R.I.P. Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse has died today. So extremely sad, she was only twenty seven. I remember my mom and I listening to Back to Black a few years ago before she blew up in the U.S..

No one knows what she died from yet, but I'm pretty sure it's drug and alcohol related. She is now apart of the 27 Club, with others such as Kurt Cobain, D.Boon (I include D.Boon because he was an amazing musician), Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison.

What is so sad is that we all watched Amy Winehouse struggle with her addictions through the media. That must have sucked knowing everyone knew about your addictions. We all know she should have taken a ten year break from it all and get herself healthy. This is such an awful loss.

It's so crazy that last night I actually googled her to see what was up with Winehouse, I hadn't seen her face anywhere for awhile. Who knew she would die the next morning? Crazy.

R.I.P., Amy.

Next Week

Hello all my friends! Thanks for reading my blog, it means a lot. It's cool knowing how you guys are basically reading my thoughts.

I just wanted to give you a heads up that next two weeks will be crazy busy so I may not have very many posts up. I'll try my hardest to, though. Expect me to post something on Friday...Maybe a playlist before I go off to camp? I am so sad that I haven't been posting playlists because I get such positive feedback from them. I actually have a lot of new music to put on next month's playlist so it'll be a good one!

Hope everyone is having a lovely vegan summer!!

Clara

No Flag

I went to this show last night that is explained on the poster above. I'm so stoked I went, and I actually caught one of these posters! Ceremony actually guest played this show and opened up for No Age, they play awesome! It was an rad surprise because I’ve been wanting to see them! There were rumors going on that Dukowski and Morris were going to be playing this show, but everyone thought it was too good to be true. Next thing you know, after No Age plays you here "Wasted" and all of these people start running to the front of the stage. It was practically a Black Flag reunion plus No Age. That's why I love the music I listen to. Anything can happen at these shows. You never know who's going to come out for the next song and play; especially when FYF (they put this show on) events basically always say "Plus Special Guest". What makes this show even sweeter is that No Age actually comes out and hangs out after the show’s over. It's annoying when bands with a big fan base (like No Age) hide away after the show and make the fans wait to meet them. No Age keeps it real. I really need to learn an instrument, because I want a band. I want to make good music and play shows!

This was an entirely free show, and Food Not Bombs were there! I didn't get a chance to eat anything because we got there kind of late but I saw that they had tacos which looked pretty delicious! Free vegan food, Black Flag reunion, No Age, AND Ceremony? I don't think this show could have gotten any better.

Highlight of My Day

Today, my mom and I took the dogs for a walk around the Silverlake reservoir. I took the dogs, and she took off to run (you could say my dogs and I are a little lazy when it comes to running) She eventually overlapped me, and informed me that there was a baby Opossum caught in the fence where there was barbed wire. Poor baby was exhausted, he should have been sound asleep in his Opossum home as possums are nocturnal. He had been stuck there for about four hours according to a neighbor across the street. Supposedly Animal Control was called but never showed up.

Neither my Mom nor I had our phones to call for help. My mom got a box from someone's recycling and a blanket had been left for the Opossum. We were hoping somebody would help us get the baby down. Eventually a man with a phone stopped to see what was going on. My Mom asked him to call Valley Wildlife Care and see if they could send help. They gave us the phone number for SmART (888)452-7381. It's Los Angeles Animal Services Small Animal Rescue Team. The nice man with the phone called and SmART was there within 15 minutes.

While all of this was going on people were passing by, jogging, and would say "How cute!" or "Poor thing" and run off. I don't really see how an Opossum stuck and in distress is cute..Actually, I wasn't there at the time, but this overweight lady just says to my Mom,"Oh well!". That makes me so mad! What makes you so much better than this stuck Opossum? You're an animal too, a far lazier, apathetic one. Keep your mouth shut if your going to say ignorant words like that. Like we're going to just walk off and say "Yeah, you're right, see ya stuck little Opossum" to the fat woman.

