Facebook
by Jaclyn Friedman
I'm going to be perfectly honest with you. I just can't take any more crappy news right now. After this past week, I don't even have enough juice left in the tank for a decent rant. I wish there was something truly awesome to write about, but I haven't found anything (feel free to suggest in the comments, though!). Instead, I herewith present a Roundup of Recent News That Doesn't Suck.
-After 17 seasons, an all-female team finally won The Amazing Race! (And an all-female team also came in second, to boot.) A big win for showing women that are smart and strong and capable on TV. Dear TAR Producers: please note that we know that you now know how to cast female teams that can truly contend. We’ll be expecting you to continue to do so from now on.
-Due, I'm sure, to a groundswell inspired by my column from last week, the MPAA has reversed its position on Blue Valentine, awarding it an "R" rating and a chance at box office and awards-season success. Complex depictions of female sexuality, FTW!
-Carnie Wilson is effing fat, and effing badass about it, to boot.
-The fine feminists at Feministing, in answer to the whole Movember thing that had men growing out their mustaches for charity, have declared this month to be Decembrow -- a month in which women let our brows go uni for a good cause of our choosing. Extra good news for me: this requires no effort whatsoever, since I pluck like once every eight months. I'm raising money for Women, Action & the Media - you can celebrate by donating, or grow a brow of your own for another good cause.
-Rep. Thomas Perriello (D-VA) and Rep. John Duncan (R-TN) have introduced legislation in the house that would make colleges a lot more responsible for their prevention of and response to sexual assaults. The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SaVE Act):
I’ve got lots of questions about this initiative, not the least of which is what kinds of “prevention campaigns” will count, how effectiveness will be monitored and measured, and what advice will be offered to “help students avoid sexual violence.” (For that matter, will there be advice for how students can avoid being sexually violent?) But surely it’s a step in the right direction.
-A few homophobic haters from Westboro may have dared to show at Elizabeth Edwards' funeral, but they were way, way outnumbered by a human love buffer organized via Facebook. Sometimes, people are awesome.
-The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal and the Dream Act may have both suffered setbacks in the last week, but neither of them are dead. Give them life by calling your Senators now!
Got good news? Share it in the comments...
