Friday, July 29, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Politics
Women in Afhganistan who are attempting to run for office are under fire.
AFHGAN WOMEN
Seven of the Senate Democratic women stood up and said they want John Roberts to answer questions on privacy, gay and lesbian rights and other important issues. They created a website ASK ROBERTS to allow citizens to send in the questions they want asked.
The papers released about Roberts show that when he was lawyer in the Reagan administration he wrote an opinion urging the administration not to appeal the ruling that basically stopped Title IX in its tracks in the 80s.
"A 1982 Roberts memo urged the Justice Department not to appeal a federal court ruling limiting Title IX's reach into all programs at a university that received federal funds.
The memo said 'under Title IX, federal investigators cannot rummage willy- nilly through institutions, but can go only as far as the federal funds go.'"
DEM WOMEN
Great, so we will lose Roe and Title IX. Things just keep getting better.
Is Hillary electable?
HILLARY
Susan Estrich on the two Johns- Bolton and Roberts
ESTRICH
TV
Lifetime has some lighthearted fare started this weekend. A six hour mini-series Beach Girl starring Rob Lowe and Julia Ormand premieres Sunday night at 8pm.
Theatre
Patti Pupone will return to Broadway this fall in a new production of Sweeney Todd.
Julia Roberts will make her Broadway debut next spring in Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain.
Women in Afhganistan who are attempting to run for office are under fire.
AFHGAN WOMEN
Seven of the Senate Democratic women stood up and said they want John Roberts to answer questions on privacy, gay and lesbian rights and other important issues. They created a website ASK ROBERTS to allow citizens to send in the questions they want asked.
The papers released about Roberts show that when he was lawyer in the Reagan administration he wrote an opinion urging the administration not to appeal the ruling that basically stopped Title IX in its tracks in the 80s.
"A 1982 Roberts memo urged the Justice Department not to appeal a federal court ruling limiting Title IX's reach into all programs at a university that received federal funds.
The memo said 'under Title IX, federal investigators cannot rummage willy- nilly through institutions, but can go only as far as the federal funds go.'"
DEM WOMEN
Great, so we will lose Roe and Title IX. Things just keep getting better.
Is Hillary electable?
HILLARY
Susan Estrich on the two Johns- Bolton and Roberts
ESTRICH
TV
Lifetime has some lighthearted fare started this weekend. A six hour mini-series Beach Girl starring Rob Lowe and Julia Ormand premieres Sunday night at 8pm.
Theatre
Patti Pupone will return to Broadway this fall in a new production of Sweeney Todd.
Julia Roberts will make her Broadway debut next spring in Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Politics
Catholics for a Free Choice has a report on Pope Ratiznger's first 100 days. Suffice it to say, he ain't been progressive.
POPE
China was picked its first women to go into space.
SPACE
A very interesting post by Arianna Huffington regarding the jailbird Judith Miller. Huffington posits that one of the theories going on around The NY Times is that Miller did not reveal her source because she was actually the one who started inquiring about Joseph Wilson, and then learned his wife was a CIA agent. Wilson, you will remember wrote the infamous piece in The NY Times in July 2003 about his trip to Niger and the WMD stuff was bullshit. Miller carried the Bush team's water on the WMD issue and helped get this war started. VERY INTERESTING ARIANNA- her most thoughtful post yet.
HUFFINGTON
Films
One movie I'm excited about is Must Love Dogs opening this weekend starring Diane Lane and John Cusack. It's about a newly-divorced woman re-entering the dating scene. Personally, I've had a crush on John Cusack since my teens (I am a huge fan of Say Anything) and seeing Gary David Goldberg (Family Ties creator) working again is good news. But its Diane Lane who will make or break this movie. Finally, a movie for adults. Go see it this weekend- the first weekend is what makes or break a film in today's world.
MUST LOVE DOGS
TV
This TV season is one of the most exciting for me in recent years. ABC will premiere its drama Commander in Chief about the first woman president played by Geena Davis. Each summer before the start of the season the TV critics go to Hollywood to learn about the new shows. At the session related to Commander in Chief about the first woman President starring Geena Davis will focus more on "east wing" activities rather than "west wing" activities.
So, let me get this- a show about a President of the US will not be a political show? Give me a break. If Commander in Chief starred a man it would be a political show. I'm high on this show having seen the pilot but I want to caution ABC not to sell women short and think we can't handle politics.
COMMANDER IN CHIEF
Lisa de Moraes from The Washington Post also weighs in:
"While "West Wing" deals with specific political issues that are "rather arcane," "Commander-in-Chief" will deal with such issues as how to get the First Kids to school, how to take the First Kids trick-or-treating, how state dinners are run from A to Z -- a lot of East Wing stuff, Lurie explained.
That's probably because while Red Lips (please don't tell me this is her secret service name) is president of the United States she's also a mother and "if there's one thing history has taught us," it's that while women can become prime ministers or heads of Fortune 500 companies, they almost always remain the primary caregivers of their children, he (Rod Lurie, the creator) said."
Catholics for a Free Choice has a report on Pope Ratiznger's first 100 days. Suffice it to say, he ain't been progressive.
POPE
China was picked its first women to go into space.
SPACE
A very interesting post by Arianna Huffington regarding the jailbird Judith Miller. Huffington posits that one of the theories going on around The NY Times is that Miller did not reveal her source because she was actually the one who started inquiring about Joseph Wilson, and then learned his wife was a CIA agent. Wilson, you will remember wrote the infamous piece in The NY Times in July 2003 about his trip to Niger and the WMD stuff was bullshit. Miller carried the Bush team's water on the WMD issue and helped get this war started. VERY INTERESTING ARIANNA- her most thoughtful post yet.
HUFFINGTON
Films
One movie I'm excited about is Must Love Dogs opening this weekend starring Diane Lane and John Cusack. It's about a newly-divorced woman re-entering the dating scene. Personally, I've had a crush on John Cusack since my teens (I am a huge fan of Say Anything) and seeing Gary David Goldberg (Family Ties creator) working again is good news. But its Diane Lane who will make or break this movie. Finally, a movie for adults. Go see it this weekend- the first weekend is what makes or break a film in today's world.
MUST LOVE DOGS
TV
This TV season is one of the most exciting for me in recent years. ABC will premiere its drama Commander in Chief about the first woman president played by Geena Davis. Each summer before the start of the season the TV critics go to Hollywood to learn about the new shows. At the session related to Commander in Chief about the first woman President starring Geena Davis will focus more on "east wing" activities rather than "west wing" activities.
So, let me get this- a show about a President of the US will not be a political show? Give me a break. If Commander in Chief starred a man it would be a political show. I'm high on this show having seen the pilot but I want to caution ABC not to sell women short and think we can't handle politics.
COMMANDER IN CHIEF
Lisa de Moraes from The Washington Post also weighs in:
"While "West Wing" deals with specific political issues that are "rather arcane," "Commander-in-Chief" will deal with such issues as how to get the First Kids to school, how to take the First Kids trick-or-treating, how state dinners are run from A to Z -- a lot of East Wing stuff, Lurie explained.
That's probably because while Red Lips (please don't tell me this is her secret service name) is president of the United States she's also a mother and "if there's one thing history has taught us," it's that while women can become prime ministers or heads of Fortune 500 companies, they almost always remain the primary caregivers of their children, he (Rod Lurie, the creator) said."
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Politics
Councilwoman Donna Frye, a Democrat, environmental activist and surf shop owner will face former Police Chief Jerry Sanders in a mayoral runoff election this fall. Frye got 43% of the vote. She needed 50% to prevent a runoff. Talk about your atypical candidate.
FRYE
Women in India continue organizing under extremely difficult conditions.
INDIA
USA Today has an editorial by Laura Vanderkam (never heard of her before) saying that even if the Supreme Court overturns Roe, few states would actually ban abortions. Ms. Vanderkam- before you write an editorial about this hot button issue, I urge you to get a clue. You might have your statistics right but Row is so much more than statistics. You have to take into account the political environment and the fact that this is about women's rights to self determination which is exactly what the right wing freaks want people to forget about.
