With her brother no longer around, Feather seems to be doing quite well. Personally, I think she's just loving all of the focused attention.
Daily Kitteh
With her brother no longer around, Feather seems to be doing quite well. Personally, I think she's just loving all of the focused attention.
Quote of the Day
"I love and respect my daughter, and I appreciate the fact that she brings fresh views and ideas and we need that in our party. We don't always agree, and sometimes we have spirited discussions, and that is good in families."—Senator John McCain, Republican and full-tilt asshole, distancing himself yet again from his daughter Meghan McCain, who has distinguished herself within the Republican Party for advocating against some aspects of social conservatism.
You know, it would be one thing if they were in separate parties, but they're not. Meghan is still a Republican, and a pretty traditional one at that. She'd still fund bombs and defund arts programs, just like any good conservative. There's not a whole lot of light between them, and yet John takes every opportunity to say he disagrees with her—"respects" her, but disagrees with her—because it's still more important for him to protect his career in its dwindling twilight than it is to unconditionally support his daughter in the dawn of hers.
Here's a clue, John: First of all, you don't have to agree with her. Your career has never been dependent on pandering to social conservatives, despite your obstinate belief to the contrary. But, irrespective of that insistence, you don't have to say you disagree with her, every time you're asked about her. Say: "She's awesome, isn't she? I'm so proud of her." And if you're asked directly if you agree with her, say: "Oh, who cares if we agree or not? It's just so rewarding to see my daughter blazing her own path in the old man's business."
The advice is free, you cretinous jerk.
The Virtual Pub Is Open
TFIF, Shakers!
Belly up to the bar,
and name your poison!
Drinks are on Bill Clinton.
"A Voice of Her Own"
As Shakers may know, I'm spending this week at the 28th annual William Inge Theatre Festival in Independence, Kansas, which is a small town about 70 miles north of Tulsa, Oklahoma. (This Independence is not to be confused with the other Independence, Missouri, a large suburb of Kansas City, Missouri.) The reason the festival is held here is because this was the birthplace of Inge, the author of Picnic, Bus Stop, Dark at the Top of the Stairs, and Come Back, Little Sheba. This is my 19th visit to the festival, and it's like a family reunion for me.
We have a lot of great workshops with our guest artists, and yesterday I attended a session where Barbara Dana -- actor, writer, and gentle soul -- spoke about her ten-year mission to write a novel about the early life of Emily Dickinson. I bought the book -- A Voice of Her Own -- and I'm thoroughly enthralled by it after reading only thirty pages of it. Ms. Dana will be taking the stage as Emily Dickinson later this summer at the University of Regina in a production of The Belle of Amherst, the play based on the life of Dickinson made famous by the astounding performance of Julie Harris in the original Broadway production.
I love Emily Dickinson's poetry and I love Barbara Dana. What a joy to have them together.
I Would Like to File a Complaint
Did it really have to go from 30 degrees to 80 degrees, like, instantly? I really would have appreciated a couple of nice 70-degree spring days, is all I'm saying.
Al Gore and His Three-Decade Get-Rich-Quick Scheme
So, basically, Congressional Republicans are idiots. I know you already know this to be true, but this has been a banner week in what's been a banner decade in Congressional Republican idiocy. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was orchestrated penance for the Clinton impeachment by way of giving every other prominent politico from the Clinton White House the opportunity to shine like the shimmering beacons of intellectual fortitude they are, as they have never quite shone before.
To wit: Pence v. Clinton. Smith v. Clinton. And now Blackburn v. Gore.
(As per usual, I transcribed the video, and the transcript is below. Enjoy! And thanks to Shaker Constant Comment for passing it along.)
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): And given the magnitude of those changes, I think it's really important that no suspicion or shadow fall on the foremost advocates of climate change legislation, so I wanted to give you the opportunity to kind of clear the air [Gore snort-laughs off-camera] about your motives, and maybe set the record straight [Gore snort-laughs off-camera] for some of your former constituents—and I've got an article from October 8th, New York Times Magainze, about a firm called Kleiner-Perkins, a capital firm called Kleiner-Perkins…? Are you aware of that company?
Al Gore: [laughs] Well, yes! I'm a partner at Kleiner-Perkins.
Blackburn: So you're a partner in Kleiner-Perkins…? Okay. [Gore laughs off-camera] Now, they have invested about a billion dollars in forty companies that are going to benefit from cap-and-trade legislation, so, is the legislation that we are discussing here today, is that something that you are going to personally benefit from?
Gore: [sighs] I believe that the transition to a green economy is good for our economy and good for all of us—and I have invested in it. But every penny that I have made, I have put right into a non-profit, the Alliance for Climate Protection, to spread awareness of why we have to take on this challenge.
And, Congresswoman, if your—if you believe that the reason I have been working on this issue for thirty years is because of greed, you don't know me.
Blackburn: No, sir—I'm not making accusations. I'm asking questions [laughter from within the room] that have been asked of me.
Gore: Well—
Blackburn: And individual constituents that were seeking a point of clarity, so I am asking you for that kind of point of clarity.
Gore: I understand exactly what you're doing, Congresswoman. Everybody here does.
Blackburn: And, well, ah, you know, are you willing to divest yourself of any profit? Does all of it go to a not-for-profit that is an educational not-for-profit?
Gore: Every penny that I have made has gone to it.
Blackburn: Every penny has?
Gore: Every, every penny—from the movie, from the book, from any investments in renewable energy. I've been willing to put my money where my mouth is! Do you think there's something wrong with being active in business in this country?
Blackburn: I am simply asking for clarification of the relationship.
Gore: I'm proud of it! I'm proud of it!
And Now for Something Completely Different...
As Liss mentioned yesterday, FBI agent Ali Soufan wrote an op-ed in the New York Times on the effectiveness of enhanced interrogation techniques torture. The bad news for the sadistic apologists out there is that Mr. Soufan's words carry a little more weight due to his being present at these interrogations, unlike just about everyone else.
