I just read an interesting article on CNN.com by Tara Maller entitled, 10 Reasons a Woman Should Head the CIA. Maller is a former CIA analyst, and I enjoyed her article because she made some great points about why it's important to have women in positions of power. My favorite reason is number 10: "Once a woman is appointed to a top position, it opens the door to others with immense talent. Since President Clinton appointed Madeleine Albright to serve as the first female U.S. secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton followed."
I know we're behind the times, but my husband and I just started watching the first season of Homeland, and we love it. Carrie Mathison, played by Claire Danes, is a CIA agent who suffers from bipolar disorder. I love watching shows that have female lead characters that aren't defined by the men around them. There are too many shows that just use women as props, so I really appreciate television shows that have complex, three-dimensional female characters. My personal favorites: 30 Rock, Parks & Recreation, and New Girl.
Anyway, I'm getting off topic. I highly recommend Tara Maller's article. It's a good reminder of why it's important for women to hold positions of power.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/21/opinion/maller-appoint-woman-cia/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Woman of the Week - Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow is a television host, political commentator, and author. Every week night, she hosts The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. She was the first anchor on a prime-time news show in the United States to be openly gay. Maddow lives in Manhattan with her partner, artist Susan Mikula.
I saw Rachel Maddow on The Colbert Report last week, and I was very impressed with her wit. I'm definitely going to start watching her show. Earlier this year, Maddow released her book, "Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power." In her book, she talks about how, "we've drifted away from America's original ideals and become a nation weirdly at peace with perpetual war." I'm definitely putting her book on my reading list!
PS - I bought my new laptop last week. I chose the least expensive one. Savings!!!
I saw Rachel Maddow on The Colbert Report last week, and I was very impressed with her wit. I'm definitely going to start watching her show. Earlier this year, Maddow released her book, "Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power." In her book, she talks about how, "we've drifted away from America's original ideals and become a nation weirdly at peace with perpetual war." I'm definitely putting her book on my reading list!
PS - I bought my new laptop last week. I chose the least expensive one. Savings!!!
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Woman of the Week - Michelle Obama
I'm so excited that Michelle Obama will be First Lady for four more years!!!
Sorry this is so short. My computer died a slow, painful death last night. It was hard to watch. So I had to post this from work (shhhhhhhhhh!!).
Sorry this is so short. My computer died a slow, painful death last night. It was hard to watch. So I had to post this from work (shhhhhhhhhh!!).
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
October Donation - National Breast Cancer Foundation
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I made my October donation to National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (NBCF). They were founded in 1991 by a breast cancer survivor named Janelle Hail. NBCF continues to grow every year to help more and more women around the world by educating them about breast cancer and providing free mammograms to women in need.
Breast cancer is one of the leading health crises for women in the United States. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. There is currently no known cure for breast cancer, and its early diagnosis is critical to survival. That is why NBCF provides free mammograms to women in all fifty states through their network of hospitals.
NBCF is one of the most recognized and respected breast cancer charities in the world. Since 2003, NBCF has received the highest four-star rating by Charity Navigator, America's premier charity evaluator. Each year, over 80% of their revenue is directed to their life-saving programs, and because of that, NBCF has grown by 20% each year since 2005. I know my small donation of $100 will be used to help with their mission.
Breast cancer is one of the leading health crises for women in the United States. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. There is currently no known cure for breast cancer, and its early diagnosis is critical to survival. That is why NBCF provides free mammograms to women in all fifty states through their network of hospitals.
NBCF is one of the most recognized and respected breast cancer charities in the world. Since 2003, NBCF has received the highest four-star rating by Charity Navigator, America's premier charity evaluator. Each year, over 80% of their revenue is directed to their life-saving programs, and because of that, NBCF has grown by 20% each year since 2005. I know my small donation of $100 will be used to help with their mission.
Woman of the Week - Oprah Winfrey
Everyone loves Oprah, and I'm no exception. She is a fabulous woman, and I have so much respect for her. Oprah Winfrey is the richest African-American of the 20th Century. She is the world's only black billionaire, and she has been called the most influential woman in the world.
Oprah had a difficult childhood. She was raised in poverty by her mother, grandmother, and father at different intervals throughout her childhood. She was molested by family members when she was young, and she came forward with that information on an episode of her show in 1986. It must have been difficult to talk about being sexually abused, but she probably wanted to demonstrate to other women that you can move on and have a happy life even after being molested.
Not only does she have a successful network, she has appeared in several significant movies. Oprah co-starred in The Color Purple as an abused housewife. She also starred in Beloved, a movie adapted from Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize winning novel. Oprah has also co-authored five books. She has accomplished so much in her 58 years. Oprah is a role model for so many women, and I love to watch her live such a graceful life in the spotlight.
