MultiCultClassics

5924: Olympic Shilling.

2008-09-07T18:21:00.002-05:00

Does anyone believe Olympic champions eat any of the products they hype?

5923: LPGA Says Oops. In English.

2008-09-07T18:14:00.003-05:00

It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind. And the LPGA has done just that, rethinking its English-language mandate. AdAge.com reported the latest details…

LPGA Revises English-Only Policy for Players After Protests
California Was Looking Into Whether Policy Violated Laws

By Michael Bush

NEW YORK -- The Ladies Professional Golf Association is taking a mulligan. The league, obviously feeling the mounting pressure from sponsors, its own players, fans, politicians and community groups, issued a statement today announcing that it was taking another shot at its English-proficiency policy issued earlier this week. The group has amended the policy by rescinding the penalty provisions.

The statement, from Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens, stated that the league has received “valuable feedback from a variety of constituents” and “decided to rescind those penalty provisions.”

No ‘future success’ talk
The statement went on to say: “After hearing the concerns, we believe there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every tour player. In that spirit, we will continue communicating with our diverse tour players to develop a better alternative. The LPGA will announce a revised approach, absent playing penalties, by the end of 2008. During that time we will continue to provide support under the 3-year-old Kolon-LPGA Cross Cultural Program. This popular program provides all LPGA members with the best cross-cultural training in the form of tutors, translators, Rosetta Stone, the official language-learning system of the LPGA, as well as assistance from LPGA staff and consultants.”

Conspicuously absent from this statement is anything regarding the “future success” or “long-term business” success of the league. When the LPGA issued a statement earlier this week trying to explain its position and reasoning for the policy, the success of the league was mentioned a number of times, making the policy seem very self-serving.

The LPGA’s language-policy provision drew fire from State Farm, a general sponsor of the league as well as of the State Farm Classic Tournament in Springfield, Ill.

“You can see what’s intended,” Kip Diggs, media-relations specialist at the insurer, had said of the statement. “There’s no way I would allow one of my executives to make a statement like this or implement this policy.”

Libba Galloway, deputy commissioner of the LPGA, told Ad Age she felt there was nothing wrong with the initial statement.

Light bulb has gone off
“I don’t see any problems with it, and we have had a number of people respond to it, and now they say the light bulb has gone off,” she said.

Yesterday, Sen. Leland Yee of the California State Senate said he was looking into a legal option to determine whether the LPGA Tour’s language requirement for players violates state or federal law, the AP reported.

State Farm blasted the policy earlier in the week . Speaking to Ad Age, Mr. Diggs said: “It’s something we are dumfounded by. We don’t understand this and don’t know why they have done it, and we have strongly encouraged them to take another look at this.”

Apparently it has.

5922: Grande Moron.

2008-09-07T09:50:00.002-05:00

Such a heartwarming moment, as Dad serves coffee to his six-year-old son.

5921: FCC OK W/AHAA+PPMC.

2008-09-07T01:28:00.002-05:00

From Adweek.com…

FCC to Address PPM Petition
The groups claim that Arbitron’s methodology does not adequately sample ethnic audiences

By Katy Bachman, Mediaweek

WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission may not have authority to investigate Arbitron, but it set comment dates to address the emergency petition filed by the PPM Coalition and the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies.

The two groups, made up of a number of Hispanic broadcasters, as well as urban broadcaster ICBC Broadcast Holdings and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, filed a petition earlier this week requesting the FCC investigate the accuracy of Arbitron’s portable people meter technology.

In addition to its PPM markets in Houston and Philadelphia, Arbitron plans to commercialize eight markets Oct. 8, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The two petitioning groups claim that Arbitron’s PPM methodology does not adequately sample ethnic audiences and that subsequent ratings will seriously harm minority broadcasters.

“A Section 403 inquiry is the only way the commission can shed light on the methodological problems identified in early PPM markets and avert harm to minority broadcasters from a rollout of PPM with a flawed methodology that undercounts minority audiences,” the groups wrote in their petition.

The commission moved at lightning speed. Comments on the petition are due to the FCC by Sept. 24, and reply comments are due Oct. 6.

Arbitron continues to maintain the FCC, which regulates the nation’s airwaves, does not have jurisdiction over media research firms.

