The Daily Mail reports that men with a sense of humor are more likely to be seen as intelligent, more honest, and better material for a relationship or friendship. In order to arrive at this conclusion, Psychologist Kristofor McCarty asked 45 women the personalities behind a series of personal ads, some of which were funny and some of which were simply factual. Although the descriptions contained no information about the man's IQ, women were more likely to rate the humorous ad-writers as smart and trustworthy.

McCarty presented his research at the British Psychological Society's annual conference. McCarty said that there is a "kind of halo effect. The funny guys appear to be getting everything," which they use to their advantage. "For a man that doesn't look like Brad Pitt, it gives them a bit of hope," he said.

This sounds fairly reasonable, except then we get to the evolutionary bit:

It is thought women equate wit with brains - perceiving funny men as good providers and good father material.

Mr McCarty said: "From an evolutionary point of view the reason a woman wants to look for a humorous guy is because it is a sign of intelligence and intelligence gives a man the ability to provide resources for their children and survive rather than falling down a trap and dying."

Of course, babies had to be involved in some way. Women couldn't just prefer the more humorous personal ads because they seemed like better partners, or more fun. Ugh.

The Daily Mail also points out that society does not extend such benevolent feelings to funny ladies. McCarty does not think that men are out there combing through the personal ads for the wittiest partner available; "When a man says he would like a woman with a good sense of humor, he really means one that will laugh at his jokes," he said.

Who Gets The Girl? Funny Men Have The Last Laugh [Daily Mail]

NPR's Michelle Martin discusses the problems military moms face with a panel of three women who have dealt with them firsthand. She asks them about the recent case of Lisa Pagan, the mother who brought along her children when she reported for duty. Pagan received an honorable discharge after arguing that she was unable to be deployed abroad due to her responsibilities to her family. Surprisingly, all three of the women disapprove - to varying extents - of Pagan's choice.

"When you are a military parent, you have to have that a plan B of who is going to take care of my child when I deploy, because it's not a matter of if you will deploy, but when you will deploy," says Lt. Carey Lohrenz. She goes on to remind us that military dads face the same problems, and it is the job of both the parents and the military to figure out an adequate system of childcare: "Military parents need affordable, dependable childcare when children are young... All service members across the board require more family support services. It is not just the women."

Lt. Linda Maloney agrees that it is the responsibility of the military to "support [enlisted parents] and the family members that are left behind." While she believes that Pagan should have better planned for the possibility of being called for duty, she also would like to see the military rethink the way they deal with mothers on duty.

Pilar Arteaga, a petty officer first class in the Navy, is a single mother, which makes her situation somewhat different. Her pregnancy was unexpected, which only made it more difficult to deal with the challenges of military life. For her, the biggest issue of being a woman in the navy is the constant struggle to "prove yourself" to the men. She feels that the "single parent card" is played far too frequently, and that women like Pagan end up making military moms look bad.

Ultimately, Lt. Lohrenz calls for the military to educate continuously: "It goes back once again to being a leadership challenge...not just a one time, one lecture initiative, but ongoing training to help prevent unplanned pregnancies... I think it is leadership, leadership, leadership."

'For Family, For Country': Military Moms Do It All [NPR]
NC Mom Recalled To Army Duty Will Be Discharged [ABC]

On March 4th, a medical team from Recife, Brazil, performed an abortion on a 9-year-old girl. She was pregnant with twins after being raped, allegedly by her stepfather. Police say that the abuse had been going on since she was 6. Abortion is illegal under Brazilian law, but it is possible to get a judge's approval in cases of rape or when the mother's life is in danger, both of which applied in this case. The girl's doctors, her family, and the court were all in agreement that this was the safest way to deal with the pregnancy. The Catholic Church disagreed.

Archbishop Don Jose Cardoso Sobrinho (seen above left) swiftly excommunicated the entire medical team, along with the the girl's mother. Church law exempts minors from excommunication, so the girl was not included in the blanket condemnation of the medical procedure. They also chose not to excommunicate the stepfather. Sobrinho told Globo TV that "A graver act than (rape) is abortion, to eliminate an innocent life." As Hortense mentioned over the weekend, a senior Vatican official has spoken out in support of Sobrinho's actions, and said: "Life must always be protected, and the attack on the Brazilian Church is unjustified."

