A recent book has reignited discussions about interracial dating.
At issue: Karyn Langhorne Folan's "Don't Bring Home a White Boy: And Other Notions That Keep Black Women From Dating Out." Folan urges black women to date outside their race.
Here's an excerpt from a recent Washington Post article about the book:
"Black women are in market failure," says writer Karyn Langhorne Folan. "The solution is to find a new market for your commodity. And in this case, we are the commodity and the new market is men of other races."
Naturally, "Don't Bring Home a White Boy" has attracted its share of criticism.
Some people argue that even though the book purports to promote interracial relationships, its existence alone is a step in the wrong direction. Here's a line from Gawker:
Should black ladies date people who are not black? The year now is 1955. Oh, it's not?
Weigh in: Does interracial dating still carry a stigma? And if so, is that stigma any worse in Columbus?
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Seasonal nightlife
Need proof the planetary alignment is shifting? Sky Nightclub in Columbus is hosting its first bikini contest.
No, I won't be participating. I haven't shaved my legs in three months.
But the contest's existence alone reminds us that summer nightlife is (kind of) on the horizon.
I, for one, am psyched.
I know, I know. Temperature-wise, things could be worse. Still, even moderately cold temperatures have tremendous potential to hamper nightlife plans.
My least favorite obstacle: deciding whether you should wear your coat and have it bask in cigarette smoke at the bar, or leave it in the car and endure a freezing bare-shouldered walk to your hot spot of choice.
Then again, summer partying carries its own set of concerns, like your best friend's unfortunate affinity for the bare midriff look. Oh yeah, you also have to pull that dusty shaving razor out of hibernation.
Weigh in: Are you ready for summer nightlife, or could you deal with a few more months of argyle?
No, I won't be participating. I haven't shaved my legs in three months.
But the contest's existence alone reminds us that summer nightlife is (kind of) on the horizon.
I, for one, am psyched.
I know, I know. Temperature-wise, things could be worse. Still, even moderately cold temperatures have tremendous potential to hamper nightlife plans.
My least favorite obstacle: deciding whether you should wear your coat and have it bask in cigarette smoke at the bar, or leave it in the car and endure a freezing bare-shouldered walk to your hot spot of choice.
Then again, summer partying carries its own set of concerns, like your best friend's unfortunate affinity for the bare midriff look. Oh yeah, you also have to pull that dusty shaving razor out of hibernation.
Weigh in: Are you ready for summer nightlife, or could you deal with a few more months of argyle?
Joe Simpson & John Mayer
The celebrity rumor mill says Jessica Simpson's dad, Joe, called John Mayer for a "man to man" chat after Mayer's infamous Playboy interview.
Strange? Yes. Sweet? A little, actually.
Everyone knows the image of a dad guarding his teenage daughter's dating life with the family shotgun. But that kind of parental concern often lasts well beyond high school.
After one of my especially bad breakups, my mom got all excited about sending an anonymous online instant message to my former fling.
I didn't take her up on the offer, but I appreciated her concern. Years had passed since I first navigated the world of boy/girl dances. But it was nice to know Mom was still my ally on the romantic battlefield.
And yes, even as I approach 30, I still have many friends whose dads greet their dates with the family shotgun.
Weigh in: Are you ever too old for your parents to jump to your dating defense?
Strange? Yes. Sweet? A little, actually.
Everyone knows the image of a dad guarding his teenage daughter's dating life with the family shotgun. But that kind of parental concern often lasts well beyond high school.
After one of my especially bad breakups, my mom got all excited about sending an anonymous online instant message to my former fling.
I didn't take her up on the offer, but I appreciated her concern. Years had passed since I first navigated the world of boy/girl dances. But it was nice to know Mom was still my ally on the romantic battlefield.
And yes, even as I approach 30, I still have many friends whose dads greet their dates with the family shotgun.
Weigh in: Are you ever too old for your parents to jump to your dating defense?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Cute Couple
They wear color-coordinated getups. Have a seemingly endless supply of inside jokes. Resolve fights via poetry.
They are The Cute Couple. And you hate them.
