PopSugar

Infamous Reform School For Girls Closes Its Doors

TresSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

The idea of a reform school for girls seems to come straight out of a B-movie from the '50s, complete with stock characters like the naïve innocent, the hardened mean girl with a heart of gold who ends up plotting a way for them both to escape, and an evil warden who gets in their way. It's hard to believe that such a place could still exist.

Until August of this year, the notorious Beloit reform school for girls in Beloit, KS did exist, and the school, founded in the 1890s, only recently shut down because the state could no longer afford to house the remaining 21 girls to the tune of $200,000 a year.

Although the school's founders had good intentions, Beloit's dark history includes the severe mistreatment of girls, many of who were running away from physically and sexually abusive homes. In effect, the abused were shipped off to be further abused. How bad did it get? In the '30s, a superintendent who was influenced by Nazi eugenics practices had 62 of her charges involuntarily sterilized. To read more about the history of Beloit and how it evolved, read more

Beloit was founded and in part funded by the suffragist and pro-Prohibition group The Women's Christian Temperance Union in the 1890s. Sometimes, the girls there were practically "indentured" by farm families in this rural town in order to earn the food they ate. (This was all before the state took over.)

At the time, according to Russell Jennings, commissioner of the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority, girls "were really viewed in our society much more as property." They didn't even have to run away to be deemed "incorrigible" or "wayward." They only had to be, as he put it, "a pain in the neck."

In a file from a girl housed (incarcerated?) at Beloit in the '30s, her offenses were that she "associated with Mexican men" and "became intoxicated at dances." Another woman was sent to the reform school for "being immoral (with father)."

A federal law passed in the mid-1970s ended the practice of sending girls to reform school when their offenses, if they'd been committed by adults, would not be considered crimes. But their incarceration continued in Kansas until 1983. Now, troubled teenage girls are sent to community centers where they can get the help that they need.

In spite of its history, for some who stayed there, Beloit was a haven from abuse at home. "I will always believe that because of Beloit and the staff, I am where I am today," said a 50-year-old who is happily married with three children and counsels survivors of sexual abuse. "They saved the lives of unwanted children."

Source

Diddy and Friends Honor Biggie at Notorious Movie Premiere

PopSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:00:34 -0800

Friends and family of Notorious B.I.G. were among those who came out to to celebrate and remember the late rapper at the premiere of his new biopic Notorious last night in NYC. Diddy, who worked as an executive producer for the project honoring his best friend, looked sharp in his gray suit before changing into a more casual outfit for the after party. He was joined by Biggie's wife Faith Evans who got on the mic to thank everyone after the screening. Beyonce and Jay-Z showed up together, looking refreshed after their lengthy romantic vacation in St. Barths. Many other celebrities came to the theater to laugh, cry and remember the life and death of a cherished friend and talented artist.

To see more photos including Tyrese, Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige and others just read more.

View 30 Photos ›

Images include: Beyonce Knowles, Diddy, Jay-Z, Tyrese Gibson, Ice-T, Coco, Derek Luke, Angela Bassett, Busta Rhymes, Cassie, Ciara, Lil Mama, Ja Rule, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Q-Tip, Spike Lee, Russell Simmons, Jamal Woolard, Faith Evans

Source and Splash News Online

Are You a Better Person When Pregnant?

babysugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:00:40 -0700

I admit it. I watched Lindsay Lohan's new movie, Labor Pains. As a woman faking a pregnancy, she supported her antics by saying, "I'm a better person when I'm pregnant." It got me thinking - was I a better person while pregnant? I didn't drink and it's been eons since I lit up a cigarette. I attended prenatal yoga and swim classes, drove more cautiously and tried to keep a cool temper in an effort not to stress my unborn baby. I even gave up fast food and dined on fruits and vegetables to up my nutrient intake. Many hormonal mamas-to-be are notoriously known for their devilish moments - a fate from which I was not immune. Pregnancy caused me to be more conscientious, but I'm not sure if it made me a better person. How about you?

Source

Mesrine: Killer Instinct - See It or Skip It?

PopSugarUK — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:30:00 -0700

Mesrine: Killer Instinct is a French film starring Vincent Cassel as notorious gangster Jacques Mesrine. After returning home from the army, Mesrine embarks on a life of violent crime, with hold ups, prison breaks, and kidnappings in the 1960s and '70s. Gérard Depardieu stars as mob boss Guido, in this movie that received its UK gala premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. It's the first half of a double bill and is released on 7 August. Check out the trailer below and vote to let me know: will you see it or skip it?

