Ugly Smile?

I'm at a loss for words about this... thankfully, it probably isn't going to catch on.

A Helping Hand

Better than the real thing?

A New Twist on Oral Sex

Technological advances in speech recognition make it possible for the robot to interpret direction of sound.

Sex Terminator

Robot sex - always worth mentioning!

Fem Bot

What's in a name...too bad I couldn't get that name from Blogger. Someone else has already registered it but has never used it or updated their blog. Oh well...bygones.

I'm going to use this blog to collect ideas, writings, pictures, and articles about robots and artificial intelligence.

Hialeah Cop-Out

I've been noticing a lot of Hialeah police out lately. They are pulling people over left and right. I figure it's the end of the month and all--they need to fulfill their speeding/traffic ticket quota for the month.

But just a word of caution: Tony brought me some Starbuck's coffee this morning and as he was waiting in line at the Miami Springs SB's he noticed a posting on the bulletin board about police being out and about like vultures on a feeding frenzy. This is supposed to last until August 5th or so. I'm mentioning this because anything on a Starbuck's community bulletin board is worth noting.

Also, mentioned on the bulletin board, according to Tony, is the doubling of speeding and infraction fines. I'm not sure how valid this claim is, I'm just passing along the info.

So, come to complete stops at all stop signs, don't take yellow lights (in case they turn red before you've cleared the intersection--it's a ticketable offense) and make sure you're wearing your seatbelt. If you get pulled over for one thing and they see you have another minor infraction, they will ticket you for both.

Side note: for all those who travel south down 7th Ave instead of LeJeune/8th Ave to avoid morning traffic, there is usually a motorcycle cop giving speeding tickets somewhere around 5th street. He hides out under a big, shady tree. Try to slow down, avoid the area, and flash warning lights to oncoming traffic if you see him.

I got a ticket a few months ago and I live a few blocks away...

Cameltoes and Moose Knuckles: The Battle Rages

Cameltoe

Ah, yes. We all know this term. It needs no definition, although the cameltoe article on Wikipedia.com (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameltoe) does a splendid job at delineating the term's definition and offering various physical causes that may play a part in the creation of a cameltoe.

Recently, I came across a YouTube video of an old song I often heard when I was younger, but
I've never seen the music video. The song, of course, is FannyPack's single “Cameltoe.”

It was interesting to watch the video and listen to the lyrics with a much more critical eye and ear. Female genitalia is not only being made fun of, but it is also categorized as disgusting and revolting. In the music video, people look disgusted and shocked at seeing a cameltoe, one man even throws up.

Personally, I don't think that the human body should ever be an object of shame or disgust. But, let's assume for a moment that this wish of mine is too much of an ideology. Then, are men also the subject of ridicule and humiliation when it comes to their reproductive organs? Let's ponder this for a moment.

What is the male equivalent of a cameltoe? Some sites argue that it is the term “bulge.” An obviously neutral term which carries with it no negative connotations. Other sites argue that it is the term “moose knuckle” and other slight variations of it. I'm sure that's going to catch on...

Ok, so let's take the term, bulge. If it was as negative as cameltoe I doubt baseball players or professional dancers would wear such enhancing protective gear in that area. I'm going to stray from the topic of cameltoes and moose knuckles a moment... Why is it that women have no equivalent protective wear for breasts or the genitalia in sports? I've gotten hit in the breast by a spiked volleyball and I almost passed out from the pain. It is probably dangerous too (I am no doctor, scientist, nor have I done studies...but do these studies even exist? Is anyone looking out for the welfare of female athletes?). Anyways...back on track now... showing off and having a prominent outline of the male genital area is definitely not a negative thing in our society. Men’s jeans even enhance that, giving the illusion of having a larger package than exists in reality by creating a nice little poofy pouch in the front area.

Now, I’m not someone who is wishing for men to be ashamed of their bodies—quite the contrary—I just wish the same standards existed for women.

I remember an incident that happened during my freshmen/sophomore year of high school (can’t remember when exactly)... we wore uniforms but some days we were allowed dress up days. On one of these dress up days I came to school with jeans and a white t-shirt with a smiley face on it. It was a baby-tee (was that what they were called?), which is generally a cotton t-shirt that is fitted to your body with small sleeves. Well, I’ve always had large breasts and there’s nothing I can do about them. I can’t stuff them into a tiny bra and hope they’ll shrink. They’re there. They are prominent. Get over it.

Well, I got called out for them. The president of the student council (a girl) and a teacher (a woman) both came up to me and said I was dressed inappropriately!!! I remember my face turning red. I felt ashamed and instantly put on the spot and insecure. I knew it was my white shirt. You could probably see the outline of my bra underneath and the t-shirt wasn’t loose so you could see my breasts pretty clearly. But, I was also not ready for a wet t-shirt contest or something. My conservative, Hispanic grandmother would never have let me walk out of the house if she thought I looked too hoochie or “inappropriate” for a catholic school.

