Bouncing off Liss' open letter to retail management, what is the most flabbergasting exchange you've ever overheard in a restaurant/retail?
Mine was an exchange overheard from the next table, where a guy asked some questions about his bill, the waiter said he would look into it and headed to the back. What followed:
Woman at table: What's wrong with the bill?
Man at table: Nothing.
Woman: Then why did you send it back?
Man: Because I can.
Based on the outraged stare he received from his dining companion (Mr. J0lt & I couldn't help turning and gaping at him as well (NYC tables are notoriously close together)) and the furious whispering that followed, I don't think their date went very well after that. This happened probably fifteen years ago and the entitlement in the guy's last statement still blows me away.
So the other day I was driving home from my local coffee place feeding my current favorite addiction (medium double chocolate mocha w/peppermint and whip, please!) when a commercial came on the radio.
It was a commercial for coffee. McDonald's coffee. Specifically, their new(ish) line of cappuccinos. The woman's voice came on and said something to the effect of her love of "fancy" coffee drinks had led her to go to coffee shops where she discussed "avant-garde theater" and "Baroque chamber music". But now that McDonald's is serving their special coffee drinks, she can go back to reading gossip magazines and watching reality TV shows. I mean, my god, avant-garde theatre and Baroque chamber music. The horrors! Not to ignore the men, there is also a radio spot that I had the misfortune of hearing where the guy voicing it talks about how love of cappuccino made him start enjoying indie bands, French cinema, and NOT BATHING. Yes, not fucking bathing. Because all guys who like indie bands and French cinema are dirty fucking freaks. But thanks to McDonald's, he can be a real (clean!) man and go watch football again. Yes, really, they pull out the football line in that commercial.
So we see where these are going, right? Because the television spots aren't any better. In fact, they're only more time for this anti-intellectual, stereotypical horseshit:
Man 1: Oh, did you hear McDonald's has cappuccinos now?
Man 2: McDonald's?
Man 1: Yeah.
Man 2: (closes book) Well.....that's AWESOME!
Man 1: (enthusiastically) Yeah! (starts pulling off sweater)
Man 2: I can shave this...this....thing...off my face!
Man 1: And we don't have to call movies (airquotes) films anymore!
Man 2: We can talk about football!
Man 1: I like football. (defiant) I like sitting and watching football.
Man 2: (takes off glasses) I don't need these glasses--these are fake.
Man 1: I do need mine. They're very real.
[bullshit about the drinks]
Again with the fucking football. And sweaters and glasses! ZOMG! You'd almost think they were eating yogurt too.
This one they named "Intellectuals":
(this was the only embedded one I could find)
Woman 1: You know I heard McDonalds is making lattes now.
Woman 2: McDonalds? Well that's just...fantastic!
Woman 1: Isn't it?! Now we don't have to listen to jazz all day long!
Woman 2: I can start wearing heels again.
Woman 1: Read gossip magazines! (tosses book away)
Woman 2: Watch reality TV shows...
Woman 1: I like television!
Woman 2: I can't really speak French.
Woman 1: I don't know where Paraguay is!
Woman 2: Paraguay?
[bullshit about the drinks]
Woman1: I just want to show my knees, you know?!
Because we all know women really don't like to read (gasp!) books, learn/speak other languages, have world-related knowledge, or not wear mini-skirts, right? No, no. It's all "attitude", as the ad calls it, and it's all fake. That silly intellectualism! Not for real women!
Conversely, what?, smart women (--and are you really wanting to call the people you want to buy your shit not smart?) don't like to wear clothes that show off their knees, watch American Idol, or read trashy mags sometimes? lol your stereotypes, assface.
This--everything about this ad campaign--is every kind of FAIL out there. Well done on how much retrofuck bullshit contempt for women, men, and intelligence in-general you could fit in those 30 second commercials, McDonald's. Really.
[I]t has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.
Obviously the President requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives.
I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership, but at this time I must withdraw my name from consideration for this position.
One of the first things you see in the game, seconds after taking control of Chris Redfield, is a gang of African men brutally beating something in a sack. Animal or human, it's never revealed, but these are not infected Majini. There are no red bloodshot eyes. These are ordinary Africans, who stop and stare at you menacingly as you approach. Since the Majini are not undead corpses, and are capable of driving vehicles, handling weapons and even using guns, it makes the line between the infected monsters and African civilians uncomfortably vague. Where Africans are concerned, the game seems to be suggesting, bloodthirsty savagery just comes with the territory.