--with additional reporting by Julie Gidlow Radio and Records

5920: The Humane Society Is Full Of Dogshit.

2008-09-06T14:04:00.002-05:00

As noted in a previous post, Governor Sarah Palin made a derogatory comment that has actually been embraced by the media. During her speech at the Republican National Convention, Palin quipped, “Do you know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.”

Seems like a pretty innocent joke. Yet when Verizon Wireless presented a commercial depicting pit bulls as brutal beasts requiring chains, the Humane Society, the ASPCA and PETA viciously attacked the advertiser, forcing the removal of the spot. Plus, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society went so far as to post comments at Adrants defending the disdain.

So where’s the moral outrage now? Sarah Palin has negatively labeled pit bulls—and created far more publicity than Verizon Wireless could ever hope to match—but the animal activists are quiet as a mouse. Although not the screeching mice used in obscene lab experiments that immediately receive support from the Humane Society and others. Besides a vague blog entry at a site called fetchdog.com, there are virtually zero complaints from the typically irate dog fans.

Maybe the animal lovers are plotting upcoming strikes, and we can expect to see protestors at the next Palin campaign stop. Or PETA will run print ads comparing Palin’s words to slurs and atrocities against women. The possibilities are endless.

Or more likely, the groups realize that confronting Palin would be a bad political move, potentially leading to a backlash that might adversely affect donations.

Slamming an advertiser is easy game, like shooting fish in a barrel. But the Humane Society, the ASPCA and PETA are not about to bite the hands that feed them.

Which just makes them full of shit—excreted from all animal buttholes.

Cartoon above by Dana Summers, Orlando Sentinel.

5919: Oprah! Oprah! Oprah!

2008-09-06T13:22:00.002-05:00

An Oprah-filled MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Oprah officially announced she won’t invite Sarah Palin to be a guest on her iconic TV show until after the election. A statement read, “There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show. At the beginning of this Presidential campaign when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates. I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign is over.” Wonder if Ellen DeGeneres will be dancing with Palin anytime soon.

• Marion Jones was released from federal prison, after serving a six-month sentence for lying to federal agents investigating doping charges. Now she has to complete 800 hours of community service. Wonder if Jones will appear on Oprah’s show anytime soon.

• Hip hop artist Ludacris is embracing his real name for film roles. “[Acting] is a different business, and I do want to be taken seriously, so it’s back to being Chris Bridges,” explained Chris Bridges. Funny, most Hollywood actors change their real names to something flashier, yet hip hop artists feel the need to go the opposite direction. Also, definitely don’t expect Ludaris/Chris Bridges to appear on Oprah’s show anytime soon.

5918: Some Of My Best Friends Are Stock Photos.

2008-09-06T00:59:00.001-05:00

Daily Koz noted stock photos were used to depict diversity in John McCain’s introductory bio video at the Republican National Convention. It’s amazing that the campaign missed the opportunity to use this guy.

Hat tip to Danny G.

5917: Smoothie Operator.

2008-09-06T00:57:00.002-05:00

To sell smoothies to Latinos, Jack In The Box salutes Carmen Miranda…?

5916: Doing More For Less.

2008-09-06T00:40:00.001-05:00

As this actual job listing shows, employers aren’t shy about telling candidates they’ll be expected to assume responsibilities traditionally handled by multiple employees. Although seeking an art director/designer with proofreading capabilities is, well, stupid. But is the trend toward dynamic workers an indicator of evolving basic skill sets or just basically cheap employers?

QC/proofreader/typography guru

Description:
We are looking for a hands-on QC/Proofreader/Typography Guru for our night shift. Hours are from 4pm to 12am. Ideal candidate must be able to build InDesign print mechanicals, adhere to strict brand guidelines and make aesthetic judgment calls. Must be expert with Adobe InDesign CS3. 6-plus years Agency background is preferred.

5915: The Good Hands Colored People.

2008-09-06T00:38:00.000-05:00

Buenas Manos doesn’t translate to Buenas Layouts.

5914: Time To Jet.

2008-09-05T08:49:00.002-05:00

From The Chicago Sun-Times…

Publisher of Ebony and Jet steps down

By Associated Press

The publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines has stepped down.

