Kiosk

Dissed Again

2005-08-01T15:09:00.000-05:00

In the most recent Forbes there are two lists of note. The editors were kind enough to lay out for us the "World's 100 Most Powerful Women" and "Blogs That Matter". I couldn't help but observe that my name and my blog's name were missing from the lists. Maybe next year?

A Plastic Pet

2005-07-23T15:39:00.000-05:00

A new, and excellent hairdresser, in an attempt to know me, asked me whether I kept any animals. Unusual usage to be sure; she was asking if I had any pets. "A plastic bird," I replied.

Yes, my only pet is a plastic bird, sent to me as a pointed joke by my sister, Holly. She believes that my solitary life would be vastly improved if I shared my quarters with a well-mannered dog or cat. I have told her and others who have expressed this view that if I wanted to live with a small dirty animal I would adopt a baby human.

Anyway, Holly sent me a small plastic bird--a red tatinger. Battery operated, it chirps and shakes its tiny head whenever it senses movement. Perfect.

Bye Bye Blogs

2005-07-15T23:22:00.000-05:00

Today I posted for the last time on two of my blogs: Jummy Speaks and Can't Marry Me. It is much easier to start a blog than to end one, but my reasons for ending these two are sound. My final post to Can't Marry Me is explanatory; my final post to Jummy Speaks, characteristically, is not.

Jummy may someday reappear as he was orginally envsioned, the figurehead (excuse the pun) of an ambitious ongoing art project. In the event that the art project is eventually executed, the blog Jummy Speaks might continue in its support. In the meantime, Jummy will revert back to "has been" status.

To please Jummy's fans (all one of us), I will be posting his portrait today at The Kay Ballard Collection.

I Get It

2005-07-13T06:22:00.000-05:00

One of the unexpected pleasures of blogging has been an acquaintanceship with Oscar Wildebeest who blogs the Gnus of the World from Great Britain. I discovered his blog through a Technorati search and made a comment to a post he wrote concerning what is possibly the lowest form of philanthropy--a wrist band campaign. He rewarded me for commenting with a post welcoming me to the blogosphere (sorry) and poking fun at me for having begun my blogging by creating a multitude of blogs.

Oscar writes a terrific blog--sarcastic and thought provoking. He is never sentimental unless he is writing about sports. I even enjoy his posts about local political issues.

Naturally I was surprised and pleased several weeks ago when I noticed that Oscar had included a link to this homely little unformed blog in his list of recommended blogs. And the pleasant surprises continue. Yesterday I saw that he has now organized his blogroll (sorry) into categories--an excellent idea, I must say. He placed this blog, Kiosk in the category "Personal Wisdom" which is the kindest and most elegant euphemism for irrelevant that I have ever heard. The Beest is Brilliant!

Phoebe's Take on the Terrorism

2005-07-08T15:30:00.000-05:00

"It's very hard not to feel angry. 9/11 certainly scared the crap out of me, but I was angry.

Madrid - saddened, concerned - but not angry.

Beheadings - disgusted, heartbroken - but not angry.

Countless people killed in war - sickened, helpless - but not angry.

London-very angry. I've had enough, and I'm tired of feeling fearful."

There Was a Time, However

2005-07-08T10:14:00.000-05:00

There was a time, however, when I wanted nothing more than to be a "citizen journalist"--or maybe a "citizen publisher".

When I was about ten years old, I decided that there was an opportunity for someone like me to establish a neighborhood newspaper. My mother was unusually supportive of my ideas and didn't hesitate to provide me with the necessary means to carry them out. In this case she told me that what I needed was a hectograph. We went straight to the Sears Roebuck catalog and she called in the order. Within a few days, I had my hectograph which at the time was state of the art technology for neighborhood newspaper publishing.

