The Mostest

Settling in

2009-04-06T20:26:00.000-07:00

What does it feel like to live around a ton of trees and to be able to see the stars unobstructed by light pollution? Amazing. I will post pictures soon. Gone are the days of waking up to sirens. The loudest sound around here is the honk of a Canadian goose!

rural studio

2009-02-20T10:37:00.001-08:00

alive and well.
http://www.cadc.auburn.edu/soa/rural-studio/mission.htm

National Portrait Gallery

2009-02-19T09:26:00.000-08:00

I went to the National Portrait Gallery for the first time yesterday. I was amazed. I can't believe I haven't been there before because the gallery is somehow rejuvenating. I learned so much U.S. history that I never knew just from the great bios the museum has included beside all of its pieces. My favorite piece was a bronze scultpture from the turn of the 20th century that I think was called Woman with Antelopes. It was wonderful. The museum is free so if you are in DC and need a place to reconnect with the softer pulse of the world and this country's years of creativity, go! There is also a lovely atrium space for reading and studying. Don't forget to contribute what you can to the museum on your way in or out.

I was really touched by Katy Grannan's exhibit. Her portraits for I believe it was a NY Time Magazine piece called The Invisible Poor were beautiful. As was her portrait for a piece on juveniles being kept in adult federal prisons. Both of these pieces were written for stories published in 2000 and it got me thinking how little has changed (except for the worse) in the last 8 years. I wonder how many such topics were just lost in the last two presidential terms waiting to be revisited by us all now. It's as if we all stopped growing as a nation. I can't explain it, but I feel it and it is all at once depressing and hopeful. It is what I imagine it feels like for an adopted child to discover their biological family members. Where have we all been these last 8 years and how much did the last administration's mindset cause us to limit our own ambitions, goals, and ideas of what is achievable?

I regretably missed Diane Sawyer's special on the lost children of Appalachia last week. I am going to look for it today and see if I can view it. So many problems swept under the rug but I know those of us from and living in the South have seen the kind of poverty that many parts of America think is a thing of the past. It is beyond outhouse jokes, and deserves more attention. This reminds me of a project Mary Ann showed me some years back where Auburn University students were desiging low-cost green housing for rural delta area families. Does anyone know if this project is ongoing?

Here is a great site for child poverty statistics for each state: http://www.nccp.org/profiles/state_profile.php?state=AL&id=7

It's official

2009-02-02T07:20:00.000-08:00

I am going to have a nephew!

Such a great idea

2009-01-29T09:26:00.000-08:00

Recently, a friend of mine did something that I thought was really cool. She knew that I and a number of her other friends live in DC but had never met so she sent one e-mail to all of us that included a little blurb about each of us (how she met us, spouses, careers, etc.) and from there we could decide when and where to meet up. So neat! There is something about an e-mail like that that brings so much closeness through one person that social networking tools just don't capture. Anyway, great idea and hope that others will try it!

Thanks Mandy!

Pictures of Earth from space...

2009-01-27T10:10:00.000-08:00

always give the impression that Earth is peaceful. More pictures from The Earth Observatory here.

I can't believe I am posting a Daft Punk video...

2009-01-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

But the little dancing toys are so cute and it features a clamation Prez!

To swish, not to gargle

2009-01-26T08:17:00.000-08:00

"Dear Glacius, it's me, Schminke."

I have been in the grips of a nasty cold since Inauguration Day (I danced with history, but history was contagious). I reached for my usual standby--Nyquil--in the first few days and also drank a disgusting amount of orange pineapple juice. A few nights ago, the pain in my ears became so bad that I teared up and for some reason that lead me to search for natural remedies (something I could/should have done earlier). I found this great website of folk remedies called Earth Clinic and learned about a practice called oil pulling. If you visit the site you will see the loooong list of people exclaiming the wonderous healing powers of pulling oil. Steven bought some sesame seed oil for me and some apple cider vinegar that I have been using for the last 30 hours or so. I have a hard time swishing the oil for 10 minutes, much less the suggested 20, but maybe I will get used to it. I will say that it did wonders for my congested sinuses initially but that the congestion came back within a few hours. I am a little concerned about what is going to happen in the days ahead because so many of the comments on Earth Clinic state that some crazy toxin expulsion is going to happen around day 7. We'll see (don't worry, no photos).