I'm not even linking to this piece cause I don't want to give her more play.
Anne Applebaum on Karen Hughes' appointment to Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy
APPLEBAUM
Hillary Clinton is criticized by the left for her speech before the Democratic Leadership Council (a centrist group)
CLINTON
Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez said in an interview that a Supreme Court Justice was not bound to precedent in Roe v. Wade "if you believe it's wrong."
"In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Gonzales said the legal right to abortion is settled for lower courts but not the Supreme Court, suggesting high-court nominee John Roberts would not be bound by his past statement that the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision settled the issue."
This is unacceptable! This logic is frightening! Remember- this man was on the short list for the Supreme Court. Yikes.
GONZALEZ
Good News
RIM the makers of "crackberries" have created the Blackberry Women and Technology Awards. The prizes will not only salute women who create technology but also women who use technology in a creative and successful way. Great idea!
BLACKBERRY AWARDS
Give me a Break
Remember those fembots from The Bionic Women? Well it seems that Japanese scientists have create the 21st century version- a female android. Guess the dating world in Japan is so bad that they need to create robots.
FEMBOTS
Councilwoman Donna Frye, a Democrat, environmental activist and surf shop owner will face former Police Chief Jerry Sanders in a mayoral runoff election this fall. Frye got 43% of the vote. She needed 50% to prevent a runoff. Talk about your atypical candidate.
FRYE
Women in India continue organizing under extremely difficult conditions.
INDIA
USA Today has an editorial by Laura Vanderkam (never heard of her before) saying that even if the Supreme Court overturns Roe, few states would actually ban abortions. Ms. Vanderkam- before you write an editorial about this hot button issue, I urge you to get a clue. You might have your statistics right but Row is so much more than statistics. You have to take into account the political environment and the fact that this is about women's rights to self determination which is exactly what the right wing freaks want people to forget about.
I'm not even linking to this piece cause I don't want to give her more play.
Anne Applebaum on Karen Hughes' appointment to Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy
APPLEBAUM
Hillary Clinton is criticized by the left for her speech before the Democratic Leadership Council (a centrist group)
CLINTON
Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez said in an interview that a Supreme Court Justice was not bound to precedent in Roe v. Wade "if you believe it's wrong."
"In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Gonzales said the legal right to abortion is settled for lower courts but not the Supreme Court, suggesting high-court nominee John Roberts would not be bound by his past statement that the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision settled the issue."
This is unacceptable! This logic is frightening! Remember- this man was on the short list for the Supreme Court. Yikes.
GONZALEZ
Good News
RIM the makers of "crackberries" have created the Blackberry Women and Technology Awards. The prizes will not only salute women who create technology but also women who use technology in a creative and successful way. Great idea!
BLACKBERRY AWARDS
Give me a Break
Remember those fembots from The Bionic Women? Well it seems that Japanese scientists have create the 21st century version- a female android. Guess the dating world in Japan is so bad that they need to create robots.
FEMBOTS
What We Need to Know Today
Politics
Hillary Clinton continues her move to the center - or as I call it the right - in her bid to be our next President. She has been tapped to create the Democratic Leadership Council's "American Dream Initiative" which will define the DLC agenda for 2006 and 2008. Could be the smartest or dumbest thing to do? Who knows?
CLINTON
Dianne Feinstein met with Supreme Court nominee yesterday. "I found him very forthcoming, very pleasant to talk with, very easy to talk with. There are no artifices. He was very direct, and when he couldn't answer a question and . . . felt he shouldn't answer a question, he didn't,'' said Feinstein, a member of the Senate committee that will hold hearings on Robert's nomination in about a month. ``He's very impressive, let there be no doubt." This is such a done deal we should just move on.
Full story form the San Jose Mercury News
FEINSTEIN LOVES ROBERTS
Justice Kennedy is the one to watch on abortion issues.
KENNEDY
According to The Hill, Senate and House Democrats, with the support of Minority Leaders Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), are pressing party Chairman Howard Dean to establish an official relationship with Democrats for Life, an anti-abortion-rights group that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has previously shunned. Just wanted to check and see if Nancy Pelosi was still pro-choice, still a woman or weather she has completely sold out!
SELL OUTS
A chapter of Iraq's draft constitution obtained by The Associated Press (today) gives Islam a major role in Iraqi civil law, raising concerns that women could lose rights in marriage, divorce and inheritance.
Jane Fonda will be taking to the anti-war movement again this time on a vegetable fueled bus. Look for her tour in March 2006 to protest US military policies in Iraq.
Gov. Mitt Romney of MA has vetoed a bill expanding access to emergency contraception. During his 2002 campaign Romney said that he did support wider access to emergency contraception. Flip flop- guess who's running for president?
Philippines President Gloria Arroyo remains under fire as an impeachment process has been started against her. She made a speech calling for the change in government from a presidential system to a parlimentary system as a way to improve economic progress. "Our political system has now become a hindrance to our national progress."
ARROYO
Justice!
A Nebraska Federal Judge ruled that Union Pacific Railroad discriminated against its female employees by denying them prescription contraceptive coverage in the health plan while paying for Viagra and male pattern baldness drugs. How the hell does this stuff still happen?
The Boys are gonna be pissed
Nine Roman Catholic women (seven Americans a Canadian and a German) were "unofficially" ordained at priests and deacons by three women who were previously "unofficially" ordained. Go girls!
WOMEN PRIESTS
TV
Alias alert! Jennifer Garner's real-life pregnancy will be written into the show.
Film
Jodie Foster is returning to the director's chair for the first time in 10 years with "Sugar Kings," a drama in which she may also star.
The Universal Pictures project centers on a female lawyer, fresh out of law school, who teams with a veteran public-interest attorney to take on a powerful sugar baron on behalf of exploited migrant workers. YEAH!
DVD
Check out The Upside of Anger starring Joan Allen. Allen plays Terry Wolfmeyer, a woman whose husband has just left her and she finds support (and difficulties) with her four daughters, the bottle (she drinks a lot), and Kevin Costner playing another retired ballplayer.
Allen is spectacular but she has gotten way too skinny. The four daughters are played by Erika Christensen, Alicia Witt, Keri Russell and Evan Rachel Wood.
Mags
Jane Pratt is stepping down as editor of Jane effective September 30. She is finishing up the Mag's 1st all naked issue? (why jane?) Great legacy Jane.
Books
From England- women authors are more likely to have bestsellers due to the proliferation of bookclubs and because of this: "Women readers now outnumber men and they tend to seek out writers who know their own world at first hand. Women tend to find a lot of male writers boyish, macho and a little too interested in violence. The believe their books are too dependent on quick thrills."
WOMEN AUTHORS
Hillary Clinton continues her move to the center - or as I call it the right - in her bid to be our next President. She has been tapped to create the Democratic Leadership Council's "American Dream Initiative" which will define the DLC agenda for 2006 and 2008. Could be the smartest or dumbest thing to do? Who knows?
CLINTON
Dianne Feinstein met with Supreme Court nominee yesterday. "I found him very forthcoming, very pleasant to talk with, very easy to talk with. There are no artifices. He was very direct, and when he couldn't answer a question and . . . felt he shouldn't answer a question, he didn't,'' said Feinstein, a member of the Senate committee that will hold hearings on Robert's nomination in about a month. ``He's very impressive, let there be no doubt." This is such a done deal we should just move on.
Full story form the San Jose Mercury News
FEINSTEIN LOVES ROBERTS
Justice Kennedy is the one to watch on abortion issues.
KENNEDY
According to The Hill, Senate and House Democrats, with the support of Minority Leaders Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), are pressing party Chairman Howard Dean to establish an official relationship with Democrats for Life, an anti-abortion-rights group that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has previously shunned. Just wanted to check and see if Nancy Pelosi was still pro-choice, still a woman or weather she has completely sold out!
