Fodder

So, I was feeling a little bored, and simultaneously looking for some "inspiration" for my next post, and decided to force myself to watch some on line shows which I knew would get my blood boiling, or at least pumping at a faster rate.

Now, I admit that I have been sucked in to some reality type shows, much to my embarrassment and chagrin.  I have questioned myself as to the basis of my "fascination" with some of these shows (mainly "Real" Housewives types of shows), because often I spend the entire time complaining to myself (and sometimes aloud, to my cat) about how awful these women look and behave.

One show I have never watched past a first full episode is that of the "Bachelor" series.  I think the Bachelor was first, then the Bachelorette?  I don't know, and I'm sure I do not care.  I remember the first time watching the show, and being mortified about most of the details, from the whole cheesy rose ceremony thing (uggghh) and the fact that women were crying about being in love with some dude who was basically in a harem situation, who they had known for perhaps one or two days.

The last series of which I was aware involved a single Mother, and I have heard snippets here and there of other single Mothers on these shows, and I am pretty much disgusted about the whole thing.  I have some pretty strict ideas of what a Mother should be, particularly if she is unmarried, and none of them include her being hot, rich, or making out with various Men on television.  But that's for another time.

This particular show ("The Bachelor Pad") involves Men and Women from previous seasons of the other two shows I mentioned, along with some "Fans" thrown into the mix.  I had no idea of who these people were, I was actually assuming the show was an unrelated thing involving a bunch of handsome a$$hole guys hanging out in a huge house and doing who knows what.  Which I guess, is somewhat accurate, just add in some "attractive" a$$hole gals.

First of all, the amount of makeup these women wear is staggering.  Now don't get me wrong, I love makeup, it can be fun, and it, at the very least, can give you the appearance of not being ill.  However.  False eyelashes worn during an athletic challenge (or swimming/hot-tubbing) just seems a little ridiculous to me.  Their penciled eyebrows, day-glo teeth, tons of blush and eyeshadow are just.... what the heck?  The one young "lady" who is considered "the girl next door" (I guess, if you live near a brothel....) is shown riding a horse with a lacy type of shirt, and full makeup.  I don't know, I thought "girl next door" meant braids, freckles, and natural beauty.  Granted, this girl is quite attractive, and looks to have mostly natural body parts, but, come on.

Two of the women (both blondes....grrrrrr), who I suppose must be considered attractive (???) are just. Not.  One (and yes, I'm getting the claws out, and I don't care) has a very strange mouth, and I'm presuming it is because she has had lip injections or something of that ilk.  Only the bottom part of her mouth moves when she speaks, and it's always in this frowning sort of way, where the ends never curl up.  It doesn't even look like a snooty, aristocratic thing, it looks almost school-marmish.  Way to go, pretty girl.  She is also under some impression that she is above the "Fans" who have joined the show, that she "deserves" to be there more than they.  Okay.

The other woman has the longest, thinnest nose I have ever seen, perhaps even rivaling Michael Jackson.  I know that I've written posts regarding finding the hidden beauty in all of us,  and that there is something beautiful about every person on this Earth, even if you have to struggle to see it.  I am sure there is something beautiful on this "lady", but the fact that she is so un-pretty in her words and actions, and the fact that she is imagined to be pretty, find me hard-pressed to follow my own admonitions.  I just don't get it, folks.

I understand that these Men and Women do not represent the entire World.  I understand that people want to look at "attractive" humans, and that the drama factor is important.  The girl next door (the original one) is far too boring, and likely doesn't do cartwheels in a dress with her hoohaa hanging out.  No, this isn't the World, but a large number of us watch these shows.

The Men, while mostly being jerks, are at least "natural."  If they are wearing makeup, it's very subtle (and would likely be a little odd if it were applied heavy handedly).  Yes, they all have attractive physiques and attractive features.  It's a result of good genes, and working out at the gym.  It's likely not a result of obvious surgeries and layers of makeup.

