Thursday, September 06, 2007
KC's own are ignorant of KC culture
I am amazed by the amount of Kansas City people who list "travelling" as their number one interest on social networks such as MySpace. Metropolitan Kansas City has such a diverse community of backgrounds, yet people are afraid and ignorant of the cultures that actually LIVE within 20 minutes of their homes. Instead, they travel to latin places such as Mexico and Brazil and talk of the language barrier and how they wanted to hang out in places where the "locals" hang out. Do I see these same people anywhere near the fantastic Southwest Boulevard dining in? Never. Get to know the people in your own community, people!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Land/water vehicle
It is about time that we invent a new land/water vehicle. You should be able to drive this thing on the highways at the suggested speed, as well as drive it into the water--more like the OCEAN--so that you can travel easily across oceans to other continents. I don't care if it is submarine or an above-water seacraft. Whatever this vehicle becomes, we need this soon so that I can get a-travellin'.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Response to TonysKansasCity post on cheerleading
My response to a post on Tony's Kansas City regarding Chiefs Cheerleaders:
"Because I am a fellow blogger since 2004 and a former Chiefs Cheerleader of three years, I may be able to lend a little light to this situation. At first glance, the professional cheerleading world and the TKC blog clash dramatically. I find that perhaps it is mostly a difference of expression, meaning that a professional cheerleader must express a certain high-level group mentality in order to be successful whereas a blogger must be individualistic in expression to be original. Let me explain:
"Professional cheerleaders are often not given the respect they deserve for several reasons, with one of the biggest reasons being that the cheerleaders are so highly skilled at performance, communication and community involvement that they make this most physically and mentally strenuous and challenging opportunity appear effortless. In fact, on top of dance ability, attitude, communication, awareness, marketability, leadership and so many other qualities that a young woman must possess to be selected for the squad, the cheerleaders are trained to be highly disciplined and polished so much so that the ladies strive for, in a sense, perfection. After all, to be on a professional cheerleading squad, not only do you have to memorize hours and hours of material, you have to be aware of 35 other women's actions on and off the field. You must be on top of your game and ensure that the other 35 women are on top of their game as well to be successful as a group. This requires constant verbal and nonverbal communication between the staff and the cheerleaders, and I can guarantee you that if there is any sort of slacking on a cheerleader's part that the behavior will not be tolerated and the cheerleader would most likely be released from her high-profile cheerleadering contract. Afterall, I'm sure you have heard that you are only as strong as your weakest member. The strength in the Chiefs Cheerleader organization lies in the ability to harness individualistic expression in such a way that they can quickly tailor it to meet the group's performance needs. I will suggest that it is reminiscent to the likes of an airshow. The precision and timing that it takes for a pilot to perform in an airshow are so crucial that any slack in performance would be detrimental to an organization's reputation, commerce, and overall health.
"Now, being that I learned so much about group expression through Chiefs Cheerleading prior to becoming a blogger, I must admit that I struggled initially in finding my own voice as a blogger. Now that I'm thinking about it, I feel that my group training is in closer comparison to that of the military mentality than that of any other organization. Even though I have not been a cheerleader for the Chiefs in the last several years, I know that some people still view me as such and that my words and actions may be associated with them fairly or unfairly. Fortunately, however, I am also a strong believer in personal expression as a means to finding who you are and your place in this world. I have taught myself not to rely on cheerleading as my identity, just as being a blogger is not my identity, but to use these tools as a means to discovering my identity.Tony's Kansas City is the blog of blogs in this town and is successful for many reasons, including but not limited to your voice, but also your inclusiveness of other bloggers' material. Personal opinion, especially controversal and unpolitically correct opinion attracts attention and can be entertaining. At first glance, your inclusion of buxom beauties into your non-buxom beauty commentary could lead a first-time reader to think correctly or incorrectly that you objectify women. Now, for the people who read your blog regularly, they should know that you appreciate a woman's inner and outer beauty and long-term relationships (because of your relationship with Sheri), and that you also try (notice that I notice you try, with try being the key word!) to relate your buxom pictures to the description of your content. To a Chiefs Cheerleader this can come across as being appalling because of some of the comments made to them by drunk, immature and unintelligent men who don't have the mental capacity to acknowledge the cheerleader's work for what it truly is. A cheerleader's work is just as technical as that of a so-called blue-collar worker polished in such a way to that of a so-called white-collar worker's standards. If any male has ever felt negatively underappreciated from women because of his job, then he should know that at least he can make a living off of it, whereas the professional cheerleader chooses to do this because of reasons other than money. You could make an argument/paradox here as to who the sell-out really is-- a man who hates his job but does it for the money or a woman who loves her job, makes little money yet finds opportunities for personal growth in what she's doing.
