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Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
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CordeliaShirley
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
Really, if Obama caused rainbows and stars to spring out behind him while bringing me delicious chocolate+vanilla icecream, I could only adore him more. Mmmmmmmmmmm.
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Spacegirl goes home
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
In New Mexico, drunk driving is a favorite recreational activity that the whole family can enjoy. My neighbor got nailed for DUI last summer, and then his GRANDMOTHER got busted a week later.
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Gretchen is a new kitten mom!
03/18/09

@Spacegirl.goes.home: Does Santa Fe county still have no open container laws? When I lived there back in the dark ages, they had drive-through liquor stores at the county line. I once did this for a lark and to get a 5th of Scotch and was actually asked if I wanted a cup with ice as well!
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roodles
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
I'm also kind of bummed at the racism some jezzies have experienced in Russia. I heard from someone else that they're lovin the black ladies over there. maybe not?

in unrelated news, would anyone like to purchase a first class ticket to Russia?
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joiful
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
That story about black women and bulimia is suprising to me. As someone who is frequently told to "eat a sandwich", I guess I fall into the trap of believing the hype that ALL thick black women love their thickness.
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escapefromny
03/18/09

@joiful: I think there's sort of a love/hate relationship with thickness among black women. On the one hand, black men seem to find the extra pounds attractive, so long as our tummies magically stay flat and only our boobs, ass, and thighs get thicker. But then on the other hand, the standard of beauty that we're bombarded with every day in all forms of media tells us that we're fat slobs and need to tighten it up. (And possibly lighten our skin while we're at it, I won't open up that can of bees for now.)

I've dealt with this personally, as growing up I was very thin and thought I looked great, but boys and other black girls at school would mock me for it. Then toward the end of college I gained a few pounds, and suddenly all the black men were telling me how awesome I looked, while I couldn't (and still can't) stand looking in the mirror or attempting to shop or get dressed with the extra weight.

When it comes to weight as a black woman, for me it seems like a choice between being thin and looking good to myself but lame to men, or carrying some extra weight and hating myself, but apparently being hot. I've yet to find the happy medium, and I suspect a lot of us are being pulled in two directions like this.
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roodles
03/18/09

@escapefromny: I could have wrote this! I had the same experience growing up except I'm still waiting to put on a few pounds, knowing that when I do it will go directly to that area under my belly button...urgh
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Eric Northman is mine
03/18/09

@joiful: hmmm, but what about the class factor? Think of the black girls who grew up in a predominantly white community, went to predominantly white school. I would think the would experience the same pressure/media and societal influence and majority opinion would still affect them. Afterall, how do you think black/thick is beautiful if no one is reinforcing that opinion.
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Grim Reaper of the Forest
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
That sort of looks like a Pacman version of Obama.

And Russians are obviously racist with all their White Russian cocktails they are always pushing.
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Moloko
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
I feel terrible but...

"The dog then appeared to lose interest and walked out of view of the camera" might be the funniest thing I've ever read pertaining to bestiality.

Also the files were in the recycle bin!
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vamusical
03/18/09

@VivianDarkbloom: I'm going to put myself in this lady's shoes for a minute. If I knew that at some point in my life I had done dirty things with an animal, and at least SUSPECTED it could have been caught on tape, and that my ex liked dirty porn, I would not call in the cops to search his computer. But then, considering this is a lady who tried to have sex with a dog... I'm thinking we may not have a lot in common in the thought process department.
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JessicaLovejoy: Laughing, riding, cornholing!
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
So how do we feel about this:

On one hand, it's fucking fried chicken. On the other, do Germans even really know about that stereotype? Also, there's the cannibal aspect. It's okay to want to nom the president, but actual biting is a NO NO.
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bowleserised
03/18/09

@JessicaLovejoy: Laughing, riding, cornholing!: Spiegel Online talked to the company and NO they didn't know about the stereotype. Most Germans and I'd dare say most Europeans wouldn't (I didn't know till I learned it during the election. We have other offensive stereotypes). They're just excited and like Obama.

