"This is a man who has been relentlessly stalking my family to the point of moving in right next door to us to harass us and spy on us. He traffics in innuendo and falsehoods. A few years ago he interviewed members of Sarah's administration for a magazine article, and afterwards they said that he was the most disingenuous and intellectual dishonest writer they'd ever dealt with. He's spent the last year interviewing marginal figures with an axe to grind in order to churn out a hit piece to satisfy his own creepy obsession with my wife. I'd ask that people consider these facts when evaluating his latest lies."
"I'd ask the fathers and husbands of America to consider our privacy when one summer day I found this guy on the deck of the rental property, just 18 feet away next door to us, staring like a creep at my wife while she mowed the lawn in her shorts, unbeknownst to her that he was prying. As well as our teenage daughters while they tried to enjoy our traditional Alaskan summer days outdoors. Joe's son told the media he advised his dad not to move from the East Coast to become our next door neighbor, but said his dad 'was just waiting for Todd to be out of the picture.' Sarah has never spoken to this intruder into our lives, our friends and family don't speak to him, so we have no idea where he would come up with content for his book. He was on our doorstep one day trying to make conversation with our son until Track cut the conversation short after discerning Joe's odd behavior, and I spoke to him one time when I saw him 18 feet away, just to find out who he was. He took that conversation and reported it to the media as me 'threatening' him."
Well this is clearly the work of somebody who is NOT Todd Palin.
The opportunity to write THIS kind of statement is exactly why Sarah made those "creepy" references about Joe when he first moved in next door. The idea was to create a meme that he was a pervert, and possible pedophile, in order to lay the groundwork to dismiss his book out of hand when it was finally published.
And if the book had come out only a few months after Palin's Facebook post, that might have worked like a charm.
The question is now with EVERYTHING that has been revealed about Palin in articles, books, Nick's movie, and the blogs, and how similar it all is, will that actually be enough to discredit McGinniss and keep his book from selling?
Update: Okay since everybody is asking for it, THIS is what Joe McGinniss would have seen if he had actually been staring at Sarah Palin in her shorts.
Well I think Sadie looks beautiful. (Which you can judge for yourself by clicking here.)
Though keep in mind that I am a liberal, so I really don't have any hangups about nudity or sexuality.
Of course the point of the pictorial was to get information like this out to a wider audience. Which this pictorial, and accompanying interview, accomplished quite well.
My understanding is that Playboy was surprised by the amount of attention that Sadie's pictorial and interview received.A friend of mine said they could not find even ONE issue available here in Anchorage.) Well good, perhaps they might just ask her back for more pictures and tidbits about the Palin family?
Oooh, I don't think that will make the Grizzled Mama, and her vicious little cub, too terribly happy.
Do you?
P.S. Stay tuned as Sadie will be making some more public appearances, and telling even more secrets about "you know who," in the near future.
I have been noticing lately that Palin has started cramming two or three interviews with Fox News into one day about two or three times a month. To me this appears to be an indication that she is really not terribly interested in doing them anymore (Except for the paycheck), and that they are not terribly interested in having her do them (No more ratings boost for them like the old days.)
So yesterday Klondike Kardashian heated up her old leftover talking points in her microwave and sat down to pull a train of Fox News interviews one after the other.
First up the feisty Megyn Kelly, newly returned from birthing a future bubble-headed Fox News commentator.
Now I was going to go through the interview and pick it apart, but there are three of these damn things and I just don't have that kind of time. (If you are absolutely determined to subject yourself to what Palin vomited forth, just click the image and it will take you to the You Tube of the interview.)
Besides I had a REALLY hard time listening to her drone on about how the President is screwing up this country, and that all we need are "common sense" solutions, because I swear that whatever that is on her head flipped its tail and hissed at me, which completely threw me off my game.
Now this interview was broadcast about 9:00 Alaska time.
Just one hour later Snowdrift Snooki shows up on Fox's "I don't know anything about business" channel with Lou Dobbs.
Do you see it too?
Yep she is still sitting in front of the same backdrop, but whatever had taken up residence on her head seems to have made its escape. (I called the Wasilla PD and told them to be on the lookout for a psychologically wounded, possibly rabid, furry creature racing through the woods screaming in agony. My advice was to shoot on sight.)
Palin also changed out of her Nancy Reagan brand red blazer from Sears, and changed into whatever the hell that outfit is. You will notice she also changed her necklace, but kept the flag pin. (Because as we know seeing Sarah Palin without a flag pin might make the Fox News viewers believe she is a Socialist.)
Now eight hours later Sarah Palin popped up again in her last interview of the day with Greta Van Susteren.
As you can see, though he she had plenty of time, Palin did not bother to change for Greta essentially giving her Lou Dobbs' sloppy seconds.
You will also notice that she is no longer sitting in front of the fake fireplace set, but is now sitting in front of the window overlooking the dead lake next to her house. But do you want to know something odd? (Yes, I know that everything about this crazy bitch is "odd' but just bear with me.) I live less than an hour away from where Palin was giving this interview, but when I turned and looked out of MY window, though it was overcast, there was substantially more light streaming in than can be seen outside of HER Wasilla window.
In fact Greta even asked her about why it was so dark in the second half of the interview, and Palin made some halfhearted mention of fall coming and a nip in the air. However I find it hard to believe that Fall is coming faster to Wasilla than to Anchorage.
