Friday, May 4, 2012

RIP Adam Yauch

I Want To Say a Little Something That's Long Overdue The Disrespect To Women Has Got To Be Through To All The Mothers And Sisters A And The Wives And Friends I Want To Offer My Love And Respect To The End
If only there were more musicians who felt this way instead of degrading women. RIP MCA. OK, there is something else I want to add to this. This article. Like the woman here I am a long time Beastie Boys fan, since the early days. This article talks a lot about the feminism of the Beastie Boys, how they apologized for using slurs in their old songs, and the misogyny still in music today. I think it is well worth the read.
Once you’ve realized that you’re living in a world that believes women are “less than” in every imaginable way, one of the things that can be most frustrating is that very few men get it. You want the people in your life, the men you care about, to understand the awful toll it can take on you. Operating in a world that sees you as less than fully human can be soul crushing—but it’s also incredibly lonely. When you speak up about any sense of unfairness or injustice, you’re told that you’re overreacting, you’re too angry, too silly—shut up already. It takes a tremendous amount of fortitude to be able to live in this world as a woman, let alone a woman who wants things to change. And that’s what was so remarkable and emotional about the Beastie Boys’ feminist turnaround. Maybe your father says sexism doesn’t exist and your boyfriend disrespects you. Maybe you have to deal with assholes on the subway who rub up against you every day and laugh when you yell at them. But listening to this band that you love so much say that your pain is real, that the world is fucked up and that they are not going to participate in actions that hurt you anymore because they care about you—it was the overwhelming feeling of being made visible. They were sending a clear message to their female fans: This isn’t okay, we have your back, we’re sorry. It was the apology we never got from the high school teacher who stared at our breasts, the acknowledgement of injustice that politicians and American culture dance around—and it was coming from people whom we cared about and respected, people with cultural power. Hearing the Beastie Boys speak out against sexism made me feel like if these men who had once sung about getting girls to “do the laundry” and “clean up my room” could understand, maybe the rest of the world would follow suit. It made me hopeful in the best way.

931 comments:

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Anonymous said...

If anything happens to her the authorities will know where to look. Her friends will point the way to this blog. Girl can't even open a FB page without these lunatics jumping on her ass.

Anonymous said...

Obsessed Paranoid Psychos are going to be Obsessed Paranoid Psychos. Somebody should be around to make sure they take their meds. Hide it in their food if you have to. Better that than having them become a threat to society.

Anonymous said...

Haters gonna hate. Ignore them , their excuses and their hate. It's not worth wasting any of your time or energy even thinking about. ^___^
Some are builders and some are destroyers. At the of the day I would much rather be a builder.

Anonymous said...

^THIS ^_^

Anonymous said...

Points finger and LMAO at 5:41. Thats just beyond pathetic. Don't you have anything better to do? So sad.

Anonymous said...

ZOMG!!!!!!911!!! 9111111!! Wendy has a FB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Call homeland security! BE WARNED!!!!HEADS UP!!!!! Arrest her ass!











lulz

Anonymous said...

ION Johnny Depp is on the market again. Maybe some of you can busy yourselves with trying to get his shirt off and get him. In your fangirl fantasies.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, nobody here cares about the psycho who must not be named. FB, no FB -- who cares?

I imagine she was the one who came round to tell us about it in the first place in hopes we'd all flock to see it. I haven't seen it. Don't want to see it. Have absolutely no interest. Don't think we would have any common friends.

Anonymous said...

Ew, Johnny Depp. I haven't found him attractive since the first Pirates.

Anonymous said...

ION Johnny Depp is on the market again. Maybe some of you can busy yourselves with trying to get his shirt off and get him. In your fangirl fantasies.

I think you're on the wrong blog. We aren't the ones who wrote RP fanfic about turning our fangirl fantasy into a vampire so we could be with him forever. Nor did we write a post about all the raunchy things we wanted to do to/with our fangirl fantasy on his birthday. And I don't think anyone here quit their job, put all their belongings in storage, and gave up their apartment so they could follow their fangirl fantasy around the country on tour. That would be that other blog. You know. The one where their (fake) fangirl fantasy deserted them.

Anonymous said...

If you're talking about the circus or the treehouse I don't think you should be so harsh on the delusional fangirls who thought some rockstar was posting poetry for them or sharing special quotes with them and sending them secret coded messages. That was those blogs. All of them and their offshoots. Poor delusional creatures talked themselves into believing so many things. Especially at the second time around and discuss mayo's treehouse. It would have been funny if it hadn't been so sad and desperate.

Anonymous said...

The second time around blog was the best. All the oh so private and secure comments like hey guys he's talking to me about posting poetry late at night because I posted poetry at 11 pm and I posted quotes, I mentioned rivers , riddles, purple or red or Frankenstein or zombies shitz was hilarious.

It's one thing to write RP fanfic about a public figure. Believing some mysterious blogger is in love with you is an entirely, even more disturbing matter. Whether it was someone believing Mayo was in love with her or another believing SS was in love with her. It was all so disturbing. People clearly needed help to get back to reality. Friends playing into and feeding their fantasies were doing no good. With friends like that who needs people like 4:07?

Anonymous said...

I've seen the videos of Tom doing impressions! He's so talented and charming, it's really hard not to find him attractive.

I saw The Avengers again last weekend, and I think it's better the second time around. I hope you stayed through the credits for "Shawarma"? So many people left the theater both times I saw it and I was like, "NOOO! Stay!" Lol.

I've seen the promos for Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V, and they look great. I wish we could get it sooner in the US, but I guess it will give me time to brush up on my Shakespeare. It's been a long time since I read the Henry's, and I've never read Richard II. I have my work cut out for me. ;)

Anonymous said...

That second time around blog was nothing compared to AIM chat. Someone really did believe that Mayo was in love with her and she fell head over heels for him. That's when the problems started. Jealously is one fucking ugly beast especially when a woman mistakenly believes that a man is all hers. Fantasy and delusion.

Anonymous said...

Did anybody save some of those comments? They would be so much fun to read now.

kapunua said...

Avengers was actually better the second time around, I have to say. There's something about a second viewing of a fun, engaging movie.

Oh, my two cousins and I took the Boychild to see it. He's five and a few months old, and it was his first ever cinema experience. He was so good, and he really loved it. His favorite was the Hulk. He got a good laugh at some of the funnier parts, and he really loved the "boss battle" at the end, when the Avengers were fighting those "big puppies from outer space."

kapunua said...

I saw The Avengers again last weekend, and I think it's better the second time around. I hope you stayed through the credits for "Shawarma"? So many people left the theater both times I saw it and I was like, "NOOO! Stay!" Lol.

I didn't stay for it because the kid was tired by then, but I'm going to look for it on youtube because I missed it the first time, too!

Anonymous said...

I went from ogling Chris Hemsworth to really appreciating the subtlety of Tom's Loki.

I agree, although I didn't stop ogling Chris Hemsworth. :) He's a very talented actor too, in my opinion. The opening scenes in the Star Trek reboot never fail to make me cry. Watch for yourself. He was only in the first 12 minutes, but to me this was the best part of the whole movie.


I thought The Avengers was better the second time too.

kapunua said...

OMG BB THOR! That was pretty sad. I don't know from Star Trek or who anyone was or what was going on, but it was still sad.


