I caught a story on CNN this morning (rare enough by itself, but that's another post) about FaceBook having deleted pictures of women breast-feeding because they included an exposed breast, which violates their terms of service. I could get all self-righteous and indignant about FaceBook, but the truth is they are just enforcing community standards.
Stupid community standards.
I used to teach breastfeeding as one of my duties as a Neonatal nurse. I remember one time we had a local news anchor deliver a baby at the unit where I worked. She was a most fetching young woman for whom I had nurtured a distant crush for years. As luck would have it, my name came up on the rotation when it was time to go help her baby teach her to breastfeed.
As I walked down the hall to her room I thought about all the times I had watched her on TV, staring lustfully at her breasts, and wondering what was going to happen to me when I went in there and asked her to slip her gown off one shoulder so I could see what kind of nipples we were dealing with.
I did, I saw she had good nipples for breastfeeding, and I showed her my favorite trick for stimulating the roof of the baby's mouth so it will latch on. She caught on quickly and when her baby latched on for the first time she flashed the brilliant smile at me that I had grown accustomed to seeing on the 10 o'clock news.
THAT, the smile, was erotically pleasing, her breasts were not. Why? The context.
I was not seeing her breasts in an erotic context. Breast-feeding (except for a tiny "proves the rule" group of fetishists) is not an erotic context. In some ways I'm surprised by my reaction, I mean in one sense it should be because all of this erotic energy around breasts is supposed to be about some unexpressed maternal longing, but that theory fails me. I find breastfeeding women and children beautiful sometimes because of the wonder of what is happening, but it is not erotic, not even a little. It is more like the beauty of child sleeping peacefully.
I think because we lock breasts away in the country, cover them up so, that they artificially acquire this de facto forbidden, erotic quality no matter what the context. I used to live in a clothing-optional environment where topless women were routine, and in that social context their breasts acquired the same status as any other physical feature. I really liked to look at some of them, but I really liked to look at other women's legs, or face, or hair, or any other feature of physical female pulchitrude, most of which are not routinely hidden.
So, I just think it is entirely ridiculous that we have this discussion at all. They're just boobs. Facebook should attend to the context in which a breast is exposed before taking down the pictures.
There's a FaceBook group to joining to express an opinion about this, by the way.
What do you think?
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
NCAAB: What they're made of.
As I mentioned in my previous post on the subject, this week was telling for the 08-09 Tarheels. They had three conference games in seven days, two on the road. They lost the first one in a particularly ugly game against Wake Forest, a team that will probably emerge with the #1 ranking soon, and then had a couple of marginally-impressive wins against ACC opponents Virginia and Miami (FL).
They will see Virginia and Miami again this season, and either team could beat them, but they won't see Wake again until the ACC tourney, thank goodness.
This stretch has demonstrated a couple of things that every serious long-time college basketball fan knows: (1.) having a number of your starters back from a previously successful season does not guarantee that they will be better this year, or even as good, and (2) pre-season rankings and expectations get more poisonous as one nears the top of such things.
The Tarheels were the unanimous #1 team pre-season, people regarded them as such a sure thing that it almost seemed like a waste of time and money to ask them to play any games before The Final Four. Now, Tarheel fans are anxious about winning the ACC.
Last night, there was one point where Tyler Hanbrough had 20 of the Tarheels 31 points. Hansbrough wasn't a ball hog or mis-matched, he got a lot of those points at the line, this was just a measure of how cold the other shooters were. Bobby Frasior was consistently missing to the right, Lawson wasn't taking any shots, and Ellington couldn't get anything to drop and stopped taking shots. Danny Green was awesome once again, the best 6th man in the country has been impressive as a starter as defensive specialist Marcus Ginyard is still in street clothes with his slow-healing stress fracture in his foot.
They went into the half ahead because Miami didn't score in the last 6 minutes of the first half, then something switched on for Ellington and he went from 0 points to 17 in the first six minutes of the second half That salted the game away for Miami, despite being tough under the boards and mounting some impressive stabs at a run they could never put anything together.
So, where are we?
