Miss Kolka

"Back to our top story"

Man, that reminds me of work. I must say I am surprised by the media coverage of the US Presidential race. I shouldn't be though. When there's isn't anything more interesting to say about the issues then its back to the mini-scandals. The latest ones, but in a list of many, are 1. how much money Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin spent on clothes for the campaign and 2. The "hidden socialist agenda" of Barack Obama who wants to redistribute wealth amongst Americans. "ouou scary"  Plllllease.  
But of course we have to keep the story going, there are still 12 days until election day and issues are what make politics boring anyway. People want sex, money and personal tragedies. Give us more lack of chemistry between presdential and VP candidate, terrorist connections and spending sprees. As long as we forget what real life is all about. So lets get to it:

1.The republican party is supposed to have spent 150 thousand dollars on clothes and make-up for M'am Palin and family. How can that be surprising (apart perhaps the amount)? It should be no surprise to us that we live in a media age where image is everything. And unfortunately, both women and men demand more of women in that area. I think its normal that the party spends money to dress Palin up to the task and that they try to make her LOOK more presidential to voters. That's how spin works and it is in practice everywhere in the modern world. Its what Segolene Royal has also been criticised for - but men are at it as well. People get whiter teeth, take moles of their faces and even have full plastic surgeries to look more appealing in politics. And it works - Its either that or you get ugly comments like Angela Merkel has had to face in her career, being, for some, not womanly enough. Somehow it seems though that these issues are only raised when a woman is playing the game. There is so much choice for women that it can easily cost more for women to look good but it should be worth it since it has shown itself that handsome people do better. 

So I have to say that this is such a non-story that it doesnt deserve the attention its getting. There are two reasons for that though. Since the republicans are trying to get to the average American, its perhaps not a very sly move. How can people connect with someone who has the opportunity of spending so much money on something so un-important as clothes (while looks in reality are just basic worktools for the politician) as the rest struggles to pay off debts and morgages? Republicans have been trying to play on the "average joe" story and their connection to smalltown america but this leak might seem a bit too much for people not even earning that in a years of hard work. And second, there is also concern that Palin as governor might have been using taxpayers' money to pay for her family to travel with or without her. Her daughter even stayed in a 4 star luxurious hotel in NY - all payed by the state of Alaska - and that doesnt sound good for someone who says again and again that they will work against government overspending and corruption.  The story here might be that this is more hypocriticial then anything else - and voters have the right to know. They might talk the talk, but are they walking the walk?

2. Regarding Obama, the "evil socialist" (since terrorist didn't stick no matter how much the Republicans tried), Lets talk a little about socialism. Its ridiculous that republicans, who have been calling Obama "a socialist" can trigger so much fear amongst voters that actually want what Obama is planning - without even knowing what its called. Or what do you call a plan for more intervention and regulation on the financial markets by the government? It sounds like socialism to me:

"Some socialists advocate complete nationalization of the means of production, distribution, and exchange; while others advocate state control of capital within the framework of a market economy. Social Democrats propose selective nationalization of key national industries in mixed economies combined with tax-funded welfare programs;"

We have seen that the rules of capitalism didn't work - while there was profit, the money went to individuals but when there was trouble, who had to pay the price? People that have lost their houses, don't they want the state to have a safety net for them called social security?  And why did they get in that mess in the first place? Because they didn't have healthcare - something Obama wants to change. So stop repeating slogans you don't even understand and think about your economic future people. Socialism isn't the end of the world - and read up on the difference between Socialism and Communism while you're at it...

You just have to love the internet.... check out the almost hidden name at the top of the picture to see where that comes from...

We're thinking of this bag for the little one. Its not because you can't walk or talk that you can't be fashionable. Its never too early to be a fashion victim!

I would like one of those!

see more on this British website

Its official and now scientifically proven: Women's brain stop functioning normally during pregnancy but - wait for it- in the long run having a child does boosts female brain power! That is great news. And its not all. Men also become kinder and and smarter when they have children. (although I can not imagine a kinder and smarter Pan).

