While I'm in a ranting mood, I might as well rant about another thing that particularly annoys me about the American psyche. Actually, I think it's specifically a Midwestern thing, and that is the assumptions that are made about children.
I recently met a (rather irritating) woman for the first time, who, after asking me whether I was married immediately followed it up with asking whether I had any children. No, I replied, whereupon she said "Are you planning any? Or have you decided no kids?" It was all I could do to smile politely and mutter something vague about not being entirely sure yet.
The fact of the matter is that I do want to have children, and hopefully in the next few years, but I find the outright questioning on the matter from complete strangers the ultimate in rudeness. I know it's meant as just an interested form of conversation, but for all this woman knew I could have been trying to have children for years, or I could have recently found out that I can't have children, or I might have just suffered a miscarriage.
What's more, when I gave my vague answer she went off onto a spiel about how if I wanted them, I really shouldn't wait too long, fertility rates being what they are. Now this REALLY gets my goat - I am perfectly aware that fertility drops off after 35, but quite frankly I don't feel it necessary to discuss (or defend) my childbearing plans with people who merely epxress an interest. Family planning is exactly that - family only, which means me and the Major in my book, or perhaps a couple of close friends to whom I might confess certain hopes and dreams. Basically lady, it's none of your f-ing business.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Healthcare - OUTRAGEOUS!
Sometimes I think that actually, I quite like America and might even be able to make it my home; at other times I am utterly baffled by it and realise how far from thinking like an American I really am.
One of the subjects that perenially raises this reaction is the issue of healthcare. The majority of Americans where we live think that 'socialised medicine' is a bad thing: that if you work, you can afford to pay healthcare, but why should you pay for anyone else's care? I had a long debate on the subject with it today with an acquaintance (a friendly debate, I hasten to add).
And yet every time I come across another example of the utter ludicrousness of the US medical system, I am flummoxed as to why anyone thinks the existing system is a good idea. A colleague of mine recently received a quote for health insurance. Not only would the deal include a $1,500 deductible (meaning that she would have to pay the first $1,500 of any treatment she received), but the insurance itself would cost her $600 a month AND she would have to then pay 20% of the cost of any treatment that the insurance would deign to 'cover'. Plus the cost of any prescription fees, of course. There were cheaper options - she could have opted to pay $110 a month - but that would have meant she would be liable for the first TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS of any treatment. I mean, what is the point of having health insurance in that instance?
As the Major pointed out, the problem with healthcare here is that the providers have a monopoly, which means prices go up and up and up. And the actual costs are by no means cheap. Recently, I had some pain and went to hospital where I received a scan, a blood test, a urine test and eventually two Tylenol (self-administered). The cost? TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS!!! It's absolutely outrageous. Personally, I don't care if every Tom Dick and Harry who doesn't have a job gets free healthcare thanks to my taxes, as long as it means I myself can walk into a doctor's office and get seen and treated for free. After all, in this climate we could all lose our jobs tomorrow.
One of the subjects that perenially raises this reaction is the issue of healthcare. The majority of Americans where we live think that 'socialised medicine' is a bad thing: that if you work, you can afford to pay healthcare, but why should you pay for anyone else's care? I had a long debate on the subject with it today with an acquaintance (a friendly debate, I hasten to add).
And yet every time I come across another example of the utter ludicrousness of the US medical system, I am flummoxed as to why anyone thinks the existing system is a good idea. A colleague of mine recently received a quote for health insurance. Not only would the deal include a $1,500 deductible (meaning that she would have to pay the first $1,500 of any treatment she received), but the insurance itself would cost her $600 a month AND she would have to then pay 20% of the cost of any treatment that the insurance would deign to 'cover'. Plus the cost of any prescription fees, of course. There were cheaper options - she could have opted to pay $110 a month - but that would have meant she would be liable for the first TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS of any treatment. I mean, what is the point of having health insurance in that instance?
As the Major pointed out, the problem with healthcare here is that the providers have a monopoly, which means prices go up and up and up. And the actual costs are by no means cheap. Recently, I had some pain and went to hospital where I received a scan, a blood test, a urine test and eventually two Tylenol (self-administered). The cost? TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS!!! It's absolutely outrageous. Personally, I don't care if every Tom Dick and Harry who doesn't have a job gets free healthcare thanks to my taxes, as long as it means I myself can walk into a doctor's office and get seen and treated for free. After all, in this climate we could all lose our jobs tomorrow.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Freedom of speech?