The Tarheels are a team that has suffered from believing their own press. They accept being behind early far too readily and it takes too much momentum to push them into aggressive play. Coach Williams has been making some inexplicable substitution choices. I don't understand why he is relying so much upon WIll Graves, and I wonder where Deon Thompson's game has gone.
The ACC is going to have at least six teams at the show this year and could end up with four in the sweet sixteen easily. This is a tough conference and the team is going ot have to earn it's expected place at the top of the conference. We still have to play a surprising Duke team twice, and as I indicated above, we are going to have to play a Virginia and a Miami team bent on settling a score before we get there.
This is going to be tough, if the Tarheels go this year, it will be earned. They can do it, but there's work ahead.
They will see Virginia and Miami again this season, and either team could beat them, but they won't see Wake again until the ACC tourney, thank goodness.
This stretch has demonstrated a couple of things that every serious long-time college basketball fan knows: (1.) having a number of your starters back from a previously successful season does not guarantee that they will be better this year, or even as good, and (2) pre-season rankings and expectations get more poisonous as one nears the top of such things.
The Tarheels were the unanimous #1 team pre-season, people regarded them as such a sure thing that it almost seemed like a waste of time and money to ask them to play any games before The Final Four. Now, Tarheel fans are anxious about winning the ACC.
Last night, there was one point where Tyler Hanbrough had 20 of the Tarheels 31 points. Hansbrough wasn't a ball hog or mis-matched, he got a lot of those points at the line, this was just a measure of how cold the other shooters were. Bobby Frasior was consistently missing to the right, Lawson wasn't taking any shots, and Ellington couldn't get anything to drop and stopped taking shots. Danny Green was awesome once again, the best 6th man in the country has been impressive as a starter as defensive specialist Marcus Ginyard is still in street clothes with his slow-healing stress fracture in his foot.
They went into the half ahead because Miami didn't score in the last 6 minutes of the first half, then something switched on for Ellington and he went from 0 points to 17 in the first six minutes of the second half That salted the game away for Miami, despite being tough under the boards and mounting some impressive stabs at a run they could never put anything together.
So, where are we?
The Tarheels are a team that has suffered from believing their own press. They accept being behind early far too readily and it takes too much momentum to push them into aggressive play. Coach Williams has been making some inexplicable substitution choices. I don't understand why he is relying so much upon WIll Graves, and I wonder where Deon Thompson's game has gone.
The ACC is going to have at least six teams at the show this year and could end up with four in the sweet sixteen easily. This is a tough conference and the team is going ot have to earn it's expected place at the top of the conference. We still have to play a surprising Duke team twice, and as I indicated above, we are going to have to play a Virginia and a Miami team bent on settling a score before we get there.
This is going to be tough, if the Tarheels go this year, it will be earned. They can do it, but there's work ahead.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
NCAA BB: The Tarheels tank.
First you had the loss to Boston College. Undefeated season RIP. BC played well and took skillful advantage of the Tarheels poor play. They deserved the win and the Tarheels deserved the loss.
But the loss wasn't what really hurt. What really hurt was BC's loss to Harvard immediately following their victory over the Tarheels. Ouch, m-fin' ouch. It was Harvard's first victory over a top 25 team. Ever. Harvard can beat a team that the Tarheels can't? What?
Then there's tonight's loss to Wake Forest.
Wake Forest has a good basketball team. They're young, but they play well. They understand how to win. They earned the win, they played better.
The Tarheels clearly seem to be too impressed with themselves.
They are on the road at Virginia on Thursday and then meet Miami at home on Saturday. That's two road games and one home game in about 6 days and 3 hours. We are going to find out what this team is really made of in the next week.
But the loss wasn't what really hurt. What really hurt was BC's loss to Harvard immediately following their victory over the Tarheels. Ouch, m-fin' ouch. It was Harvard's first victory over a top 25 team. Ever. Harvard can beat a team that the Tarheels can't? What?
Then there's tonight's loss to Wake Forest.
Wake Forest has a good basketball team. They're young, but they play well. They understand how to win. They earned the win, they played better.
The Tarheels clearly seem to be too impressed with themselves.
They are on the road at Virginia on Thursday and then meet Miami at home on Saturday. That's two road games and one home game in about 6 days and 3 hours. We are going to find out what this team is really made of in the next week.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Fun Fat Facts
I read it on the Internet, it must be true.
