Have you ever been in a Roller Derby rink? I have, and it's fucking terrifying. I lasted two minutes into tryouts before I sidelined myself for being a big baby who was more interested in eating hot dogs and gossiping. So anyway, all the props in the world to the ladies who get out there and circle that big-ass,…

A few weeks ago, I unloaded about female "fitness" and how our bodies' function as tools has gotten lost in a quest to be thin. Readers responded with their own stories, and what awesome stories they are.

• Today in irony: Nadya Suleman — she of the eight babies — is being paid by PETA to advertise their spay and neuter campaign on her front door.

"While four years ago roller derby was virtually unheard of in Britain, there are now more than 24 established teams, and more are starting up all the time." [Guardian]

How's Drew Barrymore's directorial debut? Well, some critics say it's a bit slow and predictable. However, all agree that despite its faults, the rollerderby film is "unreasonably entertaining" and more intelligent and empowering than most films marketed to women.

The awesome Zoë Bell (Death Proof, Whip It) explains how to fake-clothesline someone while on rollerskates in the October issue of Wired. Illustration number 4 does not look fun. (Click to enlarge.)

[Toronto, September 13. Image via Getty]

Meet Beth Hollis, a 53-year-old reference librarian from Ohio who leads a double life as the kick-ass roller derby player MegaBeth, "which is kind of a play on MegaDeath... I like the Mega too, it insinuates power." [CNN]

Whip It, the roller derby flick that marks Drew Barrymore's directorial debut and stars Ellen Page, looks like fun. It also looks very familiar. We broke down the trailer, frame by frame, to find out why.

"We use the word 'empowering' a lot, because that's how most of us feel… As athletes, we have redefined a sport on our terms, not just a female version of a male sport." [Seattle Examiner]