BlogHer - Pop Culture - Comments

my votes

superkeely — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:01:21 -0500

The problem with Wonder Woman, as was pointed out in the OP, is that she's already perfect. She has no internal struggle, which is what most writing hinges on. Sure, you can pit her against something external, but it would be kind of boring. She's fantastic because she's what women want to BE, but we want to know how to GET there, not what to do when we've attained it. It's important to have that icon around, but unfortunately icons tend to be 2-dimensional, and not terribly interesting as the centerpoint to a story. (I think Whedon could have done something good with her, but it sounded like he wanted to rework her origin story and the producers weren't down with that. He writes female superheros really well - okay, Buffy doesn't wear a cape or a tiara, but she kicks some ass)

Not to mention, they've worked away at making WW physically perfect, too. She used to need an invisible jet, but now she can just fly. She used to have to deflect bullets with her bracelets, now they just bounce off her. Cripes, even Superman has his kryptonite.

I think a She Hulk movie would be FANTASTIC if they could do it correctly. She is one of my all-time favorite characters. And really, they could write whatever they wanted for a plot, since her origin story isn't very complicated.

And, Jessica Jones anybody? Okay, so, alcoholic potty mouth and then pregnant, not exactly a role model for little girls, but she'd kick ass.

Your sister

Denise — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:01:21 -0500

I would suggest your sister rent the hybrid that she's interested in buying and drive it for a week - under normal driving conditions (to work, to her home, running errands etc...)

I'm tempted to disagree with you about your sister and a hybrid. I am averaging 50mpg, freeway only, city only, combo.

I recommend renting any hybrid you're interested in for a week. We rented both the Hybrid Civic and the Prius several times before we were completely convinced that the Prius was the right car for us.

*Call your local Toyota dealer and ask if they have rental cars - most do and most have a Prius or two available for rent. I'm not sure about the Honda but those are a bit easier to get through some rental car companies.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

It Can Be Passed From Mother To Daughter

Megan Smith — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:58:23 -0500

Hi Heather,

You're so right that body image issues are often passed from one generation to the next and mothers especially need to be conscious of the examples they set, how they view their own bodies, so their daughters can grow up without that scourge of "body hate."

I've often stopped by Mama Vision and was always impressed by your commitment and common sense. Keep up the great work.

Megan Smith
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/YouTube
Megan's Minute: Quirky Commentary Around The Clock

Live with less....

the farmers wife — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:38:37 -0500

I find it difficult to believe that Oprah lives with less. Her 50th birthday party was an exercise in excess.

Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife

No.

Denise — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:28:16 -0500

Never.

I grow more anti-Oprah with each passing day. Shudder.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

Body hate continues through the generations

mamaVISION — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:42:15 -0500

mamaVISION

Hi Ladies: For insight into how our body hate is passed down to our daughters, I'd like you to read some posts on my blog at mamaVISION.com, particularly this recent post where the young women answered my question "What do you wish your mom knew about your disordered eating?"

67 girls posted their heart felt reponse

I've spent the past 2 1/2 years serving as a voice of reason for girls, and I can't even begin to tell you how important it is that we make peace with our bodies.

Take it easy!

Heather

aka mamaV

I totally agree with you n/t!

topsyturvy86 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:37:13 -0500

I agree with you on all points you rose. I do think it's awful all the frenzy surrounding her daughter because it could happen to anyone. But it is an issue because of the way she stance on certain issues like not teaching sex education and abstinance, also on family values which is what her party is known for.

Obama, Clinton, McCain, and even Biden had to go through overly intense scrutiny. First they do not have so many skeletons in their closet, and they've been exposed for a while and the media brought to light everything they felt the need to. That is just the way it is. If she had been properly vetted in the first place, the media and general public wouldn't feel the need to take on the vetting themselves.

I'm a woman and I do not think the questioning of her experience, her scandals, her past, and what she stands for are sexism, everyone had to go through that, male and female. Obama was even almost taken to court about his place of birth in a bit to disqualify him from presidency. That is definitely not racism, and questioning Palin is most definitely not sexism. People need to know about these things and be clear on the issue's before voting.