We discovered, for example, that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. Abu Zubaydah also told us about Jose Padilla, the so-called dirty bomber. This experience fit what I had found throughout my counterterrorism career: traditional interrogation techniques are successful in identifying operatives, uncovering plots and saving lives.I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that this entire issue is even open to debate. Granted, some of it is due to nuance and the use of a thesaurus. But still, we're actually at the point where there are plenty of people who truly believe that torture can be justified. That's certainly a valid argument against evolution, but that's a whole different post.
There was no actionable intelligence gained from using enhanced interrogation techniques on Abu Zubaydah that wasn’t, or couldn’t have been, gained from regular tactics. In addition, I saw that using these alternative methods on other terrorists backfired on more than a few occasions — all of which are still classified. [...]
Defenders of these techniques have claimed that they got Abu Zubaydah to give up information leading to the capture of Ramzi bin al-Shibh, a top aide to Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and Mr. Padilla. This is false. The information that led to Mr. Shibh’s capture came primarily from a different terrorist operative who was interviewed using traditional methods. As for Mr. Padilla, the dates just don’t add up: the harsh techniques were approved in the memo of August 2002, Mr. Padilla had been arrested that May.
Or is it?
[H/T to C&L]
Yawn
The Catholic Archbishop of New Orleans, Archbishop Alfred Hughes, has informed Xavier University he's boycotting its graduation ceremonies next month because they are feting Democratic strategist Donna Brazile with an honorary degree. Hughes sent a letter (pdf) to the university's president, Dr. Norman Francis, explaining his refusal to attend:
Ms. Brazile has a public record in support of keeping abortion legal. ... She has supported and worked for the election of candidates who support contraceptive practices and abortion on the basis that this stance is pro-woman.Perish the thought!
But the church isn't anti-woman. That's positively— Oh, I'm sorry, what to the who now?
Three years ago, Xavier awarded an honorary degree to President Barack Obama, then an Illinois senator and rising Democratic star with a record for supporting abortion rights, without objection from Hughes.Sure. Or maybe the radar screen just isn't calibrated to detect pro-choice dick with quite the same accuracy it targets pro-choice pussy. Or maybe it's just that three years ago, throwing a tantrum about the still-relatively unknown Barack Obama wouldn't have garnered as many headlines as poking a stick at Donna Brazile, who is from the ninth ward.
But archdiocesan spokeswoman Sarah Comiskey said Hughes had not been aware of the honor to Obama, which came while the bishops' common pledge was in force.
At that time, Francis said, Obama had not announced his candidacy.
"It could be that it flew under the radar screen," he said.
Wevs. Kudos to Xavier for giving Hughes the big shrug he deserves.
[H/T to Shaker Anitanola.]
Quote of the Day
"[Flaunting a big girl body in a punk-rock way is] kind of like a drug…it's a performance. It's funny how something so normal and mundane that you see every day—your body—can be controversial. The shock value is intense. It's like carrying an art piece around with you all the time."—Beth Ditto, singer and generally awesome feminazi cooter cultist.
Friday Blogaround
This blogaround brought to you by Shaxco, producers of "Hillary's Heroes," the uproarious sitcom about a ragtag group of zany feminazis who conduct an espionage and sabotage campaign right under the noses of their oppressors.
Recommended Reading:
Shark-Fu: The Graduate
Renee: Stay at Home Mother Not Considered a Professional
Pam: Iowa Judge to Stop Performing Marriages Rather Than Comply with Equality Ruling
SarahMC: Porky's 3: The Supreme Court Says "Panties."
BAC: Reid Still Doesn't Get It
Bill: Mike Finnigan: Rocking Out with the Coolest Man in Leftblogistan
Melissa: Anticipation Grows for Julie & Julia
Leave your links in comments...
The Real Deal: Season Two
by Shaker Seraph, a shameless geek who's getting through the bad times in New York City by doing temp work, playing Dungeons & Dragons, watching lots of movies, and splitting rent with an amiable soon-to-be-ex.
[Part One; Part Two; Part Three.]
And so we set off on the second stage of our journey, the Our Heroes' Adventures in The Earth Kingdom. This is the season where Avatar really starts to live up to its feminist good intentions. With that in mind, I'm going to stop cataloguing in so much detail when the show treats the female characters as full human beings or serious badasses in their own right. It's just too commonplace. Heck, it's easier to number the eps that fail the Bechdel test than those that pass it. Also, I'm going to stop noting it every time the cartoon defies ageism. Just assume that anyone with gray hair can end you. Only the most salient examples from this point on – that and intros to the characters that make this season what it is.
The Avatar State – As promised, this is where we meet the most terrifying 14-year-old you will ever encounter in any medium. Her name is Azula and she's Zuko's little sister, but from the first moment we see her, we know we're not dealing with an essentially decent anti-villain like him. Her first speech is pretty standard villain stuff – even think of questioning my orders and I'll kill you myself, that sort of thing – but it's in a conversation with the captain afterward that we learn just how cold a customer we're dealing with.Captain: Princess, I'm afraid the tides will not allow us to bring the ship in to port before nightfall.
(Quote taken from Avatarspirit.net.)
Azula: I'm sorry, Captain, but I do not know much about the tides. Can you explain something to me?
Captain: Of course, Your Highness.
Azula: Do the tides command this ship?
Captain: Uh…I'm afraid I do not understand.
Azula: You said the tides would not allow us to bring the ship in. Do the tides command this ship?
Captain: No, Princess.
Azula: And if I were to have you thrown overboard, would the tides think twice about smashing you against the rocky shore?
Captain: No, Princess.
Azula: Well, then, maybe you should worry less about the tides who've already made up their mind about killing you and worry more about me, who's still mulling it over.
Captain: I'll pull us in.
