If anyone would like to see some of my poems, there are two in the March issue of Underground Voices.
http://www.undergroundvoices.com/UVRuedNicholeMarie.htm
There are also some political poems on Verse Wisconsin's site; the link is below in the "In Politics" post. They are called "Ambidextrous," and "The Choke Hold."
I am currently working on an experimental style of poetry. Ideas are welcome! Writer's block has set in.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
In Politics
I attended a protest for the first time today. With a sign, and everything (thank you, Emily).
KILL THE BILL
SAVE OUR RIGHTS
I placed it in my car window tonight.
At the beginning of the week, I admit, I was out of it--the loop, that is. It was Valentine's Day, and I was singles, so my roommate and I threw a singles party, and I got a bit tipsy, and therefore became neglectful of current events. What I didn't know, was that amidst my hangover on Tuesday was a movement by Wisconsin's Governor Walker to cut the rights of state employees to unionize and to negotiate their benefits upon employment.
Basically, to me, this is Walker's way of oppressing the people, using money as a cover-up. This will help the state deficit, the supporters of this bill claim.
I, personally, would like to know how. Point one being that once you make cuts to salaries and benefits, there will be even less money put into the economy, and you will shoot yourself in the foot, especially since the cuts proposed in this bill will be the same across the board, and will therefore greatly affect lower incomes. The custodians at my University will be making less than minimum wage with the benefit and salary cuts if this bill goes through. So if they vacate their position, who will want to take it? This would basically revert to times in history in which people worked for close to nothing in order to scrape by, and that undermines everything unions and any workers, for that matter, have worked for for all of this time.
Point two has to do with the education system. Many professors come to Wisconsin universities because of the benefits packages. The opposition of Walker's bill claims that it is only fair that these employees pay into their own health insurance, etc, but the fact is that their salaries are lower because the benefits are higher. So, either the salaries should be increased to meet the private sectors (if we're going to cut benefits), or the benefits should remain what they are if the employees are expected to take salary cuts. Reiterating point one-- who will want to take jobs as professors in Wisconsin with these ridiculous expectations? Put up with over-sized classes and take less pay AND less benefits. I think if any one of us was in their shoes, we would be fighting for fair treatment, too.
Point number three is that currently, Wisconsin has a leading education system in the United States. We have a high quality of education. So why should we cut funding from the education system? I.E. the professors? Why wouldn't we be pouring money into education? Knowledge is power, folks, and if we cut from knowledge, we suppress people.
Lastly, on the suppression note, the United Nations recognizes the right to organize as a fundamental human right. Taking away union rights is oppressing people, and we should work to keep oppression of any group-- including state employees who work to serve us daily in plowing roads, teaching our children, and cleaning up our garbage-- out of our country. No one deserves to be deprived of rights as a human being. Our professors, our snow plowers, our football players, for that matter, deserve a say in their contracts and salaries. They are not mules working for food, but mentors and people--humans, who deserve to be treated justly--who make a huge difference in our lives. They are not to blame for our deficit, and therefore should not be punished for it.
I thought of all these things as I rallied with fellow students, my professors, and the general public. Our signs remained high even in the rain, in hopes that things will change in this state.
Democrat voters have left the state in order to delay the vote. Please help support this cause in any way possible, whether it is simply a Facebook post, or holding up a sign at a rally at our capitol building. Any support for those who help us on a daily basis is vital and appreciated.
For video footage of UW-Green Bay's Rally yesterday, check out this link:
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-557534
For more information on the issue, look at:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/17/wisconsin.budget/index.html?hpt=Sbin
If you'd like to see a poem I wrote about this, check out Verse Wisconsin's webpage; it's called "Ambidextrous":
http://versewisconsin.org/
KILL THE BILL
SAVE OUR RIGHTS
I placed it in my car window tonight.
At the beginning of the week, I admit, I was out of it--the loop, that is. It was Valentine's Day, and I was singles, so my roommate and I threw a singles party, and I got a bit tipsy, and therefore became neglectful of current events. What I didn't know, was that amidst my hangover on Tuesday was a movement by Wisconsin's Governor Walker to cut the rights of state employees to unionize and to negotiate their benefits upon employment.
Basically, to me, this is Walker's way of oppressing the people, using money as a cover-up. This will help the state deficit, the supporters of this bill claim.
I, personally, would like to know how. Point one being that once you make cuts to salaries and benefits, there will be even less money put into the economy, and you will shoot yourself in the foot, especially since the cuts proposed in this bill will be the same across the board, and will therefore greatly affect lower incomes. The custodians at my University will be making less than minimum wage with the benefit and salary cuts if this bill goes through. So if they vacate their position, who will want to take it? This would basically revert to times in history in which people worked for close to nothing in order to scrape by, and that undermines everything unions and any workers, for that matter, have worked for for all of this time.
