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My Strength Is not for Hurting
This poster is from the new anti-rape campaign: "My strength is not for hurting." MyStrength is a project of the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault. This awesome campaign puts responsibility for rape prevention where it belongs -- on the potential rapist. Learn more here: http://www.mystrength.org/
All I Want for Christmas Is Less of this Crap
Recently, I posted the cover of 1994's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. While still thin, the models looked untouched by Photoshopped and not as perfectly flawless as the cover images of today. Here's another comparison from 1994 -- check out the striking differences between Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" music video from 1994 and the re-make from 2011. As you'll notice, "... the comparison reveals two trends: the rising emphasis placed on consumption and the new hyper-sexualization."
Here's the original 1994 version. As Sociological Images notes:"The first video involves Mariah mostly bounding around in the snow in a snow suit. Often acting pretty darn goofy, with dogs and Santa. She spends part of the video inside with kids, a Christmas tree, presents, and more animals. She’s usually wearing a sweater. She spends less than (I’m guessing) 10 seconds of the video in a sexy Mrs. Claus outfit and, when she’s wearing it, it looks like she’s got long johns on her legs."
And here's the new version for 2011. In the new video:
"Instead of a snowy field or an intimate home, the video takes place in a shopping mall. It centrally features a Nintendo product. Likewise, instead of bounding around in the snow like a goof, she spends the entire video up against a wall in super high heels and the sexy Mrs. Claus outfit (except this one doesn’t have sleeves or a midriff). At one point she runs her hand down her body, touching her breast and moving down to her crotch; at another she just leans against the wall with her back to us and swings her butt back and forth."
Overthinking
If you're an overthinker, here are a few things that can help:
1) Meditation -- Take a few minutes every day to practice clearing the mind. Over time, it helps, but in the meantime ...
2) Triggers -- Figure out what triggers you to overthink: Is it a need to control things? Is it co-dependency & feeling like you're supposed to take care of everyone? Is it a critical inner voice that starts telling you how you screwed up or how you're not good enough?
3) Pay attention! -- Try to catch yourself when you start ruminating, before you start going into that downward spiral. Notice what triggers those thoughts (that's where meditation helps).
4) Stop yourself from going there! -- Find a distraction, call a supportive friend, take a bath, watch a movie - anything that stops the auto-pilot & redirects you to go down a better path.
Pink
From the song "Perfect," written & performed by Pink.
Dirty Harry
People have been watching too many action movies. It's like they have some sort of hero fantasy that they're gonna be prepared at any time to dive down in slow-motion with guns blazing and be able to take down a psycho who's been preparing for months and is armed with an assault rifle and bullet-proof vest. Why the fuck do average citizens need military-style assault weapons? What are you preparing for? A huge influx of stampeding deer while you're hunting? The zombie apocalypse? Jesus Christ - these innocent victims aren't even buried yet, and everyone's screaming about having their precious weapons taken away. America, fuck yeah. :/
“Man Card”
This is an ad by Bushmaster, maker of the .223 caliber semiautomatic rifle that was used to kill 27 innocent people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last Friday. Bushmaster thinks buying an assault rifle will give you back your "man card".
A Reasonable Person Might Draw a Lesson
(Note: The attacker in China used a knife.)
Another Day, Another Mass Shooting
What is with this country's love affair with guns? From Mother Jones:
"America now has 300 million firearms, a barrage of NRA-backed gun laws—and record casualties from mass killers. ... In 1995 there were an estimated 200 million guns in private hands. Today, there are around 300 million—about a 50 percent jump. ... There is no evidence indicating that arming Americans further will help prevent mass shootings or reduce the carnage ... To the contrary, there appears to be a relationship between the proliferation of firearms and a rise in mass shootings ... Armed civilians attempting to intervene are actually more likely to increase the bloodshed ..."
Heroines of Sandy Hook
Victoria Soto (right) was a 27-year-old teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut. She hid her 1st grade students in cabinets and closets after hearing gunfire. When the shooter came to her classroom, she told him that her students were in the gym. He then killed her. This brave teacher sacrificed her own life to save the lives of her kids. Her courage and selflessness deserve to be remembered.
Kaitlin Roig, 29, (below) was another heroic teacher at Sandy Hook who saved her students by barricading them in a small bathroom and comforting them until help arrived. Fortunately, she and her students survived the attack.
Mr. Rogers
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world." -- Mr. Rogers
Las Hermanas
"Las Hermanas/The Sisters" by Degadina. Note from the photographer:
"I met them again; this time, they were coming from the market where they sat on a bench and ate strawberries. When they left, they started holding hands and only then I photographed them."
Be Soft
So sad about the tragedy in Connecticut. There are many social & psychological factors that may have led up to this horrific event -- proliferation of guns, a culture that glamorizes violence, mental illness, & people who are just evil bastards. But simply speaking -- it's heartbreaking. Here's a little something to consider today.
PETA
PETA - People who believe in the ethical treatment of animals & the unethical treatment of women ...
Hallmark
This is a Hallmark birthday card for a young girl:
TEXT: "You're 13 today! If you had a rich boyfriend, he'd give you diamonds and rubies. Well, maybe next year you will - when you've bigger boobies!"
A woman in the UK posted a picture of it on Twitter. Over the next 6 hours, it was "re-tweeted, blogged about and posted across the Internet ... [until] Hallmark UK apologized for and pledged to stop selling the sexist card." The social pressure on Hallmark and their reaction is a great example of how speaking out about sexism matters!
From 
1st Gay Marriage in Washington
Yesterday, Jane and Pete-e were the first same-sex couple to receive a marriage license in the state of Washington. They've been together for 35 years! During that time, they've most certainly been plotting how best to ruin the institution of marriage for straight people, promote their nefarious gay agenda, & other vague-and-meaningless-but-
Supermodels from 1994
Kathy Ireland, Elle MacPherson, and Rachel Hunter (L-R) appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1994. Today's thin ideal, popularity of plastic surgery, and extreme Photoshopping make 1994 seem like such a long time ago. And times have certainly changed.
Romy & Michelle Were, like, Totally Right
From the movie, Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion.
Face Your Shadows
Face Your Shadows
Become a Fan on Facebook
This week, I hit 3000 fans on my Beauty Is Inside Facebook page. If you're on Facebook, go check it out!
Spencer’s Sexism Sucks
Men's t-shirts like these are sold in this store's "humor" section & feature the most incredibly witty phrases ever uttered by 14-year-old boys, including such gems as "Nice tits, too bad about your face" & "Hey slut let's fuck". Brilliant stuff, I tell ya. Especially the image below - "I have the dick, so I make the rules" - which was clearly inspired by GOP lawmakers.
Check out the rest here, if you can stomach it.