In other news, it has finally started snowing here and there may actually be some accumulation tomorrow. I hope it does snow because no animal on Earth loves snow more than Schminke. She rolls around in it, digs in it, eats it, slides her belly through it, etc. Let it snow already!

P.S. (Big P.S.!): End of the Gag Rule--is there anything President Obama can't do? He is like a gift that keeps on giving!

Whitehouse.gov--a site I will actually be visiting regularly

2009-01-21T09:15:00.000-08:00

Have you checked out what's in store for us all on whitehouse.gov? You should! I don't know how all of the applications will play out, but I can't wait to take in a lazy Saturday morning breakfast while watching President Obama's weekly video update!

2009-01-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

For me, my birthday has always been an intensely spiritual experience. I have always been a part of wonderful things on my birthday and if not on my birthday, in the month of January. I think it is just one benefit of being born in the first month of the calendar year--everyone is happy to have a brand new year before them.

I can't wait for this weekend to get underway. If election night was any sign, these next few days in DC are going to be magical!

Challenges in Sudan and exercises in (personal) patience*

2009-01-14T14:46:00.000-08:00

I attended CSIS' talk on Challenges to Sudan's CPA (panel list here). There was a lot of great information, experience, and opinion shared, which I will blog more about here, but a few points really bothered me, most of which were pointed at the International Criminal Court's indictments of Sudanese officials in Khartoum. These points involved, on the whole, a concern about destabilization or the specter of dissolution of the Sudanese state as a result of such outside action like the ICC indictments. I have a difficult time swallowing these comments, if only because I am passionate about the ICC as a means of preventing future crimes against humanity by way of its ability to prosecute what are complete power abusing megalomaniac murderers. My passion is probably my biggest fault in this area so I appreciate the panel illuminating some of the problems the ICC's actions bring to Sudan and the region as a whole.

But looking to the future, even in terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the south, I wonder if outside action by a heavily regulated institution such as the ICC would not bring some much needed transparent, stable, and calculable action on a situation that I am not entirely convinced is on the decline (here I mean Darfur, and by decline I mean there is no real improvement or hard recognition of the Sudanese government having new-found respect and observance of human rights). Could the ICC's actions compromise the future of the CPA? Sure it could, as could anything else under the hot dessert sun that doesn't go in the favor of the Sudanese government.

The panelists were of course aware of this fact and at CSIS today, they almost displayed a kind of fraternal bond over having seen large sums of money exchanged for cease fires, etc. They obviously are some of the world's leading experts on Sudan. But I guess I walked away thinking just because all that they have witnessed is business as usual, it doesn't mean we as an international community have to accept it, not should we assume it to be representative of what the population of Sudan as a whole regard as legitimate exercises of power, etc. I felt like their analysis was clouded by the nature of their work--timetables, deadlines, critical negotiations and agreements, coordinating donors, etc.--that seemed to be steeped in a context of only the last 25 or so years. And I know this not to be the case with Alex de Waal's writings on Sudan, and I haven't read anything from the other panelists (something I will do asap because they have given me so much to think about), but my immediate reaction to the panel as I sit down now is that the sidelining or almost embittered attitude of the panel about the efforts of the ICC was either a disingenuous act of diplomacy or arrogant.

If you have the time, and assuming CSIS webcasts its panels, check out today's event.

*This is a quick and dirty reaction, but please do leave comments because sometimes the quick and dirty reactions can bring out the most dialogue!

Impending Birthday Inauguration MLK Celebration Extravaganza!

2009-01-13T10:14:00.000-08:00

It has been a loooong time since I have posted anything, but with everything that is about to happen in the next week--my birthday, MLK Day and Day of Service, the Inauguration, etc.--I think I will have a lot to write about and some good picutes worth posting.

If you haven't heard about the MLK Day of Service (January 19th), you can find out more here. If you are in DC, there is a HUGE list of community service projects, but some are already full (like the awesome mural project at G and MLK). I don't know which one we are going to sign up for if only because they all sound so worthwhile.

