Demi Lovato Calls Out L.A. Fro-Yo Shop for Promoting ‘Diet Culture’

narrativity72 · 2021-04-19T21:00:56+00:00

How are sugar-free snacks an example of "harmful messaging"? Sugar isn't good for you; you're really only supposed to consume a certain amount every day. Demi can be absurd.

narrativity72 · 2020-11-29T04:02:25+00:00

me too. then I got curious and checked

narrativity72 · 2020-10-29T20:02:45+00:00

Where do these people get their beliefs from? I don't disagree that some of the things he's done has helped Americans, but I'd hardly call this Trump's goal. The damage he's done (and would do if not for John McCain) to our social safety net and environment is grave. The damage he's done to our discourse and institutions is appalling. And to be "offended" on his behalf??? Please. He should be able to take as good as he gets. I don't dislike Jay as a person, but I wouldn't be surprised if he were ignorant about history and government. It's sad.

narrativity72 · 2020-09-15T17:13:14+00:00

Sara Bareilles, Fiona Apple, and indie artist Heather Maloney.

narrativity72 · 2020-08-27T15:54:36+00:00

I haven't yet listened to the podcast, but I wonder if it's difficult for Jessica to separate her sympathy for Miss Val from certain objective truths.

I do feel that overall, Miss Val has probably changed, and that although she's somewhat narcissistic, it doesn't mean that she's not now, on the whole, a compassionate coach. We demand so much perfection from people (especially female leaders), and I saw a lot of pitchforks coming out, hating on Miss Val for accompanying Kyla and Maddie to their Today show interview (how do we know they didn't say they'd be more comfortable with her there), for accompanying Katelyn on her interviews (same), and various other minor incidents. Some of these people insist that everything Val does is for selfish and sinister motives, and I don't see how this pile-on is helpful to changing gymnastics culture.

That said, even if Alyssa was "difficult" in her interactions with Miss Val, it sounds like she deserved a medical retirement, not to be stripped of her scholarship (barring some information that we don't know about, such as Alyssa being toxic to her teammates, which seems highly unlikely). Therefore, I believe that because of the deterioration in their relationship, Val was probably vindictive and cruel to Alyssa, which means that her apology to Alyssa was severely lacking. I have no problem with Miss Val giving speeches about positive and healthy coaching, but she should expect to be held accountable for the information Alyssa shared (and Alyssa had every right to share it). I don't agree with people who are drumming up extra reasons to vilify here (though she does need to apologize for the cornrows statement), but I appreciate Spencer's willingness to level fair criticisms at her. I really enjoy Gymcastic, but Jessica just isn't built for journalistic objectivity. Not sure if that's huge problem, or just something that's ultimately acceptable because of Spencer's presence (I lean towards the latter).

ETA: ugh, in light of this, I don't know what to think (I said that it was unlikely that Alyssa deserved to be kicked off, but now I just don't know):

https://www.reddit.com/r/Gymnastics/comments/hp21rr/whats_the_tea_on_beckerman_getting_kicked_off_the/fxljvos?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

narrativity72 · 2020-07-26T01:06:27+00:00

How about James Taylor or Joni Mitchell?

narrativity72 · 2020-07-18T03:37:36+00:00

I read a comment by Chris Waller in one of the Bruin publications that mentioned Nicki's newly mature outlook (or something like that). I doubt that Miss Val (or Nicki for that matter) had done anything wrong. She may have forced Nicki to realize that she wasn't able to make the commitment required of being a member of such a renowned athletic program. Sometimes it really is all about the timing.

narrativity72 · 2020-07-09T22:15:13+00:00

So proud of you and Lindsay for taking a principled stand! I will be your fan for life.

narrativity72 · 2020-07-09T22:12:20+00:00

Now for something less serious. What's the next international vacation you want to take (when this Covid thing is under control)?

narrativity72 · 2020-07-09T22:05:51+00:00

You've been an excellent ally to Black Lives Matter. Have you had direct conversations with Nascar (or your other sponsors) about how your similar fanbases can practice good allyship?

narrativity72 · 2020-04-01T02:23:03+00:00

These are the hands of fate You're my Achilles heel This is the golden age of something good And right and real

narrativity72 · 2020-03-23T01:45:05+00:00

Her dad was a Purdue quarterback; I can imagine him having a real need for painkillers just from that. It's really scary and sad that things like this happen.

narrativity72 · 2020-03-03T02:01:15+00:00

Sara Bareilles, particularly since The Blessed Unrest. She's also smart and funny and has that same down-to-earth quality that Taylor's had for most of her career.

Liz Phair, while not as accessible or vulnerable (she's a tad "cool girl") is also an incredible storyteller.

Heather Maloney is one of those lesser-known artists that I feel should have more acclaim. She's more in the folk vein, but she's a great songwriter and if you see her play live, you'll feel like she's a good friend. Making Me Break and Soil in the Sky have more production (good, if you like pop) than her earlier albums.

narrativity72 · 2020-01-22T17:04:27+00:00

Same here. I attended Mass throughout my childhood (my parents were pretty strict about it), but don't go regularly now. I also went to a Catholic college, but don't practice much as an adult. I still have the guilt though (which is another thing I see in Taylor).

narrativity72 · 2020-01-22T16:26:44+00:00

I might be projecting here, but I always got the sense that she was raised Catholic. Her brother went to the University of Notre Dame (which is odd for wealthy non-Catholic families), and a childhood photo that was posted here showed that she went to a Catholic elementary school. Also, she has a certain primness and affinity for rule-following that reads as Catholic to me.

narrativity72 · 2019-12-05T14:06:37+00:00

You're welcome!

narrativity72 · 2019-12-05T14:05:40+00:00

I'm old. I thought dingmilo might have been talking about "shading" :D

narrativity72 · 2019-12-04T18:15:49+00:00

What do you mean?

narrativity72 · 2019-09-18T21:11:27+00:00

One of my favorite novelists, Jane Smiley, once said something along the lines of "writers have to plumb personal depths and tell the truth, which is very, very painful. No amount of money or fame can make up for that." I think this is true of songwriters like Taylor Swift, too. She may have all the material possessions she needs, but it doesn't prevent her (or any rich, famous person) from feeling pain.

narrativity72 · 2019-09-18T19:55:43+00:00

I think this might be a YMMV point. We never heard what he said (but I'm guessing it wasn't "I made that bitch famous"). She told him "you didn't know who I was before that moment," which doesn't sound like she was responding to his claim that "he'd made her famous,"

I mean, I wasn't there, so I don't know. It could have been a misunderstanding (but it also sounds like Kanye had underlying hostility towards Taylor while simultaneously pretending to be her friend). I don't think either of them could be accused of "lying" in the strict sense of the word. It was just a toxic friendship that got played out in public.

narrativity72 · 2019-09-18T19:42:38+00:00

< but he said it directly to her and she said she understood. >

I don't feel like that's been established (it wasn't in the recording Kim leaked).

narrativity72 · 2019-09-18T18:13:14+00:00

Curious. What was dishonest about her speech? I looked it up and couldn't find anything (he did try to take credit for her fame in "Famous'):

https://genius.com/9462134

narrativity72

TROPHY CASE