I went from ogling Chris Hemsworth to really appreciating the subtlety of Tom's Loki.

That's pretty much what I did, too. I was like, "Oh, fun, popcorn movie, some LOLz, that guy's really hot... Huh. Wait. How 'bout that. Depth." Subtle is exactly right.

Anonymous said...

*shakes head*

Anonymous said...

shakes head?

Anonymous said...

The tug of war.

Anonymous said...

tug of war?

sorry, don't understand.

Anonymous said...

It would be nice if the bickering stopped from both sides.

Anonymous said...

It's much more fun to talk about Thor. :D

kapunua said...

Did you guys see this?

LOKI'D!

Haha, wtf did I just watch??

Anonymous said...

The LOKI'D video is what made me legit fangirl hard for Hiddleston. He's like a five year old on a constant sugar high, and it's infectious.

kapunua said...

Just slayed me. :)

Anonymous said...

I like Tom's interviews for The Avengers. He's always so upbeat, and the rest of the cast seems to adore him.

I tried really hard to resist, because I haven't legit stanned for anybody in so long, but Tom caught me off guard. His performance in Thor kind of snuck up on me, and then I was really excited to learn he was going to be the villain in Avengers. Then I saw him in War Horse and Midnight in Paris. Then came all the Avengers interviews. By the time I saw the clips from Henry IV and V, I was so far gone there was no coming back. I don't even want to. :D

Anonymous said...

^and that Loki'd video. So hilarious!

kapunua said...

he snuck up on me, too! It's like we all got Loki'd into fanpoodling. ;D

Anonymous said...

I took the troll-bait that Wendy gave us and checked her Twitter. It's funny how she's saying the EXACT same things there that she's said anon here for years, as a troll.

Wendy why don't you just sign in and say those things? Who or what are you afraid of

Anonymous said...

Why the fuck do you care, 3:49. Just leave her alone, especially if you think she's just asking for attention. This is so stupid.

kapunua said...

Don't get it, don't wanna! Let's just talk about fun stuff. Or serious stuff, whatever. :) or the weather. Hot as BALLS in the northeast today.

Anonymous said...

Hot here too, but then it's always hot here in the summer.

I just watched Shame. Ick. Now I'm going to have to go take a shower to wash off the disgust. Ick, ick, ick.

Anonymous said...

Does anybody else have the problem of their laptop getting really hot when they watch a DVD on it? Mine feels like it's going to explode, and I even have a cooling pad for it. It only does this when I watch a DVD.

kapunua said...

Shame, what's that? Never heard of it. Oh man, my laptop is ten years old. I don't even know if it plays DVDs anymore. :)

Anonymous said...

I saw Shame, and I really wish I hadn't. It's a film about sexual addiction. It's pretty powerful, but not in a good way.

The performances were good, but I didn't really see the point. I came away feeling depressed and not at all hopeful about relationships in general.

Anonymous said...

Relationships are the nucleus of our life.

Maybe you are connecting with the sense of frustration and sadness emanating from the central characters 9:48.

kapunua said...

Sometimes I just can't cope with movies like that. They can be awesome, with incredible direction and script, well-made and beautifully acted, but accomplish nothing other than to remind me of how awful people can be and that sometimes bad things happen and nothing can be done about that. These are things I already know.

I'm looking at you, Mysterious Skin.

Anonymous said...

The problem I had with Shame was it reminded me too much of people I know. The guy who simply cannot connect with a woman on anything other than a sexual level. The woman who only wants someone to love her but runs men off with her neediness. The asshole boss who is married and has a family, but spends every spare moment chasing skirts.

There are a lot of fucked up people out there, and I didn't need a movie to remind me of that.

Anonymous said...

I agree about both Shame and Mysterious Skin. Those are two films I never want to see again.

Mysterious Skin was the better of the two, in my opinion, and the one most worth watching. There was adequate backstory so that you understood everything about the main characters. With Shame, it bothered me that the viewer was not given any clues as to the reasons why Brandon and Sissy's lives were so messed up. I assumed abusive or neglectful parents, but the script never made that clear. Regardless, I couldn't muster up any sympathy for Brandon. Sissy was just so pathetic, it was hard not to feel sorry for her, but without knowing her history it was hard to relate.

My verdict on Shame: great acting, bad script. I don't recommend it.

Anonymous said...

There are a lot of fucked up people out there, and I didn't need a movie to remind me of that

In reality everyone has their own issues.

Anonymous said...

An EDM music producer featured and on the cover of The Rolling Stone.

Even though I consider him more mainstream, I never thought I would ever see the day.

Also shows a profound shift has happened in your country.

Anonymous said...

Kapunua, have you heard Tom's reading of Kingdom of Earth? It was part of the valentine's day series of 'Stories before Bedtime' readings at the Criterion theatre in London. He does an amazing Southern accent ;)

kapunua said...

Umm, no I have not! O_O I've never even heard of this wonderful thing!

Anonymous said...

It's probably something you don't want to listen to in company. There's some...colourful language and scenes. It's an erotic short story. You can download the entire podcast on their site:

http://www.mixcloud.com/CriterionTheatre/stories-before-bedtime-twisted-love-ft-tom-hiddleston-and-russell-tovey/

I have seen a rip on tumblr of just Tom's part though.

Anonymous said...

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz8nkfLqMc1r3lcc8o1_500.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz72cipbre1r5h4oio1_400.jpg

Picture from the reading, and Tom preparing earlier in the day.

Anonymous said...

Oh and don't listen to the rip on youtube. It's edited with just the rude parts and all the audience sound is cut out. The full 30 minute version is much better as you get the whole story and hear the audience reactions to Tom's facial expressions and changes in tone when he voices the female lines etc.

kapunua said...

Oh gosh, I thought you meant Tom Hardy, BUT THIS IS GOOD TOO! Thank you anon, I know what I'm doing at some point today! Oh, do i see the name Russel Tovey there? I like him, too!

I also came upon (well not CAME upon,) a short audio file on youtube of T-Hiddles doing a scene from Dracula. I probably don't have to tell you all which scene that was. O_o

Thanks, nonnies! :D

kapunua said...

Oh my, he's so cute with his natural ginger hair, too.

Anonymous said...

I think Tom's a natural blonde, and yes, I have heard the Dracula reading ;)

Anonymous said...

I mean, he's a natural blonde but I think he's wearing it red in that picture because it's from the Henry V adaptation he did that winter. He seems to be keeping it red, since he's going to have to go back to black in a few months anyway for Thor 2, so I guess it's a better transition colour to keep. It does suit him though.

kapunua said...

Oh, is it not naturally ginger? Well, he's a strawberry blond then. Still so cute and I love the curls. :D

Anonymous said...

LOKI'D! I love when Tom Hiddleston is being naughty. I have a crush.

kapunua said...

Listening.

O___________O

kapunua said...

CLUTCHING MY PEARLS.

No but seriously, that accent is amazing.

LOL yeah that's what I'm listening to. For sure.

kapunua said...

O__________O

Anonymous said...

You guys must lead pretty unexciting lives if that's all it takes. Try going out sometimes. Oh wait that's right, that's only for "tramps" like Wendy. Who actually know how to attract REAL men.

Anonymous said...