I also cannot believe the line-up for the free Inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial this Sunday. They are all big names, which means I don't listen to them on a regular basis but I will definitely not snub my nose at the opportunity to see them perform for free! I am so glad Melissa and Evan gave us hand warmers in our Christmas goody box! I don't want to have a President Harrison-type dance with pneumonia.

For my birthday I get to see the Ravonettes at Black Cat! Yay to my husband for presenting me with such a fantastische gift!

Hooray for January and for 2009!!!

Swiss Chard Empanada Day!

2008-07-20T15:34:00.001-07:00

Today, Steven and I made these yummy empanadas. I shouldn't say yummy yet because we haven't yet eaten them (still in the oven) but I think they will be because you can't go wrong with goat cheese.

We have been tossing around the idea of a children's book idea starring the One True Schmoo. We finally worked on some illustrations today and it was rough going at first. Capturing the preciousness/goofiness of Schmoo's googly eyes was very challenging. We have also done a little bit of research into the story line and from what we can tell, our book will definitely be filling a hole in the market of children's books. So here's hoping that the stories can help children and help me with student loan debt!

I also did a sketch for Steven's next tattoo--a beautiful mermaid drawn in a retro pin-up style. I would post her for all to see, but our scanner has already been packed for the GAM.

Speaking of GAM--only 10 more days!

Such a long break...

2008-07-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

Planning for the impending GAM (Great Annual Move) has been exhausting especially because some of the central components to ensuring a smooth move are, at present, missing. We did find a nice, big, dog-friendly apartment for ourselves in D.C. and we will be saying "peace out" to NYC for (most likely) good. I am going to miss my walks in Central Park, but I am ready to explore a new city and all it has to offer.

My study of French is also on hold at the moment. I had been using some on-line sources to build my vocabulary, but I feel that I really should look into taking a course at Alliance Francais once we settle into our new place. One great discovery is that I have little to no issues reading French news publications. Thank heavens for the similarities between English and French! Hopefully this discovery means that I can sink my teeth into some French-language anthropological research on peacebuilding in West Africa sooner than later.

I hope you all noticed that Galavanting's first issue is out now. It looks amazing and a big round of applause to those wonderful gals for creating such a great resource!

And the award for world's most useless police precinct goes to...

2008-07-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

Precinct 26 NYC

Can't even begin to count the number of times I have called this precinct and 911 only to have the police not show! Last night my neighbor was accosted by 5 or 6 drug dealers in my building's hallway. She called the police while they yelled in her face. I really think that had my husband and I not opened the door to see what was going on she would have been in for it because, surprise!--the police never came!!!!!!!!!!! Just this past weekend some sort of violent crime took place on our block and I had to map out a new way home to keep my dog's feet out of puddles of blood. I have to say that was the first time I followed a blood trail.

If anyone is reading this entry and wants a good news story about no-show police and a prominent NY landlord neglecting tenants, contact me. It promises to be a way more interesting story than I probably even realize.

Avec plaisir!

2008-06-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

I am embarking on intense study of French beginning today. Part of my decision has to do with securing a job somehow related to Africa, but more than that, I really want to continue studying the peacebuilding/transitional justice measures taken in Sierra Leone. As some of you know, I took an anthropology class this past spring with Dr. George C. Bond and I really enjoyed it. The implications traditional social structures have in post-conflict rebuilding are many, and I am so interested in learning more about how patrimonial social structures have in any way affected the peace process, especially access to resources. If anyone reading this knows anyone currently working on the subject, I would love to hear about it! Gaining the ability to read french would really help move along any future research of this issue that I might undertake. If any of you have french texts or CDs that you would like to send my way, I would really appreciate them too! I am for the most part a complete beginner with the language, but if anyone is interested in having me as a pen pal en francaise, that would be great.
More reasons to visit Cafe Lalo!

Ilya Monosov

2008-06-05T06:35:00.000-07:00

I can't get enough of Ilya Monosov !

New projects!

2008-06-04T06:38:00.000-07:00

I will be a regular contributor to an exciting new blog, Whaddit.be, created by my long-time friend and non-biological, but absolutely wonderful brother J. Robertson McIlwain. Another dear friend of more than 10 years, Jon Ezell, will also be a regular contributor. The focus of the blog is on European and Russian current affairs and culture. I hope you will check it out and give some feedback/insight as we explore these broad topics.

