Current Obsessions: House of Cards, VagMos, Sherlock, The Butler

House of Cards  
(TW)

Have you all finished House of Cards yet? BECAUSE I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT. So it may or may not be the truth that I watched the entire second season in 3 days #noshame. So I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but the thing with Frank, Meechum, and Claire? Did not see that coming. Also, I have to talk about the rape sub-plot. Things I like about it:

• It brings sexual assault (especially sexual assault in the military) front and center in one of the biggest shows right now. 
• Claire realizes how she can use her and Frank's influence for good and creates a coalition to get legislation passed for better protections for victims in the military.

Things I didn't like so much about it:

• When Claire tells Frank about it in the bathroom, she ends up comforting him. Really, bro?
• She uses the rape as an excuse for abortion. I understand she's a public figure and so is held up to strict public scrutiny, but women shouldn't have to give an excuse to get an abortion other than, "Hey, I can't really have a baby right now." Period. I believe in abortion in cases of rape. I also believe in abortion in non-rape cases. It's sad that she has to hide behind rape to explain to the public why. And still she's shamed for it.

There's more, but those are what stuck out to me most. Ya'll should really read Batty Mamzelle's post "Is Claire Underwood a Caricature of Feminism?"

VagMos

It's VagMo Season! For the fourth year, I'm in Drake's VagMos (aka Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues)! And this year, I talked the group into making IowaCASA the beneficiaries. WOOT WOOT. Plus, I'm starting Des Moines' first community VagMo and I'm hoping to make it mostly women of color and maybe even have several monologues in different languages. We've identified that there's a huge need for a space for women of color to express their feminism and I hope that this helps that. Yay!

Sherlock

So, I'm late to the game here, I know. Sherlock has been all over tumblr for years and I've just been like, ummmkay...? But after I finished binge-watching HOC I was searching Netflix forlornly trying to find something to fill the gap in my soul, and decided to give Sherlock a try. It was a weird transition from HOC to Sherlock, but gaaaaaaah *FANGIRL MOMENT* it's good. Yea, it's good. What I'm most excited about? That I can now partake in all of the tumblr Sherlock madness.

The Butler 
(TW-Again, sorry)

So my mom was in town this past weekend and we Redboxed The Butler. Heard of it? It came out a few months ago and got nominated for like, a ton of awards. I've been wanting to see it, so Ma and I grabbed it on our way home.  So no one told me that there's a rape scene within the first 5 minutes. I wasn't really liking that. So yea, just warning ya'll about that. But overall, the movie was powerful. It explored racism, classism, sexism, the Civil Rights Movement, Black Panthers, Freedom Riders, Vietnam, national politics, education and more.

Plus, I had no idea all the big names in it. First of all, Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and David
Oyelowo are the three main characters. Add to that Mariah Carey, Jane Fonda, Yaya DaCosta (ANTM, anyone?), Lenny Kravitz, Alan Rickman (another fangirl moment when he first came on screen), James Marsden, Terrance Howard, even fucking Robin Williams. Who knew Lee Daniels could get such a kick ass cast?

Current Obsession: The West Wing

So, I've been gone for awhile. Why? Because Netflix Instant added all seven seasons of the West Wing. And so any free time I had is now being overrun by the Josiah Bartlet Administration. It's been two weeks and I'm already almost through the third season.

Why the obsession? First of all, there's eye candy:

Second: Allison Janney. She's a feminista badass extraordinaire.
"There were 36 homicides last night. 480 sexual assaults. 3411 robberies. 3685 aggravated assaults, all at gun point. And if anyone thinks those crimes could have been prevented if the victims themselves had been carrying guns, I only remind you that the President of the United States was shot last night while surrounded by the best-trained armed guards in the history of the world."


Third: The awesome trivia weaved in each episode. Name the only three words in the English language that begin with "dw-" Answer: dwell, dwindle, dwarf.

Fourth: The amazing writers:

• "I will once again betray the sisterhood. I saw you, you, you, and you roll your eyes." 
• "There are five White House staffers in the room right now. I'd like to say to the 1.6 of you who are stoned right now, it's time to share."  
• Donna: What do you think it's about?
  Josh: I don't know. But this is the White House, so it's probably not that important. 
• Josh: I drink from the Keg of Glory, Donna. Bring me the finest muffins and bagels in all the land.
• Sam: About a week ago I accidentally slept with a prostitute.
  Toby: Really?
  Sam: Yes.
  Toby: You accidentally slept with a prostitute.
  Sam: Call girl.
  Toby: Accidentally.
  Sam: Yes.
  Toby: I don't understand, did you trip over something?

Fifth: Donna

I took the "Which West Wing Character Are You?" test. I'm Donna, no surprise there. I'm only on season 3, but Donna and Josh hook up eventually, right? Right?!?!
Known as the only one who can control Josh Lyman, she answers to his every bellow. She has a thing for Yo-Yo Ma, philately, and Josh... but won't act on it. Although hired on the Bartlet Campaign by pure luck, Donnatella has now proven herself to be a valuable asset.

:: Which West Wing character are you? ::

Finally, this clip from Season 2, episode 3. President Bartlet rails into this homophobic Christian radio host. It's pretty awesome. 



So, Mrs. Landingham, what's next?

Current Obsession: Obama Gifs.

So... I might be a little obsessed with our president. He's just so swag. For Christmas, my mom got me the book that he wrote for his daughters. It's so beautiful. He tells his daughters they are smart and creative and are bound for great things. I love it. It's something every girl needs to hear from their parents, whether they're 8 or 21. So in honor of this book and in honor of my obsession with gifs and obama, I unite the two in this post. I give you Obamagifs.

Just our prez bein all hip with Ellen DeGeneres. NBD.

The end.

Current Obsession: Kate Middleton

K, so this obsession isn't so current. I've been obsessed for awhile now. But KMid is preggo, which is kind of a huge deal. Let's round up my thoughts about this new layer to the story:

"[Insert meme of the Queen looking old and saying something crabby about how she used to own countries and now she's going to have to change diapers again, or something along those lines.]"

Also, if you want to waste an hour of your life and bask in the glow of the most beautiful woman alive, click on the picture below to see a 131-picture slideshow of everything Kate has every worn.