When my former dream client, actress Helen Mirren, said some shizz about date rape to GQ earlier this year, I didn’t say anything because I never read the original article (of course, neither did the majority of the people who were crapping their pants about it). From what I read about the article, it seemed…
feminism
Giving Golfers a Bad Name
Check out this New York Times story on the sexist asshats at the Phoenix Country Club. I like the part where the men were urinating on Wanda Diethelm’s pecan tree because she wanted to eat in their male-only dining room. She had to set up a security camera. Wanda, if you got any good shots…
Happy Birthday to My Two Favorite Guys
Well, they were my favorites when I was 15! Paul McCartney is 66 today. Sixty-six is an excellent age for a man, or so MrB tells me. And my beloved John Taylor of Duran Duran will turn 48 on Friday. Hawt! I had good taste as a teenager, didn’t I? UPDATED TO ADD: McGone points…
Sexism and the City
For years, I’ve been irked by certain criticism of Sex and the City, the series. I understand if someone doesn’t think the show was funny, entertaining or moving. But lashing out at the lifestyle of the “self-absorbed” female characters in what is, after all, an escapist comedy, telegraphs a fear of the undomesticated woman. This…
Book Club: Empress Matilda, Part III
Pretend you’re hearing that TV announcer voice: “Previously, on Wendy Brandes Jewelry….” Now go read these: Book Club: Empress Matilda, Part I Book Club: Empress Matilda, Part II You’re finally ready for the last episode of the Empress Matilda chronicles. As I’ve said, Matilda was a real fighter. That’s why the necklace I designed for…
Book Club: Empress Matilda, Part II
Time to get back to my 12th century friend, Empress Matilda. As I explained in my first post on Matilda, she was the rightful heir to her father, Henry I of England, but upon her father’s death in 1135, Matilda’s throne was usurped by her less-competent cousin Stephen. The obstreperous English barons rallied to Stephen’s…
Nu Shooz
Yesterday, I was annoyed by an anti-flower-feet article in the New York Observer. The article, which is heavy on sarcasm but short on funny, also slammed chunky platform wedges, peep-toe booties and — worst of all — gladiator sandals! The Emperor agrees with me. “Wendy, it vexes me. I’m terribly vexed by this article.” Not…
Patti LuPone Post From Jan. 26*
Patti LuPone in Evita back in the day As I mentioned on my wrongly-blocked-by-Google blog, Patti LuPone is one of my obsessions. So today is a happy day, my peeps! I have tickets to see Patti (again) in Gypsy. The show has moved to Broadway! Get your tickets at telecharge.com. If you go, keep an…
Musings on Voting and Football
If you live in one of the Super Tuesday states, don’t forget to vote. There’s no excuse not to vote because Buffy the Vampire Slayer is off the air. Some years ago, a woman I worked with went to her disorganized voting place, waited and waited and then left before getting to vote because the…
Thursday Book Club: Empress Wu, Part II
Welcome back to the increasingly erratic Thursday Book Club! In my last real Book Club post, I discussed Empress Wu, the only woman in the history of China to be called “emperor” during her lifetime. Since then, I’ve done a couple of fake Book Club post about Christopher Walken’s ass and books I bought while…