Have you guys seem Tom's hair circa Return to Cranford? Loved the golden poodle curls. :)

Anonymous said...

I like his Henry V hair and beard. He's really rocking that look.

I'm so excited for the BBC Hollow Crown tetralogy. How exciting for Tom to be cast as Prince Hal, who is really the main character in 3 of the 4 parts. I'm looking forward to Richard II too, because I've never seen it performed, but I'll be glued to the tv for all Henry IV and V.

MissTottenham said...

Hiya guys, how are you all?

Anonymous said...
Richard Dawkins The God Delusion

You read Richard Dawkins Miss T?

Very impressed.


I do anon, he's great. I never miss him when he's on TV. His documentary's are always fascinating. Are you a fan too?


Anonymous said...
Um, I realize this request is early, but if any of the Brits here want to let me know where I can download BBC's upcoming Richard II, Henry IV, and Henry V series, I would very much appreciate it.

Sometimes being in America sucks.


Can you guys watch BBC iplayer? I'm not sure if you can download from there but if you can access the site from the US, they show TV shows up to a week after they've been on TV. I know it's not really available abroad but many websites say you can access it using VPN sites.

Alternatively, it will probably be uploaded to the torrent site www.thebox.bz. You have to join but it's free. They have most of the British tv shows.

I hope you manage to fulfil your craving.


Have a great week everyone.

kapunua said...

Misty! Thanks so much for that info! :) Mad helpful.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, Miss T!

Anonymous said...

You guys must lead pretty unexciting lives if that's all it takes. Try going out sometimes. Oh wait that's right, that's only for "tramps" like Wendy.

We don't care what she does. Maybe you should take your own advice and go out and attract REAL men. You know, since some people can't have a life without a man and all.

Anonymous said...

Stop it.

Anonymous said...

I do anon, he's great. I never miss him when he's on TV. His documentary's are always fascinating. Are you a fan too?

I don't know if the term "fan" would be the correct terminology, but I do find his theories interesting Miss T.

Anonymous said...

I'm looking forward to Richard II too

Patrick Stewart returns to his roots as John of Gaunt :)

Anonymous said...

I'm looking forward to Richard II! Especially Patrick Stewart. John of Gaunt is one of my favorite characters. His speech about England gives me chills:

This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England...


Richard II is not something you get to see every day, and I am thrilled. I'm also thrilled to see Hiddles playing Prince Hal/Henry V. I only wish I could have seen him play Cassio to Ewan McGregor's Iago in Othello. If only BBC would recreate that!

Anonymous said...

I only wish I could have seen him play Cassio to Ewan McGregor's Iago in Othello.

You can download the audio of that performance on audible. :D

kapunua said...

I'd LOVE to see that. Triple whammy! Ewan McGregor, Hiddles and Shakespeare.

Also dying to see the Frankenstein play with Benedict Cumberbatch.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone watched David Tennant as Hamlet?

Anonymous said...

I don't usually care for Shakespeare in contemporary settings, but I did like Tennant's Hamlet. Of course, Patrick Stewart's Claudius was the best part.

kapunua said...

4:13, I had no idea that was on youtube! Now I have to watch that later. Thank you! :D

Anonymous said...

Of course, Patrick Stewart's Claudius was the best part.

Patrick Stewart is always the best part of anything he's in. ;)

kapunua said...

"I'VE GOT GIRL BOOBIES."

Patrick Stewart in Family Guy, OMG. Loling forever.

kapunua said...

Y'all, have you heard of J Smooth? He does these video blogs that address all sorts of social issues. He's a super smart guy.

Today, he addressed internet trolls and harassment, and the people who tell others "Just don't feed the trolls! Stop arguing with them and they'll go away!"

He gives excellent examples of, and reasons why this doesn't always work. I posted his video and wrote about my experience, and I hope that this way, some of you will understand why "just ignore them and they'll quit!" isn't the answer.

kapunua said...

And here's a little something from another essay that's cited there:

I’m re-reading this essay by S.E. Smith at Tiger Beatdown right now, which I think describes the reality of dealing with sustained threats and abuse more vividly than I ever could..

“…Rape threats happen. Death threats happen. People threaten friends, families, jobs, household pets. Stalkers go to considerable lengths to collect and exploit information. People who are open about this, who do talk about threats and stalking and danger, and they are out there, are punished for it. They get more abuse, they’re told that they’re making it all up, that it’s all in their heads, that they are exaggerating, entirely new hate sites spring up to speculate about them and talk about their ‘desperate ploys for attention.’ That’s what I have to look forward to for writing this piece, for laying out some of the costs of social participation for you, for openly discussing the thing which dare not speak its name, the brash, open hostility reserved for people who do not shut up.

This is a reality, and it doesn’t go away if we don’t talk about it.”


This has absolutely been my experience, and that link up there, and the J Smooth video, both go a long way to explaining why "just ignore them" doesn't really help.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, one of the reasons I don't put my name on anything anymore is because of experiences I had when I first went on lj a few years back. It's just too easy to make enemies. People get angry when you disagree with them about the most trivial things. They get mad if you're in a fanfic community and your story gets more attention than theirs. They get mad at you if their friends don't like you.

I was lucky because I was young and my mom had absolutely forbidden my to give my real name out to anyone, but I know had some of the crazies who didn't like me known who I was in real life, they would have tried to make trouble for me.

kapunua said...

I guess I just never saw it coming, which was really stupid of me.

Anonymous said...

I don't think you were stupid at all. I just think you trusted people who claimed to be your friends. That's a natural, normal thing to do.

It's really sad that we have to put up all these barriers and hide who we are and what we really think, for fear of some kind of ridiculous retribution from people who just want to hate and hurt.

As a woman, I get tired of people telling me that I have to hide, cover up, adjust my lifestyle, etc., to avoid getting hurt. It's infuriating.

kapunua said...

Well, but I knew that non-friends lurked there as well. I just didn't think any person would actually go that far. I mean, there are people I'm not friends with, and people I actually don't like, but it wouldn't occur to me to act so crazy towards them. It was totally naive of me to think that other people would be the same way.

I'm tired of it too, anon, and tired of being told "just ignore it" when it got to the point it got to, and it keeps going on and on. It's madness!

Anonymous said...

I still don't think you should blame yourself for other people's crazy. I guess we all can take a lesson from it not to put too much of yourself out there, but it's still such a shame.

kapunua said...

Agree, nonnie. THank you for understanding. :)

kapunua said...

I found this great commentary that I thought might make a dent in the "OMG BUT SOMETIEMS WOMEN LIE ABOUT STUFF!!!1111" anons. :/ This is basically what they're saying:

You know what, I think the misfortune of a few individuals is enough to invalidate an entire culture of entitlement and disregard towards women’s bodies. I think consent is too tricky to obtain every time I have intercourse. I think rape is just a term women use to describe their buyers remorse when they realize they’ve been slutty and they don’t want their catty friends to judge them for being sluts. I think rape is a concept that oppresses men, because it presumes that women can say no, when everyone knows that, for real women, no means yes. I would rather shame all rape victims into silence on account of a few people who lied because I am scared that someone might accuse me of rape, which would ruin my life, but I’ve never really given much thought to how being raped might ruin someone’s life. I think rape accusations are a way of women exercising tricky women power over men, even though the justice system regularly under convicts rape, in the small proportion of cases that are reported. I think it is ok to rape if you dont get caught. I think a mans right to stay out of prison is more important than a woman’s right not to be raped. I do not care about rape victims as much as I care about rapists. I am a rape apologist.