Later on, there's a cut-scene of a white blonde woman being dragged off, screaming, by black men. When you attempt to rescue her, she's been turned and must be killed. If this has any relevance to the story it's not apparent in the first three chapters, and it plays so blatantly into the old clichés of the dangerous "dark continent" and the primitive lust of its inhabitants that you'd swear the game was written in the 1920s. That Sheva neatly fits the approved Hollywood model of the light-skinned black heroine, and talks more like Lara Croft than her thickly-accented foes, merely compounds the problem rather than easing it. There are even more outrageous and outdated images to be found later in the game, stuff that I was honestly surprised to see in 2009, but Capcom has specifically asked that details of these scenes remain under wraps for now, whether for these reasons we don't know.
There will be plenty of people who refuse to see anything untoward in this material. "It wasn't racist when the enemies were Spanish in Resident Evil 4," goes the argument, but then the Spanish don't have the baggage of being stereotyped as subhuman animals for the past two hundred years. It's perfectly possible to use Africa as the setting for a powerful and troubling horror story, but when you're applying the concept of people being turned into savage monsters onto an actual ethnic group that has long been misrepresented as savage monsters, it's hard to see how elements of race weren't going to be a factor.
All it will take is for one mainstream media outlet to show the heroic Chris Redfield stamping on the face of a black woman, splattering her skull, and the controversy over Manhunt 2 will seem quaint by comparison. If we're going to accept this sort of imagery in games then questions are going be asked, these questions will have merit, and we're going to need a more convincing answer than "lol it's just a game."
The problem is that there isn't a more convincing answer for why one would accept that sort of imagery in games. The reason that responses to social critiques of offensive video games always come down to "lol it's just a game," usually accompanied by, at least in these parts, "and your a ugly fat dyke," is because playing games that are unapologetically racist (or misogynist, or fat-hating, or wev) has no legitimate justification, and very few people with any remnant of a social conscience are brave enough to say, "I know it's wrong, but I don't fucking care. And fuck you for trying to make me."
I heard a toilet flush, then Linda Fischer came out of a booth, pulling her red cape around her. "Look who's here," Wendy said. "It's Blubber!" "In the flesh," Caroline added. "I wonder what's under her cape?" Wendy asked. "Probably nothing," Caroline said. "Oh, there's got to be something. There's got to be her blubber... at least." "Yeah... her blubber's under her cape!" Caroline said and she and Wendy started laughing. I giggled a little too. Wendy moved closer to Linda, humming "Beautiful Dreamer." "Stay away from me!" Linda told her, walking backwards. "I'm not going to hurt you, stupid," Wendy said. "I just want to see what's under your cape." "Don't touch me!" "Oh, don't worry... that's not my job... Jill's the flenser." "That's true," I said. "I am." "And the flenser's the one who strips the blubber," Wendy said. I wasn't sure exactly what Wendy had in mind.
Judy Blume was the adult every girl loved, because she was the only adult who didn't lie to us. Wish her happy birthday at her (!!!) blog.
...to Shark-fu, aka Angry Black Bitch, celebrating four years of the fine art of bitchitude! Truly one of the best blogs in the blogosphere. I love you, grrl!
At Pajamas TV's "Just Joe" channel, you can find some of GOP Economic Guru Joe the Plumber's searing insights such as:
The money that they're talking about spending is just absolutely incredible. You can't get your mind around it. We used to think a million dollars was just the most incredible thing. Then it went to billions and now we're talking trillions. And trillions is such a large number we just can't wrap our mind around it; at least I can't.
Insert your own joke here.
[Via Blue Texan, who's got the direct link, if you're inclined to waste some time watching video of a dunderhead make an arse of himself while conservatives jizz in their pants over his stellar, tellin'-it-like-it-is, authentic joesixpackery.]
Sometimes, mistakes happen. Sometimes, I get overcharged for something, or sent the wrong thing in the mail, or brought the wrong food, or shipped something missing the assembly instructions or hardware or something else I need, or given totally not what I asked for, or inconvenienced in any one of a hundred little and, generally, easily fixable ways.
I realize that these are mistakes, that no one intentionally tried to trouble me. I realize that, most of the time, I get flawless service from just about everywhere, which is why the failures and fuck-ups stick out. And I also realize that the mistakes are mostly made by people who are new on the job, or by members of a sorely understaffed crew, or by someone who's got great training and great back-up, but is just having a shitty day, as we all occasionally do.
Which is why, Managers, when I bring something to your attention (which I only do if your employees can't handle the problem), and I stress that it's not a big deal and I'm not angry at all and I totally understand that mistakes happen and I'd just like it fixed please, the last thing I want to hear is how much your employees suck.
