The other day me and a couple of friends were helping a shop downtown by lifting and moving a few heavy flower boxes. One of my friends, who isn't the strongest of the group, got a peculiar surge of strength and lifted the box straight up and placed it on the shelf.
We are all shocked that she lifted the box. When she lifted, she let out a funny sound. It kind of sounded like a lion's deep roar. When she lifted it, we all laughed, and I said, "Whoa way to hulk out!."
It makes me laugh even more now that I read Rolling Stone's feature story on the history of Marvel's The Hulk. When I first clicked on this, it was unusual for me. I'm not a huge Marvel fan. I'm more into the Lord of the Rings fandom, but I clicked it on anyway.
I was immediently drawn into the story. I'm a fan of Mark Ruffalo, and he is the most recent guy to play the gentle green giant. The first paragraph talks about Ruffalo inconspicuously sitting on the subway in NYC. I thought it had just enough detail about what he was wearing and where he was. The writer Brian Hiatt compares Ruffalo to his character when he describes his face, clothes and demeanor.
It was a decently long piece that covered a lot of material. Sometimes when I'm reading long feature stories, I get lost. They cover so much background infomation and little details that it can be easy to forget what the point was. I didn't have that problem with this story.
I really liked how Hiatt takes a deeper look at Ruffalo. He even reveals that Ruffalo had a brain tumor that left him completely deaf in one year was he was younger. I love the part toward to the end when Hiatt talks about how after Ruffalo plays a character, he becomes extremely passionate about the character's interests. He tried to become a Marine after playing one, a senior-league wrestler after playing in Foxcatcher and anti-fracking activist after playing a superhero.
Overall, it was a great piece. The writing is what made me interested in something I'm typically not interested in.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
What's SUP?
After I attemped to do some research last week, I came up with nearly nothing. I was feeling pretty defeated due to the lack of articles I could find on women paddlers. Luckily, after securing my first interview for the article, my spirits were raised.
I went back to do more searching and found something I didn't see before. While there were still numerous posts about what boats work best for women, how women should date a paddler and how to paddle for cheap ... I did find something on stand-up paddleboarding (SUPing).
I love to SUP. For two summers I worked at an outdoor gear shop in Old Forge, New York. We were able to take out the tester boats for free on our lunch breaks or after our shifts. Last summer I hung up my trusty kayak and switched to stand-up paddle board. It's a little awkward at first because you need to find your perfect center and balance on a wobbly board, but it's actually a lot of fun. It helped me work on my posture and helped with my sore back.
While searching for women paddlers, I found Sup World Mag, an online SUP magazine. I found a piece that featured Nikki Gregg, a women SUP-er. After reading this, I felt very inspired. Although my focus won't be on SUP-ing, it showed me that this structure is one I can refer to.
She opens up the piece by discussing how women are looking for diversity in their water sports and the goes into the benefits this sport can offer them. Her introduction is brief, but this is exactly what I hope to talk about in a much more detailed setting.
She breaks her story up into subheads. The next talks about her personal story of getting into SUP. I have already found a face for my story, and this has made me even more excited to dive deeper into what led her to the water.
Gregg then talks about why you should SUP, women who are SUP-ing and how you can get started. This will be similar to my structure. I will talk about real-life women who are paddling in the ADKS that serve as realistic role models. I don't think I'll focus too heavily on how to get started, but I think it's important to mention it in my story.
I loved this. It was short, and it wasn't too in-depth, but it definitely gave me the little bit of excitement that I was lacking.
I went back to do more searching and found something I didn't see before. While there were still numerous posts about what boats work best for women, how women should date a paddler and how to paddle for cheap ... I did find something on stand-up paddleboarding (SUPing).
I love to SUP. For two summers I worked at an outdoor gear shop in Old Forge, New York. We were able to take out the tester boats for free on our lunch breaks or after our shifts. Last summer I hung up my trusty kayak and switched to stand-up paddle board. It's a little awkward at first because you need to find your perfect center and balance on a wobbly board, but it's actually a lot of fun. It helped me work on my posture and helped with my sore back.
