Feministezine's Top 20 Influential Women ...

Take a look at who is at number 1 and who is at 20th spot... very interesting. It is very intriguing to learn about all these influential woman and also important to take a look at their level of influence on women around the world.

Oprah vs Ruth Bader Ginsburg?

Turkey's Headscarf Debate - NY TIMES

This video is on 3 women living their lives with the veil. It shows that not all women are forced to wear a veil and how some women are becoming active to make a stance on the oppressive nature of society to those who do wear the headscarf. Some women are restricted from getting an education, like in Turkey - Women are denied access to a college education if they wear a headscarf as a Muslim woman.

WTF IS THAT ABOUTTT? Shouldn't it be about choice? Women in countries around the world at times do have the ability to choose to wear a headscarf/veil who are we to make them feel bad for their decision???




Take a look at the video - CLICK HERE

Connecticut ruling for ban on same-sex marriage is overturned

Its about time... CT is the third state in the country to legalize gay marriage. Now we all know that marriage isn't right for everyone - some ppl are completely content with remaining single in the eyes of the government/society whereas others are overjoyed by long overdue opportunity granted to same-sex couples. Marriage can mean economic/legal/personal benefits - it can help those strengthen their relationship or simply provide a same-sex couple the protection that every other heterosexual couple is privy to. The court ruling overturning the lower courts decision to ban same-sex marriage in CT is providing choice to same-sex couples as opposed to denying them the same opportunity as hetero couples in this hegemonic society.

Anywho take a look at the article... this is just one more state closer to a country of actual choices and true democracy.


NY TIMES ARTICLE ON CONNECTICUT RULING

Palin - Legislative Panel finds that she unlawfully abused her power...

Link to the the NY Times article on legislative findings...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state's public safety commissioner.

The investigative report concludes that a family grudge wasn't the sole reason for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan but says it likely was a contributing factor.

The Republican vice presidential nominee has been accused of firing a commissioner to settle a family dispute. Palin supporters have called the investigation politically motivated.

Monegan says he was dismissed as retribution for resisting pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.

Palin - What does the VP actually do everyday?

Palin with Katie Couric

Palin is against abortions even for victims of rape and incest. She thinks that homosexuality is a choice to be made. Palin claims she's a feminist because she chopped wood and "ran around with the boys" when she was young... I mean just because Palin didnt have any gender differences in her household doesnt mean that women in America are completely equal and have the same opportunities as men (and i doubt her household was completely gender neutral). If she were a real feminist she'd be well aware of this. Not everyone has the same economic or educational opportunities to achieve anything that any other man can do, i mean really Palin?

Oh yea and she never answers the questions that are asked. Palin avoids each direct question by going off on something else... if she keeps on like this as a VP we'll never know wtf she's talking about.



Video with Katie Couric and Sarah Palin

Oh Palin... SNL Palin interview with Katie Couric

Here is the link to the side-by-side comparison of the SNL Skit and the actual interview with Katie Couric.

SNL SKIT SIDE BY SIDE WITH KATIE COURIC INTERVIEW

School for French Muslims

NY TIMES Video on the Reussite Secondary School in Paris

Reussite secondary school in Paris is one of only four Muslim schools in the country, but may close its doors soon due to a lack of funding.

Take a looksy at this video and see how state subsidies and France's lack of funding for Muslim schools has created a rift between Muslims and the rest of France because of it's strict interpretation of separation of church and state.

Palin is just Bush in a dress...making women pay for their own rape kits!

McCain displays his intelligence and global awareness... hmm

A friend of mine sent this link to me - A journalist from Radio Caracol Miami interviews to senator McCain in exclusive for Union Radio stations. McCain speaks about if he'd invite Spanish PM to White House.


Does he know anything that is happening in the world or even in this interview? Spain does not equal Mexico.. and there isn't a large Spaniard population in Florida.... Cubans and Spaniards are not the same...

Pay attention to McCain's responses to each question... does he even answer the questions?

More Sarah Palin... on SNL with Clinton

This skit is hilarious. Enjoy.

McCain on The View

The GOP seems to be making very silly mistakes... What were they thinking by letting McCain go on The View?

Sarah Palin for VP... seriously?

John Stewart on Sarah Palin ... enough said.

Country Singers/Songwriters Can Be Women Too?

I think some of you might find this interesting... country music has normally been dominated by men but even back in the day women challenged the status quo. One woman in particular, Loretta Lynn, used her music to challenge her role, her relationship, and the stereotypes of women's "purpose".

If you saw the film Coal-Miner’s Daughter, you know this song is the truth, and 13-year-old Loretta Webb started having babies almost immediately after her marriage to Doolittle Lynn (known as Mooney, for running moonshine). He cheated on her fairly openly, even once while she gave birth to one of their six children (four of these born before she was 18 years old). Loretta and Mooney fought in full view of everyone, usually with fists: “He never hit me one time that I didn’t hit him back twice,” Loretta was frequently quoted as saying.

This song, recorded as late as 1975, was nonetheless banned on country radio stations. The lyrics, by TD Bayless, are too good not to reproduce here:

You wined me and dined me
When I was your girl
Promised if I’d be your wife
You’d show me the world
But all I’ve seen of this old world
Is a bed and a doctor bill
I’m tearin down your brooder house
Cause now I’ve got the pill

All these years I’ve stayed at home
While you had all your fun
And every year thats gone by
Another baby’s come
There’s a gonna be some changes made
Right here on nursery hill
You’ve set this chicken your last time
Cause now I’ve got the pill

This old maternity dress I’ve got
Is goin in the garbage
The clothes I’m wearin from now on
Won’t take up so much yardage

Miniskirts, hot pants and a few little fancy frills
Yeah I’m makin up for all those years
Since I’ve got the pill

I’m tired of all your crowin
How you and your hens play
While holdin a couple in my arms
Another’s on the way
This chicken’s done tore up her nest
And I’m ready to make a deal
And ya can’t afford to turn it down
Cause you know I’ve got the pill

This incubator is overused
Because you’ve kept it filled
The feelin good comes easy now
Since I’ve got the pill

It’s gettin dark, it’s roostin time
Tonight’s too good to be real
Oh but daddy don’t you worry none
Cause mama’s got the pill

Oh daddy don’t you worry none
Cause mama’s got the pill

Loretta Lynn - The Pill

Is America more prude?