Kenard Gibbs left the magazines’ Chicago-based parent company, Johnson Publishing, on Wednesday.

Company spokeswoman Staci R. Collins Jackson says “it was an amicable parting.” She did not offer further details.

According to Johnson Publishing, Gibbs was appointed publisher in June of last year. He also oversaw the Ebony/Jet Entertainment Group.

The 44-year-old is a former president of Vibe magazine. He also co-founded Madvision Entertainment, which has purchased the “Soul Train” franchise.

Messages left for Gibbs were not immediately returned Thursday.

5913: Monstrous Optimism.

2008-09-05T00:35:00.000-05:00

Monster.com presents a job listing for a New York Creative Director. And the corresponding photo depicts a Black woman. What. Ever.

5912: Drinking and Driving In Runs.

2008-09-05T00:34:00.002-05:00

Keep Walking doesn’t seem like a good pitch for a baseball theme.

5911: Don’t Know What You Did Last Summer.

2008-09-04T21:32:00.002-05:00

The Franklin Blog is back up and running after taking off most of the summer.

5910: CUL8R, Mayor Kilpatrick.

2008-09-04T19:50:00.000-05:00

From The Chicago Tribune…

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick resigns

By Tim Jones, Chicago Tribune correspondent

Mired in a sex scandal that crippled the governance of Detroit all year, the city’s troubled mayor chose Thursday to walk out of office, rather than run the increasing risk of being heaved out.

The tawdry drama of Democrat Kwame Kilpatrick, the once-promising 38-year-old mayor of the nation’s 11th largest city, ended in a wood-paneled courtroom when a subdued Kilpatrick, after months of defiant claims of innocence, meekly pleaded guilty to reduced felony charges and agreed to serve 4 months in jail and pay up to $1 million in restitution.

“I lied under oath,” Kilpatrick told the court, conceding what growing numbers of Detroiters have suspected for months — he covered up an affair with his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty, that was at the center of a lawsuit settled by the city for $8.4 million.

In live remarks broadcast by Detroit TV stations Thursday night, Kilpatrick said he takes full responsibility for his “poor judgment.”

Kilpatrick, sometimes called the “hip-hop mayor” first elected amid great fanfare in 2001, is scheduled to leave office no later than Sept. 18. But in a city whose residents are well aware of the steamy details of text messages between Kilpatrick and Beatty, widely reported in the media, the mayor is already history.

“I think there is a giant sense of relief in the city and the entire state over the events of today,” said Larry Dubin, a professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. “This is like opening up an artery and permitting the blood to flow again for the city.”

Kilpatrick will be succeeded by Ken Cockrel Jr., 42, the city council president.

In recent weeks it became clear that time was running out for Kilpatrick. Business and religious leaders and the city’s African-American newspaper said Kilpatrick should quit. The prurient interest of the scandal made Detroit the butt of late night talk show jokes. Sales transactions aimed at balancing the city’s budget were stalled. And Wednesday, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm began expulsion hearings, fanning a flurry of activity aimed at a plea bargain.

Granholm, who halted Thursday’s scheduled hearing after Kilpatrick’s plea, called the events of the day “a sad but historic story” that is coming to an end.

Michigan Atty. Gen. Mike Cox, attending the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, called Kilpatrick’s exit “a great day for the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan.”

Such a scenario did not seem likely seven years ago, when the charismatic 31-year-old state legislator and son of a powerful congresswoman took over the reigns of the shrinking city and seemed to energize the city by force of will. Spending irregularities began to multiply and reports circulated of a wild party at the mayor’s mansion, involving strippers and members of the mayor’s security detail. While Kilpatrick was re-elected in 2005, he had earned a reputation of political immaturity.

When the Detroit Free Press published texts of salacious messages between Kilpatrick, married and the father of three children, and Beatty, a divorced mother, contradicting courtroom claims that there was no romantic relationship, the reservoir of goodwill toward the mayor began to dry up.

Although his mother, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick, chairs the influential Congressional Black Caucus, Kilpatrick became a political pariah. Assault charges last month resulted in his being fitted with a court-ordered electronic tether. He was prevented from leaving the city, much to the relief of Democrats uncomfortable with the prospect of Kilpatrick attending last month’s Democratic National Convention in Denver.

