I keep wondering how far the fashionable obsession with extreme thinness can go. I mean, some of them already look like concentration camp survivors. It's really horrid in person - I met Cynthia Nixon a couple years ago - and she was always the healthiest-looking of the 4 on Sex and the City, the least sticklike - and she was so thin that it was downright frightening - collarbones like razors and every bone in her upper chest clearly visible.

I don't get the appeal. I'd jump over a thousand broomhandle stick-figures to get to one Kate Winslet. Monica Bellucci might be the single most gorgeous woman I've ever seen in my life. "Fatties"? Jeebus.

*banging head against wall*

ouch. I'm sorry, they're not "fat".

And, when you meet them in person, they're even skinnier than you think they are on TV and in pictures.

It's kind of painful seeing it up close.

i would eat these fatties for dinner. christ.

You know who is the most obsessed with weight and who is currently fueling this "thin is in" obsession in hollywood?

Women.

Nice work ladies.

Ask any real man and they'll tell you bones are for chicken wings.

I think I saw the bottom one in the Egyptian Museum.

She don't look any better out of the bandages, either.

In contrast, there's an amazing photo spread, this month, in British Fash Mag, I-D that has absolutely GORGEOUS photos of NOT-skinny Beth Ditto from The Gossip.

I wish the photos were online, they're not.
Check it out, next time you're at the newsstand.
http://www.i-dmagazine.com/primary_index.htm

Like I needed another reason to hate Details. Now I am going to go ogle all the morbidly obese girls in Playboy.

This conversation is absurd. I keep hearing about the epidemic of anorexia, and how young girls are dying to be thin. Where the hell are these thin girls and women (outside of Hollywood)? All I see are fat or flabby women parading around with their midriffs exposed, and disgusting stomachs hanging out ,as though cellulite and stretch marks are sexy. Where are these skinny anorexics that I keep hearing about? And would someone please buy our fat assed and flabby women of Seattle a full length mirror or better yet, a gym membership.

Whatever, Buddy. Meanwhile, while I do like Kristen Davis (on TV), I have to agree that most men are attracted to a much wider range of women than women (or girls) seem to understand.

Starvation thin is not sexy - our male perception can tell you'd have problems bearing children (due to that), and it's a definite turnoff.

Now, maybe some really old guys are into that, but that's their funeral.

I heard a slang term the other day describing people who wear short shirts and let their fat hang out. They're called "muffin tops".

You may be right Will, but what about the part of the male mind that says "oh shit that girl is starving and she's still alive. I better get a little bit of my DNA in her in case there's a famine"

Nicole Ritchie is going the way of Karen Carpenter.

The "fattest" woman in that set of pictures isn't even close to such. These fashion rag writers and photogs need to go to Texas and see what fat REALLY looks like.

Rose McGowan, fat? What?! She looks like she needs another sammich in that pic.

BUDDY Wrote:
"...,as though cellulite and stretch marks are sexy"

My wife has stretch marks as a result of carrying our children. Even after 24 years, I still daydream about her.

I have stretch marks from doing very hard and difficult physical labor and lifting iron.

Buddy, you haven't even begun living until you've acquired a stretch mark.

---Jensen

why wasn't that pig lindsay lohan featured in the magazine? god knows she's gigantic! along with mary-kate olsen. the cocaine definitely didn't keep the weight off. they probably eat upwards of 750 calories a day! what pigs.

Jesus God - that poor thing in the bikini. What the f*ck is that all about?!?!!? No joke - I feel ill looking at her. That skelton sh*t is a goddam shame. I dont know a single guy that goes for it. Id take a muffin top over that any day of the week...

My wife has stretch marks as a result of carrying our children. Even after 24 years, I still daydream about her.

I have stretch marks from doing very hard and difficult physical labor and lifting iron.

Jensen, you sound very glamorous, I just hope that the two of you have the decencey to cover it up...

BUDDY Wrote:
"Jensen, you sound very glamorous, I just hope that the two of you have the decencey to cover it up..."

Buddy, actually we are rather glamorous. Sometimes I wish it wasn't the case.

Do let us all know when you have decided to leave the shallow end of pool, Buddy. Hopefully someone will be there to help you learn how to swim.

--Jensen

Thanks ECB, now we have to read a bunch of postings from men going on and on about how they don't understand why WE don't understand what kind of bodies THEY like and how women's body image hatred is all self-created!

The posts here remind me of your male privilege post earlier...there's no awareness of the fact that it's their gender that dominates the industries that define how women are supposed to look.

