12 truths I learned from life and writing | Anne Lamott

As another year ends and a new one waits patiently in the wings, this talk made me think and laugh. Is there anything better?

A few days before she turned 61, writer Anne Lamott decided to write down everything she knew for sure. She dives into the nuances of being a human who lives in a confusing, beautiful, emotional world, offering her characteristic life-affirming wisdom and humor on family, writing, the meaning of God, death and more.



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Cinemascope: Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold

Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.



Released in 2017.

Plot line: Literary icon Joan Didion reflects on her remarkable career and personal struggles in this intimate documentary directed by her nephew, Griffin Dunne.

While I have not read all her work, Joan Didion is a author I admire, so was delighted when Netflix released this documentary. There are criticisms about this documentary, and I would agree with some of it. Having a nephew tell this story means that things are slanted a certain way. There is way too much about her husband and not nearly enough about the author and her critical mind, let alone the fashionista side to her. But then, maybe no-one other than family would have had enough access to make this documentary, so we've got to take what we're given. I'm fascinated by the public/private personas of celebrity figures, and this gave me insights into the woman.

You can see the trailer here. If you have yet to see it, this is a movie worth watching.

Emma Thompson: Harvey Weinstein 'top of harassment ladder' - BBC Newsnight

"There just aren't enough women in positions of power to balance out the system." Harvey Weinstein is just at the top of this particular iceberg, so let's not pretend that he is somehow unusual. Talk to the girls and women in your lives and take your blinders off.



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P!nk's VMA Speech

This is what excellent parenting looks like.



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Cinemascope: The Purity Myth

Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.



Released in 2011.

Plot line: In this video adaptation of her bestselling book, pioneering feminist blogger Jessica Valenti trains her sights on "the virginity movement" -- an unholy alliance of evangelical Christians, right-wing politicians, and conservative policy intellectuals who have been exploiting irrational fears about women's sexuality to roll back women's rights. From dad-and-daughter "purity balls," taxpayer-funded abstinence-only curricula, and political attacks on Planned Parenthood, to recent attempts by legislators to de-fund women's reproductive health care and narrow the legal definition of rape, Valenti identifies a single, unifying assumption: the myth that the worth of a woman depends on what she does -- or does not do -- sexually. In the end, Valenti argues that the health and well-being of women are too important to be left to ideologues bent on vilifying feminism and undermining women's autonomy.

This documentary is based on a book I've got on my to-be-read list, but I somehow missed this when it was released. It's a short and disturbing documentary that highlights the value patriarchal systems place on women's virginity. This has been an issue for hundreds if not thousands of years, and the fact that many still believe stuff like this is 2017 is mind boggling. Where is the outcry about boys and their purity? Typical double standard that makes my head hurt. There is so much more to a woman than her virginity status people, but if you read my blog you don't need me to remind you of that.

You can see the trailer here. If you have yet to see it, this is a documentary worth watching.

Cinemascope: The Hunting Ground

Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.



Released in 2015.

Plot line: A startling exposé of rape crimes on U.S. campuses, institutional cover-ups and the brutal social toll on victims and their families. Weaving together verité footage and first-person testimonies, the film follows survivors as they pursue their education while fighting for justice - despite harsh retaliation, harassment and pushback at every level.

This one made me angry, mad, and so sad. I applaud these brave women who stood up and told their truth, and am so angry at the college/police/societal systems in place that allow these attacks, and perpetuates the silencing and shaming that surrounds victims of these abuses.

You can see the trailer here. If you have yet to see it, this is a documentary worth watching.

Madonna's Full Acceptance Speech at Billboard Women In Music 2016 (Video)

And yes, it's that Madonna, and before you fluff it off, give this a listen. It'll take about 10 minutes of your day, and if you are not in tears let me know. Don't make the mistake of watching it right before bed as I did though. Rock on Material Girl. Rock on.

Madonna delivers heartfelt acceptance speech addressing sexism, misogyny, and feminism in the music industry at Billboard Women In Music 2016.

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The art of being yourself | Caroline McHugh (Video)

Stumbled across this interesting talk the other day, and it gave me lots to think about.



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Indie Icon Amanda Palmer Gets Real About Motherhood & Relevance (Video)

Have you been watching The What's Underneath Project? I'd highly recommend it. This one with Amanda Palmer just makes me admire her more.

“Feminism isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being honest,” says Amanda Palmer in the first episode of the Summer ’16 season of The What’s Underneath Project. The indie artist who turned the music industry on its head is now doing the same with motherhood by embracing her post-mom body and her fears of being insignificant."



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Bring on the female superheroes! | Christopher Bell (Video)

I found this TED talk educational and thought provoking, and I think you will too.

"Why is it so hard to find female superhero merchandise? In this passionate, sparkling talk, media studies scholar (and father of a Star Wars-obsessed daughter) Christopher Bell addresses the alarming lack of female superheroes in the toys and products marketed to kids -- and what it means for how we teach them about the world."