Source

Non Voyage: Get Ready to Cruise!

babysugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:00:58 -0700

Pack your bags kids - it's time for a Non Voyage! Families planning on spending the Summer at home can still embark on a mock vacation by carefully planning projects and themes for each day. We're sharing tips on how to turn a "Non Voyage" into a weeklong cruise affair. Leave the ocean sickness at bay and participate in some of these shiptastic activities.

Rise and shine with an $8 gentle fog horn. The neighbors may not like it, but adding a blare to wake wee ones will certainly help corral the troops.
Serve it up buffet style! The only place more famous for their rows of food is Vegas. Allow tots to line up for their feast and come back for seconds.
Simon Cowell is notorious for telling American Idol contestants that they sound like cruise ship performers. Give the kids a chance to shine in the mediocre spotlight with a night of open mic karaoke. Mom and Pop can also get into the action making it a full family affair.
Hit the deck, I mean driveway, for a mean game of shuffleboard, hop scotch or jump rope.
Fire up the water hose for an afternoon in the water or head to the local pool for a dip in the "ocean."
If there's a storm a brewin', paint the afternoon away or settle down to a nice movie on the cozy couch.

Take pictures to keep the momentum going and one day the whole crew will fondly remember their trip aboard the Love Boat.

Pop Preview: The Wackness

PopSugarUK — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0700

NB: I was lucky enough to catch a screening of this indie movie back in early June, and was so taken with it that I posted the preview for you back then. The movie's coming out this Friday, so here's a reminder / rundown of what I thought of it!

First things first: The Wackness is dope. Yes, brush up on your '90s lingo because the next big indie film is set in the sweltering New York summer of 1994! It follows adorable "most unpopular of the popular" teen Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) as he lives out his last summer before college – selling pot, falling in love, finding an unlikely best friend and trying to sort out his parents' problems. The movie's not out until August 29 (UK), but I liked last night's preview so much that I had to post about it now!

The soundtrack is absolutely awesome – from the cheesy yet oh-so-summer strains of Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, to the classic hip hop of Notorious B.I.G and Nas. After last night I know that 90s hip hop and all those rediscovered classics will be the soundtrack to my summer! The film is visually gorgeous too – being set in NYC doesn't hurt it of course – but the cinematography is beautiful and sets the chilled tone of the film.

For more of my thoughts on the movie including some on Mary Kate Olsen, Juno's Olivia Thirlby and Sir Ben Kingsley, and a gorgeous gallery from the film just read more

After Juno we all know Olivia Thirlby is coolness personified, and in this movie she's also great as Stephanie – the object of Luke's affections – and brings more layers to the table than perhaps her lines or the character gives her. Thirlby is a class act. Mary-Kate Olsen pops up in a couple of scenes, and I really liked her carefree performance - although what's with her and the drug-related TV / movies – Weeds and The Wackness? Anyhow, she was really fun and likeable (with some great Beverly Hills 90210 references).

Sir Ben Kingsley has a lot of fun as Dr. Squires (Stephanie's stepdad), a guy at the same breaking point as Luke but at a completely different stage of his life. Their friendship is ultimately believable and, although I wanted Luke to walk away from this weird old guy, I also cared enough to want Dr Squires to sort himself out.

The stand-out, however, was Josh Peck as Luke – he's definitely one to watch in the future. He played the awkwardness / bravado that teens struggle to balance so beautifully, occasionally cutting through any front his character was pulling with a subtle yet heartbreaking flash of hurt or confusion in his eyes. Having watched him exaggerate and pratfall (in that way kids' sitcoms demand) for years in Drake And Josh I was really impressed with his understated performance.

I think you can tell I loved it. Although it's a bit of a cop-out to compare it to Juno (as it's really not like that movie at all) I loved it in a similar way and I just hope it has some of the same success. The Wackness is a film with a massive heart and really deserves to do well.