Of course, that's from a man's POV, but I think that the same can be said of women who pull the "some women lie though!" thing - when it comes to both rape and other forms of abuse. In the end, they are apologists, and the misfortune of a very few men is more important to them than the systematic oppression of women.

Anonymous said...

Not speaking of the rapist/apologist comment, but of the internet and RL general harasment. It's wrong and sick for people to treat each other like shit. But no one is perfect. We all have something we should have to take responsibility for. But, I will never understand why or how people can take their spite so far. Once a person has made it clear how they feel for another there is no need to continue driving the point home. Anything beyond that is surreal and inhuman. The world and the internet are vast. And yet people still seem to be empty inside.

I'm one of the few that says to ignore the "fighting" comments here. Every situation is different. And some battles are not worth even begining. Other issues absolutely should and must be addressed. You just have to know what is more important. As far as rape, I would want justice for a woman or a man that has been vicitimized. It shouldn't matter what gender the victim is. Every one deserves to live in peace and to be given the same respect, trust and judicial support. But expecting any of that right now is as fruitless as expecting people to treat each other right, in any given situation. It would be nice to get to expect good of people, but it wouldn't be very sensible.

kapunua said...

My point is, I've tried ignoring them, and obviously it doesn't work. At all. When they come back here and start their stalkery stuff again, I don't really have a lot of choices. The only one they want to give me is "Just sit there, shut up and let us take you apart. I have something to say about your deceased parent, just shut up and listen to it. I have a few names to call you, so just sit there and be called those names. I've got a few phone calls to make about you and emails to send out about you, so just stfu and let me get on with my harassing."

Well, no.

Anonymous said...

They are idiots, who show their true nature every time they come around here. I nearly always recognize them instantly.

The fact that they cannot simply go away and leave you alone shows how pathetic and miserable they must truly be. One could almost feel sorry for them. Almost. But I don't.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to change the subject but I watched some youtube clips of Tom Hiddleston interviews and the Shakespeare stuff and I get it now...

it's the voice isn't it? He has a very nice voice.

Anonymous said...

Kapunua, Shakespeare understood the nature of people very well.


Most are some parts good, some parts bad given the right circumstances, and some never to be trusted for your own good.

kapunua said...

Yes to all. And thank you for being so understanding. :)

Oh, Shakespeare was a genius of people, right? Of people and words. Great Doctor Who episode about that, too. ^_^

Hiddleston does have a great voice, and he's such a good mimic, too!

12:02PM said...

I don't think you should take any form of abuse like what you have mentioned. I'm sorry that it has and continues to happen to you, Kapunua. But I don't believe anyone is free of having someone hate them like that (including the people who bully). Not with the means the internet and cell phones provide now. I don't know what anyone can do about it, but that doesn't mean I feel you should sit back and take it. I just don't believe you are alone in what you face. And I don't believe everyone is completely innocent of mistakes. No one deserves to be treated like this, regardless. But I think this sort of thing has become human nature now. Look at how teenagers treat each other, especially on social networking sites. Bullying is out of control like it has never been before. Something should be done to stop it. But, what? All I can think of is to walk away and try not to give the satisfaction that is wanted.

kapunua said...

No, I'm absolutely not alone in having that happen! That's why this video is making the rounds. Because so many people have been in similar situations, (though fewer, I think, when they're actually getting into your real life, posting your town, calling people on the phone, etc. Rarer than just regular "trolling," but still happens a lot!) I never even suggested that I was the only one this had happened to. That's kind of the point.

I don't know how to stop it, but "walk away and don't give them the satisfaction" does not work. Walk away from what, exactly? And how can I "not give them the satisfaction" when they're doing things in my actual life, hmm?

Anonymous said...

I don't know, Kapunua. I'm dealing with something similar in my real life, too. Honestly. I don't know what to do either. I didn't mean to be offensive. I'm lost. Good night

Anonymous said...

Legal action?

kapunua said...

When that all started, I did talk to a lawyer. He said that without a person's actual information, it would be hard to proceed. Also, since most of it was done anonymously (even though some of the parties admitted to it, it would be easy enough for them to delete it.) When I called the police, they had no idea even where to begin.

It's weird, because the internet has been around for a generation now, and the law still has no idea how to handle internet crimes. You'd think they would have some kind of model for this kind of thing, but it has to hit such a critical level and usually, someone has to actually be physically hurt, before anyone even takes it seriously. By the time you usually hear the stories about internet harassment, it's too late.

So essentially, you kinda have to just take it. They want to say something about my family? Want to make references to loved ones who've died? Make jokes about dead pets? Call gendered slurs, make racist comments, make threats, post private information, stake out your FB friends, and they want to keep doing it five years later? Well, they're gonna, and I really have no idea what to do about that.

But I'm really tired of being told "Just ignore them" and "it's their right to hate you," and especially, "You're not blameless." For that level of harassment? Yes I am. If it was just a silly flamewar on the internet, no big deal. This is not that.

I'm sorry for anyone who has to go through that.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry 7:52.

Anonymous said...

If only the people who behave this way would stop and think for one minute imagine if someone was doing this to me? how would I feel?

Anonymous said...

Sweet and comforting. But don't ruin something comfortable for nothing.

Anonymous said...

You must have heard of the traditional Arabic proverb any wise enemy is better than an ignorant friend 9:42.

Anonymous said...

It's weird, because the internet has been around for a generation now, and the law still has no idea how to handle internet crimes.

Kapunua did you hear about this case?

Anonymous said...

But don't ruin something comfortable for nothing

Those that practice deception and lie get nothing.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone like hard dance music here? I grew up on it and absolutely love it.

If you say you hate it with a passion I respect the hell out of you and wanna hug you.

What I loathe is misguided "fans" "loving" a type of music all because some thick rockstar jumped on the the EDM band-wagon to avoid obscurity.


MY OPINION

Anonymous said...

I also find punk music boring as fuck.

Thank God that's all over.

My.Opinion.

Anonymous said...

LOOK!!!

Anonymous said...

AND

Anonymous said...

Man, my dream would be for the BBC to get the rights and adapt some of William Gibson's stories.

Anonymous said...

My other half would like to see that too!

Anonymous said...

3:45AM. I don't deceive or lie. I don't want anyone to go out on a limb to defend something that isn't worth it.

Anonymous said...

Who is defending what?

Anonymous said...

7:05 am, stop wasting your time here and stay on your own turf.

Anonymous said...

I also find punk music boring as fuck.

Agree! It's so old-fashioned.

kapunua said...

3:36, I had not heard about that! I just wish that Blogger would do a similar thing.

In other news, the world lost an incredible musician today, and I lost a good friend. Uncle John Koko passed away yesterday.

He was so young and we were just talking the other day. Uncle John and his brother, Uncle Jerome and their lovely wives took me all over Waikiki this one time, out to lunch and a show at Sam Choi, to 'Iolani Palace and everything. When my family would go to their shows, they'd make us stand up in the audience and dedicate "Take A Walk In The Country" to us.

