Man of the Moment – Jamie Parker!

picture from MSN Movies
picture from MSN Movies

Because we’ve had enough negativity here today – here’s the awesome Jamie Parker, who was great in the “The History Boys” and even made “Valkyrie” somewhat OK, along with the likes of Eddie Izzard and Bill Nighy (not to go off on a tangent here, but Tom Cruise had, what, maybe one or two genuinely good moments in that entire movie? I’m not really a Cruise fan, but I think he’s brilliant when he wants to be and/or when he is allowed to be, and that was just… ngah).

The best thing about Jamie Parker so far? The way he says the word “poetry” in “The History Boys.” You’re going to say, “oh it’s just due to the regional accent,” and I’m going to say no, it ain’t (though I love the regional accent). He’s hilarious in his role and I’m glad that Hollywood is paying some attention. You’re going to say – “but Hollywood will take a good thing and spoil it,” and I will say, “not always.” Well, let’s hope not, anyway. Let’s hope that Parker and the adorable mole on his chin are not just going places – but going to damn good places.

“I hope you get raped” – On living in the Middle East and being a “traitor to women.”

“Yeek-yeek, woop woop, Why you all in my ear? Talking a whole bunch of shit that I ain’t tryin to hear.” – Ludacris.

Logging in this afternoon, I found a particularly heartbreaking comment – more akin to a rant, actually – in the moderation queue to this post, which deals with some of my more recent experiences with sexual harassment in Amman, Jordan.

I won’t reproduce it here; I have my limits.

To summarize – what it said is that by moving to an Arab country, I have betrayed all women everywhere, that I deserve everything that happens to me, that I am disgusting for dating a “filthy” Arab, that women like me should be paraded through the streets as an “example.” The author concluded by expressing her wish that I get “dragged out of [my] house by [my] hair” and then “get raped.”

I went to the gym today, and spent some time on the treadmill wondering if I should even respond. What’s the point? You’re just feeding the beast, right?

Actually, I went to a sexual harassment focus group last night, and one of the things we talked about is how ignoring harassment doesn’t really make it go away. Considering that these sort of words have been flung at me before, I believe that by doing nothing, I am only giving the batshit accusers their validation.Continue reading ““I hope you get raped” – On living in the Middle East and being a “traitor to women.””

Alcohol, Harassment, and Crisis in Kiev

Last week, in Kiev, my cousin was in the residential neighbourhood of Obolon’ with a friend when it happened again – some drunk guy decided to go in for the kill, screaming obscenities and trying to cop a feel. His friend attempted to restrain him, telling him to “leave the girls alone.”

“Girls?” He screamed back. “Can’t you see they’re not girls? They’re whores!”

My cousin is a gentle soul, so when these things happen, it’s especially hard for her to deal with. She says that with the economic crisis, things are getting worse. Acting out is suddenly becoming more tolerable again. People don’t check themselves, and she said she was even surprised that this particular guy’s friend was attempting to check him. A younger woman is an especially convenient target, as when you attack an older woman, bystanders might actually think you’re doing something wrong. A younger woman, however, is attractive in one way or another, so obviously, you can write it off on her “asking for it.”

A male cousin of mine has lived in Obolon’ his entire life, and he also thinks that it’s becoming more dangerous for both men and women. In many cases, alcohol is the catalyst, or else a convenient excuse – “what can you expect from someone who’s wasted?” people mutter. The crisis also makes for a great cover – “well, he was fired, he got drunk, he can’t be held accountable.”Continue reading “Alcohol, Harassment, and Crisis in Kiev”

Wrong Colour! Bad Fringe! But Bush is Out! And Kiev is Great!

My hair colour looked great, except the roots had begun to yellow. I went in to get it fixed, and the hairdresser said, “we will have to go a little bit darker.” No problem, right? WRONG.

... there appears to be someone trying to make an ass out of me
... there appears to be someone trying to make an ass out of me

The hair is brown, brown, brown, the fringe is huge, huge, huge, and I am attempting to drown my sorrows with good Ukrainian beer. Since I went home shortly after my hair was ruined and all.

I told my brother that we must look serious, and tragic, as hair has been ruined for at least a few weeks. The result was this:

"tell me that joke about Yuschenko and the three litres of gasoline again!"
"tell me that joke about Yuschenko and the three litres of gasoline again!"

I guess we’re just too happy about Bush finally being done and all. If only Victor Yuschenko would get hip to the exciting trend.

Kiev is nice and snowy. My father’s 55th is this Saturday, and my mother and I shopped for presents today in eerily empty stores. I even found an eerily cheap shoulderbag, but decided to save my money for the time being. More money – more beer.

On the Obama inauguration, please see Renee Martin, Kyla Pasha, and Sarah Jaffe – who was there.