Take Back the Night 2011

On a more serious note than my usual ramblings, there is an event/organization called Take Back the Night, schools from across the nation take part to support this very important cause. Next week on the USC campus there will be events from Monday-Thursday - April 4-7th, 2011 - hoping to raise awareness (and attendance) about how we can all 'Rise Above Violence'. The Facebook page has all of the information regarding the events - times, places, snacks on offer, you name it and they say it. You can ALSO follow the Twitter page: @uscTBTN2011 - tweet, retweet, go to town and get the word out there!

Come and hear testimonies of those who have survived violence, come and share your story, come support those who stand up. You have nothing to lose, but everything to gain from the experience and knowledge these people have to share.

It's important to support - so even if you are no where near Los Angeles and/or the USC campus you can still take a stand against violence. For those of you who deem yourself too 'macho' for such events, no worries, there is also the White Ribbon Campaign. This particular campaign is directed more so towards men, men who pledge themselves against violence towards women - and it's as easy as adding a white ribbon to your outfit, backpack, anything!

We can all Rise Above Violence. Every single one of us.

The Women Yell All

Wow, so yes I did post on The Bachelor last time, but after watching the women tell all, I just... wow. Those ladies all have it out for each other - in lieu of having it out for Brad, the man who 'broke' all of their hearts. I don't get it. Whatever happened to girl-power, you know, sticking together? Damn the man?  Just sayin'.

The entire episode was basically set up to attack the crazy lady Michelle. Yes, she was all kinds of craycray throughout the show, how much of that was genuine/not manufactured by the producers, we'll never know.

Image Credit: ABC/TvWatchers

Jackie was all "you're a like a spider... you're creepy and everyone's afraid of you." Not going to lie, I'm sure there are many men out there who wouldn't mind being bitten by Michelle, all you ladies are just POed because she was in-it-to-win-it and she beat out half of your asses on the way. I'll admit it right now, I loved her crazy. She was just over the top enough to be HIII-LARIOUS. I totally understood why the other ladies were mad at her because all her craziness/back stabbyness was saved for the little asides that the show films, but the relentless attacks even after she was bawling her eyes out? Totally harshing the mellow. One thing though, if someone wanted to turn the show into a drinking game by taking a shot every time Michelle said the word daughter - that person wouldn't have made it to the end of the show. You have a daughter. You left her for the show. It was hard. We get it. No, seriously - we GET it.

The main offenders in the Michelle saga were Stacy, Jackie, and Sarah P. I remember Jackie because she had the Pretty Woman date, and wore a horrible side-bun-thing. Whatever. But Stacy? Who the heck even are you? Same with Sarah, all I remember is a large blonde swoopy side-bangs thing going on. Good thing you guys were so memorable and all, otherwise I might have not believed you as credible sources ranting on and on about Michelle - cue sarcasm font.

Image Credit: ABC/TvWatchers

The other source of scandal was the Melissa vs. Rachel debacle. Yes, Melissa was definitely a COMPLETE loony-toon, but Rachel, you weren't exactly the least annoying tool in the shed either. They both looked like fools during the season and even still in this episode - thank you Ashley S. for pointing out that tears and crazy are the ultimate man repelling duo. Enough is enough.

Speaking of Ashley S. her little southern self just gets me every time. The fact that she got dumped on a 2-on-1 date is so sad, but then her montage while she was leaving broke my heart. Brad had a good answer when she asked "why wouldn't I have made a good wife?" saying, "who the hell am I to say that you wouldn't be a good wife?" Nice one Brad, finally an answer that ACTUALLY seemed as genuine as you claimed to be the entire season.

So with all these ladies still a-twitter I'm sure getting their closure, now I anxiously await Brad's final decision. I think I just want Emily to win because she's just the cutest button a shirt ever did see and because Chantal cried too much, who knows. Whatever. It's really not earth-shattering or life-changing  for me as far as what the results are, but I definitely like always being right. And I'm always right. And if I'm not, Reality Steve usually is.

Bachelor: Three's a Crowd

I've been following this season of the bachelor pretty diligently, it's yet another guilty pleasure of mine. This season's bachelor, Brad Womack, is apparently a familiar face for many women around the country. I missed his first season but my imagination has kind of been going wild with what it possibly could have been like because this season has been... interesting to say the least. This week the ladies went from 3 to 2 and I eagerly await the finale (2 weeks from now - thank you "Women Tell All" pfft). ANYWAYS, I sat through the (just less than) 2 hours of the show this week, even thought I knew in my bones who was going home. They were in South Africa - who wouldn't want to watch elephants and lions chilling in their natural habitat?

The one thing I've really noticed along the whole process is that they drink a LOT of alcohol throughout this whole process. Every date there is at least one glass of champagne (that we see), which is the same as the cocktail party before every rose ceremony. They have (what seems like) endless supplies of vino on the one-on-one dates - which, I believe 'adds to the realism' (insert sarcasm font), I mean who wouldn't want to take the edge off when your boyfriend is dating at least 15 other women? Apparently, people take this trend to heart. I saw this study, by Amber Ferris and a few other academics, that showed results stating that regular reality-dating-television-show-watchers were significantly more likely to drink alcohol and get in a hot tub or spa on an early date with someone. Wait... all many of the group dates included a hot tub of some description... innnnteresting, coincidence maybe..? Most likely. Definitely. Maybe.

As much as I enjoy sitting through the tears and drama that is 'The Bachelor' Monday to Monday - I am SO aware of the ridiculous message that it perpetuates. The message that you can find 'true love' at the end of 6 weeks after dating 25 women at a time is just silly, gee whiz. I'm impressed that all the ladies who appear on the show now - after they've seen nearly every season before I'm sure - can still be "shocked that they feel stronger than they thought they would." Do they tell you to feel such things? Or are you really surprised that being whisked off to remote islands and being pumped full of alcohol will give you the impression of being 'in love'? C'mon ladies, we're supposed to be stronger and more independent than this. We're supposed to have the men chasing us, opening doors and picking up the tab FOR US... right? Sure the illusion of such romantic luxuries are present in The Bachelor - I'm sure any guy would sweep you off your feet too while being paid 6 figures to do so.

For me, this whole reality-dating-show-participation-and-finding-your-soul-mate thing is a complete hoax. I do have to admit, thought, that whenever they advertise to sign up to date the next bachelor I am semi-tempted to apply. I want to be wined and dined and flown around the world (FO' FREE), is that so wrong??