Which of course once again makes me consider whether or not she is sitting in front of a fake backdrop instead of an actual window. But who knows, perhaps her presence also sucks all of the light and heat out of the room just like it sucks all of the oxygen out.
So there you have Palin's contractual Fox News appearances crammed together in one day, each featuring the same tired old talking points and viscous attacks on the President, but each distinguished by different hair, changes in attire, or simply the movement of her chair.
Watching Palin's lazy ass approach to these interviews kind of reminds me of an old married couple where the husband finally convinces the wife to have sex with him but she stipulates that he not take very long, not mess up her hair, and not block her view of the TV.
Just imagine how thrilled Fox News is that Palin has NOT thrown her hat in the ring to run for President, and is still making them honor their part of the contract they made with her lo those many, many months ago when they actually thought she was worth a million plus dollars.
Serves them right, don't you think?
(Just a reminder that if you want to watch the interviews, just click the images to be taken to You Tube.)
Characterizing her performance as a “temper tantrum,” Judson Phillips, founder and head of Tea Party Nation writes, “if you are going to play in the big leagues, you have to play by the rules. CNN and Piers Morgan are pretty far to the left but this time Morgan is right and O’Donnell was not only wrong, but extremely unprofessional to walk out of the interview.
“She was on the show to talk about her book, which Morgan commented on favorably. O’Donnell refused to answer the question about gay marriage, saying it is in the book. If you write a book, be expected to answer questions about what you put in the book.”
“Piers Morgan was not asking anything inappropriate. Christine O’Donnell’s immature and unprofessional response makes the Tea Party movement look bad. Was she ashamed of her position on gay marriage? Did she not feel competent enough to defend her beliefs? We will never know.
“Conservatives everywhere should be able to articulate their political positions and the reasons behind them without throwing a temper tantrum when they are asked to defend them.
“We may have just seen Christine O’Donnell’s last prime time performance. I am sure she is a nice person but she does not understand what she has to do if she is going to be a national figure.
“If she does not understand this, perhaps fading from the scene might not be a bad thing for her.”
Of all of the Teabaggers I have seen, Christine O'Donnell offends me the very least.
Sure she is ignorant, politically incompetent, and an opportunist, but she just never seemed as dangerous, or vindictive as a Sarah Palin, Rick Perry, or Michele Bachmann to me.
She kind of reminds me of that girl in high school who JUST got "saved" at church and cannot stop talking about how cool Jesus Christ is, and how much she wants you to come to her next church barbecue/flea market/tent revival.
Having said that, I still think it is funny that she simply cannot stand up to ANY scrutiny about the things that she believes or writes in her book.In other words, EPIC FAIL, Miss "I am not a witch."
Damn, I don't think Bristol liked this introduction into the world of the LA reality star one little bit.
And you just know she was biting a hole in her lip to keep from responding to those questions about Sadie.
Somebody who has access to her REAL Facebook account needs to monitor is carefully, because I have little doubt she will let her anger out later on today.
It was nice to see that Willow has been allowed to accompany her sister and Tripp on their adventures. She has been out of sight for such a long time.
UPdate: What is this? Bristol's reality show is a big fake? Say it ain't so!
This may come as a bit of a shock, but, from what can be seen here, Bristol Palin's new reality show isn't very, well, real.Footage taken of Palin, son Tripp and co-star Kyle Massey on their new BIO channel reality show features the trio in a number of Los Angeles-area locales.
They go in and out of a baby supply store, timed with their cameras to get the shot just right, and take a strangely long amount of time to order food at a burger stand.
Perhaps the most authentic of the crew? Little Tripp, who had a cute fit when someone tried to pry him off an electric rocking horse.
You know the first thing that leaps out at me is that Fox News hosts ALWAYS refer to Palin as "Governor" multiple times, like they are trying to remind their audience that once upon a time this dimwit actually had a real job.
Then only a few sentences into her remarks she starts the middle school attacks on our President. (By the way you nasty harpy bitch, the President is referred to as "No Drama Obama." HE is not the reason that we are facing a potential crisis, that would be the politically illiterate Teabaggers YOU helped get elected to sabotage our country!)
By the way Geitner said we "would not default" based on his belief that the politicians would not really allow that to happen:
Geithner said Republican House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell "had been absolutely clear, they are not going to let this country default.
But pressed several times, Geithner refused to reveal if the Obama administration had a back-up plan and had begun deciding which checks would be signed and which would not.
"We will do everything we can to mitigate the damage," he said, revealing that the United States writes 80 million checks a month.
That does NOT mean there is not a crisis, only that the grownups will try to minimize the damage if the children continue throwing a fit and not taking seriously the responsibilities that the American people assigned to them.
Okay is it just me, or does Palin look especially venomous today?
"Well scaring the American people is exactly what President Obama is doing in that bizarre speech he gave last night. It reminded me of when he insisted that TARP had to be passed. You know it was life or death at that time also. We had to..uh..increase spending or the Federal government, or people would be starving on the streets..I mean..uh uh..look at what TARP resulted in."
You know I hate to distract Palin while she is on one of these anti-Obama rants of hers with facts (After all we know how much she hates facts, because they always seem to favor liberals.), but TARP was passed in October of 2008, by George W. Bush. It is kind of hard to blame President Obama for legislation that was put into place BEFORE he was in office.
Oh, and you would think that Palin might remember this, since her running mate John McCain suspended his campaign to help get it passed. (Damn, no WONDER Palin hates facts so much!)
