I've found another band to crush on...

Yeah, GO GAY! GO DUCKS!

Culture of Fear

That phrase takes on a life of it's own when you really think about it. I don't mean the culture of fear American women are forced to live in over just the protection of their bodies from sexual assault which is so ingrained in us that we walk with keys in our hands. No, I'm not talking about the women around the world who are the victims of sexual assault as a tactic of war. Nor, I am I talking about those living in fear of their communities because of their socio-economic standing.

I'm talking about the people living in fear after performing their jobs and what they believe is right...I'm talking about the doctors and volunteers who help women exercise their right to control their own bodies. So, thank you Dr. George Tiller. Dr. Tiller lost his life today for performing abortions, like many before him, and I'm sure many to come. I think there is some irony here...not the good kind, but the sad kind. The lives of the unborn are so valuable that they are worth the murder of others...are we now debating which lives are more valuable? Who decides?

So I am embedding a video I saw on Jezebel, which I think sums up the fear these heroes live in...again thanks to all those who help provide women with the change to choose for herself.

Offensive...I think so

I saw this on Feministing, and couldn't believe anyone would not think this is offensive. The ad is being run by the Organ Donor Foundation.

Movie Review: Fast Food Nation

Shockingly, Avril Lavigne can't act...but really that's not the point. Fast Food Nation is a 2006 film based on the book, Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser.

This film, and I'm led to believe the book, briefly touch on all that is wrong with the fast food industry, but the whole beef industry as well. A few of the highlights of the social justice issues taken up: workers' rights, harassment/sexism in the workplace, immigration rights, factory farming, corporations, animal rights, and a few dozen others.

I like that no one was left untouched by the ridicule; the hippie activist kids were depicted as asinine and out of touch with reality. Of course the corporation and factory farmers were characterized as evil, which I'm inclined to agree.

The film depicts the immigrant workers as the true victims of the story. They are repeatedly abused at every turn, and in that respect I think the film makers got it. However, this isn't a film I wanted to see; it made it to me via a Netflicks request from my roomie.

I give it a 2/5. We watched, we laughed, we were sick...

Book Review: The New Kings of Nonfiction, by Ira Glass

The New Kings of Nonfiction by Ira Glass

My review
rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is a collection of non-fiction pieces collected and edited by one, Ira Glass of This American Life. I really enjoyed some of these, and others I was less impressed with. I love the radio show and thought that these would be on the same level, but nothing is as wonderful as the original. I'm just going to go over the highlights: "Toxic Dreams: A California Town Finds Meaning in an Acid Pit," "Six Degrees of Lois Weisberg," "Tales of a Tyrant," and "My Republican Journey."

"Toxic Dreams: A California Town Finds Meaning in an Acid Pit," by Jack Hitt, is about the lawsuits files on behalf of the resident of a California town against several large companies. The story itself is incredible, and a tad strange. It is a good read though.

"Six Degrees of Lois Weisberg," by Malcolm Gladwell, is great; it is a spin on six degrees of Kevin Bacon. Essentially, Gladwell does a case study on one woman, Lois Weisberg and her ability to network. Gladwell argues that a person's ability to network is true what separates people for example a poor black man in a lower economic class will not be able to network for upward mobility in a poor neighborhood, but send him to university and her can network with people from a higher class...education matters less than who you know. I don't know if I entirely agree, but it was interesting anyway.

"Tales of a Tyrant," by Mark Bowden, is about Saddam Hussein. It is an interesting tale about life as Saddam; just normal life for him.

In "My Republican Journey," Dan Savage goes undercover to the dark side. However, he isn't undercover; he goes as a gay sex writer. He forces them to discuss the anti-gay stances of their party at their own convention. He does an selection of this on This American Life.

View all my reviews.

Book Review: Dancing Girls and Other Stories, By Margaret Atwood

Dancing Girls by Margaret Atwood

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
So far this is my least favorite of Atwood's books. It is a collection of short stories; the stories have shared feminist themes like most of Atwood's work. I do have three favorites despite it not being my favorite of her works: "The Man from Mars," "When It Happens," and "The Grave of the Famous Poet."

"The Man from Mars" is an interesting tale about a woman being stalked by another student. There is an awesome twist at the end of the story when the woman narrator inquires about what happened to her stalker after he was sent out of town. Turns out he was deported later after stalking another woman...the man stalked women indiscriminately. The woman narrator is hurt by this information, because it means she isn't special after all.

"When It Happens" is about an older couple told through the point of view of the wife. She is worried about things changing: war, technology, the children. She spends a great deal of time watching thing change around her.

"The Grave of the Famous Poet" has to be my favorite of the stories. It is about a young couple, and their relationship is ending. There is a specific quote which just had me, "We love each other, that's true whatever it means, but we aren't good at it; for some it's talent, for others only addiction."

View all my reviews.

Book Review: A Revolution of the Heart: Essays on the Catholic Worker, by Patrick G. Coy

A Revolution of the Heart: Essays on the Catholic Worker by Patrick G. Coy

My review
rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book literally took me more than two years to read. A friend loaned it to me in February 2007. The essays are interesting, but often very dry and difficult to get through. I'm always a sucker for interpretations of the Catholic Worker and poverty, but I also tend to be heavily critical of them based on my own experiences.

