Strollerderby : jezebel

Balloon Helps Pregnant Woman "Practice"

JeanneSager — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:24:00 GMT

File this one under WTF?

Jezebel reported yesterday on a new invention filed with the U.S. Patent Office that allows a woman to practice giving birth . . . with a balloon.

Did any of these people actually go through natural childbirth first? Quick tip - a solid mass of baby is NOTHING like a squishy air-filled balloon. Trust me.

I haven't tried this thing - and really, I'd have no need now. But here's the deal, thanks to Inventor Spot: "The way it sort of works is that the balloon is partly located inside the vagina of the pregnant woman. When inflated, the balloon causes the orifice of the birth canal to dilate in a manner similar to that caused by the emerging head of a baby."

I understand women are really curious before birth about how this whole thing is going to go down. Especially in the latest weeks of pregnancy, we agonize over whether it's going to hurt, whether we're going to know what to do, whether there's anyway we can actually do it wrong. But after having been there and done that, I can't imagine how a "balloon birth" would clear up much of the confusion. If anything, I'd be more freaked out during labor when it was NOTHING LIKE what I'd practiced. Because, you know, there's that hard baby head, the contractions, the baby SHOULDERS . . . not to mention thirteen hours of labor that tired out my entire body before the pushing.

Does this seem silly to you or would you have liked a little trial run?

Image: Inventor Spot

Via Jezebel

New Edition: What They're Babbling About

JeanneSager — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:31:00 GMT

We're introducing a new feature here on Strollerderby this week, one that will hopefully show up every Friday. We'd like to think we cover all the parenting news that's fit to type up, but we've got little monkeys running around our houses that sometimes demand our attention too.

Fortunately, a few of our friends outside the crib fill in for us. And Strolllerderby's bringing them home. We'll give you a look at What They're Babbling About every week, so you can have a playdate with us.

So what's the babble been like this week?

Good Enough Mother Rene Syler remembers begging for the white dolls that her friends had because there were none out there that looked just like her. With the hype (and mini scandal) over the now-renamed Sasha and Malia dolls, she ponders - is the attention on black girls good for little ones? - Parent Dish

Wondering what the baby's really thinking? Belle Vivir's got a letter from the baby to the Big Guy upstairs. And if you're expecting mush, look elsewhere because this baby's got some attitude. - Belle Vivir

If your Net Nanny's keeping out all the good stuff (like searchines of crib bedding people, come on, get your minds out of the gutter) how about a pile of kid-friendly Web search engines? - MOMformation

If there's no man around to play daddy, you're perfectly fine on your own. But you could always join forces with a bunch of other single moms to make your own big happy family. - Jezebel

So you hand your maternity clothes off to a friend who's got a bun in the oven and . . . uh oh, you're preggers. Can you ask for the clothes back? - Alpha+Mom

Image: Jezebel

What's Wrong with "Women and Children First?"

JeanneSager — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:02:00 GMT

The crash of Flight 1549 came just when the nation needed it - a crisis averted, a hero in our midst, nearly two hundred people saved. Next to the inaguration, it's the brightest spot what's been an otherwise bleak American horizon of late.

But we're a country that thrives on some sort of scandal - so it's no surprise the heroism of Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger has quickly turned to criticism of the age-old (at least one hundred and fifty-some year-old) standard of evacuating people in case of tragedy: "women and children first."

To be fair, I'm biased. I am, after all, a woman. I'm also a mother. So women and children rank pretty high on my list. By all accounts, I should be rushing to the defense of the mandate Jezebel aptly dubbed "strangely quaint" and "old fashioned."

A lot of what Jezebel's Sadie said made sense - there has to be some organizational basis for getting people moved from here to there, and few would argue with a child's right to be cut the line in light of a tragedy. Children first, at least, is almost irrefutable. They still have a chance at a life. They still have time left to make a difference.

But Sadie makes one very salient point - kids need caregivers when they're rescued. And last I checked, caregivers come in all forms - daddies too. So what happens when we stick to "women and children first?" If a child is traveling with their Dad in tow, is the screaming tot ripped from his arms and thrust into those of a stranger, wriggling and crying? Add a toddler torquing his body in frustration to an already stressful situation, and you've just lost precious moments.The organizaton you're striving for can be dealt that fatal blow with the moments lost calming them down.