Note that the guy showed no sign of being lazy or disrespectful (though he does later turn out to be stupid). It's entirely possible she's risking everyone's lives because she's impatient. She is on a mission to bring in her brother and her uncle (whom her father blames for the Fire Nation's defeat at the North Pole – not without justification, though Ozai is ignoring the minor detail that Zhao's strategy would have devastated the planet), and she's not having any delays.
And it only gets worse from there. She's a firebending prodigy who can throw lightning and toss Zuko (who beat Zhao – an acknowledged master firebender – in one duel and was well on the way to winning the second when the Ocean Spirit intervened) around like a hacky-sack, both physically and mentally. She's so incredibly precise and determined to be perfect that a single hair out of place during lightningbending practice infuriates her. From this point on, we the audience know that playtime is over for Our Heroes. But even we don't know just how much trouble they're in yet.
Meanwhile, while all this is going on, Pakku has acknowledged Katara as a fellow waterbending master, and some fool tries to induce the Avatar state in Aang by attacking her, which means she isn't available to calm Aang down when it works. A-whoops. Also, we learn the primary drawback to the Avatar State: because the State is caused by tapping into all the power of the previous Avatars at once, if an Avatar dies while in the State, the chain of reincarnation is broken and the Avatar entity itself ceases to exist. This is why more experienced Avatars use the State sparingly. Keep this in mind, it's important.
Return to Omashu – In this episode, Azula decides that she needs a small, agile force to track Zuko and Iroh, rather than hauling the royal procession along with her.
The first member of this "force" that we meet is Ty Lee, an old school friend. Ty Lee has apparently run away from home to pursue a career as a circus acrobat since they last saw each other, but Azula has no trouble finding her. At first, Ty Lee makes the mistake of thinking that Azula is asking her to help hunt Zuko and Iroh. She (very, very politely) declines, saying that her aura has never been pinker than it is here, at the circus (if Ty Lee lived in our world, she'd have racks of crystals for waving and shelves of books about spirit guides from Atlantis. The aura stuff would be about the same). Rather than make it an order, Azula attends that night's show and orders all of the animals released and Ty Lee's safety net set on fire (all of it in the name of making the show more exciting, of course). Unsurprisingly, Ty Lee promptly decides that the universe is trying to tell her something, and enlists with Azula. She spends the rest of this season and much of the next not only obeying Azula's orders and agreeing with every word that Azula utters, but gushing over every single tiny little thing that Azula does. Some attribute this to vapidity or affection – and it's true that Ty Lee can be a bit of an airhead and she just adores everyone in the world that she isn't actually locked in combat with at the moment (and in Sokka's case, even that caveat goes out the window) – but I think it's more likely that she's just plain terrified (with good reason), and trying to keep on Azula's good side.
So why would the crown princess of the Fire Nation go to such trouble to recruit a circus acrobat? Because Ty Lee is also a master martial artist, perhaps the most dangerous non-bender we meet in the entire series (which, mind you, makes her more dangerous than most of the benders as well). She's an expert in the art of Chi-blocking, which can short-circuit bending and leave a victim paralyzed without causing any lasting damage. Useful when you're hunting members of the royal family, who also happen to be powerful firebenders.
The other member of the group that will become known to the fans as "Ozai's Angels" is in the newly-conquered Earth Kingdom city of Omashu, where her father has been appointed governor. Her name is Mai, and she's bored. There is really no fathoming the depths of her hatred for this place. She's a Fire Nation goth, and when her family is attacked by the Resistance she counterattacks with a hailstorm of thrown weapons and gives chase. Mom doesn't shout "Stop" or "Come back" when she does so, either. Mom is well aware that her fifteen-year old daughter is the most effective bodyguard she has. Heck, the girl damn near puts a shuriken through the Avatar's forehead (for the record, Aang was actually trying to help – it's his great misfortune to be in Omashu at this particular time that puts the Gaang in Azula's way and makes the rest of the season happen).
Mai goes along with Azula willingly enough – she's bored out of her mind in Omashu, and she's apparently eager to see Zuko again – but Azula still tests her loyalty. By purest accident, Mai's baby brother Tom-Tom toddles into the hands of the Resistance, who offer to trade him for Bumi, the imprisoned king of Omashu and Aang's best friend from the old days. However, when the Gaang shows up to make the trade, Azula points out that a toddler for a king isn't really a fair trade. Quicker on the uptake than Ty Lee, Mai realizes that Azula is not just sayin', and – without flinching – declares the deal to be off. It's only because Aang risks sneaking back in later that little Tom-Tom ever gets back home.
The Blind Bandit – And here's the one everybody's been waiting for. This ep starts with a nice bit of stereotype-breaking – Sokka out shopping for a new bag, experiencing buyer's remorse after he gets it, and later still being glad he got it after all, because it goes so well with another new accessory he's acquired – and just goes from there.
During Sokka's shopping trip, a street barker gives Aang a coupon for a free lesson at an earthbending school (he'd been counting on Bumi teaching him earthbending, and is now rather desperate). The only good that comes of this is that the Gaang hears about "Earth Rumble 6", an underground (literally) earthbending tournament. Katara more or less beats the location out of the boys who were discussing it (actually, she freezes them to the walls of an alley – they really shouldn't have been mean to Aang in front of her), and they all head off to the show.
One popular fighter known as The Boulder is dominating the competition, and for a few rounds the Gaang wonders if he might not be the one destined to be Aang's teacher (he doesn't really seem like the type). Then comes the final round, and we meet the reigning Earth Rumble Champion, the Blind Bandit.
She's twelve years old, she's tiny, she's blind, and she kicks The Boulder's ass in about five seconds. Literally.
Oddly enough, she has a lot more trouble with Aang when he takes advantage of the audience participation round to ask her to be his teacher, and she storms off after he wins, leaving the Gaang with the knowledge that Aang's destined earthbending teacher exists, but no way to find her.
So Katara simply bullies the information they need out of those same two earthbending students the next day (even she's acting like a pro wrestler by this point, and Sokka couldn't be more proud).