Makaha Sons was and always will be my favorite band. I just can't believe he's gone.

Anonymous said...

5:46/9 Thank you! The level of awesome in those is rooftop-high!

Kapunua, I'm sorry for your loss. He clearly had so much more to offer to the world. =(

Anonymous said...

Kapunua, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

Nora Ephron, so sad to read about her passing.

Anonymous said...

Oh my GOODNESS

Anonymous said...

I agree that Tom's voice is a large part of his appeal, but so is his intelligence, his "Gene Wilder hair" and his smile, but mostly his talent.

Some of his fans are downright creepy though.

Anonymous said...

There are elements of creepiness in all fanbases, but that's the way things go.

Anonymous said...

I happen to think the most appealing part of a man is his intelligence. For me the biggest turn-off is constant stupidity.

Anonymous said...

I happen to think the most appealing part of a man is his intelligence. For me the biggest turn-off is constant stupidity.

Agreed. It doesn't matter how handsome or talented a man is, if he seems stupid, it's a total deal-breaker.

Anonymous said...

I don't know about the deal-breaker part. You wouldn't be attracted to someone like that in the first place.

Those people tend to be attracted and attach themselves to people like themselves.

Anonymous said...

You can't know someone truly by how they "seem." That's not giving anyone a real chance. I can't imagine there is anyone out there who would fit your immediate standards, 3:43.

kapunua said...

Affordable Care Act, you guys. :)

Anonymous said...

Affordable Care Act, you guys. :)

Inorite? Victory!

Anonymous said...

5:08 if I am not attracted to stupid men, I can't see how it's any of your concern and that's just my standards :)

Anonymous said...

I agree. I can't find stupid men attractive in the least.

Anonymous said...

I'm not attracted to stupid men, either. But I try not to judge as abruptly (or at first glance/meeting) as you implied you do. I think it would benefit people better to give each other more of a chance. And you left a comment on a public blog, 5:42. If you didn't want to discuss your opinion, you probably shouldn't have left it here. :/ Good luck to you and 6:31 in your searches.

Anonymous said...

6:51 making assumptions again? Did I mention I form my opinions at first glance and/or meeting? No, that was you.

Anyway, everyone forms an impression of someone in the beginning. And in many cases those impressions can hinder people into looking deeper, whether you like that or not.

As for searching, I don't need to do that.

Anonymous said...

Some people like risk-takers, some people don't like nerds, some people like their partners not too smart. Others value kindness and tolerance above anything.

Each to their own.

Anonymous said...

i like oranges

Anonymous said...

Tink likes oranges ^_~

Anonymous said...

Frank's making jokes about sexualised violence again: this time joking about hitting people with his penis.

Anonymous said...

There is rarely anything pleasant being said here. Or anywhere else. People. Oranges are nice, though. Hi, 7:44PM. You don't read like an attempt to come off as someone you are not with a strangly uncharacteristic opinion. Or like a trap is being set and you're hoping for a fight. Aren't you something. Anyway, fuck this blog. What need to comment when so many other people are doing it so well in so many voices. Carry on, as they used to say.

MissTottenham said...

Hiya guys, how are you all?

I hope you guys manage to see all the Shakespeare shows, we are currently having a Shakespeare season.


Also dying to see the Frankenstein play with Benedict Cumberbatch.

He is sooooooooooooo good in Sherlock. It's so frustrating that they only show three episodes at a time.


K, the only thing you have to know about people who do online bullying etc, is that they do it cos they have no life, simple as that. They like to pretend they do, but the truth is so obvious. It must be truely awful and I don't know how you have had the strength at times to carry on as normal but it makes me smile to see you never give in.


Thanks for those links anon. You gotta admit, nobody does historical tv better than the BBC. Makes you feel proud , cor blimey Mary Poppins and Gawd save the Queen and all that.


So sorry to hear about Uncle John, so sad. Sorry for your loss K sweetie.


I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

You gotta admit, nobody does historical tv better than the BBC

I agree.

Anonymous said...

I don't like oranges, too acidic.

On the other hand, I haven't met a cherry I didn't like. Ripe white peaches and bananas are delicious also.

Anonymous said...

Waiting for my download of BBC's Richard II to finish... I just hope it works. I can't wait for 2013.

I've been told it's flawed, but still beautiful. IMO Ben Whishaw was born to play Richard, so I'm really excited. :)

Next week: Henry IV with Tom Hiddleston and Jeremy Irons. :D

Anonymous said...

Just got back from seeing The Avengers again and I'd like to post the question to other Avengers fans: redemption for Loki in the next Thor?

What are your thoughts?

kapunua said...

Oh, you guys are so lucky to be able to see it! Please post a review! ^_^

Redemption for Loki: Yes, I think, because it's just a movie. Darker villains than he have been redeemed. (Vader!)

I wouldn't like it if they took away his teeth or made him totally likable or woobified. I mean, he was sort of a woobie in Thor though, but he wasn't a pushover. In fact, he was kinda the Woobie Destroyer Of Worlds in Avengers, because he was getting pushed around by (redacted for spoilers) but still had made up his mind that he was above everyone else, and deserved to be ruler.

But, I would still not be too pleased if they turned him into some kind of tragic hero, or even a good guy. There are ways to redeem a really dark villain but still let him keep what it is that makes him so dark.

Has anyone here read any of the Dragonlance books? Because this incarnation of Loki is so much like Raistlin Majere, I'm almost seeing Tom Hiddleston as Raistlin in my mind now.

Anonymous said...

I can see redemption for Loki, mainly because I don't think he was really responsible for the things he did in Avengers. I think he had been held captive and tortured by (well, you know if you saw the mid-credit scene). He looked horrific when he first showed up on earth, what with the dark circles and zombie pale skin, but he looked healthier as the movie progressed. I think that was a result of torture and brainwashing. Also in the scene where he was communicating with the Chitauri, he seemed to be familiar with the pain they inflicted on him as a warning.

That's not to say Loki isn't a little shit. He proved that in Thor. And whatever happened to him after he fell from Asgard, I think he brought it on himself. I also think he's too damaged to ever become a "good guy", but I don't think he's a monster.

Anonymous said...

Wendy is out living her life, and all you people have is coming here to talk about movies on a hate blog.

Anonymous said...

I love Tom Hiddleston, and I think it is to his credit that Loki can be viewed with any sympathy at all. Played by someone else, I doubt the fans would care what happened to Loki.

While I do think the theory of him being tortured and brainwashed could have some truth in it (I did find it compelling that he looked so fragile and ill in the beginning of the film, and more like himself by the end), I agree that Loki could never become a hero, especially the way he is portrayed in the comics. But of course, this is the film version, which doesn't always stick to the comics, so who knows?

9:47 said...

Okay, I got caught up in the Loki discussion and forgot why I came here in the first place. :/

For those who don't live in the UK, click this link and then go halfway down through the comments. There are download links for Richard II.

Ben Whishaw was flawless. While I am usually somewhat ambiguous about Richard, I found myself sympathizing with him in this version. It's gorgeous. Patrick Stewart is perfect as well. :)

Anonymous said...

I haven't read the Dragonlance books, Kapunua, but I take it you recommend them?

Anonymous said...

Loved his earlier work with the Royal Shakespeare Company 9:54.