While searching for women paddlers, I found Sup World Mag, an online SUP magazine. I found a piece that featured Nikki Gregg, a women SUP-er. After reading this, I felt very inspired. Although my focus won't be on SUP-ing, it showed me that this structure is one I can refer to.
She opens up the piece by discussing how women are looking for diversity in their water sports and the goes into the benefits this sport can offer them. Her introduction is brief, but this is exactly what I hope to talk about in a much more detailed setting.
She breaks her story up into subheads. The next talks about her personal story of getting into SUP. I have already found a face for my story, and this has made me even more excited to dive deeper into what led her to the water.
Gregg then talks about why you should SUP, women who are SUP-ing and how you can get started. This will be similar to my structure. I will talk about real-life women who are paddling in the ADKS that serve as realistic role models. I don't think I'll focus too heavily on how to get started, but I think it's important to mention it in my story.
I loved this. It was short, and it wasn't too in-depth, but it definitely gave me the little bit of excitement that I was lacking.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Where are all the women kayakers?
For my long article, I'm writing about women paddlers –– specifically
kayakers. I know this group of women from my hometown who are avid
Adirondack kayakers. They actually wrote a book, Women on Water, that
discussed the best places to kayak in the Adirondack area and what it's like to
be a woman paddler.
I'm interested in doing something on them because I also paddle. Women paddlers are becoming more popular, but the sport definitely doesn't get enough attention. Not many people know how prevalent kayaking/paddling is for women in the Adirondacks. And there's nothing better than dragging your kayak out on a sunny Saturday, dipping your toes in the sand and paddling out on the open water.
I found the lack of information to be especially true when I tried to search articles featuring women kayakers. I tried a variation of Google searches. I tried: women kayakers, women paddlers, women paddling ADK–– and everything in between. I found close to nothing on the topic, which was actually very surprising to me.
I did find one blog article, Death in the River, in Adirondack Life about a woman who wanted to try white water rafting (much different from leisurely kayaking). Tamara "Tammy" Blake and her partner, Rick, headed out to Hudson River Rafting Company’s base, Cunningham’s Ski Barn in North Creek, to try out the white water.
Apparently, it started out and ended badly. Their guide, Rory Fay, was drunk. The couple and guide hit a rock that led to them being flipped out of of the boat. It's described as a chaotic experience with Rory walking on foot to find Tammy and Rick buckling down in the raft, with little to no experience in white water rafting. Tammy floated downstream, flowing with the white currents. The worst case scenario happened: Tammy died. She drowned in the river that day.
Rory's toxicology report read that his blood alcohol level content was .30 –– a number you might see in a hospital emergency room, in patients brought in for acute alcohol poisoning, according to the article. The writer, Joe Connelly, did a great job with the details about the couple's guide. I loved the part when Connelly describes the contents of Rory's bag: a black sweatshirt, gum and two Gatorade bottles full of vodka. The mentioning of the vodka is when you know this article is going to end badly.
The article was very detailed and thorough. Connelly did an excellent job of covering the events of that dreaded day, and it's truly sad what happened to Tammy.
While this is a great cover story about paddling, it's not exactly what I had in mine when I was searching for related stories. Besides this piece, I mainly found stories covering male paddlers and a few pieces about "Why women should date a guy who paddles," –– barf.
Where are the women kayakers? It bums me out that I couldn't find any features on a strong woman who paddles! I find it frustrating because I know these women exist. I know handfuls of them. Working in Old Forge, New York, there are a number of women role models who paddle. I know women who teach Stand up paddling boarding (SUP) yoga, white water raft instructors, paddling competitors and women who just love to be on the water.
