Posts by Thea Lim
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In the Blog
a message of a support from jennifer love hewitt!
Seems like a good week for women in Hollywood to speak out against sexism: first Katherine Heigl and now Jennifer Love Hewitt. On her blog, in response to some allegedly unflattering photos of her that were posted on the internet, Hewitt (or is it Love Hewitt?) said: I’ve sat by in silence for a long time now about the way women’s bodies are constantly scrutinized. To set the record straight, I’m not upset for me, but for … READ MORE
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In the Blog
is there such a thing as a responsible rape scene?
Research. It always gets you into trouble. This review was supposed to say “Empowering! Feminist! Realism! Actually Tough Women of Colour!”. But then I did a little googling, (damn you google!) and now I’m confused. The movie Bandit Queen is based on the story of the real life Phoolan Devi. In the 80’s in India, Devi led groups of bandits to pillage high caste villages for money. She was notorious and fearsome, … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Buffy Prinze!
I’m a little late on this celebrity gossip: Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar has changed her famous three-part moniker as a fifth wedding anniversary present to actor Freddie Prinze Jr. The couple was wed September 1, 2002. A source close to the 30-year-old star tells Us Weekly,”She officially changed her name to Sarah Michelle Prinze” in honor of the occasion. “On their anniversary, she showed [Freddie] her new driver’s license,” the source tells Us. “It was so sweet.” I … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Forum and Fair: “Through the Eyes of Diversity: Reproductive and Sexual Health in Canada”
This forum and information fair organised by Canadians for Choice sounds great: Join Canadians for Choice for an in-depth forum and information fair on how diversity influences access to sexual health services: Through the Eyes of Diversity: Reproductive and Sexual Health in Canada Time: 1pm When: Saturday, 24 November 2007 (1:00 - 5:00 p.m.) Where: Medical Sciences Building of UofT, ROOM 2158 1 King’s College Circle Toronto ON Contact: Canadians for Choice tel: 613-789-9958 info@canadiansforchoice.ca Admission is free Pre-register: info@canadiansforchoice.ca Light refreshments will … READ MORE
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In the Blog
my hips do lie?
A Friday Funny (though this could also fall under the category of a Friday Cry-y): Women sway their hips the most when they’re least fertile, according to Queen’s University study. Scientists at Queen’s are apparently blowing the minds of current zoology, claiming that women, contrary to a popular belief, make themselves less, not more, attractive when they’re “fertile.” The study got 40 women (my goodness! 40 whole women!!) to wear clothes with special markers on them … READ MORE
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In the Blog
sexy inc.: our children under influence
The NFB and YWCA Present: “Sexy Inc.: Our Children Under Influence” November 12, 2007 at 7 pm 150 John Street, Toronto, Ont. NFB Mediatheque Sexy Inc. Our Children Under Influence Directed by Award-Winning Sophie Bissonnette Don’t miss this opportunity to see a unique and powerful new documentary on a most troubling societal phenomenon: the premature sexualization of children. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in partnership with the YWCA Montreal and UQAM community support as part of the project “Countering Youth Hypersexualization: Tools … READ MORE
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In the Blog
celebrate movember!
One thing that really gives me the willies: when the men in my everyday life suddenly and without warning change their facial hair. I have to say I might’ve yelped just slightly when I walked into the office this morning, and found my normally hairy co-worker bald-faced at his desk. But to my surprise, he explained to me that he’s gone Nekkid Face for a good cause: Movember. From the Movember website: Movember (the month formally known … READ MORE
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In the Blog
power and britney spears
In my life as a pop culture deconstructor, one of the sacrifices I make involves getting up twenty minutes early every morning, just so that I can watch MTV’s entertainment news. If you think that’s bad, one thing that makes this painful sacrifice particularly difficult is today’s ultimate in prefab bands, the Canadian band Hedley, who appear on MTV at least once every 3 minutes. From my expert viewpoint, Hedley’s punk/rebel/emo schtick is so fake … READ MORE
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In the Blog
happy birthday wanda jackson!
