Teaching Creationism

Haha, here's an unpublished rant I found in my drafts:

Want to teach creationism in schools?

Fine with me. But teach all creation stories. Every single last one, especially Pastafarianism, because they all have the same thing in common, they rely on faith , not any kind of measurable data or scientific truths.


Deal?

Also, while you're talking about education reform, let's talk about Thanksgiving and Christopher Columbus.


Columbus didn't find America. It was here all along, with people living on it. People were living meaningful, good lives long before that evil villain of a human, Columbus, came here.

Want to know about genocide?! You don't have to look outside of U.S. borders.

Oh, Thanksgiving, we were so thankful that we massacred Native Americans in droves, sent many young Native American children to horrible Christian assimilation camps in Canada, drove them off of the only land they ever knew, and forced them to assimilate into a culture where it was damn-near impossible to make honest money doing something they didn't have to throw away their whole culture for. It wasn't just a little moving around an re-locating. It was extermination. Recognize it. Call it what it was.

Want to know what I'm thankful for?! I'm thankful that I have access to education so that I can un-learn all of the nonsense perpetuated by the textbooks of my youth, no doubt handed down by the sadists at the Texas Board of Education. (Also thankful for my family, animals, coffee and friends. Moy awesome)

But, really...

History matters, and how you teach it matters. Stop lying to our kids.

Where to draw the line between art and mass production...

I just watched a documentary via Netflix titled "Exit Through the Gift Shop." It was about street art, and also about the nature of art. After buying a book of Banksy's work while I was still in high school and hanging a poster of several of his locations in my room, I was definitely interested in what I thought was going to be a documentary about art's role in cultural critique.

The documentary was really interesting, though admittedly not what I was expecting at all. Thierry Guetta was the central figure. He was a French guy that live in LA and was obsessed with videotaping everything. Just by chance, he started taping one of his relatives that was Invader. From there he met and started taping Shepard Fairey and others on a pretty obsessive basis. He told them he was taping for a documentary though this wasn't true. Due to the nature of street art, things don't remain permanent, so it's easy to see why videotaping the art and its process had such an appeal. Guetta began pursuing Banksy. Eventually he met him and became one of the few people Banksy trusted with protecting his identity.

After shooting a ton of Banksy work, and seeing the huge response to Banksy's exhibition in London, Banksy asked Guetta to actually put together the documentary he had been saying he was going to do. The commercial success of Banksy's work meant street art as a whole was being commercialized and sold at extremely high prices, and its roots were being forgotten. Guetta took his boxes upon boxes of video tapes and produced this drawn out, heavily edited, unwatchable, almost schizophrenic compilation of some of the footage he had taken of street artists. Guetta seemed to have viewed it as his own creative endeavor rather than a showcase of street art talent.

Upon seeing it, Banksy told him that he should try making his own art. Well, he did. Starting off small, he used the same stark stencil designs and pasting techniques that other artists had. He called himself Mister Brainwash. Using mostly Photoshop and a horde of outside sculptors and designers, Guetta made his own army of artwork. It sounded like everything started off as his ideas, but that he hired outside people to make everything actually happen, which is something I have a problem with. Using all of his money and resources, even refinancing his house and using other more extreme measures, Guetta produced a lot of stuff in a very short amount of time and found a space to showcase his work. He got a promoter, convinced Banksy and Shepard Fairey to endorse his work, and gained a ton of hype overnight. He never took the time to develop as an artist, or pay his dues so to speak. He drove his construction team crazy because he just didn't know much about much. He had no experience with anything, he couldn't make decisions and he seemed to resent listening to people who did know what they were doing. His work sold for outrageous amounts of money. His art show had a huge crowd and was well-received. It made him a millionaire.

So what it art? What makes Guetta different from Banksy or a graphic designer, or some mass-produced snarky silk-screen tee-shirt? Where is the line, if there even is one? As for me, I don't know, but I've never thought of art in this way. I have a problem with anything made with a computer being considered art, but I can't really articulate why. I like Guetta prints as t-shirts, but I don't know if it's art.