The Church's decision has sparked an international debate on the ethics of abortion, and inspired a great deal of criticism of the Catholic Church. The Brazilian Minister of Health, Jose Gomes Temporao, publicly acknowledged the work of the medical team that performed the abortion at a national convention on women's health. He called their work "brilliant," and argued that doctors must put law before religion: "The question posed is very simple. There is a Brazilian law which states that a pregnancy can be interrupted in case of rape. It is legitimate for the church to have its dogmas, but these dogmas must not be imposed on society as a whole." President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has also spoken out against the excommunications. "In this case, the medical profession was more right than the church," he said.

Some are even arguing that the Church's position on abortion is losing it followers, and weakening their message. Beatriz Galli, the policy associate for Ipas Brasil, an NGO that works for women's rights, said: "In this case, most people support the doctors and the family. Everything they did was legal and correct... But the Church takes these positions that are so rigid that it ends up weakened. It is very intolerant, and that intolerance is going to scare off more and more followers." In the past few years, Brazilian devotion to the Catholic Church has already begun to decline. This trend is also visible in America, where the young adults are steadily becoming increasingly less religious than their elders. Dr. Olimpio Moraes, who was involved with the pregnancy termination procedure on the 9 year old girl, says he is thankful that the archbishop excommunicated him because the resulting controversy will draw attention to Brazil's restrictive abortion laws. He hopes that the public outrage over this girl's case will lead to greater reproductive freedom for Brazilian women, who are "victimized by Brazil's ban on abortion." This is tragically true: out of the 1 million women to undergo illegal abortions in Brazil each year, 250,000 need further treatment for complications resulting from botched back alley abortions.

Excommunicated Doctor Hailed For Abortion On Child Rape Victim [CNN]
Nine-Year-Old's Abortion Outrages Brazil's Catholic Church [Time]

Related: The Young And The Godless [Andrew Sullivan]

Earlier: "She Is Very Small. Her Uterus Doesn't Have The Ability To Hold One, Let Alone Two Children.", Vatican Defends Brazilian Catholic Church After Excommunication Of Mother Of 9 Year Old Rape Victim

Theobald uses anecdotal evidence to support her argument that in today’s pink princess Barbie doll culture, the tomboy is on the decline. She has a difficult time finding a tomboy to interview for her article, and takes this as a sign that tomboys have generally gone out of fashion. However, while her methods are rather unscientific, Theobald does make a good point about the marketing of sexy to young girls:

Alarmingly, when it comes to the box office, it seems that semi-sexualising girls is still the only way ahead. Take Disney's revamped Famous Five cartoon, Famous 5: On the Case. Jo, the daughter of George, seems forced to wear figure-hugging girl versions of boy clothes (no tomboy worth her salt would ever wear figure-hugging clothes). And what of poor Dora the Explorer? Nickelodeon recently redesigned the Dora doll to make her more "feminine" (read "profitable"). Instead of being equipped with tools, map and backpack, her new accessories include halter-tops, tiaras and glittery hairbrushes.

Theobald hits on a disturbing trend that we’ve discussed before. Girls are marketed pink everything, sparkly everything, princess everything. In a world where being pretty is the best compliment a young girl can receive, it is hard to be a tomboy. In many ways, Theobald is right; tomboys have been “medicalised,” as has gender-bending in general. Children are now (and have always been) encouraged to conform to strict gender roles usually based on their biological sex. But that doesn’t mean that they always do.

Growing up, both my sister and I were tomboys, which is probably due in part to the fact that we have two very boyish brothers and parents who bought us mostly gender-neutral toys (we had tons of Legos). Working with kids, I see a lot of 21st century tomboys. They’re out there, even if they are not as celebrated by the media as they once were. Tomboys (and “sissies”) are everywhere, and their continued presence can hopefully help redefine what traits are actually “boyish” “girlish” or just human.

Hurrah for Tomboys! [Guardian]

She notes the duplicity of the McCains and the Edwardses, who like to paint their marriages as perfect partnerships, while the reality is long periods of separation and callousness or infidelity. The obvious solution, as Henneberger explains, is for Americans to "stop forcing [politicians] to present these phony tableaux," but I think that's not going to be possible for a good long while.

I mean, many people don't want to vote for Obama because they believe he's not a Christian — would these same, narrow-minded folks be willing to vote for a candidate whose personal life did not even attempt to exemplify "Christian" values? This presidential election has a lot of breakthroughs, the first black candidate, the second female candidate, but all four of the candidates are Christian, married, and have children. Sure, McCain has been divorced, but he quickly reconstructed a nuclear family. Like Alec Baldwin's character said in The Departed, "Marriage is an important part of getting ahead: lets people know you're not a homo; married guy seems more stable; people see the ring, they think at least somebody can stand the son of a bitch."

