The end of exam week is quickly approaching and it should be a time to relax and reflect on the previous semester.  If only that were the case.  Rather than resting on the laurels of a semester well spent, I will be out fighting the crowds to get some last minute items for a holiday that is less than 10 days hence.  The season really crept up quickly this year.  It seems like only a few weeks ago I was celebrating my 35th birthday (12 November) and now it is time to bake cookies and wrap gifts.

As is tradition here at rise up buffalo - I would like to offer my advice on a more relaxed and well spent holiday season.  In years passed, we have discussed the goodness of buying green, the wonders of spending time with family and friends, the happiness that comes from volunteering/giving, and the simple pleasure of buying nothing.  This year, I would like to talk specifically about consumerism and ways in which we can enjoy the holiday season without breaking the bank.  As a homage to last year’s post I would like to again include the the give list link.  This list shows a number of ways that we can have holiday spirit without emptying our wallets.

Consumerism is a way of life in America.  We feel that we always have to strive for the biggest and best in our lives and when it comes to holiday shopping this feeling transcends to the gifting of others.  It seems like the person that gives the biggest gifts is the one that wins.  Even though we try to discuss the meaning of our holidays and the fact that spending time with family is enough, we each still feel a certain amount of pressure to perform in the capitalist arena.  The commercials pushing us to buy buy buy are heightened during the holidays.  We barely have time to breathe before another commercial is nudging us off the couch and out to the department store for another spectacular sale.

This year we will break the cycle.  This year we will buy local.  This year we will give handmade items.  This year we will do better.  In the past we have tried to do these things, but our attempts at being conscious consumers have sometimes failed.  We always end up going to one store that isn’t local or buying items that may not necessarily be as green as we could find elsewhere.  It’s about convenience.  We try to be sustainable, but sometimes convenience wins.  Sometimes we cannot bring ourselves to trudge through the smaller stores in order to find the perfect gift when we know that gift can be purchased with ease at a chain.  We are human.  We are tired.  The holidays take the energy out of us.  So we go for convenience and feel guilty, but we should not feel bad.  This is the nature of the season.  No matter how many times we say to others, “we would like to cut back this year - maybe just bake cookies or give handmade gifts” we know that we will end up waiting in long lines at the bookstore for the latest release because it makes our lives less complicated. 

The main issue is time.  The holidays creep up on us every year because we refuse to think about them until after Thanksgiving.  This is a time honored tradition in our household.  Thanksgiving first, then the rest.  We do not purchase gifts until after Thanksgiving weekend and we do not partake in the Black Friday madness, prefering to celebrate Buy Nothing Day each year on that date.  However - this could be a big part of our problem in being able to give handmade and local gifts.  If we started shopping and/or making items in September, by December we would be fully prepared and able to enjoy the holidays even more.  That is the key then.  Start making plans earlier.  Think ahead.  It may cost a little bit more, but buying local items in advance will make you feel better about your purchases and afford you the time to relax when December rolls around.

So - with that revelation I offer a few links to what others have said about the holiday season.  I am off now to get those last minute purchases in and perhaps next year I’ll think ahead.  Or maybe I’ll repeat the same pattern as so often occurs.  Either way - have a wonderful holiday season and try your best to get a little rest and relaxation in.  Before you know it it is back to work and school!  So take the time you can while it is given and hopefully you will have a wonderous and happy holiday.

Peace - Chantale

appropriate links:
The Virtue of Not Buying by Karen Sternheimer; from the Everyday Sociology blog at Norton Books.
20 Tips for a Sustainable Holiday from Earth911.com
Slow Holiday Gift Guide from масиTreeHugger.com

Earlier this month the White House announced that it would be treating the Fox News Network (and the term “news” should certainly be used loosely in this case) as a political opponent.  In an interview with Time magazine, White House communications director, Anita Dunn, criticized Fox by saying “It’s opinion journalism masquerading as news” (Time.com article).  One pundit in particular from Fox, Glenn Beck, has jumped on the ‘attack Anita train’ with something that can only be referred to as fervour.

Now let us talk Facebook.  Since this Time article was sent to press I’ve been seeing more and more comments about Glenn Beck on my newsfeed in Facebook.  Mostly positive feedback about a guy that some of my friends (for reasons unbeknownst to me) seem to love.  I decided to engage with one of these Facebook “friends” last week and get to the bottom of this obsession with Beck.  My “friend” had put up a comment about how much she loves Glenn Beck so I asked her why.  She fired back with a litany of how she is “afraid for the future of our country and for our children”.  Well - that’s all fine and good, but why?  No response came from the other side.  Since I couldn’t get a response on this question from my “friend” I decided to give Beck a chance and force myself to sit through a full episode of his show.  Here are my findings.

