Way to reinforce gender roles, Fisher Price

Me and my hot pink tool belt have a bone to pick with you.

Passings: John Hughes

UPDATED AGAIN!: NPR has a brief interview with Alison, talking about her relationship with John Hughes.

UPDATE: You need to read this tribute to John Hughes RIGHT NOW.  For two years, 1985 - 1987, he and Alison Byrne Fields were pen pals.  Her story reads like something out of one of his movies, only so much better.

News comes that  John Hughes has died of a heart attack at 59.

Prolific as a writer and producer, he directed his last film in 1991.  But he ruled the 80's.  He defined that decade's (okay, my) teenage experience in a way that was funny, smart, and thoughtful.  I'd go so far as to say that Buffy Summers and Veronica Mars wouldn't have been possible without him.

Somewhere in heaven the angels are saying, "Hey sexy girrrrrlfriend!"

Life moves pretty fast.  If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Andi totes should have been with Duckie.   I never quite understood why she was the outcast.  I would have killed for her clothes.  The prom dress not so much, but still.  Also, I had her hair.  I gave myself the home perm.



Does Barry Manilow know you raid his closet?



My best friend Becca and I were obsessed with this movie.   I think I still have the soundtrack on cassette somewhere ...

And he actually ended up with the right girl! 

But the ultimate, ZOMG, is 16 Candles.  Not only is it chock full of classic lines and moments, but it's like, about my life.

Although sadly, I did not end up with the hot senior I was in lurve with when I was a sophomore.


Sixteen Candles - Final Scene - Movie Ending - The best video clips are right here

It's only teenage wasteland

Peep this, yo

credit: Victoria Bernal from IT Flickr pool

Easter swiftly approaches, and that means peeps contests. National Geographic Traveler's Intelligent Travel blog is putting their own twist on it:

Take a photo of one or more Peeps in any travel destination, add your photos to our Flickr pool, and then tag them "NGTpeeps." Please limit your entries to three per person. We'll select photos and feature them on our website and the lucky "peeps" will be featured in an online gallery next week.

The entry deadline has been extended to Monday, April 13. Visit Intelligent Travel for the poop. Or peep, as the case may be.

Oh! And there are prizes? Did I mention the prizes?

The good folks at Just Born, the Peeps parent company, have offered to provide some sugary prizes for the winners: Our grand prize winner will take home a Lenox China Peeps item, as well as a collection of Peeps candy, and our four runners-up will receive a suitcase - or perhaps a sweetcase - filled with items like Peeps luggage tags, plush Peeps, and more candy than you'll find in a typical Easter basket.

Peeps in Places Challenge Now Extended! - Intelligent Travel Blog

wax|wendy, as guest edited by Mariah Carey

Cornify via Jezebel

YES YES, PLEASE GODS, YES!!!!!

I don't watch Mad Men (because I don't have real cable), but I'm quite familiar with the show's look. I would be all over a line by Janie Bryant that translated the show's aesthetic into modern pieces.

Also? I would own this look.

Glamour.com: 12 Questions For "Mad Men" Costume Designer Janie Bryant: Slaves to Fashion: 

Glamour: Can we expect to see a line of clothing come out of this, or a collection inspired by the show? What kinds of projects do you have going on for the future?

JB: I’m working on some things right now…I hate to be so mysterious but I can't really say! It would have my name attached to it though.

via Jezebel

Crush your enemies, drive them before you, and hear the lamentations of the women

At a loss for New Year's plans?  It's not too late to get yourself to Western New York for the Ransomville Speedway's Hangover 150.


It's a day of true stock car racing ... which from what I can tell, eventually devolves into a demolition derby.

Of course, this is my only point of reference for demolition derby.  I imagine the Hangover 150 will be a lot like this.



While you're there, do be sure to cheer on the io9 Apocalypsemobile.

Why do they always invade at Christmas?

Lindsey Testolin, you and your Dalekbaum win at life! I salute you.

Flickr via io9

Speak softly and carry a big stick

NPR's Morning Edition had a great piece yesterday about the "Pink Sari Gang".  In a part of India where corruption is rampant and justice is fleeting, one woman, Sampat Devil Pal, got mad as hell and decided she wasn't going to take it anymore. When one of her friends was assaulted - and the authorities did nothing - she organized a group of women to push the police for action.

Sometimes she uses persuasion or shame ... and when that doesn't work, the sticks come out.

These sticks are called lathis. The police in India beat people with them when they want to keep crowds in line. Sampat demonstrates her combat skills, grinning as she spars with an office assistant. The lathis are mainly for self-defense, she says. But the Pink Sari Gang sometimes uses them in anger.

Ms. Pal: (Through Translator) These days, we use them mainly on drunk men. What else are we supposed to do with men that drink and misbehave with women?

Preach it sister.

Corrupt police and officials, looking for a handout? Not on her watch:

There's a story about Sampat going to the police to try to release a man whom she thinks the police arrested purely to get a bribe. This is Sampat's version of what happened after the police turned her away.

Ms. Pal: (Through Translator) The next day, I took my gang of several hundred women, all with lathi sticks. We surrounded the police station. We beat the police officers sitting outside the station. The other policemen came out with their lathi sticks. Our women then got very aggressive and started beating up the police, and then we tied them up.

She's not just a vigilante though. She uses her fame and growing stature to improve the conditions in her community. Including discouraging the marriage of underage girls. She herself was entered into an arranged marriage at twelve.

Ms. Pal: (Through Translator) A man will never have enough guts to raise a hand against me. I would just slap him back into place. If a woman really wants to, she can put a man in his place.