SECRETARY CLINTON TO LAUNCH WOMEN’S WORLD CUP INITIATIVE

andlt; pandgt; Pretty Smart! On Monday June 6, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will launch the Women’s World Cup Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports. The event, which will be streamed live on www.state.gov. will take place 9:30 am ET at the Department of State with members of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and youth soccer players from around the world. This initiative is a joint effort by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues. The partnership hopes to harness the power of sports and international exchanges as a means to empower women and girls worldwide. The announcement is part of the build-up to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will take place ths summer in Germany, and the kick-off to the 40th anniversary year of Title IX — the U.S. law to provide equal oppor wtunity for men and women in academics and athletics. In her address, Secretary of State Clinton will h [Read More]

published June 7, 2011 at 6:00pm CDT

WINO WEDNESDAY: MAD HOUSEWIVES GONE, WELL, MAD

Isn’t this just precious? I have no freaking clue how the wine tastes, but really… the marketing is genius. And if you visit their site, they have recipes too! Aptly named “Mad Cooking!” Hilarious! [Read More]

published January 26, 2011 at 3:06pm CST

TO THE BATCAVE! IT'S THE BATMOBILE THROUGH THE AGES!

andamp;loc I just spent about an hour staring at this image, and I just HAD to share it here.  I don't know the artistand#40;sand#41; who designed this thing, but kudos to whoever it was.  This thing is awesome!  It was commissioned by CarInsurance.org, and it's a representation of every Batmobile used in the Batman comics, television series, and films, from the original bright red 1930 Cord to the 1955 Lincoln Futura model famously driven by Adam West in the 60's television show to the jet-powered Tim Burton model and#40;which, as it turns out, was built from two Impalasand#41; to the "tumbler" model currently driven by Christian Bale's dark knight. It includes information such as the car that served as the "base" for each build, and detailed information for the more well-known and iconic Batmobiles.  Confession time:  I am a comic book reader.  As a fan, I knew the Batman's ride had changed quite a bit over the years, but there were many of these that were completely new to me.  If [Read More]

published January 23, 2011 at 5:22pm CST

BOOK REVIEW: PRETTY LITTLE LIARS

Author: Sara Shepard Pages: 304 Date Started: 9/17/10 Date Finished: N/A Simple Summary: Take four parts drama, three parts slut, and two parts stupid — blend until well mixed. Garnish with unbelievability and serve cold. Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆  My Review: I tried, I really did. I’m a fan of the show but to make the demographic larger and safe for tv the producers rightly padded this series. For only being sixteen/ seventeen, these girls are doing things that really shouldn’t be advertised in the young adult demographic. Meet a guy in a bar? Yeah, I think sleeping with him in the restroom is a sound idea. Start drinking before you hit eight grade? Awesome! Stealing your older sister’s boyfriend — twice? Mmm they should teach this stuff in finishing school. The idea that the series is being marketed with barbie-esque doll cover art makes me think that girls in middle school will be reading this and thinking that this is a good way to act. With too much drama covering up t [Read More]

published November 16, 2010 at 3:26pm CST

E-READERS: WHICH ONE TO CHOSE?

E-readers have been gaining a lot of ground lately and I know they have a lot of benefits: lower cost, eco friendly and#40;less treesand#41;, compact, and with wireless downloads possible, the Internet is at your fingertips! There’s no longer a need to feel embarrassed if you’re buying the latest romance novel or say you’re on a trip out of town and don’t know where the nearest bookstore is? Just download it – even at two am! And best of all, you can have all your favorite books at your fingertips. So yeah, easy. And while my reading paperbound books will always outweigh e-books, I find myself increasingly grabbing for my phone to get a quick read in rather than the book that’s resting in my purse. Because of the small screen, it’s making reading difficult and so I want to upgrade. But which one to chose? I’m leaning towards an iPad or Kindle, but I’m always up to hear other opinions! What’s your opinion on e-readers? Do you have an e-reader? Which one? Let me know wh [Read More]