Also enjoyed his interpretation of King Leodegrance in Excalibur.

Anonymous said...

Oh, man. Now you've got me wanting to watch Excalibur again. It's been a long, long time. :)

Anonymous said...

Found a review of Richard ii here

Anonymous said...

I Love Excalibur! Helen Mirren was also excellent as Morgana.

Can still remember her chanting the charm of making!

Anonymous said...

Kapunua, thought you might be interested in this

kapunua said...

OH MY! :) LInks to downloads, discussion about Shallow Grave (WITH EWAN) and meta about Loki? This is my day. :D I have a whole big discussion about Loki that I was thinking about after I read that question (and a few more comments on Tumblr) and now I feel like merging my fangirl self with my English major self.

I'll be back with some meta! :D Meantime, thanks for those links, you all. YESSSSSSSSSS

kapunua said...

ETA The charm of making? Umm that works, js. O_O

Anonymous said...

Excalibur is a bit of a hot mess, but I love it just the same. I remember the first time I saw it, I developed a huge crush on Mordred (hey, I was young, okay?), which probably foreshadowed my huge crush on Loki. There's something appealing about the damaged, illegitimate, vengeful son that makes you sympathise, even when he turns traitorous.

I don't really like it when they redeem those characters, no matter how much I might want it for them. It's just too unrealistic, and helps perpetuate the myth that with the right amount of love, compassion and caring, the Damaged Bad Boy can be fixed. Too many women fall into that trap in real life, and it just sets them up for abuse and heartbreak. Not good.

kapunua said...

I'm writing a Whole Big Thing right now on the redemption of Bad Guys (and bad girls, too,) in fiction, and why it works in some contexts, even if it doesn't work in real life.

Excalibur was one of my favorite movies when I was a little kid. I rediscovered it as a teen and I was like "OMG, wtf did I just watch?" but I still loved it.

Anonymous said...

I think we'll need to see Loki punished to make up for all those people he murdered in Thor and The Avengers before anything can be done in terms of redeption. I'm thinking there will be some sort of banishment/imprisonment going on at the start of Thor 2 and then maybe he redeems himself a little by helping his bro out against another enemy with his magic/replication/awesome knife throwing skillz etc. But they'd have to be careful not to rush it so that it felt contrived.

Anonymous said...

*redemption

kapunua said...

So I've been giving this "Redeemable Bad Guy" thing some thought, and I've written a thing. It's too long to put the whole thing here, so if you want to read it, you can hit up my Tumblr.

But in short: Yes, of course he is. If Natasha is redeemable, Loki must be, too. She’s the one who says, “But he killed eighty people in two days.” Girl, your record isn’t exactly pristine, either. Natasha was supposed to pay for her crimes, but was given another chance. And really, the same goes for Thor, in the first movie. Didn’t he go to Jotunheim with the intention to commit genocide? Yes, he was being manipulated by Loki, but mass murder was still a part of Thor’s process, and he still did kill a bunch of Jotuns who were just defending their territory...

But there’s so much more to play around with in the movies. Would we even be talking about Loki’s redemption if he hadn’t been played in a specific way by Tom Hiddleston? Part of this is down to Kenneth Branagh’s direction in Thor, and part of it is down to T-Hiddles’ talent for conjuring empathy out of thin goddamn air. He’s probably the most woobified / whitewashed character since Sephiroth, and let’s not even lie about this, part of the reason is because he’s pretty, and pretty people get away with more crap. All right, but he’s not just pretty, he’s good at it, and Branagh’s decision to have him play like two-thirds of the movie with big, watery, sad eyes, always looking rejected and betrayed, has a lot to do with it.

On the other hand, Movie Loki has much less of an excuse to become a Crazy Genocidal Hate Machine than other incarnations of Loki, because as far as we can tell, he was raised in kindness, for the most part. Odin seems a decent sort (if misguided, since I believe all parents should tell their children the truth of their lives and parentage from DAY FREAKING ONE if you want to avoid major issues, okay,) and Frigga clearly loves Loki, as does Thor, in his own arrogant, overbearing way. But I mean, there are plenty of folks who find out that their families weren’t what they thought they were, or who live in the shadow of their hugely popular siblings, or who are outright abused, and those people don’t generally turn into Crazy Genocidal Hate Machines. But it’s the movies, okay, so that happens.

Tom Hiddleston said that part of Loki’s development in Avengers came while he fell to Midgard at the end of Thor. He said that Loki “saw things” that made him go mad. Okay, Hiddles, I’ll accept that if you and your blue eyes say so, but Loki is still not off the hook. There are plenty of “mad” people who don’t go around subjugating planets. Those who do are still generally frowned upon. “There are always men like you.”

kapunua said...

Another theory I hear around is that Loki is being manipulated by (redacted for spoilers.) Loki, the God Of Lies, being manipulated? I don’t buy it. Okay, you say, but he’s obviously been tortured and coerced. Well, I’m willing to give you that one. Yes, it’s clear that Loki has been through some kind of horror at the beginning of the film, and there’s no question that he’s at least operating under the threat of torture. That scene is in there for a reason. That’s not even up for debate, BUT, that only goes for him retrieving the Tesseract. The idea to subjugate Earth is his own. No one forced him to do that.

...I think that at the end of the movie, he still loves Odin, Thor and his family, even as he resents the hell out of them. And by the beginning of Avengers, he probably still does, although by that time he’s completely around the bend and in way too far over his head to admit it, even to himself. His surrender at this point would be far too costly for him in every way; the only thing he could possibly afford at this point is victory. But as Tony Stark (and another character) both tell him, victory was never an option for Loki. Logically, as Stark tells him, there is no way he can come out on top. And (redacted) tells him, even more importantly, “You lack conviction.” Loki is so riddled with self-loathing, even he doesn’t believe in himself.

Not that any of that excuses his actions, or the pleasure he takes in tormenting beings he thinks are beneath him. If he himself is being tortured, one would like to think that he wouldn’t do it to others, and yet he’s just as merciless as (redacted) have (most likely) been to him.

But at the end of the film/mythology/story/this bit of fangirl rambling, YES, Loki is still redeemable. Likable? Maybe not. A “Good Guy?” Probably not. But will he, and should he have at least a few moments in Thor 2 to redeem himself? Of course! Everyone else gets to!

ON THE OTHER HAND, we all know what happens to villains when they get their moment of redemption, don’t we? Oh yes we do. Redemption = death. So maybe it would be better for all of us if Loki stayed naughty. O_O

Anonymous said...

It's just too unrealistic, and helps perpetuate the myth that with the right amount of love, compassion and caring, the Damaged Bad Boy can be fixed.

I don't believe in that myth. I also don't believe that people are either good or bad. I believe anyone has the capacity to behave either way. It's too easy to write off someone in black and white terms.

Anonymous said...

I also don't believe that people are either good or bad. I believe anyone has the capacity to behave either way. It's too easy to write off someone in black and white terms.

I disagree. There are some people who are so damaged/soulless/lacking in empathy/however you want to describe it, that they are simply evil. That doesn't apply to most of us, but there are psychopaths out there in the world who basically have nothing to offer but hatred and destruction.

kapunua said...

^ I agree, and of course I'm thinking of Hitler, Manson, etc.