A hectograph was a simple tool. It was a wood masonite and wood tray, approximately 9 X 12 inches and one inch deep. The hectograph kit contained a kind of jel which we poured into the tray and let it set up. The kit also contained stencils. I laid out my newspaper articles on the stencils, placed the stencils on the gel, and one by one, put sheets of paper on the gel to pick up the ink.

What was the outcome of this little endeavor? I am not sure I know myself. My memory of this is somewhat vague, but for whatever reason my interest in exploiting the entrepreneural side of the activity quickly faded.

My Mom Is a Blogger

2005-07-06T18:33:00.000-05:00

My mom is a blogger. Well, not my mom--Phoebe's mom. Me. I would like Phoebe to give me some credit for that since apparently, many people my age (whatever age I am) don't even know what a blog is. (I could tell you my age, but I would have to lie about it and lying in blogs is not permitted.)

Anyway, I don't get the idea that my blogging has added to my coolness as far as Phoebe is concerned. Perhaps that is because she already thought I was really, really cool. Regardless, she pays me a great compliment by reading my blogs from time to time and telling me what she thinks about what I have written. Most recently she told me that in contrast to the opinion of one of its detractors, she finds my blog Can't Marry Me amusing. That didn't surprise me because she has both good judgement and an excellent sense of humor.

Now for a confession: The reason I wrote this was to give myself an excuse to once again post this caricature of Phoebe. The original post has gone into the archives and I missed seeing it.

Just to be Clear

2005-07-06T12:57:00.000-05:00

With all of the references to journalists, columnists, and the prestige of the profession in my previous posts, I feel I must make it very clear that I am not blogging away as an aspiring journalist. Far from it. In fact, let me state it empahtically: Blogging Is Not Journalism.

My blogging certainly isn't.

Furthermore, I really don't understand all the confusion about this issue. Yet there are many (including bloggers) who high mindedly refer to bloggers as "citizen journalists". And in Sunday's paper, cartoonist Gary Trudeau put down bloggers by comparing bloggers to journalists, noting all the ways that bloggers fall short. His analysis, once again, assumes that bloggers are attempting to practice journalism.

Here is what is actually going on in the blogosphere. Bloggers write stuff and then they self-publish the stuff they write on the web. Sometimes others read what they have written. That's it. Not much more going on.

The Most Prestigious Profession

2005-07-05T18:15:00.000-05:00

Back in my undergraduate days I took part in a classroom project to demonstrate the difference between our own opinions and groupthink. We were each given a list of about twenty occupations or professions and asked to rank them first to last in terms of their prestige. Doctor was on the list; plumber was on the list; lawyer was on the list. Even though I was headed for law school at the time and was fully aware that being a lawyer carries a phantom prestige, for me the clear choice--the most prestigious profession--was Newspaper Columnist. I marked my paper accordingly.

The next step was to meet in groups and to collaborate on ranking the occupations on the list. I was shocked to learn that none of the members in my group thought that Newspaper Columnists basked in prestige. As someone who started each day by reading the daily paper, I defended my opinion by saying, "But every day they own a little piece of the brain of thousands of people." Very valuable real estate indeed. However, my group found my argument unpersuasive.

The exercise was fascinating to me and it confirmed what I already knew: I am not a mainstream thinker.

A Pavilion of Comment and Opinion

2005-07-04T13:07:00.000-05:00

So a month after its creation, has this blog become what I thought it would be? No. But it is still very new. I haven't written enough yet to define it.

At the time of my first post, it was one month out from a widely reported op-ed piece by Maureen Dowd. She was complaining about the dearth of women columnists and suggested that women are not drawn to writing opinion because they want to be liked. She included herself as having this trait and admitted that she sometimes found the controversy surrounding some of her opinions to be personally painful.

That got me to thinking about whether I could write opinion pieces. It is not that I aspire to a career as I columnist, but I certainly have opinions. And while I prefer to be liked, I would like to think that I could show great courage in stating them and defending them. (The readership for this blog is somewhat less than the readership of the New York Times. I risk little.)

