Rocko comes alive!

Rocko comes alive! by petit_smudge on Polyvore.com

(What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding? TRANSGENDERED REMEMBRANCE DAY

In the classic Christopher Guest mockumentary, “A Mighty Wind”, an aging folk singer, played by Harry Shearer, surprises everyone when, in the last few minutes of the film, he shows up as a post-op transsexual. The spectacle of Harry Shearer in feminine clothing, contrasted with his deep, baritone, voice,is meant to be humorous. While the plot twist would strike the average viewer as a lame grasp at a final laugh, the gag hints at an underlying issue that is much more serious than a cheap gag.


Transgender people, in layman’s terms, feel as though their outside doesn’t match their inside; they were born the “wrong” gender. There is a spectrum of transsexuality, ranging from those who feel fine dressing as the opposite sex occasionally, to those who completely transition, opting for gender-reassignment surgery and hormone replacement therapy. No matter where one falls on the spectrum, though, it is almost certain they have been the recipients of misinformed cruelty.

Take, for instance, the term “tranny”. “Tranny” has become a trendy descriptor for some people, as in “Hot tranny mess”, used to describe a particularly awful outfit. Tranny, however, is a derogatory term akin to other epithets like “fag” or “wop”. That people use the term freely without thinking of its negative impact is indicative of the plight of the American TG, a person that has to endure both invisibility and hatred.

Transgender people navigate a world that seems intent on singling them out. There are websites for TGs that list friendly restaurants, movie theaters, and stores where they won’t be discriminated against. The very fact that websites like this exist is a travesty to the human spirit of kindness and acceptance.

I was at a wedding over the summer that had a transgender woman in attendance. A member of the bridal party leaned to my friend and said, “Did you hear there’s a he-she here? I need someone to point it out to me”.

In honor of Transgender Remembrance Day, I beseech all who believe in freedom, human kindness, and equality to become more aware of the struggles transgender people face every day. First, stop using terms like “tranny” and “he-she”. Secondly, always refer to a TG in regards to the gender they are presenting (a male-to-female TG would be referred to as “she” and “her”). Finally, try not to single these heroic women and men out; they are bravely attempting to live their lives free from bigotry and hatred.

There is a grain of truth in “A Mighty Wind”. Harry Shearer looks at the camera and earnestly states, “I had to change… or I would die”. The same can be said regarding our attitudes toward our transgender neighbors.

Here is a link (have not yet mastered embedding video)to a great video about a TG memorial held in St. Louis from Vital VOICE magazine, a great group of people I was lucky to intern with last summer:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n_T3rjxaE0

inspired by fall 2010 j. crew

inspired by fall 2010 j. crew by petit_smudge featuring knits tops

LOOK AT YOUR LIFE, LOOK AT YOUR CHOICES

In the John Hughes classic, Pretty in Pink, our heroine, Andie, ends up having to choose between Blaine:

zzzzzzzz....

and Duckie:

Those adorable teeth! And those lips, they're like pillows.

Whom will she choose?

First things first, they are about equally hot, Blaine in a dreamy, quiet, cool-kid way, and Duck in a sensual, luscious-lipped, dark way. Blaine might be a little taller, but Duckie's hair height, which I estimate clocking in at about 3-6 inches, more than makes up for the discrepancy.Also, Blaine has this weird look on his face all the time that makes him appear to be sucking on a warhead. NOT HOT BLAINE.

More importantly, Duckie is fun to be around, he likes to do cool stuff like go see the Rave-Ups (when he can get past Andrew Dice Clay, that is) and says stuff like, "Let's PLOW" and "That is a really VOLCANIC ensemble you're wearing today". Blaine's idea of a joke is asking Andie if she wants to go "hangliding". Oh Blaine, you slay me.

Plus, you KNOW Duck would be an incredible lover. Any guy who who loves soul music so much (and who lips synchs perfectly to a song containing the lines "you gotta rub her gently, nah nah nah, don't bruise her") would be sure to show a little tenderness. He moves everywhere with this twitchy energy. RAWRR! Plus, Annie Potts explains that when he kissed her, her thighs just went up in flames! Can boring old Blaine do that, Andie?      