SELL OUTS
A chapter of Iraq's draft constitution obtained by The Associated Press (today) gives Islam a major role in Iraqi civil law, raising concerns that women could lose rights in marriage, divorce and inheritance.
Jane Fonda will be taking to the anti-war movement again this time on a vegetable fueled bus. Look for her tour in March 2006 to protest US military policies in Iraq.
Gov. Mitt Romney of MA has vetoed a bill expanding access to emergency contraception. During his 2002 campaign Romney said that he did support wider access to emergency contraception. Flip flop- guess who's running for president?
Philippines President Gloria Arroyo remains under fire as an impeachment process has been started against her. She made a speech calling for the change in government from a presidential system to a parlimentary system as a way to improve economic progress. "Our political system has now become a hindrance to our national progress."
ARROYO
Justice!
A Nebraska Federal Judge ruled that Union Pacific Railroad discriminated against its female employees by denying them prescription contraceptive coverage in the health plan while paying for Viagra and male pattern baldness drugs. How the hell does this stuff still happen?
The Boys are gonna be pissed
Nine Roman Catholic women (seven Americans a Canadian and a German) were "unofficially" ordained at priests and deacons by three women who were previously "unofficially" ordained. Go girls!
WOMEN PRIESTS
TV
Alias alert! Jennifer Garner's real-life pregnancy will be written into the show.
Film
Jodie Foster is returning to the director's chair for the first time in 10 years with "Sugar Kings," a drama in which she may also star.
The Universal Pictures project centers on a female lawyer, fresh out of law school, who teams with a veteran public-interest attorney to take on a powerful sugar baron on behalf of exploited migrant workers. YEAH!
DVD
Check out The Upside of Anger starring Joan Allen. Allen plays Terry Wolfmeyer, a woman whose husband has just left her and she finds support (and difficulties) with her four daughters, the bottle (she drinks a lot), and Kevin Costner playing another retired ballplayer.
Allen is spectacular but she has gotten way too skinny. The four daughters are played by Erika Christensen, Alicia Witt, Keri Russell and Evan Rachel Wood.
Mags
Jane Pratt is stepping down as editor of Jane effective September 30. She is finishing up the Mag's 1st all naked issue? (why jane?) Great legacy Jane.
Books
From England- women authors are more likely to have bestsellers due to the proliferation of bookclubs and because of this: "Women readers now outnumber men and they tend to seek out writers who know their own world at first hand. Women tend to find a lot of male writers boyish, macho and a little too interested in violence. The believe their books are too dependent on quick thrills."
WOMEN AUTHORS
Monday, July 25, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Politics
Ellen Goodman weighs in on the Roberts nomination GOODMAN
Hillary Clinton- a moderate? HILLARY CLINTON
Karen Hughes, the ultimate soccer mom, is about to return to Washington now that her son is going off to college. She had her hearing for her nomination as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs which makes her an ambassador. She will be spinning the Bush agenda around the world and helping to rebuild our image. This frightens me. She is one of the architects of the Bush diplomatic agenda and now we're unleashing her on the world? Not one single democrat attended her hearing on Friday in front on the Senate foreign relations committee. What's up with that? Note to Karen - not to sound catty, but work on the wardrobe- lime green and blue- yuck!
Dianne Feinstein stood up and said yesterday that Karl Rove should lose his security clearance temporarily while the Grand Jury is still investigating the Valerie Plame affair. And by the way- Judith Miller is still in jail and Karl Rove is planning his summer vacation.
Wish it Wasn't True
Dennis Hastert has decided to remain in Congress and speaker of tghe House for the duration of Bush's term (that is if he gets re-elected- can someone please do something about that?)
Did you know?
That 29 Iraqi women just graduated from military training? WOMEN SOLDIERS
TV
Desperate Housewives won the best program of the year from the Television Critics Asosciation this weekend.
DVD
Mary Tyler Moore's breakthrough comedy's second season is now available on DVD. Pick up the ultimate single working woman. It all started with her.
Sports
Sheila Johnson is the first woman to own a WNBA franchise. JOHNSON
18 year old Paula Creamer won her second LPGA title Saturday at the Evian Masters, beating fellow teenager Michelle Wie and Lorena Ochoa by eight shots. She has earned 1.1 million in her rookie season (I am so in the wrong business)
The Us Women's National Soccer team beat iceland 3-0 in an exhibitition match. They are 7-0 this season and have not had a goal scored on them.
Ellen Goodman weighs in on the Roberts nomination GOODMAN
Hillary Clinton- a moderate? HILLARY CLINTON
Karen Hughes, the ultimate soccer mom, is about to return to Washington now that her son is going off to college. She had her hearing for her nomination as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs which makes her an ambassador. She will be spinning the Bush agenda around the world and helping to rebuild our image. This frightens me. She is one of the architects of the Bush diplomatic agenda and now we're unleashing her on the world? Not one single democrat attended her hearing on Friday in front on the Senate foreign relations committee. What's up with that? Note to Karen - not to sound catty, but work on the wardrobe- lime green and blue- yuck!
Dianne Feinstein stood up and said yesterday that Karl Rove should lose his security clearance temporarily while the Grand Jury is still investigating the Valerie Plame affair. And by the way- Judith Miller is still in jail and Karl Rove is planning his summer vacation.
Wish it Wasn't True
Dennis Hastert has decided to remain in Congress and speaker of tghe House for the duration of Bush's term (that is if he gets re-elected- can someone please do something about that?)
Did you know?
That 29 Iraqi women just graduated from military training? WOMEN SOLDIERS
TV
Desperate Housewives won the best program of the year from the Television Critics Asosciation this weekend.
DVD
Mary Tyler Moore's breakthrough comedy's second season is now available on DVD. Pick up the ultimate single working woman. It all started with her.
Sports
Sheila Johnson is the first woman to own a WNBA franchise. JOHNSON
18 year old Paula Creamer won her second LPGA title Saturday at the Evian Masters, beating fellow teenager Michelle Wie and Lorena Ochoa by eight shots. She has earned 1.1 million in her rookie season (I am so in the wrong business)
The Us Women's National Soccer team beat iceland 3-0 in an exhibitition match. They are 7-0 this season and have not had a goal scored on them.
Friday, July 22, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Supreme Court update
Just over half of all Americans — and a solid majority of women — want to know John Roberts' position on abortion before the Senate votes on whether to elevate him to the Supreme Court.- AP
More on the nominee's wife and her antichoice escapades.
JANE SULLIVAN
Susan Estrich weighs in on the Roberts nomination.
ESTRICH
The Leak
So now it seems that the document that listed Valerie Plame's name had the letter "S" on it for secret. Gee, guess that wasn't something to gossip about.
Helen Thomas has some thoughts on the situation.
THOMAS
TV
Veronica Mars (an awesome show) will get some extra exposure this summer when big sister network CBS airs 4 repeats of the UPN show. The shows air Friday, July 29 (8 p.m./Ch. 2), and Friday Aug. 5 and 12.
Books
Time Magazine's Galley Girl talks to Sophie Kinsella - one of the most successful "chick lit" authors. CHICK LIT
Sports
The US Women's National soccer team completes its summer games with a Sunday game against Iceland. (See it at 5pm on ESPN2) Christie Welsh is the leading scorer for the team. She is trying to break through and make it to the team that goes to a World Cup or Olympics. The 2007 World Cup is a long way away but she's on the right track. WELSH
I am amazed at the ability of elite women athletes to have children and get back into shape so quickly. Carla Overbeck and Joy Fawcett did it on the US soccer team and now comes Tina Thompson, All-Star from the Houston Comets in the WNBA. She had a baby in May and was just activated last night to play. Wow.
Did you Know?
That Japanese women have the longest life expentancy in the world at 85.59 years.