And that's how we come to meet Toph Bei Fong.
She's rude. She's crude. She's gross. She's hilarious.
She picks her nose, she picks her toes, she swears (as well as she knows how), she spits, and she likes to maintain "a healthy coating of earth" at all times. Her favorite methods of expressing affection are punching arms and making up insulting nicknames ("Don't answer to twinkletoes! It's not manly!"). Someone in an earlier thread mentioned that she's like a larval/miniature Starbuck, and I can get on board with that – once she discovers the joys of sex and hard liquor, she's going to run some people into the ground. Perhaps literally. Because in addition to being twelve years old, tiny and blind, she's arguably the greatest earthbender alive.
It's this last that is both the reason and the result of the fact that her blindness isn't as debilitating as it otherwise might be. Unique among all the earthbenders of this world, earthbending isn't a mere tool or martial art to her, but an extension of her senses. She can actually "see" with earthbending.
Like Teiresias, Daredevil and other characters who've used their superpowers to compensate for their physical challenges, Toph's "vision" has its plusses and minuses in comparison to the normal version. She can "see" in 360 degrees and around corners, but if something isn't touching the ground (as Aang wasn't at Earth Rumble 6), it's invisible to her. Worse, if the surface she's standing on isn't earth or stone, her feet are as blind as her eyes, and even in the best of conditions she's illiterate (no Braille in this world). All in all, I'd call it a net negative, but she's so capable (and her unusual senses prove so useful so often) that the other characters often forget that her eyes don't work.
Just one problem: her parents had no idea about any of this. As far as they're concerned, she's the "tiny, blind and helpless" girl that they've hidden from the world (for her own protection, of course) for the last twelve years. When they find out what she's been up to, they're ready to restrict her movements even more. When she runs away, they hire a couple of skilled and greedy earthbenders to go after her. Remember that, it's important later.
Zuko Alone – When he found himself an exile, Zuko chose the path that many disinherited noblemen in similar situations have chosen: banditry. A natural choice when your primary skill is fighting and you believe the world owes you. When Iroh expressed his disapproval (he prefers begging – if all he needs to do to get what he needs without hurting anybody is trade away his dignity, he's fine with that), Zuko chose to go his own way. As he wanders, we get flashbacks introducing us to Mom and Grandpa, and showing us the truly fucked-up family dynamics of the Fire Nation royal family.
Mom is named Ursa, and there was never a woman more aptly named. She's a devoted mother, doing her best to encourage her sometimes-hapless son, deeply worried about her budding young sociopath of a daughter. Not that Azula wants her concern. She's daddy's favorite, largely because she's a firebending prodigy like he is, and like grandpa was before him. The family dynamic is summed up perfectly in one scene: Azula has just put on a stunning (especially considering she's maybe 8) exhibition of firebending for grandpa. Zuko steps up to give his own and falls flat on his ass. Azula smirks, Ozai frowns, and grandpa gets annoyed. Only Ursa offers any comfort. Because it's not enough to be hard-working, intelligent, determined, and desperately eager to please. If you're not a prodigy, you're not good enough.
Like I said, there's a definite danger that kids might see something real if they watch this show.
Anyway, grandpa is Firelord Azulon (yes, Azula was named for him), an ancient (95, canonically) and obviously fragile man when we meet him. The circumstances of that meeting are less than auspicious: Iroh's son Lu Ten has just been killed in battle, and Ozai is arguing, on the grounds of his two living children, that he should be made crown prince. Azulon is Not Amused. He decrees that Ozai must learn how Iroh feels: he must kill Zuko.
Azula overhears this and responds by dancing around her brother's bed, chanting "Father's going to kill you". And why shouldn't she be happy? With Zuko dead, she becomes the heir to the Fire Nation throne. Oh, sure, it's possible that Iroh or Ozai might produce another boy before that time comes, but no one takes that for granted, and no one seems to care (and I don't know enough about Fire Nation politics to know if a penis trumps the fact that Azula would be eldest anyway). The next Firelord (after Iroh) would be a woman, and what of it? I've seen fanfic where her taking the throne is contingent upon her marrying and producing an heir, Princess Diaries 2 – style, but that's flatly contradicted by the show.
In any case, when Ursa overhears Azula's taunts, she drags her off, determined to get to the bottom of all this. The next day, Azulon is dead, Ursa has vanished into the night after one last goodbye to Zuko, and Ozai has been declared Firelord, supposedly by Azulon's last wish.
Make of that what you will.
The Chase – Ozai's Angels nearly run the Gaang into the ground, coming closer to beating them in a straight-up fight than Zuko ever did. As everybody gets tired, they start behaving in some seriously assholish ways, as will happen: Toph, unaccustomed to a communal life, doesn't quite grasp yet that "pulling her own weight" means more than taking care of her own needs. Katara reaches surprising depths of nastiness when Toph slams a door in her face. Aang absolutely Will. Not. Hear. Any criticism of Appa.
But forget all that. I'm more interested in the scene (transcript taken from Avatarspirit.net) that opens the episode, where we learn that on this show, women aren't assumed to be killjoys too prissy to perpetrate or enjoy gross-out humor.Episode opens with a shot of the sun setting over a range of hills that have trees and a creek spread out before it. The camera tilts down to show Appa and the gang, now including Toph, sitting in what looks like a dried up section the creek. There is a bunch of white fur around Appa's feet. Cut to a shot of Appa from his right side at an angle so his back is closest and his head is furthest. Aang sits in the basket and is passing a sleeping bag down to Sokka. Katara walks around Appa's head to the same side. Toph appears from the left and is closest to the camera.
Bitter Work – Toph's earthbending bootcamp for Aang. Aang addresses Toph as "sifu". When Katara asks him why he never called her that, he says he doesn't know (my guess: it never occurred to him because they started out as students together), but that he'd be glad to if she wants him to. Then he does.