I don't want to hear, "I can't get these guys to do anything," and I don't want to hear, "I've never had such a bad group working for me," and I don't want to hear, "The guy/girl who helped you is a real idiot," and I certainly don't want to hear anything resembling an oblique swipe at the race of the person who helped me on the presumption I share your racist attitudes.
I don't want to hear you denigrate your employees at all.
In fact, there's almost nothing that will ensure you never get my business again than treating your employee/s like shit in front of me. It's rude, it's shady, and, by the way, it's a terrible personnel policy, which doesn't exactly boost my confidence in the rest of your management ability nor inspire me to frequent your place of business. It suggests to me that your employees really aren't the problem.
Don't put them down—and don't make excuses for them, either (which is not only irritating, but often so resolutely condescending you might as well be putting them down). Just tell me, "I'm terribly sorry, ma'am," and fix the mistake, and let me thank you and be on my way.
Between you and me, Managers, I shouldn't be the one more fiercely on your employees' side. And when I am, I don't come back.
Via Blue Gal comes an update on the dreadful incident I mentioned here in which a group of men (associated with the right-wing Hindu group Sri Ram Sena, who oppose violation of "traditional values," especially by Indian women natch) going into a pub on a Saturday afternoon and attacking the female patrons.
A group of Indian women have started the awesomely-named Consortium of Pubgoing, Loose and Forward Women and launched a campaign to send pink panties, or chaddis, to Pramod Muthalik, leader of the Sri Ram Sena, in protest of his misogynist horseshit.
And, then, on Valentine's Day, women across the world are being encouraged to: "Go to a pub wherever you are. From Kabul to Chennai to Guwahati to Singapore to LA women have signed up. It does not matter if you are actually not a pub-goer or not even much of a drinker. Let us raise a toast (it can be juice) to Indian women. Take a photo or video. We will put it together (more on how later) and send this as well to the Sri Ram Sena."
I almost can't believe that the Jessica Simpson Weight Nontroversy is still going on, that people are still being asked to comment on it, but, inexplicably, it is and they are.
"I don't think people understand what the responsibility of that question really is," he told Usmagazine.com Wednesday at the grand opening of Eleven Spa Vegas and the Ken Paves Salon in Las Vegas.
By answering the question, Paves told Us, he contributes "to younger girls having issues with their body weight. It's an irresponsible question to ask."
Right on, Ken Paves!
See how easy that is, Celebrities? Don't say, "She looks awesome." Don't say, "She's hot!" Look dead in the eyes of the asshole sticking a microphone in your face and asking you to comment on a woman's appearance and say, "That is an irresponsible question."
Shaker L emails that the story about Jennifer Figge swimming the Atlantic was at best shitty reporting and at worst a hoax. Sorry for passing on bad info, Shakers.
Everyone in the multiverse has sent me pictures, story links, etc. about Ms. Sam the Koala who was given water and rescued from the Australian brushfire by firefighter David Trees. Pet's linked it in the Morning Readings, and it's been linked in comments, and I know there's still a ton of interest, so here's an update I hope you'll enjoy:
Shaker Siobhan_the_Not_Very_Evil sends this story about convicts' right, or lack thereof, to DNA which may prove their innocence.
Shaker Joel forwards this article with the note: "The state of South Carolina, with one of the worst unemployment rates in the country, now wants to charge people with high BMIs an extra $300 per year for insurance. They interchange the ideas of 'obese' and 'high BMI score,' assuming they mean the same thing, and implicitly blame the overweight for health care costs. I won't question their assertion that SC has one of the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the country, but does it make any sense in a rational world to then make affordable health care less, well, affordable?"
Shaker Hillevi passes on this story about a man who murdered his wife. Check out the tacit victim-blaming: If only she hadn't changed her Facebook profile to say she was single! Tsk, tsk. Adds H: "And the story is in the technology section. It makes me nauseous to think about the editorial conversation which decided that. 'Oh another domestic violence story. Bo-ring. Hmm. I know, spice it up and make it interesting with the technology angle'."
Shaker Skywind sends this terrible story about an incarcerated woman in Florida whose pregnancy crisis was not properly treated, leaving the fetus dead and the woman on the verge of septic shock.
Meanwhile, Shaker Lena sends this terrible story, about another woman in Florida who went in for an abortion at a dodgy clinic and ended up delivering a live baby, which was then thrown in the trash.
And Shaker Kathy sends this story about a Jacksonville State University freshman claiming discrimination from Pi Kappa Phi after the fraternity allegedly denied his bid to join after hearing rumors that he's gay.
(What is going on in Florida?!)
