Despite more than 30 years of getting to know the female persuasion, the different aspects that develop constantly amaze me.
Take magazines. I subscribe to three different mags -- one for my health and fitness, one for the latest trends and one for toys.
On the cover of my health publication, it talks about articles that will grow muscle fast, the best abs exercise, 139 quick health fixes and how to look better than ever. There is one mention of how to find her hottest spots.
My trendy magazine talks about the clothing I should be wearing, protecting my identity, how to get ahead at work and ten blue-ribbon bourbons from the Bluegrass State.
My toys magazine -- well, we'll just skip by that one.
All of these covers speak to articles that impact me directly. Whether it is how I can look my best, how I can get ahead at work, or what toys will work best for me -- it is all about me.
When I was at the doctor's office recently, I took a look at some of the magazine covers that were there. Granted, they were several months old, but what I saw was pretty amazing.
Cosmopolitan -- which I gather is the gold standard for women's magazines -- had several articles on how a woman can keep her man happy. Articles like 101 sex tips, the ego stroke that keeps guys faithful, 8 sex truths you don't know about yourself, and the male brain explained all pointed towards a strange and weirdly twisted conclusion -- it really is all about the guy.
I've always thought that women held all the power when it came to relationships. Men (and I'm including myself in this) are generally easily manipulated by a pouty lip, the scent of a wonderful perfume or the intense focus when you finally catch that woman's eye.
There really isn't much science to it all. And honestly, we are pretty easy.
However, as certain female friends of mine are quick to point out, good guys are much more difficult to find -- and women will do just about anything to hang on to them. Perhaps this is the impetus for the articles in women's magazines -- keeping what you have and like.
Speaking as one of the good guys, we are trying to do the same thing. Good relationships -- whether with a significant other, a good friend or someone you just met - takes effort on both sides. The magazine covers out there make it seem really one-sided.
Maybe gals feel like they have to work on it more than guys. But we guys work on it -- we just never read the directions.
I'm really interested in hearing the female point of view about this one. Do you really read those magazines to find out how to make life better for guys? What is really going on? Or is this all some twisted plot to make guys think you worry about what we want -- while all the time secretly maneuver us into thinking that what we want is what you are already giving us? Arrrrgh!!! "I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request. Means no."
Touch 'em all with me, whether you agree with me or criticize me. I like the way you think! Tell me your opinion. Add a comment below and tell me what you think or write to me if you want to join the ever-growing e-mail list to have my column delivered right to your inbox.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Monday, September 12, 2005
Blowin In The Wind
With all the names (at last check, we are up to O) we are using up, everyone wants to know when they will get to be a hurricane.
My friend Amy was upset that she could no longer be a hurricane. It isn't that she was a deadly storm -- hurricanes that are so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for obvious reasons of sensitivity. Amy was last used in 1973 and not put on any of the current naming lists.
My wife is disappointed that her name isn't on the list of storm names put out by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. She is included on the list of storm names for Australia though, so I told her she was just twisted in a different direction than me.
I'm on the list for 2009.
It is odd how people will gravitate to things that have or resemble their own names. Storms were named in 1953 just for ease of identification, but people have a tendency to name things right away before truly understanding them -- labeling them, if you will.
I was sent a Web site that allows people to answer a series of questions to find out what religion you are practicing ... or ought to be practicing.
It was interesting to get my "religion" since I really don't practice one anyway. Apparently, there is a religion for that too.
It certainly doesn't mean I'm going to run out and join the church for my "selected" religion. Heck, I don't even know if they have one, but I have no interest.
What is interesting is that this is another attempt to label people. Nearly every time you meet a new person, one of the first questions they ask is "where do you work?" as if your job defines you. There is a need to "label" someone so you can fit him or her into your world.
I am as guilty as anyone in doing this, although I try not to. It is a bit more difficult to allow a person's actions to define them, but often it is worth the effort.
People are much more complex than simple labels that can be attached to them. In my world, there are no labels.
Except the one that says, "You are here. Have a nice day."