Even more basic is the lacking recognition that there is a liklihood of a biological reality in place (that not every one - women and men - credits) that creates a structure that requires women to compete and allows men to chose. I'm sure the suggestion of this will unleash an onslaught of men posting that "it's women that choose." I'm not talking about in your personal lives dufuses...I mean that structurally our institutions reflect this.

I hate hearing men brag that they "prefer natural boobs," as if it makes them feminist. Women started getting boobs jobs for themselves, yeah right! So now that everyone's boobs are all blown up and nasty NOW they prefer natural tits. Yeah our dumb gender does this shit to compete w/other women, but for what? Everything. Duh!

Yeesh, don't get me going. The only thing that gives me hope is stupid straight men waxing their backs and foiling their hair and Boys Gone Wild (is that supposed to be for chicks?). I'm not gonna tell you that I don't think it's attractive cuz I just told the lot of you that I'm sick of hearing want you think is and isn't attractive. Just let men be slaves to image at little more.

PS Jensen you get a pass cuz you're not wasting space with "oh I can't believe so-and-so is considered fat," blather. You wrote about a person you know.

I need Mel Gibson to help me out w/ this question, which is "If the Jews really _do_ control Hollywood, then why do they want all the women to look like Concentration Camp survivors?"

Rabid I Guess: Please don't deny that members of both genders are responsible for the female stick-thin body obsession. I do think that many men are very attracted normal-weight, feminine-looking women, and that it is mainly women who nit-pick all their own flaws, and some women only want to have sex in the dark because of it. Where this insecurity originates in women likely comes from male-to-female oppression in adolescence and through media imagery, but women themselves are responsible for carrying the obsession into their adulthood and into their private relationships and marriages with decent and caring men. We all must overcome injustices in our culture and society, and we cannot forever blame men for our personal, low self-esteem, especially when we purchase more magazines that feature Nicole Richie than they ever do. I would never wish the same body-hatred and insecurity that plagues adolescent women upon men. I instead hope that all of us are free from it (wishful thinking, I know). When women want revenge upon men in general, rather than fairness and equal recognition for both sexes, it really makes me sick, especially because men are often our brothers, friends, lovers, and also our sons.

But don't get me wrong - that Details article is fucking stupid, and guys like that are hopefully very, very single.

So basically the only thing that's REALLY sexy is a woman who has such great genes that she can stay fit, with all the fat in the right places, all her curves in the right proportions, and with a minimum of cellulite.

Those of us that struggle, and fight, and spend thousands of dollars to battle genetics and get laid or get paid are, apparently, vain bitches or ugly or both.

But men and women who demand "all-natural" are jerks, and so are the people who criticize the people who are natural and decidedly unattractive.

. . .

Don't you people have anything better to do than talk about Nicole Ritchies and the muffin tops of the world? It's not YOUR funeral.

I always thought "muffin tops" referred to the result when already thin women crush themselves into too-small bottoms. Like the svelte women in my Bikram class with bodies that I will never have in my wildest dream wear size 2's or 4's, even though a 4 or 6 would fit better.

Racism and sexism are everywhere. New Times media is giving away a boob job in a contest! How sexist is that? Male privlege using any means to get women to enlarge their tits. At least ECB fights against male privlege. The Stranger's porn contest isn't sexist or racist at all, so I'm looking forward to that.

Muffin top is the result of wearing low rise pants that are too tight. The bit of flab that smooshes up over the top of the pants...that's a muffin top.

Jensen wrote:
Monday, August 14, 2006

House hopeful Stephanie Pure targets young voters
Candidate touts activism, work with youth in 43rd District race

By CHRIS McGANN
P-I CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT

Stephanie Pure thinks Seattle's next state House representative should have the will and the energy to rock the status quo in Olympia.

As an activist who took on City Hall to repeal Seattle's stodgy Teen Dance Ordinance and an organizer who forged a renters summit to help people push back as the city's apartment market contracted under the weight of the recent condo craze, Pure says she's perfect for the job.

Grant M. Haller / P-I
Stephanie Pure, 32, Democratic candidate for the 43rd Legislative District House seat, speaks recently in Seattle. Pure is the youngest of six Democrats seeking the position.
"Change is hard -- but it's worth the effort," she said. "It's worth sticking your neck out for because sometimes the public doesn't know the power that they have."

Pure, 32, is the youngest of the six Democrats vying for Seattle's 43rd District legislative seat. Her campaign message is tailor-made for young voters, with an emphasis on her energy and street-level experience over the high-level credentials of her rivals.

