the bank bar in wilsall montana...
thunderjack...this photo is hanging in the bank bar as a matter of fact
and on our way home.....
Friday, October 9, 2009
montana
we don't call it the treasure state for nothin...here's a few of my faves from the wilsall rodeo a few years back....
the bank bar in wilsall montana...
thunderjack...this photo is hanging in the bank bar as a matter of fact
and on our way home.....
the bank bar in wilsall montana...
thunderjack...this photo is hanging in the bank bar as a matter of fact
and on our way home.....
Thursday, October 8, 2009
old man winter
i woke up this morning to my downstairs neighbor wailing on the piano to some bluesy jazzy funkiness. she plays piano for the msu orchestra. its much nicer to wake up to her playing then that annoying phone alarm of mine. i have the alarm sound set as 'morning,' which is very misleading. it sounds like a goose honk and a harp competing for the spotlight. anyways, yeah, i should change that.
sunny and lightly snowing today. there is something magical about the illumination of old man winter. such a controversial man. he hears moans and is scoffed at by most, adored by others. this is my first year that i am happy to see him. i especially like it when the old man dances with the sun. it would be hard to resist the sun as a dance partner, really.
okay, speaking of pairs, its me and and my yellowstone coffee this morning. my sex and gender class has a nice chunk of interesting topics... and i just so happen to have an exam today. so... i hope that there is some illumination onto those cobwebby crevices of our minds this morning as well.
biology of gender related behavior. rawr.
biological theories of sex differences identify genes and hormones, as well as the structure and function of the brain, as the causes of observed differences in physical appearance, cognition, behavior, and even gender roles. textbook.
one can contribute these attributions mostly to environment, however. stupid statistics say that....20-48% of the differences in masculinity/feminity can be explained by genes (biology)(nature). while 52-80% of differences can be explained by the enviornoment (nurture). so it could be that genes are a determining predecessor that is exemplified by the people, objects, places, and events we surround ourselves with.
i just wanted to point out that sinead o connor is singing 'No Mans Woman' in the background. thats good stuff.
okay, hormones. chemicals produced by the endocrine system that circulate throughout our bodies. two of particualr interest (sex-related) are androgens and estrogens.
androgens. male sex hormones. like testosterone. women can also have androgens, but in different amounts. it is predominantly a male hormone. hormones can run a gamut of authority over human beings. behavior, immune system, brain, overall health. if not captain of the ship, i would say co-captain...maybe deck hand. :)
some androgen abnormalities include CAH. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. this occurs during prenatal development. its a genetic disorder where high amounts of androgen are exposed to baby in womb. These babies are born with female genitalia. cognitively, there have been studies done to experiment with these girls as far as their spatial abilities. to determine if the hormone is linked somehow to increased ability. no go. socially, these girls demonstrated healthy attitudes. They participated, however, in more physically demanding activities then girls without CAH. suggesting that that the increased androgen may play a part.
androgen insensitivity syndrome. CAIS. People with CAIS are genetically male (XY). People with CAIS have an insensitivity to androgen, which is a masculinizing hormone. therefore, they are born with female genitalia. wow! typically reared as females. There hasn't been a difference found concerning traits, behaviors, personalites...
estrogens are the female sex hormone. not quite as interesting. and not on my test.
okay, thats gonna do it for today. i don't want this blog entry to look like a study sheet. tiene un buen dia todos!
sunny and lightly snowing today. there is something magical about the illumination of old man winter. such a controversial man. he hears moans and is scoffed at by most, adored by others. this is my first year that i am happy to see him. i especially like it when the old man dances with the sun. it would be hard to resist the sun as a dance partner, really.
okay, speaking of pairs, its me and and my yellowstone coffee this morning. my sex and gender class has a nice chunk of interesting topics... and i just so happen to have an exam today. so... i hope that there is some illumination onto those cobwebby crevices of our minds this morning as well.
biology of gender related behavior. rawr.
biological theories of sex differences identify genes and hormones, as well as the structure and function of the brain, as the causes of observed differences in physical appearance, cognition, behavior, and even gender roles. textbook.
one can contribute these attributions mostly to environment, however. stupid statistics say that....20-48% of the differences in masculinity/feminity can be explained by genes (biology)(nature). while 52-80% of differences can be explained by the enviornoment (nurture). so it could be that genes are a determining predecessor that is exemplified by the people, objects, places, and events we surround ourselves with.