View 10 Photos ›

Jake Gyllenhaal's Nailed Sounds Screwed

Molly — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:30:38 -0700

Jake Gyllenhaal looked a little stunned - and is it just me, or slender? - arriving back at LAX last night. It's been a rollercoaster few weeks on the set of his new movie Nailed with production having to be shut down more than once, including again yesterday, due to finance issues. Between that and actors quitting because of disagreement with notorious director David O. Russell, things sound pretty rough on Nailed. Hopefully the movie will be back rolling soon, but at least this means some reunion time at home with his girlfriend and dog babysitter Reese.

View 7 Photos ›

Bauer-Griffin Online

Handle This: She’s Cheap, But Rich

DearSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Though you have quite a few thrifty friends who you’re always more than happy to oblige by grabbing deli sandwiches over a dinner out, or a long walk instead of a trip to the movie theater, one friend in particular is notoriously stingy with her dollars. She constantly complains about being broke. In fact, half the time you end up paying the way for both of you and don’t see a dime in return.

When using her computer, you get a brief glimpse of her bank statement open on her screen. In her checking account alone she has three times as much money as you do. You’re totally shocked and can’t help but feel taken advantage of - she's been lying to you. Money is always awkward, so how would you handle this?

Source

A Few Fab Words With Ingle and Rhode

FabSugarUK — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:00:42 -0700

If you've ever seen the movie Blood Diamond then you'll realise the importance of ethical diamonds. The industry is notoriously corrupt so it's refreshing to know that jewellery designers Ingle & Rhode are working hard to bring you ethical diamonds. We caught up with them to find out why it is so important to know where your jewels have come from.

Why are ethically sourced diamonds so important? People give diamond engagement rings as a symbol of their love, and nobody wants to worry that their romance might be tarnished by war or exploitation. People are becoming increasingly aware of how much damage diamonds have done.

To read further read more

What does ethically sourced actually mean? It means that nobody was harmed or exploited in the production of the raw materials, or in the manufacture of the jewellery. It means no conflict diamonds, no child labour, proper pay and conditions for workers, and minimal environmental impact.
Which countries do you source from? We source gold from Argentina, diamonds from Canada and Lesotho, Rubies from Madagascar, and Sapphires from Tanzania.
Why did you decide to launch Ingle & Rhode? Co-founder David Rhode got engaged a couple of years ago, and couldn’t find a London jeweller whose ethical credentials satisfied him. Having experience the problem from the consumer’s perspective, he and Tim Ingle realised that there was a need for a jewellery brand that offered total transparency, while not compromising on quality.
What inspires you? Working with organisations that make a real difference to people’s lives in the developing world.
I realise this is a relatively new project but so far how well has the idea been received? We’ve had a really positive response, far more so than we expected at this stage. It seems that people are becoming more ethical in their spending habits across different areas, and jewellery is no exception.
What is your favourite piece from your collection? We don’t have a favourite piece as such, but we enjoy doing bespoke engagement rings. Each one offers a different design challenge, and is an opportunity to do something really special. About three quarters of the engagement rings that we do are bespoke commissions.
What kind of person wears your pieces? We have clients from a wide range of backgrounds, it’s difficult to draw any generalisations. The only thing they all have in common is that they care about the impact they have on other people – and that applies to a lot of consumers these days.

Has awareness of the importance of ethical diamonds grown due to references in the entertainment industry, for example in Blood Diamond? There’s no question that ‘Blood Diamond’ did us a big favour by raising awareness of one particular issue. It looks like our job is to help publicise some of the other ethical problems facing the jewellery industry, such as the environmental damage done by gold mining. The media is already beginning to get a hold of that one.

Johnny Depp Is a Public Enemy We're Always Happy to See

Molly — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:00:21 -0700

Heeeere's Johnny! (Sorry, sometimes I can't help it.) Johnny Depp gave his adoring public, present company included, a smile and a wave on the set of Public Enemies in Columbus, WI on Monday. Nothing spices up a quiet week in celebrityland like a little bit of Mr. Depp. I think you'll all agree that we don't see nearly enough of him - and don't even get me started on the infrequency of shirtlessness. In the movie, which is being directed by Michael Mann, Johnny Depp plays a notorious bank robber/latter-day Robin Hood alongside, just to name a few, Christian Bale, Stephen Dorff and Oscar-winning Marion Cotillard. Sounds pretty amazing. We may have to wait a while to finally see the ensemble on the big screen, but as long as we get to see lots of Johnny filming no complaints here.

View 4 Photos ›

Source and Splash News Online