Pole dancers are requesting the IOC seriously consider pole dancing an Olympic sport.

Oh, sure, at first the comments are pretty predictable, but consider the fact that someone that looks at pole dancing from the point of view of it being a sport. It takes a lot of skill, dexterity, and muscular finesse to control one’s body on a pole, which is why it has become a popular fitness regime for many women in America. Supporters of the effort to legitimize pole dancing as an Olympic event aliken it to gymnastics. I’d offer them a rebuttal and wonder if that couldn’t be a part of the “gymnastics” program, then. However, a bunch of teenage girls learning how to pole dance could send some very wrong ideas into the minds of too many pervy people – ideas that should be, and are usually, illegal.

There are, it seems, though, two differing points of view on the matter: those that feel that the IOC will give the sport credibility, creating a positive focus on the sport and those that think the Olympic credibility will remove all “sensual” pleasures from the “sport”.

For one, I don’t think there’s a middle ground and, it’s unlikely that the IOC will bend it’s rules to allow pole dancing in, but if they did, I have only two thoughts:

What will the costumes look like…. and… how much of an increase in male viewers will the Olympics receive as a result?

But, what are your thoughts….?

Among the many incendiary words chosen in the interview, Mayer referred to both the “n” word and the “f” word – the first ignited far more anger, arguably, than what his meaning truly was. But, as I watched the drama unfold, I’ve been asking myself, why is there so much anger towards the use of these two words, and not any anger at other words that should receive the same treatment and affect a greater percentage of the population?

The word I’m most concerned about is “bitch”. Now, say what you want, that we call each other “bitches” all the time as friends or, as a term of endearment, but the fact remains that if you call a woman, any woman, a “bitch” and you mean it with the full weight of the word, you will see sparks fly from her head and anger resonate in her eyes.

Yeah, because this isn't demeaning or hateful.

It is true that I have never liked the term “bitch”. I don’t refer to any of my friends as “bitches”, I definitely don’t refer to my group of friends as “my bitches”, and, I never refer to myself as one, either. People will comment on this post that it’s a seemingly innocuous word, that women are just “trying to take it back”. Really? How does one take back a word and make it an empowerment, when in all reality the word refers to an animal, not a human being? How is a slur against all women an empowerment? Isn’t that the argument rappers use for the “n” word? So, what makes the argument for “bitch” okay and not the argument for the “n” word. Seems like there’s an awful lot of justifiable hypocrisy swinging around the old dictionary these days.

How do we, as women, let people try to talk their way through using that word, as an empowerment, especially other women? I said it above and I’ll say it again: Call a woman a bitch and see how she reacts. On that basis alone, how is it possible that the word can ever mean something positive?

Bring on the discussion, because, honestly… I’d like to know why it’s okay to say the “b” word.

One such day has been staring at many of us from our calendars, since the countdowns began last year.

Today is the day Taylor Lautner turns 18.

He wore his tux for the occasion.

That’s right. Today is the day that Taylor Lautner is now officially no longer jail bait – in any country.

Oh, c’mon, Taylor… you know, secretly, way down deep inside of your core that you love it. Or, parts of it.

I think I speak for many a women when I say that it is about bloody time. It still won’t stop me from repeating the phrase, “he’s of age, he’s of age, he’s of age”, in the back of my mind…

And, while seeing Taylor in a tie is all well and good, I know that most women coming to look at photos of Taylor will not leave until they see…

What? Don’t look at me like that… it’s not like it’s a secret women have been ogling you for nearly a year now… I’m just partaking in supply and demand, kind of like the middle woman. Uhmm, can I be the middle woman? Oh, probably… maybe that was a tad inappropriate… I’m sorry. But, you might want to turn away…

Or, you know, that works, too… Oh, my, my, my…..

And just for the rest of you girls… frolicking on the beach, because, you know, I aim to please:

So, Happy Birthday, Mr. Lautner….

(You girls can thank me in the comments below…)

(And, since this month is a bit photo heavy, I accidentally forgot a femme fatale. I may add one in a few days. Any suggestions…?)

I get it. I really get it. I understand how being symbolized wearing a diaper with fairy wings and carrying a bow and arrow could cause someone to gain a, shall we say colourful, sense of humour. It can’t be easy being the patron saint of “love” and being depicted as what can only be described as a small child. I understand that this could cause one to enact all sorts of revenge against the very people you’re supposedly trying to assist through the various ways of love.

I also understand that your arrow can only cause a spark, that the rest is up to us feeble humans to work through, around, under, and test our patience and how much we really wish for the relationship to work out. I understand that it’s a matter of trying to figure out exactly how much we care about a person, learning about ourselves and what we are willing to do for the object of our affections. There are good days, bad weeks, wonderful months, hard years, and spectacular decades. The point is, we’re supposed to remember that spark for the entire length of the relationship, and, once the sparks align, there exists a love which can only be described as magical and understandable between the two parties involved.

