Question of the Day
What are the best new films you've seen this year?
My top two are probably Precious and Brothers. I was very reluctant to see Brothers, because the marketing made it look like some trite love triangle bullshit, but I was willing to give it a shot because I really like the director, Jim Sheridan. And I'm glad I did, because it's a great film.
Quote of the Day
[Trigger warning.]
"It is also noteworthy that spending billions on turning brown people into a fine red mist (a.k.a. the Afghan war) is acceptable, but health care (a.k.a. saving actual American lives) is something which can't cost money. What an interesting—and clearly evil—set of priorities that reveals."—Ian Welsh, from Crooks and Liars, on how far our moral and political degradation has gone. I would highly recommend reading the full post.
Action Item
Shaker Alikt emails (which I am sharing with her permission):
Aminatou Haidar, labelled the "Gandhi of Sahara", is entering the 30th day of her hunger strike after being forcibly removed from her own country? She has been all over the newspapers here in Spain for a few weeks, but I'm not sure how aware the international community is of her situation. I really think her case (and her cause) call for some major Shaker teaspoon-wielding.
Here's a brief summary of her story.
And here's the online petition at the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights website (she is the RFK Center's 2008 Human Rights Laureate -- incidentally, she was returning home to Western Sahara from the US when she was detained by Moroccan authorities and expelled to the Spanish airport which had been her last stopover).
The text of the petition explains her situation very clearly. I should note, however, that the assertion that "Ms. Haidar ... cannot leave as Spanish authorities have prevented her from leaving without a passport or travel documents" is not entirely accurate: the Spanish foreign minister has offered her polical asylum, Spanish citizenship and a Spanish passport, but she has refused. She is demanding her original passport back, and vows "to return to the Western Sahara, with or without a passport, dead or alive." Progressive representatives in the Spanish Congress have demanded the Government stops offering Haidar asylum and instead starts putting diplomatic pressure on Morocco to return her passport and allow her to go home.
A petition addressed to the Spanish foreign minister and to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton can be found here. It demands the Spanish Government (and, I guess, the US) put pressure on Morocco to allow Haidar to return safely, and to provide her with medical care after her prolonged hunger strike. It also urges them to express clearly the economic and diplomatic consequences that may derive from Morocco's continued refusal to respect and protect the human rights of the Saharawi people. (These are the basic ideas but I can provide a literal translation of the text if required.) This petition could have a more immediate effect than the first one I linked to, which was addressed at the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, so I would recommend signing both.
In 2007, Haidar was imprisoned (and probably tortured) for seven months, and she was released thanks, in part, to the power of teaspoons. I really hope you can call the Shakers' attention to this diplomatic and human rights mess, and we can ensure Haidar survives to continue fighting against the human rights violations in Western Sahara. As Literature Nobel Laureate José Saramago said a few days ago, "we shall all be morally poorer if Haidar dies."
The RFK Foundation is following this case very closely, and updates on Haidar's struggle for justice can be found at their website.
News from Shakes Manor
For various reasons (not having a car during the day to run errands, only finding online lots of sugar-free thingies for Iain, who's diabetic, lots of friends and family who are out of town, etc.), I get lots of packages in the mail. This means our long-suffering mail carrier has to walk up my driveway a lot, because things won't fit in the mailbox.
For a long time, I would say, "Thank you so much!" with a big smile, to which he'd respond gruffly, approximately, "Mmpf." And give me the stink-eye.
One day, not so long ago, he asked me, "You ever consider getting a bigger mailbox?"
"I have," I replied. "Of course, I'd probably order it online and you'd have to carry it up to the house." I grinned.
And my mail carrier laughed. A big, hearty laugh. He pointed at me. "Good one."
We get along just fine now.
Today's Edition of "Conniving and Sinister"
Strips One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87. In which Liss reimagines the long-running comic "Frank & Ernest," about two old straight white guys "telling it like it is," as a fat feminist white woman and a biracial queerbait telling it like it actually is from their perspectives. Hilarity ensues.
Feminists Can Multitask!
Shaker Tereska13 sent along this article by Alexandra Suich objecting to NOW's stance against the proposed "Bo-Tax," which would add an excise tax to plastic surgeries. Suich's position is that NOW shouldn't be arguing on the side of plastic surgery, because it undermines the fundamental feminist idea that women shouldn't be compelled to conform to an unrealistic beauty standard.
Tereska13 quite rightly points out, however, that if "reconstructive surgery, breast reduction or other health related 'cosmetic' surgeries would be taxed," there's a good reason for NOW to take the position it does.
I was also interested in Suich's contention that "NOW's president is not decrying the 'beauty myth' but is accepting a 'beauty reality'," because:
These harsh economic times, however, call for a different ideology. Or so says Terry O'Neill, NOW's new president. Middle-aged women are struggling to compete in the job market, and cosmetic surgery can help them appeal to employers. "They have to find work," she told the New York Times. "And they are going for Botox or going for eye work, because the fact is we live in a society that punishes women for getting older."I'm not sure I agree that acknowledging this reality is the same thing as accepting it. NOW, it seems to me, is taking the quite reasonable position that as long as unrealistic expectations of women exist, we shouldn't be punishing the women who try to meet them.