Henneberger thinks that by trying to debunk their "perfect" veneer, the Obamas are handling the scrutiny in the best way possible. Barack has debunked it "by writing very honestly about times in their marriage when they were barely speaking, and [Michelle] by telling us over and over that putting people on pedestals is always dangerous, for all concerned."

With our 24-hour news cycle, I can only imagine that the scrutiny political couples face will get worse, not better, and that's compounded by the fact that a political marriage is far more stressful to begin with than the average union. The sheer enormity of a high political office leaves precious little time to pick up your kids from soccer practice, as Henneberger points out. I can't imagine signing up for this sort of life, either as the candidate or the spouse.

… Or For Worse [Slate]

Related: Political Sex Scandals: Obama, McCain & Palin [Huffington Post]

[NYMag, Yahoo, People]

2 tuna steaks, about half a pound each: $8.99
peanut oil: $5.49
finely minced ginger: $2.99
8 slices ciabatta: $3.99
extra virgin olive oil: $6.79
black pepper $1.49
arugula: $1.49
Veganaise: $3.99
soy sauce: $2.19
roasted sesame oil: $5.99

Total: $43.40, serves four, so $10.85 per person.

To Gwyneth's credit, this is the cost if one were starting from scratch and had none of these ingredients on hand. However, did she have to use arugula, that evil salad fixing of the elite?

[Reuters]

Earlier: Gwyneth Paltrow's New Website: Let Them Eat Macrobiotic Rice

[People, Perez, People]

Leachman also discusses being a lady of a certain age on a show with physical demands. "I think my back’s sore down low," she says. "I hurt my rib. I have pads in my shoes for my bunion. I have a shot in my knee for my bad knee. I have high blood pressure. Very bad osteoporosis. And asthma. But I’m talking pills for everything so everything is fine."

None of this will stop Leachman from joining Brad Pitt on the new Quentin Tarantino film, Inglourious Basterds and being grand marshal of the Rose Parade after her Dancing stint is done. Plus, she has a book coming out in the spring. But she tells Wyatt she doesn't really know why she has so much support among fans. "I am from Des Moines, Iowa, not even the city but out in the country. I don’t have a lot of trappings, I think, in my personality. I’m just a simple person, with a silly bone."

High-Kicking Her Way to a Renaissance at 82 [NY Times]

Earlier: Cloris Leachman Roasts Bob Saget
Dancing With The Stars: Cloris Leachman Is Limber & Lovably Looney

He hosted his own show, Mr. Blackwell Presents, in 1968, and called himself "the worst bitch in the world." Reports the AP:

During his heyday the issuing of Blackwell's annual list was an eagerly anticipated media event. On the second Tuesday in January he would assemble reporters at his mansion for a lavish breakfast before making a dramatic entrance for the television cameras. By the turning of the millennium, however, the list had lost its juice and Blackwell took to issuing it by e-mail.

Mr. Blackwell ushered in an era for "Fashion Police" spreads in magazines and, later, blogs like Perez Hilton and Go Fug Yourself. His snippy take-downs and no-one-is-sacred attitude (he once had Diana, Princess of Wales on the list) would have been perfect for blogging. A few examples:

Ann Margret: "A Hells Angel escapee who invaded the Ziegfeld Follies on a rainy night."

Camilla Parker-Bowles: "The Duchess of Dowdy."

Bjork: "She dances in the dark — and dresses there, too."

Madonna: "The Bare-Bottomed Bore of Babylon."

Barbra Streisand: "She looks like a masculine Bride of Frankenstein."

Christina Aguilera: "A dazzling singer who puts good taste through the wardrobe wringer."

Meryl Streep: "She looks like a gypsy abandoned by a caravan."

Sharon Stone: "An over-the-hill Cruella DeVille."

Lindsay Lohan: "From adorable to deplorable."

Mr. Blackwell hinted that he had mixed feelings about being mean: "The list is and was a satirical look at the fashion flops of the year," he said in 1998. "I merely said out loud what others were whispering. It's not my intention to hurt the feelings of these people. It's to put down the clothing they're wearing."