Yes, I would want to get off a sinking plane as quickly as possible - and with my daughter in my arms. But as important as I would hope someone thinks I am in my daughter's life, so too is my husband, my father, my brother . . . I am not a he-man hating feminist (yes, some of them still exist). If one of them were there with my child, I would hope that an able-bodied adult would be willing to let child and "male relative caregiver" take the place of "mother/woman."

Perhaps the more appropriate choice is children - with appropriate caregiver - first, to be followed by whomever the pilot and his crew thinks can be gotten to next in the most organized fashion?

Image: AP

Fire Starts While Toddler has Mom Locked in the Basement

Zimbabwe Releases Jailed Toddler

Mom Says Hospital Fouled Childbirth - Twice

Survey Time: How Will Becoming a Mother Change You?

Cursive Writing Extinct, Thanks to Today's Kids

Jen Chaney — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:02:00 GMT

Oh, these dang whipper snapper kids today. First they won't read newspapers. Then they insist on text messaging or IMing instead of talking to each other. Now they've really done it: They refuse to write in cursive.

As Jezebel reports -- citing a story that originally appeared in UPI and the Sacramento Bee -- many students are shunning loopy, lovely penmanship because, in a world where they type on keyboards or text message on mobile devices, they have no need for that nutty longhand writing stuff. Schools are still going through the motions of teaching cursive, but, as one teacher says, the kids won't use it. When they do have to write something down, they opt to print instead.

Of course, this is hardly surprising news. But it makes me wonder whether in twenty years, younger generations will even know how to craft one of those pesky cursive "z"s. Hell, I actually wrote a lot of schoolwork by hand and even I sometimes stumble over that one.

Think for a minute: When was the last time you had to write something in cursive? I bet I know the answer: When you had to sign a credit card receipt or a check. And that's one reason why the kids do need to know rudimentary calligraphy. If they ever want to buy anything or sign a legal document, they will need to scrawl their names the old-fashioned way. That is, until we start legally IDing ourselves via the chips embedded in our brains.

So the moral of the story is: Learn how to write at least the letters in your name in cursive so you can eventually sign the Mastercard receipts you'll rack up in college. For everything else: there's txt msgng.

Image: mediabistro.com

Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood Just Got Pimped

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:29:00 GMT

It sounds like this could be a little old, but I'm always late to the party, so I'll go ahead and post it anyway. I certainly don't remember this clip from childhood -- and surely this is the real Fred Rogers -- but this still has to be the most interesting segment of the show I have ever seen.

While bereft of actual nudity or swearing, it still might not be safe for work. That said, enjoy a vintage clip from the 'Hood -- one you might not remember either ...

Thanks Jez!

Teenage Trend Haters and Mass Girl Hysteria

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:31:00 GMT

It looks like I'm not the only one to get caught up in the Twilight/girl fad craze lately.

Sadie Stein over at Jezebel has a wonderful essay on teenage trends and their teenage trend haters:

"But I don't think it's often said that mass hysteria and anti-establishment posing are two sides of the same coin, and to a teen it can sometimes feel like there is not much of an alternative. It can be hard to enjoy something without joining in, hard to reject it without making a self-conscious statement."

Check it out -- it's well worth a look at what we can expect as our young girls grow older and, hopefully, wiser.

Best of FameCrawler: Week of November 14th

Whit Honea — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:00:00 GMT

John Travolta Bald With Love

Who Is Barack Obama? 50 Things You Didn't Know

Will.I.Am: It's a New Day (Video)

Watch Out For Your Soul, Britney: Madonna's HUNGRY

Secret Message in Taylor Swift Lyrics: Pregnant or Not, She's Really Pissed

Rihanna Pregnant With Chris Brown's Baby?

Photos: First Daughter Sasha Obama

Caylee Anthony Remains Found?

Remember The Pregnant Man? He's Knocked Up Again!

Will Smith, Oprah and Obama: The Crying Game (Video)

It's Sunday Rose On Oprah

Presidential Perks for Obama Kids

If You're Not Birthing at Home, You're Irritated With Women Who Do

Madeline Holler — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:02:00 GMT

Seems like you can't swing a freshly born placenta without hitting another story on home birth these days. Take this recent one in the New York Times about the growing number of women who are planning home births around NYC.

The article is especially notable to me for a couple of reasons: none of the couples say they wanted a home birth for spiritual/religious/back-to-nature reasons, or because hospitals won't let them burn sage and snack on placenta in the L&D room.