That doesn't preclude simultaneously working to revolutionize cultural expectations of women.
Blogginz Semi-Daily Dumpus
As everyone knows, I love wizards and I expect to one day be the world's most powerful wizard myself. So you can imagine my delight upon stumbling across this gem. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The camera is focused on a hand-drawn image of a wizard. Enrique Iglesias' "Would You Dance if I Asked You to Dance" plays in the background. A male voice offscreen sings along: Would you dance / if I asked you to dance? Would you run [the image morphs, and part of the wizard's robe has been colored in] and never look back? [the image morphs again; more is colored in] Would you cry / if you saw me crying? [more morphing; more color] And would you save my soul tonight? [morph] Would you tremble / if I touched your lips? [morph; the painting is now complete, signature and all] Would you laugh? / Oh, please tell me this / Would you die / for the one you love? [Text onscreen: "A Ricky Tic Production" with sorta-smiley face] Hold me in your arms tonight.Thanks to Liss for doing the transcript.
Wednesday Blogaround
This blogaround brought to you by Shaxco, makers of Spudsy's Miracle Lube.
Recommended Reading:
Marcella: Carnival Against Sexual Violence 84 [TW]
Andy: Report: NY Governor Paterson to Protect Transgender Workers
Renee: Publishers Weekly Reduces Black Writers with Afro Picks
Fannie: Dehumanizing Headline of the Week [TW]
Wendi: Dear SNL, It's Time to Retire Virginiaca
Kevin: You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me
Melissa: Hollywood Feminist of the Day: Manohla Dargis
YeomanPip: Women's Aren't Funny: The Debate Stops
CIM: Can the BBC be trusted with a web page? [TW]
Leave your links in comments...
Blog Note
I've gotten an unusually high number of emails lately from people asking advice or information on work, family, dating, and/or sex issues, and I've tried to answer all of them, but I think a few may have been lost in the abyss that is my embarrassing lack of email organization.
So, first I want to apologize if I missed anyone's email, and secondly, I'd like to invite anyone whose I did miss to resend it if you're still looking for an answer.
Carry on.
Victim-Blaming-a-Go-Go
[Trigger warning.]
This is one of the most shocking instances of victim-blaming across which I've come in more than five years of blogging, which is really saying something: A 12-year-old girl was raped in the stairwell of her middle school by a 14-year-old classmate. It was so obviously a rape that when two classmates passed the scene, one ran for help and the other physically intervened.
But site supervisors (who are responsible for school safety and thus are totally objective commentators, ahem) are disputing the victim's, the witnesses' the police's, and prosecutors' contention that it was a sexual assault:
"We monitor the hallways, the stairways, we're up and down all day long," says Marquita Dones.Just off the top of my head, here's one reason why a 12-year-old child being raped might not scream or try to defend herself: Because the person raping her, who has already shown himself to be capable of rape, has threatened to kill her if she does either.
Dones is one of four paid site supervisors at El Cerrito's Portola Middle School. She and a co-worker are disputing whether a 12-year-old 7th-grade girl was actually raped by a 14-year-old 8th-grade boy last Thursday.
"If she was being raped, why didn't she scream?" Dones asks. "Why did these students have to come up and tell us that somebody's down there?"
Mustapha Cannon says, "It was hormones going wild."
Cannon is another full-time site supervisor at Portola and says, "I know the girl and I know the guy. I know... and I know the girl's family. I know for a fact that that girl could've knocked that guy out with one hand tied behind her back."
You'll no doubt be unsurprised to hear that these two rape apologists who are totally ignorant about the act of rape are also ignorant of rape laws:
Despite claims that the sex between the two students was consensual, under California law, a child cannot consent to a sexual act.So their argument that she wasn't raped isn't even a legal possibility. Which is something people working in a middle school should probably know.
Juvenile prosecutor Dan Cabral says, "A child under the age of 14 cannot be touched."
Although he would not specify the exact charge until the boy is arraigned, Cabral says it is a serious felony.
"Regardless of consent or not, no person in the State of California is allowed to touch a child under the age of 14 for purposes of sexual gratification," he says.
Anna N.'s got more, and notes that the middle school is near Richmond High School, site of the much-discussed October gang rape.
[H/T to Shaker BethanyJo.]
SYTYCD Open Thread
So...it was the final performances last night, and I'm just going to jump right into it. My favorite of the night was Kathryn's and Jakob's contemporary piece choreographed by Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson. Utterly amazing.
And my second favorite of the night (which, based on the judges' reactions might be controversial, although Iain and I both loved it) was Ellenore's and Ryan's jazz routine choreographed by Gerry Stewart:
I also loved seeing Ryan and Ashleigh dance together at long last, because I'm a big romantic sap. I thought the judges short-changed them a bit with their comments; with all the (well-deserved) gushing for Russell over doing so well out of his style, I thought Ryan and Ashleigh had earned the note that they were two ballroom dancers who danced a contemporary routine together beautifully. Iain, btw, yelled at Basil Rathboner for his "too'ally unnecess'ry!" comment that Ashleigh has more chemistry with Jakob than her husband.
