tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167681782024-03-14T10:12:39.711-05:00Hear me RoarUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger377125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-87966793874930151032010-03-12T17:13:00.007-06:002010-03-12T17:31:11.483-06:00North Dakota girl mourns....<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Is the second time going to be the charm for Republican state representative, Dave Weiler??<br /><br />Last March, he was arrested for beating his wife. And then Governor, John </span><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:times new roman;" >Hoeven (along with House Majority Leader Al Carlson) promoted him to a vice chairman position on an interim legislative committee.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Charming.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">One year later (aka NOW) <a href="http://www.northdecoder.com/index.php/David-Weiler.html">Weiler is at it again-- last night he attacked his (soon-to-be) ex-wife in their home </a>and fled the scene. Reports state that Nicole Weiler suffered cuts and bruising on her face. Rep. Weiler has been charged with "Simple assault."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I would just like to know where Gov. Hoeven (likely our next state senator-- sob) plans to promote Dave "Wife beating" Weiler now??<br /></span><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">I left him a voicemail asking that VERY question -- 701-328-2200- if you'd like to do the same. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">In other news... </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><a href="http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_6770a4ee-2dea-11df-b0c8-001cc4c03286.html">In Bismarck, a woman was beaten to death early this morning ... by her husband... in front of their 3 year old son. </a></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">I do not know where to go with all this anger and grief.</span></p></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-49935239799809638252009-12-01T00:57:00.005-06:002009-12-01T01:02:04.426-06:00Back -- and pissedYeah, I've bene gone for awhile but let's cut to the chase. I'm pissed and I have a blog-- so dangit, I'm speaking out.<br /><br />My old college newspaper just ran a piece of <a href="http://www.dakotastudent.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=e6d96165-5af3-41e6-9419-89ef32131789"><span style="color:#009900;">rape apologist drivel</span></a>.<br /><br />It has really pissed me off. So I wrote this back.<br /><br /><div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Image"><blockquote><div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Image">What was the point of Mr. Brorby article, “One-night standing: the Method”? Was this supposed to be edgy? A form of satire? Entertaining? I’d have to say that whatever this article way trying to be—it failed.<br /><br />Call me humorless, but I don’t think it’s funny to joke about getting a woman (or anyone for that matter) into a vulnerable position in the hopes of commiting sexually assault. What I find most upsetting, besides the fact that this article was ever published. is that the online comments at the D.S. website rely heavily on blaming the victim.<br /><br />I don't think it was Mr. Brorby’s intention, but his article got one thing right -- he highlighted the predatory mentality of a rapist. Too many people say that intoxicated victims deserve what they get. Well let’s be clear, it doesn’t matter how much you drink, what you wear, what you say or how you act. The only mitigating factor in an assault is proximity to a rapist. It’s cruel to suggest otherwise. Otherwise we are saying that most men would rape if presented with an opportunity.<br /><br />My first job after graduating UND was with Fargo’s Rape & Abuse Crisis Center. Sometimes I would be called to the hospital to sit with victims during the rape kit exam. I held the victim's hand and sometimes I would meet with the family and friends in the waiting room. I didn’t find too much to laugh about on those days.<br /><br />In many of those cases, alcohol was used to facilitate the rape. Too many times I found myself reassuring the victim or her family that this did not make it the victim’s fault. The only person to blame for the rape was the rapist. The attacker found the opportunity they were looking for—that is all.<br /><br />If we really want to be edgy when we talk about rape, how about we call out the victim blaming attitudes that run rampant in our communities, schools and culture? Maybe we quit suggesting that people who look for casual sex are somehow asking for rape? Maybe we run an article from Mr. Brorby where he apologizes for being thoughtless and rubbing salt in the wounds of people like me—or worse, victims of sexual assault.<br /><br />I would really like to read that article.<br /><br /><br />PS: I think it would be pertinent for Josh Brorby and any editor who allowed this to run to tender resignations immediately. This article is a blot on our school’s reputation </div></blockquote></div><br />So even if you aren't a recent graduate like myself, please give them hell for me<br /><a href="mailto:dstudenteditor@und.edu">dstudenteditor@und.edu</a>,<br /><a href="mailto:michael.thomas@und.edu">michael.thomas@und.edu</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-52475613744782389302009-05-18T22:41:00.005-05:002009-05-18T22:59:34.444-05:00Dane Cook -- turning a corner?<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b2aYMFXziTY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b2aYMFXziTY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />(my apologies for the rough video)<br /><br />Here is a transcript:<br /><br /><blockquote>… We’re not supposed to say the word "gay" anymore. It’s hurtful. But the commercial really bugs me. Because if you’ve seen it --- It’s two girls shopping in a department store and one of them puts on a shirt and she’s like, “Hey do you like my shirt” and the friend’s like, “It looks kind of gay on you” – and then Hillary duff comes out of nowhere and is like, ‘You shouldn’t say that!”<br /><br />Oh thank you Hillary duff!<br /><br />Sometimes when I find myself in a life conundrum, I think, what the fuck would Hillary Duff tell me to do with my business ---- or even Haley duff?”<br /><br />I think the word we need to remove from our everyday vernacular is the word “raped.”<br /><br />I think the word raped gets thrown around far too casually. You ever listen to a bunch of guys playing video games with each other online? It’s like, “Ah man you shot me in the back dude. You raped me dude!”<br /><br />I’m pretty sure if I talked to a woman who’s been through that horrific situation and I said, “What was it like you know being raped?" She’s not gonna look at me and go ,”Have you ever played Halo?”</blockquote><br />I have to say I was a little blown away by this bit. <a href="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/09/im-mad-at-you-just-because-i-know-who.html">Dane Cook is not a favorite in the feminist community </a>and for good reason-- his track record is not exactly progressive, woman-friendly or (some may say) even funny.<br /><br />But this piece of his show made my jaw drop. This is an argument feminists have made for some time and here he is dropping this into a comedy routine that he knows is watched (primarily) by young, adult male fans.<br /><br />I kept watching the special and actually found myself enjoying parts of it-- I was especially surprised how he could be moving and funny when talking about losing both his parents to cancer.<br /><br />I read <a href="http://comedians.about.com/od/comedyspecials/fr/isolatedincident.htm">this review </a>of the show which summed it up nicely<br /><br /><blockquote><strong>On IsOlated INcident, Cook covers the election of a black president and what that means for race remarks, the passing of his parents, hate mail, the overuse of the word "rape," role-playing with his girlfriend and some standard observational stuff about ordering a sandwich in a restaurant.