Point two has to do with the education system. Many professors come to Wisconsin universities because of the benefits packages. The opposition of Walker's bill claims that it is only fair that these employees pay into their own health insurance, etc, but the fact is that their salaries are lower because the benefits are higher. So, either the salaries should be increased to meet the private sectors (if we're going to cut benefits), or the benefits should remain what they are if the employees are expected to take salary cuts. Reiterating point one-- who will want to take jobs as professors in Wisconsin with these ridiculous expectations? Put up with over-sized classes and take less pay AND less benefits. I think if any one of us was in their shoes, we would be fighting for fair treatment, too.
Point number three is that currently, Wisconsin has a leading education system in the United States. We have a high quality of education. So why should we cut funding from the education system? I.E. the professors? Why wouldn't we be pouring money into education? Knowledge is power, folks, and if we cut from knowledge, we suppress people.
Lastly, on the suppression note, the United Nations recognizes the right to organize as a fundamental human right. Taking away union rights is oppressing people, and we should work to keep oppression of any group-- including state employees who work to serve us daily in plowing roads, teaching our children, and cleaning up our garbage-- out of our country. No one deserves to be deprived of rights as a human being. Our professors, our snow plowers, our football players, for that matter, deserve a say in their contracts and salaries. They are not mules working for food, but mentors and people--humans, who deserve to be treated justly--who make a huge difference in our lives. They are not to blame for our deficit, and therefore should not be punished for it.
I thought of all these things as I rallied with fellow students, my professors, and the general public. Our signs remained high even in the rain, in hopes that things will change in this state.
Democrat voters have left the state in order to delay the vote. Please help support this cause in any way possible, whether it is simply a Facebook post, or holding up a sign at a rally at our capitol building. Any support for those who help us on a daily basis is vital and appreciated.
For video footage of UW-Green Bay's Rally yesterday, check out this link:
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-557534
For more information on the issue, look at:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/17/wisconsin.budget/index.html?hpt=Sbin
If you'd like to see a poem I wrote about this, check out Verse Wisconsin's webpage; it's called "Ambidextrous":
http://versewisconsin.org/
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
In the Classroom
I never fail to embarrass myself in class.
At least, in my favorite classes.
Being an English major, I naturally enjoy those classes more than the bland gen-eds I must take in order to graduate. This means that I try harder in these classes to rise above, and therefore, since I speak more often, I also embarrass myself more often.
Example number one presented itself last spring, in my Practicum in Literary Publishing class. This class centers around creating a successful publication, so we often study other publications to observe how they do things. I was giving a presentation about these things, and was actually on a role, despite my introverted nature, until a bit of a bump turned up in the road:
"The nonfiction section in this particular journal includes a random journalist condom."
Many members of the class looked up at me in disbelief. Did I just say condom? I did. I just said condom.
"Um. COLUMN. A random journalist COLUMN. But I guess, if we included a condom, people might pay more attention to our own journal."
Example number two presented myself when I was emailing a professor last semester. After writing "Hi, Dr. M," I hit enter, and the email was sent, saying only those three words. I was then forced to compose another email explaining the occurrence in hopes that my professor would believe I wasn't a creep.
Example number three happened last week, in this same class, at which point I told my professor that "I wish[ed] my gravy was a genie." Just before, I had whipped open a door to a different classroom, which, unbeknown to me, was full of people, and had exclaimed that my committee could meet in there. "Nevermind!" I shouted, closing the door. Shortly after, I said the gravy comment, and my professor gave me one of those looks like the one that she gave me when I wore a flamingo suit to class, and the one that I got when I interviewed a stripper named Yummy for a story for her nonfiction class.
"She's giving you one of those looks she always gives you," my friend Angela told me after, laughing.
"I love your misfortunes," my professor said, and I laughed too, as I left the room.
I'm sure there will be further embarrassing moments, and I will include them when they arise. For now, though, listen to this song, if you don't understand the full bearing of the gravy comment, or just for fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBZSEfLvmQI
At least, in my favorite classes.
Being an English major, I naturally enjoy those classes more than the bland gen-eds I must take in order to graduate. This means that I try harder in these classes to rise above, and therefore, since I speak more often, I also embarrass myself more often.
Example number one presented itself last spring, in my Practicum in Literary Publishing class. This class centers around creating a successful publication, so we often study other publications to observe how they do things. I was giving a presentation about these things, and was actually on a role, despite my introverted nature, until a bit of a bump turned up in the road:
"The nonfiction section in this particular journal includes a random journalist condom."
Many members of the class looked up at me in disbelief. Did I just say condom? I did. I just said condom.