His political capital spent and his electoral promise squandered, Kilpatrick struck the plea deal as Granholm was preparing the second day of expulsion hearings.

“This has been a great distraction. Now we can begin to rebuild the image of the city,” said John Mogk, who ran for mayor of Detroit in the 1970’s and now teaches law at Wayne State University. “Everyone at all levels is relieved that the mayor has resigned.”

5909: Banning Stereotypes In Advertising.

2008-09-04T08:41:00.002-05:00

From Adweek.com…

Euro Parliament Targets ‘Stereotyping’
Votes to ban sexist images in advertising, media

By Leo Cendrowicz, The Hollywood Reporter

BRUSSELS National media monitoring bodies should be set up to deal with stereotypes in advertising and media, particularly degrading depictions of women, the European Parliament said Wednesday.

The Parliament, meeting in Brussels, voted on a program to ban sexist images of women and men in advertising, broadcasting, video games and other media.

The monitoring bodies would handle complaints from the public, study and report on the question of women in the media and grant gender equality awards to media and advertising professionals.

The Parliament said images such as women cleaning the kitchen and men polishing their cars simply play up stereotypes, undermining efforts to achieve equality between the sexes.

“Advertising and marketing create culture rather than just reflect it,” the Parliament said. “Gender stereotyping in advertising straitjackets women, men, girls and boys by restricting individuals to predetermined and artificial roles that are often degrading, humiliating and dumbed down for both sexes.”

Swedish MEP Eva-Britt Svensson, who drafted most of the program, said that gender stereotyping affects the self-esteem of women and men, particularly teenagers and those susceptible to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. One area of particular concern was the use of extremely thin women to advertise products.

5908: Painful Polaroids.

2008-09-04T00:08:00.000-05:00

Viewing this ad induces pain that Advil Liqui-Gels can’t relieve.

5907: Dogging Out Sarah Palin.

2008-09-03T22:38:00.003-05:00

During her speech at the Republican National Convention, Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin joked, “Do you know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.”

Look for the Humane Society, the ASPCA, PETA and Avon sales representatives to demand Palin’s resignation.

5906: LPGA Speaks Bullshit. In Plain English.

2008-09-03T21:17:00.002-05:00

Adage.com published an interview with Libba Galloway, deputy commissioner of the LPGA, discussing the organization’s new English policy. For someone trying to mandate English, Galloway appears to demonstrate extraordinary proficiency in PR jargon and corporate bullshit.

LPGA Stands By Its Decision on English Skills for Golfers
Official Welcomes Debate, Says Critics Need to Understand Group’s Business Model

By Michael Bush

NEW YORK -- The LPGA is taking a lot of heat from sports commentators, community groups and now a major sponsor, State Farm, for its controversial new policy to require English-language proficiency for its players. State Farm has been publicly critical of the policy and said if the LPGA does not reconsider, the insurer may not renew its tour sponsorship.

Today, Libba Galloway, deputy commissioner of the LPGA, spoke with Advertising Age about its policy and the concerns of its sponsors.

Ad Age: How do you respond to State Farm?

Ms. Galloway: We have been in communications with State Farm since last week and had a number of conversations with them and will continue that dialogue with them.

Ad Age: Do you disagree with what State Farm has said?

Ms. Galloway: That’s a conversation between us and State Farm, and our conversations with our sponsors are just that: conversations between us and them.

Ad Age: Do you think LPGA’s statement issued yesterday comes off the exact way you wanted it to?

Ms. Galloway: Absolutely. I don’t see any problems with it, and we have had a number of people respond to it, and now they say the light bulb has gone off.

Ad Age: Have you been contacted by other sponsors?

Ms. Galloway: We’ve talked with a number of them, yes.

Ad Age: What kinds of things have they said?

Ms. Galloway: We’ve had dialogues with sponsors, but we haven’t been keeping a tally of people in favor or against the policy. But the reactions are extremely varied, and we have some in total agreement, some sponsors who want more information and some who disagree.

Ad Age: If you had it to do over again, would you [announce the policy] differently and alert sponsors before the fact?

