Tuesday, August 6, 2013

World Guiness Book Of Record: Meet Woman With The World’s Biggest Natural Afro


Aevin Dugas a 38-year-old social worker from Louisiana, holds the Guinness Record for the largest natural afro hairstyle in the world, with a circumference measuring an incredible 4 feet 4 inches (1.32 m).

The hairdo has taken over 14 years to grow to its current proportions, and although Aevin is really proud of it, she admits sometimes it can be pretty problematic.

She was inspired 14 years ago by an old photo of her mother sporting an afro and she traded her straight hair for afro which just kept growing and in 2010, she set a new world record for the world’s biggest afro, becoming an inspiration for black women to ditch relaxers and go natural.

Aevin’s hair draws attention wherever she goes, and while most people just ask her if it’s real, some can’t resist touching it to see for themselves.

Feminism Ideology And The Wrath It Attracts: What Happened When I started A Feminist Society At School


I am 17 years old and I am a feminist. I believe in gender equality, and am under no illusion about how far we are from achieving it. Identifying as a feminist has become particularly important to me since a school trip I took to Cambridge last year.

A group of men in a car started wolf-whistling and shouting sexual remarks at my friends and me. I asked the men if they thought it was appropriate for them to be abusing a group of 17-year-old girls. The response was furious. The men started swearing at me, called me a bitch and threw a cup coffee over me.

For those men we were just legs, breasts and pretty faces. Speaking up shattered their fantasy, and they responded violently to my voice.
Shockingly, the boys in my peer group have responded in exactly the same way to my feminism.
After returning from this school trip I started to notice how much the girls at my school suffer because of the pressures associated with our gender. Many of the girls have eating disorders, some have had peers heavily pressure them into sexual acts, others suffer in emotionally abusive relationships where they are constantly told they are worthless.

I decided to set up a feminist society at my school, which has previously been named one of "the best schools in the country", to try to tackle these issues. However, this was more difficult than I imagined as my all-girls school was hesitant to allow the society. After a year-long struggle, the feminist society was finally ratified.
What I hadn't anticipated on setting up the feminist society was a massive backlash from the boys in my wider peer circle. They took to Twitter and started a campaign of abuse against me. I was called a "feminist bitch", accused of "feeding [girls] bullshit", and in a particularly racist comment was told "all this feminism bull won't stop uncle Sanjit from marrying you when you leave school".

Our feminist society was derided with retorts such as, "FemSoc, is that for real? #DPMO" [don't piss me off] and every attempt we made to start a serious debate was met with responses such as "feminism and rape are both ridiculously tiring".
The more girls started to voice their opinions about gender issues, the more vitriolic the boys' abuse became. One boy declared that "bitches should keep their bitchiness to their bitch-selves #BITCH" and another smugly quipped, "feminism doesn't mean they don't like the D, they just haven't found one to satisfy them yet." Any attempt we made to stick up for each other was aggressively shot down with "get in your lane before I par [ridicule] you too", or belittled with remarks like "cute, they got offended".

I fear that many boys of my age fundamentally don't respect women. They want us around for parties, banter and most of all sex. But they don't think of us as intellectual equals, highlighted by accusations of being hysterical and over sensitive when we attempted to discuss serious issues facing women.
The situation recently reached a crescendo when our feminist society decided to take part in a national project called Who Needs Feminism. We took photos of girls standing with a whiteboard on which they completed the sentence "I need feminism because...", often delving into painful personal experiences to articulate why feminism was important to them.
When we posted these pictures online we were subject to a torrent of degrading and explicitly sexual comments.

We were told that our "militant vaginas" were "as dry as the Sahara desert", girls who complained of sexual objectification in their photos were given ratings out of 10, details of the sex lives of some of the girls were posted beside their photos, and others were sent threatening messages warning them that things would soon "get personal".

We, a group of 16-, 17- and 18-year-old girls, have made ourselves vulnerable by talking about our experiences of sexual and gender oppression only to elicit the wrath of our male peer group. Instead of our school taking action against such intimidating behaviour, it insisted that we remove the pictures. Without the support from our school, girls who had participated in the campaign were isolated, facing a great deal of verbal abuse with the full knowledge that there would be no repercussions for the perpetrators.