Just over half of all Americans — and a solid majority of women — want to know John Roberts' position on abortion before the Senate votes on whether to elevate him to the Supreme Court.- AP
More on the nominee's wife and her antichoice escapades.
JANE SULLIVAN
Susan Estrich weighs in on the Roberts nomination.
ESTRICH
The Leak
So now it seems that the document that listed Valerie Plame's name had the letter "S" on it for secret. Gee, guess that wasn't something to gossip about.
Helen Thomas has some thoughts on the situation.
THOMAS
TV
Veronica Mars (an awesome show) will get some extra exposure this summer when big sister network CBS airs 4 repeats of the UPN show. The shows air Friday, July 29 (8 p.m./Ch. 2), and Friday Aug. 5 and 12.
Books
Time Magazine's Galley Girl talks to Sophie Kinsella - one of the most successful "chick lit" authors. CHICK LIT
Sports
The US Women's National soccer team completes its summer games with a Sunday game against Iceland. (See it at 5pm on ESPN2) Christie Welsh is the leading scorer for the team. She is trying to break through and make it to the team that goes to a World Cup or Olympics. The 2007 World Cup is a long way away but she's on the right track. WELSH
I am amazed at the ability of elite women athletes to have children and get back into shape so quickly. Carla Overbeck and Joy Fawcett did it on the US soccer team and now comes Tina Thompson, All-Star from the Houston Comets in the WNBA. She had a baby in May and was just activated last night to play. Wow.
Did you Know?
That Japanese women have the longest life expentancy in the world at 85.59 years.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
SUPREME COURT UPDATE
From Sandra Day O'Connor
"I am disappointed, in a sense, to see the percentage of women on our court drop by 50 percent, but I can't be disappointed in the quality of person nominated. He's first rate," she added.
The Wife Factor
More on Jane Roberts, wife of the Supreme Court nominee and her affiliation with Feminists for Life from the LA Times:
"Jane Roberts was a volunteer member of Feminists for Life's board of directors from 1995 to 1999. She has provided legal assistance to the group and been recognized as a contributor who donated from $1,000 to $2,500.
The president of Feminists for Life, Serrin M. Foster, said Roberts maintained her ties by advising the group on how to draw up incorporation and not-for-profit papers."
JANE ROBERTS
Editorials on Roberts by women
MARTHA MINOW
Check Out
Andrea Mitchell, on a trip with Condoleeza Rice to the Sudan, got pulled out of her room by Sudanese bodyguards.
MITCHELL
Movies
Hustle & Flow is arriving in theatres tomorrow. Supposed to be great. Won the audience award at Sundance. Briefly- the film ells the story of a pimp who wants to be a rap singer. Trust me, I know my movies. Terrence Howard is about to become a big star as well as Taraji Henson who I loved on Lifetime's The Division. More on Taraji- HENSON
From Sandra Day O'Connor
"I am disappointed, in a sense, to see the percentage of women on our court drop by 50 percent, but I can't be disappointed in the quality of person nominated. He's first rate," she added.
The Wife Factor
More on Jane Roberts, wife of the Supreme Court nominee and her affiliation with Feminists for Life from the LA Times:
"Jane Roberts was a volunteer member of Feminists for Life's board of directors from 1995 to 1999. She has provided legal assistance to the group and been recognized as a contributor who donated from $1,000 to $2,500.
The president of Feminists for Life, Serrin M. Foster, said Roberts maintained her ties by advising the group on how to draw up incorporation and not-for-profit papers."
JANE ROBERTS
Editorials on Roberts by women
MARTHA MINOW
Check Out
Andrea Mitchell, on a trip with Condoleeza Rice to the Sudan, got pulled out of her room by Sudanese bodyguards.
MITCHELL
Movies
Hustle & Flow is arriving in theatres tomorrow. Supposed to be great. Won the audience award at Sundance. Briefly- the film ells the story of a pimp who wants to be a rap singer. Trust me, I know my movies. Terrence Howard is about to become a big star as well as Taraji Henson who I loved on Lifetime's The Division. More on Taraji- HENSON
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
What We Need to Know Today- addendum
Missed a big one this morning.
The NY Times is reporting that the drafting of the new Iraqi Constitution is rolling back women's rights. So let me understand this clearly. We went to war to make things better for the Iraqi people and now that they have a new government things will be worse for women?
Some information from the story:
"A working draft of Iraq's new constitution would cede a strong role to Islamic law and could sharply curb women's rights, particularly in personal matters like divorce and family inheritance."
"The document's writers are also debating whether to drop or phase out a measure enshrined in the interim constitution, co-written last year by the Americans, requiring that women make up at least a quarter of the parliament."
IRAQI WOMEN GET SCREWED
The NY Times is reporting that the drafting of the new Iraqi Constitution is rolling back women's rights. So let me understand this clearly. We went to war to make things better for the Iraqi people and now that they have a new government things will be worse for women?
Some information from the story:
"A working draft of Iraq's new constitution would cede a strong role to Islamic law and could sharply curb women's rights, particularly in personal matters like divorce and family inheritance."
"The document's writers are also debating whether to drop or phase out a measure enshrined in the interim constitution, co-written last year by the Americans, requiring that women make up at least a quarter of the parliament."
IRAQI WOMEN GET SCREWED
What We Need to Know Today
It's all downhill now
So now its official- we're screwed! John Roberts will be on the Supreme Court for something like 30 years. I just want to barf. Folks this is what happens when good people make very bad decisions when it comes to voting. People wanted George Bush and now they can kiss all of our rights goodbye. Hello Canada.
Another thing I'm pissed about is I started getting emails from pro-choice and progressive groups about a minute after the nominee was announced. And the first thing they do is ask me for money. I get emails from these organizations every day and delete them because they ask me for money every day. On this day- don't ask me for money. Make your case, then I will give you money. And stop sending those emails everyday! Just because you have my address doesn't mean you shold use it every day.
The email that was great was People for the American Way. They handled it perfectly.
Just in
Judge Roberts wife is a member of Feminist for Life.
Who is John Roberts?
From today's Washnigton Post "In 1991, John G. Roberts Jr., then deputy solicitor general in the George H.W. Bush administration, told the Supreme Court that its historic decision supporting a woman's right to an abortion was "wrongly decided and should be overruled." In 2003, when Roberts was up for a judgeship, he played down his earlier statement, explaining that he made the administration's case against Roe v. Wade only because that was his responsibility as its lawyer."
ROBERTS
Check Out
Greta Van Sustern gets good ratings on Fox. Over 1.5 million people have watched this year and more since she started focusing on the Natalee Holloway case -- and she answers emails from viewers. GRETA
Jane Pauley releases her memoir in paperback and talks about her bi-polar disorder.
JANE PAULEY
The saga of Marin Alsop's nomination to the musical directorship of the Baltimore Symphony continues. The Board of Directors approved her appointment yesterday and the members of the Orchestra met her appointment with silence. Go Marin!
ALSOP
ALSOP 2
Sports
Got a call from a source this morning and she was irate! Frank Deford who has a weekly commentary on NPR stepped over the line this week in takling about Michelle Wie wanting to play against the boys on the PGA tour. Usually, Deford is benign but this week he basically said that Michelle Wie wanting to play on the men's tour is going to be the downfall of women's sports. I say, give me a break! Wie will make people more interested in women's athletes and I would venture that she will play on the women's tour and will attract more attention. Some of his quotes from this morning" middleweights can't knock out heavyweights" and "stick to playing against your own kind."
Frank- you owe Michelle and all women and girl athletes an apology. I only hope that you have daughters and they kick your ass tonight!
Danica Patrick is still basking in the attention from the Indy 500. DANICA PATRICK
So now its official- we're screwed! John Roberts will be on the Supreme Court for something like 30 years. I just want to barf. Folks this is what happens when good people make very bad decisions when it comes to voting. People wanted George Bush and now they can kiss all of our rights goodbye. Hello Canada.