</strong> Some of it is new territory for Cook; he's never really done political humor before, and it shows. The jokes he makes about politics and race seem written less because he has something to say on the those topics than because it's the kind of stuff that other, edgier comics do. It feels a little like he's checking items off a list.<br /><br /><strong>Cook fares a little better when getting personal, talking about his parents death from cancer. It's more open and honest than the comic has ever been, and it segues into a story about an angry email he got from a non-fan</strong>. That's the first time I've heard Cook acknowledge and confront the fact that there are a lot of people who don't like him. Of course, the punchline to the bit is that Cook is victorious and still more awesome than everyone -- a recurring theme in his act. I don't think I've ever heard him be self-deprecating. I guess it's not on his checklist.<br /><br />Still, ISolated INcident is the best thing Cook has done in his incredibly successful career. He seems to have worked up actual material and jokes, rather than just relying on inventing catchphrases or being overly articulate and letting the roars of all-approving laughter cover up everything that's missing. If this were Cook's first special and not some back-to-basics stunt, I would say that Cook shows promise and is a comic to watch. Instead, I get the feeling it's a an exercise; a test Cook is giving himself to prove that he can do it.<br /><br />To some extent, Cook is a victim of his own press. The promotional material for ISolated INcident tries to sell us on the idea that Cook has always been a risk-taker (he hasn't) and that he's totally reinventing himself on his newest album (he isn't). <strong>If INcidentwere an indication of where Cook's career is headed, I would find that promising; though far from perfect, there are some genuinely funny moments to be found. Sadly, I suspect it's just a one-off -- a press-grabbing detour before going back to his stadiums full of screaming fans. </strong></blockquote><p><br /><br />So what do we think-- whether or not you enjoy his style of comedy, does Cook hit a positive feminist note for calling out casual use of the word "rape" or is he the same old jerk?<br /><br />I have high hopes for him because lord knows he holds sway over many adolscent male minds (and I'm not just talking REAL adolescents... I mean the 20-something men who still act adolescent too!) </p><p>Dane Cook is far from perfect but I have to admit, some of his jokes have made me laugh before. If he could make his act both funny and smart... that would be something to see...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-5341118101368089952009-05-02T19:46:00.010-05:002009-05-02T21:00:22.226-05:00Media may induce dizziness and nauseaBetween going back to college, planning a wedding, looking for homes and struggling with a super busy job (all wonderful things I give you that) I've had little time to blog. But there's more pressing reasons... like for instance, with all the crap out there-- where do you start?<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/showbiz/2009/05/02/sbt.john.kate.drama.cnn"></script><noscript></noscript><br />Sounds like Jon from Jon and Kate + 8 is cheating on his wife.<br />But it's okay because girls are lining up to screw him. You see, Kate is really a castrating bitch and her haircut sucks.<br /><br />Then there was this gem Tyler found in the men's restroom when we were out to dinner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62Gh_yLaCJL32Tuo6B9LxBTqyVPSnz3vImtqfWAdB2V3rQuDSqE8EOIkhVQJZvL-HfXEpf6FF6gleywP6fwXZTG86YhI5Dd_Kd8qWe4jvHB59yr2y7J8TIDYLAmPn52GQ8UPOEA/s1600-h/restore+your+cars+and+your+women.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62Gh_yLaCJL32Tuo6B9LxBTqyVPSnz3vImtqfWAdB2V3rQuDSqE8EOIkhVQJZvL-HfXEpf6FF6gleywP6fwXZTG86YhI5Dd_Kd8qWe4jvHB59yr2y7J8TIDYLAmPn52GQ8UPOEA/s400/restore+your+cars+and+your+women.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331411651307902546" /></a><br /><br />In case you can't read the text on this ad, it says:<br />"Everybody & Everything gets older... isn't restored more exciting?"<br />The photo shows a rusted out, door-less bug next to an older women with gray hair and a hot car is placed next to a young, tan woman in a skimpy bikini.<br /><br />**You can contact this company and let them know what you think of their advertising-- <span style="color:#009900;"><strong>nzcustoms@integra.net</strong></span><br /><br />Then there's this ad that I keep seeing -- a whole new twist on the "headless fatty" thing the press loves to do. Not only are they not human, they are over-inflated beach balls. Just what I need is some self-righteous "fat is soooooo bad for you" person searching my double chin for some release valve.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerdAHy4O-Xnsz0NCCkGUUsMI5E8Qp-YEKJea2xvYgGXXBKk0F7wPbXwuTt-pYihdySFeLBFjybEmvnqvgTYE_inW8rfJFOZPxvMrxmuxV2eHONKiCNI7Pgvhf0R4odGt6VtTkHg/s1600-h/offensive+fat.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 334px; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331402839904930594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerdAHy4O-Xnsz0NCCkGUUsMI5E8Qp-YEKJea2xvYgGXXBKk0F7wPbXwuTt-pYihdySFeLBFjybEmvnqvgTYE_inW8rfJFOZPxvMrxmuxV2eHONKiCNI7Pgvhf0R4odGt6VtTkHg/s400/offensive+fat.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Oh and don't get me started on Perez Hilton and Miss California. Could they both win America's #1 asshole and Runner-up? Seriously...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-70651369115928337172009-03-17T23:40:00.002-05:002009-03-17T23:42:55.679-05:00But John McCain is still a pile of stinky garbageIn regards to yesterday's post where I said <a href="http://tobestalks.blogspot.com/2009/03/and-suddenly-i-like-meghan-mccain.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Meghan McCain is pretty sweet</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;">....</span><br /><br /><a href="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2009/03/quote-of-day_17.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Her dad is still a jackass.</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-10133524064109457622009-03-16T22:54:00.012-05:002009-03-16T23:59:07.251-05:00And suddenly I like Meghan McCainAnd more than ever, loathe Laura Ingraham.<br /><br />Meghan McCain may not share my political point of view but I respect the hard work she did for her father's campaign (and she blogged while doing it!) And I respect any young woman who boldly steps into the world of politics today because, well... this happens...<br /><br />Some back story: Meghan McCain has been writing on a blog called "The Daily Beast" and recently suggested that republicans and Dems should play nice. Conservative talk show host, Laura Ingraham took issue with this and spoke about Meghan on her show, not about her opinions (silly!), but about her body (of course).<br /><br />She called McCain "a valley girl gone awry" and a "plus-sized model." <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2009/03/12/ingraham-meghan-mccain/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">Read the full transcript of Ingraham's assholery here</span></a>.<br /><br />***ASIDE-- Using "plus sized model" as an insult is just a total cluster of stupid-- #1 A plus size model is probably between a size 8 and 10 -- #2 Meghan McCain is beautiful and #3 Who the F**K cares even if Meghan McCain had to be wheeled around like jabba the freaking hutt?? <em>Also, I seem to recall Laura Ingraham being one of the republican commentators that was SO UPSET about the unfair, sexist treatment Sarah Palin received. I guess republican women are only defended from sexism if they're towing the party line. Shocker!</em><br /><br />BACK ON TASK-- The feminist community and women's <a href="http://www.feministing.com/archives/014285.html"><span style="color:#3366ff;">online community</span></a> are well aware that speaking your mind while female more often brings up comments about appearance or worse (threats of violence) than actual political discourse.