So what will I write about going forward? Politics, world events, personal insights? I don't know myself. All I know is what I will write about tomorrow: the reason I think Newspaper Columnist is the most prestigious occupation.

Goood Bye, Sandy

2005-07-01T15:17:00.000-05:00

It's a big job, she's done it so well for so long, and she deserves a break and the opportunity to spend more time with her family. But I can't help but be saddened to learn of about the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'connor. Her appointment was a historic first and it certainly meant a lot to me at the time. It is doubtful that her successor will be able to fill her shoes since she wears petite pumps, not favored by most men.

(In full disclosure, since I am an ethical blogger, I must inform you that Sandy and I are fraternity brothers. In law school I pledged the only fraternity, Phi Delta Phi, that could boast that all of the Supremes, past and at that time, present, were among its members.)

Ethics of Tweaking

2005-07-01T09:32:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I read The Weblog Handbook by Rebecca Blood which I had purchased on eBay for 99 cents. While well written, it is VERY basic and has little to offer to someone who is already blogging. However, the book does have, what for me was, an interesting discussion of blog ethics. I was particularly struck by Blood's assertion that is unethical to change posts once they have been published. Blood takes the position that changing entries destroys the "integrity of the network". While she doesn't specifically deal with post-posting edits for spelling, grammar, or usage, she implies that even such changes are inappropriate without annotation.

Well, I see Blood's point. It is certainly something for me to think about given that I have been somewhat generous with small post-posting edits--little fixes. In my case, one of the reasons for engaging in blogging is to improve my writing. Permitting myself to go back to a post and change it to be better read--tweaking it, if you will--is that unethical behaviour in the world of blog publishing?

Please comment. I would like to know your opinion.

Brotherly Love

2005-07-01T09:25:00.000-05:00

Last night, late at night, my brother called me--or skyped me, as he would say. He called not to talk, but to listen. What could be better than that?

Blog Heaven

2005-06-25T11:33:00.001-05:00

It is a lazy Saturday. I am avoiding nagging tasks, immersed in reading an intelligent post about the gender gap in U. S. wages. Suddenly it occurs to me--I am in Blog Heaven.

You see, this is what I wanted, and did not get, from law school. I wanted and expected law school to provide me the opportunity to read engaging texts and intellectualize about them and the issues they addressed with like minded people. Instead I found law school to be a trade school. An endurance test.

But now, years later, I have found in the blogosphere what I was looking for then.

Private Club II

2005-06-24T19:36:00.000-05:00

A little over ten years ago, when I was practicing law in Toledo, Ohio, I briefly considered joining the Toledo Club. At the time, two good friends of mine were among the very few women members. One friend was a state legislator and the other was the wealthy owner of a large company that provided rehabilitation services to nursing homes in a seven state region. The Toledo Club was still very much a men's club but my high powered friends had made it in and they wanted me both to join and join with them in changing the Toledo Club from within.

This plan seemed like a good one to me since it was in sync with my gender politics. Besides, the Toledo Club was beautiful and prestigious. Its main dining room was incredibly impressive and its menu and service were outstanding. Since my estate planning pactice was largely referral based, I was doing a lot of business entertaining. Although the Toledo Club was not convenient to my law office, I was ready to overlook that fact for the "good of the enterprise." So I accepted my friends' nomination and was sent the application materials.

Yikes! Back then, even the application materials were openly sexist. On reflection, I decided I wasn't interested in spending my time to change things from within after all. I had little interest in belonging to a sexist private club that so plainly didn't want "my kind" as a member. I declined the nomination.

Private Club

2005-06-23T12:16:00.001-05:00

In today's New York Times coverage of testimony in U. S. Senate's investigation of possible fraud by lobbyist Jack Abramoff, I was amused to read about his attempt to join the Cosmos Club. Apparently he was so anxious to become a member and so insecure about his own actual qualifications relative to those of existing members that he tried to persuade his Rabbi to help him create a phony award with an accompanying phony academic title to list on his application.

