The movie "Erin Brockovich," starring Julia Roberts, is one of the most popular movie in America right now. It claims to be based on a true story but yet, like many such movie, it fails to tell the whole truth. In the movie, the victims in the lawsuit won big. However, in reality they feel like they were not paid enough. Many are wondering where the money went. The story that the movie didn't tell isn't a pretty one. Read more.

Jayson Blair, a NY Times journalist, brought shame to himself, the journalism profession, affirmative action and people of color. His deception and fabrication of stories shattered the image of the press as an objective and truthful medium. Tanya Barrientos is concerned what he has done to affirmative action. Barrientos offers Macarena Hernandez's story as an illustration of the effectiveness of affirmative action. Hernandez started off on a similar path as Blair, but her life has turned out differently because of decisions she has made regarding her career and family. Read more.

In the name of art, women are bonded, humilated and raped. Charlotte O'Sullivan examines different films to point out the eroticised female body. She would like to see the male body eroticised in the same way.

"Can't women look at men with a mixture of empathy, passion and cruelty? Can't men - yes, even straight men - allow themselves to be moved, and intrigued, by another man's vulnerability?" Read more.

In Russia, 14 is the age of consent. Lesbian group Tatu is looking for the most beautiful and youngest girls to join them naked in photo shoot. Julia Volkova and Lena Katina of Tatu plan to use photo for their next album cover. They will popularize the sexualization of children with their act. When there's a demand, they will be a supply. Read more.

Marvel Comics has plans to make Princess Diana into a mutant comic book superhero this fall in "Di Another Day." It's a five-series storyline. The comic books will go on sale September 10. Judge for yourself what you think of them, but Buckingham Palace has spoken on the idea.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman has called the idea "utterly appalling" and a "cheap attempt to cash in on Diana's fame and the tragic circumstances surrounding her death".

Read more.

The perception is that feminists oppose pornography because of its objectification of women. I think that sometimes when we do consume it, we feel guilty about it, perhaps by enjoying ourselves a little too much. We have been trained to think that we contribute to the problems in the sex trade through our demand.

Dr. Laura Berman, a sex therapist, thinks that not all pornography is bad. It serves a useful role in people's sexual lives? There are two types of sexually stimulating films, erotica and pornography.

What is the difference between erotica and pornography?

"Erotica is typically considered to be softer sexual imagery that appeals to our sensual side. Pornography is thought of as more hard-core, often including graphic sex scenes."

Erotica appeals to women whereas pornography typically appeals to men.

Read more.

Women from Enron and Wal-Mart have done it, now Playboy wants female workers from Home Depot to show some skin. One can get into Playboy in many ways. This is probably the easier of the options. What is required for the application are: headshot, body-shot, bikini-clad or nude, a government id, and recent paystub from Home Depot. Read more.

If you were a paid subscriber to Playboy.com, you would have access to the Web-only feature of "The Women of Home Depot," that showed leaning up against ladders and in orange aprons. This nude feature brought out anti-pornography activists who gathered in the parking lot of the Farmingdale Home Depot. They condemn Home Depot's endorsement of pornography. Home Depot's response is that it has nothing to do with it. Home Depot isn't the only corporation that Playboy is harvest from. Other female employees in the nude have come from Wal-Mart, Starbucks, and Enron. Read more.

For those of you who have always wanted your pictures on stamps, like all those famous people, now you might have the opportunity. You might not have to wait until you make your contribution to society. Stamps.com is offering a service that charges about twice the stamps face value to have your own photos printed on them, that is after they have been approved. The photos have to be in good taste. Stamps.com have received many pictures of babies and families. Read more.

"We don't really accept anything that as a private company we'd consider objectionable or controversial," McBride said. That "would be nudity, violence, racism, sexism -- the standard list of things, not anything rude or obscene."

For those of you who like to watch chick flicks or romantic films, you might wonder how they make you laugh, cry, feel like the characters are really in love. A study out of King's College found that the secret is the voice, eye contact, body language and excitement. The correct combination and timing of these factors will jerk those tears out of you.

The filmed the study analyzed include "When Harry Met Sally," "Breakfast at Tiffany's." "Pretty Woman," "Titanic," and "Dirty Dancing." Read more.

We are used to seeing plenty of explicit sex scenes on film. Here's yet another one that depicts sex between a couple in an explicit manner, only this time, it's real sex, not simulated. That makes all the difference...at least to some viewers.

The controversial movie, 9 Songs, is based on a relationship between Matt and Lisa. It is not the only movie that has caused waves. For those who appreciate porn, the following list might be of interest to you.

Catherine Breillat's 1999 film Romance
Virginie Despentes' 2000 Baise Moi (French for "Rape Me")
Patrice Chereau' 2001 Intimacy

Read more.

I have witnessed one of those Japanese eating contests here in America. I was eating at a restaurant where they were filming a drinking and eating contest for a Japanese station. It was the most repulsive sights to see people gulfing down food as quickly as they can. It seemed barbaric. Of course I know it's entertainment to most people.

