Just another Manic Monday, Sudiegirl's trip to the zoo, and other fun stuff...

'Da Vinci Code' Hauls in $224M Worldwide
(Not from my pocket, they didn't. I'm no crappy movie enabler, thank you very much!)

Menstruation Is Fast Becoming Optional
(Why - is menopause starting earlier? HOT DAMN!!!)

Pills Rendering Menstrual Period Optional
(See, this is what I don't like about these headlines - you're never sure what they’re saying. Are the pills optional or the menstrual period?)





'Healthy' Foods a Pitfall for Dieters
(Yet another reason to stock up on the Chubby Hubby!)









Al Gore Promotes Warming Movie in Cannes
(I promote burning "The Da Vinci Code" and any movie starring Madonna!)







Politicians Brave the Internet - With Help
(Gee - that sounds like the situation at my mom's house...no, Mom, that's not a coffee cup holder, that's your DVD drive.)










Deals Can Still Be Had at National Parks
(Hell, Yogi Bear's been doing it for years!)











Cruise Officials Say Man Fell Overboard
(What the hell would Tom know about this? Is this some Scientology thing?)













Cirque du Soleil to build new shows around Elvis
(Well, the King was certainly large enough by the end - there should be enough room)









No more concessions
(Well, where the hell else am I going to get a $6 glass of beer?)







First of all, I’d like to submit another “separated at birth” entry –

Mitch Landrieu

and Michael Chiklis.

The only difference? Well, not much of one, really. They're both bald guys with pale-looking eyes.

Anyway – a good weekend overall was had by the human residents of Rancho Sudiegirl. D and I went to the zoo yesterday, and we had pretty good weather. Yours truly doesn’t always do well in crowds – between getting overheated, screaming children, and people just standing in the middle of the path trying to fix their digital cameras, I don’t always have the patience one might expect.

I finally got pissed off at the prairie dog exhibit. Yes, it’s an odd place to get pissed, but it’s not the prairie dogs’ fault. They were cute.

However, the little boy who was lying on top of the barrier and SCREAMING at the prairie dogs was not cute. I turned to him and said, not quietly, “YOU ARE SCARING THEM!” Apparently, Yuppie Daddy heard me and came over in an effort to look like Mr. Responsible Dad Guy. What does he say?

“Now, you’re acting like a silly guy. Stop yelling, and get away from there.”

He’s acting like a “SILLY GUY?” No. NO. A THOUSAND TIMES NO.

You know who silly guys are?

Lee Evans, Steve Carell, pre-shaved head Howie Mandel, Steve Martin, Red Skelton, etc.

This child was not a silly guy. This child was an annoying jumble of DNA who does not know how to deal with animals in a zoo setting. I also feel sorry for his pets if he gets in their faces and yells all day. Maybe PETA needs to come visit his house.

Which brings me to yet another point, and I may have brought it up before. What is it with people who seem literate yet are unable to read signs and convey the information to the rest of the children in their care?

Let me further illustrate.

In every one of the enclosures we went in, there are signs posted saying “please keep voices down” (or something to that effect) as well as “please do not tap on the glass”. What do these children – AND THEIR PARENTS – do?

Why, they tap on the glass while yelling, “HEY!!!!! LOOK AT THIS!!!!”

There was one little girl who (I swear to God) was yelling for her parents every two feet.

Don’t get me wrong – I understand excitement. It’s neat to see all these animals in one place. It’s an opportunity we’re fortunate to have. But even if you don’t speak English very well, there are two international examples of body language that I would think anyone should know; the finger to the lips and the side-to-side shaking of the head.

I try really hard to keep my temper so I don’t sound like a cranky, bitter old lady with no kids. But some of the stuff is pretty elementary, folks. I broke the rules as a kid and I paid for it. You don’t need to beat your kids in public, but you don’t do the “silly guy” thing. You don’t negotiate on some issues. It’s either “do it this way or go home”! How hard is that?

OK…off my soapbox.

The zoo was a good experience overall, but ya know, parking was expensive and I think next time we’ll either take the train or shoehorn as many people in our vehicle as possible so we can split the cost. $12 for 2.5 hours!!!!! AAAHHH! I heard about THAT all the way home, believe you me.
Oh well…such is the way of the District.

Finally, I found this opinion column online today regarding Bill Cosby. I know he’s been speaking out on issues regarding the black community and putting some of the blame on the members themselves. I’m not sure what to think, to be honest. The issues are complicated, and as a Caucasian, I’m honestly not qualified to give an opinion. I just know that it’s certainly tricky when you’re a celebrity and you’re involved in causes close to your heart.

All I know is this: As much as I make fun of celebrities, I certainly don’t envy them. If they speak out on an issue, they’re expected to be an “instant expert”. It works in some cases, not for others.

For example, Patty Duke speaks out on mental health issues, but from the perspective of a patient. She doesn’t know about diseases like schizophrenia per se, but she knows about bipolar disorder. She lives it.

Montel Williams, Alan Osmond, and David L. Lander know about multiple sclerosis because they live it.

But other celebrities speak out on issues without necessarily knowing the facts, the sacrifices that are made, the pain that is caused, the joys and the sorrows, and the “double edged swords” that pop up. It’s hard to know what is right or wrong, what is valid or invalid, what is worthwhile to pay attention to.

I don’t think Bill Cosby is a bad person for speaking out. I do think, however, that the problems he’s addressing are contained within a group of people who don’t really know about him, his accomplishments, or his “place” in black entertainment history. Neither do their parents, possibly. They just think he’s some guy who was famous a while back, but he isn’t relevant NOW.

That’s not Cosby’s fault.

However, maybe a different approach should be used to “bridge the gap” as opposed to just saying, “You shouldn’t do this.”

But then again, that’s the opinion of a fat little white girl from Iowa…who did see Bill Cosby do standup once.

Sudiegirl