The papers today have been full of the story of a pastor in Gainesville, Florida, who is planning to hold a ceremonial burning of Korans on Saturday, the anniversary of 9/11. Ironically, his church is named the Dove Outreach Centre. Hmmm. I'm not sure about his dodgy handlebar mustache either, but that's an aside.
Thankfully, the majority of people out there seem to condemn Pastor Terry Jones' actions. Hilary Clinton has publicly spoken out about it, and some in Gainesville are trying to thwart him, refusing him a burn permit. Half of his church has deserted him.
Needless to say, however, there are some nutters out there who support Jones. Some have apparently suggested he barbecue the Koran with pork, a meat forbidden by Islam.
It made me reflect, this morning, on the nature of free speech. America's constitution firmly defends it - the freedom of citizens to speak and believe what they want is written into the First Amendment. On the one hand, this is admirable: this is not a nation that represses its citizens or denies them the ability to speak out. On the other, however, there is the issue of respect - at what point does exercising ones' freedom of speech become an impingement of someone else's rights? Recently, there was the most almighty furore when Dr Laura Schlessinger, a 'self-help' (white) radio talk show host repeatedly used the word 'nigger' several times on air while giving advice to an African-American caller (who was actually calling to talk about her problem with racist terms including the word 'nigger'). Not particularly sensitive.
Unbelievably, however, there are those who support Schlessinger's insensitive comments and say she did nothing wrong. Well perhaps not in absolute terms - those of the first amendment, but surely to offend an interviewee in the way that she did is not at all right? You can read the full transcript of her rant here and decide for yourself. She has now resigned from her position, by the way.
In Britain, meanwhile, we have laws on 'hate speech' which arguably go too far the other way - even the mildest Irish joke could be said to fall under such laws. But I think, on the whole, that we should be aware that what we say may hurt others. Whether we legislate against it I'm not sure, but to allow people like Terry Jones and Laura Schlessinger to get away with their actions is surely not right in a modern, thinking society? Freedom of speech it may be, but burning the Koran smacks suspiciously of the very thinking which presumably inspired Jones in the first place - an intolerant attitude which allows for no deviation from its tenets. So who is right?
Thankfully, the majority of people out there seem to condemn Pastor Terry Jones' actions. Hilary Clinton has publicly spoken out about it, and some in Gainesville are trying to thwart him, refusing him a burn permit. Half of his church has deserted him.
Needless to say, however, there are some nutters out there who support Jones. Some have apparently suggested he barbecue the Koran with pork, a meat forbidden by Islam.
It made me reflect, this morning, on the nature of free speech. America's constitution firmly defends it - the freedom of citizens to speak and believe what they want is written into the First Amendment. On the one hand, this is admirable: this is not a nation that represses its citizens or denies them the ability to speak out. On the other, however, there is the issue of respect - at what point does exercising ones' freedom of speech become an impingement of someone else's rights? Recently, there was the most almighty furore when Dr Laura Schlessinger, a 'self-help' (white) radio talk show host repeatedly used the word 'nigger' several times on air while giving advice to an African-American caller (who was actually calling to talk about her problem with racist terms including the word 'nigger'). Not particularly sensitive.
Unbelievably, however, there are those who support Schlessinger's insensitive comments and say she did nothing wrong. Well perhaps not in absolute terms - those of the first amendment, but surely to offend an interviewee in the way that she did is not at all right? You can read the full transcript of her rant here and decide for yourself. She has now resigned from her position, by the way.
In Britain, meanwhile, we have laws on 'hate speech' which arguably go too far the other way - even the mildest Irish joke could be said to fall under such laws. But I think, on the whole, that we should be aware that what we say may hurt others. Whether we legislate against it I'm not sure, but to allow people like Terry Jones and Laura Schlessinger to get away with their actions is surely not right in a modern, thinking society? Freedom of speech it may be, but burning the Koran smacks suspiciously of the very thinking which presumably inspired Jones in the first place - an intolerant attitude which allows for no deviation from its tenets. So who is right?