I remember Dr. Laura Schlessinger (don't hate) once talking about how, in Nature, it was usually the male of the species who did the attracting.  They had prettier gear (brighter plumage and such), they fought other males, they did special dances in order to get the girl.  It seems that females have taken the mating ritual to newer and false-r heights, and it's actually rather sad that their perceived attractiveness is not about genes, but about alterations and coverups.  They're not going to pass on their big boobs and lips to their offspring.  They will pass on their hawk-hooked noses and flat chests, however.  Of course, this show has nothing to do with producing offspring, I know.  It's about sex, not the perpetuation of the species.

Anyway, I've gone on long enough for today.  I have a ton more to say on related topics, so stay tuned for that.  This one show is fodder for at least ten other posts.  I'm off to clean the barn in my false eyelashes and wedge shoes.  Ciao!

Hope For Humanity

I haven't done my post regarding the whole end of the world with a side of zombie apocalypse yet, but when I do, I'm sure you recognize that it will be mainly about humanity and whether it can withstand the pressures of chaos, starvation, and of course, zombie friends and neighbors.

I was recently listening to a George Carlin spiel and he mentioned something regarding people who think that people are "good," but that it takes a horrible disaster to ever see demonstration of the fact.  I'm sorry to say that I partially agree with that, but, being in a strangely optimistic mood for at least the duration of this post, I'm going to talk about people who are good (there are at least three of you out there, I know it), even while not in the midst of calamity.  Or at least, not zombie apocalypse level of calamity.

The other day I had the great fortune of being in a waiting room for local court proceedings.  It was extremely warm, crowded, and people were generally pi$$ed off.  Traffic violators and various "criminals" all crammed into one small area, with a rather long wait.  A young non-white gentleman came in with an infant carrier (avec infant), and a diaper bag which was thoroughly checked by the policeman (upon which he was advised that "bottles" are not allowed in the courtroom).  When he approached the small waiting area, two, count 'em, TWO men offered their seats for this young man and his infant.  I was completely shocked, and extremely pleased at seeing this.

Here, in the midst of all sorts of baddies (I don't really believe this, of course), there was kindness.  You would think that, in this atmosphere of 128 degree heat with sauna-like conditions, amongst the evil criminals of society, that there would be no sympathy for some not-originally-from-America dude with a baby.  But there was.  I wanted to say, "well that was nice," but settled for smiling at the do-gooders instead.

Two points gained for Humanity!

When I was at the race track over the weekend, there was a lot of not-nice-ness going around.  The lines at the betting booths were not very organized (translation: some people were dumb enough to actually stand in line, like myself, whilst others would just hover in clumps and jump to any open window), and some of the staff were a little less than pleasant (like, when someone butt in front of me, I waited my turn, got to the window and the woman behind the counter was b-tching to her co-workers and then turned to me and said, "I'M CLOSED!").  However, I attempted to follow some sort of civil procedure by standing in line and being patient.

Later that same day, while I was still observing queue etiquette, a nearby hover-er noticed an available window; he went to run over, but then turned to me and said, "you go ahead, you were waiting first."  It's sad that I'm even shocked at such an offer, but, there it is.  I  told him to go ahead, since I was next anyway, and of course was there for another five minutes while 23 other customers were served at the next window, but it was still nice to have one offer of kindness.

So, since it's very easy for me to write about the things which annoy the crap out of me, I thought it only right that I dedicated one post to the three good people I encountered during the past week.  I know that I tend to be a little snarky about most things, and that I should don my rose-colored glasses on more occasions, but alas, I am what I am.  And this blog would be very boring if I wrote about butterflies and cupcakes.  In my opinion at least.

Anyway, to those three gentlemen, I salute you and pay you great homage. And I hope you all win the lottery.  Hopefully your actions will rub off on your fellow humans.   Then perhaps I can do a counter-theme to my "Decline of Humanity" posts.  Hope?