I sat down to write a thrashing reprimand of Metro’s recent column “Ivanovic has the beauty and the game,” a report on French Open champ Ana Ivanovic as a “beautiful brunette” instead of a strong athlete. It disturbed me to read Jason McIntyre’s four sentence commentary on the athlete’s wall-poster qualities, including the following paragraph:
Sure Ivanovic is 6-foot-1 and has a blistering serve that was recently clocked at 124 miles per, but doesn’t her innocent smile, devoid of ego, look like the grin of someone on a cruise ship who might bring you one of those fruity drinks with an umbrella in it?
Yeah, I said the same thing. What the fuck?
I started ranting, until I started researching. I found on her official website a powerful video animating her strategic philosophies and critically applauded potential. Yes! She's proud and professional. Until... the video swung onscreen two photographs of my strong sister topless. (Cue sad sound: Wahh, Waahhh) I threw my head back and cried to the gods, Why?! Why is she topless, using one set of money-makers (her arms) to cover her apparently other set of money-makers?
I had to stop in my heels, delete my scathing argument against McIntyre’s ignorant, archaic and insulting excuse for reporting, and turn my attention to us. That’s right, us, ladies. I Googled images of Eli and Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez, and Derek Jeter. I’m still trying to find shots of them sprawled up beside a bed, nakedly cupping their monkey business, rustling with their wind-blown hair, or modeling formal wear on the beach. And yet, Ana Ivanovic can be seen doing all of the above.
It doesn’t mean that everyone should have free reign to further sexualize her. And she must be a determined sportswoman to have made it so far in the tennis field. But I wonder why so many of our female champions are good-looking? Is it just coincidence that really great strengths in sports are also hot in ads?
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
McDonald's is "safe" or "sorry"?
In response to the recent salmonella outbreak among certain types of tomatoes, Yahoo! posted an AP article today. I thought the following statement was hilarious.
The salmonella causing the outbreak is a very unusual type called salmonella saintpaul, said FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach, who added it was not more virulent than other types of salmonella.
McDonald's, the world's largest hamburger chain, stopped serving sliced tomatoes on its sandwiches as a precaution....
The decision didn't upset Connie Semaitis, a 49-year-old travel agent in downtown Chicago, who bought a cheeseburger and a drink at a McDonald's during lunch hour Monday.
"I'd rather be safe than sorry," Semaitis said.
Ummm.... You're eating a McDonald's cheeseburger!! How is that safe? The tomatoes were getting in the way anyhow!
The salmonella causing the outbreak is a very unusual type called salmonella saintpaul, said FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach, who added it was not more virulent than other types of salmonella.
McDonald's, the world's largest hamburger chain, stopped serving sliced tomatoes on its sandwiches as a precaution....
The decision didn't upset Connie Semaitis, a 49-year-old travel agent in downtown Chicago, who bought a cheeseburger and a drink at a McDonald's during lunch hour Monday.
"I'd rather be safe than sorry," Semaitis said.
Ummm.... You're eating a McDonald's cheeseburger!! How is that safe? The tomatoes were getting in the way anyhow!
Monday, June 2, 2008
I'm Wearing Betsey Johnson's Bra
My most beloved and most despised have joined forces and, finally, I’m happy. I’ve loved Betsey Johnson since I was.... five. Honestly, 5 years old. And I've hated bras since I realized I was never going to make it to a C-cup. I'm not even close.
I battle everyday with the sad truths
a) I'll never make enough money to wear only Betsey Johnson clothing and accessories
b) I'll never find a bra that’s big enough to fit around my ribs but petite (I’m being nice to myself) enough that I can fill
Then, lo and behold, I’m at Marshall’s this weekend (I thought I already explained I don't make a lot of money) looking for a new batch of bras (I’ve been putting it off and have been wearing the same one for weeks), and I stumble upon a Betsey Johnson bra. It’s wonderful! No underwire, fits like a glove, pretty, and, the icing on the cake, with a Betsey Johnson label. Oh, you have no idea.
I can’t find it online to show a pic. I bought 1 in black and 1 pink; both have a cute little pink rose at each strap. Heavenly.
I battle everyday with the sad truths
a) I'll never make enough money to wear only Betsey Johnson clothing and accessories
b) I'll never find a bra that’s big enough to fit around my ribs but petite (I’m being nice to myself) enough that I can fill
Then, lo and behold, I’m at Marshall’s this weekend (I thought I already explained I don't make a lot of money) looking for a new batch of bras (I’ve been putting it off and have been wearing the same one for weeks), and I stumble upon a Betsey Johnson bra. It’s wonderful! No underwire, fits like a glove, pretty, and, the icing on the cake, with a Betsey Johnson label. Oh, you have no idea.
I can’t find it online to show a pic. I bought 1 in black and 1 pink; both have a cute little pink rose at each strap. Heavenly.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
BBC for Lunch
So I'm on lunch and sitting in front of my work computer. I eat with the exuberant notion that the next 20 minutes are mine, all mine. Yet, I have nothing to do.
Must...not...read...work...emails....Don't...answer...phone....Don't!
I have ZERO hobbies.
My homepage at work is BBC News, but it's sooooo depressing. Today's headlines are:
'Witches' burnt to death in Kenya
South Africa leader orders army to deploy
Colombian gunman 'takes hostages.' More soon.
Yeah, goes splendid with tomato soup!
If I go to Yahoo! - which, honestly, I go to before BBC - I'd have to force myself to read the American Idol review (apparently David Archuletta is now called Archie??) or the Daily News article announcing the (un-)anticipated arrival of Fleet Week.
