La Profesora Abstraída

Weblog of Michelle Dion, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, at McMaster University. My blog has moved to michelledion.com/blog. Visit my other website.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Happy Anniversary to us!

Brian and I have been married 8 years today. We have been a couple a total of 13 years. We have known each other almost 23 years. And we're still best friends--quite an accomplishment, I'd say.

After a White Sox game in April.

posted by Michelle @ 1:00 AM, 2 comments

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

PRI moves to expel party leaders

The PRI plans to expel party leaders who have suggested voters should vote for either AMLO or Calderon. Among those to be expelled are Senator Bartlett (for supporting AMLO), Senator Borrego (former head of IMSS, President of the party, and wanna-be presidential candidate in 94--for supporting Calderon), and Gordillo (former #2 at the party and head of the teacher's union--for....being Gordillo?). (Bloomberg version.)

More on the polls and why some on the street think that Madrazo is behind.

posted by Michelle @ 10:31 AM, 0 comments

Would you believe?

Someone in Oregon believes we should ~~occupy~~ integrate Mexico into the U.S.

posted by Michelle @ 10:30 AM, 1 comments

Monday, May 29, 2006

Website makeover

Brian just gave my homepage and new "do." Go take a looksey.

Thanks, Brian!!

posted by Michelle @ 12:36 PM, 1 comments

Mexican stump speeches

Of course, La Jornada doesn't cover Calderon's stump speeches (which I'm assuming he does make--it can't all be slick tv ads, which BTW, continue to be pulled for being too negative), but it does cover those by the PRI's Madrazo and the PRD's Lopez Obrador. Recently, Madrazo has said that he has no role in the decision of some party leaders to suggest that supporters of the PRI vote for AMLO rather than Madrazo (this was something a recent commenter asked about). Almost as if in response, AMLO has said the door to his campaign is open to all but former president Salinas and a few other folks.

Here, on the other side, ~~WaPo~~ (thanks, Boz) Rueters is doing its share to damage AMLO's North American image.

posted by Michelle @ 10:27 AM, 3 comments

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Mexican poll results

This short article has results from the last three Reforma polls.

It's still a two-way race between AMLO and Calderon. ALMO is gaining some--probably due to a variety of factors:

1. The electoral commission told Calderon's campaign to stop running certain negative ads against AMLO.

2. AMLO's campaign has started running tougher ads in addition to AMLO's traditional radio spots and interviews.

3. Some time has passed since the first debates, in which AMLO did not participate and Calderon was able to use that to his advantage. It was just after the debate that Calderon pulled into the lead for the first time.

Another debate is scheduled for June 6, and all candidates will be participating.

posted by Michelle @ 4:53 PM, 0 comments

How about just updating the petite section?

Apparently, several high-end department stores are eliminating their petite sections on the grounds that they don't make money. At the sametime, overall sales of petites have increased by 11%, according to the Times article. I can tell the department stores the problem: their petite sections are outdated and unfashionable. The reporter for the Times is correct when he says:

What did change is that petite departments gained a reputation for traditional — some would say frumpy — career-oriented clothing. Chic looks, clothing executives said, never made the leap from regular sizes to petite. So the very word petite became synonymous with many women who shopped there — working women over the age 50.

As a vertically challenged individual (I almost measure 5'1" if I stretch my neck), I buy all my suits in the petite section but never my casual clothes. The casual clothes are all ugly sweaters with sewn-on appliques and rhinestones--the over 60 stuff. The only jeans are mom jeans, and the khakis are what Brian likes to call "peg-legged."

The Gap, Banana Republic, Talbots, and Ann Taylor have all expanded their petite sections recently, which probably has hurt department store petite sales. Why would anyone buy high-waisted, peg-leg khakis when you can get hip-hugging, flare khakis in your size? Of course, the drawback is that most stores don't care all the petite options in the store, which means ~~short~~ vertically challenged women have to do their shopping online.

Oh, and I'd just like to point out that adding additional size 0 and 1 items in stores, as suggested by one of the people interviewed, will not meet the needs of most petite women....we may be short, but we're not all skinny!

posted by Michelle @ 3:01 PM, 3 comments