Should we really be offended by Matt Taylor's shirt?

Dr. Matt Taylor got famous as the project scientist who helped land a robotic probe on a comet last week. But he also got infamous for wearing a kinky shirt while giving progress report on the Rosetta mission. The purple shirt, including images of semi-naked women, was considered tacky, offensive and sexist by many, not only among fellow scientists.

Taylor gave an apology for his "big mistake" and cried in front of the cameras two days later, this time wearing a plain, navy blue hoodie.
Stating that a shirt is anti-feminist means entering a risky territory. I'm proud to be a feminist but I have to admit I wasn't offended by Taylor's shirt. I didn't feel like those images were threatening. Don't get me wrong as I'm well aware those blond badass girls represent just one of the many femininity types. While looking at them we're obviously more focused on their appearance rather than their inner qualities. But, again, it's just a shirt (designed by a woman, Elly Prizeman) and we seriously should be more concerned about movies posters and advertising campaigns photoshopping real women than about comic-like characters on a piece of clothing.
Some may say a shirt worn by the project scientist of an important space mission can't be just a garment. I certainly agree that such a clothing can be regarded as tasteless in a way, especially if you're wearing it during an official broadcasting like Taylor did. The scientist has tattooes covering most of his body and he decided to wear something definitely not traditional and geeky, in line with what I assume to be his personality. I really don't think he was trying to use his celebrity to convey a political or sexist message or make a statement about how science world considers women. If we blame him for such a thing, then why not doing the same and ban, for example, the people (men AND women) showing pin-up girls tattooes from important positions? Because it would be extremely discriminatory, that's why.
Many said Taylor was forced to apology, and if so, it would be really sad. Just as sad as some of the comments I've read on the Internet in defense of that shirt. The scientist's fashion choice is often supported by people (and I have to admit there are also women among them, bitterly) through an alarming anti-feminist attitude. Just have a look here and here. Ridiculing feminists protest claiming the right of wearing what they want like this issue was less reasonable than defending a scientist draped in hot women gives me the creeps. The misconception of feminism like a gender war is still too deep-rooted and needs to stop. The very core idea of feminism is equal rights and opportunities for both genders and this equality should be perceived even in ordinary things, like deciding freely what to wear. And this goes both ways.
It's 2014, folks. We can land on a comet, but we can't dress the way we want to without causing an uproar. Now that's outrageous.

#SELFIE directed by

I was waiting for the tube at King's Cross the first time I said the word 'selfie' out loud. It was August of 2013 and selfie was ready to become a thing. My friend and I were trying, and possibly failing, to take a picture of us when a blond guy asked if he could help. I laughed and thanked him, but no: 'It's called selfie for a reason.'
I've never imagined back then that 'selfie' would be The Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2013. Now, selfie is kind of a mania. Either we're having a great time, a bad time or simply a meh time, we feel the urge of turning our moments into shots to post on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or wherever we can get a bunch of likes and some sympathy.
So one day I came up with this unusual idea of combining selfies and cinema. I was making fun of a friend totally psyched about viral videos and stuff, but he actually liked it and there you go. We chose 7 directors among the most iconic of contemporary cinematography (from Quentin Tarantino to Wes Anderson, via Woody Allen and David Lynch) and imagined what a selfie directed by them would look like.
Enjoy!

Channel4 Utopia cancelled, is the Network to blame?

It's official. Channel4 has announced Utopia won't return for a 3rd season.

The dystopian drama created by Dennis Kelly which got us glued to the couch has been cancelled due to low ratings. This is insane as it's hard to imagine a person not becoming enthusiast about Utopia after watching the first episode.
Here's my reactions, in this order.

I immediately blamed The Network for this. That would be its perfect final conspiracy, just think about it. But this is real and the only network to blame is Channel4. 

A Wilson Wilson picture posted on the Utopia official Facebook page confirmed this decision to the fans of the show.

'We are so sad to say goodbye, but we'll always have that spoon.'