Glenn Beck does, indeed, present scenarios to be afraid of.  The problem that I found while watching his “news” show was that he isn’t fully basing his arguments in reality.  In the particular episode I witnessed, he spoke of the dollar and how it is “about to collapse”.  After watching him discuss this for 20 minutes I have cracked the code!  Beck begins talking about a subject, in this case the dollar, with an “if” scenario.  “If” the dollar collapses this will happen and that will happen.  “If” the dollar collapses you can be sure that [fill in the blank].  The interesting thing about the argument is that at about the midpoint he changes from an “if” stance to a “when”.  He begins stating things like “when” the dollar collapses this will happen or that will happen.  This is how the fear mongering is spoonfed to the Fox audience.  They don’t notice the switch in future conditionals.  “If” becomes “when” with intentional effort on Becks part.  He is basically duping his audience.

Now I understand.  If you have a hard time following news in the first place, the mere change of a future conditional within an argument will make you fearful of whatever hypothetical is being presented.  This is why people start showing up all over the internet talking about how afraid they are for the future of our great country.  What a lot of hooey.  The real fear should be OF Beck.  He is leading the “tea party” charge which is plainly a racist movement.  If you don’t believe that you should look at visual proof from the 9/12 teaparty movement gathering in D.C. (courtesy of Strwbrry_Blonde on Twitter. Yes, she was there to take photographic proof of the nutcases).

Hopefully you haven’t been duped into thinking that this network is presenting facts.  If so, please turn to another channel at some point in your evening.  Or, better yet, turn the television off and read a book.  Prefereably something that will increase your brain power and open your mind.  Take a break from the political roller coaster that is Fox News and relax.  Things are going to be okay.  If we could just educate ourselves as a country, collectively we would be a lot better off.  Education is key after all.

Go Anita!  Keep fighting the good fight.  Someday our country will be a place of inclusion and intelligence.  Until then we must contend with comedians masquerading as pundits like this Beck character.  Someday we will be past this.  Someday.

Peace - Chantale

A few days ago a good friend of mine (the poet) decided to move to another city.  In this new, magical place he hopes to find a better life then the one he was living in the suburbs of Buffalo.  After making the trip and settling in he gave me a call to let me know that he had arrived safely and when he would be coming back to visit Western New York.  We spoke of the car trip to his destination, the landscape of his new surroundings, and the people, culture, and layout of this lovely new city.  After a few minutes I paused to let him know that I would appreciate it if he did not talk bad of Buffalo while in this new place.  Even if he believes the writing community there is better, he should keep that opinion to himself.  Far too often, people move away from WNY and trash the region upon arriving somewhere else.  Buffalo (and the surrounding area) is what you make of it.  If you do not put in the effort you will not reap the rewards.

Our conversation was still very cordial, despite the fact that he stressed how much better the writing community in this new town is in comparison to Buffalo.  Let me pause here to let you know that the new town is not New York City as you may have guessed, but rather somewhere further Northwest.  It’s smaller than the city of Buffalo and yet the community of writers and artists is perceived to be bigger.  I believe that this is all a new place type of feeling.  You always feel more hopeful in the beginning when moving somewhere new.  That feeling can persist through life if you put the effort in, but if you expect things to come to you simply because there is a community in place it will most likely not happen.

On the subject of work.  I realize that Buffalo is devoid, most recently, of good positions workwise, but with a little time and effort most people can find decent jobs.  We have several colleges and universities in the Western New York region that afford many diverse programs of study and opportunities for employment.  I am not trying to be the number one Buffalo booster, but I do feel that with time, effort and patience one can make a great life in this area of the country.  Some people feel the need to go away and then, upon returning, understand how great we really do have it here in Western New York.  Four seasons, thriving arts and theater communities, many locally owned businesses, community coffeehouses and cafes (keeping the proliferation of starbucks at bay), a natural wonder, waterfront access and beautiful parks to compliment the rivers and lakes, a short drive to Toronto and a young college community that adds to the vibrancy of the region.