<br /><br />Ingraham's comment is just one more in a sea of public commentary -- political or otherwise-- that silences, mocks and demeans women for appearance. I can think of no similar situation with a male blogger or politico <em>of any age </em>being treated to this type of scrutiny on weight or appearance. But for women -- it's so common -- so INSANELY common that I doubt we'll hear much more on this story. Ingraham's schoolyard harassment tactics will be labeled 'no big deal,' and we'll be expected to move on.<br /><br />Thank God McCain isn't taking it lying down.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xm002GGqp74&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xm002GGqp74&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Big shocker: When commenting on McCain's response, Ingraham said, “Can I say ‘lighten up,’ or is that offensive too?” She also pulled out time-honored asshole statement -- telling McCain that she needs to learn to deal with satire and “teasing.”<br /><br />Word to Ingraham-- satire should be funny. Teasing should be good natured... and oh yeah, you suck! But that has nothing to do with your looks.... just your "personality."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-25651599792566530132009-01-30T11:22:00.004-06:002009-01-30T11:27:13.245-06:00Woman bruttaly attacked -- media sells it for entertainment*Trigger warning<br /><br />It was Melissa McEwan of <a href="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ff6600;">Shakesville</span></a> who first pointed out the HIGHLY disturbing trend of reporting stories of violence against women in “odd news” section fronts. As if the murder and terrorizing of women is something novel or interesting and not a sad commentary on a violent, patriarchal society.<br /><br />Today a lump caught in my throat at seeing <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28926834/"><span style="color:#ff6600;">this</span></a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r-2RYxFt9wrsgDFHUlj16sidImv7UmT_DEI-WgwbDLoHF1s545Yhmxf9Qamj_9wB9nJjAY1EGLYg1rIEH0q_IN46z1X7-UsAc0Hu078daogOGLVwXdHqiwkqF5Pw4SdjYnpMJA/s1600-h/OMG.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297138602379145634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 41px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r-2RYxFt9wrsgDFHUlj16sidImv7UmT_DEI-WgwbDLoHF1s545Yhmxf9Qamj_9wB9nJjAY1EGLYg1rIEH0q_IN46z1X7-UsAc0Hu078daogOGLVwXdHqiwkqF5Pw4SdjYnpMJA/s400/OMG.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The attacker, 28-year-old Thomas Lee Rowley was described in the article as a “spurned lover” as if this was merely a spat between boyfriend and girlfriend and not a vicious attack. In fact, I’d go so far as to classify this as a sexual assault.<br /><br />This man was convinced he had ownership of this woman’s breasts (which he undoubtedly associated with sex). I don’t care if he paid for 100 breast agumentations for this woman. He never OWNED part of her body.<br /><br />Thankfully she survived 6 stab wounds and the punctured implants were repaired. Sadly, the story was filed here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3Bfc-r0FM2WhrW48M9FnTC_oaI5J4VIu8lvOru-TjP62r9xadhyphenhyphendnYKDPUw0bdXho5JxjLziGVcOzyp4YEfEAvVXfZGywHKsHexde9ZzQSvz6KTMRrbE_x52zHEMbzf93odvyQ/s1600-h/omg+horrible.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297138795193233218" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3Bfc-r0FM2WhrW48M9FnTC_oaI5J4VIu8lvOru-TjP62r9xadhyphenhyphendnYKDPUw0bdXho5JxjLziGVcOzyp4YEfEAvVXfZGywHKsHexde9ZzQSvz6KTMRrbE_x52zHEMbzf93odvyQ/s400/omg+horrible.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thanks MSNBC<br /><br />PS: Rowley is on trial in Superior Court in Victorville for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, stalking, burglary, and false imprisonment.<br /><br />HOW WEIRD!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-2334741476090483922009-01-15T23:09:00.001-06:002009-01-15T23:10:42.672-06:00I suck latelyI have not been blogging here and it's totally lame.<br /><br />But I did blog <a href="http://plannedparenthoodadvocate.com/content/men_at_work_for_choice"><span style="color:#ff6600;">here</span></a>.<br /><br />It's about men who work as clinic escorts.<br /><br />So there's that<br /><br />*I know, it's still uncool*Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-48268580468044447122008-12-27T11:33:00.003-06:002008-12-27T11:54:06.916-06:00Seriously news media???I have had it with the coverage of the "<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/26/santa.shooter.plan/index.html"><span style="color:#009900;">Santa killer</span></a>"/"Christmas nightmare" story.<br /><br />They keep running these stupid, misleading headlines and it's making me crazy! From a description like that you may think a mall Santa went nuts and starting firing on shoppers or something. It's a cheap attention grabber but it's not the real story.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5400786.ece"><span style="color:#009900;">Bruce Jeffrey Pardo </span></a>should not be remembered as the "Santa killer" --- he should be remembered as another statistic of domestic violence.<br /><br />Ironically I haven't read that phrase in any articles but I HAVE seen "marital troubles" -- as if marital troubles is in ANY WAY adequate to describe, disguising yourself to gain entry to a home full of people, including your ex wife and her friends and relatives-- shooting everyone you can and setting fire to the home.<br /><br />How in the sam HELL does that equate with marital problems? Marital problems are a dying sex life or too many bills. Not an ex who stalks, terrorizes and murders you and your family.<br /><br />FUCKING NEWS MEDIA.<br /><br />A story like this should have "domestic violence" in the TITLE. It should be noted that women are most vulnerable when they leave their abuser. And make no mistake, this man was an abuser. I'd bet my life on it. You don't pull stunts like this without having serious issues with control, entitlement, and violence.<br /><br />If you hate your ex wife, you talk shit to your friends and hire a good lawyer, you don't gun down her family -- unless you are a violent, horrible person.<br /><br />Some might say, 'Perhaps he was suffering from a serious mental illness and snapped.'<br /><br />Far less likely.<br /><br />This man planned carefully. He had $17,000 on him and an airline ticket to Canada. And the Santa suit was not only a sick, sadistic choice... it was also a tactical one. Apparently the house he invaded used to have neighbor show up dressed as Santa. So Mr. Pardo new the suit would gain him entry. He had the gun, the bullets and the gasoline ready to go. This was not a man who snapped, this was an execution. Retribution for a woman who had left him... who had gotten away... who had escaped his control. He was going to punish her.<br /><br />This is merely the hundredth or so case (this year) of a woman being murdered by her intimate partner. Domestic violence against women is an epidemic. But we don't care. Even when the horror of it smacks us in the face, we ignore it. We want to sensationalize the freak-show, carnival nature. We want to talk about SANTA committing a holiday massacre.<br /><br />And we want to forget that women in this country, while less likely to be violently murdered than men, are FAR MORE LIKELY to be murdered by those they call husband, lover, boyfriend.<br /><br />And THAT is way more messed up than a man in a Santa suit wielding a weapon.<br /><br />/end rantUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-56681794284729737952008-12-05T09:26:00.000-06:002008-12-05T09:27:17.433-06:00Friday Giggle<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R2MZN7ludRs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R2MZN7ludRs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><p>Do I know why?</p><p>No....</p><p>It just makes me giggle.