I think this is a timeless piece, but important to do something like this. Clearly from my findings, this isn't covered enough. I think women would really be able to relate to these women paddlers. The women in this paddle group are mothers, teachers, professionals and sisters. After reading about what happened to Tammy, who just wanted to learn to white water paddle, I think this is necessary. I'm sure women like Tammy are seeking out articles talking about women who are doing exactly what they wish they could do. Maybe something like this will be able to not only inspire women but also teach them.
I'm interested in doing something on them because I also paddle. Women paddlers are becoming more popular, but the sport definitely doesn't get enough attention. Not many people know how prevalent kayaking/paddling is for women in the Adirondacks. And there's nothing better than dragging your kayak out on a sunny Saturday, dipping your toes in the sand and paddling out on the open water.
I found the lack of information to be especially true when I tried to search articles featuring women kayakers. I tried a variation of Google searches. I tried: women kayakers, women paddlers, women paddling ADK–– and everything in between. I found close to nothing on the topic, which was actually very surprising to me.
I did find one blog article, Death in the River, in Adirondack Life about a woman who wanted to try white water rafting (much different from leisurely kayaking). Tamara "Tammy" Blake and her partner, Rick, headed out to Hudson River Rafting Company’s base, Cunningham’s Ski Barn in North Creek, to try out the white water.
Apparently, it started out and ended badly. Their guide, Rory Fay, was drunk. The couple and guide hit a rock that led to them being flipped out of of the boat. It's described as a chaotic experience with Rory walking on foot to find Tammy and Rick buckling down in the raft, with little to no experience in white water rafting. Tammy floated downstream, flowing with the white currents. The worst case scenario happened: Tammy died. She drowned in the river that day.
Rory's toxicology report read that his blood alcohol level content was .30 –– a number you might see in a hospital emergency room, in patients brought in for acute alcohol poisoning, according to the article. The writer, Joe Connelly, did a great job with the details about the couple's guide. I loved the part when Connelly describes the contents of Rory's bag: a black sweatshirt, gum and two Gatorade bottles full of vodka. The mentioning of the vodka is when you know this article is going to end badly.
The article was very detailed and thorough. Connelly did an excellent job of covering the events of that dreaded day, and it's truly sad what happened to Tammy.
While this is a great cover story about paddling, it's not exactly what I had in mine when I was searching for related stories. Besides this piece, I mainly found stories covering male paddlers and a few pieces about "Why women should date a guy who paddles," –– barf.
Where are the women kayakers? It bums me out that I couldn't find any features on a strong woman who paddles! I find it frustrating because I know these women exist. I know handfuls of them. Working in Old Forge, New York, there are a number of women role models who paddle. I know women who teach Stand up paddling boarding (SUP) yoga, white water raft instructors, paddling competitors and women who just love to be on the water.
I think this is a timeless piece, but important to do something like this. Clearly from my findings, this isn't covered enough. I think women would really be able to relate to these women paddlers. The women in this paddle group are mothers, teachers, professionals and sisters. After reading about what happened to Tammy, who just wanted to learn to white water paddle, I think this is necessary. I'm sure women like Tammy are seeking out articles talking about women who are doing exactly what they wish they could do. Maybe something like this will be able to not only inspire women but also teach them.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Starbucks sips on race
Early this week Rolling Stone wrote an article discussing Starbucks' decision to cancel their initiative program, "Race Together."
Starbucks and USA Today began an initiative to start "push for a much-needed national discussion." It consisted having their baristas write "#RaceTogether" on the customer's cups in hopes to start a conversation about race.
Starbucks' customers and social media users shut that down pretty quickly, though. The scrawling was met with some pretty fierce backlash, which even led the company's VP of Communications Corey duBrowa to delete his Twitter account.
Users began to mock the hashtag... as social medias users do. The hashtag definitely worked in their favor, though. Also, what a boring and barely thought out "campaign name."
The company promises that the campaign was completely innocent and their "intentions are pure." Starbucks' seemed pretty confused and shocked about the negative response. They essentially apologized, but it seemed a little empty.