My point in writing this piece is not to call out those that have left the region, as the writer and I have also discussed moving, but rather to make the point that you should not base a moving decision solely on a feeling.  If it is completely impossible (even after you have looked exhaustively) to find a job/career in your field (or a short term position outside of your eventual field) then it is best to move on.  However, if you have not done ample research and attempted to have longevity in any given field it may not be the best reason to move to another city.  You will simply take those habits with you wherever you go.  If you are not good at keeping a job in Buffalo, you will most likely continue this pattern anywhere else in the world you decide to live.  If you are unsatisfied with working an interim job while working on a degree in your field, this dissatisfaction will follow you whever you choose to roam.

There are certain things we must do as adults that make it boring to be grown up.  Working meaningless jobs until we find the career for us is something that nearly everyone does.  Going to school and studying hard to show future employers your worth as a student and potential employee is essential.  Working hard to make it to a better place financially is required.  These are not always fun things, but they are merely a way of getting there.  The means to an end, as it were.  If you do not have the stamina or drive to move forward in the direction of your dreams you will continue to stagnate in any city, town or village you choose to reside in.

So - whether you are in Buffalo, New York City, Seattle or Tallahassee you have to be willing to overcome certain obstacles to get to your destination in life.  You take yourself (and all the intricacies and doubts of being you) everywhere that you go.  If you are bad at keeping a job in Buffalo you need to modify that behaviour rather than blaming it on the city.  If you continue with the same behaviour in the new place you will get the same results.  Confucius certainly said it best: “And remember, no matter where you go, there you are”.  On that note I will end as one cannot improve on Confucius and I believe my point has been sufficiently made.

Peace - Chantale

appropriate links:
The Library of Congress Current Poet Laureate Kay Ryan
The Poetry Society
Poetry NYC
Rooftop Poetry Club at Buffalo State College Not just for students!
Writers and Books, Rochester NY
Talking Leaves Books, Buffalo NY
Old Editions Book Shop, Buffalo NY
Portland, Maine

89 years ago today the 19th amendment was passed, granting full voting rights to women in the United States of America.  The struggle for this right was long, beginning in 1848 with the Seneca Falls Convention, the first women’s rights convention held by the suffrage movement.  Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Caty Stanton (among others such as Susan B. Anthony) were founding members of the movement and worked tirelessly in the pursuit of equal rights.

Unfortunately, to this day women are still not completely equal.  The Equal Rights Amendment has yet to be ratified in all the necessary States and women continue to make 78 cents for every dollar that men make in the same work positions.  We have come a long way and made many strides, but we still have quite a way to go.

On this momentous occasion, take the time to think about what voting rights have done for America, not just for women, but for everyone!  Check out the links below for more information and statements related to Women’s Equality Day and remember to vote when the time comes.  After all, what good is the right if we don’t take advantage of it?

Peace - Chantale

Appropriate links:
Speaker Pelosi Statement on Women’s Equality Day
Lori Saldana: Women’s Equality Day - The Work Continues
Governer celebrates Women’s Equality Day - politikernj.com
Women’s Equality Day: Some Things You Should Know by Luis R. Burgos, Jr.
Wikipedia entry on Seneca Falls Convention

This summer I worked for a camp in Orchard Park.  The job was a pitstop on my way to something bigger and better.  You see, since February of 2007 things have been steadily declining.  I’ve lived and worked in the city of Buffalo for 8 years.  Prior to that I spent 2 years in Rochester.  Sometimes I wish that we would have made Rochester work rather than running “home” at the first sign of trouble job-wise.

As one of my friends interjected (when I was explaining to one of the unit counselours why I can’t find a job in Buffalo) “She loves Buffalo but Buffalo just doesn’t love her”.  So true.  I have been looking for a job in the city of Buffalo for nearly 2 years.  Everything from bank teller to barista to web developer and back.  Nobody wants to hire me.  Sometimes I get the feeling that it has to do with my age and status.  You see - I’m at that in between stage.  I’m not in my twenties anymore and I haven’t reached my forties.  I’m at the standstill stage for careers.  The writer is lucky that he is a teacher.  That career is good for any age.

The other factor is status.  Colleagues that I knew from GBSB had little to no problem finding a new job.  Mostly due to the people that they know and their networking skills.  I never felt that networking was important for me, but now I know that it was a vital trait that I should have honed while at the bank.

So - having said these things the next step is to finish school.  Once I complete my degree the writer and I will most likely jump the Buffalo ship.  Off to a new city with new jobs, a new living situation and new people.  Buffalo is too young for us now so we’ll be searching for a great location that has a wider network of 30-somethings.  Where is this place I speak of?  Good question!  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! (Blue States only please.)

Peace - Chantale (aka hippiegrrl)

Appropriate links:

Best Places to Live 2009 from Money.com