I’m sure, being the saint of love, that you are well aware of my fear of February 14th. Even existing in a relationship, Valentine’s Day holds very little meaning for me that isn’t duplicitous. My life has been surrounded by notoriously bad Valentine’s days, which all began when I turned ten. It’s a long, sordid, and painful history that I don’t really wish to dredge up, at least, not at the moment. You have been at the center of a few of these controversies, though, in fairness, not all. Still, there have been a few moments where I have glanced at this photo and simply wondered how easy life would be if I could pay someone to do this to you:

However, over the past few days, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. Why do we give you, you who chooses to be depicted as a demented baby, so much power? Why do we humans care so much about love that we would willingly allow ourselves to worship such a figure, pray to him, indulge in his whims, his arrows? I know you have heard your fair share of expletive outrages, but you have also toyed with so many of us, supposedly on this quest for love that we should learn from our mistakes. To that, I say, “phooey”.

I’m here to tell you, this year, this year will be entirely different from previous years. This year, I’m here to tell you, “Bring!It!On!” Too long have I hid from your precious day, like a groundhog afraid of seeing her shadow. Too long have I wondered, “What terrible fate will befall me this year?” Too long have I just looked with dread at the calendar and said, “Why can’t we just skip February 14th altogether?”

Today, I tell you, “no more!” Today, I tell you that I will revel in February 14th. I will celebrate love and the colours pink, red, and white in their various hues. I will smile all Valentine’s Day, content with the knowledge that though my relationship status may be best described as “complicated”, I have not surrendered in defeat.

To you, I tell you, I will NOT let you get to me this coming Sunday. I will not let your arrows purge me of my hope, and I will not let you inflict fear into my heart. This year, you meet a stronger, confident girl, ready to do battle – where and when necessary – for a more serene future.

To you, Cupid, I say, “Bring.It.On!” and be prepared to meet your match, because this year, this year everything changes. You’d better be prepared to bring your “A” game, which may mean that you will probably want to switch into a more appropriate attire because, with all due respect, “game on!”

Oh, and to the millions of other people still praying for your acceptance, I do have to admit there are times when I have enjoy your mischievous ways. In some ways, I have to say, “Play on, playa, but leave my friends alone.”

Hoping you find some peace in the coming weeks,

Yours,

Bethany

For my part, I’ve read two in-depth articles on this point of view, both, admittedly from pro-choice writers, both pieces from women, but with two very different view points on this ad.

The first was found in the Washington Post, and, by far, it was the more difficult to stomach. Journalist Sally Jenkins puts forth the notion that the enemy here isn’t CBS or Focus on the Family, but rather leading women’s groups like NOW that are condemning the actions of CBS. And why? Because more men should step up to the plate and be like Tebow. He isn’t the enemy here.

While she makes a fair argument, the fact of the matter is, it’s not realistic. It is not realistic to think that this Superbowl ad is aimed at men who will realize that they, too, have a responsibility when it comes to pregnancies, especially those that are unwanted. That responsibility almost solely rests on the mothers in this situation. So, what does it say that this ad is airing during the Superbowl? WIll it be followed up with a plea to those who fathered children and don’t pay child support to do their duty? I highly doubt it.

Making the case that this isn’t about responsibility – at least not where men are concerned.

It is true that 99% of the other ads that feature women in Superbowl ads do so in an unflattering viewpoint, which is what the other, and by far the better researched and, just overall more informed article expressed in The Nation. Jaclyn Friedman didn’t look at this ad simply at its face value, but at the deeper and more meaningful level. What are we saying to people about women here: that, we should negate a doctor’s recommendation on our health for the possibility that we are carrying a future football star? Isn’t that hero-worshipping a football star to the extreme?

The problem I have with CBS airing this ad, though, has nothing to do with Focus on Family or Tebow. The problem I have with CBS airing this ad is that they are promoting one agenda and one agenda only, at least during Superbowl Sunday. This is an organization that has historically denied “issue based ads” for the Superbowl for years. Forget the issue with possible problem-laden ManCrunch.com and their ad for their gay dating site, in 2004, two issue based ads were rejected. While I can understand the decision to reject Moveon.org’s ad criticizing a sitting President, especially during what is a sporting event, I can’t understand the decision to turn down the United Church of Christ’s ad that merely stated how welcoming the group was towards gays, a group of individuals that finds open Christian acceptance at most denominations difficult at best.

This costume should suffice.

“Have you watched….?” “Oooooooh! You’d really like….!” “I know it’s on a cliffhanger, but watch all the other episodes, until you get caught up with the rest of us, so you, too, can be a bundle of nerves while waiting for a show to start again….”