You know, it’s not often that you go to a rock show and hear a performer drop lines like, “So I decided to take the advice of my friend, Elvis Presley…” Last Friday I had the chance to hit two really great birds with one stone - I got to see my buddies The Stolen Minks (how can you not love a band whose lyrics include the lines “Girls on the stage and boys on … READ MORE
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In the Blog
damazine: call for submissions
damazine is a new online literary journal publishing fiction, poetry, and essays. Its focus is the Muslim world, whether it forms the background of the writer, or an aspect of the piece itself. Within that space, we strive to present a rainbow of themes and writing styles. Our biggest criterion is quality. We are looking for powerful, well-crafted pieces that throb with meaning. The planned publication date for the first issue is January 31, 2008. To … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Film Fridays Part ii: women and tv, version fall 2007
I have been meaning to link to this excellent article by Rebecca Traister at salon.com for months: Women are the new men on TV. Traister runs through more than 5 new TV shows for this fall, and they all seem to have the same basic bizarre premise: in this “post-feminist” age (please draw your attention to quotation marks, if you look closely you will notice they are dripping with sarcasm), women have all the financial and … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Film Fridays Part i: superbad
To make up for the fact that I have no sweeping insight into a particular film to offer you today (the horror!), I’m instead writing two little blurbs. Presenting #1: Superbad. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see this movie when I heard about it. I knew producer Judd Apatow was one of the people behind The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. I seemed to be the only person in my city … READ MORE
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In the Blog
which racial slurs are too slurry?
Since we like talking about language here at Shameless, let me share something that bothered me today: Bizarre assaults hit quiet town (from the Toronto Star) “Asian-Canadians report being shoved into water while fishing near Sutton; police deny racial link … Since April there have been three cases of assault, mischief and theft against the mostly Asian-Canadian fishermen in the area. … Local youth call it “nippertipping.” … “Nip” is a derogatory word for Japanese, apparently used in this context for anyone of Asian … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Finding Dawn at the Toronto Women’s Bookstore
Toronto Women’s Bookstore http://www.womensbookstore.com 416-922-8744 Join us for the screening of Finding Dawn directed by Christine Welsh followed by an on-stage interview THURSDAY OCTOBER 25, 7:30 pm Koffler Auditorium 569 Spadina Avenue wheelchair accessible admission: $3 to $10 sliding scale, at the door Dawn Crey. Ramona Wilson. Daleen Kay Bosse. These are just three of the estimated 500 Aboriginal women who have gone missing or been murdered in Canada over the past thirty years. Directed by acclaimed Metis filmmaker Christine Welsh, Finding Dawn is a compelling documentary that … READ MORE
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In the Blog
“i just want you to know, i think you’re very brave”
Watch this fantastic clip from Talk, the short film released by the UK Disability Rights Commission in 2000. The film envisions a world where abled people are minority who are either pitied or discriminated against, while people with disabilities lead full lives. The thing that I love about this clip is how it points out that life for a person with a disability is not difficult because of their disability, but because they live in an … READ MORE
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In the Blog
wes anderson: the ultimate heartbreaker
Pssst! This post has been updated. Have you ever woken up one morning and suddenly realised that an old and cherished friend doesn’t care about you or anything you represent, and actually either ignores or caricatures your existence? Well, neither have I. But too many times I’ve realised that a director (or musician or writer or artist…) that I love like a friend actually creates art that exoticises, fetishises, or all out erases who I am. I’ve managed … READ MORE
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In the Blog
bret “the hitman” hart on masculinity
An interesting quote on the tender side of wrestling from Bret Hart’s autobiography Hitman, out in a few weeks: “…but I also saw the good side of pro wrestling. To me there is something bordering on beautiful about a brotherhood of big tough men who pretended to hurt one another for a living instead of actually doing it. Any idiot can hurt someone.” … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Are you a lady? A track cyclist? Between 15 and 25? Read on…
Forest City Velodrome London Ontario 2007 - 2008 Women’s Development Program The Forest City Velodrome in London, Ontario has secured special funding to assist in the development of a squad of up to 8 elite women track cyclists. The program is aimed at athletic women, ages 15 - 25, who may not have previously been involved in cycling. Interested individuals or groups would come to FCV on an ongoing basis to train, race, and eventually compete at the Provincial and National levels. Initial … READ MORE
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In the Blog
porn magazines available again to american soldiers serving aboard: yay or nay?
We’ve talked about porn before (here and here), what do we think of this?: From the Feminist Daily News: Sexually Explicit Magazines Return to Army Exchanges After 10 Year Ban “Penthouse, along with Playgirl and Ultra for Men, returned to Army and Air Force military exchanges this summer after being banned 10 years ago by a Pentagon review board for being sexually explicit. By July, Penthouse was available in more than 500 exchange outlets worldwide, including in … READ MORE
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In the Blog
should female musicians have female back-up bands?
Because I am hopeless at keeping up with music (this is why I am very grateful to Anna and Picks From Planet Venus) several months after everyone else, I’ve just started listening to Leslie Feist’s new album, The Reminder. I’m particularly taken with the single “I Feel it All”, and since I like multi medias, I decided to see if I could watch the video on youtube. I found a clip of her playing the … READ MORE