This event embarrassed me, made me feel insecure and ashamed. I had to ask my grandmother, who worked at the bookstore to lend me a jacket so I could cover myself. Never mind this is Florida and it was hot. The student council president and the faculty member pointed out something that I wasn’t aware of that morning as I was getting dressed—the overt sexuality of female breasts and the shame society associates with sexuality.

If this incident would have happened to me today I would have been able to respond “appropriately” and asked them exactly what they wanted me to do with my breasts? Should I tape them down? Wear huge bulky sweaters (as many women ashamed of their bodies tend to do...as I often did in high school as a result of that incident)? Should I get a breast reduction? Should I be ashamed? Of course not. Damn them for ever making me feel that way.

What a backwards world we live in. Women with big breasts getting breast reductions...women with small breasts getting breast enlargements. Penis reductions—yeah right—not in this society.

Let’s return to the genital area once more and think back to our early childhood for a moment. If you are male do you remember an older relative pointing to your penis and remarking on the “cuteness” of it? Probably. If you are female, do you have any similar memories? Probably not. My memories are of family members always making sure I was covered up. Or if I was jumping around and sat down with my legs spread open, I would be told to close my legs. I’d obey automatically, without thinking of the “why” of the action. Pretty soon I was imitating women who crossed their legs.

It’s “ladylike” to cross your legs if you are a woman, but for me it’s always been damn uncomfortable. I get a red spot (I am very pale) on my calf when it has rested on my knee for a while. My leg falls asleep and sometimes my hip feel funky after a long sitting time with my legs crossed. This is social convention working here, this is probably not biological.

Another reason to cross our legs is the same reason we tend to do it as young girls—there are different standards and social mores surrounding genitalia that affect our behavior well into adulthood. As a result, we often transmit these ideologies to our own children without even knowing.

Men tend to sit with their legs spread far apart and women try to constrict their legs, crossing them or keeping their knees together, which requires some effort. The result—women take up less physical space than men. This must carry with it some psychological reinforcement about who is superior more important. In fact, at least my own personal experience supports this.

At a Cirque de Soliel show here in Miami, in a tent, with itty-bitty little seats squished together to fit the maximum number of people into the show area, I found myself between my huge boyfriend and a huge man who I did not know. I didn’t mind having my leg rub against my boyfriend’s, but I did mind having my leg rub against some stranger. I brought my legs closer together, I moved closer to my boyfriend—to no avail. I was forced to sit through the show feeling some other man’s leg against my own.

The problem with this is that I was the one moving, I was the one trying to take up less space. The man next to me, never batted an eyelash over the situation, nor did he try to bring his legs closer together. Yes, I am aware of the male genital area but I have never seen men walking down the street as if they were straddled on a horse or prepared to allow a semi-truck drive through their legs. Why do they insist on sitting like that then?

This blogger discusses the Hispanic male as the culprit behind this action, but really all males do it. It’s something they learn unconsciously. Women close their legs, men open theirs. Women are ashamed of their genital area, men are not. This is pure social convention and social mystification of sexuality.

Of course there are many reasons for this, but the constant hiding of female genitalia probably contributes to an overwhelming sense of shame about it. While little boys can run naked with people comment positively on their sexual parts of course they will grow up with a quite different understanding and relationship with their private parts than women do.

Even masturbation and self touching is something often associated with men rather than women. Men use their hands, women use dildos. The companies that produce dildos to help satisfy women sexually wouldn't make their hefty profits if more women just used their hands. Vaginal climax (the “mature” type of climax, according to Freud) is difficult—and some argue impossible—to reach without clitoral stimulation (Freud believed that climax is “immature” reinforcing the need of the male penis, or some phallic object to do the trick).

Think about gynecological examinations which women learn are something they need to do every year. We go see a virtual stranger, spread our legs, and allow that person (most often a man) look at, open up, and stick something into our vaginas. How many of those women who visit gynecologists ever look at themselves? Touch themselves? Have ever even tried? If this is offending you, disgusting you, don't worry—you are sharing the sentiments of most people in our culture.

Billie Swamp Safari

Yes, I know... Billie Swamp Safari isn't in Miami--it's actually a bit of a drive. But it's important for city folk to venture out into the countryside (which in Florida are the Everglades' swamps) and reconnect with nature and an alligator or two. Also, I just figure this blog will have lots more interesting content if I include things outside of the immediate Miami area, but within driving distance. There is only so much sand and concrete a girl can take.

Well, Billie Swamp Safari was a blast to visit. It's a great, unique way to spend the day: there are walking trails on a boardwalk over the water, airboat rides (the absolute funnest thing), swamp buggie rides (this would be great to get around Miami traffic!), shows, animal enclosures, and you can even spend a night in a Chickee for about $35 (I didn’t do that, but I plan to soon!). What's a Chickee? It's a raised platform hut with some cots. No air conditioning or running water here.

Other things I did that day... ate alligator (soooo yummy! Tastes like a mix between chicken and fish) and fed an ostrich (who bit my hand hard!).