It's been over a century since the birth of the suffragette movement and boys are still not being brought up to believe that women are their equals. Instead we have a whole new battleground opening up online where boys can attack, humiliate, belittle us and do everything in their power to destroy our confidence before we even leave high school.

It is appalling that an institution responsible for preparing young women for adult life has actively opposed our feminist work. I feel like the school is not supporting its girls in a crucial part of their evolution into being strong, assertive, confident women. If that's the case for a well-established girls' school, what hope does this generation of women have in challenging the misogyny that still pervades our society?

If you thought the fight for female equality was over, I'm sorry to tell you that a whole new round is only just beginning.
Altrincham Grammar made the following comment about the feminist society:
"Altrincham Grammar School for Girls has supported Jinan in setting up the society, providing administrative assistance, guidance and proactively suggesting opportunities to help members to explore this issue which they feel passionately about.

"We are committed to protecting the safety and welfare of our students, which extends to their safety online. We consider very carefully any societies that the school gives its name and support to.
"As such, we will take steps to recommend students remove words or images that they place online that could compromise their safety or that of other students at the school."

Friday, July 26, 2013

Is Kate Middleton's 'mummy tummy' coverage disrespectful to women?

Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge appear with their baby son outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, in central London July 23, 2013. Kate gave birth to the couple's first child, who is third in line to the British throne, on Monday afternoon, ending weeks of feverish anticipation about the arrival of the royal baby.

It has been a few days since the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, gave birth to and presented the future King of England – Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge. But the moment she and husband William stepped out with their first child, it was the new mom’s physical appearance and “post partum body” that instantly became a talking point in tabloids, blogs and social media platforms.

“Why Does Kate Middleton Still Have Her Baby Bump?” screamed one headline, as another quipped: “Kate Middleton's royal baby post-bump is a boost of confidence for new mums everywhere.” One fashion blogger wrote “in all honesty, the dress was not pleasing to the eye, neither was the stomach. I hope she gets her post-maternity-bod soon,” while another tweeted “how can she look so pretty just after giving birth.”

According to data provided by Yahoo!, scores of Middleton body-related search terms clogged the engine this week, everything from “diet,” and “post baby bump” to “belly,” “stomach,” and “why does Kate Middleton still look pregnant.”

But could all the chatter over how Middleton chose to “expose” her “mummy tummy” in a cornflower blue and polka-dot bespoke Jenny Packham dress be a signal that society’s obsession with looks is putting unrealistic stress on mothers and women?

“The media’s neuroticism over Kate’s post-pregnant looks is brainwashing women into thinking that they will constantly be judged and criticized unless they meet the new standard – unattainable perfection,” human behavior expert Patrick Wanis PhD, told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column. “The obsession with the perfect female body is spiraling out of control.”

Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge appear with their baby son, outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, in central London July 23, 2013. Kate gave birth to the couple's first child, who is third in line to the British throne, on Monday afternoon, ending weeks of feverish anticipation about the arrival of the royal baby


British-born celebrity life and career strategist Suzannah Galland also noted that the hoopla surrounding Middleton’s aesthetic “is truly offensive for anyone to exploit a woman’s body, no matter what our condition,” and that it “sends out an empty message that female beauty needs to be redefined.”

On the same day Middleton gave birth, U.K’s OK! Magazine unveiled its latest issue with a photo of the Duchess accompanied by the headline: “Kate’s Post-Baby Weight Loss Regime,” complete with a six-page spread about how the royal figure intends to return pre-pregnancy physique along with a weight loss plan.

The tabloid’s cover story drew strong condemnation, thus a rep was forced to defend the decision.
“Like the rest of the world, we were very moved by her radiance as she and Prince William introduced the Prince of Cambridge to the world. We would not dream of being critical of her appearance,” said a rep for the magazine’s parent company, Northern & Shell. “If that was misunderstood on our cover it was not intended.”

However, it was Middleton’s decision to don a dress that clearly showed off her “bump” that had many praising the new mother for her “bravery,” while professionals in the medical and childcare industry explained why the Duchess looked the way she did.