Am I wrong to assume that most people have go-to sites they read daily? I don't know, Boating Times online or PerezHilton.com or Daily Recipes. I don't really care enough, I guess.
Must...not...read...work...emails....Don't...answer...phone....Don't!
I have ZERO hobbies.
My homepage at work is BBC News, but it's sooooo depressing. Today's headlines are:
'Witches' burnt to death in Kenya
South Africa leader orders army to deploy
Colombian gunman 'takes hostages.' More soon.
Yeah, goes splendid with tomato soup!
If I go to Yahoo! - which, honestly, I go to before BBC - I'd have to force myself to read the American Idol review (apparently David Archuletta is now called Archie??) or the Daily News article announcing the (un-)anticipated arrival of Fleet Week.
Am I wrong to assume that most people have go-to sites they read daily? I don't know, Boating Times online or PerezHilton.com or Daily Recipes. I don't really care enough, I guess.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Coming Soon....
My Life To-Do List
I'm a little nervous about writing up a list such as this. Even if I weren't posting the list, if I were to just keep it to myself on a piece of scrap paper tucked away in a drawer, I'd still feel incredibly vulnerable about coming to terms with what will be written. But it's time to bite the bullet.
I'm a little nervous about writing up a list such as this. Even if I weren't posting the list, if I were to just keep it to myself on a piece of scrap paper tucked away in a drawer, I'd still feel incredibly vulnerable about coming to terms with what will be written. But it's time to bite the bullet.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Don't Know Much about Argentina...Except What I’ve Heard from A Uruguayan
I don’t know much about Argentina. I need to do some research, really. But, I just watched the documentary “The Take,” which tracks the government’s and capitalist’s abandonment of factories in Argentina, the subsequent re-occupation of these factories by workers who were left destitute after job losses, and the prickly ladder climbed by all three players to find common ground and room for their hands in the pot.
Regardless of your politics, the idea was revolutionary to my shielded, urban American perspective on “a job.” What I learned from the film is that Argentina prospered under Government subsidies. Those “good old times” lasted through the 1990’s, until the money was on a whirlwind, dashing out of government budgets into the hands of CEOs and finally settling, mostly, into the pockets of said CEO’s.
When a financial crisis set in, the subsidies stopped. Other financial woes ensued, which I won’t get into, but the bottom line for this purpose is that the factory owners shut down their businesses, firing thousands of workers and abandoning their facilities. But the factory workers couldn’t find work and had no way to feed their families. So they took over the factories. Literally, they formed their own hierarchy, formed deals with suppliers of materials, trucking companies, and buyers, and started up the ghost towns that had become their places of employment.
Of course, only the working class appreciated it. The CEO’s still owned these factories and the machines inside of them. And I’m not sure what the situation is now. But I just thought the stories of these men and women, I repeat regardless of your political beliefs, are worth talking about. Furthermore, what about all of the factory jobs we’re losing in the US? I don’t know what I think about these jobs. Are some of them polluting us more than sustaining us? In any event, the factory workers losing their jobs in the States seem to be looking at politicians to trickle down the change. Why don’t we, as human beings, in all our capacity to speak, write, march, stand, unite, and progress, pave the paths to change ourselves?
Check it out: The Take - www.thetake.org
2004 - Rating: TVPG
In suburban Buenos Aires, thirty unemployed auto-parts workers walk into their idle factory, roll out sleeping mats and refuse to leave. All they want is to re-start the silent machines. But this simple act - The Take - has the power to turn the globalization debate on its head. The story of the workers' struggle is set against the dramatic backdrop of a crucial presidential election in Argentina, in which the architect of the economic collapse, Carlos Menem, is the front-runner. His cronies, the former owners, are circling: if he wins, they'll take back the companies that the movement has worked so hard to revive.
Regardless of your politics, the idea was revolutionary to my shielded, urban American perspective on “a job.” What I learned from the film is that Argentina prospered under Government subsidies. Those “good old times” lasted through the 1990’s, until the money was on a whirlwind, dashing out of government budgets into the hands of CEOs and finally settling, mostly, into the pockets of said CEO’s.
When a financial crisis set in, the subsidies stopped. Other financial woes ensued, which I won’t get into, but the bottom line for this purpose is that the factory owners shut down their businesses, firing thousands of workers and abandoning their facilities. But the factory workers couldn’t find work and had no way to feed their families. So they took over the factories. Literally, they formed their own hierarchy, formed deals with suppliers of materials, trucking companies, and buyers, and started up the ghost towns that had become their places of employment.
Of course, only the working class appreciated it. The CEO’s still owned these factories and the machines inside of them. And I’m not sure what the situation is now. But I just thought the stories of these men and women, I repeat regardless of your political beliefs, are worth talking about. Furthermore, what about all of the factory jobs we’re losing in the US? I don’t know what I think about these jobs. Are some of them polluting us more than sustaining us? In any event, the factory workers losing their jobs in the States seem to be looking at politicians to trickle down the change. Why don’t we, as human beings, in all our capacity to speak, write, march, stand, unite, and progress, pave the paths to change ourselves?
Check it out: The Take - www.thetake.org
2004 - Rating: TVPG
In suburban Buenos Aires, thirty unemployed auto-parts workers walk into their idle factory, roll out sleeping mats and refuse to leave. All they want is to re-start the silent machines. But this simple act - The Take - has the power to turn the globalization debate on its head. The story of the workers' struggle is set against the dramatic backdrop of a crucial presidential election in Argentina, in which the architect of the economic collapse, Carlos Menem, is the front-runner. His cronies, the former owners, are circling: if he wins, they'll take back the companies that the movement has worked so hard to revive.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
