Gingervitus

SCHOOL HOLDS TOLERANCE SEMINAR AS 3 BOYS ARE ARRESTED IN 'GINGER' ATTACKS
(LA Times)

It's as trite as trite can be -- back in the good ol' days, kids used to use "Kick Me!" signs. Now we've upgraded to Facebook and holidays such as "Kick A Ginger Day" can cause nationwide peril to Weasleys everywhere. The Calabasas Middle School boys, ages 12 and 13, were influenced by the show South Park in attacking gingers in their normally-peaceful campus.

The "South Park" episode, first shown in 2005, was itself supposed to be a lesson in tolerance but misfired, with harassment of red-haired students taking place at schools across the U.S. and Canada over the last few years.

However, for something that has been occuring in schools for decades, it seems a little harsh to label these young lads on battery charges or anything of that sort. I mean, nothing more than a couple bruises and scraped knees occured and things like that are bound to happen. Of course, that's not to say such behavior is encouraged, especially on the grounds of their hair color, but if the crime is relatively harmless, the punishment should fit the offense.

Likewise, to blame the producers of South Park for the misbehavior of middle school children is a cop out because they cannot control their own kids.

The annual kick-a-ginger event has brought angry criticism from people who feel the show's producers should have known better. A judge in Calgary, Canada, where 13 high school students swarmed a red-haired boy in a locker room, called the show "a vulgar, socially irreverent program that contributes nothing to society."

It's a television program intended for an adult audience -- monitor what your childen watch and you won't have a problem. It is a high-brow show (yes, it is, don't give me that look) and if your children are not at the level at which they can understand satire, they shouldn't be watching Comedy Central. You cannot demand that adult programming be eradicated for the "sake of the children" simply so you don't have to do your job as a parent because the telly can babysit them for you.

Link to story at latimes.com:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ginger-attacks1-2009dec01,0,7737967.story?track=rss


This post is dedicated to my ex-husband and faithful ginger, Max Solomon. Keep on keepin' on, Rojo.

An offer they should've refused

ITALIAN GROUP: 'JERSEY' SHORE WAS OFFENSIVE
(TMZ)

The newest reality trash from MTV, Jersey Shore, is more or less The Hills, but with fake tans and linguini. However, these hyperbolized stereotypes are upsetting Italian-Americans across the country. According to the article, "After last night's debut episode of the reality show, UNICO National -- the 'Largest Italian American Service Organization in the USA' -- claims they 'can't keep up with the volume of calls' from 'outraged' Italian Americans." Domino's Pizza even went so far as to retract their ad campaign with the television show, claiming it "wasn't right for Domino's Pizza."

What did you expect from MTV, really? I'm sure if there were Plastic Bimbo support groups, they'd have been up in arms back in the days of Laguna Beach. I think the key here is to accept the low standards of entertainment in today's day and age and just find something else to do with your time. Stereotypes will be perpetuated with or without this dreck of programming, so change the channel to House, M.D, watch Hugh Laurie be snarky, and save yourself some unnecessary stress. 

Link to story at tmz.com:
http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/04/italian-group-jersey-shore-was-offensive/

Stacy and Clinton would have something to say about this...

GAY BASHING WOMAN HUMILIATED FOR WEARING HIDEOUS SKIRT
(Boing Boing)

Chris Pesto, a student at Syracuse University, could take this random fundamentalist's hateful messages no more. Instead of taking the conventional route of verbally tearing her a new one, he took the witty high road -- making a rival poster making fun of her God-awful fashion choice. "I decided that because this woman thought it was okay to make me feel uncomfortable in my home, I would retaliate and make her feel just as uncomfortable, if not more, " Pesto said. In all honesty, I'm all for free speech; my international relations teacher in high school didn't call me Crazy Liberal Girl for nothing. However, when Christian fundamentalists taint the good name of the religion overall by spouting hateful rhetoric (yeah, I'm looking at you, Dove Outreach Center), it makes me question where Christ comes into this at all. "Christ will set you free?" I'm Jewish, but even I know Jesus Christ would not approve of such actions on behalf of his name. We are all people and should be treated as such -- humans with free will not to be harassed to "see the light." The fact that actions such as those Pesto had to go to just to feel comfortable in their own hometown is sad and I'm sure your Good Lord would want all of his followers to be treated as such (and even those who do not follow Christianity. Bear in mind: he didn't invent Christianity; apostles did).

But nonetheless, good show, Mr. Pesto. Good show.