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-9071362753259318782008-12-03T09:01:00.012-06:002008-12-03T10:23:57.584-06:00A movie review and moreHello!!!<br /><br />...<br /><br />(hears an echo)<br /><br />...<br /><br />Okay!! Okay! I'm sorry. I got engaged and disappeared. I didn't even blog on the presidential election-- the freakin' presidential election!<br /><br />But right around the time Melissa McEwan <a href="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/11/on-labors-of-love-hope-growing-pains.html"><span style="color:#33cc00;">took a step back from blogging at Shakesville</span></a>, I realized I too needed a break.<br /><br />Feminism is a passion of mine but let's face it, it's not a relaxing hobby. After the election, I cut back on reading blogs (although I couldn't stay away <em>entirely</em>) and I stopped commenting. I read frivolous books, planned my wedding and visited family.<br /><br />Everyone needs to carve out time to be happy. I can start crying over a letter from OxFam!! There's a lot of suffering in this world and while I don't advocate ignoring it -- (we should always <a href="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2004/10/inside-jokes-faqs-wev.html#click23"><span style="color:#33cc00;">keep up with our teaspoons</span></a>) it's also important to keep a healthy balance. You can't do any good if you're miserable.<br /><br />So I took a break. But I'm ready to dip my toes back in again... so I figure... let's start with some fluff.<br /><br />How about a review of a movie?<br /><br />STOP NOW If you don't want spoilers---<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk5Xo_vOAT_f1Y-O2TCrbPSGLgpAAhKfRZPWBIGTYFtYtIRsKLY75olmbjoZjrc79WANoTRu6aCHdkHWAQP6_1TkAJ7UHXI37xIGwZVVwsZMOktNguYsiWzDY60UeIT98h4Kg3g/s1600-h/hancock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275585856699337042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk5Xo_vOAT_f1Y-O2TCrbPSGLgpAAhKfRZPWBIGTYFtYtIRsKLY75olmbjoZjrc79WANoTRu6aCHdkHWAQP6_1TkAJ7UHXI37xIGwZVVwsZMOktNguYsiWzDY60UeIT98h4Kg3g/s400/hancock.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So Will Smith is Hancock, the unhappy superhero who spends most of his day drunk, laying on park benches. He flies in to "save the day" but in the process wreaks havoc (think millions of dollars in destroyed property). Citizens of LA are unamused and boo him on sight. Nancy Grace even calls for his incarceration!<br /><br />In steps the public relations man, Ray, played by Jason Bateman... Hancock saves him from a train and Ray repays him by offering to revamp his image. It's decided that the city needs to "miss Hancock." So they let Hancock go to prison to make amends.<br /><br />While in prison, Hancock gets in a fight with two large cons (who apparently are the dumbest people ever -- who picks a fight with an immortal superhero?) and it ends with --- brace yourself --- Hancock putting one man's head up the other man's ass. Really..... Yes you see it... I guess it was supposed to be a funny but I was disgusted. Is there not some other sophomoric violent stunt he could have pulled without evoking imagery of unconsenting anal penetration????<br /><br />Ray's wife, Mary (played by Charlize Theron) dislikes Hancock more than your average person and the audience is meant to deduce there is history there.<br /><p>You learn that Hancock is drunk and miserable for a reason. He woke up 80 years ago (he's immortal and doesn't age) in a hospital in Miami with no memory whatsoever and no one to claim him. He's been lonely and grasping for his past and memories all these years.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>SO-- major spoiler time...</strong></span><br /><br />We come to find (through some very lame and hole-filled storytelling) that Mary is actually an immortal hero as well and since the dawn of time she and Hancock were lovers/partners/some variation thereof. But they were star crossed and doomed to grow weaker and vulnerable when they were together. When Hancock lost his memory all those years ago, she fled hoping to save him and herself once and for all.<br /><br />So Hancock became a drunken superhero and she became... a housewife.<br /><br />Nothing against housewives, but this woman can do <em>anything</em>. She is actually STRONGER than Hancock. She is indestructible, she can fly and she can apparently control the weather and start tornadoes. I guess we're meant to believe that after all this time she wanted to lay low. But the motivation for hiding her gift is unclear -- other than to regulate her character to helpless woman role (yes Hancock has to SAVE HER at some point). During one scene she actually hands her husband a jar to open- when he does she sighs, "Oh honey you're so strong."<br /><br />And later when she is giving Hancock the 'motivation speech,' she says something like, "You were built to save humanity, to be the God's insurance policy here on Earth!"<br /><br />There's no trace of irony that she too is clearly built special-- endowed with God-like powers. But no, it's only Hancock with the magnificent, heroic destiny. When he flies off to leave her (as he must for their own good), the story jumps months into the future to show that Hancock has literally flown to the moon and back and yet Mary is still walking next to her husband and son, eating ice cream like any other domestic Plain Jane.<br /><br />Fine. They can't be together. It destroys their powers. But you're telling me they couldn't fight crime and do battle in separate hemispheres? And the stupidest part, Mary's husband is Hancock's PR man. He was the biggest advocate of, "Your powers give you a special role to play-- use them well." Yet, he doesn't care when his wife hides her ability and stays home to cook meatballs when the world needs saving???<br /><br />Charlize Theron is an amazing actress and it's a waste to give her this cardboard role. Basically she was a plot device -- only there to connect the two male leads and occasionally wear cleavage-baring, dominatrix/superhero get-up. </p><p>And it's a bummer because as far as superhero stories go, it had originality and potential but it fell so, so flat. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-91149169526286221352008-11-19T11:19:00.007-06:002008-11-19T13:17:59.863-06:00Guest blogger time!<div><font color="#33cc00" size="5">From Adrienne</font><br /><br />Sometimes, I'm not sure what to think about the society that I live in.<br /><br />My state, Nebraska, has recently come into nationwide focus because of a law that came into effect in September-- The Safe Haven Law. This law states that people can bring their child and leave them at a hospital or with an on duty firefighter and not be prosecuted by law.<br /><br />Nebraska is, obviously, a very conservative state. Currently, we have what is legally referred to as an 'unenforceable' abortion ban. Every Saturday I drive by a HUGE protest in front of the Planned Parenthood in my town. My sister and I used to entertain ourselves by flipping them off while we drove by, and once I escorted a terrified woman (who was not even there for an abortion or to ask about one) across the picket line so that she could get an exam done. When we passed the safe haven law, I was so proud of the state. I thought, finally, someone wants to provide an answer for women who want an abortion and cannot obtain one.<br /><br />What is controversial about the law is that there is no age limit. While lawmakers have stated that it is intended for infants, to prevent babies being born in dumpsters, they left no age limit on the law so that any parent could leave their child here.<br /><br />If you've been following the stories on the news, you can see what a predicament my state is now in. Over thirty children have been left here since the law came into effect in September, some from out of state. One father dropped off nine children (after his wife died and he was laid off from his job).<br /><br />As an early childhood professional, it makes me sick to my stomach to think about children being abandoned by their parents. As a citizen, even as a liberal, I have to admit that it is upsetting that parents are using the safe haven act, even more so that so many have utilized the law-- and even MORE so that parents from out of the state have used the law.