"I'm someone with insider knowledge with an outsider's perspective," she said. "In almost everything I do ... I'm providing access to information and leadership. It's about opening up the process and the system to more people."

People in politics for a long time risk become too insular, she said.

"I know what it's like to be on the outside looking in," she said. "I never have forgotten that experience."

One of Pure's proudest accomplishments is the Vera Project, an arts center dedicated to providing music, art and leadership opportunities to people of all ages, especially those under 21. Pure helped found the project as an extension of her battle over the Teen Dance Ordinance.

The Vera Project is not just a rock venue for kids, she said.

"It's a community-building experience," Pure said. "Seattle is such a musical place -- we have the best music scenes in the country. It's something that makes Seattle different than any major city in the country."

Sometimes it seems the city is unaware of its own treasure, she said.

Even against the long list of her opponents' credentials, Pure says she's not starting at zero.

"I have energy, I have a vision, and I have the experience to deliver results for our district and for the state of Washington," she said. "I have actually been working for you in the 43rd (District) for almost 10 years. As a legislative aide for City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck, I worked on issues such as funding public libraries, people with disabilities and our 50-year-old school crossing guard program."

But by almost every measure, Pure is considered the underdog. She doesn't dispute that notion.

"I look at some of the numbers of some of the other candidates and, yeah, it could seem like that," she said.

Pure has raised the least money of all the candidates, according to state Public Disclosure Commission filings. Her $32,000 in contributions look paltry compared with the other war chests, three of which are roughly double that, and another is more than quadruple the amount.

Still, "you never know what's going to happen," she said. "I knew that I didn't pick the easiest race Everybody is a serious candidate."

Pure says education would be her top priority in Olympia.

"You can't be a youth advocate without advocating for young people's education," she said. "I want to get down there and make sure teachers have the resources and tools they need to succeed."

Other priorities include those of most progressive Democrats: "Strengthening schools and family, fighting for fairness and equality, and making sure everyone has access to affordable, quality health care."

None of those sets her apart from Dick Kelley, Bill Sherman, Lynne Dodson, Jamie Pederson and Jim Street, the other candidates who share a standard set of urban liberal positions on most issues.

In large part Pure's youthful idealism distinguishes her from the others, which may provide an advantage -- especially with young voters.

Fundraisers at hip locales, including Linda's Tavern on Capitol Hill, give her a sort of "street cred," but unfortunately for her, most hipsters don't vote.

She knows it will likely take more than that to prevail in the September primary, which will almost certainly determine the overall winner in the heavily Democratic district.

Older voters generally make up the largest voter block of the primary election, which is known for low turnout and a dearth of under-30 voters.

Pure is undaunted.

"Age is relative," she said. "I'm old at Vera. In my six years of legislative experience -- I've talked to a lot of 50- and 60-year-olds. I have a great rapport with them because I'm talking about the issues that are important to them.

"What rings true to people is my effectiveness. That has been important (to) all ages. Issues like library funding, education and health care are important to everyone."

Among her accomplishments Pure lists her recent work with community members and library supporters to restore $2.3 million to the Seattle Public Library system, building its book collection and keeping the library open longer on Sundays and weeknights.

In 2005 she helped secure $500,000 in funding for economic revitalization of Broadway. She also helped businesses by replacing newspaper boxes, removing graffiti and creating better relationships between the homeless community and business owners.

Also, Pure could capitalize on the gender divide. Women tend to cast ballots in primary elections more than men and tend to favor female candidates. As the only women running for the seat, Pure and Dodson will divide that subsection two ways.

Early in the campaign, two politically active women asked Pure to step aside in hopes of concentrating the potential gender advantage for Dodson, but Pure stood her ground.

If elected, she vows to fight for the liberal agenda that has come to define Seattle lawmakers.

"In our current political climate nationally, state Legislature is our last hope to inoculate us from what's happening on the national level," she said.

"We need to make sure that our state Legislature stays progressive. When it comes to economic justice, racial profiling or same-sex marriage, I will not just be a vote for these issues. I will fight for these issues and make sure all citizens have dignity and respect in our community.

"What people really want to know is, do I have the skills to carry issues forward. And the answer is, yes."

ELECTION 2006
STEPHANIE PURE

Age: 32

Occupation: Legislative aide for Seattle City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck

Running for: Seattle's 43rd District state House seat, which incldes Capitol Hill, Wallingford and the University District

Web site: www.peopleforpure.com