Personally, I think the campaign was pretty lame and useless, but I don't believe they meant any harm by it. It's a little condescending for the their tagline to be a "push for a much-needed national discussion." I'm pretty sure that for over a year there has been numerous conversations about the sever issue of race discrimination.
Does Starbucks not follow the news? Seriously, come on.
It's a little tacky that a beverage company tried to make profit off of such a serious issue and call it an "initiative." Lame.
Starbucks should really just stick to creating delicious, over-priced drinks.
Oh, and happy birthday to the oh-so-tasty Starbucks frappuccino!
Starbucks and USA Today began an initiative to start "push for a much-needed national discussion." It consisted having their baristas write "#RaceTogether" on the customer's cups in hopes to start a conversation about race.
Starbucks' customers and social media users shut that down pretty quickly, though. The scrawling was met with some pretty fierce backlash, which even led the company's VP of Communications Corey duBrowa to delete his Twitter account.
Users began to mock the hashtag... as social medias users do. The hashtag definitely worked in their favor, though. Also, what a boring and barely thought out "campaign name."
The company promises that the campaign was completely innocent and their "intentions are pure." Starbucks' seemed pretty confused and shocked about the negative response. They essentially apologized, but it seemed a little empty.
Personally, I think the campaign was pretty lame and useless, but I don't believe they meant any harm by it. It's a little condescending for the their tagline to be a "push for a much-needed national discussion." I'm pretty sure that for over a year there has been numerous conversations about the sever issue of race discrimination.
Does Starbucks not follow the news? Seriously, come on.
It's a little tacky that a beverage company tried to make profit off of such a serious issue and call it an "initiative." Lame.
Starbucks should really just stick to creating delicious, over-priced drinks.
Oh, and happy birthday to the oh-so-tasty Starbucks frappuccino!
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Women for president!
In Glamour's January issue, I found a hidden gem beneath an article about Eva Longoria's "mission" and sitting just above a blurb about "Guy of the Month," Orlando Bloom.
The headline immediately caught my eye: Is America Ready for a Female President? Answer? Hell yes. I already knew my answer, but of course I had to read on. The main graphic glaring back at me featured powerful women whom I've admired for years. Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Kristin Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren and my personal favorite, Condoleezza Rice.
I breathed in the faint smell of a Dior perfume ad placed in the front of the magazine as I read the words, "Millions of Americans simply cannot accept the idea of a woman president."
Side Note: I felt guilty taking a second to divert my attention from the article, to flip to the perfume ad and lift the scented tab to smell it. I felt like the sexist people who disagree with this article were watching me, shaking their heads. Is that messed up or what?
Political analyst Jeff Greenfield wrote that very statement in Glamour almost 40 years ago, and now as the 2016 election creeps up, he's ready to readdress it.
It's been nine years since Hillary ran for president. It's been nine years since she was described as a "probable" and "imminent"candidate. It's been said her loss might have a result of bad tactics or strategy. But it can't be ignored that the upset may have been due to the inevitable sexism women face on a daily basis. Despite losing, it was still a step in the right direction. Maybe the world just wasn't ready for a strong, confident, high-heeled woman to be standing in the Oval office.
But according to a Pew poll in May, a full 71 percent of voters said gender would make no difference, and 19 percent said they'd be more likely to vote for a woman. Times are a changin'!
A lot has happened in the nine years. There was a record number of women nominated at the Emmys for directing, Yahoo hired Katie Couric as a global anchor and GoDaddy refused to create sexist Superbowl ads. These feats may seem small to some, but to a women attempting to enter the workforce, they mean the world. Those were just a couple of examples of women breaking down the gender barriers, but it proves we have made progress.
Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go. Proof? Currently, women's earnings are 78.3 percent compared to man. If that's enough to make your blood boil, then I don't know what is. That statistic makes me laugh. I sit in classes and work with both men and women each day, and knowing my male friends will end up making more money than me ... it kills me.