“It takes around 10 days for the womb to contract back to its normal size,” Clare Byam-Cook, a childcare expert, told the Daily Mail while the founder of parenting website Netmums, Siobhan Freegard, gave her props for “dispelling the myth that all mothers should be perfect post-partum,” although she also stated that “over the coming weeks the duchess will work hard to regain her figure.”
(Says who?)
Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge appear with their baby son, outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, in central London July 23, 2013. Kate gave birth to the couple's first child, who is third in line to the British throne, on Monday afternoon, ending weeks of feverish anticipation about the arrival of the royal baby.

The Daily Beast’s royal correspondent Tom Sykes also went on to declare that “this thoroughly modern royal was apparently determined to lend a helping hand to women everywhere who have just given birth, and shatter one of the last taboos of pregnancy – the post-baby belly.”

And while much of the coverage surrounding Middleton’s hospital showing praises her for being “so brave” as to dare bare her belly instead of hiding beneath a tent-like dress, or because she didn’t recoil from the spotlight altogether the way most Hollywood stars do, (we haven’t seen too much of Kim Kardashian lately), experts say enough is enough.

“The focus should be on how she feels as a mother and the love and nurturing she will express as well as the bond between her and her newborn rather than whether or not she still looks hot,” Wanis added. “And hot for whom?”



Friday, July 19, 2013

Personality Of The Week: Natalie Dormer


Natalie Dormer (born 11 February 1982) is an English actress of film, television, and theatre. She is best known for her roles as Anne Boleyn in the Showtime series The Tudors and as Margaery Tyrell in the 2011 HBO fantasy TV series Game of Thrones.

Six months after graduating from the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, Dormer auditioned and won the role of Victoria in Casanova with Heath Ledger and Sienna Miller. This was her film debut and it was released in 2005. The director, Lasse Hallström, was so impressed with Dormer's comedic timing that he had the script writer expand her part. On the strength of her audition for the role and her performance, she secured a three-film deal with Disney Touchstone which was never exercised.
In 2005, Dormer also had a bit part in Distant Shores playing that of a Mobile Woman. After the filming of Casanova, Dormer was out of work for nine months and has said that "It was the best lesson I could have had in the first 12 months of my career". In 2006, Dormer guest-starred in an episode of Rebus entitled "The Falls", playing the character Phillippa Balfour.

In 2007 and 2008, she played Anne Boleyn in the first two seasons of The Tudors, for which she received positive reviews. Robert Abele of LA Weekly wrote, "Natalie Dormer presents a painterly exquisiteness and complexity in her portrayal of Anne Boleyn...[her] enigmatic, time-halting loveliness is a boon for The Tudors, and damn near worth losing your head over." After her character's death at the end of the second season, The Boston Herald noted that "Dormer's departure from 'The Tudors' leaves a void." Dormer is, in fact, descended of the British noblewoman Jane Dormer, a lady-in-waiting to Mary I. Jane Dormer's memoirs contain some evidence on Boleyn's actual age, which is still a source of much academic dispute.

A self-proclaimed poker lover, Dormer took part in the 2008 PartyPoker.com Women's World Open in London, where she came in second to Emma Kennedy in the Celebrity Heat. Dormer has stated that Cate Blanchett has been an influence in her career as an actress. On the subject of supernatural beliefs, she was quoted as saying: "I've got an open mind. I say I'm an atheist but I wouldn't mind being visited by a ghost". She is also a member of the London Fencing Academy. FOR MORE ON HER AND TO VIEW MORE OF HER SEXY, BEAUTIFUL AND VERY ATTRACTIVE PHOTOS, CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW


Lamar Odom’s Mistress Apologizes To Khloe Kardashian, But Gives Advice: Get A Divorce, I’m Not The Only Woman!

Lamar Odom‘s mistress has some advice for his wife Khloe Kardashian: Divorce him!Jennifer Richardson — who claims she held a year long affair with Lamar — opened up to Star magazine about her relationship with the NBA pro, and even offered up an apology to Khloe because she says she can sympathize with her.“I’m sorry,” Jennifer, 29, said.