Ms. Galloway: This was always only intended to be an internal member [matter]. We’re a membership organization, and this is a matter between the LPGA and our members, and just like other matters of membership regulation, we never intended to have a public announcement of it.

Ad Age: Should the LPGA have realized there would be such a backlash?

Ms. Galloway: We know different people have different opinions on things, and we didn’t anticipate the depth and the variance of the reaction that we received, particularly considering this is an internal membership regulation. But as we’re getting feedback, it’s running from total agreement with it to people who disagree with the position. And we find that the more we explain our business model, the more likely people will be in agreement with us. We welcome this dialogue.

Ad Age: Are you concerned and possibly rethinking this, or do you plan to forge ahead regardless of what your sponsors and others think?

Ms. Galloway: This is a program that didn’t happen overnight. We’ve been working on it for three years now, and we intend to continue with it. That having been said, we are listening to the feedback and engaging in dialogue with [those who gave us feedback], and we have had useful exchanges of information.

Ad Age: What is your reasoning for the policy?

Ms. Galloway: The reason is that this policy is vital to LPGA business and tour membership. Our focus on effective communication in English is fundamental to our business model.

Ad Age: What is your response to the community groups that believe this is racist?

Ms. Galloway: We’ve been in dialogue with some of those [groups] and find that the dialogue gets to be more beneficial once we explain some very key points of our program. Once we explain this, we learn a lot from each other.

5905: Undressed And Possessed.

2008-09-03T21:14:00.003-05:00

The bed of your dreams… will have you levitating like Linda Blair.

5904: AHAA+PPMC C FCC 4 Arbitron BS.

2008-09-03T14:06:00.002-05:00

From Adweek.com…

AHAA, Coalition File FCC Petition Over PPM
The groups disagree with Arbitron about the representation of the Hispanic audience sample

By Katy Bachman, Mediaweek

NEW YORK The Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies and the PPM Coalition, a group of minority radio broadcasters, filed an emergency petition late Tuesday with the Federal Communications Commission requesting an investigation into the accuracy of Arbitron’s portable people meter methodology.

Arbitron has two portable people meter markets in Houston and Philadelphia and plans to commercialize the PPM service in eight markets by the end of the year. Among those markets: New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

AHAA’s and the PPM Coalition’s decision to turn to the FCC, which regulates the airwaves, follows several months of meetings between Arbitron and minority broadcasters, who fear lower ratings and dwindling ad dollars. Last week, the Spanish Radio Association issued a statement expressing its disappointment with Arbitron’s PPM methodology.

While supporting electronic measurement, AHAA said it is in “sharp disagreement” with Arbitron about the representation of the Hispanic audience sample. “It could have a devastating impact on the industry, wiping out nearly half of the minority broadcasters,” the group said in a statement.

Arbitron countered that the PPM is more accurate than the diary and that the petitioning groups have failed to acknowledge improvements in the quality of Arbitron’s minority samples.

Arbitron said: “Our PPM samples are designed to effectively represent the diversity of the African-American and Spanish-language radio marketplace and of all the markets we measure in terms of age, sex, race, ethnicity and Spanish-language preference.”

Whether the FCC, which regulates the airwaves, has any jurisdiction may reduce the current controversy to a battle of press releases and statements.

“Arbitron does not believe that the FCC has jurisdiction over the company or its operations and assets and consequently lacks the authority to commence a Section 403 investigation. Nevertheless, we are committed to continue our voluntary meetings with the FCC,” Arbitron said.

5903: LPGA Needs Policy Interpreter.

2008-09-03T09:48:00.003-05:00

The LPGA insisted its English policy is intended to help players enhance sponsorship opportunities. But according to AdAge.com, now sponsors are questioning the move…

State Farm Blasts LPGA English Proficiency Policy
Insurer Tells Golf Group It May ‘Re-Examine’ Sponsorship

By Michael Bush

NEW YORK -- Saying it was “flabbergasted” by the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s new policy requiring “effective communication in English on the part of all of our Tour members,” State Farm is urging the group to reconsider -- or the insurer may reconsider its sponsorship.