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
I can't believe I've neglected my blog so shamefully. This time last week I had just got back to Kansas, feeling strangely relieved after the hectic eight days that was my stint on the Ford Fiesta World Tour. I was full of good intentions to blog at length and in detail about some of the crazy things we had seen, and instead I unpacked, took a long shower and flopped into bed. And then got cracking with Kansas life again. Oh dear. Anyway, there were a few highlights, which I thought I'd share with you here:
Visiting the Heidelberg Project in downtown Detroit. This is basically a live-in art installation in one of the city's poorest areas, dreamed up 25 years ago by an artist called Tyree Guyton who wanted to make a statement. And so he applied himself, and his paintbrush, to a rundown empty house on his street, decorating it with everything from random paint swirly to stuffed toys. Now, the street is full of these decorated houses (one has polka dots all over it), as well as random piled of what looks like rubbish. Except it's not rubbish, it's 'found objects' that symbolise like, loss and stuff. Hmmm. I couldn't work out whether I loved it or hated it, to be honest. We met the absolutely lovely executive director of the project, who had given up her Sunday - which also happened to be her birthday - to meet us in the blazing sun. She was so gracious - but when she introduced us to the artist, who was sitting with his posse on a deckchair under a tree, he told her she wasn't being 'respectful' in doing so. Well sorry mate, but it's your art, why don't you explain it, rather than expecting someone else to give up their day? Honestly, it annoyed me, and made me feel that little bit less charitable towards the whol affair.
Anyway, after that I flew back home, which was lovely. This week has been about catching up with life again, and remembering random moments from the trip, such as when the taxi driver I got from the airport asked me about what Susan Boyle was up to. Who knew she was so big over here?
In the meantime, it turns out that my feature for essentialwriters.com has been posted. You can read it here. I will post more often after this, I promise!
Visiting the Heidelberg Project in downtown Detroit. This is basically a live-in art installation in one of the city's poorest areas, dreamed up 25 years ago by an artist called Tyree Guyton who wanted to make a statement. And so he applied himself, and his paintbrush, to a rundown empty house on his street, decorating it with everything from random paint swirly to stuffed toys. Now, the street is full of these decorated houses (one has polka dots all over it), as well as random piled of what looks like rubbish. Except it's not rubbish, it's 'found objects' that symbolise like, loss and stuff. Hmmm. I couldn't work out whether I loved it or hated it, to be honest. We met the absolutely lovely executive director of the project, who had given up her Sunday - which also happened to be her birthday - to meet us in the blazing sun. She was so gracious - but when she introduced us to the artist, who was sitting with his posse on a deckchair under a tree, he told her she wasn't being 'respectful' in doing so. Well sorry mate, but it's your art, why don't you explain it, rather than expecting someone else to give up their day? Honestly, it annoyed me, and made me feel that little bit less charitable towards the whol affair.
Anyway, after that I flew back home, which was lovely. This week has been about catching up with life again, and remembering random moments from the trip, such as when the taxi driver I got from the airport asked me about what Susan Boyle was up to. Who knew she was so big over here?
In the meantime, it turns out that my feature for essentialwriters.com has been posted. You can read it here. I will post more often after this, I promise!
Friday, 27 August 2010
The craziness continues
So since I last posted, we've done Dallas (so to speak - not in the 'Debbie does it' kind of way), met a cowboy poet, recorded a song in Studio B in Nashville where Elvis recorded all of his Grammy Award-winning hits (I'll be storming up the charts soon, no doubt), lost one photographer (not by accident, he was flying home), gained a new one and have now wound up in Indianapolis.
This morning, through, we met a complete nutter. He was called Tom, and was convinced that he was one day going to turn the rusting hulk of what was once a plane into a house. This despite the fact that he's had it since 2003 and nothing much has happened. "We live in our imaginations," his slightly creepy non-paid work buddy Tim told us, with a strange high-pitched giggle. Too right you do mate. Let's not forget that this guy is working on a lot right in the middle of a military base, where just down the road is a rehabilitation centre for mentally damaged soldiers. Bound to be a bit of paranoia flying round there. Sure enough, after about five minutes, he said, "so there are 82 Sharia law courts in the UK now?" "Er, don't think so," I replied. "But they want Sharia law, don't they?" "Well, possibly, but there's a big difference between wanting something and getting it." "That's good," he muttered. Argh! As I said, a bit of a nutter.