-----
In 2006, the surgeon general called obesity "the terror within" and said it could "dwarf 9/11 or any other terrorist attempt."
A recent anti-obesity ad campaign featured a "suicide bomber" with bars of butter strapped to his chest.
A 2002 study found that 13% of men and 17% of women of recruitment age are too fat to serve in the military.
In 1997, the World Health Organization teamed up with the International Obesity Task Force to redefine obesity standards. "Overweight" was defined as a body mass index (bmi) of 25 or more, down from 27.8.
70% of the Obesity Task Force's funding comes from the two drug companies that make the popular weight-loss pills Xenical, Meridia, and Reductil.
In 1998, the US government adopted the new bmi standards, spurring fears of an "obesity epidemic."
That move was hailed by the American Obesity Association, a lobbying group that's received funding from Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.
Sarah Hartshorne, a "plus size" contestant on America's Next Top Model, has a bmi of 21.5—well within the "normal" range.
Recent studies have attributed obesity to low-fat foods, lack of sleep, ear infections, intestinal bacteria, pollution, plastics, poverty, air conditioners, socializing with obese people, your mom's age when you were born, and your maternal grandmother's diet.
Researchers say obese Americans contribute disproportionately to global warming by consuming 18% more food and 938 million extra gallons of gas every year.
Southwest Airlines requires customers "who compromise any portion of adjacent seating" to buy 2 seats.
People who weigh more than 220 lbs are 150% less likely to survive a car crash than those under 130 lbs.
All 157 West Virginia public middle schools use the video game Dance Dance Revolution in gym classes.
Schools in Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina, and Tennessee send "obesity report cards" to parents.
One Pennsylvania school district that does so serves pizza and churros for breakfast.
The federal government's list of banned foods in school cafeterias doesn't include fries, candy bars, or chocolate chip cookies.
In 2005, Sesame Street changed Cookie Monster's theme song from "C Is for Cookie" to "A Cookie Is a Sometime Food."
In 2005, British doctors said a 15-year-old who'd eaten only jam sandwiches and Pop-Tarts since he was 4 was totally healthy, except for an iron deficiency.
A 2008 study on "brideorexia" found that 70% of brides-to-be try to lose weight. Almost 1/4 try fasting, pills, or laxatives.
First-time users of Alli, a new over-the-counter fat-blocking pill, are advised to "wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work."
People consume an average of 28% more calories when eating snacks labeled "low fat," in part because they mistakenly think they're eating fewer calories.
In 2007, T.G.I. Fridays rolled out a "Right Portion" Cajun pasta dish with 4 times more fat than the usda's daily recommendation.
People served soup in bowls that secretly refilled ate 73% more than those eating from normal bowls. But they felt just as full afterward.
The "Diet Fork" has dull teeth and an uncomfortable grip that force eaters to "scoop less."
"Diet glasses," whose blue tint makes food look less appealing, were big in Japan last year.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera wear $250 sneakers by Masai Barefoot Technology, which claims they burn cellulite.
The net worths of white women whose bmis fall 10 points increase by an average of $11,800.
Loss Leaders
Christian weight-loss books include What Would Jesus Eat? and More of Jesus, Less of Me.
25 minutes of daily Islamic prayers burns 80 calories.
ChastitySF.com, a Catholic site, tells dieters to imagine a "Purgatory where every unnecessary mouthful of food you have ever taken will be purged from you as flaming vomit."
Liquids account for 22% of the average American's daily calories.
After New York City made eateries post nutritional data, a survey found that 80% of diners were surprised that a Big Mac meal had 1,200 calories.
A recent Burger King commercial included the line, "I will eat this meat until my innie turns into an outie."
Last year, a Republican Mississippi state legislator proposed prohibiting restaurants from serving obese people.
Researchers asked 3,000 overweight people how they responded to discrimination; 79% said they ate more.
Active obese people are almost 50% less likely to die of heart disease than sedentary thin people.
Playboy Playmates of the Year selected during tough social and economic times are heavier and have larger waists.
When the Dow lost nearly 778 points in one day last September, every S&P 500 company went down—except Campbell's Soup.