i just wanted to point out that sinead o connor is singing 'No Mans Woman' in the background. thats good stuff.
okay, hormones. chemicals produced by the endocrine system that circulate throughout our bodies. two of particualr interest (sex-related) are androgens and estrogens.
androgens. male sex hormones. like testosterone. women can also have androgens, but in different amounts. it is predominantly a male hormone. hormones can run a gamut of authority over human beings. behavior, immune system, brain, overall health. if not captain of the ship, i would say co-captain...maybe deck hand. :)
some androgen abnormalities include CAH. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. this occurs during prenatal development. its a genetic disorder where high amounts of androgen are exposed to baby in womb. These babies are born with female genitalia. cognitively, there have been studies done to experiment with these girls as far as their spatial abilities. to determine if the hormone is linked somehow to increased ability. no go. socially, these girls demonstrated healthy attitudes. They participated, however, in more physically demanding activities then girls without CAH. suggesting that that the increased androgen may play a part.
androgen insensitivity syndrome. CAIS. People with CAIS are genetically male (XY). People with CAIS have an insensitivity to androgen, which is a masculinizing hormone. therefore, they are born with female genitalia. wow! typically reared as females. There hasn't been a difference found concerning traits, behaviors, personalites...
estrogens are the female sex hormone. not quite as interesting. and not on my test.
okay, thats gonna do it for today. i don't want this blog entry to look like a study sheet. tiene un buen dia todos!
Monday, October 5, 2009
sissies and tomboys
winding down for the evening. salmon searing in the kitchen, eleuthero infused herbal tea taming my tension. a nice time of night, to say the least. i was thinking..... my last few entries, in a sense, have been a playhouse for figurative speech, metaphors and synechdotes wrestling in good rapport. for tonight, and for a few nights to follow... i am just gonna write a bit about different topics of interest that i am either studying in school, or tapping into on my own time.
gender roles.
roll that around in your brain for a second. sounds harmless. its not the kind of term that bites hard, it will just throw a collar around your neck and lead you down a road of ambiguity. so, harmless? maybe not the right word. i would say that gender roles.... have the potential of inhibiting true self. society's influence on the biologically based categories of male and female is the textbook definition. we, as a westernized culture, have been taught that males should exude masculinity. traits such as self-confidence, behaviors such as aggression, and interests such as sports have been assigned to the male gender role. females should exude femininity. we have been assigned gender traits such as compassion, behaviors such as nurturing, and interests such as cooking.
i dont buy into statistical significance. my opinions resonate with, what is known in gender debated psychology, as constructionalism. where facts about gender don't exist. these facts are merely interpretations of many many many viewpoints. many biased tainted studies. the world can't be viewed objectively. there is always opinions, experiences, behaviors, biases, gradations of every emotion concievable to tweak statistics. in addition, there is the force of society on the individual that has the capacity to distort every imaginable response, and therefore blowing statistics cover.
okay, so i don't doubt the inkling of validity in studies. and there IS the probability accounted for in human error and variability...yadda yadda. significant studies turn my head and may tweak MY interest...but as far as being consumed, living and breathing numbers, and being a stat snob...is redonkulous.
there should be no tiptoeing around lines. following of designated paths. or assuming a gender role, just because our culture tells us that it is appropriate.
in tahiti, men and women share responsiblities of all types. women and men have the same status and share equal opportunities. there is no pressure on men and women to behave differently or to abide by traditional gender roles. theres no machisimo. there isn't even a tahitian word for gender. there is no female or male pronouns. aaaaand, they get along like peas and carrots.... as far as i know. interestingly enough, there is no war, hunting, little aggression....nothing for "men to defend." no basis for masculinity to have evolved.
i have met some very effiminate straight as an arrow men. i have met some burly ass heterosexual women. it is what it is. let it be what it is. hold the judgements please. and thankyou.
hormones play a role. androgen. testosterone. estrogen. etc. i am not going there tonight.
so, in the end, for the sake of, oh lets say equality...and for the light of the spirit... understand the individual, male or female, for who they are. jettison norms and expectations. i feel that there is an interminable amount of pressure that is accomponied by various expectations. these expectations are chomping at the bit to sit on your shoulders and get fatter and fatter by the bullshit that society feeds it. and before you know it, you have additional weight, additional stress, additional society fed bullshit weighing you down. aka gender role strain.
accepting assigned roles, in gender and in life, is essentially a sign up sheet for wing clipping. yikes. no thanks.
