The Bechdel Test

In my random wanderings of the internet I found the coolest test to use on movies. It's called The Bechdel Test,  from the comic Dykes To Watch out For (a comic I'm not familiar with, unfortunately). It is a test that helps illustrate the presence of gender in movies. It isn't a test to determine if a movie is good, or even pro-feminist, just to show how the genders are represented in film. I'm actually a bit sad I hadn't found this earlier (the strip it came from was published in 1985, it's older than me!) It has three basic rules for a movie to pass the test.

1. The movie has to have at least two named female characters.
2. At some point, the female characters have to talk to each other.
3. When they talk, they can't talk about a man.

It is amazing how many movies don't pass this test. My favorite movie, Fight Club, fails miserably (though, it is supposed to be a movie about what it means to be a man in a consumerist society). Although the Kill Bill movies pass, so I can take some solace in that. I have enjoyed applying this test to all the films I have seen recently, and I think it's kind of sad that more movies don't pass. Do filmmakers really think that if two women are on screen not talking about men that I will lose interest? Ah well, maybe they will get the picture eventually.

It's Time To Let Go

It has been a decade since the Twin Towers fell. That day is scorched into the memory of almost everyone who was alive that day. Everyone will remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard about the towers. It has been a long decade, but I think it's time we let ourselves heal.

America seems to be addicted to its grief. We keep rehashing and reliving the tragedies that happen to us. We keep getting bombarded with images and discussion about how horrible the 9/11 attacks were. And they were horrible, but after a decade it's time to heal. We can't keep going on this way. This state of constant sorrow is going to unravel us. It's not healthy. It's like not letting go of the death of a family member for a decade. Eventually you have to. You have to live normally again or go mad with your grief.

We should always remember the attacks, just as we should always remember Pearl Harbor and other national tragedies. Remembrance, however, should not be grief. It's time to pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and move on. It's time to let go.

A Breath Of Fresh Air

I have finally started college. It has been fun so far, all 2 classes I have attended. I'm pretty disappointed with my English, it's pretty basic stuff they are reviewing. Alas, it's required so I must play along.

What I have found to be very refreshing is my anthropology class. More specifically, the text book. I have only read the first chapter, but it has blatantly stated the origins of the human species can be traced back millions of years ago, and that the current form we take originated around 200,000 years ago. Huzzah science! It makes me very happy to see even at the community college here in Utah we teach science in science classes! They don't mince words, they don't equivocate, they don't offer alternative "theories", they just state it. Evolution is fact and we share common ancestors with the other apes (all of life, actually).

That is a breath of fresh air! I'm so used to the internet and talking with average Utahns, that I was half expecting the college to "teach the controversy". But they don't! It's pretty damn awesome, if you ask me.

Getting Ready For College

I haven't posted for over a week, and it's been killing me. I have been getting ready to go back to college, and it's been a whirlwind of preparation. Most things are ready, especially me!

I went to college for a semester or two when I was 18, but I really didn't want to be there. I went because everyone wanted me to, and that just didn't go well. I quit showing up to classes and doing homework because fuck it, I was paying for it, and I really didn't want to be there.

Fast forward 6 years, and now I'm heading back! this time I want to go, and I will actually try to do well. I haven't been this excited in quite a while, so that's a good thing. For now I am going 3/4 time, only 3 classes, so I can get used to school and working full-time. If all goes well I will be going full-time to both next semester.

Anyway, just wanted to give a quick update. Yay college!

Sundays Are Relaxing

Today has been an extremely satisfying day. Not because I got anything done, but because I got to relax.

First, I slept in today because I didn't feel like dealing with my hangover. I think noon should be the standard wake up time for everyone. Life would be so much better. I hung out with my girlfriend, Cori, on the couch and humored her by suffering through Desperate Housewives. Then we got to drive down to Utah County and visit her brother and sister-in-law so we could meet our new nephew!

Meet Mason!

Cori holding our new nephew.

He was awake for all of 2 minutes.

I was so excited to finally see him! We were going to go yesterday, but we had already agreed to go see my youngest sister do her performance for her summer theater school. (She did a wonderful job, all the kids did). So we got to see him today. It was nice to not have to compete with everyone else for time to hold him and all that kind of crap. He was awake for all of two minutes then just passed out. Apparently he even falls asleep while eating, and they have to wake him up so he can finish. We had a nice chat with Kyle and Stephanie, but I could tell they were tired. We left after 2 hours so they could eat and catch a few Z's before Mason woke back up. I'm so excited to see him grow up!

I also reflected on how lucky I was to be considered part of the family. Cori and I aren't married, but we have been together for 3 years, and living together for 2 of those years. It makes me very happy to be included in family events and to be considered part of their amazing family. I especially like being an uncle to 2 nephews now!

After we got home we decided to pull our bikes out of our storage closet, dust them off, and go for a ride. I have no idea why we haven't been doing this all summer! It was relaxing and nice to get out of my apartment for more than work and errands. We rode for about 4 miles or so, which really isn't that much on a bike. Seriously, if anyone tries to make you feel impressed by telling you they rode 4 miles on a bike, just remember I can do it easily. And I am very out of shape. Anyway, then we came home and just kinda sat about the place for a second, then I decided to play my computer/blog.

Today has really been very satisfying. It's been everything a day off should be after a hectic week at work. And from what my new 'boss' has been saying, I can expect to have Sundays and Mondays off all the time (my schedule shifts every week normally). This will make it so we can have these wonderful days together more often, since Cori has school during the week after she gets off work.

I hope everyone's Sunday was also enjoyable!

Misogyny In Video Games

First an announcement! You can now find my podcast on iTunes. You just have to look up No Gods, No Masters under the podcast tab! The author should be 'The Reverend', though I don't think any other podcasts have the same title. Please rate it and share with your friends!

 Today I talk about the misogyny that is so pervasive in the video game culture.



We need to stop objectifying women in our video games. It will continue to taint the world's perception of gamers if we don't. Please feel free to contact me with questions, comments or concerns at askthereverendrtb@yahoo.com
Thanks for listening!
/rant

Wow, That Was A Lot Of Posts!

OK, I got everything ported over here. I'm sorry for the large number of posts (as I add one more...) But now I won't have to do it in the future! So, be looking for me on iTunes. I'll let everyone know once I'm available there!