Oprah had a difficult childhood. She was raised in poverty by her mother, grandmother, and father at different intervals throughout her childhood. She was molested by family members when she was young, and she came forward with that information on an episode of her show in 1986. It must have been difficult to talk about being sexually abused, but she probably wanted to demonstrate to other women that you can move on and have a happy life even after being molested.
Not only does she have a successful network, she has appeared in several significant movies. Oprah co-starred in The Color Purple as an abused housewife. She also starred in Beloved, a movie adapted from Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize winning novel. Oprah has also co-authored five books. She has accomplished so much in her 58 years. Oprah is a role model for so many women, and I love to watch her live such a graceful life in the spotlight.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Woman of the Week - Anne Lamott
I decided to feature Ann Coulter as woman of the week. Just kidding! Of course I didn't pick Ann Coulter. She's a terrible, terrible person. I chose another Anne who is exponentially better: Anne Lamott. She is an activist and a beautiful writer, and I love her motivation for writing. She said,
"I try to write the books I would love to come upon, that are honest, concerned with real lives, human hearts, spiritual transformation, families, secrets, wonder, craziness-and that can make me laugh. When I am reading a book like this, I feel rich and profoundly relieved to be in the presence of someone who will share the truth with me, and throw the lights on a little, and I try to write these kinds of books. Books, for me, are medicine."
Her writings cover Christianity, single motherhood, depression, and alcoholism. I first heard about Anne Lamott from my lovely cousin, Linda. We had just finished watching the third presidential debate when Linda told me about a post on Facebook by Anne Lamott. I am always happy to find out about strong women, and I am pleased to add her to my list of outstanding people. In her post, Lamott commented on Ann Coulter's awful tweet about President Obama. I won't repeat Coulter's words because they were awful, but I am pleased with Lamott's classy reaction. I am looking forward to reading Ann Lamott's books. Can't wait!
"I try to write the books I would love to come upon, that are honest, concerned with real lives, human hearts, spiritual transformation, families, secrets, wonder, craziness-and that can make me laugh. When I am reading a book like this, I feel rich and profoundly relieved to be in the presence of someone who will share the truth with me, and throw the lights on a little, and I try to write these kinds of books. Books, for me, are medicine."
Her writings cover Christianity, single motherhood, depression, and alcoholism. I first heard about Anne Lamott from my lovely cousin, Linda. We had just finished watching the third presidential debate when Linda told me about a post on Facebook by Anne Lamott. I am always happy to find out about strong women, and I am pleased to add her to my list of outstanding people. In her post, Lamott commented on Ann Coulter's awful tweet about President Obama. I won't repeat Coulter's words because they were awful, but I am pleased with Lamott's classy reaction. I am looking forward to reading Ann Lamott's books. Can't wait!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Woman of the Week - Candy Crowley
Last night, Candy Crowley moderated the presidential debate. She was the first woman in twenty years to do so. I think Crowley did a wonderful job. She was able to effectively get the candidates to stick to their allotted times without cutting them short.
Currently, Crowley is CNN's chief political correspondent, and she is the anchor of the talk show State of the Union with Candy Crowley. She attended Principia College in Elsah, Illinois for two years before transferring to Randolph-Macon Woman's College. I graduated from Principia College, a small, Liberal Arts school for Christian Scientists, and I was excited to hear that Crowley attended as well.
She has had an extremely successful career, which she started as a newsroom assistant at the radio station WASH-FM. She then anchored for Mutual Broadcasting before moving on to CNN in 1987. In February of 2010, she started anchoring the State of the Union talk show. Crowley has a demanding career, but she makes time to live a full personal life. She is a vegetarian, and she practices Transcendental Meditation. I love watching Crowley on CNN, and I hope she continues to thrive. I have a feeling she will.
Currently, Crowley is CNN's chief political correspondent, and she is the anchor of the talk show State of the Union with Candy Crowley. She attended Principia College in Elsah, Illinois for two years before transferring to Randolph-Macon Woman's College. I graduated from Principia College, a small, Liberal Arts school for Christian Scientists, and I was excited to hear that Crowley attended as well.
She has had an extremely successful career, which she started as a newsroom assistant at the radio station WASH-FM. She then anchored for Mutual Broadcasting before moving on to CNN in 1987. In February of 2010, she started anchoring the State of the Union talk show. Crowley has a demanding career, but she makes time to live a full personal life. She is a vegetarian, and she practices Transcendental Meditation. I love watching Crowley on CNN, and I hope she continues to thrive. I have a feeling she will.
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