<br /><br />However, the law was created for a reason. The law was created so that parents could leave their children rather than harming them-- and now we are upset because the law is doing exactly what it was intended for.<br /><br />Yesterday I was reading an article about a woman who became the guardian to a 16 month old when his homeless mother literally put the child in her arms and then walked away. Now he is five, and suffering from an emotional disorder so severe that his guardians literally fear for their lives. She has sought help through the proper channels, got therapy, put him on medication, and, finally, looked for full-time care with an institution. But the wait list for a quality institution was 6 months at the least. So, she bought plane tickets and brought him to Nebraska, where she dropped him off at a hospital. In the article, she says that she just wanted him to get help, and this was the only way she could think of to get him help right NOW. "If it works out," She says, "I'd like to have him back."<br /><br />THAT is the real travesty. The fact that it takes more than six months for a CHILD to receive necessary mental health care is morally reprehensible in this society. THAT is what we should be focusing on, NOT on repealing a law that has brought into light so many of the holes in our social services system.<br /><br />It breaks my heart that children are being abandoned. I work for a child care center that exists through a grant that provides day care and living expenses for single moms. The majority of the children I interact with every day are children who were born to teenage mothers. Every single day I see parents whose lives would have been SO much easier had they had an abortion or found some way to abandon their child-- and yet they keep them, they struggle, and they make it through. Sometimes with public assistance, sometimes without. So when the public in my ridiculously conservative state says that people should understand the choice inherent behind creating a child, and the responsibility that comes with having one, I get it. I absolutely GET it. These women chose a hard road for themselves AND for their children, and I admire every single one of them for it. The goal of social services is to keep families together, and as functional as possible (if any of you grew up in a functional family, let me know).<br /><br />I was so proud of my state for passing this law. Passing this law, to me, meant that Nebraska was tired of being heartbroken every time they read about a baby left in a dumpster, or a child locked in a closet, or starved to death. To me, it meant that while we are, as a whole, an anti-abortion state, we were willing to provide a choice to women that does not include a dark alley/rusty hanger, or forced motherhood.<br /><br />I was so proud of the state for saying that we would be the brave light shining in the darkness for these children-- NOT for the parents-- who have so few choices, so little help, and-- obviously-- no one they can count on.<br /><br />But now the public cries out that these children are not our responsibility-- that it isn't fair for us to shoulder the cost of these children. Some parents have said they abandon their children because of severe behavioral issues, and others, I'm sure, just because they didn't want to have their kids anymore. That was bound to happen. In any case-- I thank God that these children are no longer in their parent/guardians hands, even if just for a brief reprieve to get the help that they need in order to make their families functional. I pray for the lawmakers who face the decision to repeal a law that we-- obviously-- so desperately need. What would have become of these thirty-odd children without the safe haven law? Would we rather open the World Herald and read that 34 children had been starved, neglected, abused, since September?<br /><br /><blockquote><br /><em>Luke 9:48: "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, because the one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest."</em></blockquote></div><br /><br /><script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/us/2008/11/19/callebs.nebraska.safe.haven.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-1080328537697549272008-11-04T07:44:00.002-06:002008-11-04T07:57:30.400-06:00Hmm, just a thought<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/z_VZoqKQCTw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/z_VZoqKQCTw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />If Jesus can take care of his church, why do you need to write your religion into the state constitution to control the lives of others-- to stop people from acquiring equality and legal rights? This law would not force any church to marry anyone. And for the record, plenty of churches out there already perform ceremonies for same sex couples.<br /><br />This law simply grants gay and lesbian people the same legal rights their heterosexual counterparts share.<br /><br />Is that so hard to understand? <br /><br />And just WHAT about that is comparable to Nazi Germany I'd like to know??Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-11544145540317175262008-10-30T08:14:00.003-05:002008-10-30T08:41:45.228-05:00File this news under 'HOLY CRAP'As if my blogging hasn't gotten lax enough lately.... What with working 60 hours weeks, I've been light on A) Original posting or B) any posts at all<br /><br />Well that's all about to get seriously compounded because on Tuesday, Sexy Boyfriend popped the question.<br /><br /><br />......<br /><br /><br />I know.<br /><br />After 4 and a half years together, we're going to go all official style.<br /><br />I'm thrilled but already letting my hyper German planning gene go into overdrive. A few things need to happen pretty quickly. Both of us have large extended families, so guest lists are being compiled and all sorts of questions need to be answered-- what type of ceremony are we comfortable with? We were both raised Christian (him Catholic, me Lutheran) and we both feel connected with a Christian theology although we are not practicing.<br /><br />There's just a lot of things to think about. And a few surprises! In the past, I've found some wedding traditions horribly sexist but then I found myself on the phone with my dad and suddenly asking, "Will you give me away?" --- The minute I said it, I almost laughed out loud. That was a classic tradition that I never had any intention of participating in. But the minute I said it, I knew I meant it. <br /><br />I want my father to play that role. He and I love each other but we have a challenging emotional bond that I trace back to --- I grew up, grew boobs and he became uncomfortable talking to me. <br /><br />That's a moment I think we'd both like to share together. I value his guidance and support and I want him to be there to help me that day. I would gladly have my mom walk with us except I have a feeling she may be wanting a quiet pew to herself and some Kleenex.<br /><br />Either way, there's all these thoughts rolling around --- how do I create a day with Tyler (sexy boyfriend needs a name now I think) that will reflect where we are at with our faith, each other, our principles and my feminism -- cause you know that's gonna factor in at some point! :)<br /><br />All in all these are happy questions to be ponder but I'm just saying... I may be distracted for a bit.<br /><br />If any other feminists out there have cool wedding ideas to share or you've seen something, heard of something-- please I'm all ears!<br /><br />CALLING ALL FEMINISTS-- Please send your "How I managed a wedding" story!<br /><br />And just in case you care.....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-buE2epJMoufugY_IZ_T3EvoxUmiARHI5byL__oJM5nxAvA5mj-Ry2L60SqH2covzQlaAPdjA5OHr6l1psNyPyjvrOfK1fjLKmpKCJOCp_CWh8zjQrfHDhO9PN9avcC7dDolFg/s1600-h/The+ring.