Bourgeois? or just Bougie?

What is bougie? It's a word to love and own up to. It's the epitome of "nouveau riche." It's what America is about. It's rags to riches, or The Gap to Prada, or McDonald's to PF Chang's. Or, in the recent economic downturn, it's Bank of America now owning Merrill Lynch. I, for one, love it.

Urban Dictionary (the common man's dictionary) defines it as (I've inserted my own comments where appropriate):

1. Bougie (adjective)

Adjective meaning extravagent, often to the point of snobbery (having class is not snobbery). Usually used in relation to the conspicuous consumption (it helps the economy) of the urban upper-middle class. Derived from "bourgeoisie."

"What kind of chips are those?"
"Organic Parmesan Oregeno with Olive Oil, they're 4 dollars a bag"
"Man those are bougie chips"

2. Bougie (adjective)

Anything that is perceived as "upscale" from a blue-collar point of view. 'Bougie' (pronounced boo'-she) is a hacked truncation of the word Bourgeoisie, which refers to the middle-class in Europe, but refers to a more affluent class level in the United States.

From Wikipedia.org:
In the United States, which lacks strict social classes, Bourgeoisie is sometimes used to refer to those seen as being upper class.

You can sit there and drink your bougie-ass microbrewed beer, but I still prefer my ice cold Coors (Gross!) original.

Did ya see Luthur (who is actually called Luther nowadays?) just roll up in his bougie new BMW?

You can eat your bougie $25.99 salad from Central Market for lunch, but I'm hangin' with Mikky D's!(Who can put a price on a healthy meal? Really. I say this as I'm eating a Fish Fillet from "Mikky D's".)

My #11 Meal from McDonald's was delicious. Obviously all I have left are the french fries. I snarfed the fish up so fast. It's like it never existed in the first place.

But, aren't we all a little bougie? Just a little? Or, at least, we all aspire to be. You'd have to be an ingrate to not want fine dining, nice clothes, and a little bit of Jazz music while you're studying for your next midterm, which you hope to pass with flying colors so that one day you will be able to afford your new bougie lifestyle. Le sigh.

Price: McDonald's No. 11 Fish Fillet Meal - $4.27. What I really wanted was the $25.99 salad from Central Market.

Discover the Experience...

Can the Jackson Family surprise us anymore? Seriously. It's as if Michael Jackson's own Neverland Ranch didn't leave us with enough crazy to last us a lifetime. What could possibly top Elephant remains and pedophilia all in one venue?

In Nigeria, Marlon Jackson decided to try to outshine his flamboyant brother. I think he wins. It's just my personal opinion.

According to the Guardian, he is starting up a Slavery Theme Park along with a museum dedicated to the Jackson 5. Yes, because Nigeria doesn't have problems of government infrastructure and oil corruption. Nigerians can now spend their non-existent leisure money to go "Discover the Experience" of Slavery. IN AFRICA! What the hell!?

"The Jackson family had been looking for a place to site their memorabilia collection," explained Gary Loster, chief executive of the Motherland Group, to the BBC. "We visited the site of the slave port in Badagry and Marlon turned to me and said: 'Let's put it here, this is right.'"

Jesus. This is worse than Jesus Land (or something like that).

The developers' plans, which include a lifesize replica of a slave ship, holograms of the Jackson Five and robot versions of 18th-century African musicians, are not without their opponents.

I'm speechless.

Why put a theme park about slavery in Africa? That's like putting a theme park dedicated to the IMF and the World Bank in Africa. We should put it in Arkansas or North Dakota where no one has seen a person of color. It should be in the Bible Belt. Africans have had enough of repression and enslavement. Honestly.

Wait. Why? Just...why? I don't think anyone needs a Slavery "Theme Park." The phrase theme park was not my idea. I would have said Museum...or...Memorial...or Burial Place...

The point of an amusement park is joy, wisdom and relaxation. Just saying.

A Shower Wonderland

Not often does a body wash come along that I just can't stop day dreaming about the opportunity to go out and buy it.

Over the weekend I spent a night in Washington DC. I stayed at a dear friend's house and of course showered in his bathroom. I'm not a hair product mooch. I pride myself in my grooming and cleanliness (as of late). There was a time (during my dark phase) that I could have given less of a hoot. I showered and conditioned my hair with American Crew. The mint refreshes my soul. Still, that wasn't the piece de resistance of my shower there.