-----
In 2006, the surgeon general called obesity "the terror within" and said it could "dwarf 9/11 or any other terrorist attempt."
A recent anti-obesity ad campaign featured a "suicide bomber" with bars of butter strapped to his chest.
A 2002 study found that 13% of men and 17% of women of recruitment age are too fat to serve in the military.
In 1997, the World Health Organization teamed up with the International Obesity Task Force to redefine obesity standards. "Overweight" was defined as a body mass index (bmi) of 25 or more, down from 27.8.
70% of the Obesity Task Force's funding comes from the two drug companies that make the popular weight-loss pills Xenical, Meridia, and Reductil.
In 1998, the US government adopted the new bmi standards, spurring fears of an "obesity epidemic."
That move was hailed by the American Obesity Association, a lobbying group that's received funding from Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.
Sarah Hartshorne, a "plus size" contestant on America's Next Top Model, has a bmi of 21.5—well within the "normal" range.
Recent studies have attributed obesity to low-fat foods, lack of sleep, ear infections, intestinal bacteria, pollution, plastics, poverty, air conditioners, socializing with obese people, your mom's age when you were born, and your maternal grandmother's diet.
Researchers say obese Americans contribute disproportionately to global warming by consuming 18% more food and 938 million extra gallons of gas every year.
Southwest Airlines requires customers "who compromise any portion of adjacent seating" to buy 2 seats.
People who weigh more than 220 lbs are 150% less likely to survive a car crash than those under 130 lbs.
All 157 West Virginia public middle schools use the video game Dance Dance Revolution in gym classes.
Schools in Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina, and Tennessee send "obesity report cards" to parents.
One Pennsylvania school district that does so serves pizza and churros for breakfast.
The federal government's list of banned foods in school cafeterias doesn't include fries, candy bars, or chocolate chip cookies.
In 2005, Sesame Street changed Cookie Monster's theme song from "C Is for Cookie" to "A Cookie Is a Sometime Food."
In 2005, British doctors said a 15-year-old who'd eaten only jam sandwiches and Pop-Tarts since he was 4 was totally healthy, except for an iron deficiency.
A 2008 study on "brideorexia" found that 70% of brides-to-be try to lose weight. Almost 1/4 try fasting, pills, or laxatives.
First-time users of Alli, a new over-the-counter fat-blocking pill, are advised to "wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work."
People consume an average of 28% more calories when eating snacks labeled "low fat," in part because they mistakenly think they're eating fewer calories.
In 2007, T.G.I. Fridays rolled out a "Right Portion" Cajun pasta dish with 4 times more fat than the usda's daily recommendation.
People served soup in bowls that secretly refilled ate 73% more than those eating from normal bowls. But they felt just as full afterward.
The "Diet Fork" has dull teeth and an uncomfortable grip that force eaters to "scoop less."
"Diet glasses," whose blue tint makes food look less appealing, were big in Japan last year.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera wear $250 sneakers by Masai Barefoot Technology, which claims they burn cellulite.
The net worths of white women whose bmis fall 10 points increase by an average of $11,800.
Loss Leaders
Christian weight-loss books include What Would Jesus Eat? and More of Jesus, Less of Me.
25 minutes of daily Islamic prayers burns 80 calories.
ChastitySF.com, a Catholic site, tells dieters to imagine a "Purgatory where every unnecessary mouthful of food you have ever taken will be purged from you as flaming vomit."
Liquids account for 22% of the average American's daily calories.
After New York City made eateries post nutritional data, a survey found that 80% of diners were surprised that a Big Mac meal had 1,200 calories.
A recent Burger King commercial included the line, "I will eat this meat until my innie turns into an outie."
Last year, a Republican Mississippi state legislator proposed prohibiting restaurants from serving obese people.
Researchers asked 3,000 overweight people how they responded to discrimination; 79% said they ate more.
Active obese people are almost 50% less likely to die of heart disease than sedentary thin people.
Playboy Playmates of the Year selected during tough social and economic times are heavier and have larger waists.
When the Dow lost nearly 778 points in one day last September, every S&P 500 company went down—except Campbell's Soup.
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