Little clippy on ppls opinion if America is prude? What do you think??

Take a looksy. :)

Rockefeller, Chichester, or Gerhartsreiter?

Times Article on "Clark Rockefeller"

The story of Clark Rockefeller seems to be right out of a movie. How did this man pull off such a stunt? He moved from Germany when he was 17, changed his identity several times, potentially killed a couple to take their money and obtain a final identity as 'Rockefeller' and kidnap his daughter?

He convinced all these socialites that he was one of them and had such an extensive background for his childhood. How could a man which such a large array of art, collectibles and property be such a fraud - well thats what many of his acquaintances thought...

As much as he might be a criminal on many levels... i kind of admire his audacity to actually live out the life he seemed to dream of living as a child. He did a convincing job of being a "rockefeller" and lived in complete oblivion to what his reality was. Too bad he met his demise by stealing his daughter?

Politics as usual...

Madonna is now on tour and is speaking her mind as usual on today's politics. I def agree with the statement she's trying to make...

"Madonna, who turned 50 this month, kicked off her Sticky & Sweet Tour on Saturday night at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The BBC reported that the two-hour show took a political turn when, in a lead-in to a remixed version of “Like a Prayer,” a video sequence showed flashing images of destruction followed by pictures of Hitler, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and then Senator John McCain. Senator Barack Obama popped up in another video interlude, but his montage included Gandhi, John Lennon and Al Gore. The tour arrives in North America on Oct. 4."

- "Madonna Gets Political"
Compiled by STEVEN McELROY
Published: August 24, 2008

Sexual behavior rates...

TEENAGERS CHANGING SEXUAL BEHAVIOR ARTICLE


So I found this article in ze times about teens and the lowering rates of them having sex...

I think its a good start to prevention of spreading stds... I also think once Bush is out of office those rates will be much better since he's constantly trying to get rid of funding for sex education...

The article briefly explains that these kids are having less amount of partners and less amount teens are having sex. If they are having sex there is an increase in the usage of condoms. WOO CONDOMS.

The only thing that didn't change much was the sexual risk behaviors...


Just thought I'd share.

Male remote-birth control?

Male radio-controlled contraceptive article
So I read an article today on a new birth control being developed for men. There are many forms of male/female BC but many more ways for women to protect themselves from pregnancy than men. Here is a "radio-controlled contraceptive" that controls whether sperm is released or not. Actually it prevents sperm from being released as a result of a valve that is placed in the vas deferens. There is a remote that controls when the valve is closed or open either preventing or allowing sperm to travel. It gives men a chance to control their own fertility. Cool huh?

Well since the new BC has been fully completed and tested there are still doubts about its effectivity or long-term effects - clearly. So if anything it will be targeted towards men who are already considering a vasectomy because there is a chance that "after a while the valve may clog with protein and remain shut, rendering the man permanently infertile." So before we all get excited about science's new wonders... dont forget there's always a potentially drastic side effect. We dont want young men becoming infertile in their 20's...


We'll see how this remote-controlled BC pans out... but it is a cool idea and an interesting start to what possibilities we may encounter with the new forms of birth control.

Life outside the US: India

Inside Gate, India’s Good Life; Outside, the Servants’ Slums Article



I am creating this blog for all the thoughts and views I have but not enough time to share it with everyone. This is for the friends and family members that I send tons of emails each day about the articles I read or about the news each day. I had an India blog but unfortunately I didn't keep up with it as I should have due to lack of internet access and the constant reminder that I needed to really LIVE in India.

After spending so much time in India less than a year ago, I am still intrigued by the political and social happenings in the country. A recent article (link is above this post) I've read discusses a prevalent issue in India today: the continuing increase in the gap between the poor and the middle-class.

This article is typical of much of India's developing cities. There are areas of India where the middle/upper-class Indians are living in gated communities with pedicured lawns and continuous running water and electricity- and right outside of these walls are slum-like living situations. In the article it provides the example of a woman living with her husband and children in the "Hamilton Court — complete with a private school within its gates, groomed lawns and security guards...", whereas her housekeeper lives right across the street in the slums.




Now yes poverty levels in India have decreased over the last 17 years but as the article states more than 1/4 of all Indians live below the official poverty line and nearly half of all Indian children are clinically malnourished.




Now while this change for those who have worked hard to have these ammenities and conveniences it does change the fact that there is still a growing disparity between the poor and the wealthy. Places like Hamilton Court have everything you can ask for: a great school, private health care, clubhouse, security guards, pedicured lawns, and paths to play cricket and go on walks... With all of this - women and children are moreso encouraged not to go "outside" because "it's a different world outside the gate." You bet it is, people are living in oblivion inside those gates, continuing the "look away" approach to poverty and the pertinent issues throbbing in India.

The woman of Hamilton Court, a doctor, contemplates opening a clinic in the slum next door, but figures there is nothing anyone could do...

These are the things that irritate me. I understand that I may be an idealist in many of my approaches and views but it is better to try to help your country (especially when you have the means to do so) than to simply say there is nothing that I can do... Sure there are tons people can do... if everyone did something I'm sure it would make a greater difference.

But then thats me being an idealist once again...

(pics taken from nytimes article)