Victory for Yapping Virgins

On Monday I heard conclusively that ASK, the developers behind Leopold Square in Sheffield had decided NOT to continue talks with the Hooters chain. They had finally realised that this proposal would mean shooting themselves in the foot. For the past year, ASK have worked hard to create an upmarket and prestigious dining area, safe for families and single people alike. Hooters would not only be a step backwards for the square and for Sheffield, but it would also be damaging for the surrounding businesses.

Lets take a look at the concept for a moment. Hooters claims to be 'tacky yet unrefined'. This is not only a motto but is sprayed across the back of the waitresses t-shirts, along with 'HOOTERS' across the chest. So not only are women labelled as a derogitary word for a woman's breasts but they are also told what to be. Tacky and unrefined.

Hooters likes to call itself a 'sports themed restaurant'. I've been to a sports themed restaurant, namely Champs on Ecclesall Road. None of the waitresses there where shorts and vests with the body parts labelled for easy viewing. Wings over England, the company behind the UK version of the chain also like to say that the bar is suitable for families. This is ridiculous. What kind of society do we live in where parents think is is acceptable to take their impressionable youngsters into a restaurant which had bikini competitions, stag nights and a soft-porn magazine? Because this is exactly what Hooters is: A bar which is based on sex. A bar where there online site sells calendars of the girls and where there girls pose naked in Playboy: http://www.wwedaily.com/the-women-of-hooters-from-playboys-february-2008-issue/

Don' t get me wrong, I do not hate sex. I'm not a virgin, a prude or a man-hater. What I do hate is sex appeal brought to the lowest common denominator. People telling us 'Look at that pair of breasts, aren't they great? Now lets get drunk.' I hate women being put into boxes, that of breasts, leg or thigh. I hate the fact that this company insults the intelligence of men out there, because not all men like this. Not all men read Zoo or Nuts. However the ones who stand up and express their opinions about this raunch culture we live in are vilified. Many men who have wrote on the 'Yes to Hooters in Sheffield' group have been called gay or poofs, just because they stood out of line.

Wings Over England contradict themselves, first saying their for families and then saying "Sex appeal is legal and it sells. Newspapers, magazines, daytime talk shows, and local television affiliates consistently emphasise a variety of sexual topics to boost sales." Oh so you admit it then? I want to be employed on the basis of my intelligence not how big my breasts are. I want my children to grow up without a t-shirts like this: http://www.hootersgear.com/Merch/MerchItemDetail.aspx?webitem_seq=872

Oh and I want them to figure out what sex appeal means, not this socially constructed raunch culture where women kiss each other to turn men on and girls where Hugh Hefners logo of crap.

I could probably go on and on but my fingers are tired and I'm fed up of writing on this french computer (where's good old qwerty when you need it, eh?)

Abortion limit under attack

Some MPs are planning to use the upcoming government Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to attack abortion rights for woman, particularly cutting down the time in which a woman can have a termination. Supported by Pro-life campaigners and religious groups, they argue that better technology has ensured ‘babies’ are now able to live before the 24 week limit. However all of the major medical boards, including the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists plus the governments own cross-party parliamentary Science and Technology Committee state that there has been no significant improvement in foetal survival below 24 weeks since the law was last reviewed in 1990.

Pro-choice campaigners like Abortion Rights maintain that as well as there being no evidence for a change, women will undoubtedly suffer from a smaller time limit. They argue that a tiny proportion – less that 2%, of abortions take place after 20 weeks. The overwhelming majority, 89%, are carried out at less than 13 weeks. The 2% of abortions that take place after 20 weeks are not taken lightly, often due to complicated and different circumstances including:
● Late identification of pregnancy – some young people do not realise they are pregnant early on, due to lack of sex education and an ignorance of their menstrual cycles. Older women may believe they are experiencing the menopause.
● Change in personal circumstances – a wanted pregnancy may be impossible due to domestic violence, loss of partner or problems with existing children.
● Denial in pregnancy signs – Some women may be in denial. These are often young women, with poor mental health or who have conceived in traumatic circumstances like rape.
● Delays in service provision – Some NHS abortion services have long waiting lists, 2 and a half months in certain areas. Others are obstructed by Doctors unwilling to provide an abortion or misdiagnosed.

A women’s right to choose on abortion in supported by an overwhelming three-quartes of people in Britain. Abortion Rights say that women should be listened to on whether or not to continue with a pregnancy and should be allowed to make fundamental decisions on their own body. If you support a woman’s right to choose, write to your MP and visit http://www.abortionrights.org.uk/

Out of Luck - 'Three and Out'

Funny man, Mackenzie Crook stars in new British Flick, Three and Out as ‘down and out’ tube driver Paul who dreams of moving to the Scottish highlands and becoming a writer. Accidently killing two people in one month on the London Underground, he hears about the ‘Three and Out’ rule. Three under in a month and you’re out, but with a big pay-off. Sounds like the big break Paul needs to realise his dream…

The premise is good but unfortunately things start to unravel pretty quickly for this film. Paul proposes that suicidal drunk, Tommy (Colm Meaney) should jump in front of his train after Tommy has made up with the family he ran out on in Liverpool. Cue Tommy visiting his old haunts with Paul alongside, as some sort of Dickensian ghost of Christmas Future. Their sudden closeness is unbelievable, especially as Paul sleeps with Tommy’s grown-up feisty daughter, Frankie (Gemma Arterton) in an unlikely (and rather graphic) night of passion.

There are some glimmers of hope though. Paul’s despair at having to kill Tommy after their weekend of reconciliation is dramatic and moving. Imelda Staunton is great playing Tommy’s wife, Rosemary as a strong and together woman who has moved on without her man. Comedic moments are brought by Maurice, the French cannibal who Paul meets whilst searching for a willing participant in the suicide pact. His creepy “I want you to eat my penis” phone calls bring some light relief in contrast to the darker points of this movie.

Unfortunately though, the film script is not tight enough and eventually lets it down. This film could be much funnier and much shorter. The end, in an attempt to pull together any loose ends and close with some romance is laughable. ‘Three and Out’ is a perfectly fine way to spend an hour or so but unlikely to win any awards.

‘Three and Out’ is in cinemas from Friday 25th April