Toph: Hey, you guys picked a great campsite. (Cut to a shot of Toph's feet in the pile of white fur.) The grass is so soft.
(Cut to a shot that shows the full of Appa from his right side showing all four of them.)
Sokka: That's not grass. Appa's shedding.
Katara: (Lifting her right foot out of the fur and balancing on her left.) Oh, gross!
Aang: That's not gross; it's just a part of spring. (Shot cuts to Aang atop Appa as a light melodious tone plays softly. A blue bird lands gracefully on his head and a yellow butterfly flutters by his right ear which Momo jumps up in an attempt to snatch.) You know, rebirth, flowers blooming, and Appa gets a new coat!
(Cut to a shot of Appa's head, Katara stands to its left.)
Katara: Ah, the beauty of spring. (Appa, who sticks his tongue out to reveal it's covered in fur, sneezes, blowing fur everywhere.) Stop, Appa, stop!
(She coughs, and waves her arms to stop Appa from covering her in hair even more. Shot pans over to Sokka who is kneeling and rubbing fur on his head.)
Sokka: It's not that bad, Katara. (He stands to reveal he has piled the fur on his head to form a tall pillar of hair in a very Marge Simpson like fashion.) It makes a great wig!
Aang: (Dropping into the shot from atop Appa, he has arranged the fur on his face to form a large mustache and beard.) And a great beard!
(Sokka and Aang point and laugh at each other. Shot changes to Katara who is not smiling and begins to whip the fur off her sleeve.)
Katara: (unamused) I'm just glad we finally have another girl in the group because you two are disgusting.
(Cut back to Aang and Sokka who are both slightly hunched with one arm over the other's shoulder.)
Toph: Excuse me. (She walks in between the two breaking them apart.) Does anyone have a razor… (she lifts both arms to reveal a mass of white fur emerging out of both of her sleeves, under her arms) …because I've got some hairy pits!
(All three of them laugh until Aang gives one of his powerful airbending sneezes, thrusting him backwards into Appa's leg and then falling face down on the ground. He lifts his head to reveal his beard and mustache are gone but he now has a large mass of fur sticking jaggedly up on his back. All three begin laughing again. Cut to Katara who at first looks disgusted, but quickly joins in the laughter.)
Does it count as passing the Bechdel test when two women are talking about training techniques…for their single, male student?
Also, Iroh teaches Zuko how to redirect (as opposed to generate) lightning. Remember that. It's important.
The Library – Nothing political, but Our Heroes make an interesting discovery: firebenders lose their power during solar eclipses. And hey, what do you know? There's one scheduled for a few months from now, before the arrival of Sozin's Comet. Keep that in mind. It'll be important later.
The Desert – Appa is stolen by a group of desert-nomad "Sandbenders", and Katara's "Team Mom" persona becomes full-blown team leadership as she tries to get them all out of the desert alive. Aang spends the entire episode hovering on the edge of berserk fury (he comes the closest we ever see him come to killing somebody of his own free will – that is, without being controlled by the other Avatars or a pissed-off Ocean Spirit. Not that the sandbenders don't deserve it – stealing someone's transportation in the middle of the desert is essentially slow, cruel murder. He does kill a hornet-buzzard when it tries to steal Momo). Toph can see very little through the sand. And Sokka spends the entire episode high on peyote. That's right. I told you this show got a lot of crap past the radar, didn't I? Cactus juice – it's the quenchiest! Just watch those side effects.
At one point, the Gaang spots a cloud (at first, Aang thinks it's Appa). After a moment, Katara realizes: Huzzah! Water! – and sends Aang up to waterbend the cloud into her waterskin. Not much water results, and when she expresses her dismay, Aang snaps back that he did his best, and demands to know what she's doing. Her answer:"Trying to keep us together."
Just like she did back at the South Pole. Just like she's always done. It's who she is, and who she's been for years. Once again, don't think about it too much – it'll break your heart.
The Serpent's Pass – Not that much in this episode. Katara is glad to revert to being fourteen years old (using waterbending to do the greatest cannonball ever at a swimming hole).
Our Heroes are on the way to the Earth Kingdom capital of Ba Sing Se, and they run into three refugees: a man named Than, his wife Ying, and a younger woman who I'm going to guess is somebody's sister. Ying is heavily pregnant, and they want to get to Ba Sing Se before she has her baby (a little bonus for those of you bothered by this – Than doesn't say "our" and he certainly doesn't say "my". He says "her"). They convince the Gaang to join them on a ferry that carries refugees to Ba Sing Se, instead of taking the (extremely dangerous) Serpent's Pass. While waiting in line: we run into a familiar face.(Sokka is grabbed from behind and spun around by an attractive young woman in Earth kingdom uniform.)
This scene is amusing enough in its own right, but it's important later. Keep it in mind.
Young Woman: (firmly) Tickets and passports please. (Holds out hand.)
Sokka: (intimidated) Is there a problem?
Young Woman: (menacingly) Yeah, I've got a problem with you. (Pokes finger at his chest.) I've seen your type before, probably sarcastic, think you're hilarious, and let me guess, you're traveling with the Avatar.
Sokka: Do I know you?
Young Woman: You mean you don't remember? (Yanks him close by his collar.) Maybe you remember this. (She places a kiss on his cheek.)
Sokka: Suki!!
(They hug.)
Suki: (delighted) Sokka, it's good to see you!
Of course, Our Heroes don't get their peaceful ferry ride, and of course poor Ying doesn't make it to Ba Sing Se in time. Fortunately, Katara is an experienced midwife, and the birth goes off without a hitch. One thing I appreciate here: although Sokka faints, Than does just fine (mostly just holding Ying's hand and helping her sit up, but still). I've always hated the joke that men – no matter how brave or competent they might be at other times – always cease to function the second the woman in their life goes into labor. Birth is a very big deal, no question, but there's no reason it has to be A Mystery No Man Can Face instead of just another medical emergency. Patriarchy hurts men, too, and all that.