Shortly after Obama became president I was listening to a phone-in on the World Service. People from every continent of the planet phoned in and were saying "Obama needs to sort out this in my country" "Obama needs to sort out our politicians too". That would have been UNTHINKABLE under Bush.
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JerseyGrrrl
03/18/09

@bowleserised: I'm just so full of questions, not least of which is: Is that the Golden Gate bridge on the box and why?
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bowleserised
03/18/09

@JerseyGrrrl: Because it's in America, like the Eiffel Tower is in France and the Tower of Pisa is in Italy and St Basil's is in Russia and the Sydney Opera House is in Australia and and and.

No more percision required by the designer to convey this!

But yeah, we were all confused too.

[www.hungryinberlin.com]
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rocknrollunicorn
03/18/09

@JessicaLovejoy: Laughing, riding, cornholing!: But they're great with curry dip!

If it weren't for the fried chicken angle, I would definitely see this as simply over-Obamafication. File this under "suspect."
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bowleserised
03/18/09

@bowleserised: Here's the Spiegel linky:

[www.spiegel.de]

"We noticed that American products and the American way of eating are trendy at the moment," Judith Witting, sales manager for Sprehe, told SPIEGEL ONLINE. "Americans are more relaxed. Not like us stiff Germans, like (Chancellor Angela) Merkel."

The idea, she claimed, was to get in on the Obama-mania which is continuing to grip Germany. The word "fingers" in the name refers to the fact that it is a finger food. "It's like hotdogs," Witting said. "No one would ever think they are actually from dogs."

For Americans in Germany, though, there is a risk that the product might be seen as racially insensitive. Fried chicken has long been associated with African-Americans in the US -- naming strips of fried chicken after the first black president could cause some furrowing of brows.

Witting told SPIEGEL ONLINE the connection never even occurred to her. "It was supposed to be a homage to the American lifestyle and the new US president," she said.

It's because they like you! It's a nice thing, after the Bush years.
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bowleserised
03/18/09

@rocknrollunicorn: *sigh* It's not suspect. Fried chicken does not = giant black stereotype all around the world. It's an American association. Doesn't fly everywhere.
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rocknrollunicorn
03/18/09

@bowleserised: ok, the comment about hot dogs makes me want to hug Germans. I mean what an adorable comparison.

btw, given all the press Merkel's cleavage got, I cannot believe they are calling her uptight.
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rocknrollunicorn
03/18/09

@bowleserised: Sorry, I was typing my comment before yours appeared.
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bowleserised
03/18/09

@rocknrollunicorn: And me mine, I think! I'm amused by the curry sauce, because I'm pretty sure that has nothing to do with the US and everything to do with the fact that people here like curry sauce on their wurst. Should've been barbecue, but maybe that wouldn't have been so popular!

@JerseyGrrrl: I'm just glad they don't adore Gordon Brown. What "traditional British dish" would they have chosen to deep fry and illustrate with a shot of Buckingham Palace? Haggis? Faggots? Black pudding?
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gherkinfiend
03/18/09

@bowleserised: There is a fried chicken place near me in south London called Kennedy Fried Chicken with a chicken dressed up as the Statue of Liberty as the logo...
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bowleserised
03/18/09

@gherkinfiend: Ha! I'd seen "Tennessee Fried Chicken" and "Halal Fried Chicken" but not Kennedy. It'd be a great photo project to find a "XX Fried Chicken" joint dedicated to each individual state.
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MizJenkins
03/18/09

@JerseyGrrrl: And why curry dip???
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bowleserised
03/18/09

@MizJenkins: I think it's more to do with local tastes than some kind of projection of Americanness:

[www.thelocal.de]
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Pomonarona
03/18/09

@JessicaLovejoy: Laughing, riding, cornholing!: All I can think of when I hear "Obama Fingers" is "meat sticks" from "You Suck at Photoshop." Not appetizing...