After reading this Glamour blog post about couples envy, and watching a recent "How I Met Your Mother" episode devoted to a similar idea, I started thinking about the couples who aspire to attain a position previously reserved for Donna and David from "Beverly Hills, 90210."
They shell out relationship advice as if they've already spent 50 years together.
Outsiders, meanwhile, don't know what to say.
On one hand, The Cute Couple restores your faith in love -- illustrating how ideals can, in fact, become a daily reality.
On the other hand, The Cute Couple makes you want to give up on relationships. They've already hogged all the romantic perfection our universe offers, you reason.
So you budget your time with The Cute Couple carefully, bidding them farewell the instant their shared glances transform from gaga to gross.
Weigh in: Have you ever secretly tried to gain Cute Couple status?
They are The Cute Couple. And you hate them.
After reading this Glamour blog post about couples envy, and watching a recent "How I Met Your Mother" episode devoted to a similar idea, I started thinking about the couples who aspire to attain a position previously reserved for Donna and David from "Beverly Hills, 90210."
They shell out relationship advice as if they've already spent 50 years together.
Outsiders, meanwhile, don't know what to say.
On one hand, The Cute Couple restores your faith in love -- illustrating how ideals can, in fact, become a daily reality.
On the other hand, The Cute Couple makes you want to give up on relationships. They've already hogged all the romantic perfection our universe offers, you reason.
So you budget your time with The Cute Couple carefully, bidding them farewell the instant their shared glances transform from gaga to gross.
Weigh in: Have you ever secretly tried to gain Cute Couple status?
Monday, February 22, 2010
30 Chick Flicks in 30 Days
When it comes to pop culture, is what you watch reflective of who you are?
Let's hope the answer is no, especially since I had a serious case of Kardashian addiction last weekend.
Anyway, the question hit me after I stumbled upon a blog that chronicles one guy's efforts to watch 30 chick flicks in 30 days.
It's an attempt to understand the opposite sex.
I can see underlying relationship lessons in "(500) Days of Summer," or even "Sex and the City," but Lindsay Lohan's "Labor Pains"? Really?!?
Sadly, that is a real entry in the list.
I appreciate the blogger's openness to genres other than the traditional action-adventure material.
At the same time, I think it's fair to say that not only chick flicks highlight truths about the opposite sex.
In fact, sometimes we learn the greatest relationship lessons from movies that aren't overtly romantic. (And yes, I am trying to justify my "Kung Fu Panda" obsession.)
Weigh in: Have chick flicks taught you anything about love?
(via Broadsheet)
Let's hope the answer is no, especially since I had a serious case of Kardashian addiction last weekend.
Anyway, the question hit me after I stumbled upon a blog that chronicles one guy's efforts to watch 30 chick flicks in 30 days.
It's an attempt to understand the opposite sex.
I can see underlying relationship lessons in "(500) Days of Summer," or even "Sex and the City," but Lindsay Lohan's "Labor Pains"? Really?!?
Sadly, that is a real entry in the list.
I appreciate the blogger's openness to genres other than the traditional action-adventure material.
At the same time, I think it's fair to say that not only chick flicks highlight truths about the opposite sex.
In fact, sometimes we learn the greatest relationship lessons from movies that aren't overtly romantic. (And yes, I am trying to justify my "Kung Fu Panda" obsession.)
Weigh in: Have chick flicks taught you anything about love?
(via Broadsheet)
Dating: A family affair?
You and your sister have shared secrets, purses and sweaters. So it's only natural to have nearly identical dating histories.
Creepy? Kind of.
Here, TresSugar asks an interesting question: Have you ever dated the same person as your sibling?
Fortunately, I've never had to deal with the issue, since my sister and I are eight years apart.
But I've seen many cases where a guy jumps between sisters, or a girl jumps between brothers. And strangely enough, some of those relationships actually worked.
I guess the concept sorta makes sense. You know your ex well. You know your sibling well. So you fix them up. What could possibly go wrong?
Um, nothing...unless you count insecurities and deep-seated childhood jealousy issues.
Plus, I've always put guys who jump between sisters on the same level as guys who always get their girlfriends from the same group of friends. (I'm talking to you, Slade Smiley.)