Also, Zuko and Iroh make their way to Ba Sing Se as refugees.
The Drill – You know how, in far too many movies and shows, women remain all pretty and perfect regardless of whatever yuck they might be crawling through? Maybe a few aesthetically-placed smudges?
No. Not here.
City of Walls and Secrets – The Gaang enter Ba Sing Se, where they are honored guests (or prisoners – not that there's much of a difference in Ba Sing Se). Zuko and Iroh get an apartment in the city's outer circle and a job at a tea shop. We meet Long Feng, head of the Earth Kingdom's secret police (the Dai Li), puppet master who really rules the Earth Kingdom, and this season's secondary villain. Remember him.
Tales of Ba Sing Se – A day in the life in Ba Sing Se. Everybody gets a segment, but the only ones we're really interested are Zuko's, and the one Katara shares with Toph.
The Tale of Toph and Katara: Katara takes Top to The Fancy Lady Day Spa. Yes. Apparently there were some coupons in that guest house. Toph is reluctant to try anything "girly", but except for the part where some fool tries to give her a pedicure (violence ensues), she comes to enjoy the pampering. Afterward, they end up having to deal with some rich girls who apparently have a problem with Outsiders wearing makeup in the same style as their betters. This turns out about as well for the rich girls as you'd imagine. A simple, Bechdelicious good time, and…
The Tale of Zuko: Zuko goes on a date. Why do we care? Because she (a really wonderful – cute, affectionate, cheerful, friendly, curious, eager to show a newly-arrived refugee boy all the wonders of her city – girl named Jin) asks him out. No comment is made about this. There is no Ba Sing Sadie Hawkins' dance going on, she's not presented as unusually bold, and she certainly doesn't wait for him. She takes him places, she initiates kisses (i.e. the closest thing to sexual activity we're going to see on Nickelodeon) and there's no hint that even someone as old as Iroh thinks this is unusual. It's almost like the people in this universe (outside the Water Tribes, of course) take it for granted that women have their own desires and the right to act on them, instead of waiting around for the honor of becoming male property.
Appa's Lost Days – The story of the time between Appa's bison-napping and his arrival in Ba Sing Se. Be warned: you will blub. At one point, he's found and nursed back to health by the Kyoshi Warriors. When Ozai's Angels happen upon the lot of them, the Warriors fight them off while Appa escapes. The last thing we see is Suki and Azula running at each other…
The Earth King – The Gaang achieves what seems to be victory as they finally manage to get through to the Earth King and convince him of what Long Feng is doing. Of course, that can't be allowed to last. By the end of the episode, Toph has been captured by her father's bounty hunters and Ozai's Angels have shown up, dressed in Kyoshi Warrior uniforms. Uh-oh.
By the way: both Toph and Long Feng are imprisoned in metal cells. That's because even the most powerful and skilled earthbenders can do nothing with metal. Remember that.
The Guru – Remember how I – and, I assure you, the show – kept mentioning that earthbenders can't do anything about metal? Very specific, very definite, no exceptions, not even masters like Bumi, Long Feng or (in the next episode) the Earth Kingdom high command – Earthbenders cannot, not ever, never-ever-ever bend metal. Want to capture an earthbender? Use metal restraints and prisons.
Unless you've got Toph.
Because in this episode, Toph bends metal.
That's right. The tiny, twelve-year-old blind girl is officially superhuman even by the standards of a world where a significant minority of the population can control the elements.
Crossroads of Destiny – In this episode, Azula, princess of the Fire Nation, with only her two ladies-in-waiting-slash-ninja, subverts an enemy nation's secret police (intimidating Long Feng into submission after thoroughly playing him), bringing down from within the one city that her own nation's armies could never defeat, effectively ending the war.
The only people who even come close to stopping her are Katara (who was actually winning until Zuko interfered) and Aang…who she lightning-blasts in the back just as he's starting to manifest the Avatar State, temporarily killing him and cutting off his access to the Avatar State (and even at that, the world counts itself lucky that the Avatar itself didn't cease to exist).
At the age of 14.
That is all.
Talk About Stiff Competition
Media Matters has a new poll: The Worst Media Moment of Obama's First 100 Days.
They're all pretty appalling, but my vote had to go to the unctuous Cody Willard of Fox News covering one of the tea parties:
This entire day of slobbering coverage should prove to even the most brickheaded observer that Fox has no purpose other than promoting and aiding the right wing; calling themselves a "news network" is a fucking joke. But this moment is the cherry on the shit sundae; the moment when all of the lies and hysteria stand howling and naked for all to see. If this is what passes for the news in this country (and remember, this was presented as news reporting, not an opinion piece), the media is dead, folks.
This Is What a Feminist Secretary of State Sounds Like
Even as she is still called "the gentleman" by her retrofuck male peers.
Shaker Carol (who gets the hat tip for the post title, as well) just sent me the link to this RH Reality Check video of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pwning the fuck out of Republican Chris Smith of New Jersey, who gives Rep. Mike Pence a run for his money in the Dumbass Department.
I transcribed the video; transcript is below. Enjoy!
Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ): —my question: Is the Obama administration seeking, in any way, to weaken or overturn pro-life laws and policies in African and Latin-American countries, either directly or through multi-lateral organizations, including and especially the United Nations, African Union, or the OAS, or by way of funding NGOs like Planned Parenthood; and, secondly, and so we can have total transparency—you know, you know, as a former lawmaker, we always have definition pages when we write legislation; definitions do matter—does the United States' definition of the term "reproductive health," or "reproductive services," or "reproductive rights," include abortion? I yield to the distinguished gentleman.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: Congressman, I deeply respect your passionate concern and views, which you have championed and advocated for over the course of your public career. We obviously have a profound disagreement.
When I think about the suffering that I have seen of women around the world—I've been in hospitals in Brazil where half the women were enthusiastically and joyfully greeting new babies and the other half were fighting for their lives against botched abortions. I've been in African countries where 12- and 13-year-old girls are bearing children. I have been in Asian countries where the denial of family planning consigns women to lives of oppression and hardship. So we have a very fundamental disagreement.