But it's almost always hilarious when German companies try to market (what they think are) American foods... My favorite is pizza with corn on it. Just like at the corner pizza place! Right?!
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bowleserised
03/18/09

@Pomonarona: This one is a favourite. Again, probably not aware of the finer politics of the words:

[www.hungryinberlin.com]
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Eric Northman is mine
03/18/09

@JessicaLovejoy: Laughing, riding, cornholing!: Don't Germans or is it Austrians eat Schnitzel? Americans/Black people don't have a monopoly on breaded, deep fried foods you know.
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MizJenkins
03/18/09

@bowleserised: I find this kind of hysterical...the Germans are right up their with the Japanese in their off-the-mark attempts to imitate American culture. Also, black socks.
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carolinajewslim
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
umm, I really wouldn't congratulate Mukhtar Mai on her marriage since it looks like there was a lot of coercion involved and I'm doubting they do prenups so the money the Pakistani government awarded her is probably her husband's now...And also no idea what will happen to the Mukhtar Mai Women's Welfare organization. Will her husband allow her to continue working?
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Little Time Bomb
03/18/09

@carolinajewslim: I got the same vibe reading her story.
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Trilby O'Ferrall
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
True Confessions: I'm black, and off/on semi-bulimic since I was 17. I'm in my 30s now. I don't binge though, it's just a way of not gaining weight when I go out to big dinners, catered occasions or on vacation. And I know more than a handful of black women who do what I do. It's not great for me, but I figure it's better than anorexia, full-on bulimia, smoking, drugs or binge drinking. I actually don't think there is anything wrong with it, and if not for the societal stigma, I would be more open.

Though I am glad to see that more studies are paying attention to body image issues in the black community.
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
03/18/09

@lawschoolmakesmecrazy: I actually don't think there is anything wrong with it

I'm a not-really-recovered bulimic and anorexic and honestly that societal "stigma" about bulimia is because it is incredibly harmful for your body. I've wrecked my teeth, fucked up my esophagus, had incredibly imbalanced potassium levels, and had bulimia contribute to my heart attack. And I did start out thinking it was off/on but that switch gets really hard to control.
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Trilby O'Ferrall
03/18/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit): I know that all of that can happen, but isn't it just with the bingeing/purging a lot? Like, if it's only a few times a month, do those side effects still factor in? The heart attack thing scares me. You're so young to have had a heart attack!

Are we allowed to talk about this here? I don't want to trigger people or anything. I know this issue is touchy.
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victoriasauce
03/18/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit): It is definitely harmful. I second this comment as a fellow not-really-recovered bulimic.
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
03/18/09

@lawschoolmakesmecrazy: Honestly, any given time you purge you have the potential to severely screw up your esophagus. I'm not trying to be all scary-mcscary but it can have serious consequences over a long period of time, even if it's not every day, every week, etc.

@maude_flanders: Anorexia since 11/12, bulimia since 16.
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
03/18/09

@lawschoolmakesmecrazy: Also, I would add that you don't need to binge for purging to be harmful. I have never once binged but the reflexive action of the bulimia was enough to cause grave harm.
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♥AntiSocialSocialite♥
03/18/09

@lawschoolmakesmecrazy: I so shocked (as a Black girl dealing with her own food issues) that EDs in the Black community are as prevalent as they are (though I know MANY Black girls dealing with them)..... no one talks about it AT ALL.
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MizJenkins
03/18/09

@lawschoolmakesmecrazy: Sorry, this showed up in the wrong place above:

Meh, I guess it's all relative. I don't think I digested a single meal between the ages of 16 and 24...every now and then I will still indulge under the same circumstances you described, I allow myself because 1) the frequency has gone way down - I'm talking two or three times a year, two or three times a month is still too much to be healthy and 2) the mentality has changed - every now and then I overeat to point of physical pain but it is always out of sheer joy and gluttony.