The drive there is part of the fun because it's a great opportunity to see the everglades, not see any buildings, and breathe some fresh air. But here is a piece of advice: Do NOT speed through Clewiston, which is the Indian reservation where Billie Swamp Safari is located. Once you start to see houses, make sure to slow down to the appropriate speed limit. Tony and I got pulled over =(

There are a bunch of other things to do that I haven’t mentioned so for more details visit the official website: http://www.seminoletribe.com/safari

Here's the address:

Billie Swamp Safari
HC-61, Box 46
Clewiston, Florida 33440

But, that probably won't help you...they've got directions posted on their site.

Take Alligator Alley (I-75) from either Ft. Lauderdale or Naples to exit 49 (Mobile Service Plaza) then go north 19 miles to the park entrance.

Those 19 miles are the fun driving part!

Don't Give Me Moore Crap

Yes, I am going to see "Sicko". No, I haven't yet.

I have seen some clips from the film of a Cuban hospital that made my blood boil.

Supposedly, Moore went to Cuba and took with him some aid workers who were injured and supposedly asked the Cuban government to give them "the same care they give their own Cuban citizens [....] No more, no less. And that's what they did."

Yea. Great. And that proves what exactly?

I know I need to see the whole film first to see what this hospital looked like. But still, this sounds way too fishy for me because I know people, family members, friends, I have twenty-six years of listening to Cuban family and friends talking about Cuba, I know what's going on over there. I hear it every day. Things are not better over there than they are here.

Also, I saw a clip of Moore boasting about the price of medicine. How it was loads cheaper in Cuba than in the states. Yea. I bet they are. With Moore's salary, his American dollars, and his American citizenship, anything is available to him. The same is not true for the people that live there.

I wonder why in the time I worked in Walgreens I saw so many people buying medicine! food! clothes! to send back to their relatives in Cuba. There are companies that specialize in sending packages to Cuba! Ummm...why the demand if Cubans have it so good over there? If what Moore is saying is true about the low costs of medicine, why don't Cubans buy in bulk and send to their relatives here in the states, in Miami? Hmmm???

I'm sorry...but watching people that have absolutely no ties to Cuba talking about Cubans or the country or its politics like they know what the fuck they are talking about pisses the shit right out of me. They don't give a damn about the people in Cuba. Moore probably didn't leave the touristic part of Cuba to visit where the people live. He probably didn't realize that only the "clean" part of Cuba is reserved for the tourists, not if you actually live there. No, I don't think he noticed, he was probably too busy giving a shit about himself and the American's he took over there to make a stupid point. He should have grabbed a few random Cubans off the street and asked the hospitals to give THEM care.

Here is a link to Humberto Fontova's article about "Sicko". It's a good read, well worth the time.

Danger: Glossy Flyers Ahead

I'm a graduate student and I also teach. One thing I've noticed about the campus I work at is that it is absolutely littered with flyer advertisements. There's everything including the to-be-expected "looking for a roommate" and "selling my car". However, there is another type of flyer, a much more dangerous one.

These flyers are the glossy little cards that usually have a half or fully naked glistening woman in some sort of contorted animal-like position. It's a great attention grabber, obviously. It's also very affective to throw these glossy flyers down stair wells (which already happen to be quite slippery (add to that the scenario of the occasional Florida downpour)) or to lick the back of these tasty advertisements and slap them onto the back of bathroom stall doors or to the inside of elevator doors (something nice to look at in both occasions). It's also especially brilliant when the distributors of these flyers (who are mysteriously never seen in the act) leave one flyer on each and every desk inside of a classroom. It's just wonderful! They leave me some great teaching material.

Not only do I have to physically see these things at school where I both work and try to study as a student, but now they've infiltrated my Facebook account. The image below is a cut-and-paste from a side advertisement on a wall-to-wall conversation page on Facebook. It's lovely how the people at Facebook match up your zipcode to these ads (I wonder if people in small towns have Wet Wet Wednesdays). This was plastered (literally) right next to where I was typing. And I find it interesting how throughout many of these social websites there are options to “report” an image or a post that another user uploads, but not for advertisements that we really have no other choice but to look at. Quite interesting.

I know the image below is small and obviously a scan of one of the dreadful flyers I've mentioned before but the woman in the picture is clearly naked and covered in suds. I'm sure this would offend more than just a few people. Or maybe I'm wrong. Either way, if people (especially women) are just ignoring these images or see these images and shrug them off as unimportant, trivial, not allowing the images to affect them, it is still sad that these images are allowed regardless of the public's reaction. Though how many images of women covered in soap suds, degraded, and in submission can a person see without being affected, I am not sure, but I don't think it takes too many of these images to cause an imprint.

WET WET WEDNESDAYS



@ Club VIP
(on the corner of 79th and 7th ave)

18 to party
21 to swallow

FOR MORE INFO CALL
(yea...I'm not going to advertise for these idiots, sorry)