Lamar Odom‘s mistress has some advice for his wife Khloe Kardashian: Divorce him!
Jennifer Richardson — who claims she held a yearlong affair with Lamar — opened up to Star magazine about her relationship with the NBA pro, and even offered up an apology to Khloe because she says she can sympathize with her.
“I’m sorry,” Jennifer, 29, said.
“Lamar led me to believe his marriage was just a business arrangement.”


“Lamar led me to believe his marriage was just a business arrangement.”
Even worse, Jennifer claims she’s not the only woman that Lamar has cheated on Khloe with, and she wants her to know it.

“I can tell Khloe that I’m not the only woman; there have been many. I just happened to be around the longest,” Jennifer told the magazine.

“My advice for Khloe would be to get a divorce. If she thinks he’s going to change, she’s mistaken.”
As RadarOnline.com exclusively reported, despite the explosive news of Jennifer’s affair with Lamar, Khloe still wants to have a baby with him.

Lemar Odom And Khloe KArdashian

The cheating allegations, “of course bother Khloe tremendously. She has trust issues with Lamar and was absolutely livid when he went to a strip joint earlier this year. However, Khloe still wants to have a baby with him. She feels that once they have a baby together, it will just bring them closer,” a source told Radar.

“The fertility issues have definitely taken a toll on the couple’s sex life because Khloe is really strict about having sex when she is ovulating. It’s become clinical, and the romance is on the back burner because Khloe is having a very hard time getting pregnant.”

Khloe, in a very un-Kardashian move, has remained silent about the affair allegations.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Personality Of The Week: A Very Young Version Of Barack Obama

Young Barack Obama smoking
Barack Hussein Obama II born August 4, 1961 is the 44th and current President of the United States, the first African American to hold the office. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Obama is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was president of the Harvard Law Review. He was a community organizer in Chicago before earning his law degree. He worked as a civil rights attorney in Chicago and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. He served three terms representing the 13th District in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004, running unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in 2000.
In 2004, Obama received national attention during his campaign to represent Illinois in the United States Senate with his victory in the March Democratic Party primary, his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in July, and his election to the Senate in November. He began his presidential campaign in 2007, and in 2008, after a close primary campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton, he won sufficient delegates in the Democratic Party primaries to receive the presidential nomination. He then defeated Republican nominee John McCain in the general election, and was inaugurated as president on January 20, 2009. Nine months later, Obama was named the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He was re-elected president in November 2012, defeating Republican nominee Mitt Romney, and was sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2013.


Early in his first term in office, Obama signed into law economic stimulus legislation in response to the Great Recession in the form of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. Other major domestic initiatives in his presidency include the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, often referred to as "Obamacare"; the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010; the Budget Control Act of 2011; and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. In May 2012, he became the first sitting U.S. president to publicly support same-sex marriage and in 2013 his administration filed briefs which urged the Supreme Court to rule in favor of same-sex couples in two high-profile cases. In foreign policy, Obama ended U.S. military involvement in the Iraq War, increased troop levels in Afghanistan, signed the New START arms control treaty with Russia, ordered U.S. military involvement in Libya, and ordered the military operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.

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Friday, June 14, 2013

Personality Of The Week: Yao Ming

Yao Ming (born September 12, 1980) is a retired Chinese professional basketball player who last played for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). At the time of his final season, he was the tallest active player in the NBA, at 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in). Yao, who was born in Shanghai, China, started playing for the Shanghai Sharks as a teenager, and played on their senior team for five years in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), winning a championship in his final year. After negotiating with the CBA and the Sharks to secure his release, Yao was selected by the Houston Rockets as the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. Yao was selected to start for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game eight times, and was named to the All-NBA Team five times. He reached the NBA Playoffs four times, and the Rockets won a first-round series in the 2009 postseason, their first playoff series victory since 1997. However, Yao missed 250 regular-season games due to foot and ankle injuries in his final six seasons. He is one of China's best-known athletes, with sponsorships with several major companies. His rookie year in the NBA was the subject of a documentary film, The Year of the Yao, and he co-wrote, along with NBA analyst Ric Bucher, an autobiography titled Yao: A Life in Two Worlds.

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