Another exciting new project that I will be contributing to is Galavanting. Two dear friends that I met while a fellow with the Council of Women World Leaders, Katy Quissell and Kim Mance, have undertaken to fill the current void in women's travel literature by giving a venue to the intersection between travel and social and cultural issues. Please visit the site and the Galavanting group on Facebook to learn more about contributing to this exciting new project!

311, 911, and other useless numbers

2008-05-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

Some background:
This morning another crane came tumbling down in Manhattan. One resident of the area said he has called 311 twice in the last week or so to complain about the crane and how unstable it looked. Monday evening eight teenagers were shot on 125th street, about 15 blocks away from my apartment. One area resident was filmed stating the obvious--teens don't manufacture guns so they are getting them from someone or somewhere else and that the police should focus their efforts toward identifying suppliers. One week ago a person was shot to death on Lenox and 113th. Every crime and every accident brought the same comments from New Yorkers--the city and the police need to do more to ensure the safety of city residents.

I, and it seems even the posh residents of the Upper East Side, are beginning to see a disturbing trend of unanswered calls by the NYPD and other city agencies. I have called 911 and my local precinct numerous times since moving here last August. I have watched people free-base drugs in my building's foyer and on the street, have documented thinly-veiled drug deals, and have endured violent fights between dealers and their angry clients (my husband having to call 911 to get help for my bloodied-up neighbor), etc. Only a couple of times have the police responded when we have called. Other times I have been told that the police have "more important things to do" and have been told "no" when I have asked to speak to a negligent dispatcher's sergeant. I have reported my building's rampant drug activity to 311 as well, but to no apparent avail. I have called 911 after discovering an unconscious drug addict in freezing temperatures and waited in vain for an ambulance to respond (a neighbor woke her and she began to puke bile all over the sidewalk; medics never arrived).

My advice for the NYPD is to start responding to 911 calls and calls made to local precincts. My advice to the city is to bolster the 311 switchboard by holding city agencies accountable for acting upon calls they receive. If residents bother to provide reports, the city should bother to send the resident a written acknowledgment of their report, something tangible that states the city received the information and perhaps even what the city plans to do with the information. This way, residents themselves can be a monitoring body of city agencies if the city government itself cannot provide oversight.

My advice to fellow New Yorkers who have a heart for the addicted and the homeless: never tell 911 that the person unconscious is homeless or a drug addict--tell the dispatcher it is a person in a suit.

SIPA graduation week 2008

2008-05-23T10:54:00.001-07:00

SIPA Graduation week 2008, originally uploaded by caroden117.

Here is a picture of my mom and I before Wednesday's graduation ceremony. So excited that day finally came!

SIPA Graduation week 2008

2008-05-23T10:51:00.001-07:00

SIPA Graduation week 2008, originally uploaded by caroden117.

The violence in Zimbabwe worsens

2008-05-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

Latest coverage here

The winter months are fast approaching the Southern Hemisphere, and those months will soon be followed by another rainy season, potentially as destructive as this year's rainy season. With the price of so many basic foodstuffs on the rise the great majority of Zimbabweans, displaced or not, are facing an ever increasing range of life-threatening hardships. How long must Zimbabweans wait for the violence to be put to an end? Coverage of the violence always leads to the same discussion--elections. The elections are portrayed as both the impetus for the violence and its eventual end, nevermind that so many human rights violations are occurring. The international community cannot continue to wait on free, untampered election results to address the abuses occurring, abuses that I believe anyone can see are not wholly attributable to one election gone sour, but rather the root of that one symptom.

please, no more news.

2008-04-28T10:00:00.001-07:00

DSC01843, originally uploaded by caroden117.

After a long day, Schminke needs her tea and of course, control of the remote.

2008-04-28T09:21:00.000-07:00

The school days are finally coming to a close and my team is close to wrapping up our M&E System report. I am so lucky to have been a part of the project and to have been able to travel to Zambia. Looking at the news trickling out of Zimbabwe these days, I fear for the wonderful people I met. The two days I spent in Livingstone were stunning and I just can't imagine life being disrupted in such a pristine piece of natural beauty. I hope that peace can be found soon and that all can be spared from further violence.