And it is my strongly held view that you are entitled to advocate, and everyone who agrees with you should be free to do so anywhere in the world, and so are we.
[camera cuts to Smith looking grim as fuck and totes pwned!!!1!]
We happen to think that family planning is an important part of women's health—and reproductive health includes access to abortion, that I believe should be safe, legal, and rare. I spent a lot of my time trying to bring down the rate of abortions, and it has been my experience that good family planning and good medical care brings down the rate of abortion. Keeping women and men in ignorance and denied the access to services actually increases the rate of abortion.
During my time as First Lady, I helped to create the Campaign Against Teenage Pregnancy, and while we were working to provide good information, access to contraception, and decision-making that would enable young women to protect themselves and say no, the rate of teen pregnancy went down. I'm sad to report that, after an administration of 8 years that undid so much of the good work, the rate of teenage pregnancy is going up.
So, we disagree. And we are now an administration that will protect the rights of women, including their rights to reproductive healthcare.
[applause from within the room]
Chair: The time of the gentleman has expired.
On Having a President Who's Not Like the Others
The first thing I said when I saw the shirtless-Obama Washingtonian cover?
Oh.
No.
They.
Didn’t.
Was it supposed to be cute? Daring? The editors have defended the image by noting that President Obama isn't like other presidents, by which they almost certainly mean he's generally regarded as more conventionally attractive than most American presidents, or "hot." But that's clearly not the only way in which Obama is different than every other American president -- and, while it might be new to have a black president, there is nothing new about objectifying black men and focusing on their sexual "hotness." It is undoubtedly more convenient for them to ignore that context, so they might pretend they're not playing into it.
There is a long history of black men being reduced to the physical, being defined in terms of their (often exaggerated) sexuality. Hell, the mindset of Southern whites for centuries—and especially after 1865--rested partially on the notion that pure white women had to be protected from the irrepressible urges of the oversexed, black male savage.*
This is an image we have internalized. In the case of black men, they face the dilemma of living in a patriarchal, heterosexist society, that demands that they prove their manhood, and a racist one, that denies them the traditional means of proving it—namely through the roles of “provider** and protector.” They are often left to demonstrate their “manliness” through physical and verbal violence (though I would argue that this is true across race and class lines) and sexual prowess, determined by the number of female “conquests” they’ve made.
In those respects, this cover disregards history. But it also captures a very present-day phenomenon—the projection of an aura of “casualness” around the Obamas. I get that people want to make them seem approachable in a they’re-just-like-you-and-me way. It’s a way to ease a country in denial about its racism into the reality of having a black first family. There’s another effect of this “casualization” though, rooted deeply in racism and classism. While the Obamas are commonly compared to the Kennedys, what goes unspoken is that they lack the pedigree, the lifelong experience with “the formal” that John and Jacqueline had. What I read over and over, from people who critique Michelle Obama's fashion sense, is the implication that she is too casual—she does not know how to dress appropriately. I believe the Washingtonian cover reveals a similar sentiment about President Obama.
Finally, I’d like to point to the Washingtonian’s narrow definition of hot that focuses on the physicality of the President. Now, of course, we live in a country obsessed with appearances and operating with a very narrow concept of attractiveness, so the Washingtonian is not alone. But I think some of the “hottest” things about Obama are his intelligence, the respect and love he seems to have for his wife, and the alternative image of black masculinity he represents—no shirtless image required to portray any of that.
(cross-posted)
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*Neither is there anything new about putting black bodies on display to titillate or entertain or to determine their physical desirability.
** One interesting thing to note is that while black men might play the provider, it is cast in a different context than white men’s role. Black men might shell out money, but it is in a context in which black women are assumed to be playing the role of the greedy gold-digger who "sells" herself to a temporary “provider.” As Lisa Jones noted, “Between rappers turning ‘ho’ into a national chant and [the movie Waiting to] Exhale telling African Americans that our real problem is the shortage of brothers who are both well hung and well paid, I’m getting to think that all we can offer each other is genitalia and the paycheck.” Quoted in Patricia Hill Collins’s Black Feminist Thought.
Why Use a Teaspoon When You've Got a Tablespoon?
Mystery donor keeps giving to woman-run colleges:
The mystery college donor has struck again — this time at Binghamton University in New York, whose financial aid office phone started ringing off the hook as word of an anonymous $6 million contribution spread across campus.Which might make one think there's a woman behind the gifting, maybe someone who's made more money than she could ever spend, someone who believes, like our First Lady, that "communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women [and] part of that health includes an outstanding education," and knows that female students tend to benefit from women-run universities. Or maybe it's an informal organization of like-minded women, pooling their resources. I slaver at the thought of a meeting of this secret cabal, which I imagine to be comprised of: Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, Maxine Waters, NinaGarciaFashionDirectorAtElleMagazine, Whoopi Goldberg, Suze Orman, Diane Keaton, Joan Chen, Jodie Foster, and OPRAH!
Binghamton is the latest of at least a dozen universities to receive donations totaling more than $60 million in recent weeks. The gifts have arrived with the same, highly unusual stipulation: not only must the donor must remain anonymous, but not even the college can know who it is or try to find out.
The recipient colleges seem to have almost nothing in common except this: so far, all are led by women.
Or, it might make people wonder what kind of corrupt man is doing it.
It's unclear whether the donations are coming from a single individual, but seem clearly related. On Internet discussion boards, speculation on the source has ranged from a humble philanthropist so selfless as to not even claim a tax deduction, to disgraced financier Bernie Madoff or a soon-to-be-divorced businessman trying to unload hidden assets.Of course. It's probably Mel Gibson, facing one of the most expensive divorces in history, and one day the benefactors of his not-generosity will be known as the SugarTits Scholars.