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262941162349939938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-buE2epJMoufugY_IZ_T3EvoxUmiARHI5byL__oJM5nxAvA5mj-Ry2L60SqH2covzQlaAPdjA5OHr6l1psNyPyjvrOfK1fjLKmpKCJOCp_CWh8zjQrfHDhO9PN9avcC7dDolFg/s400/The+ring.jpg" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-64419917243946858832008-10-28T15:10:00.004-05:002008-10-28T15:19:07.705-05:00Palin depicted hanging from a noose-- but it's a "joke"Sick and wrong.<br /><br />Someone hung up a mannequin dressed as Sarah Palin with a noose around the neck.<br /><br />And then defended it by basically saying: <em>Well I wouldn't hang an effigy of Obama cause our nation has a horrible history of lynching black people</em>.<br /><br />And apparently no history of violence against women?<br /><br />I am just done with sexism in this campaign season.<br /><br />TRIGGER WARNING<br /><script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/politics/2008/10/27/sedens.ca.palin.noose.kcal" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript></noscript><br /><br />Read also -- <a href="http://randombabble.com/2008/10/27/ya-know-whats-not-funny-2/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Random Babble's</span> </a>take<br /><a href="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/10/in-which-yet-another-dood-who-thinks.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">and Melissa's too</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-20525746830016993682008-10-28T14:00:00.005-05:002008-10-28T14:43:38.124-05:00Meme-tasticThanks <a href="http://randombabble.com/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Ouyangdan</span></a> for sending me a meme! I actually found thinking up answers really challenging- But I just hope I did it right....<br /><br />Rules of the meme-- you must:<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>1. Link to the person who tagged you<br /><br />2. Post the rules on your blog<br /><br />3. Write six random things about yourself<br /><br />4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them<br /><br />5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.<br /><br />6. Let the instigator know when your entry is up</blockquote><br />ONWARD...<br /><br />1. I am unaware of what a meme is and have never participated in one before. :)<br /><br />2. Some of my musical taste embarrasses even me. But despite myself, I will jam out to bad pop music (Toxic by Britney Spears, I'm looking at you). Some of the movies I love are also cheese-tastic but they make me happy (Father of the Bride, Steve Martin version)<br /><br />3. A couple of years ago I had a SEVEN POUND cyst removed from my body. Now I am constantly paranoid that my body is growing more giant things. I wish I could get annual cat scans but don't think my insurance will cover it.<br /><br />4. When I was younger I thought all my stuffed animals had feelings and felt guilty if I slept with one and not the others. I would try and cram them all in bed with me, and on at least occasion I slept on the floor to accommodate them.<br /><br />5. Crying... I do it frequently. When I'm happy, sad or laughing. A lot of embarrassing things make me cry -- even kid friendly animated movies (the end of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytcEWAZOXnQ"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Iron Giant</span></a> is a killer). The other day I got a letter urging me to send money to end the treatment of calves who will become veal. Between the photos of the baby cow in a tiny crate and reading the description, I was crying all over the place. When I was much younger, I wanted to be a liberal, feminist, pastor person. But the idea of me delivering sermons at weddings or funerals would just be out of the question.<br /><br />6. I have some seriously irrational phobias. The first being I always need the toilet seat cover down. I trace this back to when my college roommate was using my hairbrush and let it fly out of her hand into the toilet. Even though we threw it away, it totally grossed me out. So now toilet seat cover is always down. Also I have this weird disgust at seeing wet paper.<br /><br />Ok, now 8 places in the US that I would pick to live<br /><br />1. New York City-- but only if I had the money to live the lifestyle there. A nice apartment in Manhattan and money to still eat, go to museums, see Broadway shows, pay for electricity... all that fun stuff.<br /><br />2. Hershey Pennsylvania -- You're very close to landmark cities - Boston, Philly and there are cobblestone streets with Hershey Kiss shaped lights! How freaking cute would that be?<br /><br />3. Portland, Oregon -- Been there twice and love the feel of it. Granola and crunchy with lots of heart.<br /><br />4. Canon Beach, Oregon -- an hour from Portland, wouldn't you love having this out your back window?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MQFXNaoIyWR1Qk7xg_lTdLD6XHPslsUs0XaeSo9bORHdvhB34Id_txUcQzhKw-YxEiHFw0AGaYaxzpjULyhQzbtlbHFH0dBMXTAVbAnsk-aDC2pCrCSSYGBW5ZJqGWC653qfFA/s1600-h/beach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262282265340994338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MQFXNaoIyWR1Qk7xg_lTdLD6XHPslsUs0XaeSo9bORHdvhB34Id_txUcQzhKw-YxEiHFw0AGaYaxzpjULyhQzbtlbHFH0dBMXTAVbAnsk-aDC2pCrCSSYGBW5ZJqGWC653qfFA/s400/beach.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />5. Chicago, IL -- When I was younger my aunt lived in Racine and I'd visit her and we'd take trips to Chicago. I really liked it and it still feels Midwest-ish<br /><br />6. Cedarburg, Wisconsin--- In the Midwest and historic in an almost-too-cute way. I visited it this past summer when I was helping a friend go wedding dress shopping. It was small but less than an hour from Milwaukee so you could still enjoy big city perks like shows and concerts - below is a pic I took of their town's mural.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgly58R2m1in9ZXK0Fa9kglOQbKfjYFzxU9LyfRZ8jxQgGkD5lkLwEnQ2iCLss8h7vYC_UdVlvwcp8tXCMWA6EjmnqWRdYj3jSQn4Dyb-KFICeoJBNzHETFtAAmFNuiCMJZLr6TnA/s1600-h/Cedarburg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262283980730846306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgly58R2m1in9ZXK0Fa9kglOQbKfjYFzxU9LyfRZ8jxQgGkD5lkLwEnQ2iCLss8h7vYC_UdVlvwcp8tXCMWA6EjmnqWRdYj3jSQn4Dyb-KFICeoJBNzHETFtAAmFNuiCMJZLr6TnA/s400/Cedarburg.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />7. Rapid City, SD- I grew up there and I LOVE the Black Hills. It may be scary republican territory (think <a href="http://tobestalks.blogspot.com/2006/03/war-on-sex.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Bill Napoli</span></a>) but it is GORGEOUS.<br /><br />8.I am running out of places! In high school we took a church trip to San Jose, Cali and I really liked it there. I don't think that would suck. Sorry, lame way to end but I ran out of stuff :)<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />I tag <a href="http://-girl-interrupted-.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Sarah</span></a>, <a href="http://christymk.wordpress.com/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Christy</span></a>, <a href="http://dakotawomen.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Dakota Women</span> </a>(any of their bloggers can do it!), Mahlena-Rae Johnson (of <a href="http://stevethepenguin.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Steve the Penguin</span></a> fame), --- many others who I WOULD tag have already been tagged so I'll leave it at 4 and hope the Meme-Gods don't strike me dead.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-47269037304738985062008-10-28T08:59:00.004-05:002008-10-28T09:18:54.465-05:00Gabrielle Union inspires me<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CFpHhhuidPs&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CFpHhhuidPs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I did not know that actress Gabrielle Union was a survivor of rape. Here in her interview with Oprah, she is so well-spoken-- she talks about trusting your instincts and not going to a second location. She also advocates for better teatment for victims, no matter what part of town they are from. As a survivor from a more affluent community, Union recognized that the excellent care she received from police and rape counselors was not the norm.