The need to pigeonhole and categorize everything is basic. Scientists do it every time they discover something new. I guess you can't talk about something (or someone) until you name them. It just doesn't necessarily make it right. "It's three o'clock in the morning, and I'm hungry so let's eat."
Touch 'em all with me, whether you agree with me or criticize me. I like the way you think! Tell me your opinion. Add a comment below and tell me what you think or write to me if you want to join the ever-growing e-mail list to have my column delivered right to your inbox.
My friend Amy was upset that she could no longer be a hurricane. It isn't that she was a deadly storm -- hurricanes that are so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for obvious reasons of sensitivity. Amy was last used in 1973 and not put on any of the current naming lists.
My wife is disappointed that her name isn't on the list of storm names put out by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. She is included on the list of storm names for Australia though, so I told her she was just twisted in a different direction than me.
I'm on the list for 2009.
It is odd how people will gravitate to things that have or resemble their own names. Storms were named in 1953 just for ease of identification, but people have a tendency to name things right away before truly understanding them -- labeling them, if you will.
I was sent a Web site that allows people to answer a series of questions to find out what religion you are practicing ... or ought to be practicing.
It was interesting to get my "religion" since I really don't practice one anyway. Apparently, there is a religion for that too.
It certainly doesn't mean I'm going to run out and join the church for my "selected" religion. Heck, I don't even know if they have one, but I have no interest.
What is interesting is that this is another attempt to label people. Nearly every time you meet a new person, one of the first questions they ask is "where do you work?" as if your job defines you. There is a need to "label" someone so you can fit him or her into your world.
I am as guilty as anyone in doing this, although I try not to. It is a bit more difficult to allow a person's actions to define them, but often it is worth the effort.
People are much more complex than simple labels that can be attached to them. In my world, there are no labels.
Except the one that says, "You are here. Have a nice day."
The need to pigeonhole and categorize everything is basic. Scientists do it every time they discover something new. I guess you can't talk about something (or someone) until you name them. It just doesn't necessarily make it right. "It's three o'clock in the morning, and I'm hungry so let's eat."
Touch 'em all with me, whether you agree with me or criticize me. I like the way you think! Tell me your opinion. Add a comment below and tell me what you think or write to me if you want to join the ever-growing e-mail list to have my column delivered right to your inbox.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Simplistic Reaction Time
How much can I one person take? How much before the system overloads?
The full impact and fury of hurricane Katrina still has yet to be felt, but so many people -- good, decent people -- are filled with such a rage.
Citizens all over Maryland -- and probably the entire nation -- want to help those people whose lives have been utterly destroyed by the storm. The first reaction is one of a helping hand -- to contribute money, clothing, food, whatever they have to spare -- in hopes of restoring some sort of faith in those victims that they are not alone.
However, despite what people believe, support groups and supply convoys simply do not spring up like magic. They take time, logistical support and careful planning. Otherwise, in trying to aid and bring comfort, the efforts end up adding to the chaos.
So people waited.
Yet, the images and stories of the people crushed by the hurricane continue to pour in.
So the waiting turns to frustration.
Here is where the finger pointing and blame game starts. Someone must be responsible for this, they believe. Some group or leader must be held accountable.
But, natural forces of our planet created this situation. People wrote in asking why a nuclear device couldn't be dropped in the middle of the hurricane to disperse it. Why can't we stop a storm or, at the very least, deflect it?
You may as well ask the sun to stop rising. But no one or no group is to blame for the monumental and daunting task of helping those who need it.
People wanted to know why the military couldn't be airdropped in, or why food and water couldn't come from supply packages that were dropped. In that type of environment, only the strongest would survive and those who needed it most wouldn't get it.
This confluence of events -- a powerful storm striking an area that is not only below sea level, but also flattening the most impoverished areas of those cities -- could not have been planned for. Despite all the warnings and "mandatory" evacuations, there were thousands of people who -- for what ever reason -- could not or did not flee.