The documentary also raised a lot of questions considering how modern technology is changing art. Just today, I read about how Urban Outfitters is stealing designs from indie artists. I could paint or write something, put it up on the internet, and someone on the other side of the world can see it instantly and use it if they want. Copyright exists sometimes, but it gets kind of hazy. Everything gets kind of hazy. Art seems to have this essential primitiveness, but essential elitism built in. But is that putting an emphasis on the process and not the result? It that right? I'm really not sure. I'm not an art student, so I don't know what theories and such are involved in these questions. I'm not even sure if any of this makes sense. But, until this documentary, I never really thought of art in this way.

Oh, I should also mention that some people think that Guetta isn't actually Mister Brainwash, that this whole documentary was furnished by Banksy as some sort of meta critique of the nature of art. I don't know if I believe that or not, though it would make it even more interesting.

But whatever. Just go watch it. It's cool.

Casey Anthony Trial and Hockey Rage

It's been a while since I last updated this, I think it's entirely ridiculous how people are foaming at the mouth about the verdict of the trial. I work at a pizza shop, and at least five people today were STILL talking about the trial. It's still all over the tv.

It's terrible that a little girl died. But, the case against Casey Anthony was not strong. Their entire body of evidence consisted of photos of Anthony partying. No DNA. No fingerprints. Nowhere near enough to put her in jail. The DA was entirely too sure he was going to get a conviction, and he and his team didn't make a strong enough case.

I'm not saying she didn't do it. I have no idea if she did. But our justice system works in a way that you have to prove guilt, not necessarily innocence. That's why we have a trail by jury. They did their job, rightly I think, by deciding that the prosecution didn't prove guilt. If you don't like it, you can go to a country where a fair trial is not a constitutional right. If you were on trial, you would want a jury to do their job too.

Thanks for this, but you're dead to me now.

So, about hockey....

Max is going to by a Flyer. Believe me, it took everything in me to not put the f-bomb in that sentence. I get the whole, "he's a young player, he's still looking to make some money," and even the "Pittsburgh couldn't offer him what he was worth." To that, I still say bullshit. We gave Kennedy and Duper less than they could have gotten elsewhere, but they strayed because they believe in the team, and they love our city. But you turned down a 3-year deal to play with the Flyers for 5 years and 9 million dollars. You weren't too great last season, and you didn't step up like other members of the team to fill the holes left by Geno and Sid. Thanks for helping us get a cup in 2009, but you're dead to me now. Sorry it had to end like this. It feels like a bad breakup.

As for Jagr, he's an idiot. If you want to play games and act like a jag-off, you don't deserve to be a Penguin. Have fun in Filthadelphia with Max. I sincerely hope someone throws nachos on you when we play you at home in December.

And Rupper, I love you. I'm really sad Shero didn't sign you again. I hope NY is good to you, and you deserve all the money you're getting. Also, you're on my list of favorite people ever for many reasons, including this tweet from you:

"3 things will stay true.... 1) I won't like the Miami Heat (LBJ) 2) grown men shouldn't ride scooters 3) I will hit the Mullet,for all fans!"

So, I love you. So much. Have fun in NY.

Alex Ovechkin

Oh hey, guess what....

The Flyers, the Pens and the Caps all have the same number of wins in the second round of playoffs.

....And the Pens didn't even make the second round. Take that, Ovi and Hartnell.


In honor of the Caps getting swept 4-0 by Tampa Bay, here's some of the best videos of Ovechkin falling on his face:










Seriously, I hate Ovi. I hate everything about Ovi...from his missing teeth, to his quarter-machine bling, to his sporadic facial hair, to his general lack of sense, but especially his mountain of an ego.

He's an moron. In one picture, this is why I hate him:




Also, he should probably not have a twitter account. It's clear that English is his second language:

"Thanks u caps fans!we love u!!!you guys kill tonight them!!it was the loudest rink!!!!!!!!!"

"Rock the red!!!!!!!we need u guys tom!see u on the ace!good night..."