But I warmed to him and his crazy ideas, and I wish him luck on his venture. I'd love to see a plane that was a house, mounted on a weathervane like he wants to do. I fear I never will, but I won't tell him that.
Then we got to Indianapolis. Petrol head city. Full of crazy drivers. One of the first we saw was a bloke reading the Koran, while talking on his cell phone...while driving. One side of his car was completely bashed in, perhaps not suprisingly. Then we saw a pimped up SUV with a sound system so loud the whole vehicle was actually shaking. Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring.
This morning, through, we met a complete nutter. He was called Tom, and was convinced that he was one day going to turn the rusting hulk of what was once a plane into a house. This despite the fact that he's had it since 2003 and nothing much has happened. "We live in our imaginations," his slightly creepy non-paid work buddy Tim told us, with a strange high-pitched giggle. Too right you do mate. Let's not forget that this guy is working on a lot right in the middle of a military base, where just down the road is a rehabilitation centre for mentally damaged soldiers. Bound to be a bit of paranoia flying round there. Sure enough, after about five minutes, he said, "so there are 82 Sharia law courts in the UK now?" "Er, don't think so," I replied. "But they want Sharia law, don't they?" "Well, possibly, but there's a big difference between wanting something and getting it." "That's good," he muttered. Argh! As I said, a bit of a nutter.
But I warmed to him and his crazy ideas, and I wish him luck on his venture. I'd love to see a plane that was a house, mounted on a weathervane like he wants to do. I fear I never will, but I won't tell him that.
Then we got to Indianapolis. Petrol head city. Full of crazy drivers. One of the first we saw was a bloke reading the Koran, while talking on his cell phone...while driving. One side of his car was completely bashed in, perhaps not suprisingly. Then we saw a pimped up SUV with a sound system so loud the whole vehicle was actually shaking. Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring.
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
The road trip, continued...
I've been on the the road with the Ford Fiesta World Tour for three days now, and already I've lost all sense of time. Ask me where I am and I probably couldn't tell you. Today when I was doing a video blog I had to retake it three times because I kept forgetting where I was filming from.
Nevertheless, it's actually quite fun. OK, so the 6am starts and midnight bedtimes aren't great, and driving for seven hours in a Ford Fiesta doesn't rank as one of the world's most orgasmic experiences, but I like the people I'm travelling with and we're forming a fun little team. As the only girl, I am like a little pet for the boys, and they indulge my slight tardiness in the morning, my need to pee frequently by the roadside and my constant requirement to eat with ease. I've also discovered that Anthony, the photographer shares my slightly dirty sense of humour which makes the long journeys rather more entertaining.
Plus, when we have a good story it's always good for a laugh. Today, for example, we were interviewing a guy who makes art on dirty cars. As in, he doesn't just write 'wash me' on the back, he actually spends time creating intricate artworks - which inevitably wash off moments later, which happened today. But before that happened, he had created the most beautiful drawing of two Texas longhorn cattle on the back windscreen of one of the Fiestas - I personally was gutted when it washed straight off when the storm broke. I'll post pictures later. Anyway, we all felt pretty jolly after we'd done the interview and there was a general high, which was nice.
Now we're on our way to Dallas, where tomorrow we're touring the Dallas Cowboys stadium. Two hours to go until we get there. Bring it on.
Nevertheless, it's actually quite fun. OK, so the 6am starts and midnight bedtimes aren't great, and driving for seven hours in a Ford Fiesta doesn't rank as one of the world's most orgasmic experiences, but I like the people I'm travelling with and we're forming a fun little team. As the only girl, I am like a little pet for the boys, and they indulge my slight tardiness in the morning, my need to pee frequently by the roadside and my constant requirement to eat with ease. I've also discovered that Anthony, the photographer shares my slightly dirty sense of humour which makes the long journeys rather more entertaining.
