Film Culture Commentary: Asian Leading Men

Looky here, Buzzfeed has finally discovered that there are some cuties and hotties in Asian cinema.  Welcome to the party.  At least Takeshi Kaneshiro is in the top 10.  But no Shin Koyamada? No Ian Anthony Dale or Russell Wong?  At least the delightful Ken Watanabe on the list, but he's only #24?  Shame, Buzzfeed!  Dishonor on you!  Dishonor on your cow!

Couch Potato Chronicles: Souring On "Supernatural" and "Doctor Who"

La Parisienne just sent me this link to Wil Wheaton's blog, in which he nails the reason why we've all fallen out of love with Supernatural, a TV show that used to be so much fun.  It's too bad, because Jensen Ackles is really easy on the eyes and Misha Collins is just adorable.

On a related note, we've also fallen out of love with Doctor Who.  The show was never as much fun after the departure of Rory and Amy.  Recently the BBC with great fanfare announced Peter Capaldi as the next actor who will play the renegade Time Lord, but all I could summon up in response was "meh."  It's not Capaldi's fault.  I lay the blame squarely at the feet of showrunner Steven Moffat.  The season finale was a snoozefest, and in retrospect there are other issues too, some of which are covered here.

I should add, though, that I am emphatically not in the chorus of whining Whovians who seem to think that feminism's been gut-shot and left to die because the next Doctor is a man and not a woman.  Personally I thought that there was (a) practically zero chance that a woman would be cast as the Twelfth Doctor, while (b) maybe an actor of another race would be chosen.  Can you just imagine the glory of someone like Idris Elba in that role?  (No chance of Idris himself, though - he's far too busy being a star elsewhere.)

Anyway, another thought about the show: the Doctor's supposed to be the good guy and all, but everywhere he goes, he leaves a huge body count in his wake, and not just of bad guys.  Plenty of good people end up dead or injured or traumatized, and it's really starting to bother me. (Remember when the rot started to set in?)

Friday Fun Video: Listening

Princeton's MRS Degree

Oh, dear.  Then again, what do I know?  I'm a childless unmarried monster.

Movie Review: "Magic Mike" (2012)

It's feigning men.

The movie is pretty much just an animated version of the its poster: all flash and no depth.  Neither fully guilty pleasure nor truly incisive storytelling, Magic Mike shows us a lot of muscles while neglecting the two most important organs of all: the heart and the brain.  

My Crushing Depression Is Now Complete

First the election debacle, now this?  Ryan robbed again.  

My/his/our theme song should be Bob Seger's "Beautiful Loser."

Honda Markets a Car For Women

I was kind of hoping this was a joke, but it seems legit.  Anyway, the car is pink (natch), and part of the marketing is that it has "a windshield designed to block skin-wrinkling ultraviolet rays." Oh, I laughed out loud at the whole thing.  The cutesypoo car is only available in Japan.  Somebody slap a Hello Kitty face on the hood and be done with it, OK?

On a related note, let's play with a certain stereotype, shall we?  Here's an actual bumper sticker with proof that somebody's got the sassy sense of humor to use it:

Et Tu, "Weekly Standard"?

As a childless unmarried monster, I was not amused by this.   

Neither "economics" nor "culture" are the driving reasons behind my (apparently offensive and civilization-imperilling) personal lack of mini-Minervas. You know, some people don't have kids because - for just two examples - health issues are in play or they hold the quaint old-fashioned conviction that they want to get married first.  It's not, in that unfortunate wording in the piece, that we simply don't "bother to have children at all."  That kind of makes us childless monsters sound like self-absorbed dirtbags, and I jolly well do not appreciate that.

This whole thing might depress some people, but it frankly just ticks me off.  Hey, people, how about you walk a mile in my shoes  awesome high heels before you presume to judge me?   It's another round of modern socio-politics' favorite song: "You Played Nicely and Tried to Be Responsible?  You're A SUCKER."  The coda here: "Oh, and You're Evil Now Too."  Thanks, people, thanks a lot.  That really helps.  Pfffft.  Meanwhile, Feminist Ryan Gosling continues to amuse:

Call Me Maybe.

Public Service Announcement: I Am A Woman Voter, and I Care About Issues Other Than Abortion and Birth Control

FYI, politicians.  There.  I've spelled it out for you.  Do I really have to add that I think it's insulting of you to reduce me to those things?  to campaign to me as if those are the issues that will determine my vote?  I had thought that the DNC's loopy estrogen festival was absolutely hilarious, but I don't think the ongoing attempts to win the "woman vote" are funny anymore.  I'm getting reeeeeeeeeeeeeally tired of this particular brand of campaigning.  Guess what, Poindexter: women care about jobs too, and energy costs and taxes and debt.  To think otherwise would be ... what's the word I'm looking for? ... oh yes, SEXIST. 

