let's hug it out

I read this ridiculous story about a girl in Alabama who was suspended from school for hugging a friend. The school county's code of conduct cites that "inappropriate public displays of affection, included but not limited to embracing and kissing" are forbidden.

While this is absolute none-sense, I can't say I'm altogether surprised. The average American has an IQ of 72, and to be elected in any kind of influencial position there a person must have an IQ no higher than 70 (at least mild mental retardation). Ok, that's a lie (or is it?) but in a country where people sue for their coffee being too hot, I suppose it was going to come to this eventually. Remember the case where the 17 year old received consensual oral sex from a 15 year old and was charged with statuatory rape? It's absurd. It angers me. Let the frickin kids hug.

If you too want to experience an overwhelming sensation of gratitude for your Canadian citizenship, read this.

"fashion" flashback

So I've generally lost interest in blogging, but I couldn't help but share with my MANY readers this lovely link (courtesy of E. Watt who, like I, enjoys making fun of pretty much everyone). Check out this blog post about the 1977 JC Penney catalogue. Guaranteed hilarity.

you can buy fashion, but you can't buy style

I promise this will be my last (consecutive) post about fashion. I just wanted to end on a high note (Jennifer Connelly was certainly not a high note, although she is on the starter page of vogue.com this month - the irony is killy me). So, I thought I would link to the best street style blog/vogue feature I have ever come across - The Sartorialist.

Bonus: He's in Hong Kong right now - wooooo Asian!

seriously?!?

Apparently, I'm into fashion-blogging lately. This isn't really an intentional thing, but some outfits just need to be commented on.... Actually, this isn't one of them. Jennifer Connelly's outfit doesn't need a comment. I'll just sit here and wonder how anyone (albeit someone so gorgeous) can put on a floral 80s prom dress with catwoman stiching and think "yes - I am ROCKING this!".

This would, of course, be super hot on an Asian girl.....

asian envy

I am definitely not much of a fashionista - if anyone could see me as I'm writing this, in my Liz Clairborne cardigan, they would nod enthusiastically/in disgust. But even though I am not entirely fashion conscious, I would just like to give a big shout out to trendy little Asian girls everywhere - especially at Carleton, where they made me look bad every day for 4 (ok, 5) years. My sister (who might list "trendy Asian girls" as a primary interest of hers) and I brainstormed the other night about why this is. It could be how their flawless complexions offer the perfect pallet for a wide array of make-up colors, or maybe how their petite bodies can still look hot no matter how many layers of different patterns they pile on. Whatever it is, they are effortlessly cool in a way that white girls can never compete with, and maybe never even understand. I look at little Asian girls and I think "Wow, those clothes ridiculous. I wish I could look that cool." If I ever actually tried to look as cool as them, I'd probably end up looking like RuPaul, or Destiny's Child when they all wore matching sequined outfits.

So props to little Asian girls, for being cool in a way that white girls will never understand. (Case in point: how silly does tall and blonde Gwen Stefani look with her harajuku entourage?)

if I turn sideways I disappear

The Olsens are actually the bigger girls in this picture. Time to go back on the old "no food" diet MK, I can only see 3 of your ribs.

And props to Amy Winehouse for making anyone and everyone look comparatively plump and healthy.

love lasteth long as the money endureth

Fantastic article forwarded to me by my boss (we all work this hard).

Is this modern feminism? Sure, she comes off as a bit desperate, perhaps a little kooky (maybe all the botox that helped make her "spectacularly beautiful" seeped in a little too deep) but she's challenging societal norms but unapologetically going after what she wants. I don't think that modern feminism should necessitate that women compete with men professionally. That's not to say they shouldn't have the opportunity, but I think it is more important that women have the choice. I don't think a woman is disgracing modern women by choosing to stay at home, nor do I think she is undoing what previous feminist generations have accomplished.

And here is the hypocrisy of feminism. According to hardcore feminists (or at least the hairy-pitted beasts that I've come across), women are better than men. Therefore, we deserve equality with men. But, what? If we're better, don't we deserve better? Shouldn't we blaze our own trails, achieve and define success in a way that is not measurable only in comparison to men?

And (Emily this will really piss you off) we already DO have it better. Society accepts women in the workplace: Exceptions to this? I don't care. Try to find a male nurse who hasn't heard a sexist remark. AND society also accepts women opting to stay at home: Men? Not so much. Yes, there is an increasing number of men opting to take on daddy day care duties, but I guarantee they encounter more stigma than their female counterparts do (oh, and their wives are probably secretly lesbians).

I can't believe I got into a feminist/counter-feminist rant because of online golddigging. Frig, women do this every day (albeit more subtle and subconscious). Case in point: I love my boyfriend, and he's wonderful in every way, but there's time I think I love him just a little bit more because he's an engineer. Superficial? Maybe. Smart decision? Hells yes.

Oh, and the anonymous posted response to the ad (in the article - remember why I was blogging again?) is amazing.