But sorry to interrupt, you were saying?
"Reinvent the will?" You know I have never met an Alaskan who could not say "wheel" properly. Every time she opens her mouth she embarrasses the crap out of us.
You know the minute that Palin says, concerning the debt ceiling, "I don't want to see it raised," is when a real journalist would stop the interview and apologize to their audience for bringing on somebody who has no understanding of the topic being discussed.
And riddle me this Batman, why are the Teabaggers, who wave the Constitution around like it is a sacred document on par with the Bible, now pushing for a Balanced Budget Amendment? Aren't they the crowd who believe that the Amendments which freed the slaves and allowed women the right to vote, are what started this country's downward spiral into Socialism in the first place?
When I watch these "interviews" there is always a moment where I stop and wonder if ANYBODY is really taking what this idiot says seriously. I hear her spout these canned talking points, and rattle on using inflammatory language, and yet everytime she stops to take a breath I realize that the oxygen that she just used up was completely wasted. Actually, not that I want to see any harm come to her, I kind of think ALL of the oxygen she uses is wasted on her.
I really think that the only reason that we see Palin in this interview is because she is contractually obligated to appear on camera a couple of time a year, and that she was overdue. She has no expertise on the topic, adds nothing to the debate, and, even with the teleprompter reflected in her glasses, relies almost solely on the regurgitation of one size fits all talking points that essentially make her sound like a Chatty Cathy doll.
Her looks are fading rapidly, her wigs are becoming more obvious, and her talking points are becoming punchlines for late night comedians. Hell even her most ardent supporters cannot force their families to go to her movie with them, or buy her daughter's book.
Even an endorsement from her, which used to carry some weight in conservative circles, would probably hurt a candidate far more than it would help them, so I cannot see anybody seeking her out for a photo op.
I still think we need to keep at least one eye cocked in her direction, because her base is potentially the most likely groups of Americans to open fire in a mall, or drown their children because they are possessed by liberal demons, but I think for all intents and purposes that Palin is yesterday's news.
Of course I still think we all need to buy Joe's book, and Nick's movie. After all every corpse deserves a postmortem.
P.S. Oh, and don't forget the babygate book too. I have a call into the author for an update, andI hope to have that for you soon.
I tend not to agree that Palin has a chance to become President, and I am always taken aback by the fact that there are many well educated people who believe it is not an impossibility.
I will say that if there was a devastating terrorist attack, and Obama was perceived to have not reacted adequately, that all bets are off as to how terrified and stupid the American people would suddenly become in response.
In THAT climate even an idiot like Sarah Palin, who did nothing but talk about God and American exceptional-ism, might actually have a shot.
However I have great confidence that Obama WOULD react appropriately, so this scenario is unlikely to present itself.
I have watched this video about four times now, and there is something very wrong with how her face moves. Is that the result of cheek implants, or is she just high? Anybody?
So besides the video there is also this article. Here are some of her more bizarre answers.
On abstinence:
"I hate the word abstinence," she says. "My mom knows I hate that word, everyone knows I hate that word. People think that I'm just 'abstinence only, do not have sex.' No. If you're going to have sex, practice safe sex. But the best option to prevent teen pregnancy is to not have sex."
You know, not only does Bristol hate the WORD abstinence, she also hates the PRACTICE of abstinence.
On her jaw surgery:
In person, a double take is required to first recognize her. The fullness of adolescence in her face is gone, leaving her with a much more angular look.
The surgery has been fodder for the likes of Kathy Griffin and Bill Maher.
"Why do people care?" asks Palin. In the mirror, she says she can't tell much of a difference. "Do people care when someone gets braces or glasses? Honestly, I'm just thankful I have tough skin to deal with that kind of stuff."
She doesn't read blogs and says her critics will talk regardless of what she does. What you'll never see her do?
"Pose naked," she shoots back. "Never."
You know, not to be mean, but I don't think anybody is clamoring to have Bristol pose naked. That may be the one thing she will not have trouble abstaining from.
On her next hook up:
What she wants: "Someone with the same religious beliefs as me and someone who's a family man." But "I have no time to date anyone right now."
Unless of course they brought their own tent and ice chest stocked with wine coolers.
Afer all a Wasilla girl can only hold out so long ya know.
I so wanted to believe that Bristol was just the victim of her mother's poor decisions and that there was something redeemable about her character. I was wrong to give her that much credit.
Oooh, I do NOT think that Bachmann enjoyed that question!
"Well I think that would be insulting, to say something like that."
Really? Because Wallace JUST said something like that. So if she were to be insulted you would think THIS would be the time. I don't believe she is completely connected to reality.
I think by now, most of you have seen this from EGG's May issue;
I was intrigued to see it, and read it - especially with a title such as 'Manba Returns!!' We all know Manba is a hit-or-miss topic when it comes to Gal - some say it is out, others say it isn't. Well I decided that I was going to translate this for those who can't read Japanese - and as far as I know there isn't an English source for it at the moment.
So what does it say?
When I/You say 'Manba' it's probably this person.
[meaning this person comes to mind]
"Ka~tan is a charisma Manba who began the 2nd Manba movement.
Now she is a reader model on one magazine and has started a work clothes brand 'kon-burenda'."
Manba Transformation~
"The finished look, all 5 of them applied too much foundation.
They clearly have a border between their face and neck (lol)"
"Mami having her foundation applied by Ka~tan.
Mami was really nervous in front of her."
