Thursday, June 12, 2008

ups and downs

Governor Deval Patrick's daughter is heading off to home-of-the-homos Smith College in the fall, and she'll fit right in. Yay, Katherine! And well done, daddy Deval, who apparently is the a poster-child for PFLAG:
"he didn't know that I was gay [when he helped legalize gay marriage in the state]," the 18-year-old recalls. "So, for someone so publicly to fight for something that doesn't even affect him was just like, 'That’s my dad,' you know?" she says with a laugh. "That’s all I could think. I was very, very proud to be part of this family, and this state in general."

"It was great. I'm very glad," she adds, looking at her father. "Don't cry, Dad." Patrick's eyes are brimming with tears, prompting some good-natured teasing from his daughter. "He's done some good things," she says with a laugh, patting his arm. "I appreciate it. Want a tissue? Oh, God. He's a crier."

Less amazingly adorable? Strawberry Shortcake's hideous makeover:
They've taken a beloved, asexual childhood icon -- and they've tried to make her cool. Strawberry Shortcake isn't cool! She's Victorian! And she isn't supposed to look like the demon lovechild of the Little Mermaid and Polly Pocket in truly awful high-waisted pants. That's way worse than when Marvel unconsciously created Gay Ken in 1993:
it gave Ken a purple mesh T-shirt, a pierced ear and the name “Earring Magic Ken,” and it can set off a brand crisis on a global scale. ... Earring Magic Ken is the industry’s nightmare. The character, who had blond highlights in his hair and a leather vest, drew howls from consumers, who did not see him as a realistic boyfriend for Barbie.

6 comments:

Angela said...

And Angelina Ballerina got skinny! That's so not the point.

charrow said...

not cool. They made her look like a predators dream. She is not one of the bratz. now she is just another generic poorly drawn cartoon..no character. the little sister of jessica rabbit.

charrow said...

oh yeah, go smith!

Britta said...

I want an earring magic Ken. No, make that two earring magic Kens...

Anonymous said...

Not to nerd out on you for a post from like 3 weeks ago, but Marvel didn't make gay Ken. Mattel made gay Ken.

Marvel did make Northstar, one of the first gay superheroes outside of fanfics (The Rawhide Kid doesn't count because he was a western hero, not a superhero, and anyway, he wasn't gay until 2000, despite his name).

ester said...

that's amazing, chris. thank you.