singing in a select vocal jazz group in high school. It was my favorite part of the day. Music is something that I am good at, something that drives me - to take away art and music is like taking away the very thing that keeps certain students motivated at school. Trust me on that.
MSNBC.com published a great article based on the AP poll. I agree with much of what was revealed, and am amazed at the rest. American's believe that education is less important than the status of our economy and the gas price crisis. Oh yeah? Our economy will probably THRIVE if we continue to churn out individuals who have an unbalanced education. Maybe we should just shut down all U.S. schools because it is too expensive to bus the kids there. We'd probably save billions!
Many American people think that we're unintelligent as compared to people from other countries. We actually fall somewhere in the middle. I am willing to bet that the Chinese are at the top of the list.
This is the kicker for me: a lot of American parents are frustrated with the lack of proper mathematical instruction in school, because they don't want to dedicate hours at home to helping their kid's with their math homework. I've been there, trust me. My parents spent thousands of dollars on math tutors. But you know what? Helping your kid with his homework is a part of being a parent. You can't hand over all of the responsibility to your child's teacher. YOU'RE the parent. Kid's start learning at home! If they aren't getting the support that they need IN school, I sure hope they're getting it at home.
I agree with one thing: the No Child Left Behind Act is bulls***. It's a big reason why I decided not to be a teacher. It took away the flexibility that teachers once had, and now they are slaves to Federal standardized testing. It's a terrible shame. NCLB has done very little good, and caused a lot of frustration. My Mom has been teaching for fifteen years, and she can attest to that.
In other news...
Angelina Jolie = still pregnant.
Jamie Lynn Spears = no longer pregnant. Neither is Tori Spelling.
Verne Troyer, of Austin Powers fame, has a sex tape floating around somewhere. What do you even say about that?!
Heather Locklear is in rehab for anxiety and depression. She checked into a beautiful center somewhere in CA. NOT in rehab: Amy Winehouse. Winehouse was spotted carrying three small bottles of liquor after a mini-mart pit stop this week. That's good. I heard that doing shots was good for emphysema. She then proceeded to sing at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebration. I don't know who was in charge of booking the entertainment, but I hope they were fired. Mandela should have said "No, no no," to that one. He and Winehouse do have something in common, though - they've both been in jail.
The poll asked several burning questions related to American education, and more than half of people polled believed that our education system - especially high school - needs a serious overhaul.
Most American people believe that the focus on standardized testing is diluting the experience of all students, with teachers teaching "to the test." They also believe that too much emphasis is being placed on subjects such as English, music, and art, and that not nearly enough time is spent on math, biology, or social studies.
I'm going to be the devil's advocate here. I was an English major in college. I participated in a vocal jazz group when I was in high school. Those opportunities made me a well-rounded person. They also gave me a direction in life: I knew that I wanted to pursue a career related to one of those areas. And I did.
I never did well in math. In fact, I was tested for a math learning disability when I got to college. I hated science. I don't remember ANYTHING that I learned in social studies, or government, or economics. I can add, but I generally consult the help of a calculator - thank goodness for a calculator feature on my cell phone, right?
Before I was an English Lit major, I was an Adolescent Ed major with an English concentration. I did several teaching placements in high school English classes. I taught units on Shakespeare and graded over 200 critical essays. I encouraged the kids to write poetry and we had a poetry slam. I stressed the importance of being able to write effectively, with proper punctuation and grammatical agreement. How American's can claim that English is a less-important subject than biology blows my mind.
To put this into perspective, consider this: we ALL need to understand how to write and speak effectively. Do we all need to know how to dissect a pig fetus? That's what I thought.
As far as math is concerned, I wish that I had better math teachers. I had TERRIBLE math teachers in high school. Unbelievable. I only remember having one effective math teacher, in 8th grade. His name was Mr. Jesmain, and he knew how terribly frustrating math was for me. I was often reduced to tears. I had math tutors every year that I was in school, but the year that I had math class with Mr. Jesmain, I didn't need a tutor. For once, I understood math. I didn't enjoy it, but there were less tears and fewer arguments at home over math homework or test scores. It's a shame that, in 9th grade, I regressed completely without the skill and experience of Mr. Jesmain. I think that math SHOULD be a huge focus in American schools, but do I find it to be more important than English? No way.