“It’s something we are dumfounded by,” said Kip Biggs, media-relations specialist at the insurer, which is a general sponsor of the league as well as of the State Farm Classic Tournament in Springfield, Ill. “We don’t understand this and don’t know why they have done it, and we have strongly encouraged them to take another look at this.”

LPGA defends position
The LPGA claims that the language barrier facing a number of its players is causing problems on many fronts, including the players’ dealings with the media as well as the league’s sponsors and the customers of those sponsors.

Mr. Biggs, however, said State Farm was unaware that the LPGA was contemplating any such policy. While he would not disclose the value of State Farm’s LPGA sponsorship, which runs through next year, he said the policy was something that the company would take into consideration when deciding whether to continue its relationship with the league when its contract expires.

“We’re looking at all of our options, but we would hope it would not come to [ending the partnership],” he said. “But this policy does concern us greatly, and as you could imagine, when [the sponsorship] comes up for review, it's something we’ll take into account when we look at either re-upping or walking away. We made that commitment, and we’re going to honor it, but we reserve the right to re-examine our sponsorships. Right now we have just let them know that this is something we are not pleased with.”

State Farm isn’t the only sponsor taking note. David Peikin, senior director-corporate communications at Choice Hotels International, said, “We have a great deal of interest in the intentions of the LPGA on this subject. Based on our understanding, this policy is currently under review by the LPGA, and a final decision and any related details will be determined over the next four months. Until that time, we will be closely monitoring LPGA news and announcements.”

While the LPGA has issued a statement defending its policy, the group did not return calls at press time regarding the comments of State Farm or other sponsors.

Questionable approach
Ann Wool, senior VP-director at Ketchum Sports network, said it was a mistake for the LPGA not to talk to its sponsors before announcing the policy. “When making a major policy decision it’s always wise to notify your sponsors,” Ms. Wool said. “I can only speculate that [the LPGA] didn’t think this was going to be such a controversial issue, otherwise they probably would have. It was probably a bad move not to notify their sponsors.”

Ms. Wool said she understands the intent of the league but that its execution was wrong. “The fact that they are calling it a policy is a problem,” she said. “From a PR standpoint that's the fundamental problem. Offering and encouraging players to improve their English so they help themselves and the league be more media-friendly is great. But when you make it a policy and threaten people it turns the whole thing on its head.”

Since its announcement, the league has been catching heat from a number of sources including sports writers, community groups and AdAge.com readers. The statement that the league issued today hoped to clarify the group’s position on the matter by saying it has worked for many years to improve the language skills of its players through tutors and translators. Instead, the statement seemed to add credence to the argument that the policy is self-serving and only being issued because the league is afraid of losing sponsorship dollars.

“It is imperative for the future success of the LPGA as well as the success of each LPGA player that our members effectively communicate in English at tournaments inside the United States with those who provide for the existence of the tournaments and the opportunities for professional women golfers to make a living doing what they love,” the statement reads. “Much of the criticism of our policy has centered around the LPGA’s penalty for players who do not meet the minimum language threshold. The penalty is meant to underscore the importance of this issue to the LPGA’s long-term business success.”

LPGA may need better communication skills
Mr. Biggs doesn’t believe the statement is going to accomplish what the league is hoping it will. “There are ways to communicate things and it really sounds like the commissioner [Carolyn F. Bivens] did not listen to what the communications people around her might have encouraged her to [say] or to communicate this in a different way,” he said.

“You can see what’s intended,” Mr. Biggs said, adding, “There’s no way I would allow one of my executives to make a statement like this or implement this policy. The policy is troubling. It’s one thing to want to be able to promote your product and have players communicate to your sponsors. But when you start to require that people do something and then back it up with penalties, that goes a mighty long way and that’s troubling.”

According to the LPGA’s site, there are 478 LPGA tour members. The Associated Press reported that there are 121 international players from 26 countries on the tour, including 45 players from South Korea.

5902: Viva Las Vegas.

2008-09-03T08:11:00.002-05:00

Maybe this is why those guys keep singing, “Viva Viagra!”

5901: VP=Very Pretty…?