Finally, I agree that if she wants privacy, she should think about how much exposure to this whole thing she wants her children to get and not use them as a moral show. (Now, the boyfriend of her daughter is involved and in the spontlight).

Good point...

AstronomersWife — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:29:20 -0500

but while the daughter could have been more responsible, even without good information, it's still not her fault that she's getting held up as a symbol either of her mother's ignorance/neglect or of her pro-life values. She's just a scared kid whose life has just drastically changed direction thanks to a bad decision, and now she might as well be wearing a big letter A.

I think her daughter's

Trisha — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:53:37 -0500

I think her daughter's pregnancy has a little bit of relevance - it's an example of how abstinence-only sex education doesn't work. Of course there are scientific studies that show the same thing - but sometimes people are more swayed by anecdotal evidence.

my last post:

10 Reasons Why Sarah Palin Should Not be the VP of the U.S.

n/t

AstronomersWife — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:49:07 -0500

The feeding frenzy surrounding her daughter's pregnancy is definitely cruel and unfair to the girl and distracts us from taking a hard, objective look at Palin's record and potential. The look on that poor kid's face in shots of her clutching her baby brother and trying to hide under his blanket just makes me wince.

That said, Obama has had to contend with vicious, utterly false rumors; so did Clinton, and McCain moreso in 2000 (remember the whispering campaign about his adopted daughter?). Campaigning for national office is a trial by fire. Had Palin been on the national radar back in March or April, all this would have come out more gradually, and with less intensity. (Although, had she been under serious consideration by the McCain campaign earlier in the summer, she might have been dismissed as too risky--there are other qualified Republican women, after all.)

My first reaction to McCain's announcement was "Who?" And when I knew more about her and her experience (or lack thereof), my second was, "She has no idea what she's in for." Let's see if the way she handles the situation improves.

One thing for certain: if she wants privacy for her children, she's going to have to rethink how much she exposes them to the spotlight. One's children should never be used as symbols of one's moral choices. Neither Hillary Clinton nor Laura Bush played the "mother card" or used their relationships with their children for inappropriate self-promotion. And yes, that means rethinking how she talks about abortion...and whether to pressure her daughter into a marriage that might not be so well thought out.

I have to say that I am

angelsdream76 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:04:09 -0500

I have to say that I am impressed by what Lilo posted.Pigs must be flying because that is the last thing I thought I would be saying about her.
I don't think it is because she is an outsider, to me she is no different than me or you. She just has the money and fame to almost not be taken seriously.
She is right though on it all. All of this press on Bristol's pregnancy is just a sideshow, one that is keeping us from seeing and knowing who Sen Palin really is.

Jessica Alba partying!

Katy Chen — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:53:40 -0500

Right before the Moby event, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Lopez and Rosario Dawson appeared together at another club in town. That was the star-studded place to be!

Video of Jamie Foxx on our bus!

Katy Chen — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:45:00 -0500

I got a bit of Jamie Foxx on our bus. I was in a bad position, so Maria -- you actually shot the beginning of this video when Jamie Foxx was sitting in the back of the bus! And then when he was leaving, I got more of him.

Suicide Prevention

rebellious thinker — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:41:40 -0500

In the past year I know of four middle school and high school boys who have hanged themselves and two high school girls who attempted suicide. What a calamity. It's devastating to think of. As a high school teacher we are told to notify the counselors when we are concerned about any student. Hopefully the more we are aware, the more we can prevent. Thanks for the info on the website.

Laura, www.RebelliousThoughtsofaWoman.com

Jogging my memory

Maria Niles — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:47:48 -0500

I tweeted both Wendell Pierce and Farnsworth Bently - can't believe I forgot them. From G's to Gents is a guilty pleasure and I was amused to see Diddy's former umbrella man until shortly after MLK III walked by and promptly eclipsed him. About Pierce I tweeted:

Saw Wendell Pierce at the DNC. Wanted to yell "Bunk!" Ladylike decorum prevented it however.

Sorry we missed you - you must have been down at the CNN end of the network row & we were at the other end between CBS & Fox. It was fun though wasn't it?

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