sundries

[rm]

I think Patty's brother and mystery driving guest arrive in the city at some point today. I know nothing. I think she knows nothing. It is possible her brother knows nothing. It will sort. Right now I'm just enjoying my Patty time before she heads off for a brief sojourn in Ohio.

LJ still seems to be being a bit special with the comment delivery. For those of us not talking into the void it's way not helpful. Oi.

Barring scheduling conflicts (since about 80% of my schedule there is still not determined), I will be reading a bit of my lesbian werewolf story at 3pm on Friday of Dragon*Con and a bit of ConSweet (OH CRAP, THAT IS SO SCARY) at 11am on Saturday of Dragon*Con. For those of you who have seen any part of the ConSweet draft, thoughts?

Bristol: Less than one week. SO EXCITED. Gluten-free bakewell tarts, come to me, I will eat your faces off, yes!

The SPLC is producing a film to address anti-gay bullying in schools and is raising funds to do it. Check it out if you're interested in contributing. via aviv_b.

A new study supposedly reveals that in her lifetime a woman will buy $25,000 worth of shoes. Ugh, let me count the ways, ugh. This is a meaningless bit of "look at these frivolous ladies" without comparing it to male spending on shoes (hint: men may buy less shoes, but they almost always cost more); considering expectations of what shoes a woman should wear (hint: coordination with every outfit and the way the discomfort that is expected to be professional requires that many women wear one pair to work and a different pair at work); considering shoe buying as a conditioned response to prove feminine credentials; considering the durability of women's shoes. In other words? Crap. Misogynistic crap. Ladies, you're not rich yet not because you get paid $.78 on a male dollar, but because you're buying too many shoes. Who fucking knew?

Interesting.... there's a theory going around that RaceFail-iest of films Avatar: The Last Airbender has been intentionally sabotaged by its editor. Now on one hand, professionals at that level of their careers do not do shit like that. On the other hand, you'd be surprised by the shit that goes down in the industry. No matter how unlikely, it's amusing to think about anyway.

An eleven-year-old's pet-sitting business.

Commercial flying wigs me out enough that the ants on a Virgin Atlantic flight back from LA were an extra trauma enough. But neither turbulence nor ants are as upsetting as maggots: "'These are anaerobic, flesh-eating larvae that the flight attendants don't have to sit with.'"

Plar!

In Boston? Go see my friends take their clothes off. Rogue Burlesque presents Bawdy Language.

graduate_maria auction items keep going up! Take a look, even though bidding isn't open yet. There's custom-etched glassware, a stenography starter kit with lessons, artists prints, fanfiction, autographed books and a tiny (not real) horse! I also have a few auctions to put up soon where I am providing some technical support to people. Anyway, please keep an eye on it and participate if you can.

Best thing about Torchwood being renewed? I don't have to watch Wharehouse 13 out of desperation.

Last night, we returned to Buffy! "Conversations with the Dead" is so problematic. It has so much going on and it jerks you around and it just could have been a four episode arc of awesome. The stuff with Willow and Tara is amazing and made me tear up, and amazing when Willow discovers the lie. The shit with Buffy and the dude she went to high school with is hysterical. The stuff with Dawn felt out of place and like it had the wrong energy (and is the greatest fakeout ever, because it's a set-up to make her believe the words of her "mother" and the thing that gives away that I presume this season's big bad is the devil himself -- oh these lies!). Andrew's plotline, although played for commedy and a bit "let's kick around the gay guy" actually breaks my fucking heart. Jonathan, well, he's a casualty of his own repetitively bad choices. Spike's shit was just confusing! But I was glad for the clarifications in the following episode.

Comments

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

Shoes - My first reaction was 'so what'. If you earn the money, you get to choose how to spend it. And its not just shoes. In our society there is constant pressure to look 'good', 'young', 'professional' on the one hand and criticism on how much money many women spend on makeup, clothes, nails, hair, waxing, etc.

And even if you don't spend a lot of money on this stuff there just is no end to the criticism you can receive from family or even strangers. In my case its my cats (mostly strangers- you spend WHAT?? on cat food, vet visits, toys) and my condo (you can't own a condo, you need to wait until you get marrriiieeedddd). That was 20 years ago, guess I'd still be waiting,LOL.

[delchi.livejournal.com]

This.

Have you ever noticed that there are , in your average store like Target , et all , at least 3 or 4 aisles dedicated to artificial augmentation for women? From fake hair, fake nails, hair color, cosmetics .... it's almost as if it's mandatory for social acceptance. The corresponding aisle for men is mostly shaving, soap,pit sticks, and get rid of grey kits.

[rm.livejournal.com]

It is mandatory for social acceptance. Not wearing makeup to work is considered unprofessional.

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

I have to ask you about this. Were you told that recently? By your employer?

I can remember when women in management were expected to very neatly groomed as well as wear hosiery with skirts but in Chicago that is pretty much a thing of the past. I know the banks still have dress codes (mostly about casual clothes and maybe hosiery)and maybe some of the law firms, but I've never come across the makeup rule before.

Is it a NYC thing, or (more likely) the boss is an asshat thing?

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

I haven't come across actual rules on makeup in my firm (the only firm dress-code refers to not wearing shorts), but I think there are some *unspoken* rules - those who don't wear makeup are more likely either to be in "backroom" departments with a less stringently corporate culture, or not to be taken as seriously as those who do.

[rm.livejournal.com]

It's not legal to require it unless your job is about image/performance because it creates an unfair burden on women. But I've been declined from non-front desk staff jobs because I wasn't the right type of pretty or not made up and told I would not be promoted because of same.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

D'oh re: the legal thing.

And is that situation just with your Germans, or have you had that issue with other firms too?

[rm.livejournal.com]

Nah, I work here because they don't care. Other jobs, in the past. Worst was the dot.coms. When I worked on wall street a lot of places actually had policies against judging people on presentation preferences, so you had analysts with blue hair and shit. Not a lot, but a few.

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

Holy shit! That's astounding. I would have guessed just the opposite.

I always thought that Wall Street was where you had to be uber-conservative with your dress and the dot.coms were where you got to come to work in your pajamas and play ping-pong on your breaks. I have obviously been terribly misinformed.

[delchi.livejournal.com]

Right. I said " as if " because I was unsure ... I didn't want to make the declarative statement w/out something to back it up. IMHO it seems mandatory, but ...

I've never worked in an enviro where it was said it was mandatory, but the idea that it's considered unprofessional is insanity. One would think that if it was mandatory for a job , like a uniform, that it would be tax deductible like uniforms, suits, etc...

[rm.livejournal.com]

It's not legal to say it's mandatory, because it would be discrimination since men aren't required to wear makeup, but it's required in most industries.

[delchi.livejournal.com]

I would be pleased if the requirement for ties would go away. They are just uncomfortable and difficult to work with. I cite the time you tried to teach me to tie a double Windsor.

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. I was just curious whether some manager had ever said something to you or if it was a vibe you picked up. Sounds like the promotion issue could have been actionable, but I know, go try winning a case like that.

I wonder if there is a difference attitude toward women who work with clients (which I think describes some of your job?)versus those of us who meet with outsiders to have them do work for us? Banking, legal, PR professionals versus Tech, Finance, Admin, Operations professionals.