Not that I think those reasons are ridiculous (OK, I do), but because those stereotypes have such a prominent place in home birth talk and assume characteristics and beliefs about women who, like me, choose to give birth at home.

So I get a little defensive, then, when I read posts like this one from Jezebel's Tracie. She says you'll have one of two reactions to the Times piece: you'll like it or you'll hate it. If you hated it, it's because you find "unconventional" births gross. If you liked it, it's because you think the article was yet another celebration of the miracle of life.

Really? Just one or the other?

Tracie also warns the story is graphic (it's totally not. In fact, what's shocking is how all these laboring women are photographed fully clothed). She even enlarges the picture of a laboring woman's sister who is, in Tracie's words, horrified by "watching her sister's vagina go whoosh." Honestly, the chick just looks a little tired (the labor was a long one). Plus -- and I feel awkward tutoring a writer for Jezebel (Jezebel!) on lady parts -- vaginas don't go "whoosh" in birth (granted, it's a damn shame they don't!).

Tracie's and many of the commenters' other big problem with NYC apartment dwellers giving birth at home is the noise factor for neighbors, which the article brings up. Thing is, noise didn't wind up being a factor for any of them, and it's not so surprising.

Listen, people. A 40-hour labor does not entail 40 hours of screaming. In fact, a 40-hour labor more likely entails 39.75 hours of sitting in the tub, peeing on the toilet, light conversation, off and on contracting -- and then a final 15 minutes of grunting or growling, maaaaaaaybe a scream (in 15-second intervals every, what, one or two minutes?).

You probably hear more sustained moans and groans from the couple getting it on on the other side of the wall. Just saying.

But I don't blame Tracie and all the commenters, etc., because really, who even knows about how minimally messy, un-noisy, un-dangerous birth can be? Unless you've seen a birth or talked to women who have had low-key hospital or home births, all you've got is Hollywood and there, well, there you have to have screaming and profuse sweating and swearing and "I'm hacking off your balls"-ing and lots and lots of blood. For laughs, you know, and drama.

Still, what I find so baffling is that women whose trade is writing about women stuff, calling out hate on women-haters, professing a love of women who think their bodies are just fine, women who take on the man (or at least ignore him,), etc., just shut down when it comes to birthing outside the medical model. Why is home birth -- or even unmedicated birth -- of all things, such an assinine plan and seeming threat to the way other women live and have babies?

Finally, a pet peeve: terms "water birth" and "home birth" used interchangeably. Look, the inflatable tubs that Tracie (and, OK, the article) kind of obsess over? Just think of those as the epidural, which is, in fact, how they're used -- to ease the pain of labor (sounds ridiculous but works pretty well). An actual water birth happens when the baby is pushed out in the tub (or when you're swimmig with dolphins -- WTF?), not when you've only labored in water.

PS: The point of the article (and the original point of my post) was that lots of home birth families are wildly educated, non-spiritual, meat-eating lawyers, bankers, bloggers and writers -- professionals who aren't scared of birth and/or just want to stay out of hospitals and away from hospital protocols that just don't make sense. But looks like that doesn't come through so much in the article, which, again let me add, is so not graphic.

My Illegal Home Birth

Five Movies You Shouldn't Watch While Pregnant

Is Home Birth a Civil Right?

What Does It Mean for Midwives, or Home Birth, to Be Illegal?

Photo: NYTimes

Best of FameCrawler: Week of November 7th

Whit Honea — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Obama Elected 44th President of the United States!

Brooke Burke Says She's Married...More Kids, Please!

Sarah Palin Gets Crank Pranked But Good (Video! And Palin Response! GOD THIS IS FUN!)

Jemaine Clement Has A Son

Rahm Emanuel is Now Part of Barack Obama's Entourage (Photos)

Colbert, Stewart and Obama: The Tears of a Clown(s)

Brad Pitt's Parents Don't Want to See Angelina's Boobs

Is Taylor Swift Pregnant?

Salma Hayek Is A Thief

Did A Celebrity Convince You To Vote?

Michelle Obama is a Work of Art

Baby Brother For Suri Cruise?

Girlhood Cage Match: Pixies vs. Princesses

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:05:00 GMT

We've managed to fight off the princess industrial complex for a few years now, but I fully admit I'm into fairies and don't mind telling my daughter all sorts of stories about these recalcitrant, jealous sprites who cause all manner of mischief and glee.