But this is the movies, which I'm careful to point out is totally different to real life. Especially in these epic, superhero sagas, where people go from bad to good to bad to good every few issues.

Anonymous said...

A certain percentage 1:11, not the majority. Also they are wired that way, not damaged imo.

Anonymous said...

That's right Kapunua. It's fantasy, not real life.

kapunua said...

1:19, that's right, and that's what makes it fun to consider these things. I think that redeeming superhero villains is also different to other sorts of fantasy. Because ini truth, some media-promoted fantasies can be very damaging to certain groups of people. Like, Twilight and 50 Shades Of Grey are fantasies, but I think they both send dangerous messages to groups of people. I'm not saying they should be censored, but they should be thought about, critically.

It's weird, too, because Loki obviously killed and maimed and did all this mad stuff, but for me, the worst part of the film was when he used a gendered insult. I was like, "Wow Loki, okay, you just kicked the dog and made yourself way less redeemable."

Now of course there's a difference between portraying misogyny (gendered insult by a villain) and condoning misogyny or even making light of it (tons and tons of media.) Like, there's a difference between portraying racism (American History X) and condoning or making light of it, (well, MSI.) And Joss Whedon has always been really good about handling gender roles, so obviously this was done to show that Loki had become TRULY BAD and not just "superhero movie" bad. Which of course adds extra challenge to his redemption.

Anonymous said...

Like, Twilight and 50 Shades Of Grey are fantasies, but I think they both send dangerous messages to groups of people.

Exactly. Like, if a guy stalks you and spies on you, it's only because he really cares. Or my boyfriend wants to control everything about my life because he loves me so much. Yeah, right.

Fantasy or not, the attitudes in these books are harmful. So is the idea that a bad guy can be redeemed by the love of a good woman. That shit only happens in romance novels and the movies.

kapunua said...

Right, and while I don't personally like those stories, I'm not saying that no one else should read them. I'm saying that the problems, the misogyny in them, should be acknowledged. And obviously some people have kinks and fantasies like that--whatever, no shame in that--we still need to acknowledge that those books offer a very poor portrayal of actual relationships. Including BDSM relationships.

Anonymous said...

Just reading some of the reviews for Fifty Shades bring tears to your eyes!

Anonymous said...

My thoughts on the BBC Hollow Crown production of Richard II:

Oh. Just in case Shakespeare can be spoiled --

***SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT!!***

First of all, let me say that Ben Whishaw is absolutely staggering. He played Richard so believably and (my god!) so painfully, that I had to pause my computer about five times and collect myself during the parts where he was relinquishing his crown. His Richard was a petulant, immature man-child, yet I couldn't help but sympathize with him. He delivered Richard's gorgeously eloquent and poetic speeches in the latter parts of the play so beautifully and convincingly that I would have been happy to accept his divine right to rule, completely forgetting what a horrible king he was.

That's not to say this production was perfect. Thing is, Whishaw could just as well have been doing a one man production for all the effect the others had on me. Bolingbroke was a complete non-entity, and the only other characters who stood out were Patrick Stewart's John of Gaunt and York's son Aumerle. Perhaps that was the director's intent, because this production was all about Richard. It portrayed him as a christ-like martyr, with tons of biblical imagery and references to St. Sebastian. Probably not the way Shakespeare intended, but it worked. Beautifully.

I'm eagerly awaiting next Saturday and Henry IV, part 1.

kapunua said...

Excellent! I can't wait to see. I'm going to try that link up there today, after my one client leaves today. :D

Anonymous said...

How in the world do you people get so excited about such silly things? Shakespeare. Loki. You realize Shakespeare has been dead for about a zillion years, right? How about that Loki is a COMIC BOOK VILLAIN?! Do you really have nothing better to do with your time?

Anonymous said...

Do you really have nothing better to do with your time?

Yes, troll like anon, we have plenty of things to do during our working time, i.e. work. But in our spare time we can choose to do whatever the fuck we like to. And we can also chat about such things on the internet, if we so please. It is allowed.

You realize Shakespeare has been dead for about a zillion years, right?

You are either very young, or sadly, very undereducated. Or just a troll, which is what I suspect.

kapunua said...

Aaaaaaaactually, Loki was a Norse god before he was a comic book hero. Also, he had sex with a horse. (I hope they avoid that in Thor 2.)

Shakespeare did not, to my knowledge.

Anonymous said...

Reading Shakespeare enriches your life.

Anonymous said...

I would be in heaven if the BBC did an adaption of The War of The Roses to round off Henry V.

Anonymous said...

Kapunua, what happened to your tumblr?

kapunua said...

At first I was like, "OH NO, WHAT HAPPENED?" then I remembered I changed the name of it! When you do that with LJ, the links automatically redirect, but I guess that doesn't work with TUmblr. So sorry!

Here's that long post on Loki. :)

Anonymous said...

50 Shades of Grey is enriching lives and saving marriages.


http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/04/11/best-selling-erotica-novel-fifty-shades-of-grey-has-many-women-discussing-sexuality/

Anonymous said...

"
women are feeling friskier after reading the book because it gives them permission to acknowledge their sexuality.

It’s an erotic novel marketed to the mainstream that women don’t have to read in secret.

“It taps into something they’ve been wanting to do, and it’s real, and it’s fulfilling, and it validates something — it’s empowering for them,”women are feeling friskier after reading the book because it gives them permission to acknowledge their sexuality."

Anonymous said...

I think it's sad that some women need a book or movie to give them permission to acknowledge their sexuality but I think it's wonderful that a book like 50 Shades of Grey has become a best seller and is helping more women feel empowered.

kapunua said...

But the downside to that is the negative message it sends ("It's so much better to submit, not just sexually and for kicks, but in your entire life - and also, who gives a damn about consent?") and about the BDSM community, which it gets totally, completely wrong.

In the hands of a better writer, this would be awesome. But, similar to Twilight, sure, it gets people thinking. It just doesn't get them thinking critically.

Last week or so, a few Tumblrs were posting erotica books and stories as good alternatives to 50 Shades. Wish I'd saved that!

Anonymous said...

I agree but for me the shit writing is the worst part of all. I borrowed it from one of my friends and could not stop laughing. It is that bad.

Anonymous said...

In the hands of a better writer, this would be awesome.

Nope, I think it would have been censored.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone heard of the author Jennifer Amintrout? She wrote a post on each chapter of the book on her blog.

It's hysterically funny!

Anonymous said...

Wow, Florence and Calvin Harris are a good match

Anonymous said...

IMO, 50 Shades of Grey is not that far removed from the bodice rippers that my mom used to keep stashed in her closet when I was a kid. It's pretty much the same old story of women having to keep their sexuality buried until some man essentially forces them into acknowledging it.

This is not what I taught my daughter, and, frankly, I'm disappointed that other women are not being taught to openly admit to, and celebrate, their sexuality.

Anonymous said...

IMO, 50 Shades of Grey is not that far removed from the bodice rippers that my mom used to keep stashed in her closet when I was a kid

Bet they didn't have a "red room of pain" in those books.

Life is sacred, people are stupid. said...