You've been dealing with this a long time, so you know if you're making progress and if you are good for you! But don't stop...keep going. Try to get down to never.
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BabyJane
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
Ugh! Kenley stop throwing cats and lady STOP DOING NASTY THINGS TO YOUR DOG!
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Eeva
03/18/09

@BabyJane: I just...I mean, what would possess anyone to...JESUS CHRIST, IT'S A DOG. A DOG. NOT A HUMAN. NO TOUCHIES! LEAVE HIS UNDERPANTS AREA ALONE! IF I COULD CAPITALIZE MY CAPS, I WOULD DO THAT.
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BabyJane
03/18/09

@Eeva: WTF!?! THIS IS MAKING ME GO ALL KANYE ON HER!!!!! I AM PHYSICALLY INCAPABLE OF TURNING OFF MY CAPS LOCK KEY!!! I AM, HOWEVER, LAUGHING AT THE REFERENCE TO THE DOG'S UNDERPANTS AREA!!!
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Eeva
03/18/09

@BabyJane: HEY! JUST BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WEAR UNDERPANTS DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT!!!! DOGS' PRIVATES ARE PRIVATES TOO!! I WONDER IF SHE LEFT THE FILES ON HER MACBOOK FUCKING AIR????
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Kivrin
03/18/09

@BabyJane: One time my dog woke up with a swollen face. I didn't know what was wrong -- infected tooth? bee sting? -- so I Googled the following three terms: dog face swollen.

The results were horrifying. HORRIFYING.

I do not get the people who mess with animals. Sick fucks. I hope they get mauled.
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Samanthrax
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
More young, female broadcasters... gee, I wonder why.
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Ultraprison!
03/18/09

@Samanthrax: shh, i'm an aspiring journalist, let me pretend it's because women want to see other women deliver the news and not because of creepy old men... shhh...
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Blueberrypie
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
In Toronto, there are battling Obama themed cafes on the same street.

[www.boingboing.net]
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HuckleberryFriend
03/18/09

@Blueberrypie: Ha! I love it!
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♥AntiSocialSocialite♥
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
I'm SO GLAD that people are talking about eating disorders as a problem that Black girls deal with - I know more than a handful of my friends are battling disorders that most people think don't even plague the Black community....

I have my own issues with food, so this subject seeing the light of day is timely.
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bowleserised
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
Given that in recent years, several black people have been slaughtered in the street in Russia just for being, well, black, this ad is a beacon of enlightenment.
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Rosaxé
03/18/09

@bowleserised: WTF? Are you serious? Are there like news articles or something you can direct me to?
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bowleserised
03/18/09

@Rosaxe: [news.bbc.co.uk]
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Sarasvati49
03/18/09

@bowleserised: References, please?
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bowleserised
03/19/09

@Sarasvati49: I added them in another post at 6.40pm Wednesday. I'm not a kneejerk anti-Russian making stuff up. Follow the link.
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bowleserised
03/19/09

@Sarasvati49: Here it is again in case for some reason it didn't show up last night:

[news.bbc.co.uk]
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Sarasvati49
03/18/09

In reply to Russians Use Obama, Stupidity To Sell Ice Cream • Black Girls More Likely To Suffer From Bulimia
Oh, and I ain't throwing up for nobody over a few pounds...
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
03/18/09

@Sarasvati49: Wait, what? Please explain. I hope you don't think bulimia is just about throwing up.
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Elopingthemilieu
03/18/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit): Rather, I hope you don't think bulimia is just about losing a few pounds. *headdesk*
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
03/18/09

@Elopingthemilieu: Well, yes of course. But people get hooked on the fact that "OMG PEOPLE PUKE EWWWWWWWWWWW!" more than "holy crap, this is an actual illness."
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Rosaxé
03/18/09

@Sarasvati49: I used to be bulimic, and it wasn;t for anyone, and it wasn;t to lose a few pounds.
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MizJenkins
03/18/09

@Rosaxe: It's interesting though, how this is by and large the response from the Black community. Which I guess is why it isn't being checked.
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