Plus, when we have a good story it's always good for a laugh. Today, for example, we were interviewing a guy who makes art on dirty cars. As in, he doesn't just write 'wash me' on the back, he actually spends time creating intricate artworks - which inevitably wash off moments later, which happened today. But before that happened, he had created the most beautiful drawing of two Texas longhorn cattle on the back windscreen of one of the Fiestas - I personally was gutted when it washed straight off when the storm broke. I'll post pictures later. Anyway, we all felt pretty jolly after we'd done the interview and there was a general high, which was nice.
Now we're on our way to Dallas, where tomorrow we're touring the Dallas Cowboys stadium. Two hours to go until we get there. Bring it on.
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Guns!
So, I totally abandoned my poor blog while I was in England, which was an absolute blast. Five days in Yorkshire, a lovely English summer wedding in Gloucestershire, five days in Cornwall and then three heady days in London, trying to pack in as many people as possible. I've come back to Kansas to relax - along with several commissions, which should help me pay the credit card bill I amassed.
Except unfortunately I can't relax, as I'm off on the next trip - a week's journey across Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, Arkansas and Michigan as part of the Ford Fiesta World Tour. What? Well, basically Ford has just launched a new Fiesta, and I've been invited on part of an enormous global trek in one of them. A nes Fiesta is driving from LA to New York, another from Northern Ireland to Dubai, another across South East Asia and another across Australia. Along the way, meanwhile, there are many adventures to be had.
Mine started this morning when I got up at 4am to catch a 6.10 flight to Phoenix. By 7.30 I was cracking on with the first activity - learning to shoot a machine gun. Seriously. Arizona (although I had never realised it) is the gun state - one in 50 people carry one and they sure are trigger happy. We were introduced to Katie, the petite and perky marketing manager at Scottsdale Gun Club, who informed us that she carries her own weapon (a Glock 27 handgun) but that her favourite to shoot is an M249 SAW (semi-automatic weapon) - "it's a lot of bullets and a lot of fun." Argh. Five minutes later I am trying my own hand at it - shooting, variously, a Smith & Wesson handgun, an MP-5, an AK 47 and the aforementioned SAW, which is bloody terrifying - you have to lie on the floor to shoot it, it pings bits of hot metal all over you and hanging out of one side is a belt of bullets.
Having thought that perhaps, I felt more at home in America than I had previously thought (I now love country music, for example), I've realised that I'm never really going to fit in - I just don't love guns enough. In fact, they terrify me. I don't think they keep you safer, I don't know why anyone would willingly carry something that is designed to kill another person and the smell of cordite makes me feel sick. Ah well. It was an experience, to say the least....
Except unfortunately I can't relax, as I'm off on the next trip - a week's journey across Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, Arkansas and Michigan as part of the Ford Fiesta World Tour. What? Well, basically Ford has just launched a new Fiesta, and I've been invited on part of an enormous global trek in one of them. A nes Fiesta is driving from LA to New York, another from Northern Ireland to Dubai, another across South East Asia and another across Australia. Along the way, meanwhile, there are many adventures to be had.
Mine started this morning when I got up at 4am to catch a 6.10 flight to Phoenix. By 7.30 I was cracking on with the first activity - learning to shoot a machine gun. Seriously. Arizona (although I had never realised it) is the gun state - one in 50 people carry one and they sure are trigger happy. We were introduced to Katie, the petite and perky marketing manager at Scottsdale Gun Club, who informed us that she carries her own weapon (a Glock 27 handgun) but that her favourite to shoot is an M249 SAW (semi-automatic weapon) - "it's a lot of bullets and a lot of fun." Argh. Five minutes later I am trying my own hand at it - shooting, variously, a Smith & Wesson handgun, an MP-5, an AK 47 and the aforementioned SAW, which is bloody terrifying - you have to lie on the floor to shoot it, it pings bits of hot metal all over you and hanging out of one side is a belt of bullets.
Having thought that perhaps, I felt more at home in America than I had previously thought (I now love country music, for example), I've realised that I'm never really going to fit in - I just don't love guns enough. In fact, they terrify me. I don't think they keep you safer, I don't know why anyone would willingly carry something that is designed to kill another person and the smell of cordite makes me feel sick. Ah well. It was an experience, to say the least....
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