TALK TO THE MAN

RE: "FUBAR at Fubonn?" [News, Jan 8], regarding employee labor strikes at Asian market Fubonn.

I would not trust [the Bureau of Labor and Industries] to do much of anything. The reasons are pretty obvious if you know anything about labor disputes and prior incidents. I could name a few markets and businesses this publication has reviewed or at least mentioned that have horrible track records of employee abuse and lack of rights. Not much of a surprise, but many of the employees are minorities or recent immigrants to Oregon. Quite often they are too afraid to speak up. The owners of said businesses are all too aware of this.

posted by the Showstopper

VOZ and Jobs with Justice are experienced in dealing with these kinds of complaints and have resources to help with actually getting to a resolution. From the reporting here, it sounds like the "fuck that, we're gonna set a precedent" approach of this group might not be the most effective approach to actually improving the lot of the workers involved.

posted by styrofoamcup


BOOB TUBE

RE: "Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow Hand Stupid Reporter His Stupid Ass" [Blogtown, Jan 10], recounting the response to a reporter inquiring about Lena Dunham's nude appearances on Girls.

It sounds like his question was more about the volume of casual nudity that seemed (to him) to fit no narrative purpose. He didn't ask the question very well, but I think it's certainly possible to be confused about that without necessarily being offensive or misogynist. For example, if someone films and presents as art a scene that's simply 10 minutes of a naked woman eating Froot Loops, are people not allowed to ask why the artist chose to present her that way? As Dunham and Apatow do here, it's simply disingenuous to pretend the artistic choice of nudity can be divorced wholly from its general context (a country where women's bodies in culture are presented as sex objects nearly 100 percent of the time) and its specific context on HBO, a network that seems to wedge sexy, naked women into every possible scene. In other words, it's unfair to say, "It's so prudish or repressed or misogynistic to even ask that question because obviously real people are naked sometimes. Stop telling women to cover up if they're not sexy, Hitler."

posted by Commenty Colin

It's not a groundbreaking or insightful question. After the same broken-record, obtuse criticisms I wish someone would cut honestly through the BS and ask what they really want, which is, "Why are you with your misshapen, smaller-than-average boobs, lumpy thighs, and average physique so nude on the show?" It's only a 30-minute show. It's not 26.5 minutes of Dunham's boobs. But Dunham is the star of the show. She's on screen the most, and therefore nude the most. But she's not the only one. Allison Williams gets her pussy eaten. Adam gets aggressive and partially date rapes a girl and comes on her chest. The characters make tons of questionable sexual decisions. Focusing solely on Dunham's nudity (like this guy's question did) ignores all the very worthy over-arching discussions one could have about the show's content.

posted by TSW


IT TAKES A VILLAGE INN

RE: "Future Sex, Love Sounds" [Film, Jan 8], in which critic Erik Henriksen reviews Her by way of a long introduction involving Village Inn and the elderly.

Enough talk about that movie, get back to the review of the Village Inn. That place sounds great!

posted by Grandpa Jack Bogdanski

You don't know how validating it is to read this after spending about eight billion lunches at the Village Inn with my 94-year-old grandma.

posted by bearfax

HEY, ERIK HENRIKSEN—Get to the point.

Chrysanthemum

WE'LL KEEP this brief, Chrysanthemum, since it's evident you like to stay on track: You, two tickets, Laurelhurst. Bam. Pizza and beer. Done.