"Keep up the good work, Tony, and know that cheerleaders bring a certain light to this world that everyone can use. Afterall, our friends, teachers, and families are the ultimate cheerleaders that have pushed us all to where we are today."
"Because I am a fellow blogger since 2004 and a former Chiefs Cheerleader of three years, I may be able to lend a little light to this situation. At first glance, the professional cheerleading world and the TKC blog clash dramatically. I find that perhaps it is mostly a difference of expression, meaning that a professional cheerleader must express a certain high-level group mentality in order to be successful whereas a blogger must be individualistic in expression to be original. Let me explain:
"Professional cheerleaders are often not given the respect they deserve for several reasons, with one of the biggest reasons being that the cheerleaders are so highly skilled at performance, communication and community involvement that they make this most physically and mentally strenuous and challenging opportunity appear effortless. In fact, on top of dance ability, attitude, communication, awareness, marketability, leadership and so many other qualities that a young woman must possess to be selected for the squad, the cheerleaders are trained to be highly disciplined and polished so much so that the ladies strive for, in a sense, perfection. After all, to be on a professional cheerleading squad, not only do you have to memorize hours and hours of material, you have to be aware of 35 other women's actions on and off the field. You must be on top of your game and ensure that the other 35 women are on top of their game as well to be successful as a group. This requires constant verbal and nonverbal communication between the staff and the cheerleaders, and I can guarantee you that if there is any sort of slacking on a cheerleader's part that the behavior will not be tolerated and the cheerleader would most likely be released from her high-profile cheerleadering contract. Afterall, I'm sure you have heard that you are only as strong as your weakest member. The strength in the Chiefs Cheerleader organization lies in the ability to harness individualistic expression in such a way that they can quickly tailor it to meet the group's performance needs. I will suggest that it is reminiscent to the likes of an airshow. The precision and timing that it takes for a pilot to perform in an airshow are so crucial that any slack in performance would be detrimental to an organization's reputation, commerce, and overall health.
"Now, being that I learned so much about group expression through Chiefs Cheerleading prior to becoming a blogger, I must admit that I struggled initially in finding my own voice as a blogger. Now that I'm thinking about it, I feel that my group training is in closer comparison to that of the military mentality than that of any other organization. Even though I have not been a cheerleader for the Chiefs in the last several years, I know that some people still view me as such and that my words and actions may be associated with them fairly or unfairly. Fortunately, however, I am also a strong believer in personal expression as a means to finding who you are and your place in this world. I have taught myself not to rely on cheerleading as my identity, just as being a blogger is not my identity, but to use these tools as a means to discovering my identity.Tony's Kansas City is the blog of blogs in this town and is successful for many reasons, including but not limited to your voice, but also your inclusiveness of other bloggers' material. Personal opinion, especially controversal and unpolitically correct opinion attracts attention and can be entertaining. At first glance, your inclusion of buxom beauties into your non-buxom beauty commentary could lead a first-time reader to think correctly or incorrectly that you objectify women. Now, for the people who read your blog regularly, they should know that you appreciate a woman's inner and outer beauty and long-term relationships (because of your relationship with Sheri), and that you also try (notice that I notice you try, with try being the key word!) to relate your buxom pictures to the description of your content. To a Chiefs Cheerleader this can come across as being appalling because of some of the comments made to them by drunk, immature and unintelligent men who don't have the mental capacity to acknowledge the cheerleader's work for what it truly is. A cheerleader's work is just as technical as that of a so-called blue-collar worker polished in such a way to that of a so-called white-collar worker's standards. If any male has ever felt negatively underappreciated from women because of his job, then he should know that at least he can make a living off of it, whereas the professional cheerleader chooses to do this because of reasons other than money. You could make an argument/paradox here as to who the sell-out really is-- a man who hates his job but does it for the money or a woman who loves her job, makes little money yet finds opportunities for personal growth in what she's doing.
"Keep up the good work, Tony, and know that cheerleaders bring a certain light to this world that everyone can use. Afterall, our friends, teachers, and families are the ultimate cheerleaders that have pushed us all to where we are today."
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Begin at the end
If you ever significantly go backwards in life, you might as well start from the end and work your way back to the beginning. Consider your current circumstances death (the end) and work toward youth (beginning).
