The Death of My Candidate

Today, John Edwards backed out of the race for Democratic presidential candidate. Can we all just take a moment of silence to mourn the loss of this leader? Okay, thanks. The loss of John Edwards does not come as a shock to most Democrats, who have sternly divided themselves into either the Hilary or Obama camp. With Edwards out of the picture, I too will stop rooting for any Democratic nominees.

I understand the excitement behind these two camps. America is far behind the rest of the world when it comes to choosing leaders of diversity. I mean, if places like India (which we still offensively consider "Third World"), and Israel can have female leaders, then it should come as no challenge for the United States to do the same. The same excitement can be felt with the prospects of having a "minority" leader as well. However, will so much controversy around the sex and race of the candidates I think we are truly forgetting what is really important in a presidential campaign. Simply put, who would make the best candidate?

This is why my money was on Edwards. Yes, he was more of the same in the sex and race departments, but there was something that took him apart from the rest of the candidates. Edwards did not accept corporate sponsorship. Edwards campaign focused on the ending of "two Americas," one for the common man and the other for the elite powerful. This has not been widely reported on because (surprise, surprise) corporate money funds everything in this country, which was something Edwards was desperate to stop. Barack and Hilary have both accepted generous donations from corporate America.

Let me just say, I'm not saying that all of corporate America is inherently evil. I just believe that regardless of which party wins, as long as corporate interests are kept in mind by the candidates, corporate interests will continue to have a hand in the decision of new laws and legislature.

Keeping that in mind, there is another reason that I believe keeping Hilary or Obama in the race is a mistake. I simply have no faith in the American public. While I would absolutely LOVE to see a female or a minority leader (and regardless of who wins I will probably cast my absentee ballot for the Democratic party), I just do not believe that this can happen with the present make-up of the American people. I believe that electing either of these leaders will bring Republican's out in droves in order to not vote for their party, but rather to vote against the Democratic party.

I do not want to live in a country where we are so disappointed by all our leaders that we vote only to prevent other leaders from getting in power. I'm an idealist in every sense of the word, and I hope I'm wrong. But come on America, this is NOT the time to be playing games with our candidates, this is not the time to be idealist, this is a time to be realistic. This is a time to change the face of the nation, and I don't mean the physical face. There's more to a leader then what they look like, there's the message they send. And I have a hard time believing that the messages of Obama or Hilary are any different from the messages of any other Democratic candidates.

So enjoy your future leader America, I'll be working on getting my visa for anywhere outside of North America.

FASHION AVAILABILITY: WHEN IS LUXURY MERELY A CONVENIENCE?

Recently, in the article “Fakes are Never in Fashion,” on Styledash.com, the book Deluxe: How Luxury Lost it’s Luster, was referenced. Although I have not yet read the book, from the reviews I gather that it is a piece of muckraking journalism (I use this as a term of endearment) on the luxury goods market.

Although I agree with the fact that counterfeit accessories will help lead to the decline of the luxury goods market, other sources of “luxury” leave me questioning the future of the market. Mainly, big box stores like TJ Maxx and Ross Dress for Less that offer brand name luxury at a low, low price.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good bargain as much as the next person, but when I step into one of these stores no longer do I find brand name luxury at a low price, I find brand name luxury being brought to trend followers in small towns. For example, after the Dooney and Bourke Charm bags became a huge hit, TJ Maxx started carrying the bags in a variety of styles…about a year later. I do not have a problem with bags being from a former season, or bags being available to those in small towns. What leaves me feeling uneasy after a trip to a luxury box store, is the legions of 13 and 14 year old girls who spend their allowance on the bags.

After seeing tweens strutting through the malls complete in their Abercrombie and Fitch denim skirts, UGG boots, topped off with a D&B or Coach bag, it makes me want to abandon my previous love of the status symbol bag.* I guess my question is whether or not I am alone in this? With the availability of “high-fashion” status available to tween girls around the country, does it lose it’s appeal for those of us who truly love high fashion?


* Personal Anecdote: After hearing “I LOVE YOUR BAG” in response to my Vuitton classic canvas bag by a 12-year-old girl in my mom’s office, I have nearly abandoned carrying it. A tragic tale, but I can’t bring myself to carry a bag that even a tween worships.

The Art of Collecting LP's

Growing up, my parents had thousands upon thousands of albums. Although it instilled a love of music in me from a very young age, I didn't quite understand why they would continually collect albums when they were being replaced by bigger and better technology such as cassettes and cd's. Growing older, getting away from home, becoming an avid music lover, and watching cassettes make way for cd's which have made way to the computer download era, I finally understand the appeal of albums.

Yes, they take up far more room, and they are harder to find, but there are three reasons why albums will continue to rock my world long after cd's have made home at garage sales and thrift stores.

The first reason is that the sound quality is better. Ask anyone who is an avid collecter of all types of music, and if you have the correct system hookup for a record player you will get a much richer and fuller sound.

Reason number 2: When you buy an album you get all sorts of fun extras. When you get a cd you get a little fold-out booklet with lyrics and a few pictures. I recently bought an album at a show in Victoria, BC, and in addition to getting larger scale album artwork, I got an original poster and an additional printout of the song list. Brilliant.

The 3rd and final reason: there is a certain nostalgia behind owning albums. Having a giant piece of vinyl that hadn't changed much in decades reminds us of "simpler times." With the rising trend in vintage clothing, 60s counter-culture, it is only a matter of time that collecting LP's will also become a frontrunner on the trend forefront.

Of course, the rise in technology is largely a reason why collecting LP's has gotten so much easier. With record players that convert albums to your computer, you can justify buying albums instead of cd's. With online auction sites like Ebay, you can get new albums from bands you love even in places like Kalispell, MT (which hasn't sold a new LP since 1982 I'm guessing).

Overall, starting an LP collection will not only create a lasting collection you can pass on to your children (even though they won't appreciate it as much), but it will secure your place as one of the cool counter-culture kids. I secretly have a dream of having a small studio apartment with white walls, wood floors, a mattress in the corner and stacks of albums and books. Of course, right now I'd be listening to four albums on repeat because that's all I own.

Suffering in the Snow

So I've recently moved back to Kalispell, MT after finishing a three and a half year stint at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. While in my first few years of university, the prospect of returning to this valley that I called home for so many years seemed wonderfully inviting. However, now forced with the idea of living here (in vain) for the next few months until I decide what direction my life should take, I am left feeling utterly destroyed and miserable. Don't worry, I'm not about to put on some MCR and find a dark corner to cry in, I am, however, going to figure out any and every way in which I may be able to leave this desolate place in search of something bigger and better.

I finally realize why so many people around here get married and start families at the tender age of 20. There is simply nothing better to do. Unless you are a nurse, or perhaps an accountant, there is no real job market here. We don't have exciting events coming through town, hell, our theater hasn't even gotten Sweeney Todd yet. The most exciting thing for a young person to do is go to the local watering hole and get lubricated (maybe things aren't so different from Victoria after all). Granted, the difference between Kalispell and a college town is that when you go out here, it's like a high school reunion. At least if I continue visiting the bars here I won't have to worry about returning to my high school years from now to see everyone.