"Um. COLUMN. A random journalist COLUMN. But I guess, if we included a condom, people might pay more attention to our own journal."
Example number two presented myself when I was emailing a professor last semester. After writing "Hi, Dr. M," I hit enter, and the email was sent, saying only those three words. I was then forced to compose another email explaining the occurrence in hopes that my professor would believe I wasn't a creep.
Example number three happened last week, in this same class, at which point I told my professor that "I wish[ed] my gravy was a genie." Just before, I had whipped open a door to a different classroom, which, unbeknown to me, was full of people, and had exclaimed that my committee could meet in there. "Nevermind!" I shouted, closing the door. Shortly after, I said the gravy comment, and my professor gave me one of those looks like the one that she gave me when I wore a flamingo suit to class, and the one that I got when I interviewed a stripper named Yummy for a story for her nonfiction class.
"She's giving you one of those looks she always gives you," my friend Angela told me after, laughing.
"I love your misfortunes," my professor said, and I laughed too, as I left the room.
I'm sure there will be further embarrassing moments, and I will include them when they arise. For now, though, listen to this song, if you don't understand the full bearing of the gravy comment, or just for fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBZSEfLvmQI
Thursday, February 3, 2011
With Creepers
My cell phone is vibrating with the voice of a creeper.
"When are we going to get together?? I want to take you out. Where do you live?"
I sigh, roll my eyes. I'm too nice.
"By campus."
"Well, you don't have to give me your address. I was just curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat."
And many pathetic women, I want to add.
"Well, when are you going to send those pics? I'm crying because you haven't answered my request." I tell him, for the fourth time, that my picture messaging is broken, and ask, again, why he so desperately needs it.
"I just want a picture to put next to your contact info."
"Well, I have to go." I hang up, hoping he'll get the hint. But my phone continues to light up, despite the avoidance. Day after day, for about a week, I ignore his texts, and when I get really annoyed I say I'm in class. This isn't a new occurrence--meeting creepers, and being followed by them, that is. It started out (sort of) innocent, on Saturday a night out on the town. He was mildly attractive, and after a few drinks deemed "Dinosaurs," I apparently handed my number out like candy at a parade. Usually, if this happens, I can avoid and claim myself to be lesbian and usually these people just go away.
But after three days of said avoidance, my phone lights up again, this time with three new messages.
"WTF!" "Answer your phone!" "Stop being so fucking dismissive!"
I decide to be candid, and tell him to stop texting and calling me compulsively, it's really quite unnecessary. It only makes him angry.
"Look, you're being very rude to me. So stop."
"I'm not being rude, I'm being candid. I don't think you're getting the point, here."
He starts to plead, begging me to let him take me out, get coffee, see a movie.
I ignore his texts again, and laugh at the coincidence.
Deep down, I'll always be rude, in one way or the next.
For a funny Creeper Video, check out the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLPZmPaHme0
"When are we going to get together?? I want to take you out. Where do you live?"
I sigh, roll my eyes. I'm too nice.
"By campus."
"Well, you don't have to give me your address. I was just curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat."
And many pathetic women, I want to add.
"Well, when are you going to send those pics? I'm crying because you haven't answered my request." I tell him, for the fourth time, that my picture messaging is broken, and ask, again, why he so desperately needs it.
"I just want a picture to put next to your contact info."
"Well, I have to go." I hang up, hoping he'll get the hint. But my phone continues to light up, despite the avoidance. Day after day, for about a week, I ignore his texts, and when I get really annoyed I say I'm in class. This isn't a new occurrence--meeting creepers, and being followed by them, that is. It started out (sort of) innocent, on Saturday a night out on the town. He was mildly attractive, and after a few drinks deemed "Dinosaurs," I apparently handed my number out like candy at a parade. Usually, if this happens, I can avoid and claim myself to be lesbian and usually these people just go away.
But after three days of said avoidance, my phone lights up again, this time with three new messages.
"WTF!" "Answer your phone!" "Stop being so fucking dismissive!"
I decide to be candid, and tell him to stop texting and calling me compulsively, it's really quite unnecessary. It only makes him angry.
"Look, you're being very rude to me. So stop."
"I'm not being rude, I'm being candid. I don't think you're getting the point, here."
He starts to plead, begging me to let him take me out, get coffee, see a movie.
I ignore his texts again, and laugh at the coincidence.
Deep down, I'll always be rude, in one way or the next.
For a funny Creeper Video, check out the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLPZmPaHme0
To Begin!
I'm Nichole Rued--in short, a creative writer, a burger flipper, and Rued, pronounced like Rude (impolite). That is, not Reed, not Ru-ED, or variations similar. This blog will be a haven for my creative nonfiction, for now. Comment, enjoy, whatever works for you folks.
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