Fortunately, as opposed to some circles of friends, it often seems as if siblings have completely opposite romantic tastes -- or at least pretend that's the case.
Weigh in: When it comes to dating, is your sibling's ex off limits?
Creepy? Kind of.
Here, TresSugar asks an interesting question: Have you ever dated the same person as your sibling?
Fortunately, I've never had to deal with the issue, since my sister and I are eight years apart.
But I've seen many cases where a guy jumps between sisters, or a girl jumps between brothers. And strangely enough, some of those relationships actually worked.
I guess the concept sorta makes sense. You know your ex well. You know your sibling well. So you fix them up. What could possibly go wrong?
Um, nothing...unless you count insecurities and deep-seated childhood jealousy issues.
Plus, I've always put guys who jump between sisters on the same level as guys who always get their girlfriends from the same group of friends. (I'm talking to you, Slade Smiley.)
Fortunately, as opposed to some circles of friends, it often seems as if siblings have completely opposite romantic tastes -- or at least pretend that's the case.
Weigh in: When it comes to dating, is your sibling's ex off limits?
Friday, February 19, 2010
What's going on this weekend?
Hey everybody! Here's your roundup of nightlife events:
Quick Friday highlight: The Charles S. Harrison American Legion Post 35, 3361 North Lumpkin Road, will host a Mardi Gras Party. Dinner will be served 6-8 p.m. Home-cooked German food and pot roast will be on the menu. Karaoke will begin at 8 p.m. Door Prizes. 706-687-0788.
FRIDAY
SoHo Bar & Grill: Eleven Standing Still, Sum Ever After, 10 p.m. free. 706-568-3316.
The Vault: Dueling pianos, 10 p.m. $5.
Daileys: Ophir Drive, 8 p.m. $5. 706-320-3353.
Flip Flops: Pistoltown, 9 p.m.
Belloo’s: Claiborne & Friends with Steve McRay, 9 p.m. $5. 706-494-1584.
The Loft: Peggy Jenkins and the Bizness, 9 p.m. $5. 706-596-8141.
VFW Post 665: The Last Rodeo Band, 9 p.m. $5. 706-687-6656.
SATURDAY
SoHo Bar & Grill: Neal Lucas Band, 10 p.m. free. 706-568-3316.
The Vault: Dueling pianos, 10 p.m. $5.
Daileys: Ophir Drive, 8 p.m. $5. 706-320-3353.
Belloo’s: Claiborne & Friends with Steve McRay, 9 p.m. $5. 706-494-1584.
The Loft: The SixxiS, 9 p.m. $5. 706-596-8141.
VFW Post 665: The Last Rodeo Band, 9 p.m. $5. 706-687-6656.
Quick Friday highlight: The Charles S. Harrison American Legion Post 35, 3361 North Lumpkin Road, will host a Mardi Gras Party. Dinner will be served 6-8 p.m. Home-cooked German food and pot roast will be on the menu. Karaoke will begin at 8 p.m. Door Prizes. 706-687-0788.
FRIDAY
SoHo Bar & Grill: Eleven Standing Still, Sum Ever After, 10 p.m. free. 706-568-3316.
The Vault: Dueling pianos, 10 p.m. $5.
Daileys: Ophir Drive, 8 p.m. $5. 706-320-3353.
Flip Flops: Pistoltown, 9 p.m.
Belloo’s: Claiborne & Friends with Steve McRay, 9 p.m. $5. 706-494-1584.
The Loft: Peggy Jenkins and the Bizness, 9 p.m. $5. 706-596-8141.
VFW Post 665: The Last Rodeo Band, 9 p.m. $5. 706-687-6656.
SATURDAY
SoHo Bar & Grill: Neal Lucas Band, 10 p.m. free. 706-568-3316.
The Vault: Dueling pianos, 10 p.m. $5.
Daileys: Ophir Drive, 8 p.m. $5. 706-320-3353.
Belloo’s: Claiborne & Friends with Steve McRay, 9 p.m. $5. 706-494-1584.
The Loft: The SixxiS, 9 p.m. $5. 706-596-8141.
VFW Post 665: The Last Rodeo Band, 9 p.m. $5. 706-687-6656.
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