"She couldn't apply concealer straight onto the face as the foundation was so dark. Therefore she applied it with a brush."
"I liked that person (referring to Ka~tan), Manya said."
[showing an old issue of EGG with a feature on Ka~tan]
"The last weapon is FACE STICKER DECO!
[They emphasis how great and cute it is for creating a winning look]
"Their hair didn't have much power with their normal style.
Therefore hair extensions/decorations from CARRY were put on."
The desired Manba project finally started!
Going to change to the strongest Manba!
" 'Let's do Manba project!'
Word started of this project through E.GIRLS. To tell you the truth they were inspired by issues of EGG that they had read when Manba was popular - these 5 girls wanted to try Manba (lol).
In fact, they were so eager to do the project that they even made a proposal (project paper) and handed it in directly (lol).
Anyway, let's be Manba~☆
So they met up, but they weren't sure how to be Manba as they weren't around during that time (Kanako was around in that generation?? lol).
To know the special secret (essence) of Manba they invited a girl who is Manba.
Founder of Manba religion: Ka~tan sama ☆☆
She graduated from Manba 6 years ago and [today] there are no signs of Manba on her. [you can't notice she used to be Manba]. However her sense of Manba may be revived [she may became excited with the ex-soul of Manba when she remembered].
She picked up a CANMAKE white concealer (for eyes) and black foundation and began her lecture.
The 5 girls were confused about using [very] black foundation and massive eye make-up, but they also introduced their own way by themselves and created a new generation of Manba (Neo-Manba), which was a combination of old and new styles."
Finally, from left to right:
Gugun, Pink Manya, Kawabatan, Mamin, Mira (Daiso?)
[The kanji on the end of some of their names means old woman/hag/bitch]
There you have it! Unfortunately this is more of a special interest piece (likely due to EGG's recent anniversary) and not a proper revival of Manba. But who knows? Maybe people will be inspired by these girls and will feel the call of Manba once again ;D
Special thanks go to my Japanese friend who helped me with the parts I got stuck on! This is not a literal translation, otherwise it wouldn't make much sense. I translated it into English that made more sense but still kept the original meaning.
I think by now, most of you have seen this from EGG's May issue;
I was intrigued to see it, and read it - especially with a title such as 'Manba Returns!!' We all know Manba is a hit-or-miss topic when it comes to Gal - some say it is out, others say it isn't. Well I decided that I was going to translate this for those who can't read Japanese - and as far as I know there isn't an English source for it at the moment.
So what does it say?
When I/You say 'Manba' it's probably this person.
[meaning this person comes to mind]
"Ka~tan is a charisma Manba who began the 2nd Manba movement.
Now she is a reader model on one magazine and has started a work clothes brand 'kon-burenda'."
Manba Transformation~
"The finished look, all 5 of them applied too much foundation.
They clearly have a border between their face and neck (lol)"
"Mami having her foundation applied by Ka~tan.
Mami was really nervous in front of her."
"She couldn't apply concealer straight onto the face as the foundation was so dark. Therefore she applied it with a brush."
"I liked that person (referring to Ka~tan), Manya said."
[showing an old issue of EGG with a feature on Ka~tan]
"The last weapon is FACE STICKER DECO!
[They emphasis how great and cute it is for creating a winning look]
"Their hair didn't have much power with their normal style.
Therefore hair extensions/decorations from CARRY were put on."
The desired Manba project finally started!
Going to change to the strongest Manba!
" 'Let's do Manba project!'
Word started of this project through E.GIRLS. To tell you the truth they were inspired by issues of EGG that they had read when Manba was popular - these 5 girls wanted to try Manba (lol).
In fact, they were so eager to do the project that they even made a proposal (project paper) and handed it in directly (lol).
Anyway, let's be Manba~☆
So they met up, but they weren't sure how to be Manba as they weren't around during that time (Kanako was around in that generation?? lol).
To know the special secret (essence) of Manba they invited a girl who is Manba.
Founder of Manba religion: Ka~tan sama ☆☆
She graduated from Manba 6 years ago and [today] there are no signs of Manba on her. [you can't notice she used to be Manba]. However her sense of Manba may be revived [she may became excited with the ex-soul of Manba when she remembered].
She picked up a CANMAKE white concealer (for eyes) and black foundation and began her lecture.
The 5 girls were confused about using [very] black foundation and massive eye make-up, but they also introduced their own way by themselves and created a new generation of Manba (Neo-Manba), which was a combination of old and new styles."
Finally, from left to right:
Gugun, Pink Manya, Kawabatan, Mamin, Mira (Daiso?)
[The kanji on the end of some of their names means old woman/hag/bitch]
There you have it! Unfortunately this is more of a special interest piece (likely due to EGG's recent anniversary) and not a proper revival of Manba. But who knows? Maybe people will be inspired by these girls and will feel the call of Manba once again ;D
Special thanks go to my Japanese friend who helped me with the parts I got stuck on! This is not a literal translation, otherwise it wouldn't make much sense. I translated it into English that made more sense but still kept the original meaning.
Empire Stage is a small black box theater located by the train tracks on Flagler Drive just north of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Despite its industrial warehouse surroundings, inside is a little cultural gem, offering edgy, thought-provoking entertainment.
It's here I recently saw The First Step: Diary of a Sex Addict, a dark comedy about a gay man's struggle with sex addiction, directed by Michael Leeds, a New York transplant who has been directing plays in South Florida for six years. The play explores an obsession with sex that affects every personal and professional aspect of the lead character's life. Joe, as he's called, is a gay man, but there's something here for everyone, regardless of orientation.