Update: As of April 23, 2007, I have decided to switch course. I'm at youth and have my life to live!
Update: As of April 23, 2007, I have decided to switch course. I'm at youth and have my life to live!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Blend the stereotyping in elections
It is interesting for me to hear that the KC Mayoral election is between two candidates who come from different racially different backgrounds. What this tells me is that the people who are voting in this election are stereotyping their candidates. Surely our citizens are much more intelligent than that, I know they are. For example, if I had to choose a type of dog to represent my interests, I'd have to choose a well-bred mutt. The reason being is that appearances can be deceiving. Here's my point:
I am a dark-blonde, blue-eyed, young woman (Conservative).
Who sometimes bleaches my hair (Liberal).
Who wants to date a classy, fun, handsome, intelligent gentleman (Conservative).
But who typically finds conversation easier with Top Gun outside of the Barnes and Noble at the Country Club Plaza (Liberal, and to clarify, I said conversation, people).
Who listens to both sides constructively before diplomatically responding (Conservative).
And enjoys a witty argument, perhaps even with a joke (Liberal).
Who is known to take the opposing side, not for argument's sake, but for opening other's minds (Liberal).
Who wants to live in a fantastically posh mansion larger than yours (Conservative, or Liberal if you watch MTV Cribs).
But has spent the majority of my 29 years in Wyandotte County (Liberal).
Who wants to go to a highly expensive top-rated college to obtain an MBA (Conservative or Liberal, depending)
But instead started out at a community college to save money despite being at the top of my high school class (Liberal).
Who plans to start several businesses and build an empire, complete with a magazine (Conservative).
Yet has proved through my extensive list of volunteer activities and roles that some things are more important than money (Liberal).
Who at certain times in my life have been well-respected by authority (Conservative).
But has also been psychological and physically beaten up by those in power (Liberal).
Who wants to be rich beyond belief (Conservative).
And has found more riches than I could have ever imagined by being poor (Liberal).
Basically, what I'm wanting to say is that I am both Democratic and Republican, as I believe others to be. The State Line in Kansas City needs to be erased, as with the line between who is Democratic and Republican. What needs to happen is that we need to teach Democrats the positives of becoming Republican, and the Republicans the positives of becoming Democrats. For I believe a person who is both Republican and Democrat is stronger and can more easily make an educated decision. Balance, people, balance. Find the common ground and build on those similarities first to find strength.
I am a dark-blonde, blue-eyed, young woman (Conservative).
Who sometimes bleaches my hair (Liberal).
Who wants to date a classy, fun, handsome, intelligent gentleman (Conservative).
But who typically finds conversation easier with Top Gun outside of the Barnes and Noble at the Country Club Plaza (Liberal, and to clarify, I said conversation, people).
Who listens to both sides constructively before diplomatically responding (Conservative).
And enjoys a witty argument, perhaps even with a joke (Liberal).
Who is known to take the opposing side, not for argument's sake, but for opening other's minds (Liberal).
Who wants to live in a fantastically posh mansion larger than yours (Conservative, or Liberal if you watch MTV Cribs).
But has spent the majority of my 29 years in Wyandotte County (Liberal).
Who wants to go to a highly expensive top-rated college to obtain an MBA (Conservative or Liberal, depending)
But instead started out at a community college to save money despite being at the top of my high school class (Liberal).
Who plans to start several businesses and build an empire, complete with a magazine (Conservative).
Yet has proved through my extensive list of volunteer activities and roles that some things are more important than money (Liberal).
Who at certain times in my life have been well-respected by authority (Conservative).
But has also been psychological and physically beaten up by those in power (Liberal).
Who wants to be rich beyond belief (Conservative).
And has found more riches than I could have ever imagined by being poor (Liberal).
Basically, what I'm wanting to say is that I am both Democratic and Republican, as I believe others to be. The State Line in Kansas City needs to be erased, as with the line between who is Democratic and Republican. What needs to happen is that we need to teach Democrats the positives of becoming Republican, and the Republicans the positives of becoming Democrats. For I believe a person who is both Republican and Democrat is stronger and can more easily make an educated decision. Balance, people, balance. Find the common ground and build on those similarities first to find strength.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Not impressed
I'm not here to impress anybody, and if that surprisingly impresses somebody, and I am surprisingly impressed by their surprise, then perhaps that somebody is worthy of my conversation. This is not in reference to this blog, though it is good supplemental information.
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