So I was delighted to read this story from Dodai at Jezebel about a cultural childhood shift toward fairies instead of princesses. The new Tinkerbell DVD is the top seller at Amazon apparently, and kids are voicing more support for fairies, who seem to "do" things instead of princesses, who seem more mentally inert.

The bottom line, according to someone quoted in the article, is that fairies mean adventure and action, while princesses just wait around for things to happen or for people to do things for them, like offer a ring and a happily ever after. I bet you can guess which one is a better role model for our daughters.

Best of FameCrawler: Week of October 31st

Whit Honea — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Photos: Matilda Rose Ledger Turns 3!

Michael Jackson Is Flat Broke

The Hudson Family Tragedy

Isiah Thomas: My Kid Needs Help, Not Me

Travis Barker's Burn Pics

Jennifer Hudson's Family Confirmed Murdered; Nephew Kidnapped

Matt Damon Takes an Acting Break

I Guess It's Over: Madonna Set to Bury Guy's Memory. Literally.

Barack Obama Variety Show on SNL - Video!

This Just In- Jon Stewart Having Campbell Browns Baby

Suri Cruise Has A Private Gym!

Best of FameCrawler: Week of October 24th

Whit Honea — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Lil' Wayne Welcomes Lil' Baby

Brad's Nearly Nudes Of Angelina

Alec Baldwin Praises Sarah Palin?

Is Someone Trying To Out Will Smith?

Obama Dances On Ellen

Jenny McCarthy: My Son Is Cured of Autism

Guess Who Is Having Twins?

Jennifer Aniston Pregnant with John Mayer's Baby!

Lil Wayne's Baby Mama Revealed & It's NOT Nivea!!!

Mark Wahlberg Threatens Andy Samberg, Also Talks to Animals (Video)

The Plus Side to McCain's Scorn for Women's "Health"

Kelly Mills — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:26:00 GMT

Flowers grow out of, uh, manure, don't they? Over at Jezebel, they point out that since McCain used his finger quotes about women's health (you know, our concern for our "lives" and "future reproductive health" which are apparently, quite silly) there have been a slew of women sharing stories about subjects you don't hear much about. Things like late-term abortions and miscarriages. You know, a couple aspects of our health stuff. The stories are often wrenching to read.

Brett already told you about A Little Pregnant's feelings on the subject. If you missed this very personal story of late-term abortion from the Boston Globe, I highly recommend you read it, with kleenex handy. And Dooce also pointed to Flotsam's story on pregnancy loss at 22 weeks. Oh yes, lots of "health" concerns. We women are just full of those.

I suppose if nothing else, it is a strange blessing women are sharing all their most profound and gut-wrenching experiences. If politicians feel comfortable dismissing very real matters of life and death and health, while at the same time legislating them in ways that do not protect our most basic rights, then it's only right they should have to look in the faces of the women who have suffered immeasurably and maybe someday answer to them. Though I won't hold my breath.

They Say: No One with a Uterus Should Vote McCain

Bipartisan Group Says McCain Would Be Bad For Kids' Health

Pain in Childbirth May Be, Well, Pointless Now?

Kelly Mills — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:33:00 GMT

Hmmm, this is real interesting. Some natural childbirth advocates suggest that the pain in childbirth adds something valuable to the birth process, helping mothers bond with their babies and even bringing um, sexual pleasure (in some cases, but not mine, oh lordy no!) However, a study discussed here in Salon (via Jezebel) suggests that theory may be backwards. Instead, labor and delivery pain might have served to signal to the mother that she should seek assistance, and in fact drive her to desire "companionship and security" from others. From an evolutionary standpoint, this could have meant people who sought help and protection during times like childbirth and illness were more likely to survive. (Hey, if the degree of labor pain indicated individual evolutionary fitness, I would have totally had it made! Um, it doesn't, by the way.)

So, if pain has simply functioned to drive delivering mothers to seek companionship (personals ad, anyone?) then perhaps it's a perk we don't really need any more. And it could be that people are suffering without it serving any real need. Cough.