It is easy to sit in the comfort of our homes hundreds of miles away and armchair quarterback. It is not easy to sit in those same homes and see the images and stories of what is happening down to our brothers and sisters to the south.
And to those of you who try to play the race card, I feel sorry for you -- and more is the pity that those thoughts would cross your minds in this time when togetherness is sometimes the only hope for those people who need it most.
How much can I one person take? How much before the system overloads?
Hopefully, you'll never know.
I have stayed away from the pictures as much as I can. It is probably a comfort that I've been out of it for the past week. I know where my limit is and this is not a time to find out if I can push it. And whatever contributions you can or cannot make to the relief effort, know this -- there is no need for guilt if you know you have done all you can. Every bit helps and everyone -- whether with money, goods, time, effort, or just thoughts -- should help. "Instant Karma's gonna get you/Gonna knock you off your feet/Better recognize your brothers/Ev'ryone you meet/Why in the world are we here/Surely not to live in pain and fear/Why on earth are you there/When you're ev'rywhere/Come and get your share"
Touch 'em all with me, whether you agree with me or criticize me. I like the way you think! Tell me your opinion. Add a comment below and tell me what you think or write to me if you want to join the ever-growing e-mail list to have my column delivered right to your inbox.
The full impact and fury of hurricane Katrina still has yet to be felt, but so many people -- good, decent people -- are filled with such a rage.
Citizens all over Maryland -- and probably the entire nation -- want to help those people whose lives have been utterly destroyed by the storm. The first reaction is one of a helping hand -- to contribute money, clothing, food, whatever they have to spare -- in hopes of restoring some sort of faith in those victims that they are not alone.
However, despite what people believe, support groups and supply convoys simply do not spring up like magic. They take time, logistical support and careful planning. Otherwise, in trying to aid and bring comfort, the efforts end up adding to the chaos.
So people waited.
Yet, the images and stories of the people crushed by the hurricane continue to pour in.
So the waiting turns to frustration.
Here is where the finger pointing and blame game starts. Someone must be responsible for this, they believe. Some group or leader must be held accountable.
But, natural forces of our planet created this situation. People wrote in asking why a nuclear device couldn't be dropped in the middle of the hurricane to disperse it. Why can't we stop a storm or, at the very least, deflect it?
You may as well ask the sun to stop rising. But no one or no group is to blame for the monumental and daunting task of helping those who need it.
People wanted to know why the military couldn't be airdropped in, or why food and water couldn't come from supply packages that were dropped. In that type of environment, only the strongest would survive and those who needed it most wouldn't get it.
This confluence of events -- a powerful storm striking an area that is not only below sea level, but also flattening the most impoverished areas of those cities -- could not have been planned for. Despite all the warnings and "mandatory" evacuations, there were thousands of people who -- for what ever reason -- could not or did not flee.
It is easy to sit in the comfort of our homes hundreds of miles away and armchair quarterback. It is not easy to sit in those same homes and see the images and stories of what is happening down to our brothers and sisters to the south.
And to those of you who try to play the race card, I feel sorry for you -- and more is the pity that those thoughts would cross your minds in this time when togetherness is sometimes the only hope for those people who need it most.
How much can I one person take? How much before the system overloads?
Hopefully, you'll never know.
I have stayed away from the pictures as much as I can. It is probably a comfort that I've been out of it for the past week. I know where my limit is and this is not a time to find out if I can push it. And whatever contributions you can or cannot make to the relief effort, know this -- there is no need for guilt if you know you have done all you can. Every bit helps and everyone -- whether with money, goods, time, effort, or just thoughts -- should help. "Instant Karma's gonna get you/Gonna knock you off your feet/Better recognize your brothers/Ev'ryone you meet/Why in the world are we here/Surely not to live in pain and fear/Why on earth are you there/When you're ev'rywhere/Come and get your share"
Touch 'em all with me, whether you agree with me or criticize me. I like the way you think! Tell me your opinion. Add a comment below and tell me what you think or write to me if you want to join the ever-growing e-mail list to have my column delivered right to your inbox.
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