Truly, A Pressing Political Issue That Voters Care About

From the debate between the two (female) candidates for the US Senate slot from New York. So what do you think?  Sexist or no?  Or just silly and unserious (like most of the political "discourse" these days?)

China's "Leftover Women"

Well, I had said before that China's social engineering was going to blow up in its own face, so who's surprised that it is?  I've posted before about the "Sheng Nu," and the New York Times has a new piece about the phenomenon: "China's Leftover Women."  Wow, if that isn't a shot in the self-esteem, girls, I don't know what is.  Whoohoo, Childless Unmarried Monsters R Us!  Pfffffft.  Bonus: Did you know that according to China's Women's Federation, our expiration date is age 27?  Not, of course, that I ever give any credence to any of the social agitprop that comes out of there.

"Standing Like A Girl" Only Works If (A) You're A Girl and (B) You're Wearing Awesome Heels

That's my response to this.  OK, we all know that posture matters in public speaking.  Now I don't care if I sound "sexist" or whatever, so here's my bit of advice: If you're stuck at a podium, guys, you shouldn't put up a foot because it looks stupid and sloppy.  Nobody should, really, because it's a fidget.  

BUT if you're a girl, you can get away with it once a speech/presentation 

• if you're wearing beautiful heels (and preferably have good ankles and/or great stems) and 
• if you do it slowly and gracefully and 
• if you don't also slouch or break eye contact with the audience.

I've done it myself on occasion for the simple reason that high heels can be uncomfortable and it helps sometimes to shift your weight on those teetering structures.  But having said that, I freely admit that it's not fair and it's gendered and all, but if you're a guy in wingtips, you should not do this.  (Besides, you don't have the "high heels hurt" reasoning.  What's your excuse?)

Film Culture Commentary: the 10 Worst Chick Flicks Ever Made, Or "Turn Off That Slop and Watch Buffy Instead"

Hear, hear!  You're already familiar with my critiques of The Notebook (#10) and Twilight (#1) the book, the actual movie, and also the entire phenomenon.

My Idea Of "The Boss from Hell"

The kind of boss who pesters you about your personal life.  That's horrible, unacceptable behavior.  Then again, I'm a childless unmarried monster.

Apparently I'm Not the Only One Enjoying the Olympics

Heh.  By the way, ladies, I think our equivalent is men's water polo.  Or swimming.  Definitely swimming.  UPDATE: Um, yeah!  While we're talking, note this caveat, girls.

All the Single Ladies: China's "Sheng Nu," Part Deux

I had previously blogged about this, but here's a fresh news story on the topic. Ugh.  You don't have to be mainland Chinese or even Asian at all to be in similar straits, and by this I mean being single, educated, independent, and working all the time and being too busy to date, really.

All the Single Ladies: China's "Sheng Nu"

Well, given China's gender imbalance, this was inevitable.  As for sheng nu, the term is being translated as "leftover ladies."  Hey girls, we can all be childless unmarried monsters together!

Fashion PSA: Suit Up, Guys

I stumbled across this hilarious image online, and I simply had to post it because ... well, I think it's mostly true.  I even gave you a real-life bit of evidence after the fold.  Oh, and you'll recall my previous bit of fashion advice. (What do you think, La Parisienne?)

Rant: Childless Unmarried Monster, Part Deux

Oh, yeah, "unmarried."  So now I might not only be a childless unmarried monster, but I might be that because I simply suck at planning!   That's even worse than being a childless unmarried monster because I'm a selfish careerist b*tch.  Thanks a lot, Jezebel:

Still, there is a difference between choosing to be childless and just waking up realizing it's happening to you. Some women know, for sure: I don't want children. Other women work, love, live, only to discover that they've crossed an unmarked border into new territory, where everything looks exactly the same, only now you're that woman who never had kids.

That's just great! Negligent barrenness.  My unused uterus isn't bearing anything aside from witness against me now.  Let me post this too while I'm at it:

Ridiculous: UK Poll Reveals Qualities of "the Perfect Guy"

I have no idea just how this British survey of some women was conducted and all, but it doesn't matter.  I can already tell you that the results are ludicrous. Look at this: "86% say they want a man who is sensitive, calls his mother regularly and cries during films."  Oh, please. I don't know about you, but I don't want some touchy, prissy mama's boy who likes The Notebook.

Oh, and I just love this comment left on the story:

This is ridiculous. As someone else stated, if there were a "perfect woman" poll (which there probably will be), women all over the world would be [FURIOUS]. Such a waste of time ... why did I read this article?