Is There Anything Good About Men?

No, it's not the title of a best-selling feminist book. It's a speech given by Roy F. Baumeister, a Psychology professor at Florida State University, last Friday at the American Psychological Convention in San Francisco. Instead of espousing the superiority or deficiency of one gender over the other, Dr. Baumeister suggests to look at gender difference as the result of the ways successful societies (and when we refer to "successful", we refer to the ability to survive and maintain itself) have exploited both men and women. I had understood before the idea that women were biologically more valuable than men, but this talk better articulates how that idea manifests itself in gender motivations and actions. A very fascinating read. What do you all think?

Link To NY Times Article
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/20/is-there-anything-good-about-men-and-other-tricky-questions/index.html?ex=1345348800&en=ab869ff9248e16a4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Link To Full Speech
http://www.psy.fsu.edu/~baumeistertice/goodaboutmen.htm

A New Addiction

So I was wandering around UCLA, waiting for my audition for a student film (for which I was cast!) when I ran into three friends, Vince, Gerard, & April. We had a little chat, after which they invited me to meet up with them at the Coop. I agreed, and after my audition I headed over there.

We had a nice conversation, after which April asked to leave because she had to catch this comedy, Coupling, on BBC America. She said she always caught the show late by a few minutes, and this would be no different. The guys suggested that we ask one of their friends working at the Coop change one of the channels for us so we could catch it together. All you have to do is ask, right? Well, before I knew it, I was hooked.

A crude description of Coupling is that it's a UK hybrid of "Friends" and "Seinfeld", but more raunchy. A better description is that it is a sharp, well-executed comedy that deserves to stand on its own merits. As an incredibly fickle and critical TV-watcher, it might just be the best modern comedy I've ever seen.

Of course I can give you a complete critique of the series, or I can just present a clip and you be the judge. Of course, as I write this, Season 1 of Coupling is heading to my apartment as we speak.