published September 21, 2010 at 2:11pm CDT

INTERVIEW WITH SUSANNA WHITE – DIRECTOR OF NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS

Susanna White took some time during the press junket for Nanny McPhee Returns to answer some questions for Women and Hollywood.  Nanny McPhee Returns opens nationwide today. Women and Hollywood: How did you get the script for the film? Susanna White: I was sent it. I was out in Africa. I can remember the day very clearly. I was researching the moment when the American Marines crossed the border from Kuwait into Iraq. And I came in and washed the sand off me and was completely transported.  I fell in love with the writing. It’s such a departure from what I’ve done before. I really engaged, mainly with the character of Mrs. Green, a mom who’s desperately trying to hold it all together, do a job, run the house, look after her kids, and care for the old people in the village and not really coping and desperately in need of a nanny.  I thought, although loosely set in World War II, it felt like a contemporary story I wanted to tell. WandH:  Why was it so attractive to you since thi [Read More]

published August 20, 2010 at 4:53pm CDT

REESE WITHERSPOON AND NORA EPHRON TO TEAM ON PEGGY LEE BIOPIC

Looks like Reese Witherspoon will be singing again now that she has secured the rights to Peggy Lee’s life story after meeting with her granddaughter. She then approached Nora Ephron and got her to agree to write and direct. I like how Reese is taking an active role in the films she makes. She belongs at the center of a story, not as a sidekick to someone like Vince Vaughn. I know that she wants a varied career but the problem with women and comedies, is that the comedies pretty much suck for the women.and#40;You all know what I mean.and#41; If you remember, Witherspoon won an Oscar playing June Carter in Walk the Line. Fox 2000 and Marc Platt will produce along with Witherspoon. Witherspoon in tune with Peggy Lee and#40;Varietyand#41; [Read More]

published August 10, 2010 at 9:01pm CDT

BY THE NUMBERS: WOMEN IN FILM SCHOOL

I came across this post from Elizabeth M. Daley the Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts talking about whether Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar win will help improve things for women in Hollywood.  She’s honest that the numbers are bad, but being in the position of training the future directors, she’s also optimistic that things could change. Here’s what she writes: I’m in a unique position to feel very positive about the future of women in the entertainment industry. In fact, were a parent of a prospective female student to ask me, “Should my daughter go to school to study the cinematic arts?”, I would unequivocally, and atop the Hollywood sign if necessary, say “Yes!” Do you think that parents of young women contemplating going to film school are now! after a woman wins the Oscar saying to their daughters, honey, this might be a bad idea. You might not be able to make a living. I would think that most people who study directing and who want to make films, HAV [Read More]

published July 20, 2010 at 2:50pm CDT

HOLLYWOOD FEMINIST OF THE DAY: SHOHREH AGHDASHLOO

First things first.  If you haven’t seen The Stoning of Soraya M. you must.  It’s a very intense and well done film about a young woman who is accused of adultery and is put to death in the town square.  The stoning scene is very hard to watch but the reality is that this is no ancient custom.  It is happening now. A woman in Iran, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, was thisclose to being stoned to death for adultery.  She was arrested in 2005 and was given 99 lashes witnessed by one of her sons.  She rescinded her confession which she said was made under duress and has been in jail under a death sentence since then. There has been a tremendous outcry across the world not to carry out the sentence.  For right now it is on hold. Shohreh Aghdashloo played a character in The Stoning of Soraya M. who spoke out and revealed what happened in her community.  She was ostracized and threatened for her honesty. Aghdashloo is using her bully pulpit to get the Iranian government to [Read More]

published July 16, 2010 at 11:42am CDT

KEEP YOUR CAR INSURANCE PREMIUM UNDER CONTROL

Car insurance premiums can be unruly.  And unless you keep your premium under control it can take over your budget in no time at all.  Pretty soon, you’re paying hundreds of dollars a year more than you should be for car insurance, and there’s no money left for the things you want.  Follow these steps to tame you car insurance rate and keep some of that money for yourself. Don’t have an accident. The worst thing you can do for your rate is to have an at-fault accident.  So drive carefully.  Stay off the phone -- studies have shown that a driver using a cell phone is four times more likely to be in an accident. If you need to make a call, pull over somewhere safe.  Don’t drive aggressively -- stay calm behind the wheel and respect others. If someone is driving rude and aggressively, just let them pass and don't get caught up in it.  And don’t drive too close -- remember that the distance should be one car length per 10 Mph. Increase the distance in unfavorable conditio [Read More]

published July 9, 2010 at 6:14pm CDT