These are all auxiliary reasons, though. The main thing that Duck has going for him is that he loves Andie and sticks by her no matter what. When James Spader disses her in front of Blaine (multiple times) he shrugs it off like a little bitch. With Duckie, all it takes for him is to overhear Spader call Andie "nada" during study hall and he puts the throwdown on him (well, he at least rumples his white leisure-suit). It's not about looking good, because Duckie isn't even speaking to Andie at this time. Its about defending her honor under any circumstances. Who wouldn't want a guy to fight for her? Blaine betrays his flabby character every time he brushes off his friends' cruel comments about the girl he's seeing. A guy who doesn't have the self-confidence to stand up for his lady will probably have no problem throwing her under the train to get ahead in the future. Choose wisely, Andie. 

OK. I get it-Blaine’s loaded, he’s drives a Benz, he’s a great kisser. And Duckie, for all his charm and sexiness, is a big dork. He talks too much, he doesn’t have a car, and he’s constantly falling over himself and sliding into walls. His wardrobe culls inspiration equally from Karl Lagerfeld, Barbara Streisand, and, like, Raffi. But you know what, Andie? It may be a month, it may be a year, but Blaine’s mystique is going to wear off. You’ll be sitting side by side on some ridiculous cream silk-upholstered divan, watching him and his vapid friends suck  lines of blow off the glass coffee table, and you’ll realize that you have nothing to say to him, and nothing to say to any of these people. You’re going to realize that, as they say on Arrested Development, you’ve made a huge mistake. Because, Andie, at the end of the day you’re going to want a guy who loves you and who makes you laugh-a guy who would gladly offer to have a whole mouthful of teeth pulled sans anesthetia simply because you asked him to. And everyone, including you, knows who that guy is. 

So at the end of the movie, after stupid Blaine stands her up for Prom, feeding her some bs about how he already “invited someone and forgot”, and ignores her, again, like a little bitch, we think we’re going to get our happy ending. After corrupting Annie Potts’ perfect little prom dress, Andie treks to the dance alone. She hesitates at the door, tears in her eyes. At this vulnerable moment, none other than her knight in crushed velvet, Duckie, swoops in, as always, to rescue her. He’s looking hot; he’s wearing some sort Purple Rain version of a suit, as well as a FUCKING BEJEWELED LARIAT. Andie, say a little prayer of thanks, because this foxy kid has forgiven you once again.

a) rings b)bejeweled lariat

He takes her hand (which affords us a great view of his super badass ring collection), he leads her into the dance, looking terrified, and for a few shining seconds, it looks like Duck has finally got the girl. If you've seen the movie, though, you know stupid Blaine is there, as he has wont to do, to ruin everything for the young hero. Blaine, dressed like every other guy there in some boring white dinner jacket, offers her a lame-o half apology that he was kinda, sorta, a dick. As Duckie looks on, he kisses her on the cheek, and that's all it takes for him to win her heart back instantly.

Duck wasn't born yesterday, he knows she wants stupid Blaine, not him. He knows he's lost her as soon as she sets eyes on that lame-o, when he realizes this, you can see his heart break. A lesser guy would be a vindictive, possessive jerk. But this is where Duckie Dale gets a chance to show his true colors, telling her to go to him. "If you don't go to him right now...its just, this is an incredibly romantic moment, and you're ruining it for me". To Duck, its not about winning-its about seeing the person he loves happy, even if it means giving her up. 

And after 6 long years of watching this ending, frustrated, screaming stuff like, "HE HAS WEIRD LIPS" and "ANDIE YOU'RE A JACKASS" at the screen, I finally think I've come to grips with the ending.  And I'm glad they don't get together.

Because, Andie, you don't deserve him. You're not nice to him, you take him for granted. You treat him with the demeaning indulgence that a bored babysitter gives a child. You lead him on and flirt with him, only to throw him away when stupid Blaine comes along. You don't need to worry about treating him well, because you know that even after you crap all over him, he's still going to be there for you.

You can't see the good thing right in front of your face, you stupid, stupid bitch.

A new blog is born!!!

AAAAND ladies and gentlemen, for your viewing pleasure, a completely unrelated picture of Anthony Bourdain.
...i would like to think that he pulled the cork out with his teeth.