Link to story at boingboing.net:
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/30/gay-bashing-woman-hu.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+(Boing+Boing)&utm_content=Google+Reader

Bibles: if you get beat 'em, change 'em

BLESSED ARE THE CONSERVATIVE IN BIBLE TRANSLATION
(Associated Press)

"The Gospel of Luke records that, as he was dying on the cross, Jesus showed his boundless mercy by praying for his killers this way: 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'" Apparently to conservatives, this benevolent Jesus simply doesn't fly. They view this individual quote as an attempt by liberal translators to instill their views on the Bible (despite, as the article point out, it being in nearly every translated text). However, as any theological scholar will tell you, an attempt to reword Scripture by a group of amateurs is not to preserve, but to bend the Bible to their whimsy. That is not what religion is about -- tweaking what has been established because it's not to your liking. If Jesus is too benevolent for you, I don't think it's the Bible's fault. "This is not making scripture understandable to people today, it's reworking scripture to support a particular political or social agenda," said Timothy Paul Jones, a professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Translations of this magnitude are not something to be taken with a grain of salt -- it takes an educated scholar years upon years to master something as heady as a scripture translation. To seize it and attempt to rework it is an arrogant attempt at re-writing tradition simply because it doesn't suit you. 



Link to story at msnbc.com:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34270487/ns/us_news-faith/?GT1=43001

Oh, you've heard of The Mountain Goats? Great, now I have to find a new fave band...

EVOLUTION OF THE HIPSTER 2000-2009
(Paste)

I'm going in a different direction for a second and focusing on photojournalism, specifically magazine work. This immediately caught my attention since I've always been fascinated with the hipster trends and that whole notion of being "indie-fabulous." When did being so uncool become so awesome?  So I followed Paste's handy timeline and was taken on a journey of emo, emo part deux, proto-hipster, vintage wannabe and beyond. It really is interesting what American culture takes a hold of and runs with -- apparently looking homeless for a time was the "cool new thing." What was fascinating was the depictions of every year's trend; it really hit the nail on the head when it came to the incidental little details that truly shaped that particular look, from tattoo specifics to what technology they were toting.

The last decade may have been thought to lack a definitive look that we all could nostalgically look back on and dress up as on "2000's Night" at the the office, but this is a step in the right direction towards giving the 2000's some identity that isn't from the 'hood.


Link to spread at pastemagazine.com:
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/12/the-evolution-of-the-hipster-2000-2009.html

#2 party school my behind

CARLOS DUNLAP DUI: ARRESTED GATOR CHARGED WITH DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
(The Huffington Post)

The newest arrest of defensive back Carlos Dunlap is the newest edition to the slowly growing collection of influential Gators falling into the trap of driving while intoxicated. Now, before I get attacked with cries of "People are human, we make mistakes!," take heed. The rapidly growing numbers of people who are supposed to be role models obviously not learning from each other's misfortunes and bad judgement. Dunlap has let us down as a college community when we need him the most -- the week before the SEC championship game against Alabama, a game that means a lot not only to Gator fans, but to the team itself. Kristin Gillis, the supposed pride of the UF Panhellenic Council, and a UF faculty member have all recently been charged with DUIs in the past month or so. These are figures that we as a college community hold in high regard and I feel that they are not doing their job in living up to the high standards set up for them. Sure, they're human, but they're humans who have taken on the responsibility as a sorority and homecoming figure, star athlete, and faculty member to set an example for UF students.

Link to story at huffingtonpost.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/01/carlos-dunlap-dui-arreste_n_375074.html

If you were gay, that'd be OK

ADAM LAMBERT:  I ONCE WEIGHED 250 LBS.
(CNN)

Why yes, even the famous and fabulous were once just as painfully awkward as we are. Adam Lambert, after a controversial performance at the AMAs, admitted that his potential bad judgement stemmed from a desire to flaunt his recently aquired physique and self-confidence. However, aside from this, what caught my attention was how the media has reacted to the upset. Sure, what Lambert did may not have been in the best of taste -- but anyone recall the Madonna/Britney/Christina incident of years past? Of course it was scandalous, but no news broadcast sensored the steamy exchange between the ladies (it was dubbed as "hot" and "sexy"), whereas CBS took it upon themselves to censor the exchange between Lambert and a male dancer.

This obvious gender bias seems too blatent to get away with in national media. Because American culture dictates that lesbians are hot and gays are perverse doesn't mean a national new outlet like CBS has to play into such biased bullocks. It's not as though he's a sociopathic sexual deviant -- quite the contrary, Lambert has shown embarrassment over his actions at the award ceremony. "I don't blame them. I got carried away. It was stuff that I did not do in rehearsal, so they were probably a little bit taken aback," he said. "They gave me a great opportunity to close the AMAs and I would never want to smack that gift horse in the mouth. I think they were taking a leap of faith having me do that, and it unfortunately it didn't work out as we all thought it would.


Link to story at cnn.com:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/01/adam.lambert.ellen/index.html