I just love how the AP apparently couldn't find any speculation that might reasonably be filed under "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves." It's gotta be a guy—and a guy in trouble, at that, because no guy in his right mind would help specifically women-run universities on purpose!
Anyway...
DeFleur said the gift was especially appreciated considering how many students are struggling to pay bills with one or both parents out of work. More than half of Binghamton's students get some form of financial aid, and calls quickly started pouring in from students.Maude bless the donor, whoever it is.
..."They wanted to sign up," DeFleur said. "We said, 'we'll have the guidelines out of soon.' That's just an indicator that there is really need. So many students, they want to go to school and they want to go now more than ever, and these are some of the most difficult times."
[H/T to Shaker Liz.]
Truth Crusaders? Really?
by Shaker Aly, a sophomore in a public high school, who reads until her eyes hurt, can't wait until Debate season '09-'10, and believes that there is nothing that an episode of "Doctor Who" can't solve. She is the main contributor to The Wakeup Call, a blog by "The Silent Generation."
The Day of Truth.
I'm sure all of you have heard about it, from reading this blog. If not, let me catch you up. It's a day that "was established to counter the promotion of the homosexual agenda and express an opposing viewpoint from a Christian perspective."
Now, I could go in depth about everything that is wrong with that mission statement, but that would digress from my original point, which was this: I had the displeasure of meeting and having a conversation with a Truth Crusader.
Oh, yes—a Truth Crusader. It just gets better from there.
They made their presence known immediately at my school. While they were not large in number, maybe forty out of a school of two thousand, they were bloody loud. They wore shirts, obviously homemade, with a giant red cross on the back and a bible verse on the front. They sang hymns through the hallways, locking arms and handing out leaflets. God help you if there were more than three of them in the hallway together. They were a nuisance, they were obnoxious, but worst of all, they were armed and dangerous, overflowing with blue handouts about the oncoming storm of gays.
It is my habit to link hands with my close friend Caitlin as we walk through the hallways. Often times, her boyfriend will join up with us as we walk to history, and it'll be a lovely three chain hand-holding. It's absolutely harmless, non-sexual in every way, and pretty much just our habit, as it's been for a few years now. We're close friends, and I don't think that any Truth Crusader really needs to be privy to whose fingers I link with.
Obviously I was mistaken.
We saw her coming down the hallway, alone, with her huge cross and basket of leaflets. Unspeaking, Caitlin clutched my hand tighter, an unspoken conversation that we were not going to unlock hands, despite the impending interception. We went about our conversation, fairly tense, in that fake way you have a conversation when pretending that you don't notice whatever glaring red object is in front of you.
Our Truth Crusader, however, noticed us. She marched up to us, blocking our way, with no preamble: "You know you're sinners, right?"
Caitlin: No, I didn't, but thanks for filling me in. You know you're a tremendous asshole, right?
TC: You don't have to be rude. Everyone is so anti-Christian, I'm not surprised you don't know the truth.
The basics of the conversation are not important, and they involved some major conflict, so I'm going to skim over the sarcasm and go to the important parts of the conversation. (I should also note that my school has not had the Day of Silence yet—we were on spring break on the official day, so ours is this Friday.)
TC: Look, it's not my fault that you're going to go to Hell. I'm trying to help you! Please, you've been brainwashed—
Aly: We've been brainwashed? Look, sunshine—
Caitlin (being overtly sarcastic): No, Aly, let's hear about how we've been brainwashed. Please, go on.
TC (sarcasm makes slight whistling noise as it goes right over her head): Well, you have to understand what the schools are doing! Not everyone can afford private schools, especially not in this kind of economy, but we need to make sure our public schools are giving the same type of education. It's wrong to subject our kids to gays, to shove them in their face every day and teach them anti-morals!
Let me reiterate. She actually said to us: It's wrong to subject our kids to gays, to shove them in their face every day and teach them anti-morals.
No matter how many victories we have, there are people who think like this. And it's a nice little metaphor, isn't it? Out of a school of 2,000+, forty kids made this huge fuss, making it seem as if there were tons of them. That seems to be exactly what is happening in America—despite the fact that most Americans support gay rights, there is that one minority that makes such a racket that you start to think there are more of them.
Yes, they were utter nutters. Most people at my school realized that, and mocked them for their abject stupidity. However, this is the main problem: Underneath the nuttiness, people were listening. You could see people in the hallways, reading through the pamphlets, thinking that they actually had a valid point. I had a conversation with an acquaintance of mine who said that, while they were going about it the wrong way, he understood where they were coming from.
No. Really? No.
This is the reason why we need even more cultural education in schools, the reason why we need the Day of Silence, the reason why we can't sit back and think that things will sort themselves out. We cannot take winning for granted.
The fact that there are teens who can "understand where they're coming from" when it comes to the alleged gay propaganda spreading through schools? That's the evidence that we can't rest on our laurels. It's just taken for granted in schools that the majority of people are pro-gay rights. I honestly get shocked when I find out that a friend or acquaintance of mine is homophobic, because, despite all the news reports and coverage about LGBTQI hate crimes, you do not expect it in your school. You take it for granted that your friends and family are not homophobic.
We can't keep taking this for granted, because "pro-family" (seriously, what?) groups will take advantage of this. They show up with their leaflets, and they look stupid and crazy, and nobody takes them seriously. Until a few days later, when they pick up that leaflet that was shoved in their book bag, and start flipping through it, thinking, "Wow, they have a point!"
That's why we need better education, more tolerance, more activism. Because if we let this type of thinking undermine our school systems any more than they already have, we are fucked. I am a teenager, I am in high school, I am young, I will vote soon, and my hand will help guide politics. The problem is, so will every other teenager, and if we don't teach them better, it extends the fight.
(Small plus note: When I was yelling at our Truth Crusader, a teacher came out to the hallway to see what the fuss was about. He took one look at me and Caitlin, one look at the girl and her shirt, shook his head, and went right back in his classroom.)