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Cinemascope: The Crimson Field

Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.



Released in 2015.

Plot line: Doctors, nurses, and women volunteers work together in a tented field hospital to heal the bodies and souls of men wounded in the Great War. It becomes clear that no training could have prepared the volunteer nurses Kitty Trevelyan, Flora Marshall and Rosalie Berwick for this work, but a breath of fresh air soon arrives at the hospital in the form of Sister Joan Livesey, a disarming and spirited nurse with a decided mischievous edge.

I really enjoy period pieces, and this one in a field hospital hit all my sweet spots. We know that war is hell, but it also creates opportunities and societal upheavals that change the world as we know it. I love that there are so many women characters in this one, and that they are all wonderfully complex. I'd recommend this one to fans of historical fiction and period pieces, and Downton Abbey fans will delight in seeing two of the cast in a new light.

You can see the trailer here. If you have yet to see it, this is a movie worth watching.

Cinemascope: G.I. Jane

Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.

Released in 1997.

Plot line: In response to political pressure from Senator Lillian DeHaven (Anne Bancroft), the U.S. Navy begins a program that would allow for the eventual integration of women into its services. The program begins with a single trial candidate, Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil (Demi Moore), who is chosen specifically for her femininity. O'Neil enters the grueling training program under the command of John James Urgayle (Viggo Mortensen).

I recently watched this movie again for, oh maybe the sixth time. It works just as well today as it did when I first saw it almost a decade ago. Demi Moore is kick-ass in this one, and I love everything about it.

You can see the trailer here. If you have yet to see it, this is a movie worth watching.

Cinemascope: Miss You Already

Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.



Released in 2015.

Plot line: An honest and powerful story following two best friends, Milly and Jess, as they navigate life's highs and lows. Inseparable since they were young girls, they can't remember a time they didn't share everything - secrets, clothes, even boyfriends - but nothing prepares them for the day Milly is hit with life-altering news.

I can't put it any better, so here is a critical review of this one: Miss You Already isn't shy about going for filmgoers' tear ducts, but its solid script and talented cast are often powerful enough to make up for its more manipulative moments. This stayed away from being a pure chick flick by dealing with some real life issues in such an honest way. Plus, it passed the Bechdel Test. What's not to love about that?

You can see the trailer here. If you have yet to see it, this is a movie worth watching.

A taboo-free way to talk about periods | Aditi Gupta (Video)

Video Blurb: It's true: talking about menstruation makes many people uncomfortable. And that taboo has consequences: in India, three out of every 10 girls don't even know what menstruation is at the time of their first period, and restrictive customs related to periods inflict psychological damage on young girls. Growing up with this taboo herself, Aditi Gupta knew she wanted to help girls, parents and teachers talk about periods comfortably and without shame. She shares how she did it.

This is not just a problem in India, and not educating girls, and shaming them about their periods continues to this day. Watching this video gives me hope.



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10 ways to have a better conversation | Celeste Headlee (Video)

I know I am not alone in thinking that all our ever present technology has had the downside of making people poor conversationalists, so this is a wonderful and timely talk.



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Happy International Women's Day (Video)

Here's to Strong Women,
May we know them,
May we raise them,
May we be them.
- Anon.



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Jenni Chang and Lisa Dazols: This is what LGBT life is like around the world (Video)

As a gay couple in San Francisco, Jenni Chang and Lisa Dazols had a relatively easy time living the way they wanted. But outside the bubble of the Bay Area, what was life like for people still lacking basic rights? They set off on a world tour in search of "Supergays," LGBT people who were doing something extraordinary in the world. In 15 countries across Africa, Asia and South America — from India, recently home to the world's first openly gay prince, to Argentina, the first country in Latin America to grant marriage equality — they found the inspiring stories and the courageous, resilient and proud Supergays they had been looking for.




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Elizabeth Gilbert & Marie Forleo on Fear, Authenticity and Big Magic (Video)

Elizabeth Gilbert's new book is out, and I for one cannot wait to dive in. Here is a fun and inspiring interview she did recently.

Listen in as Elizabeth Gilbert and Marie Forleo talk perfectionism, why you shouldn’t strive to be fearless, and unpack the keys to living your most creative life. Don’t miss this Big Magic episode, it’s one of my all-time favorites!



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Taiye Selasi: Don't ask where I'm from, ask where I'm a local (Video)

You know how things all align sometimes? Well, look at what I found while listening to my current fave book.

When someone asks you where you're from … do you sometimes not know how to answer? Writer Taiye Selasi speaks on behalf of "multi-local" people, who feel at home in the town where they grew up, the city they live now and maybe another place or two. "How can I come from a country?" she asks. "How can a human being come from a concept?"



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Connie Britton's Hair Secret (Video)

Have y'all seen this? Made my day.



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