And as for the belief that music and art are unnecessary, I have to say that I find this appalling. Very few kids excel at sports. However, there are a great number of students who are musically or artistically inclined, and, for them, music and art are a passion. I loved singing in a select vocal jazz group in high school. It was my favorite part of the day. Music is something that I am good at, something that drives me - to take away art and music is like taking away the very thing that keeps certain students motivated at school. Trust me on that.
MSNBC.com published a great article based on the AP poll. I agree with much of what was revealed, and am amazed at the rest. American's believe that education is less important than the status of our economy and the gas price crisis. Oh yeah? Our economy will probably THRIVE if we continue to churn out individuals who have an unbalanced education. Maybe we should just shut down all U.S. schools because it is too expensive to bus the kids there. We'd probably save billions!
Many American people think that we're unintelligent as compared to people from other countries. We actually fall somewhere in the middle. I am willing to bet that the Chinese are at the top of the list.
This is the kicker for me: a lot of American parents are frustrated with the lack of proper mathematical instruction in school, because they don't want to dedicate hours at home to helping their kid's with their math homework. I've been there, trust me. My parents spent thousands of dollars on math tutors. But you know what? Helping your kid with his homework is a part of being a parent. You can't hand over all of the responsibility to your child's teacher. YOU'RE the parent. Kid's start learning at home! If they aren't getting the support that they need IN school, I sure hope they're getting it at home.
I agree with one thing: the No Child Left Behind Act is bulls***. It's a big reason why I decided not to be a teacher. It took away the flexibility that teachers once had, and now they are slaves to Federal standardized testing. It's a terrible shame. NCLB has done very little good, and caused a lot of frustration. My Mom has been teaching for fifteen years, and she can attest to that.
In other news...
Angelina Jolie = still pregnant.
Jamie Lynn Spears = no longer pregnant. Neither is Tori Spelling.
Verne Troyer, of Austin Powers fame, has a sex tape floating around somewhere. What do you even say about that?!
Heather Locklear is in rehab for anxiety and depression. She checked into a beautiful center somewhere in CA. NOT in rehab: Amy Winehouse. Winehouse was spotted carrying three small bottles of liquor after a mini-mart pit stop this week. That's good. I heard that doing shots was good for emphysema. She then proceeded to sing at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebration. I don't know who was in charge of booking the entertainment, but I hope they were fired. Mandela should have said "No, no no," to that one. He and Winehouse do have something in common, though - they've both been in jail.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
What the @#!^&*+!!!
If you've been watching the news, you've undoubtedly seen the recent article about a group of teenage girls from Gloucester High School in Massachusetts who are all expecting babies. Apparently, these 17 - SEVENTEEN! - teenage girls made a "pregnancy pact" and agreed to find a way to become pregnant as a group.
A Time article dated 6/18 stated that the pregnancy rate at Gloucester High is FOUR TIMES higher than last year. Personally, it's appalling that there is a pregnancy rate at ALL in any high school. I refuse to believe that this is a "coincidence."
The Gloucester High principal, Joseph Sullivan, said that many girls were questioned around October - and it didn't take long, Sullivan claims, for almost half of the girls who were already pregnant - all who were 16 years of age or YOUNGER - to admit that they had made a "pregnancy pact" and had vowed to raise their children together.
Sullivan also admitted that one of the babies was fathered by "a 24-year-old homeless guy."
...what?
As if all of this was not disturbing enough, residents in Gloucester are HESITANT about providing better access to birth control.
...WHAT?
Gloucester is a town that has deep-rooted Catholic values. I understand this, as I was raised Catholic and attended a private, Catholic high school. I appreciate the traditional Catholic values. I think it is important to share these values with your children. But clearly, there is a problem here, right? Something isn't getting through to these girls.
I have a big issue with the refusal to provide birth control to Gloucester teens. I just find it appalling that 17 pregnancies is not enough to spur the adults in this town to action. Principal Sullivan told Time that he does not believe that access to birth control would have prevented the 17 pregnancies, because the school nurse informed him that several girls had planned to become pregnant for quite some time, and that their pregnancies were deliberate. Perhaps there is some truth to Sullivan's claim, but then you have to look much deeper: what drove these girls to think that conceiving a child would be a good idea?
Apparently it is legal in MA to distribute birth control to minors without the consent of their parents, as did a school nurse in Gloucester. AND - over 150 pregnancy tests were administered to Gloucester High students.
