sundries

[rm]

At some point today, I get my headshots back.

GoDaddy.com and their fucking ads: you know, I've always been annoyed at them for their fake lesbian bullshit, but then last night on some whim I decided to actually go to the website and look at the longer, Internet-only versions of the ads, and that's when I got even more confused and angry.

Because the sexism and lesbian fetishization in the TV version of the ads was significant, it sure was never surprising to me. But my jaw hit the floor when I discovered that the longer "too hot for TV" versions of the adds included not just bad, PG-rated stripper dancing, but also disgust from the involved characters about the lesbian implications. Homophobia and "use our product for the hot lesbian fantasies" all in one package (with the sexism of course)? Talk about offensive and also thematically muddy. I am boggled.

And wow do I miss the days of the truly great Superbowl ads. It may seem cheesy or weird or dated to you now, but I saw that ad on its one actual airing and it was like we didn't know what had just happened. And my dad worked in advertising! It was just... HUGE. A lot of it is the ad's ridiculously great sound design and the context of the moment -- it was the cold war, it was 1984, there was this sort of spectre of strong unfeminine Eastern European female athletes out to steal our Olympic glory (so to use that woman, and the sledge hammer! and and and! WOW), and the ad took all that stuff and twisted it around in this way that was both terrifying and exhilerating. Like when she breaks the screen and there's that blast of white light and dust over the people (some of whom are wearing gas masks) listening to the speech and it's so "here, have some nuclear apocalypse fears." It's SO smart. It's such great writing. Still is. Although, like I say, I'm not sure it makes any sense if you weren't there. And hey, love those visual references to Metropolis.

Sarah Palin gets busted with notes for a speaking engagement on her hand. Most annoying thing that's likely to come out of this? It will make peopel who already like her like her more because "public speaking is hard" and she's "one of us." NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

Poor DC has another storm on the way.

reannon links us to this album of dating advice from the 1930s. I feel myself disappearing just reading it.

Also from reannon, an Iowa bill would exclude LGBTQ students from protection from bullying and harassment.

Meanwhile, I'd been hearing noise about this all weekend: The Prop 8 trial judge is gay. The general assumption is that the forces against Equality are going to blow a gasket over this and later, if they lose the case (as is generally expected based on the way the thing is going), use this as a (totally offensive and specious) grounds for appeal. I remain continually amazed at just how many types of ugly keep winding up in the big mess that is all things Prop 8.

A Well-Written War, Told in the First Person.

Efforts to save St. Vincent's.

Thoughts from Buffy that are not CoE related (see last night's post for that): "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" is a GREAT episode (it's also a great song, that I've been humming ever since). It's so well-written and really, sincerely disturbing despite being hilarious. Worth viewing as an editorial on fame, among other things.

Comments

[frodo-esque.livejournal.com]

Poor DC has another storm on the way. We do?? I'll have to check the news... (staying home today because gov't closed due to weather)

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

You know something, I feel that not much has changed in "dating advice" since the 1930's. Today the sexism would appear more subtle. Sometimes.
I kept hearing a tinny radio voice in my head as I read the captions.
Also what was all this: "Men deserve...", "Man wants...", shit? Also I counted about over twenty "don't" in that album.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

NOAA is warning that there's another sack of snow heading in the Northeast's general direction over Wednesday: this time it may hit NY as well.

[rm.livejournal.com]

This one is not supposed to be as bad, but DC doesn't need another 4 - 8 inches (which is the range I've been hearing) and I don't want it here either!

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we do. NWS is forecasting at least 5 inches beginning after noon tomorrow and continuing overnight. Some models show up to a foot of snow from this latest go-round.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

I remain continually amazed at just how many types of ugly keep winding up in the big mess that is all things Prop 8.

I hadn't heard the latest rumour you mention, but between the Prop 8 case and the DADT repeal it's a whole ugly mess indeed.

I am *so* glad I missed out on the commercials for SB44, because I think I would've wanted to throw things at the telly if I'd paid them any attention.

Speaking of attention, why in the world are we paying Sarah Palin any? Good grief. (The only silver lining is that the hardcore Tea Partiers are not happy to have been co-opted by Republicans such as she. Too mainstream!)

[ciel-vert.livejournal.com]

So many of the Super Bowl ads were offensive and made of complete fail. The general theme seemed to be "I'm a straight, white male, but my life sucks because this horrible shrew of a woman controls it and emasculates me, oh my name, it is woe." I was more than unimpressed. >:|

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Considering that a Saints player, Scott Fujita, has shown it is possible to be male and feel good about oneself and secure in one's masculinity without having to do down anyone who isn't a white heterosexual male, it is exceedingly unimpressive.