I don't even care who wins at this point. I love them all.
[Thank you to Vance for the video.]
Film Corner!
[TW] A lone figure runs through dark empty woods. Armor-clad knights ride horses through the woods. A tripwire is released and a net flies up. A wolf walks among corpses from a battle. A man peeps on an undressing woman. A thread is pulled through cloth. Light streams in through a stone wall. Armor-clad warriors creep through the woods. Text: "From Ridley Scott. The director of Gladiator." Armor-clad knights ride horses on the beach. Armor-clad knights run from the water onto the beach. Russell Crowe emerges from water screaming and raising a sword. More armor-clad knights ride horses on the beach. Russell Crowe rides a horse. Someone else strikes a tree with a hatchet. Armor-clad knights scream and get hit by falling trees and fight with swords and shit. Russell Crowe kisses a totes babe. Russell Crowe on horseback throws a sword. Text: "Academy Award Winner Russell Crowe." Russell Crowe looks at a bald dude with a sword. Text: "Academy Award Winner Cate Blanchett." Cate Blanchett appears for a brief instant; cut back to bald dude with a sword, who chops the fuck out of someone. Text: "Universal Pictures Presents." Sword-fighting! Fire! Text: "The story behind the legend." Vaguely swarthy dude with beard holds knife at totes babe's exposed bosom. Hey, arrows! A dirty dude hand rubs over Cate Blanchett's face. Russell Crowe runs. Text: "The hero behind the outlaw." Gold coins. Swarthy dude on horse grabs Cate Blanchett by the neck. Russell Crowe rides a horse, waving a sword. Russell Crowe kneels over a fallen comrade and makes the sign of the cross. Says: "Rise and rise again, until lambs become lions." Ooh, arrows again! Text: "Robin Hood." Russell Crowe aims an arrow, blood on his face. Text: "Coming 2010."
OMG SHOEZ
According to an awesome article in the Telegraph, a survey has found that women are more likely to remember the first pair of shoes they bought with their own money than to remember the name of the person with whom they shared their first kiss.
Which is ironic for me, because my first kiss was with Doc Marten.
There are a few things I love about this article (like "much to their partner's annoyance, many women hang on old shoes, building up a sizeable collection by middle age, even if many go unworn most of the time"), but none so much as this:
An overwhelming 96 per cent of women said they regretted having thrown away a pair of shoes, while only 15 per cent felt sorry at dumping a boyfriend.What I love about it is how it's designed to convey to the casual reader, coming on the heels (pun intended) of the information that women remember their first pair of shoes more readily than their first kiss, that women are callous bitchez who care more about old shoes than old beaus. (Note the heterocentrism, btw.) But of course most people don't have regret at dumping exes. They're exes for a reason, after all.
"Only" 15% feeling regret says to me that women are making good choices.
But that's never considered a good headline, now, is it?
Healthcare Open Thread
The Plum Line—Howard Dean: "Kill The Senate Bill": "In a blow to the bill grinding through the Senate, Howard Dean bluntly called for the bill to be killed...denouncing it as 'the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate.' ... The full interview is ... at Vermont Public Radio."
Washington Post—Obama urges Senate to pass health-care bill; Lieberman signals support: "President Obama urged Senate Democrats on Tuesday to overcome lingering disputes and push a health-care overhaul through the chamber before Christmas, as vigorous negotiations continued behind the scenes to lock down the last votes needed for final passage. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), once a critic of the legislation, appeared to be warming to the $848 billion package after Senate leaders said they were ready to jettison a plan to extend Medicare coverage to uninsured people as young as 55, an idea Lieberman denounced over the weekend. He said Tuesday that he expects to support the bill if that provision is dropped."
The Hill—Lieberman expresses regret to colleagues over healthcare tension: "Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) told Democratic colleagues at a White House meeting that he regretted the tension he’d created within the conference during the healthcare debate. Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-Independent who still caucuses with his former party, stopped short of apologizing. 'I just said I know it's been difficult for people and I regretted it, it's been difficult for all of us,' Lieberman said."
The Hill—Snowe has 'misgivings' about health bill, Christmas vote: "Democrats from the White House to Capitol Hill are still holding out hopes of winning the support of Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine) for their healthcare bill. But despite major concessions made to centrist Democrats, Snowe has not yet jumped aboard. 'Yes, I do have misgivings because I understand that there are a lot of unintended consequences,' Snowe said Tuesday. 'We haven't had this bill laid down in its entirety so it makes it difficult, I think, to make a decision on a bill in such a short timeframe'."
Discuss.
Question of the Day
Both my husband and I have been sick past couple days but I woke up feeling marginally better, so I was planning on cooking something--something I could actually taste with this cold, lol. However, my ambition and energy has gone the way of the dodo and my husband is still feeling very poorly, so pizza is now on the menu.
How about you, Shakers? What is/was for dinner tonight?
Today's Edition of "Conniving and Sinister"
Strips One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86. In which Liss reimagines the long-running comic "Frank & Ernest," about two old straight white guys "telling it like it is," as a fat feminist white woman and a biracial queerbait telling it like it actually is from their perspectives. Hilarity ensues.