At times, the play is funny -- a hilarious musical rap scene makes fun of online screen names -- but the play also engages the darker side of sex and relationships in ways that may make you question your own proclivities.
Earlier today, I interviewed Henry Covery, the play's writer. Diary of a Sex Addict is Covery's first play, the product of writing down his sexual history under the guidance of a sponsor.
SATB: Most people associate addiction with alcohol, drugs or food. What can you tell us about sex addiction?
Covery: Sex addiction is isn't as easy to spot. It's hard to acknowledge, there's shame attached to it and you stay in denial a long time. Some people might think "so what if you watch a little porn?" but this is different.
SATB: Certainly, Joe is obsessed with sex. He's thinking about it all the time and sees everyone, even a paraplegic, as a sexual being. Sex is a natural act and it's part of life, but Joe is sexually abused by his father. Those scenes in the play are rather disturbing to watch on an emotional level. Is that a typical history for sex addicts?
Covery: More than half the people I've met at meetings do have some sort of abuse in their background. It could be verbal, physical or emotional and not just sexual. But one thing I've found is that many addicts have in common is a sense of grandiosity coupled with extreme insecurity.
SATB: Tell me about the organizations and meetings.
Covery: Yes. The difference here is someone going on a date and thinking "I hope he calls," versus "my life and happiness completely depends on whether or not he calls." I'm not in AA, but everyone in the sex addicts program who has participated in AA has told me that it's much harder to get sober when you're a love or sex addict. I wouldn't have thought that. In this case, you can't get sober simply by quitting alcohol or drugs.
SATB: While your lead character is gay, you do highlight sexual obsession from gay and straight orientations in a funny scene mocking a dating game. Does sexual addiction affect different lifestyles?
Covery: Absolutely. In fact, lately I've been seeing more straight women at meetings. I've been to meetings where straight men and women share. When they do this, they shed light on the opposite sex. It's never really about the act, but about the commonality of the obsession, whether it be online porn, compulsive masturbation, anonymous sex, romantic obsession or voyeurism. Everybody has their own bottom line, pointing to their lack of self-worth. Sometimes an "abuser" will share his story, which can be an important healing step toward forgiveness for those hearing it who were abused.
SATB: Have you helped others by writing this play?
Covery: I wanted something creative to come out of my writing down my first step. In 12 Step, you are only as sick as your secrets and when you write it down, it's easier to examine your history. I've had people approach me after seeing the play to tell me that they're going to join SLAA.
The First Step: Diary of a Sex Addict continues this week starting Thursday, April 21 through Sunday, April 24. Visit Empire Stage for more information.
Kirin is a Japanese lady living in Tokyo, she runs the popular blog Tokyo Kawaii etc. Her blog focuses on Japanese culture, language, lifestyle and much more. She has also mentioned Gyaru a few times on her blog .
Recently, I was lucky enough to meet Kirin in person. We walked around 109 together and chatted in a nearby café over tea and coffee. Whilst we talked she told me how she had not been to 109 in almost 15 years and that she felt her feelings about it had now changed. I found this very interesting and after finding out her reasons I thought it would be informative and helpful to my readers to hear the opinions of a Japanese person who doesn’t dress in Gyaru fashion.
Do you remember when you first heard about Gyaru?
I guess it was some time around 1996 - 1997 (or even before?) when I had already started working after graduating from university - if my memory was correct. Those days Amuro style and “Atsuzoko” boots (platform boots) were popular. Some sales assistants, especially from Shibuya 109 became so famous that they frequently appeared on TV or in fashion magazines. They were called “Karisuma tenin” (charismatic sales assistant) and the outfits they were wearing sold like crazy. Some hair dressers also became famous and they were called “Karisuma biyoushi” (charismatic hair dresser). But “Gyaru” in this period was very different from what it means today.
What were your first impressions? Did you think of a stereotype etc.?
Gyaru at the early stage was more like high school girls who were wearing short skirts and loose socks. That’s why they were called “Ko-Gyaru” (small gyaru). They dyed their hair but they did not wear false lashes or circle lenses. Those things were not available like they are today. Ko-Gyaru were the people who created new trends. Japanese companies liked to listen to what they wanted.
What I thought about it? My generation is always between hot trends. When I was a high school student, college girls were hot. At that time Japan was enjoying the good economy. College/university girls and boys could easily get a good job, nevertheless they were playing around all the time and I expected I could be like that after graduation. But with the bubble economy’s bursting, our economy situation completely changed when I went to university. What came next was high school girls trend. Our society treated university girls well when I was a high school girl, and then they shifted to high school girls once I became a university girl. I felt it was quite unfair. At that time Gyaru = high school girls, so it was not what I was to pursue anyhow. I just regarded Gyaru as something that had no connection with me.
You said that you were too shy to go into 109 by yourself before, why?
Ko-Gyaru generation grew up and they wanted to have their gyaru taste even after they were aged. Now Gyaru is not limited to high school girls, but I still have a feeling that it’s for younger people. I’m 36, which is too old to dress like Gyaru, and I think it looks too absurd if older people still dress exactly like younger people. I mean it’s cool to take some part and mix with other items or styles, but to dress full Gyaru coordination from head to toe is not very cool. I was afraid to go back to Shibuya 109 because I thought everything sold there was for gyaru style and it would be too gyaru-tasted to me and I would be totally out of place among full-gyaru customers.