But Greenfield does a beautiful job of showing how women have taken the world by storm –– specifically in the political stomping grounds. He explains how in 2015, for the first time ever, more than 100 women will serve in Congress. Over the past four decades, 22 states have elected female governors. He agrees with me about women being able to overcome inequality hurtles, but not yet crossing the finish line. He just whips out statistics and information that proves we're well on our way to making history.
With a deep, diverse pool of possible women candidates, we have a chance to take the presidency by storm. I believe we're ready. I'm excited that I've reached an age where I like talking politics. I actually enjoy reading about what's going on, who's running, who stands for what, who spoke about what issue and where. I'm thrilled to hopefully be able to say I voted for the first woman president (depending on which candidates run!). I'm confident that sometime, maybe not in 2016, we will be seeing a woman president.
#womanpower
The headline immediately caught my eye: Is America Ready for a Female President? Answer? Hell yes. I already knew my answer, but of course I had to read on. The main graphic glaring back at me featured powerful women whom I've admired for years. Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Kristin Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren and my personal favorite, Condoleezza Rice.
I breathed in the faint smell of a Dior perfume ad placed in the front of the magazine as I read the words, "Millions of Americans simply cannot accept the idea of a woman president."
Side Note: I felt guilty taking a second to divert my attention from the article, to flip to the perfume ad and lift the scented tab to smell it. I felt like the sexist people who disagree with this article were watching me, shaking their heads. Is that messed up or what?
Political analyst Jeff Greenfield wrote that very statement in Glamour almost 40 years ago, and now as the 2016 election creeps up, he's ready to readdress it.
It's been nine years since Hillary ran for president. It's been nine years since she was described as a "probable" and "imminent"candidate. It's been said her loss might have a result of bad tactics or strategy. But it can't be ignored that the upset may have been due to the inevitable sexism women face on a daily basis. Despite losing, it was still a step in the right direction. Maybe the world just wasn't ready for a strong, confident, high-heeled woman to be standing in the Oval office.
But according to a Pew poll in May, a full 71 percent of voters said gender would make no difference, and 19 percent said they'd be more likely to vote for a woman. Times are a changin'!
A lot has happened in the nine years. There was a record number of women nominated at the Emmys for directing, Yahoo hired Katie Couric as a global anchor and GoDaddy refused to create sexist Superbowl ads. These feats may seem small to some, but to a women attempting to enter the workforce, they mean the world. Those were just a couple of examples of women breaking down the gender barriers, but it proves we have made progress.
Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go. Proof? Currently, women's earnings are 78.3 percent compared to man. If that's enough to make your blood boil, then I don't know what is. That statistic makes me laugh. I sit in classes and work with both men and women each day, and knowing my male friends will end up making more money than me ... it kills me.
But Greenfield does a beautiful job of showing how women have taken the world by storm –– specifically in the political stomping grounds. He explains how in 2015, for the first time ever, more than 100 women will serve in Congress. Over the past four decades, 22 states have elected female governors. He agrees with me about women being able to overcome inequality hurtles, but not yet crossing the finish line. He just whips out statistics and information that proves we're well on our way to making history.
With a deep, diverse pool of possible women candidates, we have a chance to take the presidency by storm. I believe we're ready. I'm excited that I've reached an age where I like talking politics. I actually enjoy reading about what's going on, who's running, who stands for what, who spoke about what issue and where. I'm thrilled to hopefully be able to say I voted for the first woman president (depending on which candidates run!). I'm confident that sometime, maybe not in 2016, we will be seeing a woman president.
#womanpower
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Slender Man's Liaisons
In Rolling Stone's February issue, they rehashed the details and new findings of the chilling case of the Slender Man killers.
In May 2014, almost a year ago, two Wisconsin girls lured their friend into the woods where they brutally stabbed her 19 times with a kitchen knife. Their motive? Slenderman made them do it.