These eating contest proved to be dangerous and deadly as well. In Japan, a 38-year-old woman choked to death on bread while participating in an eating contest. What started off being fun and games resulted in this woman's death. Be careful what you sign up for. Read more.

Playboy has added a new addition to their "Women of" series featuring women from corporate America. This time, the women of MacDonald's are featured in the magazine, what the company is dubbing as the "sexiest burger babes." In the past issues, it has been successful with other pictorials of women of different corporations, such as Enron and Home Depot. It seems like Playboy is an equal opportunity magazine. If you've got what it takes, they will feature you without your everyday work clothes. Don't worry if it hasn't embarked on your business sector yet, it will eventually. Read more.

It's old news, but I just came across the controversial song/skit that was aired on January 21, 2005 to millions of listeners in New York City during Hot 97's "Miss Jones in the Morning."

Some offensive lyrics include:

- "All at once you could hear the screaming ch*nks and no one was safe from the wave there were africans drowning, little chinamen swept away you could hear god laughing, 'swim you b*tches swim'"
- "So now you're screwed, it's the Tsunami, you better run or kiss your ass away, go find your mommy, I just saw her float by, a tree went through her head, and now the children will be sold to child slavery..."

I found it offensive to make derogatory and racist comments about any race at any time, but especially after a natural disaster that devastated nations. Though the children might be sold to child slavery, the radio station, likewise, preys on the young and weak. The nations affected need our support, not ridicule. In mocking the victims of the Tsunami, the skit also attempts to degrade the whole Asian population, with such terms as chinamen and ch*nks.

Racism, overt and covert, still exists in America. We need to voice our opposition to mockery that is outright tasteless.

Read more.

Today I redesigned my femspace.com site to reflect the latest development in css2, the tableless format, current trends in feminism, and my ever-changing relation to the feminist movement. I want to make feminism relevant to the current youth and intellectuals. I often hear from my friends that feminism is irrelevant, but I find it as relevant to my life today as it was years ago when I studied it at UCLA, only in different ways.

Femspace.com deals with two different issues, public and personal. Though in feminist speak, the personal is public is political. I am interested in what other people are doing that could be considered feminist or advancing the plight of women in society as well as my personal thoughts on current events. I hope to further the discussion of issues concerning women among both men and women.

Child star, Shia LaBeouf, who starred in the Disney Channel series, "Even Stevens," speaks out about his loss of a childhood and transition from boyhood into manhood. Now, 20-years-old, he struggles with playing adult roles, changing the public's perception of him as a boy. He asks, "How do you create danger when they've grown up with you? How do you create mystery when they know everything about you?" His story is typical of many child stars, as they confront their lost childhood and grapple with their sense of self. Read more.

Miss Teen USA 2007 brings out the best in America's youth. When asked a question regarding why one fifth of Americans cannot locate the U.S. on a world map, Ms. South Carolina's answer raises questions regarding her own intellect. Her response opens her up to ridicule as she uttered a stream of unintelligible something.

In her attempt to answer the question, she points to South Africa and Iraq but fails to make connections in her mind and with her audience. She spirals deeper and deeper into absurdity with every word. Some questions that came to my mind as she spoke include, "Where was she educated? Is she speaking English? What and who contributed to the development of her brain? Is it me or is she absolutely speaking rubbish? And soma what?" It seems that locating the U.S. on a map is the least of her problems.

We, as a nation, should be alarmed that someone like Ms. South Carolina represents the youth of America. What is America's future? How will we measure up to the rest of the world? But then again, this is a beauty pageant after all. Are we asking too much by expecting our Miss Teen U.S.A. to be able to think and look pretty as well?

Violence against females is sensationalized for entertainment. The Onion explores the horrification of the terrible fate that could have befallen a missing sophomore, Megan Richter, from Indiana. She could be abducted, raped to death, mutilated or whatever else that our imagination could conjure up. Presented in a news format, the reporting is hardly objective, but it does sound familiar as we remember similar news coverage of white females, abducted, raped, and possibly dead reported with equal zest and sympathy.

The oozing sympathy borders on insensitivity. Its exaggerated expression reveals the discomfort that the reporters and audience may feel regarding the issue. How should we feel? How did the missing girl feel? What were the last moments like for her? What would they be like for us? How do we deal with our own fears regarding violence, death, and pain? Perhaps what's more horrifying isn't so much the actual violence and tragedy that could have happened to someone else, but our imagination gone amuck.

Onion's satire of one female's possible death points to one of the myth regarding rape - that it's the pretty, white girl that gets raped. The media's bias towards race conveys that it's the white female who deserves our attention, resources, and sympathy. In reality, violence against women and children is experienced by females of all color and should be treated with equal care and resources. It is painful, stressful, and traumatic for everyone who has ever known it.