2008-09-03T08:07:00.003-05:00

From The Chicago Tribune…

Palin faces a cultural crucible
As VP hopeful prepares to take center stage, Tribune cultural critic Julia Keller weighs the role of sexism in the national conversation

By Julia Keller, Cultural Critic

She’s hunted moose at midnight without batting an eyelash, but Sarah Palin now finds herself up against the biggest beast of all: cultural expectations for women.

The Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential hopeful is expected to address her party’s national convention Wednesday night. But that’s not her toughest challenge.

Unlike a previous generation of female politicians—such as Nancy Pelosi, 68, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, or even Sen. Hillary Clinton, 60, runner-up to Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination—the 44-year-old Palin is beset by questions, apprehensions, opinions, assumptions and accusations that her older countrywomen rarely faced.

Palin has won a beauty pageant and caught salmon. She runs and she hunts and she races snowmobiles. She’s at home on a rifle range—and in front of a kitchen range. She and her husband, Todd Palin, are raising five children, including one with Down syndrome. She’s part Annie Oakley, part Anita Bryant.

And Palin is young and pretty, in what some commentators have referred to as a “sexy librarian” sort of way. But does pointing that out constitute sexism?

“How do you talk about women candidates without mentioning that they’re—well, women?” muses Nancy Pearl, Seattle-based librarian and author of “Book Lust” (2003) who writes often about images of professional women.

“And then,” she adds, “how can you not talk about how sexy they are or aren’t?”

Once Sen. John McCain’s pick was confirmed Friday, blogs began to twitch and burble with descriptions such as “smokin’ hot” and “easy on the eyes.” Then came the backlash: How dare Palin seek such a demanding office while being responsible for five children? When news broke this week that Bristol, Palin’s unmarried 17-year-old daughter, is five months pregnant, the cyber-scythes began to swing higher and wider.

Never mind that many male politicians have large families and are rarely challenged about their ability to balance work and family. Or that many American families have dealt with the pregnancies of teenage daughters.

‘Role reversal’
With the Palin pick, the nation is entering unknown territory—and not just because she hails from Alaska.

Carol Felsenthal, Chicago-based author of this year’s “Clinton in Exile,” points out that Palin is turning traditional ideological stances upside down—another measure of the unprecedented nature of what the aspiring vice president represents.

“There’s such a role reversa” Felsenthal says. “You have this conservative, pro-life Republican woman—but it’s the liberal Democrats who are saying, ‘But who’s going to take care of the children?’”

Felsenthal also notes that both Sen. Joe Biden, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, a Republican said to have been on McCain’s short list for the VP spot, have mentioned their wives’ physical attractiveness in public, along with chuckling references to their own homeliness.

How comfortable would we be with a female candidate who referred to a hunky husband and her own dowdiness?

To be or not to be pretty
Physical beauty has been a significant issue in political campaigns since the advent of television. As many historians note, a skinny, unkempt, horse-faced fellow named Abraham Lincoln probably would not fare very well in electoral politics in this age of “Larry King Live” and the endless open faucet known as YouTube. In previous centuries, few people knew what a public figure actually looked like. Today, however, it’s hard to escape the constant images of candidates.

And that cuts both ways for female politicians. Being attractive is generally better than being unattractive, but women often find their appearance listed ahead of their ambitions or accomplishments.

“When a woman’s looks are mentioned, some people say, ‘Well, that’s just life,’” says Leonard Kniffel, editor in chief of American Libraries, the magazine of the Chicago-based American Library Association. “But women, many times, are judged first on their looks.” Indeed, bloggers elbowed each other out of the way to be the first to note Palin’s resemblance to actor and writer Tina Fey—another smart, accomplished woman who wears glasses.

Kniffel said he wasn’t bothered by those who cited Palin’s “sexy librarian” look. “I was delighted and I laughed.”

New and different roles for women can induce discomfort and anxiety in some people—just as does, sadly, the prospect of an African-American president. But this is, by most accounts, an election year in which the hunger for change is a crucial factor. And with the Palin pick, both political parties are now offering a vigorous variation of the same old thing.

What if Palin proves to be a great vice president—but a lousy mother? It sounds like a reasonable question — until you realize that it would rarely, if ever, be asked about a man.

5900: Turkey Tagger.

2008-09-03T01:19:00.002-05:00

Reynolds Wrap goes revolutionary.