What made me so relieved was that he wasn't injured and was old enough to be released to the wild life. I can't imagine just walking away from the stuck baby Opossum like so many others did. If you were in some position like that, for four hours, I'd think that you would want help instead of falling and dying.

It's so terrible that if you just google image the word "possum" possum roadkill comes up, people holding possums by their tails, possum removal traps, and hunted possums. It's so effed up that they're looked upon as negative type creatures. Why are people so weird and demented? Why are they so scared of possums?

I am bummed I wasn't able to make it to the Greatest Circus Protest on Earth last night, but helping the possum helped make up for it. Yay for the Opossum! This event today makes me feel a little more in touch with my animal rights side. I mean I haven't stopped being passionate for the animals, and I'm a vegan for life but I guess I haven't been very active this summer. There's been so much human stuff going on. It's nice to take a break from your busy life and help another being. I definitely needed to help rescue that Opossum. Now let's go rescue some more animals!

Cool Opossum Facts:

Opossum's are the only marsupial mammals in the United States. That means the female carries her babies in her pouch.

Opossum's are actually sweet and gentle. They like to be alone.

Oppossum's can live anywhere with food, shelter, and water.

Sexist advertising

When I'm watching T.V. my day can be easily ruined by the commercials. Okay, not ruined, but I get very annoyed. Not by having wait through the commercials, that doesn't bug me. But the messages that certain commercials send.

For example, one that has come to my attention is a laundry detergent commercial. I'm not sure exactly what corporation and company it is because I was so distracted by the degrading-ness of it. Anyways, it was showing how the detergent takes stains out and leaves the clothing looking brand new. Awesome. What annoyed me was that, of course, women were talking about this. Not one male actor in this commercial. I am so sick of the 1950's housewife commercials that are stuck in modern times. In case you don't know, women are kicking ass. We are successful, powerful women and doing what we want to do with our lives. I give major props to all mothers and housewives because they do a hell of a lot for their families, but they do have other things to do and talk about rather than just gasp over their amazing new detergent they got. There are many men that are "house-husbands", why aren't they in any of these commercials? There are many gay men who have kids, they aren't appearing in any of these commercials. Who says that one parent has to put up with all the house work? Get with the times people. Women aren't machines meant to just raise kids, clean the house, and make dinner. I'm here to have an effective voice in the world and do whatever the hell I want...or maybe not do whatever the hell I want like laundry!

This sexist advertising is so god damn degrading in my opinion. Another commercial that made my blood boil was of a mom on a computer looking at ideas for dinner and as the kids and dad walk in she sees some kind of pre-made dinner she could make. Is there some kind of rule that women have to have the meals made at dinner?

I don't see them very often but one of the most aggravating commercials are the Carl's Jr. ones. Those commercials are disgusting and so disrespectful to women. We all know those girls in the commercials will not go out and buy a burger, or if they do they'll go and then puke it out due to pressure to continue being skinny and sexy. When girls see those commercials we get self conscience. Especially when it's so sexual. The key people of Carl's Jr. are men, which obviously don't give a crap about these problems, like most CEO's of corporations. Sex sells.

After such disrespectful commercials I get even more motivated to become a super successful woman. This isn't about which gender is more successful, it's about doing what makes YOU feel great. Being fourteen and being my own boss for my business is so rewarding. First, knowing that I will never have to work for "the man" is sweet, and second, not having to go to my parents for money for certain things makes it even better.

We're in the United States. There are a lot of problems with our government, but women do have the right to do what we want. We can go to college, have houses of our own, do what we want. So when I see some of these effed up commercials it makes me pissed off because why should we keeping sending these messages to women who have the right to do what we want! These commercials sort of pressure us into thinking we should have families or settle into a certain gender role.

I guess my point is to tell girls that they don't have to have a family, or make a perfect dinner or wear a bikini and wiggle on a car (unless you want to later on!). You don't have to work for the man. You do what makes you feel empowered and happy. Whether it's starting a band, or a business, doing what you want to do with your life I think is absolutely bad ass.