Why did you change your mind after we visited?
I saw many non-Gyaru styled people and older people, as well as people with no makeup! My delusion that there would be only Gyaru customers and Gyaru clothes was completely wrong. I found many attractive clothes and I feel like shopping there. Although some pants were too skinny for me even to try them.
☆~♥~☆
How do you think Japanese people view Gyaru?
Young people like it. But as Tsubasa answers in an interview, which I happened to watch on TV, they may not be seen as hard workers or industrious - only because of their appearances. Tsubasa said she tried to work as hard as normal people multiple times because people never believed that she was serious from her looks. Unfortunately many of us don’t always have good impressions of Gyaru just because of its impression of flirting. Unless we become a sales assistant at a Gyaru fashion store, we cannot even continue the style and look at most other jobs. Too much light hair colour is basically banned at work. Also circle lenses, long nails and flashy deco nails or patterns drawn on the nails.
I wonder how working people can continue to be Gyaru after all?!
Gyaru mama can stay like that because they do not work.
Why do you think Gyaru is so popular with young Japanese girls?
And if you have an opinion, why do you think it is popular in the West?#
I think Gyaru is kawaii and if they are young, it’s good to enjoy it. I think it’s got an expiration date, which is to say, before they start working. As mentioned above, most offices have dress code. We cannot work and dress as Gyaru unless we get a job at gyaru brand or something. Everyone has to graduate from Gyaru style someday. I think that’s why they try to fulfil it while they are young.
I don’t know why it’s so well-received by western people. We have a longing for white girls and Gyaru style I guess is a stem from it. Making big eyes with longer lashes and dyed hair in bronze is maybe to make ourselves look like white girls.
Do you think that Gyaru celebrities (idols) are good role models for young girls?
Yes, I think so. But I wonder what their sales points will be after they have aged.
In this respect I think Tsubasa and Momoeri (among others) stand out from the rest of Gyaru models. They make business.
☆~♥~☆
Have you ever been tempted to try Gyaru? If not, why?
No, I’ve felt it’s just too young for me, but I think now it’s OK to buy some Gyaru tasted clothes and mix with others. However I never feel like wearing circle lenses and dye my hair bronze etc. False lashes maybe OK once in a while.
I have no reason to spend so much time transforming myself when I am busy with everything else. If I had time and money, I’d rather spend them travelling abroad than shopping Gyaru tasted items or getting my nails or hair done.
Free talk -
This is only an opinion from a Japanese woman in her mid 30’s. I don’t see anyone in my generation dressing like a Gyaru around me. It’s reasonable because our generation is busy working and raising kids. Our interests are directed toward something else.
As for me, I like to hang out with young people and talk about something kawaii, but my real life is much different from what you may imagine from my blog. It’s full of work and I’ve read books about investment, economy and business and to tell you the truth I don’t read fashion magazines. (So I am not quite sure for the styles, I just pick up whatever I like to wear.) But my hair dresser is so kind as to give some old ones, so I find interesting articles from them to introduce on my blog while I am bathing. (I love to have a long bath time.)
So I have 2 reasons I don’t dress like Gyaru.
1. I’m too old to do so.
2. I’m too busy to keep the style.
If I were 20 something years old now, I think I would love to spend my time and money for Gyaru style and I’d enjoy that so much. I guess I totally missed the chance :p
But while you can enjoy it, you should do it fully.
Bloomzy's comments:
I am so happy that Kirin could do this interview for my blog. She is very sweet and really interested in other cultures, and those who are interested in her own. If you haven't already visited her blog (I doubt it) then make sure you head on over.
- She has also written a response to this interview here.
If you have any comments or questions for her, please feel free to comment and I am sure she will respond when she has the time.
I am always open for Gal/Japan related questions, and you can visit my formspring here.
Kirin is a Japanese lady living in Tokyo, she runs the popular blog Tokyo Kawaii etc. Her blog focuses on Japanese culture, language, lifestyle and much more. She has also mentioned Gyaru a few times on her blog .
Recently, I was lucky enough to meet Kirin in person. We walked around 109 together and chatted in a nearby café over tea and coffee. Whilst we talked she told me how she had not been to 109 in almost 15 years and that she felt her feelings about it had now changed. I found this very interesting and after finding out her reasons I thought it would be informative and helpful to my readers to hear the opinions of a Japanese person who doesn’t dress in Gyaru fashion.
Do you remember when you first heard about Gyaru?
I guess it was some time around 1996 - 1997 (or even before?) when I had already started working after graduating from university - if my memory was correct. Those days Amuro style and “Atsuzoko” boots (platform boots) were popular. Some sales assistants, especially from Shibuya 109 became so famous that they frequently appeared on TV or in fashion magazines. They were called “Karisuma tenin” (charismatic sales assistant) and the outfits they were wearing sold like crazy. Some hair dressers also became famous and they were called “Karisuma biyoushi” (charismatic hair dresser). But “Gyaru” in this period was very different from what it means today.
What were your first impressions? Did you think of a stereotype etc.?
Gyaru at the early stage was more like high school girls who were wearing short skirts and loose socks. That’s why they were called “Ko-Gyaru” (small gyaru). They dyed their hair but they did not wear false lashes or circle lenses. Those things were not available like they are today. Ko-Gyaru were the people who created new trends. Japanese companies liked to listen to what they wanted.