There's also a "rumor" that officials may seek out the homeless man who had sex with one of the Gloucester teens and attempt to charge him with statutory rape. This, to me, is comical. I'd like to know how officials will locate this guy. If they DO find him, I wonder if he will actually be charged. Can you imagine this young girl demanding that the homeless father of her child pay child support for the next eighteen years? What will she tell her child when s/he asks about their dad? "Well, the story of your conception is really quite romantic..." - come on. If that isn't a deliberate attempt to get pregnant, I don't know what is. I mean...you've got to REALLY be LOOKING to have sex/get pregnant if you go to the trouble of seeking out a random man that also happens to be homeless.
I also find this tidbit to be quite alarming: the AP reporter who wrote a story for MSNBC.com wrote this:
The "TYPICAL four?" Does this strike anyone else as a strange method of phrasing this statistic? In my mind, four pregnant girls should never be considered "typical," or "the norm."
Some claim that these girls may have been influenced by the popular film Juno, or by the pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spears, younger celebuwreck of Britney Jean Spears. I have to say that I find it difficult to believe that teenage girls saw Juno and thought "It'd be really cool to get pregnant and give a baby up for adoption." I also find it difficult to believe that teenage girls emulated Jamie Lynn Spears and thought, "You know, if Jamie Lynn is pregnant, then I think I'll consider having a baby at sixteen, too." Teenagers may be naive, but I do not think that they are necessarily stupid. I believe that teenagers who saw Juno enjoyed it for the entertainment value [because it was a very humorous movie, despite what I thought were some slow, disappointing parts]. I don't think they watched it and then decided that becoming a pregnant teenager would be socially acceptable. I also think that teenagers [especially girls] probably judged Jamie Lynn Spears and now consider her to be a poor role model and an irresponsible young woman.
I think the cause of these 17 pregnancies go much deeper than a movie or a pregnant teenage TV star. I think these girls wanted camaraderie, a sense of loyalty and someone to love them. I think that they may have come from unstable homes. I think that they were probably looking for attention. I may be way off base, and I don't have a degree in psychology, but I'm pretty sure that I'm correct in my assumptions.
I also think that the staff at Gloucester High dropped the ball when it came to these girls - when you consider that staff/school nurses/the PRINCIPAL heard chatter and rumors that "a group of girls were planning to get pregnant" for several months before the girls found out they were pregnant, you understand that there was an opportunity here for the staff to intervene...a small window of time where they could have addressed the rumors, and perhaps even gotten to the root of the issue [see above] before the girls did something desperate.
It's clearly a very new world that we are living in. If four pregnancies is a "typical" occurrence in high school, I refuse to accept this.
What will it be next?
A Time article dated 6/18 stated that the pregnancy rate at Gloucester High is FOUR TIMES higher than last year. Personally, it's appalling that there is a pregnancy rate at ALL in any high school. I refuse to believe that this is a "coincidence."
The Gloucester High principal, Joseph Sullivan, said that many girls were questioned around October - and it didn't take long, Sullivan claims, for almost half of the girls who were already pregnant - all who were 16 years of age or YOUNGER - to admit that they had made a "pregnancy pact" and had vowed to raise their children together.
Sullivan also admitted that one of the babies was fathered by "a 24-year-old homeless guy."
...what?
As if all of this was not disturbing enough, residents in Gloucester are HESITANT about providing better access to birth control.
...WHAT?
Gloucester is a town that has deep-rooted Catholic values. I understand this, as I was raised Catholic and attended a private, Catholic high school. I appreciate the traditional Catholic values. I think it is important to share these values with your children. But clearly, there is a problem here, right? Something isn't getting through to these girls.
I have a big issue with the refusal to provide birth control to Gloucester teens. I just find it appalling that 17 pregnancies is not enough to spur the adults in this town to action. Principal Sullivan told Time that he does not believe that access to birth control would have prevented the 17 pregnancies, because the school nurse informed him that several girls had planned to become pregnant for quite some time, and that their pregnancies were deliberate. Perhaps there is some truth to Sullivan's claim, but then you have to look much deeper: what drove these girls to think that conceiving a child would be a good idea?
Apparently it is legal in MA to distribute birth control to minors without the consent of their parents, as did a school nurse in Gloucester. AND - over 150 pregnancy tests were administered to Gloucester High students.