I was hoping for more of Day's writings, but they were lacking. The essays focused on the Catholic Workers' non-violent movement particularly during World War II and the controversy which accompanies it. Again, the aspects of the Catholic Work I chose to embrace where their teachings on poverty and non-violence, but neither as the will of God, which for the tradition Catholic Worker is the basis for everything.

As I said it was a dry read, and not something that can be read before bed or on the metro which is why it took me so long. I wouldn't recommend this as a whole, but select essays.

View all my reviews.

a personal lament on employment

This afternoon I was sent to a meeting of women who lead non-profits in DC, the National Council of Women's Organizations. It was awesome. I met a lot of people; it was an exceptional opportunity to network.

Perhaps the most shocking thing is that for a moment I was really excited about my job. Then I realized even if I perfected these pitches, and convinced every member in my organization to support the feminist measures, I would never be able to work on them. I'd have to turn it all over to my co-worker, and I like her don't get me wrong. However, I could do these policy initiatives better than her, and I spend my day holding old women's metaphorical hands on the Internet.

It just makes me really sad.

Pornography Hurts People

Find more videos like this on AdGabber


This ad is horrifying and exactly why people should oppose pornography. It covers the chain of abuse from the purchase and trafficking to the sexual abuse.

Movie Review: Step Brothers

Ok, let me start by saying I already have undying and unwavering love for Will Ferrell and John C. Riley, so I was pretty likely to enjoy this movie, however, I may have to go as far as to say this is the best comedy I've seen in about the last year. I seriously can not remember laughing this hard at anything since Superbad, and I really was not expecting a whole lot.

The general plot is Ferrell and Riley are both @40 year old men living with their mom and dad respectively, the mom and dad marry and hilarity ensues because the two sons are so much alike that they fued at first, but then become best friends. There is a moral about not losing the kid in you that I really thought was a cute way to tie it together, and sersiouly, if you're not sure about this movie, just watch one, five minute scene for me. When the two families first come together for dinner at the new house, I was crying I laughed so hard.

5/5

Movie Review: Boy A

Boy A is an interesting film; I saw a preview for it before another film. It is a British film, and in the simplest terms a story about a boy coming of age, like so many other stories. Actually, boy coming of age stories seem to be the film you make when you don't know what else to write. This one had an interesting twist.

The twist in Boy A is the boy coming of age is a murder; as a young boy he killed a young girl with a friend. The friend had all the symptoms of a psychopath or sociopath depending on your preference. They form a friendship based on abuse and violence; they kill the girl and are found guilty. The movie begins with Boy A getting out of the juvenile facility they were sentenced to; his friend had killed himself.

Boy A gets to pick a name, received a job, and a place to live in a city far form where he grew up, but everywhere he looks the public is being reminded the "Evil Comes of Age" (the title of a newspaper article on him). The public has no idea where he is, his new name, or what he looks like. He has a relatively smooth transition to conventional life.

While on a job he sees a car has driven off the road, and he and his co-worker saves a young girl trapped in a car. Shortly, after the hero story breaks someone leaks who Boy A is. His friends reject him, and he is unable to to contact his parole officer who is the only person who is completely supportive. The film ends with the voicemails he has left as he stands on the side of a bridge contemplating jumping.

We don't see him jump, but it is implied he does. I liked the social implications of the pressures this young man feels; he did the time he was sentenced to, but was it enough? I would be skeptical if this kid moved in next door, but he isn't do anything to imply that he still had problems. There is a long discussion about suicide because Boy A doubts his friend had killed himself, and that there is no reason he should have. This conversation foreshadowed the closing scene when Boy A contemplates suicide following his transition.

It was ok, I'll give it a 3/5.

We Have a Health Secretary...

Did this feel like forever? Finally, Kathleen Sebelius was confirmed by the Senate as the Health Secrtary. This was the last vacant position in President Obama's administration. The confirmation was delayed because of Sebelius record in Kansas for the last few year, but fortunately for everyone SWINE FLU. So now we have our confirmation.

It is suspected that Sebelius will come out strong for consumers and push for legislation to regulate the health industry.

Movie Review: The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas

Disturbing on several levels. While watching my roomie and I sat next to each other, and I looked over and said I'm going to start crying soon just so you know. "Oh, yeah. Me too," replied my roomie.

The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas is a brilliant film. Everyone know what happened during the Holocaust, but to see it through the eyes of a child who has no idea about what is actually happening. The film is more about a family than a friendship; the family goes through a transformation. The happy parents before they move to the camp, and how the marriage falls apart when the wife becomes aware of the extermination. The wife only concerns herself with what concerns her and her family. She becomes concerned about what her children are being taught after her daughter become a Nazi youth. She becomes more and more aware, and visually the audience becomes more aware of her perception and understanding of the realities of the situation, and we see this through the transformation of her clothing and look.

The son, Bruno, is our youth German boy who has very little understanding of what is going on, and even when he learns something about the realities he is immediately told something else. The boy, Shmuel, tells Bruno the camps are bad, and then Bruno sees a a film claiming the camps to be wonderful. Bruno is so easily swayed because of his age. Of course the relationship between Shmuel and Bruno ends in tragedy; the way so much ended.