Who is Slender Man? He's a fictional character that someone created in 2009 for a Photoshop contest. It gained extreme popularity among the Internet, where users rallied together and created a creepy Slender Man phenomenon.
I've followed this case since it was plastered all over the news last year, but I hadn't realized it was still ongoing. Apparently, new images have come to light, which could likely affect the trial. Rolling Stone says that graphic images from the girl's notebooks feature an elaborate killing plan, including dolls with red, blood-like smudges and a list of the essentials (including "the will to live" ... how creepy is that).
So, what are these insane images mean for the two underage, Slender Man killers? They might be getting a lighter sentencing. Insane. Last year, a Wisconsin judge said the girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weierm, were "mentally fit to stand trail." But now their attorneys are making a play for the trial to be moved to juvenile court. An obvious smart choice on their part.
Clearly these girls are a some type of unstable, but honestly, isn't everyone a little whacky?
There's a difference between having the capability to do something so incredibly heinous, like stabbing your friend 19 times, and actually stabbing your friend 19 times. Just because you're drawing disturbing images and planning what weapon to use on your friend doesn't mean you're mentally unfit –– it's called premeditated murder.
But hey, I'm no psychiatrist. I'm just a girl who watches a lot of Law and Order and Criminal Minds.
From the first time I read the details of the attempted murder, it sent chills down my spine. Now, reading the gruesome details about how they planned for pepper spray, a map of the woods and their weapon of choice, it's even more disturbing.
As of now, the girls will be charged as adults adults with first-degree intentional attempted homicide. Again, I'm no doctor, lawyer or anyone who would be substantial to the case –– but as someone who is qualified to sit a juror ... I would want to see them charged as the latter.
Who knows, maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe they really are a couple of loose screws rolling around on this Earth, and they belong in a mental facility instead of behind bars. I guess I would be happy as long as their unable to get together and plot crimes.
I just believe in the good ole saying, "Don't commit the crime, if you can't do the time."
In May 2014, almost a year ago, two Wisconsin girls lured their friend into the woods where they brutally stabbed her 19 times with a kitchen knife. Their motive? Slenderman made them do it.
Who is Slender Man? He's a fictional character that someone created in 2009 for a Photoshop contest. It gained extreme popularity among the Internet, where users rallied together and created a creepy Slender Man phenomenon.
I've followed this case since it was plastered all over the news last year, but I hadn't realized it was still ongoing. Apparently, new images have come to light, which could likely affect the trial. Rolling Stone says that graphic images from the girl's notebooks feature an elaborate killing plan, including dolls with red, blood-like smudges and a list of the essentials (including "the will to live" ... how creepy is that).
So, what are these insane images mean for the two underage, Slender Man killers? They might be getting a lighter sentencing. Insane. Last year, a Wisconsin judge said the girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weierm, were "mentally fit to stand trail." But now their attorneys are making a play for the trial to be moved to juvenile court. An obvious smart choice on their part.
Clearly these girls are a some type of unstable, but honestly, isn't everyone a little whacky?
There's a difference between having the capability to do something so incredibly heinous, like stabbing your friend 19 times, and actually stabbing your friend 19 times. Just because you're drawing disturbing images and planning what weapon to use on your friend doesn't mean you're mentally unfit –– it's called premeditated murder.
But hey, I'm no psychiatrist. I'm just a girl who watches a lot of Law and Order and Criminal Minds.
From the first time I read the details of the attempted murder, it sent chills down my spine. Now, reading the gruesome details about how they planned for pepper spray, a map of the woods and their weapon of choice, it's even more disturbing.
As of now, the girls will be charged as adults adults with first-degree intentional attempted homicide. Again, I'm no doctor, lawyer or anyone who would be substantial to the case –– but as someone who is qualified to sit a juror ... I would want to see them charged as the latter.