<br /><br />I've never seen Union in a starring role in her movies. But seeing how poised and honest and <strong>brave </strong>she is in this interview, I'm willing to bet she could and should be in some bigger, harder-hitting roles.<br /><br />She seems like a truly thoughtful person and I admire her so much for sharing her story.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-21632495261673784132008-10-27T13:41:00.002-05:002008-10-27T13:44:58.870-05:00SpotlightCheck out UneFemmePlusCourageuse's blog post <a href="http://unefemmepluscourageuse.blogspot.com/2008/10/vigilante-flair-patrol.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Vigilante Flair Patrol</span></a> all about how facebook applications like bumper stickers or flair (buttons you can add to your personal webpage) serve up some horrible rape-promoting garbage.<br /><br />I have been doing screenshots from time to time of insulting pieces I've seen, these are just a few...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8glI1c8sE2asUcSkzhI3jtu9ujP9J36SCDhR2PnFWB1HytUYzR2gfN3H5XKZNLwOcod2xSSAlu4Z6M-yxeUaDxw0yuyAn65ORfUSDsOGKh_N6R_iIzXwVLgo47Iz2MMnnLE-Jg/s1600-h/not+a+compliment.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 391px; height: 369px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8glI1c8sE2asUcSkzhI3jtu9ujP9J36SCDhR2PnFWB1HytUYzR2gfN3H5XKZNLwOcod2xSSAlu4Z6M-yxeUaDxw0yuyAn65ORfUSDsOGKh_N6R_iIzXwVLgo47Iz2MMnnLE-Jg/s400/not+a+compliment.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261906340236945554" /></a><br /><br />Une provides more, and a great blog post to boot. Go visit.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-961118241972485982008-10-27T09:34:00.004-05:002008-10-27T09:41:15.283-05:00UnfairThe <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/27/illinois.shootings.hudson/index.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">body of 7 year old Julian King has supposedly been f</span><span style="color:#ff9900;">ound</span></a>. He was the nephew of Jennifer Hudson. That means that in a span of days, Hudson lost her mother, brother and nephew.<br /><br />I have read about and wrote about countless horrible acts of violence but this case just breaks my heart. When I try to imagine something like that happening to me- losing the most cherished people in my life, including someone so young ... I literally can no longer think. It's as if my mind has to stop myself from even IMAGINING that kind of pain.<br /><br />My prayers to Jennifer and her family. May God grant them solace and peace.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-63676882563332137672008-10-26T13:37:00.002-05:002008-10-26T13:40:07.128-05:00Post Secret is so great<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4Y6aiwBfK1WD1Fxr-BNlMUb5xUiJ8W6u9kRU6bPzTectzW_0O1E8JZJlVsklOE1EpCilOu2sc6h4XTHwqtCYpvjevkQkNTnpRjYKG4Ir8s8E7vhU4zV26n6IR7RWKGb4_PQcbA/s1600-h/heldhand.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261534079401861234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4Y6aiwBfK1WD1Fxr-BNlMUb5xUiJ8W6u9kRU6bPzTectzW_0O1E8JZJlVsklOE1EpCilOu2sc6h4XTHwqtCYpvjevkQkNTnpRjYKG4Ir8s8E7vhU4zV26n6IR7RWKGb4_PQcbA/s400/heldhand.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />If you don't go check it out, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/postsecret.blogspot.com"><span style="color:#ff9900;">you should</span></a>. It's updated every SundayUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-19944739361389483882008-10-24T09:04:00.000-05:002008-10-24T09:05:23.427-05:00Picture this face<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4901d5ee395a932d/490160895c1d88c1/b74675e4/-cpid/5c604c875d31de97/clipID/783981/video_title/Saturday+Night+Live+-+Update+Thursday%3a+Bush+Endorsement/video_imgurl/http%3a%2f%2fvideo.nbc.com%2fplayer%2fmezzanine%2fimage.php%3fw%3d350%26h%3d196%26path%3dnbc2%2f2cde5682032c0421001c2da21944138d_mezzn.jpg%26hash%3d1467ecb80b049c2baf8282c961bc2714/video_url/http%3a%2f%2fwww.nbc.com%2fSaturday_Night_Live%2fvideo%2fclips%2fupdate-thursday-bush-endorsement%2f783981%2f/video_description/Pres.+Bush+endorses+McCain+and+Palin?storeInPid=true" id="W4727a250e66f97234901d5ee395a932d" width="384" height="283"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4901d5ee395a932d/490160895c1d88c1/b74675e4/-cpid/5c604c875d31de97/clipID/783981/video_title/Saturday+Night+Live+-+Update+Thursday%3a+Bush+Endorsement/video_imgurl/http%3a%2f%2fvideo.nbc.com%2fplayer%2fmezzanine%2fimage.php%3fw%3d350%26h%3d196%26path%3dnbc2%2f2cde5682032c0421001c2da21944138d_mezzn.jpg%26hash%3d1467ecb80b049c2baf8282c961bc2714/video_url/http%3a%2f%2fwww.nbc.com%2fSaturday_Night_Live%2fvideo%2fclips%2fupdate-thursday-bush-endorsement%2f783981%2f/video_description/Pres.+Bush+endorses+McCain+and+Palin?storeInPid=true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-62251887599900994402008-10-23T09:42:00.009-05:002008-10-23T13:30:16.706-05:00Sarah Palin's wardrobe firestormI defer to wisdom from CNN's Campbell Brown<br /><br /><script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/politics/2008/10/22/ec.campbell.brown.palin.clothes.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript></noscript><br /><br />...and the wisdom of the great <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/oct/22/sarah-palin-clothes-cost"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Melissa McEwan</span></a>.<br /><br />It's no secret that you should "<em>Dress for the job you want, not the job you have</em>." Well, Palin is dressing to look Presidential, so it's understandable that she wants to look sharp. Not only that, as a woman in the public eye, she <em>HAS </em>to look sharp.<br /><br />Throughout this campaign season, the press has made it abundantly clear that it won't be cutting female politicians any slack. Article after article was written about Hillary's pantsuits, the 'is<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071902668.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">-it-there-or-not' cleavage</span></a> and the choice of wardrobe colors (did that blue really flatter her?). And forget the clothes, was Clinton even HOT enough to be President? Believe it or not, it was a concern some pundits had.... Rush Limbaugh (professional asshole) wrote an entire article about Hillary, "Does Our Looks-Obsessed Culture Want to Stare at an Aging Woman?"<br /><br />So needless to say, there's pressure to look flawless. Palin's already been subject to scrutiny for outdated hair or for <a href="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/10/actually-it-could-only-be-23rds-of-slap.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">simply appearing as she is</span></a>!<br /><br />However, as McEwan and Brown both point out, we can acknowledge the sexist double standard but still point out the hypocrisy that Ms. Small Town, "Real" America, Hockey Mom, Average Joe-loving Sarah Palin shops at stores (and with expense accounts) that in NO WAY reflect the average American experience.<br /><br />Yes, woman are held to unfair standards but Palin dropped a LOT of cash ($150,000 over the course of 2 months) on clothes from top designers while Michelle Obama rocked a White House Black Market dress for less than $200.<br /><br />And if they were just two women living their life, that information would be none of my concern.<br /><br />However, Palin's campaign crux is that she sees America the way YOU do ('<em>you' </em>being, middle class, small town folk) and her actions continually speak otherwise.<br /><br />Besides, if I were a donor to McCain's campaign (hahahah, perish the thought) I'd be just a lil' pissy that she couldn't have shopped a few sale racks.<br /><br />Update: Just found a <a href="http://echidneofthesnakes.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html#5529716351649152892"><span style="color:#ff9900;">great post from Echidne</span> </a>on this issue.