Cool. Sexy. Creative. Two girls gave an entertaining performance and interpretation of Daft Punk's "Stronger Harder Faster Stronger." With silver boxes over their head and wearing black tanks and short shorts, they danced to the beat of song, waving their arms and legs around in a robotic manner. The words written on their body parts emphasized the lyrics and meaning of the song. As the music picked up in tempo, they moved their head, arms, and legs around more wildly, but they never deviated from their deliberately robotic and entrancing dance.

Clad in a white bikini, a female presents the research from Cambridge University that talks about how human mind read and perceive the written word. The words were deliberately misspelled but the first and last letters were in the right position. This is all the human brain needs to decipher the full word. Another important factor is the use of a female in a bikini to deliver the message. Without that, it would not have reach such a wide audience.

Britney Spears in recent months dominates the headlines and airwaves with her personal, professional and psychological meltdown. Dr. Phil was invited to visit her at Cedar Sinai during her hospitalization. He is accused of violating the Spears family's trust and being opportunistic in his public comments regarding her condition. Exploitation is rampant in the entertainment business. In Hollywood, many people base their careers on exploiting the lives of falling or fallen stars. What's sad is kids like Britney Spears ever entered into this exploitative business.

Some people frown upon the exploitation of children in the third world, but we need to realize that parents offering their babies up to Hollywood constitutes child labor and perhaps child slavery. Often the babies and children have no say in the matter. They become money machines for opportunistic parents and other adults.

Upon finding out about Heath Ledger's death, I felt shock and sadness. I think of all the people he left behind. I think of the wife without a husband, daughter without a father, and father and mother without a son. The survivors, people who loved him and those he loved, are the ones who suffer. They have to figure out how to live on without him. It's a tragedy. Death of a celebrity reminds me that we are all mortal.

Female blond walks into a living room and magically stripes her clothes, while maintaining her position, in a Barbie-like manner. The track of canned laughter generates the excitement that such an act would arouse. Then she magically changed outfits and walks off camera. It is fun, but could be seen as an objectification of the female body by some.

Pop culture affects what we do and think. We are affected by what we watch on T.V., see in theaters, advertisements, and news stands. We gossip about celebrities like we know them, like they know themselves. The fabricated becomes reality and the line between reality and fantasy appears blurred. It's easier sometimes to live through someone else's life. What do we care about in our own life?

What girl hasn't heard or watched American Idol? I have been a huge fan. My vote counted this season. My favorite David won...and by 12 million votes. Yay! Although I like David Archuleta, David Cook's emo/punk style won me over. I look forward to hearing more of him on the radio.

Artistically done, a pretty 16-year-old teenager cries out for help. Her message is ambiguous. She says she has no name and sees the world coming to an end, but then what? It's deliberately ambiguous. That makes it intriguing, quite intriguing.

We still live in a puritanical society. Sex sells and Calvin Klein is very good at using sexually evocative imagery to sell his products. The Calvin Klein Obsession ad featuring Eva Mendes slithering around in bed naked talking about love and obsession is banned. What is the controversy? Is it that exposed nipple? What's so provocative about a nipple? How is it different than any other body part?

The ad celebrates the human body, love, and sexuality. The only problem is in the perception of it as something obscene and inappropriate. The female body, every single part of it, is beautiful. Let's celebrate it.

Everyone can get their 5 minutes of fame these days. With blogs, social networks and self-promotion, we can all be celebrities. On the internet, we create and recreate our image. It's how we we define ourselves. Ben Walker sings about the pressure to be on all the social networks just so we can be somebody. In his words, "You are no one if you're not on Twitter. And if you aren't there already, you've missed it." It's one catchy tune. He sings it well!

Donald Trump, the owner of the Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants, decided to allow Miss California, Carrie Prejean, to keep her title amid risque photos that surfaced from her past. Carrie Prejean was asked to speak. In an honest and emotional press conference, she talked about her controversial response during the Miss USA pageant. She gave voice to her values and those of many Americans. She pointed out the freedoms that Americans enjoy, among them, freedom of speech. Let freedom reign!

Paulina Porizkova appeared on the Craig Ferguson to talk about being fired from "America's Next Top Model." She joked about looking for a job at Starbucks. I appreciate her sense of humor.

Priscilla Renea talks about the way she used YouTube to set herself apart and get the attention and exposure that she wanted. She devises creative ways to achieve YouTube fame. She likes to sing and has sung the dictionary, played one string on a guitar, and posted songs of Justin Timberlake the minute they came out. She shares her secrets to stardom. They have worked for her. She is now signed with Capital Records. Her album comes out in October. Congratulations Priscilla!

YouTube is the enabler of self expression and promotion. It has created stars out of many ordinary people with hidden talents. The people responsible for creating and maintaining the website talk about their vision and experiences. We get a glimpse into the space they work in through the photos of the YouTube office in San Bruno, California. Keep innovating!