Another thing I'm pissed about is I started getting emails from pro-choice and progressive groups about a minute after the nominee was announced. And the first thing they do is ask me for money. I get emails from these organizations every day and delete them because they ask me for money every day. On this day- don't ask me for money. Make your case, then I will give you money. And stop sending those emails everyday! Just because you have my address doesn't mean you shold use it every day.
The email that was great was People for the American Way. They handled it perfectly.
Just in
Judge Roberts wife is a member of Feminist for Life.
Who is John Roberts?
From today's Washnigton Post "In 1991, John G. Roberts Jr., then deputy solicitor general in the George H.W. Bush administration, told the Supreme Court that its historic decision supporting a woman's right to an abortion was "wrongly decided and should be overruled." In 2003, when Roberts was up for a judgeship, he played down his earlier statement, explaining that he made the administration's case against Roe v. Wade only because that was his responsibility as its lawyer."
ROBERTS
Greta Van Sustern gets good ratings on Fox. Over 1.5 million people have watched this year and more since she started focusing on the Natalee Holloway case -- and she answers emails from viewers. GRETA
Jane Pauley releases her memoir in paperback and talks about her bi-polar disorder.
JANE PAULEY
The saga of Marin Alsop's nomination to the musical directorship of the Baltimore Symphony continues. The Board of Directors approved her appointment yesterday and the members of the Orchestra met her appointment with silence. Go Marin!
ALSOP
ALSOP 2
Sports
Got a call from a source this morning and she was irate! Frank Deford who has a weekly commentary on NPR stepped over the line this week in takling about Michelle Wie wanting to play against the boys on the PGA tour. Usually, Deford is benign but this week he basically said that Michelle Wie wanting to play on the men's tour is going to be the downfall of women's sports. I say, give me a break! Wie will make people more interested in women's athletes and I would venture that she will play on the women's tour and will attract more attention. Some of his quotes from this morning" middleweights can't knock out heavyweights" and "stick to playing against your own kind."
Frank- you owe Michelle and all women and girl athletes an apology. I only hope that you have daughters and they kick your ass tonight!
Danica Patrick is still basking in the attention from the Indy 500. DANICA PATRICK
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Governor Pataki must sign the emergency contraception bill! EC
Check Out
Can Hillary Clinton be the Commander in Chief? HILLARY CLINTON
Will They or Won't They?
The story about whether the Baltimore Symphony will appoint Marin Alsop the first female conducter of a large scale orchestra is still not resolved. Why is so hard? Give me a break. MARIN ALSOP
Wie Watch
Is Michelle Wie going to ruin men's golf? Give me a break? MICHELLE WIE
Check Out
Can Hillary Clinton be the Commander in Chief? HILLARY CLINTON
Will They or Won't They?
The story about whether the Baltimore Symphony will appoint Marin Alsop the first female conducter of a large scale orchestra is still not resolved. Why is so hard? Give me a break. MARIN ALSOP
Wie Watch
Is Michelle Wie going to ruin men's golf? Give me a break? MICHELLE WIE
Monday, July 18, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Supreme Court Watch
Does Laura Bush know more than we do? Laura Bush
Check Out
Ellen Chesler's piece that originally appeared in Ms. Magazine on the 40th anniversary of Griswold. Chesler
Tanya Melich's piece from Women's ENews about the behind the scenes work the Republican Women's Task Force did in 1980 to help boost the Sandra Day O'Connor nomination to the Supreme Court. Melich
Should Roe Go? Katha Pollitt's most recent column from The Nation. Pollitt
Sports
Michelle Wie may not have gotten her invitation to the Masters, but she will be getting the call from marketers. See why she's on the must have list. Wie
Does Laura Bush know more than we do? Laura Bush
Check Out
Ellen Chesler's piece that originally appeared in Ms. Magazine on the 40th anniversary of Griswold. Chesler
Tanya Melich's piece from Women's ENews about the behind the scenes work the Republican Women's Task Force did in 1980 to help boost the Sandra Day O'Connor nomination to the Supreme Court. Melich
Should Roe Go? Katha Pollitt's most recent column from The Nation. Pollitt
Sports
Michelle Wie may not have gotten her invitation to the Masters, but she will be getting the call from marketers. See why she's on the must have list. Wie
Saturday, July 16, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
The NYTimes has an editorial today about how women are abused in order to interrogate prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. prisoner abuse
Lifetime just released the results of a survey suggesting that women control the Direct Video Recorders. So forget the crap about guys making the TV watching decisions. DVR control
Why Did it Take So Long?
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is about to make history by offering Marin Alsop the position of Music Director. This would be the first time on of the largest orchestras in America has offered the position to a woman. In keeping with tradition, members of Orchestra were upset that the announcement and said it was " premature" and that "the search should continue" but refused to say why they were upset. Sexist bastards! Just be honest and say you don't want a girl in charge.
Sports
Michelle Wie wants to play against the boys! Why is anyone shocked about this? The LPGA is second rate and Wie can compete against the best which is still the men. Wie
Theatre
Kate Burton is one of those great actresses who has remained loyal to the theatre. Kate Burton
Lifetime just released the results of a survey suggesting that women control the Direct Video Recorders. So forget the crap about guys making the TV watching decisions. DVR control
Why Did it Take So Long?
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is about to make history by offering Marin Alsop the position of Music Director. This would be the first time on of the largest orchestras in America has offered the position to a woman. In keeping with tradition, members of Orchestra were upset that the announcement and said it was " premature" and that "the search should continue" but refused to say why they were upset. Sexist bastards! Just be honest and say you don't want a girl in charge.
Sports
Michelle Wie wants to play against the boys! Why is anyone shocked about this? The LPGA is second rate and Wie can compete against the best which is still the men. Wie
Theatre
Kate Burton is one of those great actresses who has remained loyal to the theatre. Kate Burton
Thursday, July 14, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Supreme Court Watch
USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll, showed overwhelming support for putting another woman on the court. Three of four favored appointing a woman to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the high court. Poll
This just goes to show how close politics and pop culture are- From Army Archerd's column in Variety: "I asked Renny Harlin his opinion of Fred Thompson, actor and former Tennessee senator, President Bush's choice to cue his Supreme Court nominee. Harlin had cast Thompson in the role of the head of air traffic control in his "Die Hard 2." "I guess he could play that role," Harlin said. "He is very authoritative -- and also has a great sense of humor. And his acting skills must have also helped him in politics."
Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow returned to the bench less than six months after the murder of her husband and mother by a former litigant whose case she dismissed. Lefkow
Sports
Chrstine Brennan comments on the International Olympic Committee's shortsighted decision to cut softball and baseball from the 2012 games. Brennan
Books
Martha is back. She just got a 2 million deal to write a how-to book on business.
Lifetime has bought rights to Sue Monk Kidd's bestselling book "The Mermaid Chair," the follow-up to her debut novel "The Secret Life of Bees."
TV
Desperate Housewives continued its roll by snagging 15 Emmy nominations. Marcia Cross,
Teri Hatcher and Felicity Huffman took three of the five nominations for best actress in a comedy series. The other two nominees are: Patricia Heaton from Everybody Loves Raymond and Jane Kaczmarek from Malcolm In The Middle.
Lead Actress in a Drama Series nominees include: Jennifer Garner in Alias; Mariska Hargitay
in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Patricia Arquette in Medium; Glenn Close
in The Shield and Frances Conroy in Six Feet Under.
USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll, showed overwhelming support for putting another woman on the court. Three of four favored appointing a woman to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the high court. Poll
This just goes to show how close politics and pop culture are- From Army Archerd's column in Variety: "I asked Renny Harlin his opinion of Fred Thompson, actor and former Tennessee senator, President Bush's choice to cue his Supreme Court nominee. Harlin had cast Thompson in the role of the head of air traffic control in his "Die Hard 2." "I guess he could play that role," Harlin said. "He is very authoritative -- and also has a great sense of humor. And his acting skills must have also helped him in politics."
Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow returned to the bench less than six months after the murder of her husband and mother by a former litigant whose case she dismissed. Lefkow
Sports
Chrstine Brennan comments on the International Olympic Committee's shortsighted decision to cut softball and baseball from the 2012 games. Brennan
Books
Martha is back. She just got a 2 million deal to write a how-to book on business.
Lifetime has bought rights to Sue Monk Kidd's bestselling book "The Mermaid Chair," the follow-up to her debut novel "The Secret Life of Bees."
TV
Desperate Housewives continued its roll by snagging 15 Emmy nominations. Marcia Cross,
Teri Hatcher and Felicity Huffman took three of the five nominations for best actress in a comedy series. The other two nominees are: Patricia Heaton from Everybody Loves Raymond and Jane Kaczmarek from Malcolm In The Middle.
Lead Actress in a Drama Series nominees include: Jennifer Garner in Alias; Mariska Hargitay
in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Patricia Arquette in Medium; Glenn Close
in The Shield and Frances Conroy in Six Feet Under.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Slow day with news dominated by the Karl Rove debacle. Two thoughts- both of the victims in this insanity are women. Judith Miller- in jail; Valerie Plame- cover blown, takes a desk job at the CIA.
Supreme Court Watch
Laura Bush thinks her husband should name another female Justice to replace O'Connor
Laura Bush
The Evolution of Hillary Clinton from today's NYTimes
Hillary Clinton
Sports
LA Times is running a series on a 10-year old girl boxer. Girl Boxer
Michelle Wie made the first cut yesterday at Men's Amateur Public Links championship. This championship determines who will get an invitation to the Masters. Hootie Johnson who got into a catfight with Martha Burk several years ago is going to have a heart attack if she qualifies.
What is the facination with Michelle Wie? Michelle Wie
Supreme Court Watch
Laura Bush thinks her husband should name another female Justice to replace O'Connor
Laura Bush
The Evolution of Hillary Clinton from today's NYTimes
Hillary Clinton
Sports
LA Times is running a series on a 10-year old girl boxer. Girl Boxer
Michelle Wie made the first cut yesterday at Men's Amateur Public Links championship. This championship determines who will get an invitation to the Masters. Hootie Johnson who got into a catfight with Martha Burk several years ago is going to have a heart attack if she qualifies.
What is the facination with Michelle Wie? Michelle Wie
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Supreme Court Watch
Roe stands up at the State level- Thomas Oliphant in today's Boston Globe Thomas Oliphant
Meet Dr. Dora Akunyili from Nigeria. She's waging a one woman fight against counterfeit drugs that are killing people in her country and around the world. Dora Akunyili
What's up with Iowa? Why is the state with the first Presidential caucus one of 2 states (Mississippi being the other) who has never had a woman elected Governor or sent a woman to Congress. Iowa women
Listen to Barbara Boxer on the Nation audio blog. Barbara Boxer
DVD Watch
New Releases this week
Million Dollar Baby- Hillary Swank's second Oscar winning performance is outstanding.
Dawn Anna- I know it sounds hokey and it was a Lifetime movie, but it stars Debra Winger (do you need to know more) as a single mom who gets a debilitating disease and then after recovering is affected by the Columbine shootings.
Books
Kudos to Nora Roberts for publishing her 159th novel. I've never read one but someone sure has because there are 280 million of her books in print.
Next week is the release of The Interruption of Everything by Terry McMillan. Her sixth novel features a 40-something wife and mother beset by every kind of mid-life crisis.
Sports
Katie Smith of the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA is 11 points away from being the first woman to score 5,000 points in professional basketball. Smith is the WNBA's biggest unheard of star. The Lynx are hardly ever featured on TV. Why is that? The games that are featured should be more equitably distributed between all the teams.
Air Taurasi the signature sneaker of Diana Taurasi is now on sale. Air Taurasi is the only women's signature sneaker that Nike has on the market; but don't fret they have many men's signature sneakers.
Roe stands up at the State level- Thomas Oliphant in today's Boston Globe Thomas Oliphant
Meet Dr. Dora Akunyili from Nigeria. She's waging a one woman fight against counterfeit drugs that are killing people in her country and around the world. Dora Akunyili
What's up with Iowa? Why is the state with the first Presidential caucus one of 2 states (Mississippi being the other) who has never had a woman elected Governor or sent a woman to Congress. Iowa women
Listen to Barbara Boxer on the Nation audio blog. Barbara Boxer
DVD Watch
New Releases this week
Million Dollar Baby- Hillary Swank's second Oscar winning performance is outstanding.
Dawn Anna- I know it sounds hokey and it was a Lifetime movie, but it stars Debra Winger (do you need to know more) as a single mom who gets a debilitating disease and then after recovering is affected by the Columbine shootings.
Books
Kudos to Nora Roberts for publishing her 159th novel. I've never read one but someone sure has because there are 280 million of her books in print.
Next week is the release of The Interruption of Everything by Terry McMillan. Her sixth novel features a 40-something wife and mother beset by every kind of mid-life crisis.
Sports
Katie Smith of the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA is 11 points away from being the first woman to score 5,000 points in professional basketball. Smith is the WNBA's biggest unheard of star. The Lynx are hardly ever featured on TV. Why is that? The games that are featured should be more equitably distributed between all the teams.
Air Taurasi the signature sneaker of Diana Taurasi is now on sale. Air Taurasi is the only women's signature sneaker that Nike has on the market; but don't fret they have many men's signature sneakers.
Monday, July 11, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Supreme Court Watch
O'Connor for chief justice? O'Connor for Chief
Ellen Goodman's latest column on Justice O'Connor Goodman
Susan Estrich's latest column on Roe v Wade Estrich
Overheard
"We've all been bracing for a Supreme Court resignation, and now that it's come, I can feel the chill wind blow," says Kathleen Turner. "Sandra Day O'Connor upheld constitutional protections for women. Now that she's leaving, we can expect Bush to nominate a replacement who is hostile to women's freedoms. I urge everyone to stay involved and let it be known that we have a pro-choice majority in this country." (Daily News)
Maggie Gyllenhaal has learned the hard way that actors, especially women actors, need to keep their mouths shut when it comes to politics- unless of course you are Sean Penn. Maggie Gyllenhaal
Glenn Close has beaten Barbra Streisand for the role of Norma Desmond is the next remake of the classic Sunset Blvd. Close played the role in Los Angeles and New York.
Women's Review of Books which shuttered last December has found a new lease on life. Look for it to return in January. Women's Review of Books
Sports
Hats of to Tiffney Milbrett of the US National Women's Soccer team for becoming the 6th woman to score 100 international goals in competition. The US beat Ukraine 7-0.
O'Connor for chief justice? O'Connor for Chief
Ellen Goodman's latest column on Justice O'Connor Goodman
Susan Estrich's latest column on Roe v Wade Estrich
Overheard
"We've all been bracing for a Supreme Court resignation, and now that it's come, I can feel the chill wind blow," says Kathleen Turner. "Sandra Day O'Connor upheld constitutional protections for women. Now that she's leaving, we can expect Bush to nominate a replacement who is hostile to women's freedoms. I urge everyone to stay involved and let it be known that we have a pro-choice majority in this country." (Daily News)
Maggie Gyllenhaal has learned the hard way that actors, especially women actors, need to keep their mouths shut when it comes to politics- unless of course you are Sean Penn. Maggie Gyllenhaal
Glenn Close has beaten Barbra Streisand for the role of Norma Desmond is the next remake of the classic Sunset Blvd. Close played the role in Los Angeles and New York.
Women's Review of Books which shuttered last December has found a new lease on life. Look for it to return in January. Women's Review of Books
Sports
Hats of to Tiffney Milbrett of the US National Women's Soccer team for becoming the 6th woman to score 100 international goals in competition. The US beat Ukraine 7-0.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
It was announced that Oprah Winfrey has been given the National civil rights Museum's highest honor, the National Freedom Award. The ceremony will take place in November.