Who knows, maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe they really are a couple of loose screws rolling around on this Earth, and they belong in a mental facility instead of behind bars. I guess I would be happy as long as their unable to get together and plot crimes.
I just believe in the good ole saying, "Don't commit the crime, if you can't do the time."
Sunday, March 1, 2015
SNL takes on ISIS
So, Saturday Night Live is back at it. They recently celebrated their 40th Anniversary, and I couldn't be happier with the extra long special episode they put it out. Congratualtions SNL!
They're also back at it with their occasional distasteful humor. This past Saturday night they had 50 Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson on as a special guest. She starred in a video where she's saying goodbye to her dad (Taran Killam). You assume by the camo backpack and her tearful goodbye to her dad that she's joining the military — until she's says "Dad, it's just ISIS," and winks at him.
You could hear the audience laughing in the background, but I was more confused than anything. A jeep with men dressed as ISIS members roll up to pick Johnson up, and they shoot into the air as they drive away.
Honestly, I'm pretty tolerable about SNL and their skits. I don't take anything too personally or question their motives often, but this one had my eyebrow raised.
I know that they're goal is to take things that are taken seriously and warp them into a comedy skit. They don't make light of sitatutions to be hurtful, but I thought this one went a little too far. Men have been brutally beheaded by this group, and it doesn't seem to be ending soon. We haven't met a common ground with them, so the brutality isn't coming to an end.
When I saw the skit, I wondered if any of the ISIS victim's parents were at home watching this episode. It was a chilling feeling. I wonder what American journalist Steven Sotloff's family would think if they saw the skit making light of the terrorist group. The terrorist group that beheaded their loved one.
I'm curious to know what the thought process of this skit was. Who came up with it? It must have gone through a number of people in the progression, but no one thought it was inappropriate? I wonder what the conversation was around this production, the costume choices, the script, the choice of actors ... it's just very bizzare to me that this was something they chose to highlight.
There are so many other things out there to pick on. What about this stupid black/blue, gold/white dress debate? I'm sure there are some celebrities who have said something stupid to the media or a cat who did something on the Internet.
I love SNL. I've always said my dream job would be to work in some capacity with the cast and writers, but this just wasn't a skit I could laugh at.
Check out the spoof below.
They're also back at it with their occasional distasteful humor. This past Saturday night they had 50 Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson on as a special guest. She starred in a video where she's saying goodbye to her dad (Taran Killam). You assume by the camo backpack and her tearful goodbye to her dad that she's joining the military — until she's says "Dad, it's just ISIS," and winks at him.
You could hear the audience laughing in the background, but I was more confused than anything. A jeep with men dressed as ISIS members roll up to pick Johnson up, and they shoot into the air as they drive away.
Honestly, I'm pretty tolerable about SNL and their skits. I don't take anything too personally or question their motives often, but this one had my eyebrow raised.
I know that they're goal is to take things that are taken seriously and warp them into a comedy skit. They don't make light of sitatutions to be hurtful, but I thought this one went a little too far. Men have been brutally beheaded by this group, and it doesn't seem to be ending soon. We haven't met a common ground with them, so the brutality isn't coming to an end.
When I saw the skit, I wondered if any of the ISIS victim's parents were at home watching this episode. It was a chilling feeling. I wonder what American journalist Steven Sotloff's family would think if they saw the skit making light of the terrorist group. The terrorist group that beheaded their loved one.
I'm curious to know what the thought process of this skit was. Who came up with it? It must have gone through a number of people in the progression, but no one thought it was inappropriate? I wonder what the conversation was around this production, the costume choices, the script, the choice of actors ... it's just very bizzare to me that this was something they chose to highlight.
There are so many other things out there to pick on. What about this stupid black/blue, gold/white dress debate? I'm sure there are some celebrities who have said something stupid to the media or a cat who did something on the Internet.
I love SNL. I've always said my dream job would be to work in some capacity with the cast and writers, but this just wasn't a skit I could laugh at.
Check out the spoof below.
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