That of course was the Hermes Eau D'Orange Verte Body Wash.

That was an over share, but this body wash drives me insane. Honestly.

Of course you can only buy the 10oz bottle online (to the best of my knowledge) at Hermes for $50. I don't know if I can go back to my CVS brand of body wash. Not only do I feel extra yummy, but also slightly bougie.

I'm off to dream some more.

Obama is ruining the redneck's 2008.

I'm calling the World Series match-up as being between the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays. They're both ahead and I actually know nothing about baseball. Bad lesbian, bad.

Whoever is in the World Series however (which the Phillies have not been since 1993) will have millions of rednecks watching the game. I'm not saying that everyone that watches baseball is a redneck nor am I saying that all rednecks watch baseball. After all it's not Nascar.

Game 6 of the World Series (if needed) will be postponed by 18 minutes. You ask why? Obama (who is not a terrorist / communist) bought a 30-minute spot for a political ad.

What a clever move to gain the white male vote. Shock. The MLB agreed to move the start of the game by 18 minutes to accommodate this spot. Reactions have been...mixed.

"It’s unfortunate that the World Series’ first pitch is being delayed for Obama’s political pitch," RNC spokesman Alex Conant said. "Not only is Obama putting politics before principle, he’s putting it before our national pastime.”

Rewind. "Putting politics before principle?"

He's putting the race for the presidency before our "national pastime." Alex Conant is a douche. Our economy needs to be mended. Our troops need better support. Our citizens need rights and all this douche can think of is our "national pastime."

18 minutes, come on. That's actually a long time if you would just take a minute to think about it.

These rednecks could do the following:

1. Recite half of the alphabet 72 times.
2. Shower once.
3. Drink a six-pack with Sarah Palin.
4. Read part of the Kansas City Times.
5. Put on a shirt.
6. Heat up some Lean Cuisine.

Honestly. Obama's "extra 18 minutes" is a gift to these backwards folk. There. I said it. Stop whining. Watch the spot.

Vote or Die

America considers itself the most exceptional democracy in the world, preaching its glory to the rest of the world. It's a shining example of democracy. Does this statement still ring true? Are we the greatest democracy that this world currently has to offer? There is no exception that we used to be. This current generation: Generation X, Y, Z, Alpha, or Omega...(yadayada, I'm not keeping track and nor does it matter) has voted in record low numbers. Democracy needs to be exercised, yet we, the youth voters, are not excercising anything. It's one of the simplest activities ever. You go to the polling station. You vote. You're done. If you're studying at a university, you go back to bed or to bed for the first time that night. It's simple, right? Then why did only 38% of eligible youth voters turnout to the polls? Eligible meaning: non-felons, registered voters, citizens, etc.

It takes effort. Not the actual activity you should be doing on November 4th, but the process of voting. You're expected to follow the bailout and understand its complexities. You're expected to know if you're already registered or not and then if someone on the street fucks up your registration...you won't be able to vote. Is that your fault? You're expected to care. You're expected to trust your government. You're expected to pick one of the two candidates - even if you dislike both of them. You have little less than a month to get the facts and consider yourself educated.

Be a Maverick. Go vote. But, first, you have to register. Did you already do that?

Puma

So, I've been busy with school. I think you'd understand my absence. I don't have exciting travel stories...

But...

Check out my new shoes!

Ok, I haven't actually worn them yet, so they do look exactly like this picture. Shiny. Clean. And super soft.

And, they're flannel. Woot! I love Puma to death.

Going to school hasn't actually made me think about the world less...My writing has just been devoted to papers. I will however revisit and bash on the world once again. Hopefully before the elections, but definitely Nov 4 at the latest.

Go out and vote! In some states you can already vote. Go Barack the vote. thanks!

My name could be Devil

If I could have any name, what would it be? It would probably be Digi Mondt. My parents would think about "Devil Child" or "God" depending on their mood and my actions during that day.

Sweden has relaxed rules on parents allowing them to name their children whatever they want. Well, not whatever they want...they have to steer clear from God, Allah, and Devil. They can however name their children Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Metallica, and Budweiser. I'd love the name Energizer or Duracell. Or, maybe Astroglide or Trojan. I know, I'm laughing out loud. Considering that my name is extremely girly I've dreamt of others, such as La-Z-Boy, Smirnoff Ice, or 5 Gum. That's right, I will heighten all five of your senses.