You see, in Washington, DC, if you are in business, you simply have to belong to a private club. It works this way in other cities, but it is particularly true in Washington, DC--membership in at least one private club is a necessary and valuable business and social tool. In a city abundant with fine restaurants and interesting and/or showy meeting venues, entertaining in private clubs like the Cosmos Club still seems to have enormous cachet. Why is this? Having visited many of them, I have to believe that their prestige mostly comes from the fact that they are private, and from a questionable assumption that they are extremely selective aboout who they permit to pay their pricey dues.

I am a member of a private club, the Women's National Democratic Club (even though I am not certain that I am a Democrat). While it is headquartered in a beautiful, historic building, it is a somewhat modest operation with a modest initiation fee and modest membership dues. And while most members join after being recommended by friends, it is actually open to all comers--even men. In addition to the excellent twice weekly speaker luncheons, the Club has luncheon buffets and catering available daily for private events that members mght host. I have used the Club for business entertaining on many occasions and been pleased with the result.

Relying on the membership of a dear friend, I have also frequently used the Army Navy Club as a site for business meetings and business entertaining--with great success. Men and women alike have been delighted to have been invited to go there. They are impressed by its stodgy good looks and its tangible homage to U.S. military history. And, they love the Navy Bean Soup.

What's the point? I believe that joining and using a private club can be a sound decision, particularly for women in business or a profession. But doing so shouldn't require the Jack Abramoff approach to credentialing yourself.

More tomorrow, including a story about a private club I didn't join.

Spring on the Mountain

2005-06-23T07:19:00.000-05:00

Even though summer has arrived quite convincingly, I am still in a spring state of mind. With able and dedicated assistance I am in the process of completely changing the look of my mountain home. The Moonlady Ravine is undergoing an Extreme Makeover.

The overgrown perennials have been removed from what is now a beautiful meadow of vinca. Mick, the treeman put down the tall, double-trunked cedar tree that has been slowly dying for years and hauled it away. Smaller gangly trees and bushes have been taken out. Scraggly azalias, gone.

A new driveway will be built--actually two; one will be for the guest house. An extension to the deck is being designed, orienting the steps towards the newly reworked garden path. The final change will be paint color, yet to be determined. The Moonlady Ravine has always been a beautiful place but it is becoming more beautiful by the day.

Spray on Mud

2005-06-23T06:51:00.000-05:00

Amazing! Available in the UK, Sprayonmud allows the city dweller to decorate her SUV with sham evidence of off-road cavorting. Happily I have no need for this innovative product. My secluded mountain home is four miles off paved roads. Given that, my black Jeep Wranger always has that "Newly Applied Sprayonmud Look".

Stooping to a New Low

2005-06-03T12:37:00.000-05:00

True to my tendency to never say no to a handsome male beast, I accepted this meme from Oscar Wildebeest, famed blogger of Gnus of the World. He had the sad misfortune of receiving it from Curious Hamster with the request (demand?) that he add five answers to those composed by Hamster and then pass it along to another blogger, and so on until completed. OW did the reasonable thing and asked his readers to volunteer to receive the meme. Naturally, none of us volunteered, so OW sent me an email, shamelessly begging me to take the meme off his hands.

Participating as I am in the blog equivalent of a chain letter is a new low. I must be besotted by the beast--why else would I agree to do it?

Below, you will find my answers in violet, OW's in blue, and Hamster's in red. I am sure you will agree that none of us is as clever as we need to be.

