Plucky little pony

Not sure I can really justify why this tickles me so, it just does. One of life's mysteries.

Televisual treats: Amish gap years, homocidal University staff and parental gender desires.

• Rizzoli and Isles had a storyline about a murderous pimp who happened to be a residence advisor - beware all those heading to University this fall - your local, friendly helping-hand could be your worst nightmare!
• Amish: World's Squarest Teenagers was another fly-on-the-wall documentary where the participants were clearly prepped about what controversial things to say or do, yet it was still eye-opening and warming, unexpectedly so. I learned about bundling, the different types of Amish clothing options (and how Becky wore shorts on the beach!) and how dancing for joy (and to glorify God) can be life changing.
• 8 Boys and Wanting a Girl talked about PGD and the controversy. But no-one mentioned whether it was selection of a foetus based on gender, for which I can understand people's concerns. Or whether it was sperm selection (using centrifuge to spin off the light from the heavier sperm, since one type is mostly male) and then swamping a syphoned ovum in that selected sperm, or whether they actually selected a specific spermatozoa to implant in an ovum. This latter technique seems less controversial, but presumably it is more expensive. Also the feature was about women wanting girls in a family of men. I have two questions:
• Do those with gender disappointment tend to wish they had girls? Are there more mothers wanting mini-me's than there are fathers wanting little girls? Are there a similar number of dads in feminine families wanting some male company?
• Do these parents realise that even if they do conceive the longed for daughter or son, that they may turn out just the same as the other children - tree-climbing, gun-loving, football-playing, or doll-dressing, tea-making, pink-wearing? There is no assumption that the preferred gender will meet the cultural desires the parents want fulfilled. Mummy may not be able to go shopping for girly dresses with the daughter - she might want combats. Daddy may not get to go camping with his son, if he would rather stay home and play house. Do they prepare for this mentally? What if the kid is gender dysmorphic or sexually queer? Are they prepared for this? Does fulfilling the desire for a certain gender simply mean that the child must have the right genitalia? Would these mothers be happy with a gay son who wants to go to the gymkhana, discuss hair styles, or whatever else these women assume their imagined daughter would do? Would a father be okay with a butch daughter who can throw a ball, rugby tackle and make armpit burps with the best of them? I guess not. I think these parents are longing for a cultural stereotype that is unrealistic. They are hoping for a certain stereotype of personality rather than the genetic gender. Would any of their children feel pressure to be other than their current gender - do any of them consider transvestism or a transgendered identity more readily due to familial pressure? 

Okay, I have four questions actually: 

• Why don't any of these families consider adoption or fostering? Do they want a little version of themselves so badly?

•  What happens if the child is sick or disabled? They would be the right gender but the parents wouldn't be able to do all the 'gender-appropriate' activities - is that child still valid in their eyes as fulfilling the category they so badly desire? Would another healthy child of the right gender be needed to adequately satisfy this hunger?

Ann Reinking does 'All That Jazz' - amazing choreography

International Dance Day Flash Mob at the Toronto Eaton Centre, Official ...

Ice dancing...and why not

I really wish I could embed this video, but until I work it out, please do go to YouTube to see Torvill and Dean's 1984 Bolero - awesome.

Tempting films to trip the light fantastic...

• Bring It On: Fight to the Finish

• Bring It On: In It to Win It

• Bring It On: All or Nothing

• Bring It on Again

• Roll Bounce

• You Got Served

• Center Stage: Turn It Up

• Flashdance

• Stomp the Yard

• Step Up 2: The Streets

• Save the Last Dance 2

• Center Stage

Today's trifles

I really wanted to love Glee - and for many reasons (good tunes, beautiful cast, Jane Lynch, LGBTQ themes) - however, there were a couple of things I didn't love. The disabled character Arty/Artie (there is no consistency in spelling thus far) is played by an able-bodied actor which makes his use of his wheelchair inaccurate and begs the question, why not hire someone who actually uses a wheelchair day-to-day? This has already been noted on Media dis n dat (UPDATE: and would in months' time be noted in Bitch). Also his was the only audition to the Glee club that we never saw. The fantastic pianist was never named, so I cannot identify the performer - even imdb.com does not help.

Yet Kurt will be openly gay (and an ace football player later in the series), plus the potentially-lesbian Tina, Arty's weird semi-campness, Rachel's two gay dads, the ex-teacher Sandy Ryerson and Lynch's sport-mad Sue Sylvester may well represent the gayest cast list on modern mainstream television.

I might be taking my team out clubbing next week and we are planning on wearing hilarious late 1980's/early 1990's rave clothes. I think I am taking the theme a bit far though, because I'm growing my eyebrows into a Brooke Shields' style for the occasion - they are a bit patchy right now. Eventually they will be just like hers.



















I bought some candy from Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe to find that they reminded me of Greenclaws' seeds and now I've eaten too many - I need to go have a long drink of water.

TTYL

The Easter Weekend has arrived...

So, I'm heading home to spend my birthday (Monday) with my family. The sun is shining. The train is filling up nicely. I have my war paint on already in anticipation of a bit knees-up tonight con mis amigos viejos - they are not so old in age, but they are from olden times, yore and way back when.

Treats for today include:

• Feminist art exhibitionists
• Nipple-tassel malfunction Now I am not a fan of big ladies, as previously discussed, but I am a fan of bodypositivism, so whilst I do not find her appearance and routine sexually exciting, I do applaud her confidence and 'fuck you' attitude.
• Non-traditional singing sensation
• Voting for internet success: app's, links, etc.

Don't forget, you can follow me on twitter, too!

Tuesday tutorial...

Need clever pictures designed to stimulate debate? Check this one about feminism and then explore SocImages further...

Exciting new European LGBT tv channel is coming! Fruit.tv want suggestions as to their content - give your opinions here. I love the name SO many allusions... Jeanette Winterson - yay!

Wondering who is on IoS Pink List 2009? Me, too! Check out last year's whilst we wait...

Also EllenTV has released a sneaky clip of Halle Berry dancing on the show through twitter... watch it here!