Books
If you haven't discovered Jennifer Weiner's books yet, get a paperback copy of her first book, Good In Bed and you will fall in love. Her characters are real, funny and not stick thin. Her second book In Her Shoes was bought by Hollywood even before it was published. The film stars Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine. It opens in October. Her third book Little Earthquakes is just out in paperback and her 4th book comes out in September. Not bad for a girl who got 24 rejection letters before being published. Jennifer Weiner rules!
Sports
Two months ago, 11 year old Little Leaguer, Katie Brownell was the first girl to pitch a perfect game in baseball. (Girls have been allowed to play in Little League since 1974) She struck out all the batters she faced in a six inning game- that's 18 strikeouts. This week, she donated her uniform shirt, glove and ball to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Coopertown, NY. YOU GO GIRL.
On the another note the International Olympic Committee voted to cut baseball and softball from the 2012 games- huh?
These teenage girl golfers freak me out a little. They are way too serious and focused. But, they're good. Michelle Wie, the 15 year old phenom, is on track to become the first woman to make a PGA Tour cut since Babe Didrikson Zaharias in 1945.
Abby Wambach is leading the US Women's National team since the departure of Mia Hamm. She will try to keep the US undefeated in Sunday's game against Ukraine (6:30pm EST; ESPN2) Abby Wambach
Movies
I wish that I could recommend any of the movies opening this weekend but they all look dreadful. The films that I have enjoyed this summer are:
Mad Hot Ballroom- a documentary following the ballroom dance competition that is held in New York City schools. Two big thumbs up. Mad Hot Ballroom
Saving Face- directed by Alice Wu- tells the story of a Chinese mother and daughter and how family can let you down at the same time as building you up. Saving Face
Heights- I can never get enough of Glenn Close on screen. In Heights, the film by Chris Terrio she plays the wildly successful actress Diana Lee (she wears a dark straight wig) in a film that covers 24 hours in the lives of several New Yorkers.
Books
If you haven't discovered Jennifer Weiner's books yet, get a paperback copy of her first book, Good In Bed and you will fall in love. Her characters are real, funny and not stick thin. Her second book In Her Shoes was bought by Hollywood even before it was published. The film stars Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine. It opens in October. Her third book Little Earthquakes is just out in paperback and her 4th book comes out in September. Not bad for a girl who got 24 rejection letters before being published. Jennifer Weiner rules!
Sports
Two months ago, 11 year old Little Leaguer, Katie Brownell was the first girl to pitch a perfect game in baseball. (Girls have been allowed to play in Little League since 1974) She struck out all the batters she faced in a six inning game- that's 18 strikeouts. This week, she donated her uniform shirt, glove and ball to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Coopertown, NY. YOU GO GIRL.
On the another note the International Olympic Committee voted to cut baseball and softball from the 2012 games- huh?
These teenage girl golfers freak me out a little. They are way too serious and focused. But, they're good. Michelle Wie, the 15 year old phenom, is on track to become the first woman to make a PGA Tour cut since Babe Didrikson Zaharias in 1945.
Abby Wambach is leading the US Women's National team since the departure of Mia Hamm. She will try to keep the US undefeated in Sunday's game against Ukraine (6:30pm EST; ESPN2) Abby Wambach
Movies
I wish that I could recommend any of the movies opening this weekend but they all look dreadful. The films that I have enjoyed this summer are:
Mad Hot Ballroom- a documentary following the ballroom dance competition that is held in New York City schools. Two big thumbs up. Mad Hot Ballroom
Saving Face- directed by Alice Wu- tells the story of a Chinese mother and daughter and how family can let you down at the same time as building you up. Saving Face
Heights- I can never get enough of Glenn Close on screen. In Heights, the film by Chris Terrio she plays the wildly successful actress Diana Lee (she wears a dark straight wig) in a film that covers 24 hours in the lives of several New Yorkers.
What We Need to Know Today
O'Connor Watch
NY Times reports that Democrats are encouraging the President to look for the new justice is the same mold as O'Connor. O'Connor
Women at Work
Judith Miller on the NY Times goes to jail for protecting her source (she didn't even write a story) and Matthew Cooper gets off. Miller jailed
The US Mission to the UN is in the capable hands of Anne W. Patterson while the Botlon nomination continues to struggle in Congress. How about dumping Bolton and keeping the woman who has been in charge since January? Anne W. Patterson
Katha Pollit comments on the movement afoot to reframe the abortion debate. reframing abortion
From Today's Salon
Bush's woman troubles
After George W. Bush's most recent press conference, some reporters complained that the president hadn't taken questions from very many female reporters -- "very many," in this case, meaning more than one. The day after the press conference, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan was asked, "At the press conference yesterday, approximately 25 percent of the journalists were women, and the president took only one question from a woman reporter. Can you explain this pattern?" McClellan said it was the media's fault; if editors would assign more female reporters to the White House, the president would have the ability to call on more female reporters.
If that answer wasn't exactly a satisfying one, the president didn't help himself much during a stop in Denmark on the way to Scotland Tuesday. Bush apparently wanted to take a question from Reuters, so he shouted out, "Reuters man, Toby." Only it turns out that "Reuters man, Toby" is Tabassum Zakaria, who happens to be a woman. Bush immediately corrected himself, then made matters worse. "Woman -- excuse me, I can see that," he said. "So how long have you been on the presidential beat?" When Zakaria said that she'd been covering the White House since February, Bush told her, "Yes, well, make yourself less scarce."
Sports
The US Women's National soccer team is planning their second of three summer games this Sunday in Portland Oregon. The team is going through a major transition with a new coach and many new players in the post Mia Hamm era. The game is live on July 10 at 6:30pm on ESPN2. US women adjust to post Mia era
Theatre
A new play by Wendy Wasserstein is to open the 21st season of Lincoln Center Theater. With a cast including Charles Durning and Dianne Wiest, the play, "Third," to be directed by Daniel Sullivan, deals with a college professor whose life as an educator, wife, mother and daughter is thrown into disarray after she accuses a student of plagiarism. Previews at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater are to begin on Sept. 29; the official opening date is Oct. 24.
NY Times reports that Democrats are encouraging the President to look for the new justice is the same mold as O'Connor. O'Connor
Women at Work
Judith Miller on the NY Times goes to jail for protecting her source (she didn't even write a story) and Matthew Cooper gets off. Miller jailed
The US Mission to the UN is in the capable hands of Anne W. Patterson while the Botlon nomination continues to struggle in Congress. How about dumping Bolton and keeping the woman who has been in charge since January? Anne W. Patterson
Katha Pollit comments on the movement afoot to reframe the abortion debate. reframing abortion
From Today's Salon
Bush's woman troubles
After George W. Bush's most recent press conference, some reporters complained that the president hadn't taken questions from very many female reporters -- "very many," in this case, meaning more than one. The day after the press conference, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan was asked, "At the press conference yesterday, approximately 25 percent of the journalists were women, and the president took only one question from a woman reporter. Can you explain this pattern?" McClellan said it was the media's fault; if editors would assign more female reporters to the White House, the president would have the ability to call on more female reporters.
If that answer wasn't exactly a satisfying one, the president didn't help himself much during a stop in Denmark on the way to Scotland Tuesday. Bush apparently wanted to take a question from Reuters, so he shouted out, "Reuters man, Toby." Only it turns out that "Reuters man, Toby" is Tabassum Zakaria, who happens to be a woman. Bush immediately corrected himself, then made matters worse. "Woman -- excuse me, I can see that," he said. "So how long have you been on the presidential beat?" When Zakaria said that she'd been covering the White House since February, Bush told her, "Yes, well, make yourself less scarce."
