Yet another reason to avoid Family Guy. From Feministing:

Hey Seth Macfarlane: Rape Jokes Aren't Funny

I had stopped watching Family Guy a while ago because it felt like there was some sort of "joke" about rape or violence against women in every episode. But recently I thought I would give the show another shot, because I used to find it hilarious. I really wish I hadn't.

(Some folks may not want to watch the video clip; it's actually pretty upsetting.)


( Transcript and Rest of Article Behind Cut )

Longtime loyal readers of the this blog (all... both of you?) may remember my irritation about Family Guy but this is really what bothers me most of all. The early anti-feminist sentiment early on (Peter is forced to go to a sensitivity camp and comes back "feminized" and Seth Macfarlane makes his typical heavy-handed political statement against feminism).

And for anyone ready to wibble the stereotype about how feminists have no sense of humor, notice how Valenti is directing that it's violence against women that isn't funny or "edgy" as Macfarlane is portraying it (remember the quote by George Carlin: "If you think rape isn't funny, imagine Porky Pig raping Elmer Fudd."). She accurately points out in the linked article that "edginess" (or what's perceived to be edgy) is too frequently the last resort of woefully unfunny comedians (Dane Cook) who can then wail about how people just can't handle their "edgy" messages when they're then panned (sort of like Geoffrey Jellineck wailing that his unpopular art is being "censored" rather than admit he has no talent).

Also, I hate that this fuels assholes like Howard Stern who want to be passed off as the next Lenny Bruce or George Carlin or Richard Pryor who challenged status quo against racism and racist attitudes (and Carlin against homophobia).

And the fact Macfarlane is all too frequently smugly hammering home his own personal political beliefs (as well as frequent hypocrisy: he'll portray some ugly and frankly outdated gay stereotypes and follow up with a half-assed message of very basic tolerance) only adds to the fact that this is fucked up and wrong.

A happy and safe holiday to all who celebrate!

For the unawares, here is some information courtesy of About Dot Com. I tend to celebrate this on February the 14th as well as the day of Juno Februata and Lupercalia.

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The Fifty Books Challenge, year two! This was a library request.



( The driving feminist aspects of slash fiction, a mesh of identity through music, queering female jealous and much, much, more )

From here:

City Homeless Donate $14.64 For Quake Victims
Relief Workers Moved By Sacrifice at Downtown Shelter( Read More... )


I haven't been this moved by my country or by my city in a long time. ♥

( More about this month's Moon )

A safe and happy holiday to all who celebrate~!

ETA: This moon will be the biggest and brightest of 2010, apparently. Read all about it.

I was going to spend this lovely extra time I've been given with the internet connection to post something worthwhile, but nearly all of my stuff is on my hard drive which is currently under lock and... something. So here instead is a meme.




Da Rulez
Pick any of my tags and I'll tell you what they mean.

Given the way I name tags, I wouldn't blame you for being curious. Ask away, list is here.

The Fifty Books Challenge, year two! This was a library request.



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First book of the Fifty Books Challenge! This was a library request.



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Courtesy The Perry Bible Fellowship

So here's a wrap up of last year's Fifty Books Challenge:( Oh, Come On, You Know You're Curious... )

I received John Waters's "This Filthy World" for Solstice (I have a gift write-up post coming, honest) and I've been watching it over and over again (while I finish *cough* cards).

I, alivemagdolene, CANNOT ENDORSE THIS PRODUCT ENOUGH. BUY IT NOW!



Here is a review of the show from a genuine foreigner:



That is all.

Hon.

Interior shot of The Museum of Witchcraft courtesy Witchcraft Dot Co Dot UK

Remember the Fifty Books Challenge? Well, I'm doing it again this year! Last year I got to 51 (damn pesky library due dates) which is a lot less than I thought I'd get, but I'm still pleased and the Challenge helped me actually finish the books, something I tend not to do if I get annoyed with the author (which, to those that followed me last year, I did on several occasions). You should always finish a book-- otherwise, why start? But anyway.

SO! Inspired by 50bookchallenge and last year's books, I plunge forward into the new decade reading (which is an interesting way to plunge, really).

Ring in the new year, the new decade with civil rights!

From here:

NH Gay Couples To Start New Year With Wedding Vows


By NORMA LOVE, Associated Press Writer, Thursday, Dec 31, 11:31 am ET( Read More )

( Big Picture, Behind a Cut For the Sake of Your F-List, SFW )

You're welcome.

Today was a wonderful day for many reasons, but a big one was finally getting the new PostSecret book I requested from the library, AND HAVING A SECRET FALL OUT.

I'd heard about this happening, about people dropping their secrets into PostSecret books at bookstores and therefore someone getting "an extra secret", but it makes much more sense that someone would do it at a library. Anyway, here it is:


This is a photograph glued on top of a Chicago postcard.


It reads "My Grandmother said I was the most likely of all her grandkids, to get sucked into a cult. That hurts, even thirty years later."

I'm not gonna lie, I teared up (I despise the fact that this past year I've seemed to have an ability to cry like I've never had before) both at the fact I was holding a secret someone entrusted to a stranger and at the secret itself. It just seems so, for lack of a better word, magical.

So, person-who-left-this-secret-who-barring-some-bizarre-circumstance-is-on-my-f-list, thanks for sharing your secret and I hope you find peace and closure. ♥

On a practical matter, I did have to think about what to do with it, before realizing I of course have to leave it with the book (it's part of the book now, isn't it, so it's library property anyway). I'm thinking of maybe adding a secret of my own regarding religion, if for nothing else than in the spirit of fair play.

More of the Fifty Books Challenge! This was a Goodwill find from my father.



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This caption struck me as quite Barbara Krugerian.

Merry Christmas & I highly recommend this album.

Tipped off by meaculpa_g...



Help Stop Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill!

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Please repost these links in your journals and help get the word out.

Gorgeous art for my solstice greeting by anais_rhys that I have bastardized with text.

A happy and safe holiday to all who celebrate!

For the unawares, here is some information courtesy of About Dot Com.

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