Fashion Critic Mr. Blackwell Dies at 86 [NY Times]
'Worst dressed' critic Mr. Blackwell dies [CNN]

Michelle talks about specifics, always turning back to hard facts and Barack's policy:

We've talked to mothers whose salaries can't cover the cost of groceries—but if they take a second job, they can't afford the additional cost of child care. More than 22 million working women don't have paid sick days. Millions of women are doing the same jobs as men—but they're earning less…The struggles of America's families aren't new to Barack. He was raised by a single mom who put herself through school and built a career that she loved while still finding time to read to him each morning. So, he knows how heroic America's parents can be. That's why he is committed to restoring the middle class, cutting taxes for 95 percent of all working Americans, establishing pay equity for women, and expanding family leave. He also knows that when our military goes to war, their families go with them. He's a strong advocate for predictable deployments and for better healthcare—including mental health care—for returning servicemen and women.

Cindy, on the other hand, goes for more ethereal rhetoric, and rarely refers to her husband's plans:

Opportunities to serve do not end at our borders, and I'll champion those working to create brighter futures for people lacking the many blessings we enjoy in America. I look forward to traveling abroad with groups that are engaged in efforts to reduce disease, repair war-torn countries, and alleviate extreme poverty. To take one example, millions around the world today—and especially pregnant women and children—suffer from easily preventable nutritional deficiencies. I'll work with the private sector and with our citizenry to help fix this. We know how to alleviate these problems. It is only a matter of resources and will. America, abundant in both, can tackle such problems, and I will welcome to the White House workers and donors taking on such great challenges.

Obviously I am outlandishly biased, but to me it was striking that Cindy would write such an essay when our country is in such dire economic straits. She does not once mention the economy in her essay, and like her husband, she doesn't go near the phrase "middle class." Yes, volunteering abroad and helping war torn countries and children with cleft palates is important, but the opportunity to do so is not something the average American will ever encounter. I do think that the scrutiny of first ladies in the modern political world is out of line, as your marriage is not necessarily reflective of your ability to govern a nation, but Cindy is so out of touch with the struggles of everyday citizens that it's impossible not to notice.

Cindy McCain: As John’s First Lady, I Would Help Find Opportunities for People to Serve [US News & World Report]
As Barack’s First Lady, I Would Work to Help Working Families and Military Families [US News & World Report]

A blog post by Suzanne Muusers, a business coach, is quoted as saying Orman "personally benefits from fear mongering, and that is not what we need right now," and that Orman and others "live off selling magazines and television shows that spew irresponsible viewpoints." Orman's brand manager/ partner, Kathy Travis, says to the Journal that they turn down many of the endorsement deals that Orman is offered, particularly with banks because it could be a conflict of interest. "We have been approached by everyone — ING, Wells Fargo and HSBC. They are great companies, but in the best interest of Suze, we have a blanket rule: no banking endorsements."

For her part, Suze says fuck the haters. "There are always these people who want to attack me no matter what I do," the jacket-loving Orman tells the Journal. And speaking of Suze and her bedazzled outerwear, here's a clip from SNL of Kristen Wiig impersonating Suze and her money-saving tips for women (and if the promos are any indication, Wiig will be reprising the role this Saturday). If maxi pads are getting too expensive, fake-Orman says, you should make your own. "Buy a 24-pack of baby socks and some double sided tape," she advises, and remember, in life,"It's people, then money, then things, then homemade maxi pads."

Crisis Makes Suze Orman a Star [WSJ — sub. req.]

Earlier: The American Economic Downturn Is Tough On Jane Winebox

The toll of these responsibilities is echoed by a report released last week by The Center for American Progress about women in poverty. You can read the entire report here, but blogger Feminist Finance pulled out most of the pertinent details: women are still paid less than men, even when they have the same qualifications and hours; occupations dominated by women are low paid; women spend more time providing unpaid caregiving than men; and women are more likely to bear the cost of raising children.

John McCain spent a lot of time discussing the plight of small business owner Joe Wurzelbacher, so let's talk about Joe. It does not surprise me that the new poster child for the McCain campaign is white, male, middle American, and middle class. So maybe Senator McCain cares deeply about Joe the Plumber owning his own business, but he doesn't seem to care particularly for women getting equal pay. Barack Obama brought up Lilly Ledbetter, the Goodyear Tire employee who was systematically getting paid far less than her coworkers because of her gender. Senator Obama voted in favor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act when it came through the Senate. Mr. McCain didn't even show up to vote. In all of McCain's rhetoric last night, there was barely a mention of the American woman — unless he was talking about his deep pro-life convictions or mothering children with autism.

The Worry Factor [Newsweek]
Women In Poverty [Feminist Finance]
The Straight Facts on Women in Poverty [American Progress]

Earlier: Meet Lilly Ledbetter. She's A Good Reason To Vote Against John McCain