I think it's because some fans of Brad and Angelina have this sense that when Shiloh was born, they got a new toy. And that she has some kind of dynastic duty to be the world's prettiest princess. I think that's why people make such a deal out of Clooney not marrying and/or knocking up the babe du jour--they're not sad for him, they want a moppet to play with.

When I was a kid I wanted an Erector set. Fat chance. I did get the chemistry set.

I wanted both. I got neither. I'm still bitter.

I have never been a fan of the Komen people, and since the breast cancer, I have come to hate them a little more every year. For one, there's a lot of what has been termed "pink washing" out there. Many of the companies that paint everything pink in October make a single donation that is not linked to how many pink mixers or pink guns people buy.

The ugly truth is that poor women have a much higher risk of dying of breast cancer than women who have the money or insurance to be able to afford good medical care. While there are controversies about mammograms, they are a big part of the increase in early diagnoses, and an early diagnosis means a less physically damaging treatment and a much higher probability of preventing recurrence.

Research is all very well, but it's aimed at saving women in the future. Screening and treatment for women who can't afford it saves lives now.

Also, if you look at the numbers, you'll see that more of Komen's budget goes to "awareness" than research. Awareness is a fuzzy term that can be interpreted as "getting more companies to give us money so they can make pink things."

OMG!

I'm calling my bank to report my lost CC and they want my account number - for the cc. . . which I don't have because I' ve lost the damned card.

Jeans and sneaks and loose gender-neutral tops?

For those middle-schoolers? Yup. Fat girls who dressed in sweatshirts got thrown into garbage cans and bullied into cutting and suicide attempts.

I'm calling my bank to report my lost CC and they want my account number - for the cc. . . which I don't have because I' ve lost the damned card.

Do you have an online banking account you can check?

What counts as even a little androgynous? No makeup or chick jewelry? Jeans and sneaks and loose gender-neutral tops?

Yes.

Your male co-workers in their pink shirts - could they get away without commentary if it was a pink skirt?

Online banking doesn't have your entire account number on it.

I wound up calling the regular customer service line to speak to a human being.

So frustrating.

Also, if you look at the numbers, you'll see that more of Komen's budget goes to "awareness" than research. Awareness is a fuzzy term that can be interpreted as "getting more companies to give us money so they can make pink things."

And seriously, is anyone unaware of breast cancer?

could they get away without commentary if it was a pink skirt?

I don't know if skirts are allowed. Just capris. I assume if they can get away without commentary on a skirt, pink isn't the breaking point. But, please note, I've not argued that they have an easy time of it. I'm saying that the women here do, pretty easily.

And that just looking around outside of the pressure cooker that is school, women dressing in sweats and loose jeans don't seem to be walking like they're flipping the finger to society.

Yeah, I've been dinged because people don't think I dress femme enough. I've missed out on more sex because of it, in fact. But...there's sex I don't need to have. I don't think that any professional issues I may have are related to me never having worn eye shadow or foundation or blush, and rarely wearing lipstick or nail polish or earrings. My CIO doesn't wear that stuff either. My manager wears eye shadow every day, but I've never seen her in a skirt. Even this week's business formal involved an oversized cardigan over her slacks and button-down shirt.

outside of the pressure cooker that is school, women dressing in sweats and loose jeans don't seem to be walking like they're flipping the finger to society

Oh, that's certainly true. And Jessica's right: it's hella easier for a woman to dress a little masculine than for a man to dress a little feminine.

Now if only we could extend the mellowness of your workplace w/rt gender presentation to all the middle schools in the country!

Even this week's business formal involved an oversized cardigan over her slacks and button-down shirt.

Really? I would not call a cardigan business formal. A jacket is business formal. I mean, a man in business formal is in a suit, right? A woman in business formal is in a dress or a suit (skirts or pants, it wouldn't matter): that's my interpretation, anyway.

Am I being too much of a stickler?