: : :
: : : : Hugs,

: : : : Chiara

: : : Good points, m'dear. I've got to grab my soapbox on this one.
: : : Something to keep in mind with all this "sleeking and buffing up"
: : : is that people tend to look heavier on TV than they actually are.
: : : Which means that for whatever weight/look producers want for an actor, they actually have to weigh even less. That's always been my understanding, and the times I've met 'TV people' I've always been struck by how SKINNY they look!
: : : Another thing. Although I think Rachel is the more attractive of the 2 Lost World Ladies (is that a trademark? :)), I'd push someone down to be in the shape either of them are! Leave Jennifer alone. She looks fine.
: : : I could easily go on about the effect of the popular media on the body images of young girls, what percentage of pre-teen girls are on diets, la la la, but I shall stop. (scrape, shove) I'll push my soapbox back into it's corner now!

: : : Take care,
: : : Janet

: : : The body image "thing" is a pet peeve of mine as well. The pressure is incredible for women (who statistcally are the highest percentage of anorexics, bulimics, etc.) We need to protest it whenever the occasion arises (by "we" I mean men and women). Incidently, these eating disorders are on the rise for men as well. I apologise for my "vehemency" but frankly this "skinny" look thing is a product primarily of the US and advertising industry. I enjoy the British sitcoms a lot, especially the actors/actresses they use (normal people -- I don't mind the occasional "stick" because it's not an image choice, more a character choice). Love, T

: HEAR, HEAR!!!! I sign every word you said and one cannot be vehement enough about it, Theresa!

: Chiara

: Incidentally it crossed my mind that someone out there might think I'm not as trim as I might be and therefore take particular pleasure in this SOAPBOX. For the record, I'm fine and by that I mean average -- I have elected to maintain my sanity rather than enter the growing number of celebrity images, Calista Flockhart, Courtney Cox, Helen Hunt, etc. in their race to see who can win the "now you see me, now you don't" beauty contest. There are two marvelous books -- Reviving Ophelia and Pretty Girls in Little Boxes -- that have some real-life, pathetic stories about the state of looks and young womanhood. Also, there have been several recent news articles and tv specials about girls as young as SEVEN!! catching the anorexia train. Okay, I've probably said more than enough...Sorry :( This topic is dear to my heart -- as a woman and having raised a daughter.

Theresa

PS For the record, I don't believe the Hollywood suits give a damn about anorexia or any other eating disorder they've helped to create...nor the brainless advertisers from almost every major advertising firm around (in the US -- I'm not sure about foreign firms although it's a multinational world so perhaps there's no exclusive US firm anymore...)