I'm really hoping the Bruins take the cup, but I'd be okay with Tampa Bay too. I am so ready for next season. I have two more finals left before I get to go home, and 11 days till I'm 21. I am really happy right now.

BP Oil Spill

It's ridiculous that it took a year for the media to start caring about the lasting effects of the BP oil spill.

Today I, with a group of concerned student, marched to Sheetz then around campus to protest the strangle-hold big oil has on our country and our future. Similar protests were held all over the country today in response to the one year anniversary of the oil spill.

Oil doesn't just go away. It take may years for ecosystems to rebuild after being destroyed by oil.

All those BP commercials are nonsense. People and wildlife are still suffering. We, as a country, need to move away from our oil addiction and demand that our government invests in cost-effective clean and sustainable energy.

Open Letter to Obama

Hey yinz, I've been really busy this past week with homework, helping with the Rally to Save the Budget for IUP, and two programs that Women's Studies Club is hosting this week: a Screening of the Coat Hanger Project and a performance by activist spoken-word poet ANDREA GIBSON!!! I'm excited.

I've tried to stay away from politics for the past couple days, just to keep on track with school and events, so this post is just going to be general....just an open letter I wrote to President Obama:


Dear President Obama,

I'm one of the many college students that you inspired with your promise of change, of government responsibility and transparency. I voted for you, and I remember celebrating as the results came in on election night with an impromptu rally at the center of campus, watching as flags were waived and many students cried because, finally, we had an African-American president.

I was there.

But I was also there, watching and reading the news during the gulf oil spill. I was there when the House of Representatives passed a bill that would put my reproductive choice at stake, taking away money from Planned Parenthood and other very necessary health care clinics. I was there, watching, when Speaker Boehner didn't clap at the repeal of DADT that you rightly mentioned during your State of the Union Address. I was there watching the union battles of Wisconsin. I was there when you promised us along the campaign trail that our soldiers would be out out of Iraq and Afghanistan very soon.

Mr. President, I want change, and I am holding you responsible for your promises. You didn't inspire the masses by running on a platform of "Um, I think we can." It was "Yes, we can." And still, I believe we can dust off "Yes We Can." We need more change, more reform and a more humane and responsible government. I know it's tough to be tough against the tide of partisan politics, where often party lines are more important than the issues. But you need to stand up and do something. I really fear for the direction of the country with the rise of the Tea Party and the Republican-majority House of Representatives.

I still support you. I still think you have a real chance to leave a legacy of hope and humanity in office. But, you need to get tougher. You need to show politicians on both sides of the aisle that you were elected by the people, especially the young people, and your duty is to make sure that they are heard. So, please, don't step down, and earn that Oval Office in the eyes of the American public and the history books. We need you to lead us through these tough economic times, while maintaining the integrity of the nation for the people, for all of the people.

Thank you Mr. President.

Sincerely,
Kelsey Gross

Blaming "Immoral" Behavior for Natural Disasters & Double Standards for Islam

Glenn Beck, in a characteristic act of crazy, decided to blame moral wrongdoing for the tsunami and earthquakes that have recently plagued Japan. God's blaming them for their sins.

Yeah, you just read that right. Japan, and the world's failure to follow the 10 commandments (which Glenny calls the "10 rules of thumb," clearly without researching the fact that "rule of thumb" is a phrase from the 19th c. that refers to the law that a husband wasn't allowed to beat his wife with something wider than his thumb) have caused earthquakes and a tsunami in Japan. Apparently Glenny never learned about plate tectonics. Or forming logical arguments. He said:

"What God does is God's business, but I'll tell you this...there's a message being sent. And that is, 'Hey you know that stuff we're doing? Not really working out real well. Maybe we should stop doing some of it.' I'm just saying."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/03/14/2011-03-14_glenn_beck_japan_earthquake_could_be_message_from_god_to_follow_the_ten_commandm.html#ixzz1GoA5hUdd

He's not the only one spewing this type of garbage. In 2010 his bff Rush Limbaugh blamed the passing of Obama's health care plan for the volcanic eruption in Iceland that resulted in ash wreaking havoc on Europe.