And Shaker E sends on this post at Cracked compiling what they have deemed the 8 most misogynist TV ads. E also sends "A word of warning: the article is off to a rough start and then the ads just get worse." Too true.
As always, please feel free to leave links to good stuff you're reading in comments…
Last night's episode will be discussed in infinitesimal detail, and there is also a BIG SPOILER IMAGE below, so if you haven't seen the episode yet, and don't want any spoilers, move along...
Okay, the first thing we need to talk about is the Jin-Sawyer reunion. As soon as they saw one another, I screamed: "HUG EACH OTHER! HUG EACH OTHER!" And, because Lost never disappoints when it can make me jizz! in! my pants! it gave me this:
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is a little like the Superbowl to me: An American tradition we're meant to regard as good, clean, harmless fun, despite the most cursory closer look revealing a lot of ugly stuff designed specifically to reinforce traditional definitions of patriarchal masculinity, including (as always) hefty doses of heterocentrism and misogyny.
Increasingly, the SI Swimsuit Issue shares in common with the Superbowl a fierce competition between advertisers for inclusion. (The Swimsuit Issue alone pulls in over $50 million in revenue annually, about $35 million of which comes from ad sales.) And where there is competition, there are customized adverts.
Arby's, not generally known for its sexist advertising (one of few fast food eateries that isn't), submitted this ad for the Swimsuit Issue:
Says Rachel at The F-Word, "Thanks, Arbys, for giving me yet another example to use in my American history colloquium paper that addresses, in part, how women's bodies are depicted as pieces of meat for male consumption. You've captured the thrust of my argument perfectly."
(You can file a complaint about the advertisement with Arby's Corporate here.)
And, of course, Sports Illustrated itself does a whirlwind marketing campaign to sell the issue, resulting, by virtue of the subject matter, in some extremely weird and frequently inappropriate cross-promotional adverts, like a commercial plane turned into a flying centerfold:
On Tuesday, the new Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover girl, Bar Refaeli, was slated to fly cross-country in a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737, dubbed the "S.I. One," which was to be swathed in a giant image of her...
"Air-traffic control is going to be a mess this afternoon," Matt Lauer quipped on "Today."
"I just heard the plane is going to still be active for a month later," Refaeli said. "I'm like, 'Oh, my God, it's one of the best things that's ever happened to me'."
Parents of young children may feel differently.
Indeed. As may the female employees of Southwest. And female passengers asked to board a winged wank machine.
(The number for Southwest's public relations office can be found here.)
It really just never ceases to amaze me the stuff that women are just expected to not care about, that the default response to raising an objection to the image of a bikini-clad woman being slapped on the side of an airplane, because it's more important to advertise a lads' mag than respect actual women's dignity, will be "You're a hysteric."
If merely refusing, quite calmly, reasonably, and firmly, to the routine objectification of women in order to reinforce the means of our subjugation, and if not yielding to shrieking, name-calling, threat-making dudez who try to bully me into silence by wielding accusations of all manner of disproportion to defend their right to ogle women, makes me the hysteric, fine, I'm a hysteric and proudly so.
I'd rather be a hysteric than a jack-booted thug of the patriarchy.
How gauche. Sniff.
[H/Ts to Shaker/Shapeling Sweet Machine and Shaker JR_JR.]
"When [President Franklin] Roosevelt [increased government spending], he put our country into a Great Depression. He tried to borrow and spend, he tried to use the Keynesian approach, and our country ended up in a Great Depression. That's just history."—Representative Steve Austria (R-OH), showing off his firm grasp of American politics and history.
My pal Steve notes dryly: "Roosevelt couldn't 'put our country into a Great Depression' with the New Deal because 1933 comes after 1929. Republicans may be inclined to create their own reality, but they shouldn't create their own calendars." Heh.
In other news, all of Congressman Austria's colleagues in the Senate and the House have come to an agreement on the stimulus package. Let's hope most of them are smarter than he is.
The fat-shamers have gotten their wish! Jessica Simpson--the singer/actress who had the temerity to drop her daily two-hour workouts and, you know, actually eat something--is going on a diet. According to OK! Magazine, Simpson has vowed to "get her bikini body back," by "cutting back on her favorite finger foods" and returning to her previous workout routine. Her purported goal is to lose 20 pounds in eight weeks. Because everybody knows that disgusting, size-10 lardasses like Simpson (see below) don't deserve to wear bikinis. Or eat.
This is what I see when I look down: One little Sophs, sleepily keeping my afghan-covered feets warm for me, without any expectation of compensation, except for some schnoogling at my convenience.
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