What I thought about it? My generation is always between hot trends. When I was a high school student, college girls were hot. At that time Japan was enjoying the good economy. College/university girls and boys could easily get a good job, nevertheless they were playing around all the time and I expected I could be like that after graduation. But with the bubble economy’s bursting, our economy situation completely changed when I went to university. What came next was high school girls trend. Our society treated university girls well when I was a high school girl, and then they shifted to high school girls once I became a university girl. I felt it was quite unfair. At that time Gyaru = high school girls, so it was not what I was to pursue anyhow. I just regarded Gyaru as something that had no connection with me.
You said that you were too shy to go into 109 by yourself before, why?
Ko-Gyaru generation grew up and they wanted to have their gyaru taste even after they were aged. Now Gyaru is not limited to high school girls, but I still have a feeling that it’s for younger people. I’m 36, which is too old to dress like Gyaru, and I think it looks too absurd if older people still dress exactly like younger people. I mean it’s cool to take some part and mix with other items or styles, but to dress full Gyaru coordination from head to toe is not very cool. I was afraid to go back to Shibuya 109 because I thought everything sold there was for gyaru style and it would be too gyaru-tasted to me and I would be totally out of place among full-gyaru customers.
Why did you change your mind after we visited?
I saw many non-Gyaru styled people and older people, as well as people with no makeup! My delusion that there would be only Gyaru customers and Gyaru clothes was completely wrong. I found many attractive clothes and I feel like shopping there. Although some pants were too skinny for me even to try them.
☆~♥~☆
How do you think Japanese people view Gyaru?
Young people like it. But as Tsubasa answers in an interview, which I happened to watch on TV, they may not be seen as hard workers or industrious - only because of their appearances. Tsubasa said she tried to work as hard as normal people multiple times because people never believed that she was serious from her looks. Unfortunately many of us don’t always have good impressions of Gyaru just because of its impression of flirting. Unless we become a sales assistant at a Gyaru fashion store, we cannot even continue the style and look at most other jobs. Too much light hair colour is basically banned at work. Also circle lenses, long nails and flashy deco nails or patterns drawn on the nails.
I wonder how working people can continue to be Gyaru after all?!
Gyaru mama can stay like that because they do not work.
Why do you think Gyaru is so popular with young Japanese girls?
And if you have an opinion, why do you think it is popular in the West?#
I think Gyaru is kawaii and if they are young, it’s good to enjoy it. I think it’s got an expiration date, which is to say, before they start working. As mentioned above, most offices have dress code. We cannot work and dress as Gyaru unless we get a job at gyaru brand or something. Everyone has to graduate from Gyaru style someday. I think that’s why they try to fulfil it while they are young.
I don’t know why it’s so well-received by western people. We have a longing for white girls and Gyaru style I guess is a stem from it. Making big eyes with longer lashes and dyed hair in bronze is maybe to make ourselves look like white girls.
Do you think that Gyaru celebrities (idols) are good role models for young girls?
Yes, I think so. But I wonder what their sales points will be after they have aged.
In this respect I think Tsubasa and Momoeri (among others) stand out from the rest of Gyaru models. They make business.
☆~♥~☆
Have you ever been tempted to try Gyaru? If not, why?
No, I’ve felt it’s just too young for me, but I think now it’s OK to buy some Gyaru tasted clothes and mix with others. However I never feel like wearing circle lenses and dye my hair bronze etc. False lashes maybe OK once in a while.
I have no reason to spend so much time transforming myself when I am busy with everything else. If I had time and money, I’d rather spend them travelling abroad than shopping Gyaru tasted items or getting my nails or hair done.
Free talk -
This is only an opinion from a Japanese woman in her mid 30’s. I don’t see anyone in my generation dressing like a Gyaru around me. It’s reasonable because our generation is busy working and raising kids. Our interests are directed toward something else.
As for me, I like to hang out with young people and talk about something kawaii, but my real life is much different from what you may imagine from my blog. It’s full of work and I’ve read books about investment, economy and business and to tell you the truth I don’t read fashion magazines. (So I am not quite sure for the styles, I just pick up whatever I like to wear.) But my hair dresser is so kind as to give some old ones, so I find interesting articles from them to introduce on my blog while I am bathing. (I love to have a long bath time.)
So I have 2 reasons I don’t dress like Gyaru.
1. I’m too old to do so.
2. I’m too busy to keep the style.
If I were 20 something years old now, I think I would love to spend my time and money for Gyaru style and I’d enjoy that so much. I guess I totally missed the chance :p
But while you can enjoy it, you should do it fully.
Bloomzy's comments:
I am so happy that Kirin could do this interview for my blog. She is very sweet and really interested in other cultures, and those who are interested in her own. If you haven't already visited her blog (I doubt it) then make sure you head on over.
- She has also written a response to this interview here.
If you have any comments or questions for her, please feel free to comment and I am sure she will respond when she has the time.
I am always open for Gal/Japan related questions, and you can visit my formspring here.
It was a breezy afternoon this past week when I sat down for coffee on Brickell with local writer Jeremy Glazer. Rush hour was upon us and suited executives were buzzing by on the sidewalk. But I was in no hurry; my eyes were rapt on Glazer, whose stories, recently published at WLRN's Under the Sun, prompted me to secure an interview. I just knew I had to meet the man who could write so beautifully about Miami experiences.
