Sarah Speelman's blog

    When most people in our modern society think about beauty what is it that pops into their heads? Is it mountains, waterfalls and vast meadows full of buttercups? No. When society thinks of beauty, they think of women, for the most part. Not just ordinary women, mind you, but the ones we see in movies and magazines. The women like Kate Beckensdale who are so frighteningly thin that you could break them in half with the flick of a wrist. This is what beauty has become in our society. Personally, it scares me. When the standard of beauty is so outrageous, only two things come of it; eating disorders and obesity. Some girls will actually be able to reach this morbid goal of thinness by starving themselves, while the ones who can not will get depressed and turn to food to comfort them, causing obesity. Now I know I am talking in extremes here, but is this not a problem?  Read More »

    I was listening to my beloved Yellow Submariene soundtrack today on my way to work and got to thinking as I listened to these songs; "what a wonderful message this album and movie is for today's society." Seriously, we need things like this in our crazy, war-ridden world. We're dying for it. Almost litterally.
    For those of you who haven't seen it, basically Pepperland, a land of beauty, harmony, and love is being destroyed by the evil Blue Meanies. Fred, a Pepperland inhabitant goes to find the legendary Lonely Heart's Club Band who alone can defeat the Meanies. Well, he finds The Beatles and enlists their help to save Pepperland. In the end the Meanies aren't what you would call "defeated" they are instead enchanted by the music of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band and everyone learns to get along and love one another.  Read More »

    Not really. But I thought that would be a catchy title. For those of you who haven't seen it, the GOP released a little "commercial" of sorts urging people to vote on November 7th. Now encouraging voters is an admirable thing, but it's everything that comes before that in the video that bothers me.
    If you haven't seen it you can watch it here: http://www.gop.com/MultiMedia/MediaPlayer.aspx?Id=1136  Read More »

    Today when I was tuning into my favorite corporate, syndicated news channel, MSNBC I happened to catch a story about a GOP candidate from Orange County California Tan Nguyen. Apparently there was a letter sent out to the Hispanic-American residents of Orange County from Nguyen's campaign that says: "You are advised that if your residence in this country is illegal or you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time."  Read More »

    So back in 2004 during the Presidential elections I remember having heated debates with my cousin about who to vote for. You see, my cousin is a fundamentalist Christian, I'm a Deist, which is completely different. I was going to vote for Kerry because, come on, freaking Bush? Yeah, no thank you. during our argument there was really only one issue discussed, abortion.
    Now it wasn't the fact that she didn't agree with abortion that bothered me. It was the terrifying discovery that the one and only reason she was voting for Bush was because of the abortion issue. Many other people I am aquainted with also chose their presidential candidate over this one, insignificant issue. It's pointless! Abortion is not going to be illegal again, that would be ridiculous to even attempt. Women have the right to choice, and it's safer to have abortion legal than to have it illegal and find dead, pregnate 15 year olds in make-shift abortion clinics all the time. So why would you base such a very, very important decision on things so insignificant?  Read More »

    So I guess this post is really nerdy. But it's about the novel by George Eliot, Daniel Deronda. I've been reading it for one of my classes, and I absolutely adore it. My professor often says that there are two catagories of people who read the novel, those who like Gwendolyn, and those who prefer Daniel. Or at least their respective storylines. Now, I like both of these characters, but I do admit the outcome of the novel was somewhat depressing for me. You see I was hoping that Gwen and Dan would finally get together in the end, as both of them obviously want to do. Yet Daniel chooses Mirah.  Read More »

    I would probably be the last person to say that I'm 100% ok with North Korea having nuclear weapons. I mean, the guy with his finger on the button kidnapped his favorite movie director and actress and basically held them hostage in his palace for a while. Yeah...little crazy. Just a little. At the same time though, I think it's ridiculous for all the other nations to go around condemning them for having nuclear capability. We all have nukes too! Especially our dear old United States. We have way more nukes than anyone else in the World! So it seems to me that we don't have the right to tell other people they can't have them. Unless of course we want to get rid of ours. I would be more than happy with that, and then I would have no problem telling other countries they can't have them either. Honestly, I'm not really comfortable with the guy we've got holding his finger menacingly over the doomsday button. Especially when he's so fundamentally religious. Who knows, tomorrow "god" may "tell" George W. that bombing the crap out of Russia is the "right" thing to do. Then, my friends, we are litterally and figuretively "done for". Because G. Dub's first priority is to the Chirstian God almighty who hasn't been very tolerant as of late...strange.  Read More »

    I think the most frustrating conversation I have ever had with my parents is the one I have with them almost every time I talk to them. That little chat is about religion. Talking to my firmly "Non-denominational" Christian parents about God is a million times more nerve racking than the time I told my mom I wasn't a virgin anymore. Which, believe me, was a very akward, emotional conversation. I was able to deal with it, and she didn't get angry at me. That is a lot more than I can say about the God talks.  Read More »