Letters to the Editor
stackey-dackey
Published Letters: 287 Editor's Choice: 8
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MJD - Urban Legend Alert
[Read the article: What's in a bat-crap-crazy name?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Did you look at the Snopes article about the name "Female." People are constantly harping on the effed up names black people give their children. okay, I will admit some of the made up monikers I've seen are just wrong and silly, but black people very rarely name their kids, Pilot Inspektor. They just make up names and spellings. (this is ofcourse a gross generalization and I do not say I speak for all blacks.)
I met a woman who was fascinated with the letter Q and she named her children Quantraz and Quaneshia. Some of the names aren't the aesthetically pretty to my ear, but they are trying to be creative. Unfortunately, this generation of children will have a harder time getting a job because of their name; luckily for me my parents went with a very "white" name, very popular in 1970's California.
I'm pretty much against naming your child any of those grandiose names (I met a woman who named her child Messiah. Messiah! C'mon.) or really descriptive names (the girl I grew up with named Chastity go knocked up at 15) but to each his or her own. However, I highly doubt that any person, even being a very young single mother, would see the name Female and think it meant anything other than female. Since, I don't know, its a word that is pretty damn common.
I don't think the government should get involved though.
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Keira may have tiny tits
[Read the article: Keira Knightley says no to airbrushing her boobs]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]But I remember, at least in Bend it Like Beckham, she had some junk in her trunk, slim long-waisted girl style. She's really small on the top; all of her womanly curves seem to be concentrated below the waist. I have quite a few friends with that body type and it can look really good. She certainly rocks it.
I will say I've never thoughtKeira was that beautiful, though. I always think its a shame that other girl from Bend it Like Beckham only gets to be on ER, when she's friggin drop dead gorgeous.
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Presumption and Assumption
[Read the article: Keira Knightley says no to airbrushing her boobs]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Everyone is always saying shes anorexic. If she is, then I feel bad for her. I would never belittle her for it, or yell "eat a cheeseburger" at her, because if she truly is anorexic (and not a disordered eater, compulsive dieter, or 20-something overworked starlet who skips the craft service table) then she has a serious problem that can't be solved by "eating a cheeseburger."
Most television and film actresses are obsessive about their bodies. Some of them employ questionable dieting practices to stay at a certain weight; and a few of them take it to the extreme and are at serious risk of dying. A friend of mine works with a producer who is best buds with this actress(they used to work together on a show), who on occasion, has sprouted that downy fur and lost all of her hair because she doesn't eat. Ever.
This actress has other problems, though; her eating disorder predates her time in Hollywood. (Sorry about the blind itemness of this post, but oh well...I betcha people could make a pretty good guess about whom I speak. Of course, since it's third hand information you should take it with a grain of salt.)
In any case, through the magic of television, she doesn't look that much thinner than most Hollywood actresses. Which might be a little scary.
Whether or not Keira Knightly is like that is anyone's guess.
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Bella, the Self-Slayer
[Read the article: Touched by a vampire]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Okay, I've read the books. When I checked them out of the library, I made a promise to myself that I would never buy them, that I would never re-read them, and that I would try very, very, very hard not analyze all of the incredibly icky aspects of the novel.
I would also try not to get annoyed with how indestructable and strong the Cullens are; I mean, even Superman has kryptonite. I wouldn't let myself feel sick to my stomach at how possesive her love interests are toward Bella; or how she seems to think her only worth is in offering herself up as a sacrifice in the 3rd book. The girl has no self esteem whatsoever.
I wonder if this wouldn't be so icky if she weren't a girl; someone pointed out Orson Scott Card earlier, and there is a thread of self-sacrifice, and Jesus-like behavior in a lot of his characters (as well as chastity until marriage) but it doesn't make me feel as conflicted. (As an aside...I've been looking for a copy of the Worthing Saga for years, beause that book always makes me cry big fat tears of joy. I think it might be out of print though...sigh. I love those books.) The self-sacrificing passive female who is powerless but somehow has power by not having power is very disturbing and cliched. It's like a Lars Von Trier movie.
To be honest, I think the Host by Meyer is a much, much, much better book. Thats one I might actually buy. See, the female there is an alien, so her altruism is at least no human. The human whom she inhabits is a bad ass.