[ciel-vert.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Scott Fujita is A++, I just wish the culture surrounding his sport would catch up with him.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Gods the whole "look at the sexy lesbians" is such an annoying trope - seriously Lesbians are not toys or dolls and not getting it on for the joy of heteroseuxal men. ugh ugh ugh


I looked at the ne4ws of the prop 8 judge and just said "oh this is gonna be messy". I dearly hope sense will prevail and they REALLY won't appeal on thos grounds

[rm.livejournal.com]

Even if they don't appeal on those grounds, they're sure going to be whining on them FOREVER and using it to further malign the function of the judiciary in American society.

[thatwordgrrl.livejournal.com]

Having been at Grount Zero for the leadup to the election where Prop 8 was voted in, I am just about past thinking that it could get any worse.

Seriously, if you'd been jackhammered for MONTHS on end with the radio and TV ads we got here in California, you'd have seen a level of ugly you might not have believed existed.

[matthewwdaly.livejournal.com]

FFS. Sarah Palin would be a horrific president, but picking on her for this is below us. What will come out of it is hating Barack Obama because he uses a Teleprompter. If she needs a couple of key phrases to make sure that she's earning her $100,000 speaking fee and her listeners are given value for their $300 per plate Tea Party dinner, then so be it.

I want to give some sugar to the Parisian Love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnsSUqgkDwU) ad last night. While it was arguably about conquest of a woman, it was still incredibly sweet and easily one of the most powerful ads I've seen in the past ten years.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

gods can you imagine the precedence?

Civil rights case? Clear the blacks from the room! Abortion case? Get those Catholics out. Or the pro choicers. And the anti-choicers. Religious freedom case - only the agnostics can stay!

Or is it just minorities who are considered inherently biased? *boggle*

[rm.livejournal.com]

That ad was fucking great. I love, love, love stark ads like that (and again, it's the sound design that seals the deal).

[rm.livejournal.com]

Exactly, it's an absurd premise, but they'll trot out the "it's different with gays" thing AGAIN.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Bah I'd wish they'd stick to waving their Bibles around and yelling "Because JEEEBUS says soooo!" it's still irrational and prejudiced but this pretending to make sense thing they do would be comic if it weren't so embarrassing

I had to stop reading the prop 8 transcripts because I was getting embarrassed on behalf of the defence

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

You know it. How many times do we hear about ridiculous rulings from what I assume are white male straight Christian judges? I almost never hear any complaints then at least in relation to their gender, sexual orientation or religion.

The only downside is if for reasons of law the judge should allows Prop 8 to stand, (effectively sending it to the Supreme Court)then you know the judge's orientation will be used in a "see, even a gay judge ruled against it."

[st-aelphaba.livejournal.com]

I remember seeing that ad as well, vividly. It was so shocking and resonated with my 7 year old self in a way that nothing ever had before, which of course I couldn't articulate at the time while every one else just said, "Did you see that? That was WEIRD."

I didn't get a chance to comment earlier but I love love love the photo you posted dancing in the subway. You are stunning.

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

WAMU (local NPR) was saying 5-10+ inches. I'm betting school's out until at least Thrus. (Tomorrow is already canceled.)

[thereshedances.livejournal.com]

I'm speechless after reading the Iowa bill - what the, I can't even

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

I'd never seen that commercial, and would have been too young to get it at the time. It does make sense now, and is a beautiful short film. I'll take your word for it and be offended about the homophobia and use of lesbians on the current commercials. grrr.

I should rewatch Buffy. :)

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Aww, that's a great ad. Thanks for the link.

[rm.livejournal.com]

It thrills me that this ad just got in front of new eyes. Thanks for letting me know!

[phaetonschariot.livejournal.com]

Can't see the dating advice unless you have a Bookface.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

Iowa bill would exclude LGBTQ students from protection from bullying and harassment.

I occasionally think that most Republican politicians can't be as utterly monstrous as they seem. Crap like this proves that they truly are. I do not understand how someone who writes or supports a bill like this can manage to look at themselves in a mirror without feeling a shudder of revulsion.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing it!

[chite.livejournal.com]

I apparently am living on the borderline of people who will be getting a lot more snow (5-10") and people who will be getting a completely horrifying amount of more snow (10-16"). There is no place to put it anymore.

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

Um, the weather service is now calling for 10-20" of snow in DC. That's on top of the 30" that we got here on Fri./Sat. (luckily, some has melted).

At any moment now, I'm going to start giggling hysterically, and it'll only be cured by an extensive stay in the Caribbean.

[tlatzomia.livejournal.com]

We were told 10-20 today by the Fairfax County Government. O_o

[delchi.livejournal.com]

I think that those godaddy ads are further proof of what I was on about with mass media playing with the collective brains and biochemistry of people. I totally get how lesbians could ( and should ) be put off by it - but I am also put off by it as a person who is being targeted by the ad. What am I supposed to go ' oooh lesbians! omgwtfbbq' and suddenly be drawn to their product? I use godaddy because they are damn good at what they do and less politically / financially motivated as network solutions ( and not in bed with the squatters ) but these ads go against them. It's not necessary.