There's also a "rumor" that officials may seek out the homeless man who had sex with one of the Gloucester teens and attempt to charge him with statutory rape. This, to me, is comical. I'd like to know how officials will locate this guy. If they DO find him, I wonder if he will actually be charged. Can you imagine this young girl demanding that the homeless father of her child pay child support for the next eighteen years? What will she tell her child when s/he asks about their dad? "Well, the story of your conception is really quite romantic..." - come on. If that isn't a deliberate attempt to get pregnant, I don't know what is. I mean...you've got to REALLY be LOOKING to have sex/get pregnant if you go to the trouble of seeking out a random man that also happens to be homeless.
I also find this tidbit to be quite alarming: the AP reporter who wrote a story for MSNBC.com wrote this:
17 [pregnancies] last year, compared with the typical four.
The "TYPICAL four?" Does this strike anyone else as a strange method of phrasing this statistic? In my mind, four pregnant girls should never be considered "typical," or "the norm."
Some claim that these girls may have been influenced by the popular film Juno, or by the pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spears, younger celebuwreck of Britney Jean Spears. I have to say that I find it difficult to believe that teenage girls saw Juno and thought "It'd be really cool to get pregnant and give a baby up for adoption." I also find it difficult to believe that teenage girls emulated Jamie Lynn Spears and thought, "You know, if Jamie Lynn is pregnant, then I think I'll consider having a baby at sixteen, too." Teenagers may be naive, but I do not think that they are necessarily stupid. I believe that teenagers who saw Juno enjoyed it for the entertainment value [because it was a very humorous movie, despite what I thought were some slow, disappointing parts]. I don't think they watched it and then decided that becoming a pregnant teenager would be socially acceptable. I also think that teenagers [especially girls] probably judged Jamie Lynn Spears and now consider her to be a poor role model and an irresponsible young woman.
I think the cause of these 17 pregnancies go much deeper than a movie or a pregnant teenage TV star. I think these girls wanted camaraderie, a sense of loyalty and someone to love them. I think that they may have come from unstable homes. I think that they were probably looking for attention. I may be way off base, and I don't have a degree in psychology, but I'm pretty sure that I'm correct in my assumptions.
I also think that the staff at Gloucester High dropped the ball when it came to these girls - when you consider that staff/school nurses/the PRINCIPAL heard chatter and rumors that "a group of girls were planning to get pregnant" for several months before the girls found out they were pregnant, you understand that there was an opportunity here for the staff to intervene...a small window of time where they could have addressed the rumors, and perhaps even gotten to the root of the issue [see above] before the girls did something desperate.
It's clearly a very new world that we are living in. If four pregnancies is a "typical" occurrence in high school, I refuse to accept this.
What will it be next?
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Kuff Has Landed!
I can't believe I'm a "blogger."
I apologize in advance if I offend anyone, BUT: until recently, if you asked me what kind of people had blogs, I'd tell you that it was reserved for nerds and socially awkward individuals.
Then I got a job as a Content Writer at an SEO firm {if you are unfamiliar with SEO, go here}. I started writing daily press releases and posting news articles on our websites. I began researching and subsequently writing content for our site pages. After three weeks on the job, I officially had the writing bug. I look forward to going to work in the morning because I know that I'll be able to write. Granted, I am writing about a specific topic, {which I cannot divulge for legal purposes! But trust me, it's BORING!} but the opportunity to write, post, and then view MY press release on the ginormous Internet is a daily thrill.
And because I am limited to what I am able to write about from 9-5, Monday through Friday, {and sometimes Saturday, too} I decided that I needed a blog. If this classifies me as a nerd, then so be it.
About Me
Nicolette Kuff is an alias. I do not use my "real name" for various reasons - at work, in fact, I have several alias email addresses {this is not "just because," it is, again, for legal purposes!}. I decided to utilize this particular alias because this is the name that I use when writing for Blogger News Network. I am able to give myself a "shameless plug" at the conclusion of each submission on BNN, and lots of contributors post a link to their blog. Now that I actually HAVE a blog, I can throw a link at the end of each article & hopefully attract some readers!
In case you were interested, I chose "Nicolette" because it's a variation on my given first name. Ooo! And I chose "Kuff" because it's a variation on my Mom's maiden name, and it was also her nickname when she was a teenager & college kid.