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-60647993603519942662008-10-21T09:05:00.006-05:002008-10-21T11:15:54.042-05:00He gets hero worship, she gets laundryToday on feministing, Jessica Valenti blogs that PlaySkool is still pushing their <a href="http://www.feministing.com/archives/011710.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Rose Petal Cottage</span></a> on American girls.<br /><br />The pink, pastel wonder comes complete with a washer/dryer, oven, baby cradle and stuffed chair. Now there's nothing wrong with children wanting to play house or play with domestic toys. I had a tea set when I was little and I adored princess clothes and baby dolls. But sometimes my "baby" and I would be mother and daughter taking a safari through the backyard. Sometimes I'd be wearing a tiara while climbing trees and splashing in mud puddles.<br /><br />I don't understand why we haven't advanced beyond this notion that kids today play a certain way based on what's between their legs.<br /><br />The Rose Petal Cottage is a classic example -- it's just one female stereotype after another. A line from the sing-songie advertisement goes, "I love when my clothes get so clean, taking care of my home is a dream dream dream."<br /><br />Now Playskool has put out the <a href="http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/ProductsByCategory.htm?CD=144&ST=SO&ID=22407&PG=1"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Sweet Lily Castle</span></a> -- for $200 your daughter can be a princess complete with frog to kiss (cause every princess needs a prince). Just once I want the princess outfit to come with a throne and palm pilot to plan all your diplomatic meetings and charity events!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEDGSvo0UmmMr7HtzNqcesuY0J9KDv_m9Fd4d3gyCBCu_cbpDcyr5RSUtpJRrB3M2NYrYDOoSW9XYo_UAlbbao4RPbEPHoduBbQ2RCCHH0ZQLpymE-yiwkXp5EI02tCsAbmM79g/s1600-h/princess+and+frog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259631202913595266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEDGSvo0UmmMr7HtzNqcesuY0J9KDv_m9Fd4d3gyCBCu_cbpDcyr5RSUtpJRrB3M2NYrYDOoSW9XYo_UAlbbao4RPbEPHoduBbQ2RCCHH0ZQLpymE-yiwkXp5EI02tCsAbmM79g/s320/princess+and+frog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Again, I see nothing wrong with selling stuff like this. But when you step back (like way back) to look at the big picture. It starts to get frustrating.<br /><br />Last night, I was watching TV and a ridiculous commercial came on. Sexy boyfriend and I were laughing hysterically at it, but I immediately noticed the language<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gs-Xe_TsDqI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gs-Xe_TsDqI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />It's not just that <strong><em>only </em></strong>boys are featured in the video, from the voice over, it's clear this is a boys-only toy.<br /><br />"<strong><em>He’s </em></strong>steering the action"<br />"Everything <strong><em>your little hero </em></strong>needs" -- hero apparently meaning MALE<br />"<strong><em>His </em></strong>imagination is racing"<br /><br />Keep in mind this is also a PlaySkool toy, the same folks that make Rose Petal Cottage and Sweet Lily Castle.<br /><br />When toys mature, it's the same problem. Take a look at this image (I lifted it from Feministing who got it from <a href="http://elleabd.blogspot.com/2008/10/things-seen-8.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Elle phd</span></a><span style="color:#ff9900;"><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEO86tR-Cv5qAQrTdhIQ3m7wAApIW_5ht3ZWFWHpvRuy3B128jqJJXJlwF19UBBj84Q6aDDj23traMM1s3g_-oCj6ZqsqV5Y7FLLU7OCADWee0FfyeEvBGp6nonlYlNhvBX_zIw/s1600-h/genderedsciencekit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259632500739556162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEO86tR-Cv5qAQrTdhIQ3m7wAApIW_5ht3ZWFWHpvRuy3B128jqJJXJlwF19UBBj84Q6aDDj23traMM1s3g_-oCj6ZqsqV5Y7FLLU7OCADWee0FfyeEvBGp6nonlYlNhvBX_zIw/s400/genderedsciencekit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Via Elle:<br /><br /><blockquote>And while the "boy's" kit promises to boost your brain... the "girl's" kit promise to relax you and let you experiment with different fragrances. The boy's box is also covered with words like "go wild" and "erupt" and "blow your mind,"while the only thing that promises to be exciting about the girl's is the foaming and frothing of bubbles.</blockquote><p><br />When you stop at <a href="http://www.feministing.com/archives/011629.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">feministing</span></a>, check out even MORE examples of sexist packaging for young girls/boys products. And it starts at Playskool and just continues... actually, it probably starts the minute the doctor says, "It's a girl." </p><p>As soon as the "Helmet Heroes" commercial was done (and we were finished giggling at the dad "behind bars") I said to Sexy Boyfriend, "Why can't HER imagination be racing?"<br /><br />He sort of snorted at me, "You WOULD notice that."<br /><br />Yeah I would. And I'm kinda pissed that he doesn't. I get really sick of people brushing it off as 'no big deal' when we just went through an election that had some of the worst open displays of sexism and misogyny our country has seen in YEARS. Don't tell me that all these antiquated ideas about sex and gender and the so-called limitations thereof (what girls can't do etc) doesn't have REAL ramifications.<br /><br />Luckily, I saw this video on CNN today about two high school girls who play football on their school team. Yes, they wear heels and like to shop but they are assets to the team and even wish they could tackle. That representation is much more truthful. Girls can still be girls (whatever that means) even while playing football in the mud, experimenting with chemistry and running for President!<br /><br /><script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/sports/2008/10/10/baldwin.girls.play.football.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript></noscript>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-20386337282716644642008-10-19T18:42:00.004-05:002008-10-19T18:48:45.615-05:00Proof that we're winning<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/d_MRanG6kqU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/d_MRanG6kqU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <br /><br />A lot of people are pissed that McCain came right out and admitted that picking Palin was a "cold, calculated political move to counter the liberal feminist agenda."<br /><br />I see this as proof that we're winning, folks. <br /><br />Next time someone asks, "Isn't feminism dead?" We have pretty strong proof that no-- on the contrary, we're whipping politicians into a frenzy.<br /><br />Apparently our cause is so threatening that McCain felt the need to pick an unqualified, untested person just because she could "counter our movement." <br /><br />And lo and behold she is simply energizing <em>our </em>base and Obama is poised to wipe them both off the map.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16768178.post-68672600161025230982008-10-16T09:18:00.002-05:002008-10-16T09:56:55.031-05:00Missed the debate?Watch it here<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DvdfO0lq4rQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DvdfO0lq4rQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Thoughts?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/oct/16/mccain-obama-debate-scalpel-hatchet"><span style="color:#ff9900;">I like Melissa's take on it</span></a><br /><br />2 <strong>very silly </strong>thoughts from me. <br /><br />#1 I wish Obama hadn't laughed so much. I realize McCain was spouting some serious crap but it can look very arrogant and rude to see the split screen and one man speaking seriously and the other one--- apparently -- laughing at him. <br /><br />Also<br /><br />Why does McCain have to whistle like that groundhog from Winnie the Pooh when he talks? ANNOYING.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2