gender roles.
roll that around in your brain for a second. sounds harmless. its not the kind of term that bites hard, it will just throw a collar around your neck and lead you down a road of ambiguity. so, harmless? maybe not the right word. i would say that gender roles.... have the potential of inhibiting true self. society's influence on the biologically based categories of male and female is the textbook definition. we, as a westernized culture, have been taught that males should exude masculinity. traits such as self-confidence, behaviors such as aggression, and interests such as sports have been assigned to the male gender role. females should exude femininity. we have been assigned gender traits such as compassion, behaviors such as nurturing, and interests such as cooking.
i dont buy into statistical significance. my opinions resonate with, what is known in gender debated psychology, as constructionalism. where facts about gender don't exist. these facts are merely interpretations of many many many viewpoints. many biased tainted studies. the world can't be viewed objectively. there is always opinions, experiences, behaviors, biases, gradations of every emotion concievable to tweak statistics. in addition, there is the force of society on the individual that has the capacity to distort every imaginable response, and therefore blowing statistics cover.
okay, so i don't doubt the inkling of validity in studies. and there IS the probability accounted for in human error and variability...yadda yadda. significant studies turn my head and may tweak MY interest...but as far as being consumed, living and breathing numbers, and being a stat snob...is redonkulous.
there should be no tiptoeing around lines. following of designated paths. or assuming a gender role, just because our culture tells us that it is appropriate.
in tahiti, men and women share responsiblities of all types. women and men have the same status and share equal opportunities. there is no pressure on men and women to behave differently or to abide by traditional gender roles. theres no machisimo. there isn't even a tahitian word for gender. there is no female or male pronouns. aaaaand, they get along like peas and carrots.... as far as i know. interestingly enough, there is no war, hunting, little aggression....nothing for "men to defend." no basis for masculinity to have evolved.
i have met some very effiminate straight as an arrow men. i have met some burly ass heterosexual women. it is what it is. let it be what it is. hold the judgements please. and thankyou.
hormones play a role. androgen. testosterone. estrogen. etc. i am not going there tonight.
so, in the end, for the sake of, oh lets say equality...and for the light of the spirit... understand the individual, male or female, for who they are. jettison norms and expectations. i feel that there is an interminable amount of pressure that is accomponied by various expectations. these expectations are chomping at the bit to sit on your shoulders and get fatter and fatter by the bullshit that society feeds it. and before you know it, you have additional weight, additional stress, additional society fed bullshit weighing you down. aka gender role strain.
accepting assigned roles, in gender and in life, is essentially a sign up sheet for wing clipping. yikes. no thanks.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
fairytale morning
the morning sun streams through my stained glass windows, illuminating my morning hair doo, which happens to resemble that of the woman busdriver off of south park. it is going to be beautiful today, from the deciduous trees painting nuances of the rainbow all over town to the frisky fall scarves, hats, and jackets that are freshly adorned. The sweet tonic that makes up bozeman air is an irresistable elixir this morning...coupled with the young mornings sugary chirps...makes me feel truly blessed to live here.
Friday, October 2, 2009
some peas and quiet
decided to lay low this friday evening. its been a pressing week and i finally have some time for myself. presently, rosemary flavored tofu is sizzling on my stovetop with a bounty full of colorful vegetables ready to join the mix. last year, i happened across a rice cooker, in one of those "free boxes" on the side of the road. brand new... so introduced my cooker to some long grain brown rice.... i am hoping they hit it off. happy to be.
Monday, September 21, 2009
http://www.youtube.com /watch?v=Wg2Y0jUq-Lw
Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you, Julia.
Julia, Julia, oceanchild, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
Julia, seashell eyes, windy smile, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia.
Her hair of floating sky is shimmering, glimmering
In the sun
Julia, Julia, morning moon, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia.
When I cannot speak my heart
I can only speak my mind, Julia.
Julia, sleeping sand, silent cloud, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia.
Hum hum hum hum...calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia, Julia, Julia.
Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you, Julia.
Julia, Julia, oceanchild, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
Julia, seashell eyes, windy smile, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia.
Her hair of floating sky is shimmering, glimmering
In the sun
Julia, Julia, morning moon, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia.
When I cannot speak my heart
I can only speak my mind, Julia.
Julia, sleeping sand, silent cloud, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia.
Hum hum hum hum...calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia, Julia, Julia.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