I am 23 years old and I grew up in Upstate NY. I went to a Catholic high school, and my only detention was a result of rolling my plaid skirt and exposing what was considered to be an obscene amount of leg. I ventured down South and went to college for a year in NC, after which I made my way back up to the snowy North to finish school...and move back in with my parents. I have a fabulous boyfriend of over one year, who I'll refer to as "D" for all intents and purposes here. I am adopted. I'm lactose intolerant - despite this, I still have an ongoing love affair with Ben & Jerry. I recently got a TERRIBLE haircut, and I am mourning the loss of my long, luxurious locks. DISCLAIMER: I am a Republican. I feel as though I should warn you! I'm afraid of the dark, I am addicted to my Blackberry, and I am afraid of cats.
The Daily Kuff
I am a HUGE news buff: I check the news {generally, MSNBC.com is my go-to news site} as soon as I wake up, either on my Blackberry while commuting to work or on my laptop as soon as I arrive at my desk. I am especially fond of the "Crime & Courts" section, as well as any news related to health, religion, and politics. In addition, I am also shamelessly addicted to celebrity gossip. I frequent TMZ.com and WWTDD.com {WARNING: WWTDD.com features adult content, so view at your own risk. I warned you!}.
I generally find news stories of real substance to write about on BNN, so The Daily Kuff will be MY place to comment on anything I'd like. I may also write about work-related stuff from time-to-time, as I do spend a LOT of time working. I am new to blogging, so please be patient and kind: I would really dig comments, but NICE comments. Tell me what you'd like me to blog about!
I apologize in advance if I offend anyone, BUT: until recently, if you asked me what kind of people had blogs, I'd tell you that it was reserved for nerds and socially awkward individuals.
Then I got a job as a Content Writer at an SEO firm {if you are unfamiliar with SEO, go here}. I started writing daily press releases and posting news articles on our websites. I began researching and subsequently writing content for our site pages. After three weeks on the job, I officially had the writing bug. I look forward to going to work in the morning because I know that I'll be able to write. Granted, I am writing about a specific topic, {which I cannot divulge for legal purposes! But trust me, it's BORING!} but the opportunity to write, post, and then view MY press release on the ginormous Internet is a daily thrill.
And because I am limited to what I am able to write about from 9-5, Monday through Friday, {and sometimes Saturday, too} I decided that I needed a blog. If this classifies me as a nerd, then so be it.
About Me
Nicolette Kuff is an alias. I do not use my "real name" for various reasons - at work, in fact, I have several alias email addresses {this is not "just because," it is, again, for legal purposes!}. I decided to utilize this particular alias because this is the name that I use when writing for Blogger News Network. I am able to give myself a "shameless plug" at the conclusion of each submission on BNN, and lots of contributors post a link to their blog. Now that I actually HAVE a blog, I can throw a link at the end of each article & hopefully attract some readers!
In case you were interested, I chose "Nicolette" because it's a variation on my given first name. Ooo! And I chose "Kuff" because it's a variation on my Mom's maiden name, and it was also her nickname when she was a teenager & college kid.
I am 23 years old and I grew up in Upstate NY. I went to a Catholic high school, and my only detention was a result of rolling my plaid skirt and exposing what was considered to be an obscene amount of leg. I ventured down South and went to college for a year in NC, after which I made my way back up to the snowy North to finish school...and move back in with my parents. I have a fabulous boyfriend of over one year, who I'll refer to as "D" for all intents and purposes here. I am adopted. I'm lactose intolerant - despite this, I still have an ongoing love affair with Ben & Jerry. I recently got a TERRIBLE haircut, and I am mourning the loss of my long, luxurious locks. DISCLAIMER: I am a Republican. I feel as though I should warn you! I'm afraid of the dark, I am addicted to my Blackberry, and I am afraid of cats.
The Daily Kuff
I am a HUGE news buff: I check the news {generally, MSNBC.com is my go-to news site} as soon as I wake up, either on my Blackberry while commuting to work or on my laptop as soon as I arrive at my desk. I am especially fond of the "Crime & Courts" section, as well as any news related to health, religion, and politics. In addition, I am also shamelessly addicted to celebrity gossip. I frequent TMZ.com and WWTDD.com {WARNING: WWTDD.com features adult content, so view at your own risk. I warned you!}.
I generally find news stories of real substance to write about on BNN, so The Daily Kuff will be MY place to comment on anything I'd like. I may also write about work-related stuff from time-to-time, as I do spend a LOT of time working. I am new to blogging, so please be patient and kind: I would really dig comments, but NICE comments. Tell me what you'd like me to blog about!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