Okay, I'm sorry, but I like this take on things, curmudgeon that I am. I do think in some circles there's a strange sort of romanticism attached to labor pain, and even the idea of "natural" childbirth as being somehow noble or righteous. Buuut, that said, there are risks attached to the interventions designed to alleviate the pain of labor, and women should be informed of those as well before making any decision. I think the problem is that childbirth is so fraught with anxiety for so many of us---not only because it hurts, but because lots of us want to make the "right" choice for our babies and ourselves. Turns out "right" for me was an blessed, welcome epidural administered after I tried to go natural for a long time, but I would not think of telling you it ought to be the right way for you.

Only 43% of British Moms Offered Home Birth. Outrage!

They Say: Antibiotics For Preterm Labor May Do More Harm Than Good

Come Again? Orgasmic Childbirth

Related on Babble:

Insufferable: Why do people talk about managing birth pain, not eliminating it?

Best of FameCrawler: Week of October 17th

Whit Honea — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

John McCain Does The Monster Mash

More Private Angelina Photos Leaked

Joe the Plumber: The Videos!

Tina Fey "You Ignorant Slut"*

PlumberGate: Joe The Plumber IS Related to Charles Keating, and Also Owes Back Taxes!

Lisa Bonet Confirms She's Pregnant

Russell Crowe Says Sons Are Complete Opposites

Joe the Plumber: Republican Plant and Relative of Charles Keating?

Gwen Stefani Worries About Her Weight

Michael Jackson's Kids Unmasked!

Denis Leary: Autism Means Your Kid Is Stupid and Lazy

Billy-Bob Trumps David Duchovny In The TeaLeonifornication Stakes

Best of FameCrawler: Week of October 10th

Whit Honea — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Totally Biased Political Post Containing Cute Kids and Stuff (Video)

New Video & Photos: Angelina Jolie and Kids

Katie Holmes Tells Tom- I'm Leaving

Congrats, Emma! You Endured Pain In Childbirth! JOIN THE CLUB.

Bigot Bridget Bardot Mouths Off About Sarah Palin

Tina Fey is Sarah Palin on SNL: VP Debate (VIDEO)

Mark Wahlberg Talks to the Animals on SNL (VIDEO)

Ricky Schroder Talks About Son's Accident

Madonna Scares Me

The Truth About Angelina Jolie

JLo: I Had A Nervous Breakdown

John McCain Bingo!

Best of FameCrawler: Week of October 3rd

Whit Honea — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Matt Bryant Plays, Honors Son (Updated)

Duggars Reveal Sex Of Baby # 18

Bill Maher Calls Sarah Palin "A Bimbo"

Sarah Silverman Is Still Doing That Baby-Making Thing With Jimmy Kimmel.

Angelina's Post Baby Body Revealed- Photos

Travis Henry Arrested

Jim Carrey Says Jenny McCarthy's Son Taught Him a Deeper Love

Jenny McCarthy Hits Back At Amanda Peet On Vaccine Issue

Chris Rock: Sarah Palin's A Hockey-Mom Version Of Kim Kardashian

Justin Timberlake Proposes To Jessica Biel! Is She Pregnant?

Sarah Palin: Miss Alaska Pageant Video

What Were They Thinking - Why Parents Dress Their Kids in Tacky Outfits

SunnyChanel — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:21:00 GMT

There are parents out there that think of their children as a living breathing baby dolls. That’s the only explanation I have for people who force their screaming and kicking children into outfits they have absolutely no desire to wear or their babies who are too young to know any better. Parents exert this control while they can, they won't be able to as soon as the kids start doing things like thinking for themselves and making their own clothing decisions. Via Jezebel, the BBC News’ Denise Winterman identified some basic and common categories and explored why parents opt to inflict these wadrobe choices on their offspring.

Matching Oufits:
"It's about creating a family identity and also controlling it. Children are seen as a reflection of their parents and matching their clothes can look clean and disciplined."
Jezebel's take:
Translation: The Control Freak.
Offender: FLDS families, Captain Von Trapp, Joe Jackson, Four Cohans, The Shaggs

Dressing a Child Like Yourself:
For those who want their own little mini-me. "It's like you are saying they are a chip off the old block. The child is a blank canvas and you are projecting yourself on to them."
Jezebel’s Take:
Translation: Total narcissist.
Offender: Christmas card families, Katie Holmes, Four Cohans

Bygone Fashions:
For those who want to get all old school with bloomers, sailor suits and short pants, these parents go for tradition and it’s “about not wanting your child to grow up too quickly, not wanting their childhood to end before it should."
Jezebel's take:
Translation: Delusionals who need to get some Madame Alexander dolls, stat.
Offenders: Tasha Tudor, whoever Baby Jane's mother was.