If I could be a scientist... I'd invent cool stuff to save the planet (and grow a big beard).
If I could be a painter... I'd paint the living room. It really needs freshening up.
If I could be a doctor...I would ask myself, "How did this happen? Why in the hell did I become a doctor?"
If I could be a farmer...I would grow delicious big red killer tomatoes.
If I could be a gardener...
If I could be a missionary...
If I could be a lawyer...I'd defend the McLibel Two and not demand a penny. Pro bono, as they say.
If I could be an athlete...you would see me on a Wheaties box.
If I could be an innkeeper...guests would find Godiva chocolates on top of their pillows.
If I could be a professor...
If I could be a writer... I'd have something more useful to write here.
If I could be a llama rider...I'd probably be arrested for bestiality.
If I could be a bonnie pirate...Who's Bonnie?
If I could be an astronaut...
If I could be a world famous blogger... what do you mean, if?
If I could be a justice on any one court in the world...
If I could be married to any one famous political figure...
If I could be a circus star...
If I could be a poet...I'd Make Poetry History
If I could be a musician... I'd be a drummer.
If I could be a chef...I wouldn't allow any meat in my kitchen. I wouldn't allow any of those bloody vegetarian meat substitutes, either. More on this another time.
If I could be a rodeo star...I would wear the shiniest spurs and no calf would go unroped.
If I could be a spin doctor... I'd be filled with doubt and self loathing.

Now that you have seen it, would anyone like to volunteer to continue this cursed meme? Although valued, cleverness is not required. If there are no volunteers, I will be forced to draft my ex-husband to take on the task. Believe me, you would not want to see what his twisted mind would come up with.

Deep Secret

2005-06-02T21:54:00.000-05:00

The secret identity of Deep Throat had been an intriguing mystery throughout my adult life. Then, suddenly all ongoing speculation ended without pre-reveal fanfare or the once requisite death of Mr. Throat.

I was particularly astonished to read that in all these many years the very wise Sally Quinn (aka Mrs. Ben Bradlee) never once asked her husband to betray the secret. Perhaps that is the deepest secret: how to obtain the wisdom that leads to such reserve and discretion.

My Adult

2005-06-01T21:40:00.000-05:00

Several years ago when an acquaintance asked me whether I had any children, I paused in thought for a moment. Then, I inhaled and answered truthfully, "no, but I have an adult."

Today, my beautiful, and quite grown up, daughter sent me this caricature of herself. I like it although it only reminds me slightly of Phoebe, My Adult.

New Use for an iPod

2005-05-30T14:52:00.000-05:00

The highlight of my holiday weekend was Saturday's visit to the Modigliani exhibit at the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC. The paintings were fabulous but the audio guide was tedious. I can appreciate the brilliant plan of individuals who, according to a recent article in the NYT, are offering up "unauthorized" art museum exhibition commentary via downloadable MP3 files.

Almost 20 years ago I traveled to the Soviet Union on a tour sponsored by a professor at the small private college in the town where I lived. My traveling companions were mostly affluent undergraduate students. I remembered being appalled that, invariably, they listened to their Sony Walkmen in the Pushkin and the Hermitage while they were viewing some of the greatest treasures of art. Today, I would be less harsh in my judgement. If I were to witness a museum goer sporting an iPod, I would assume he/she is appropriately engaged in the exhibit and is listening to an unofficial audio guide.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/28/arts/design/28podc.html?th&emc=th

Geek Lite: A Mozilla Firefox Fan

2005-05-28T00:16:00.000-05:00

Using Firefox as my browser makes me feel like an "internet insider"--sort of Geek Lite. This is true even though millions have joined me in making the switch. I won't list the advantages of this newish browser here. Instead, I will tell you about its best feature: Firefox has tabbed browsing. This permits you to right click on url's to create tabs at the top of the page to acommodate multiple files loading simultaniously. This is a true time saver for those of us with dial-up connections.

You can download Firefox 1.0 at www.getfirefox.com.

(Thanks, Steve, for being a Firefox missionary and converting me.)

Welcome

2005-05-27T02:45:00.000-05:00

On the occasion of my first post to my own blog, I hereby welcome myself to the blogosphere. May my days be cheery and bright, and may all of my opinions be right!