Sports
The US Women's National soccer team is planning their second of three summer games this Sunday in Portland Oregon. The team is going through a major transition with a new coach and many new players in the post Mia Hamm era. The game is live on July 10 at 6:30pm on ESPN2. US women adjust to post Mia era
Theatre
A new play by Wendy Wasserstein is to open the 21st season of Lincoln Center Theater. With a cast including Charles Durning and Dianne Wiest, the play, "Third," to be directed by Daniel Sullivan, deals with a college professor whose life as an educator, wife, mother and daughter is thrown into disarray after she accuses a student of plagiarism. Previews at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater are to begin on Sept. 29; the official opening date is Oct. 24.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
Anna Quindlen weighs in on the controversy over emergency contraception. She writes "Feminist advocates have always suspected that the anti-abortion movement is less motivated by the sanctity of life than by opposition to women's rights." Really? You Think? Plan B
O'Connor Watch
USA Today has an editorial from Tony Mauro about the importance of making sure the nominee is a woman. The one thing I learned from this piece is that the public women's restroom did not open at the same time as the men's room and it took Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor until 1996 to get this fixed. That's just crazy. We all know that women pee way more than men. appoint another woman
Slate gives us a look at a presumptive short list and their stands on Roe v Wade. Slate
Celeb Fact
Angelina Jolie has adopted a baby girl from Ethiopia. Her name is Zahara Marley Jolie.
Sports
The WNBA All-Star game is Saturday at 4pm on ABC. There are many things that bother me about how the players get picked to be on the team, but the most bothersome is the continuing realization that women's sports is just like men's sports. The starters on the team got picked by the fans and it was just a popularity contest. Swin Cash has spent the entire season looking pretty on the bench and played her first game last night. There is no way she should be on the team, yet she is a starter. Come on. The WNBA should step up and pull her at least as a starter.
I don't usually agree with ESPN's Nancy Lieberman about anything but I agree with her on the Lindsey Whalen snub. She's good- really good. Dawn Staley has seen her day, it's Lindsey's turn and she got snubbed. I would venture to say that the entire east starting lineup aside from Tamika Catchings (sorry Becky) is just crap. Ruth Riley shows up to play sometimes and Becky Hammon is just inconsistent. When she plays well, the Liberty win, but when she doesn't play well, they lose.
People in the west handled it better. Here are the lineups.
WNBA All Star Lineup
TidBit of the Day
Two studies related to women appear in The Journal of the American Medical Association. First study says there is no link between low levels of testosterone and sex drive in women. Story in LA Times - sex drive in women
Second study discusses whether Vitamin E helps prevent heart disease and strokes.
Vitamin E.
O'Connor Watch
USA Today has an editorial from Tony Mauro about the importance of making sure the nominee is a woman. The one thing I learned from this piece is that the public women's restroom did not open at the same time as the men's room and it took Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor until 1996 to get this fixed. That's just crazy. We all know that women pee way more than men. appoint another woman
Slate gives us a look at a presumptive short list and their stands on Roe v Wade. Slate
Celeb Fact
Angelina Jolie has adopted a baby girl from Ethiopia. Her name is Zahara Marley Jolie.
Sports
The WNBA All-Star game is Saturday at 4pm on ABC. There are many things that bother me about how the players get picked to be on the team, but the most bothersome is the continuing realization that women's sports is just like men's sports. The starters on the team got picked by the fans and it was just a popularity contest. Swin Cash has spent the entire season looking pretty on the bench and played her first game last night. There is no way she should be on the team, yet she is a starter. Come on. The WNBA should step up and pull her at least as a starter.
I don't usually agree with ESPN's Nancy Lieberman about anything but I agree with her on the Lindsey Whalen snub. She's good- really good. Dawn Staley has seen her day, it's Lindsey's turn and she got snubbed. I would venture to say that the entire east starting lineup aside from Tamika Catchings (sorry Becky) is just crap. Ruth Riley shows up to play sometimes and Becky Hammon is just inconsistent. When she plays well, the Liberty win, but when she doesn't play well, they lose.
People in the west handled it better. Here are the lineups.
WNBA All Star Lineup
TidBit of the Day
Two studies related to women appear in The Journal of the American Medical Association. First study says there is no link between low levels of testosterone and sex drive in women. Story in LA Times - sex drive in women
Second study discusses whether Vitamin E helps prevent heart disease and strokes.
Vitamin E.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
What We Need to Know Today
So, today is the first work day after Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement. I have a sneaking suspicion that it won't be as relaxing a summer as some hoped. If anyone says that the fight over the next justice will not be about women's rights - get a clue. It's time to organize- we just need to figure out a new way to reach people.
Article to read:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0507050188jul05,1,3227323.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
Eric Rudolph, the abortion clinic bomber, has written his mother letters from prison and they are highlighted today and tomorrow in USA Today.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050705/1a_cover05_dom.art.htm
Tom Cruise's War of the World has made 113 million since it opened last week. The thing that bothered me about this movie is that the leading female character is a 10 year old girl, Dakota Fanning, who spends the entire movie screaming. No movie would ever be made in Hollywood where a woman is the lead and there is no supporting male character. Just doesn't happen.
Check out:
The F Word in today's Salon (you don't need to become a member of Salon anymore- you can look at an ad and get a site pass for the day) >The Article focuses on the use of the word feminism and should "the movement" abandon it in order to get more people to support the issues.
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2005/07/05/f_word/index.html
Sports
Now that men's basketball is over, the women are on NBA TV on a regular basis and ESPN at least once a week. Don't miss these great women athletes. For schedules check out http://www.wnba.com.
Tonight - Diana Taurasi (who has lately been shooting so poorly I'm beginning to think that all the talk about her was just talk) and the Mercury take on the Silver Stars at 8pm on ESPN.
The WNBA All-Star game is Saturday at 4pm on ABC. More on the All-Stars later in the week.
Weird Fact of The Day
Women feel more pain than men. Shocker!
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13888966
Monday, July 04, 2005
Happy 4th
Things to Know To Be In The Know
Make sure you read Brooke Shields slam on Tom Cruise for knowing more about post-partum depression than women. I personally have lost all confidence in Tom Cruise as a human being - but maybe he is an alien since he seems to want to talk about aliens all the time.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/01/opinion/01shields.html?
TV
I'm in love with Kyra Sedgwick on TNT's summer series The Closer- it airs Monday evenings - 9pm EST. The show did so well that it has already been renewed for a second season after only three episodes. Kyra- married to Kevin Bacon - never quite made it to A level status in Hollywood even though she is much more talented than many of the A List actresses.
DVD
Vera Drake- Mike Leigh's great film about an abortionist in 1950s England got Imelda Staunton an Oscar nomination. It's a typical British film, quiet and small, but it gets its point across without being preachy.
Bride and Prejudice- Director Gurinder Chada's post Bend it Like Beckham film is a remake of Pride and Prejudice done Bollywood style. It's a bit of a mess, but is shot on location in India and is beautiful to look at.
POLITICS
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of almost Vice-President John Edwards, is shopping a proposal to write a memoir. From Publisher's Weekly
"According to the proposal, the book will cover a range of events, including Edwards' life as a military daughter, the death of her son, the 2004 campaign and her recent struggle with breast cancer. While the story will be personal, the larger theme of the book involves the people who've rallied around Edwards. Edwards will write the book herself, say sources."
My personal feeling is that she should run for office. She was the one who came off the best on the campaign trail
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Comments? Questions? Thoughts?
email me: melsilv@gmail.com
Sunday, July 03, 2005
In The Know
I am very tired of blogs being so boy focused. Have you noticed that all the bloggers are guys? Well, I've had enough and with some encouragement I am joining the blogosphere.
I am going to focus my blog on things you should know that are going on for and about women: books; films; tv shows; sports anything that's important.
I can't promise to post every day, but I will as often as I can.
Melissa
I am going to focus my blog on things you should know that are going on for and about women: books; films; tv shows; sports anything that's important.
I can't promise to post every day, but I will as often as I can.
Melissa