Dressing Kids Like Grownups:
Just look at any kiddie pageant with little girls dressed up and looking eerily like convention call girls and emergence of so many high end designers making shrunk down versions of their apparel like Juicy Couture, Burberry and Dolce & Gabanna.
“It's usually about the latest fashions and coolest trends. They are turning the child into what they wanted to be, but usually didn't become."
Jezebel's take:
Translation: Narcissists with misplaced values, but who want the best (shallow) things for their kids.
Offenders: Amanda Wingfield, Mrs. Bennett, most of Hollywood.

Gender Extremes:
There are those pesky gender hue rules for babies. Pink is for girls, blue is for boys. Why can’t they all just wear gender neutrals like green or yellow instead of announcing their sex via the color of their cloths. "Parents often construct an idea of how they want their child to develop from a very early age…gender is a big part of this and dressing their child according to gender stereotypes sends out a message about they see them and how they want people to react to them.
Jezebel's take:
Translation: Latent sexism and homophobia? Or just an excess of Disney movies.
Offenders: Larry Birkhead, Cathy Hilton, Barbie and Skipper's mom.

via Jezebel

Best of FameCrawler: Week of September 26th

Whit Honea — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Lindsay Lohan Trumps Clay Aiken's 'Oh, Hey, I'm A Gay Dad' Reveal. Sort Of. Maybe.

Criss Angel Car Crash Video

Was Oprah Found Dead?

Travis Barker and DJ AM's Plane Crash Explained?

Suri Cruise is Isolated and Lonely

Travis Barker Plane Crash: Statement Issued

Pamela Anderson's New Playboy Spread (Photos)

Sharon Stone Loses Custody of Child

Britney's Womanizer Leaked

Is Criss Angel Dead?

Sarah Palin Disney Movie: Head of Skate

From The There Is A God Files: Patrick Dempsey Likes A Good Spanking

Best of FameCrawler: 9-19-08

Whit Honea — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Pam Anderson Marries Fat Old Guy (Photos)

CNN Newsmaker Found Dead With Child At Side

Sarah Palin's Daughter Caught Doing Drugs On Tape

Amy Poehler Crying About Everything These Days

Ryan and Redmond O'Neal Arrested for Meth Possession (Photos)

Megan Fox in a Bikini!

Josh Howard Hates America? The National Anthem Video

Sarah Palin's Tanning Bed

Mary Louise Parker Naked on Weeds: Photo!

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden Splitting Up?

All I Want For Christmas Is A Sarah Palin Action Figure

Keira Knightley's Odd Reason For Wanting To Be Pregnant

Best of FameCrawler: 9-12-08

Whit Honea — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Creepiest Angelina Jolie Photos You'll Ever See

Jennifer Garner Smoking While Pregnant?!

Jillian Grace Naked Photos!!

Christina Aguilera VMA 2008: Video!

Sarah Palin: Now She's a Racist?

Matthew McConaughey is Quotable?

Jon Voight Loves McCain and Palin; Angelina Jolie, Not so Much

Robin Williams Does Sarah Palin on Letterman: Video!

Tina Fey Back to SNL for Palin Sketch? Awesome!

VMAs 2008 Britney Spears Wins Best Female Video

Best of FameCrawler: 9-05-08

Whit Honea — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Seven Things You May Not Know About Sarah Palin

Britney Thanks Daddy, Confirms VMA

Sarah Palin's Dark Secrets! Photos!

Updated! Vetting Sarah Palin

Palin Pregnancy Scandal! Photos!

Casey Anthony Re-Arrested

Sarah Palin's Acceptance Speech

Meet Bristol's Baby Daddy

Usher's Wife Pregnant and Splitting

Sarah Palin Was a Beauty VP

For a good marriage, women need to stay home

Brett Singer — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT

That's a slight exaggeration, but not by much. Jezebel has a clip from the Mike and Juliet Show where Dr. Scott Haltzman (author of The Secrets of Happily Married Men) offers up marriage advice. His notion that wives need to "make their husbands feel like superheroes" and "nurture their needs" is enthusiastically backed up by Ro' Black, a stay-at-home wife. Ro' says that, "her marriage works because her husband gets a home cooked meal every night." She also picks up his stinky socks after he works out. Dr. Janet Taylor, another expert, goes so far as to suggest that marriage is a partnership and that perhaps Haltzman is going a little too far (gee, ya think?). Dr. Scott disagrees – he wants a pat on the back for making coffee for his wife every morning, and also wants his woman to get off the damn phone when he gets home from work, because he feels like he just "conquered the world" and would like this feeling to be acknowledged. According to the good doctor, he used to come home and "sulk" (his word) when she didn't immediately drop what she was doing and give him her full attention; now she does what he wants and he's happy.