You dont believe me? - read it for yourself:
“Pregnant women do undergo a phase of so-called baby brain, when they experience an apparent loss of function...Women often report problems with memory and reasoning after they become pregnant. A 2002 study by Angela Oatridge of Hammersmith hospital, London, reported that brain scans of pregnant women showed a 4% decline in size. Last year, two Australian researchers reported that pregnant women consistently performed worse on tests for memory and verbal skills.”

AHA, I have noticed that I look more for my words, especially in french, but I thought this was because I wasn't speaking it so much, since I haven't been to work for over 3 months now. But it's all worth the trouble.. since apparently I can expect to become five times faster at finding food (ok I don't think going to the supermarket takes that much time?)  and I might also become braver - which is lucky seeing my last name.

and later on the article goes to say that  “if anything employers should be seeking out women who have a family.”

That is terrific and frankly makes me very happy. I have always believed in science. The evidence didn't say however, if these brain powers get better every time you have a baby - if it does, then my plan of having eight little ones doesn't seem that crazy anymore, does it?

The other article about Kinder daddies is not all positive though... Some fathers become so over-sensitive that it can affect their behaviour:

“ A growing body of research shows how new dads undergo a series of hormonal changes that may boost their nurturing instincts, make them kinder, more concerned and attentive to the point of obsessiveness... New dads aren't mentally ill, but they do tend to fuss - often on typically male matters such as whether the car seat is strapped exactly right. Over-attentiveness can be one problem - and postnatal depression is another...As far as Mother Nature is concerned that's small price to pay for turning millions of men into smart, caring parental partners.”

I dont think that this is going to be a problem in our case... Pan worries sometimes that he had pregnancy-like symptoms in the beginning of the pregnancy such as a little bit of weight gain (like 90% of men have actually according to a new study) but since he is totally back on track I am sure he is going to handle fatherhood perfectly. Motherhood, on the other hand worries me sometimes. Will I be attentive enough and talk enough to the baby (talk? talk? but in which language???? French or Icelandic??swahili perhaps?) or will I be so obsessed by my new "brain powers" that I will go off to try to save the world?

The neighbours are driving me crazy. Well, the neighbours in the building or the restaurants all around the block or maybe both. Its clear we are in France, people are cooking ALL the time! And not some just scandinavian dishes like smorrebrod, cold sandwiches, smoked salmon or "hafragraut"  for lunch, that is things that dont smell - at least not into other peoples appartements. No,  here it has to be some roastbeef with onions and carrots, or roasted chicken or lamb curry.. I could probably guess the menu of the week just by SMELLING it.  Even on sundays when the local brasserie is closed - then its the grandma on the other side of the corridor making lunch for 4, starting half past ten in the morning. Or the little old lady next door making butter chicken... who knew butter had such a strong smell? She should beware of too fatty foods actually that old one. (A few nights ago we heard her almost choking in her sleep- making strange sounds and screaming at 4 in the morning. I was out in the corridor in my bathrobe ready to check up on her when I realised by the rythm of her breathing that she was fast asleep. And since then she has reappeared alive luckely.) I should be happy though that we are not in a spicy country like India or China.

Why am I so annoyed by these smells? Maybe its because they make me nauseaous... and I know its part of the wonderful pregnancy cycle (even the lady next to me at the doctors smelled weird, of coffee and I swear cigarettes - and when I asked her about her belly she was 5 and a half months pregnant! shame on you!). But perhaps its also because we cannot cook whatever we fancy ourselves. For weeks now the heating plates in our living room that pass for a kitchen have not been working properly. We bought new ones and thought rather naively that now we could cook two things at the same time, lets say pasta and sauce. But little did we know that it would take around 45 minutes to get the water boiling and that the heat does not stay on. I have started to cook now around four o clock in the afternoon so we can eat around 8. Is that really what you want to do to a pregnant woman? Really? Think again and in the meanwhile you nasty neighbours - Cut it off!

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