The daughter, Gretel, begins the film as a young 12, but as she develops a crush one of the Nazi soldiers she becomes interested in active participation for the fatherland. The racism which surrounds the characters is horrifying. As my roomie says, "I'd be shot for smacking a little kid," in reference to the children harassing the Jews on the street.

I give it a 5/5 because I have difficultly scoring anything lower when children are involved and I cry.

Celebrate Equal Pay Day...

Surprise, surprise, women still make less than men. Of course, we are making some headway, but I think we should be aware of the realities. Today is Equal Pay Day; we use this day to raise awareness of the pay disparity between men and women. It falls on a Tuesday because that is how long it takes for women to make what a man makes in a week.

Today also happens to be the day a new study on the wage gap was released...some highlights:
Largest wage gap: Wyoming
Narrowest gap: District of Columbia (suck it!)
Largest college educated wage gap: Nevada

Senator Specter Defects to the Democrats!

Yep, Republican Senator Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania is defecting to the Democrats. This guy isn't my favorite person out there, but frankly who cares. If he wins, we get a two thirds majority; if he loses his primary, we get a true democrat either way I'll take it. So if the battle in Minnesota ever ends we'll have a two thirds majority in the Senator. Suck it!

As many of you know Al Franken won the senate race in Minnesota, but we are now waiting for a trial...the race that will never end.

Anyway, have a drink liberals with the chaos in the Republican party, we're about to have ourselves a hat-trick.

Movie Review: Doubt

Awesome! I enjoyed Doubt, Meryl Streep was incredible. I also have Phillip Seymour Hoffman also gave an impressive performance.

To the best of my knowledge this film was a pretty good reflection of the time frame it hoped to capture. Hoffman's role as the progressive priest running up against the conservative sister who resists change. Streep speculates that there is an inappropriate relationship between Hoffman and a young black boy. It is all speculation, but eventually Streep threatens Hoffman into resigning his post. He moves onto another parish and receives a promotion. Amy Adams character is the naive sister who wants to believe the best; she is easily swayed by both Streep and Hoffman.

At the end of the movie, I am still unclear of Hoffman was guilty of abusing the boy or boys. He submits his resignation, but that doesn't necessarily mean guilt or innocence. Even Streep's character has a crisis of belief; she admits she has doubts...everyone does. I like the premise, the acting, and philosophical ramifications. I give it a 4/5.

Movie Review: 21

My roomie and I watched 21 last night. I didn't think much of it. I guess it was a good suspense film, not really action, not really drama. It was pretty predictable, and the guy got the girl, med school, and his friends back.

I'm giving it a 1.5/5. I wasn't impressed, and it didn't leave an impression.

Book Review: Loving Frank: A Novel, By Nancy Horan

Loving Frank: A Novel by Nancy Horan

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
Loving Frank was interesting read; at first I wasn't impressed by the novel. It did grow on my once I became dealt with my disgust with historical fiction.

Mamah Cheney fell in love with Frank Lloyd Wright; they abandon their families and run off together; scandal ensues. This is all true. I began enjoying the book when Mamah's character was developed more as a feminist. Horan explored Mamah' history and discovered her feminist ties. By building on these the story became more interesting for me.

I dislike this kind of historical fiction. I can't help it. One specific reason: writers can do whatever they like with their characters, but with people you can't decide why real people decide o do. Historical fiction uses real facts and then fills in the blanks, and I wonder about the real people and if they are being accurately portrayed.

It was a cute coming into one's own story, but I wasn't a big fan and feel the press it received may not have been wholly deserved.


View all my reviews.

Movie Review: The Reader

I enjoyed The Reader; I was reluctant to watch this movie at first because I am kind of prudish when it comes to child sex. The film is based on the book by Bernhard Schlink. The first portion of the film is very heavy on sex between a fifteen year old boy and a 30ish woman in Germany; this relationship defines the boy's life. He grows up to be an unhappy law student and an unhappy lawyer. He feels rejected by his lover when she disappears with no notice; he feels rejected by her several times because his expectations in his first love. During their relationship, he read to her; she was illiterate.

While attending law school our boy, Michael, sees his lost lover, Hannah, while she is on trial for Nazi war crimes. Hannah is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. After twenty years, Michael obtains a divorce and begins sending Hannah tapes of his voice reading books for her. She teaches herself to read using these tapes. He agrees to pick her up and set her up in a job.

I enjoyed the complexity of the relationship between Micheal and Hannah. His desperate need for her love, and the consequences later in life for him. Her need to remain removed from him. I spent a great deal of time crying through the end of the film. I don't know why. I cried every time the tapes played a new book. The whole story is tragic: the victims of the Nazis, the lost love of a child, anger of Michael toward Hannah, and sadness of shame that Hannah feels.

David Ross, Kate Whinslet, and Ralph Fiennes are brilliant!

I'm giving it 5/5 and buying the book.

Go Gay!

I think this is by far the best of the pro-gay marriage videos in response to the National Organization for Marriage (NOM)...