I watched a young woman today cross a busy 4way street less than 20 feet from a crosswalk, with a stroller, moving as slowly as she possibly could. Then, (during a blazing hot day) she parks her ass in the shaded overhang of a bus stop and leaves the stroller, with her baby in it, in the sun. The convenient shade provided on the stroller is NOT down, NOT protecting the baby. There is a THERMAL blanket laying heavily on top of the baby's face, head and body. All you can see of this baby is her thickly socked feet. There were 8 other people waiting at this bus stop with this woman and child, at this time. Every one of us kept leaning further and further out to watch the breathing of this baby through the blanket. It appears the baby is not breathing at all (one man even stood in fear) until there was a burst of labored breathing showing through. This is how the baby continued to breath (nothing, nothing, labored, nothing, nothing, labored) for the next 10 longest minutes of my life. Most of the other people around were older adults, logically with the appropriate understanding of the need to speak up in such a situation. Two of the people present are young teens (who were surprisingly but encouragingly just as concerned). However, no one makes a move to say anything to this woman. I finally ask, as politely and calmly as I can, if she thinks the baby is OK under the blanket. It takes her a few minutes of dicking with her cell before she responds to me, enraged, that "The sun is making her all red." It is not her fault. She does nothing to check on the baby, but immediately pushes her stroller to the other end of the depot while cussing about my attitude. Everyone congratulates me on speaking up, as everyone else was just as concerned and wanting to do the same. And yet not one of them had the balls to back me up when the woman responded as she did and did nothing to help her own baby.

I run into this woman again about 20 minutes later, with her child's face/head/body still covered and still breathing badly. I apologize to her. I try to explain that I didn't mean to rude, I was only concerned for her baby (hoping that she will get the point and do something for her). She throws her hand up in my face and screams at me "MIND YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS!" Thankfully, given the commentary of the then much larger group of people around us, she FINALLY pulls the blanket off the baby's face and secures it more to the stroller, giving the baby more (and easier) air.

I know there are parents who read and comment here, is covering the face of a very new baby (I finally got to see how tiny she was) with a heavy thermal blanket and leaving her in the sun like this for 30 minutes (all together) safe and perfectly acceptable? I want to stress that the blanket was not just lightly laying over her face. I have seen parents do that many times (lightly), and it has never concerned me. It was a very heavy and thick blanket. Several people openly stated (after I did) that they felt it made it difficult for the baby to breathe. I don't have a child. But I don't feel I was wrong. In fact, I will say something again and sooner if I ever encounter such a situation again. I was not embarrassed or "put in my place" by that woman's behavior. I got exactly what I wanted (for the baby to be able to breathe better) and she personally enlightened many passersby of her own stupidity. I'm sure now that if any of those people see her again they will be watching her as closely (and speaking up accordingly) as I feel she deserves. I only hope the baby has a better father at home than the mother she's got.

Anonymous said...

One of my earliest memories as a child was of being at the beach with my parents when we suddenly heard sirens. An ambulance and police showed up, and we could hear a woman screaming. I found out later that a young couple had come to the beach for a day and had left their very young infant in the car. When they came back, the infant had died from the heat. I will never, ever forget that.

Some people just do not need to have children. Period.

Anonymous said...

That is horrid. I don't think anyone could forget something like that. I'm sorry that happened, for everyone involved. What an awful way to die. I can't help but wonder, how could anyone else there that day have missed seeing the baby in the car? Why did no one do something before it was too late? One brief phone call would have saved that baby. It's not just the parents that are irresponsible, thoughtless, apathetic. It's everyone.

Anonymous said...

And I apologize for my back and forth in tenses in my overly long comment (4:29). I don't type very well when I'm upset. Good evening.

Anonymous said...

Babies and young children are at risk of heat deaths when the temperatures rise in the summer. Parents are usually warned to dress them in light clothing and to keep them out of the sun. They should never leave them in parked cars or wrap them in blankets.

Even when the child does not die, it is at risk for brain damage when its body does not cool properly in stifling heat.

Two boys died in Tennessee recently (ages 3 and 5) when allowed to play outside for an extended period of time during 105 degree temperatures.

People should take extra precautions when it's extremely hot outside. You did the right thing by speaking up, 4:29.

MissTottenham said...

Hiya guys, how are you all?


Anon, that story of the baby dying in the hot car is so tragic. In our country at the moment we are having a spate of young people dying in tents on holiday because they've brought the BBQ indoors to warm them up. People don't realise how dangerous the fumes are. You have to be so so careful with the little uns.

Anonymous said...

Hey Miss T. That sounds really dangerous. I've never been one for camping, and now I have still and yet another reason to dislike it. :(

Anonymous said...

Thank you, 6:21. Would have preferred the mother just being more responsible instead.

Miss T, I think there may just be a lot of mis/uninformed people out there. A shame that all of this loss could be so easily prevented.

9:46 said...

That is very sad to read, about the boys. I think the government and authority of every country should make more of an effort to educate the people during severe heat waves. And obviously, like with the BBQ situation in the UK, a warning should have been given out to the people. Especially as the deaths started to mount. Tragedy and shame.
Good evening everyone.

Anonymous said...

You guys, I just read a review of tonight's Henry IV, where the writer said Tom Hiddleston does a kick-ass impression of Jeremy Irons in the role-playing scene between Hal and Falstaff (Henry IV, Part 1 - Act II, Scene iv).

Tom does such amazing impressions. I keep imagining him sounding like Scar from the Lion King. ;) I can't wait to see this!

Anonymous said...

*** WARNING ** CONTAINS SPOILERS***

With regards to the BBC Hollow Crown presentation of Richard II, I agree with nearly everything you said, July 2, 6:39. This adaptation was gorgeously done and beautifully acted. I had a few problems with it myself, but then I'm a bit of a Shakespeare nerd. ;)

Yes, it did focus on Richard, making him seem the protagonist and Bolingbroke the villain. To do so, it left out some key scenes and dialogue of the play, (e.g., Henry's accusations towards Mowbray regarding the death of Gloucester, and Act I, Scene ii in its entirety). Also, the actor playing Bolingbroke had about as much charisma as a lump of coal. His Henry seemed stodgy and pedestrian rather than noble, while Mowbray, played by the dashing James Purefoy, made the better impression.

Richard was portrayed as a martyr, and rightly so, but I felt this production shortchanged Henry, who, after all, did have legitimate cause for his actions. In the play, it's not so easy to choose sides.

Another thing that bothered me (exceedingly) was how in this version, Aumerle was complicit in Richard's murder. WTF? I was downright rage-y over that. Did it add to the drama? Maybe, but not enough to justify such a drastic alteration.

Despite my purist objections, however, this is a brilliant presentation overall. Whishaw was glorious. Patrick Stewart, Purefoy and David Suchet (York) were perfection. I am always happy to see Shakespeare done on a grand scale, and made accessible to the public at large.

I encourage everyone to see it. It will be streaming on the BBC site for a few more weeks (Americans will need a VPN client, but they're free and easy to find), and there are multiple downloads circulating on tumblr.

Anonymous said...

*sigh*

Have only been able to find downloads of Henry IV, Part One from torrents and I'm afraid to use them.

Screencaps everywhere on tumblr. I has a sad. :(

Anonymous said...

It's on youtube now, the whole thing.

Hiddleston could make a living doing impressions alone. His Jeremy Irons is so good it's creepy.

Anonymous said...

my tits are so sore :(

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