Glazer is one of those rare Miami natives who contradict every negative stereotype about Miami. He’s handsome, charming, intelligent, cares for the community and his heart seems to be in a really good place.
Born and raised here, Glazer set off for college in Massachusetts where he studied anthropology, lived for a spell in Guatemala and pursued grad school in Philadelphia where he earned his teaching certification. Had it not been for an unfortunate situation, this prodigal son may have never returned to the magic city. Sadly, Glazer’s father fell ill, forcing him to settle here.
Once back in Miami, Glazer worked as an English teacher in several high schools, including a rough one in Liberty City, but also elite schools in upper-crusty sections of Miami-Dade. He became involved in teaching as a result of his work in community development for Coconut Grove. Social service guided him into the role of a teacher. “I think education is so vital for our society,” he said. “The classroom is an important place to be. I fell in love with it. It’s as close as I’ve ever come to a calling. I’m my best self in the classroom. It's a real contrast to who I usually am.”
But the rigors of teaching also took their toll. “It’s a thankless profession,” he explained. “Teachers were not respected and I wore myself out. I admire anyone who can stay in the classroom.”
And Glazer wasn’t too happy with forced curriculum either. “There was too much test prep. It was all about FCAT.”
So Glazer’s career segued into local politics, where he’s been working as a legislative analyst for commissioner Katy Sorenson. After elections this month, Glazer will follow Sorenson to the University of Miami, where the Institute for Excellence in Public Service will help educate elected officials about the local community.
Well into the hour of our interview, I was eager, of course, to get the dirt on Glazer’s short stories about dating.
Mismatch.com, a tale of online dating gone bad, is based on a true story. Bad, really bad -- as in getting his crotch grabbed at a Design District club by a woman he had only known for a few hours. The experience was a killjoy and spoiled online dating for him. “I only go for online dating about one month a year,” he joked. “It’s like childbirth. You easily forget how painful it is until it happens again.”
And as he’s already tried online dating in 2010, his quota has run out this year, leaving this bachelor to brave the thorny terrain of singledom in Miami without relying on a service.
Glazer has been doing the single thing for a few years now. In another life, he enjoyed a long-term relationship with a woman he met in the northeast. When I teased him about not finding love in Miami, he laughed: “Yes, I had to import that one from New York.”
Another short story, They Always Leave, is fictional but strikes a raw nerve for its realism. In a nutshell: the main character meets an interesting woman on a bus; has a four-month relationship with her; and it ends as she dashes off to to Chicago. There wasn’t enough in Miami to hold her interest here, not even the main character’s heart. The breakup happens on a bus in South Beach:
My boss wants me in Chicago. They’re scaling down in Miami. It’s just not ripe yet. And to be honest, I jumped at the chance. . . . I need to be back in a city with a real Chinatown. A city where the major cultural event of the season is not a dog Halloween parade.
On the subject of fiction versus non-fiction, Glazer noted: “emotional truth is more powerful than fact.” And it’s true – whether or not any of this actually happened to Glazer is irrelevant. I think it’s safe to say that the story resonates on an emotional level with anyone, male or female, who has dated in Miami.
Dating is challenging in any city, but Miami is particularly hard. “There are a lot of different Miamis in Miami,” Glazer observed. “It’s hard to find fellow residents. Gathering places tend to be clubs instead of open, public spaces. But what if that’s not your thing? There’s no Central Park or subway, where you are bound to see hundreds of people each day. Miami is not a participatory city in that sense. It separates people.”
No better proof of this was the condo canyon of Brickell where we were sitting – all buildings with interior lives and no pedestrian friendly plaza in sight.
Drawing from his background, Glazer looks at dating from an anthropological perspective. The process can be educational. “Dating is a window into cities,” he said. “It’s interesting to see how people feel and react.”
His favorite Miami-Dade city is Miami Beach, where he’s been living since 2002. “South Beach feels like a real city,” he explained. “All these different neighborhoods are crunched together. There’s the old Miami there, the tourists, and being able to go to the ocean in the evening helps me wash the day off after work.”
Although Glazer hasn’t had that much luck with love in recent years, he certainly has had a love affair with words. Writing wasn’t always in Glazer’s career, though he did start out young. “When I was a little kid, I liked to write anything creative,” he recalled. “My mom taught me how to type because I had terrible handwriting. My first typed story was about baseball because I was really into that at the time.”
As a teen, Glazer attended Coral Gables High School. Amy Scott, a teacher and mentor, inspired him to write. Though his career path would initially focus on teaching and public service, that inspiration evolved into the writer he is today. Glazer has written a novel called Catching Holden, which follows the lives of a high school student and teacher over a period of a week as each tries to figure out who they are while reading J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye. Currently, Glazer has an agent and is looking for a publisher.
“It’s a split narrative,” he explained. “I told myself I would write every day, and this is what came out of it. When writing is going well, it’s magic. Those are the best moments.”
Let’s hope Glazer has more of those moments. Miami deserves a great, fresh voice to document the contradictions of a city that confounds and fascinates people from all over the world. As he puts it in the short story Home: “A Fellini film of a city.”
Here's Glazer reading Mismatch.com at Lip Service at Books and Books:
Note: Coincidentally, Glazer and I went to the same high school, knew the same English teachers and several people in common, but being a few years older than he, I never crossed paths with him, until now. Oh and Amy Scott was one of my best friends and colleagues in graduate school. Neither Glazer nor I were aware of this when I contacted him. Such a small world Miami is ... really.