While Kylie has NOT sucked me into True Blood, she did finagle her way into my brain with the Vampire Diaries. Only, her timing was impeccable as she did so right as they were launching into a month-and-a-half-long hiatus. It finally returned this past Thursday, bringing Stefan back into my world:

In fairness, his name is not really Stefan and he’s not really a vampire, which is cool, because I’m not really, technically into vampires. But, my-oh-my, how he looks in a tie.

I suppose I should also mention Damon. He’s not a lesser vampire, by any means – in fact, he’s pretty much the stereotypical, cold-hearted bastard. I think there’s a little warm spot just waiting to come out. In the meantime, we’ll have to be satisfied by wondering as we look into those crystal clear blue eyes:

But even with all this hotness, I still had an unbearably difficult time searching for pictures of Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder in ties. Uhm, if anyone from GQ is listening? I uhm, appreciated your cover this month, but could you possibly do a Vampire tribute issue? You can even *sigh* include the sparkly / dazzling one, if you must. However, I predict a “Vampire” themed magazine for Valentine’s Day would sell. That’s just my opinion, because look at this cast:

As for the femme fatale of the month? Shouldn’t it be obvious that it’s Elena or, rather, the actress that plays her, Nina Dobrev:

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go count the minutes until hotness returns to my television on Thursday. Kylie, you have made me watch the CW… *smh* (and, I do NOT have a type… kthnxbai)

Miep Gies did not like the label “hero”. Isn’t that always the case? Those that define the word never feel as if they live up to it. In honour of her memory, I will not call her one, but I will say that she was an extraordinary woman in extraordinary times.

Few of us can imagine the power and utter ruthlessness that the Nazi party cultivated during its relatively short tenure. The Nazi Army marched into countries and within weeks or even days, the country was easily theirs for the taking. Ethnic groups were sent to work camps, dissenters, too. All across Europe the message was clear: join us and live comfortably, even happily, but rally against us and we will make an example out of you.

No single group experienced the torture of the Nazi party worse than anyone of the Jewish faith. Six million people disappeared during its reign of terror. Six million people is hard to fathom, but over the course of ten years, if you can imagine the population of a big city like New York or Chicago just vanishing, perhaps the scale of the atrocity can be a bit more realized.

It was easy, even advisable, to keep your head down, go with the flow. Why risk your own life, especially for almost certain death, just to help another? What about a married couple? Their two daughters? Add in another family of three and a single man. What would you do to save them? Anything? I can say without fear of being cynical that very few would, because very few people did.

Miep Gies did.

Though Miep was not the only one in the office assisting the Frank’s and the others living in the confined quarters, she was the one who took on much of the burden and risks. For two years, Miep helped Anne Frank’s family survive, at great risk to herself. This was a time when you couldn’t walk into a grocery store and buy just anything. Due to the war, foods were rationed, and yet, Miep, along with her husband, worked with local grocers, black marketers, and farmers to get enough food to keep eight people from starving. She smuggled these foods into the secret annex, located at Otto Frank’s office during working hours, underneath her coat. This was not easy.

Young Miep Gies

Even more remarkable? After the inhabitants of the secret annex were discovered on August 4th, 1944, Miep rode her bicycle to Gestapo headquarters and begged for the release of her friends. Few of us know what we are made of, because we are never tested to that degree, but even fewer of us would ever look into the face of death. She had to have known she was risking her own life. She would have been a fool not to know.

It was Miep who found the diary. Anne’s diary. The voice of the young Jewish girl in hiding – the voice and innocent voice that has continued to be heard and seen by millions, maybe even billions, of people across the globe. The voice and face that serve as a reminder of what we can lose when we don’t pay attention to the atrocities committed by evil dictators. (We are still learning those lessons, unfortunately.)

Without Miep, we wouldn’t have had Anne’s words, not just because she found Anne’s diary, but because she enabled it’s conception – fed the author and by feeding the author, fed the words. She would go on to give the diary to Anne’s father, Otto, the sole survivor of the group. Otto Frank would go on to publish the work, establishing a legacy beyond their dreams.

Miep Gies is a truly remarkable woman, whose passing went nearly unnoticed by the mainstream media in this country. That’s a tragedy. Too often, we honour the wrong things in this country: wealth and power. This is a woman that stood up at a time when others sat down and kept their eyes closed. Her name trended on Twitter, and yet, still, the mainstream media virtually ignored her passing.

But, within the group of people who know, who remember, we mourn the loss of a truly great person – a woman who deserves to be remembered, a truly remarkable human being.

I’m attempting to be somewhat more prolific with this blog this year. I have to tell you, though, going over my blogs from previous years, I don’t seem to be a “blogger” as much as I am a “writer”. The two are different creatures.

Since I do well with the monthly tie of the month, I figured I’d do a monthly playlist of songs I’m listening to. Additionally, for those that do not know, I have decided to use my tumblr “blog” to post a song of the day.

In the meantime, if you have musical recommendations for me, share them below.

I hope you are all enjoying 2010 so far.