It's not just Fox "News" either. Televangelists Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson famously blamed the terrorist attacks of 9/11 on God's rage brought on by several different groups of people:



So feminists, "abortionists," homosexuals, the ACLU and pagans are to blame? Glad we got that cleared up....and I thought it was the airplanes manned by terrorists that hit the towers, and government people not taking the threats from al-Qaeda seriously. How dumb of me.

Ridiculous.

And that wasn't all from Robertson. He also claimed that Hurricane Katrina was caused by legalized abortion, and that the tragedy in Haiti was caused by the Haitian people's "pact with the devil."

This guy still works with the 700 Club show that is perpetually spamming my TV. He was even a Republican nominee for president in 1988. He still campaigns for Conservative Republican candidates today. Separation of Church and State my ass.

But, anyway...

This staggering display of fear mongering, and manipulating religion for control, is almost a right of passage for Fox "News" personalities. You guys have more in common with the Westboro Baptist Church than you'd like to admit. Their line for picketing the funerals of soldiers and others, famously, is that God is angry with America, and so He's allowing people to die in Iraq and Afghanistan. Beck's line is that God is angry that the world isn't following the 10 commandments, so He's allowing people to die in Japan. The only difference is that Beck is picking on people from another country, rather than those from our own.

It's ridiculous to support him but condemn the Westboro Baptist Church. It's also unfair to judge Islam by its extremists, but not do the same to Christianity. It's unfair to only call terrorists, "terrorists," when they believe in a different man in the sky then you do.

Just to call some more attention to this, here's a little something from Twitter (I'm KGrizzle):

TPO_Hisself : Qur'an (3:151) - "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah"

KGrizzle: @TPO_Hisself Deuteronomy 2:25 basically says the same thing. about 23 hours ago via web in reply to TPO_Hisself

He didn't respond to me. The text I talk about, from Deuteronomy 2:25 in the Bible, says:

"This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you."

How is that any different from what he quoted from the Qur'an? I just don't get it.

Sorry to go off on a religious tangent, but I feel like some things just need to be said. No religion is better than any other. No one can prove their "rightness," because that's the nature of faith. But I don't really want to get into religion here too deeply. Just do whatever you will do and I will tell about it. Oh, I do love Sharon Olds.

Edit 3/18/11: I got a comment on Facebook defending Glenn Beck:

"Kelsey, what Glenn Beck is refering to is Revelations. That fire and brimstone will rain down on us for all the immoral things that are happening. He's using it as an example. More natural dissasters are happening and they are getting worse and worse.We all know that shifting plates cause earthquakes literally, but he's talking figurativley."

My response:

"It didn't sound very figurative to me. I think it's very misguided to manipulate the suffering of a nation for religious purposes, good or bad, figurative or not. Even if we were all "good Christians" earthquakes would happen because the earth shifts. Natural disasters are not necessarily getting worse, but they are getting more frequent, and scientists are looking at natural causes for it. They seem worse because coastal cities are the most densely populated, so when there is a disaster, it causes a lot more damage. I think what Glenn Beck's doing is dangerous. There should be an emphasis on better building codes, maintaining natural barriers, etc, not fire and brimstone. Didn't God say he helps those that help themselves?"

If they comment back, I'll post it.

Edit 3/18/11: There were some more comments:

Different person from the first: "Kelsey let it go people can thing and say what feel be a duck let it roll off your back."

Me: "I would...except that people are listening to this maniac and believing him. There are people that would elect him to office. There are segments of this country that take his word as law, as infallible. That's terrifying, so I'm saying what I feel. He can say whatever wants, but I'm going to criticize it when necessary."

Response: "The people listen too think the same way"

I'm not really sure what the last response from them was supposed to mean, but if I figure it out, I'll let you know. Someone also "liked" the first pro-Beck comment that I got, though I think it was one of their friends.


Comments please!!!