What century is this?

I have no problem with a married couple that prefers a more traditional marriage, one where the husband works and the wife takes primary responsibility for the kids and the house. In fact, most of the people I know have situations that are exactly like that. Mine isn't, which may be why I'm more sensitive to the sort of idiocy being espoused by Haltzman the Hunter and Ro' Black.

Or maybe I think that some men might actually be mature enough to handle coming home and finding the Missus on the phone. Some men might even be okay if their wife makes more money than he does. Some men might even – wait for it – cook dinner for the family. Or – oh no, don't go there – do a load of laundry. Some men don't even have jobs! Of course, those marriages are doomed to fail, but nobody's perfect, right?

I'm not a feminist; I'm not sure a man can be a feminist, frankly. But I do think that the notion that the only way to have a happy marriage is for the wife to keep the husband happy, and that the only way to keep said husband happy is to cater to his every whim, is borderline psychotic. But hey, you know, live and let live. Go to Jezebel to see the clip. Fair warning: it might make you mad.

source: Jezebel

image: millsaps.edu

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5 Ways To Prevent Drunken Douchebaggery in Your Boy

Amy Kuras — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:02:00 GMT

We all knew them in our younger days: the guys whose bodies were expertly crafted by Budweiser and yet who referred to any girl over 100 pounds as a "fat chick," who targeted dorky guys and quiet girls, who were always "that drunk asshole."

If you've got a boy and half a brain, you really, really don’t want your son to turn into That Guy. The fabulous ladies over at Jezebel have a great piece up, beautifully titled "5 Ways to Prevent your Son from Turning Into a Date-Rapey Alcoholic Douchebag."

The biggest thing, of course, is teaching him to treat himself and his fellow humans –male and female –with respect.

Help him understand the odds of injury when overindulging, the dangers of ending up alcoholic and that peers don’t always have the right idea –like that girls only like guys who act like assholes (okay, some of us were stupid but wised up sooner rather than later). Know his friends –if they are douches, chances are he will be acting like one too the minute he's out of your sight.

And most importantly – stay in touch when he goes away to school.

I like the article, but it rocks even harder because it was a response to a Newsweek piece about warning daughters about alcohol before they go away to school, including warning them about how drunkenness raises your chances of date rape. As one of the commenters over at Jezebel said "That's not the alcohol's fault, dude."

So much attention is given to girls and their need to control their sexuality, to not "send the wrong message." And while girls certainly need to be aware that the nice guy filling their drink at a party might just not have their best interests at heart, guys need to be equally as aware that rape is rape and it doesn’t matter how drunk or slutty the girl in question might be. While yes, our girls need "the talk" about relationships, self-respect and how to behave, so do our boys.

Five more FLDSers Arrested

Brett Singer — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:00:00 GMT

AP (via Jezebel) is reporting that five male members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) have turned themselves in to the police. They were indicted with the crime of having sex with minors, as was FLDS "prophet" Warren Jeffs. One of the men, Merrill Leroy Jessop, was also charged with bigamy. Another, Lloyd Hammon Barlow, was charged "only" with not reporting child abuse, which is a misdemeanor. He is the resident doctor at the ranch.

This is the first we're hearing about the FLDS folks since April, when Texas Child Protective Services (CPS) raided the polygamist compound (which I still think sounds like a wart cream. Hello??? Is this thing on?), except for when the head of CPS resigned, which makes one wonder if Jezebel is right when they imply that the raid was treated as a bigger crime than whatever may be going on inside the walls of the Zion Ranch. I'm kind of surprised that it took this long to charge someone with bigamy, since that's, you know, a major tenet of their religion – polygamy. Poly marriage. Not legal. Just sayin'. Of course, that charge is nothing compared to forcing minors to have sex. But it's all just "alleged" for now.

image: Jezebel