Kids These Days

I was going to do my best to ensure that this wasn't going to be a sort of "these kids these days" rant that ends up making me sound like that one elderly conservative character in Agatha Christie books, but oops, too late.
I went to see my friends a few weeks ago and I was shocked over how mature the eleven-year-old was (for the sake of convenience and protecting her privacy, I'm calling her Jane). She was messaging her friends and she let me sort of message them pretending to be her for a bit and oh my gosh. They were swearing as much as people at high school do, and they were asking each other if they had ever been kissed. I was shocked into shame by one of the replies, "Yeah, like three guys at camp and I didn't even like them that much :/ " People, is this really happening? They're eleven. I was playing with dolls and I still thought boys were gross when I was eleven. Is it because of today's environment? The increasing barrage of advertisements and the sexualization of ever-younger girls? I couldn't believe it, I really could not. I can talk to Jane like she's sixteen, no problem, and she understands innuendos that go right over my head. I saddens me to see seven-year-olds with iPhones and Ugg boots shopping around the mall in a little gaggle of their friends. Maybe one day, kids won't be really considered kids anymore, and being "childish" will be a thing of the past, or something you grow out of when you're three as opposed to seven.

Eighties Cartoons

Over the weekend, I went to see some family friends in Windsor, and I was unfortunately forced to watch "Dungeons and Dragons" because Nate (who's nearly four) wanted to. Which, by the way, was fine because I spent the entire time making sarcastic commentary. However I did notice some interesting stereotypes, and a (possibly unintentional?) racist slip-up.
So, the basic story from what I gathered from the intro, this group of teenagers, plus Sheila's little brother, goes on a Dungeons and Dragons theme-park ride and they get transported into the realm of Dungeons and Dragons. The main, glaring stereotypes were:

• Hank: Of course the oldest, most responsible, and general all-round pretty-boy hero is blonde-haired and blue-eyed. Side note: Why do the eyebrows never match the hair? 

• Eric: The spoiled brat that complains constantly is diametrically opposite from the golden boy in superficial appearance.

• Diana: The only black character, the most skimpily clad, and the furry outfit makes her look especially savage and even almost ape-like. I truly hope that the clothing was an unintentional slip on the drawer's part. The one redeeming part is that she seems to assume the leadership role in Hank's absence. I apologise for the quality of this photo; I wanted to show her whole outfit.

• Sheila: Overall, from the episodes I've seen, the quietest character. She has an invisibility cloak. The only thing I can think of here is: why does the woman have to be invisible? Ever thought of Violet from "The Incredibles"? How come she has invisibility and Dash has super speed? Why can't it be the other way around?

• Bobby: Sheila's little brother, as stated above. Again, blonde hair and blue eyes: all the better to look ingenuous with, my dear. 

• Presto: The magician's apprentice whose spells never really work. Of course the kid with the glasses is clumsy and awkward.

North Carolina

North Carolina just passed an Amendment to their Constitution that bans same-sex marriage, and defines marriage as "a union between a man and a woman". I simply cannot believe this is happening. North Carolina has a Republican government for the first time in 140 years, and what's the thing that they make sure they accomplish? Banning gay marriage. It's nice to know that humanity is regressing back to the 1800s. Also, because of the very vague wording in the Amendment, it could cause complications and even lessen protection for victims of domestic abuse, since "domestic union" is not a phrase recognised by state law. I just can't believe that in 2012, we are still struggling for gay rights. It sickens me, it really does.

You can read more about it here and here.