Haha. We'll have that spoon, right. But we'll never learn more about Janus. We'll never find out if Pietre is going to save the day or if Wilson Wilson will be a better Mr. Rabbit than his charming predecessor Milner. But most important, we'll never know what happened to Jessica Hyde, Becky, Ian and Philip Carvel.

Well, at least not the British ones we got used to during the last two series.

Brace yourselves as a very unnecessary US remake is on its way. The American version of Utopia - directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, The Social Network and the dense political drama House of Cards) - is due to arrive on HBO in 2015. 

I've always been suspicious of US remakes of European movies or TV shows. Some are quite good, but most of them are just made to exploit another country successful ideas by adding Hollywood big money and names to impress. One for all, the American remake of the 2009 Swedish film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Speaking of remakes, I still have to take a look at Gracepoint, the US version of the British crime Broadchurch I loved to watch last year.

Back to Utopia, I'm not sure whether the US remake will be able to convey the same atmosphere as the original show, which had at least 5 strong points.

1. The plot can drive you crazy. I liked the fact that Janus, the project aiming for the sterilisation of the world in order to reduce population and consequently poverty, is presented like something horrible yet justifiable. Utopia is the perfect tapestry to reunite all the threads of several national, European and international conspiracies. The dystopic final design is made up of the worldwide known events and the almost unkown ones, both of them significant to understand the bigger pattern. I'm pretty sure Americans will add a little more 9/11 and JFK to the whole thing.

2. The photography is one of the marktrade of the British conspiracy thriller (season 2 premiere in 4:3 set in the 70s is a little masterpiece). The saturated, vivid landscapes almost seem a counterpart to the gloomy reality protagonists have to face.

3. There are three iconic elements in the C4 Utopia: the opening theme by Cristobal Tapia; the catchphrase of the show 'Where is Jessica Hyde?'; the particular technicolor yellow shade used for the opening credits and to emphasize details throughout the episodes known now as Utopia Yellow.

4. Jessica and the others of the gang makes a great team of characters. I can't even imagine other faces to embody the protagonists at this point. Not to mention their different accents. I'm sad thinking about the fact I'll never hear Paul Higgins's Michael Dugdale say "fuck" with his Scottish accent anymore.

5. Another Scot I'll miss is Rose Leslie. I've already declared my love for her and her Game of Thrones character Ygritte here. However, her portrayal of young Milner won me over for good. I hope they let her come back for the American Utopia on HBO, the same network as GoT.

I can't be anything but disappointed for this unexpected cancellation. No, I'm not psyched about HBO Utopia because Channel4 Utopia already had everything a good conspiracy thriller needs.

Trust no one. The Network can be watching us, but we're definitely not going to watch their network any time soon.

This Is The End: 5 Not-So-Serious Tips for Facing The Apocalypse and Other Serious Catastrophes

Summer can be boring. Boredom levels can dramatically increase if you're in the middle of a post vacation blues and forced to live in the post apocalyptic scenario of your small hometown. But movies can help. I've watched something like 7 movies in one day and a half not feeling guilty for a second. Alright, I was supposed to study, but is studying really an option when you can watch a catastrophic yet superfunny movie? No. That's what I thought when I decided to give This Is The End a go. 

This hilarious movie directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg involves a bunch of Hollywood actors playing exaggerated versions of themselves. While attending a party at James Franco's new supercool place, they have to face the apocalypse and try to survive. I watched it with my bestie and some guy friends who, although brave for dealing with hot weather while staying in town, are nothing like Rogen's gang, especially not like James Franco. Sorry, guys.

This Is The End seemed to be the best possible way to make my night better for two reasons: my love for a certain kind of wicked humor and for Emma Watson, who's among the partygoers at Franco's. I've never recovered from my Hermione phase, actually. Speaking of celebrity infatuation, I have a massive crush on Jay Baruchel which I'm still trying to cope with and it's all thanks to this movie (and a tiny bit because of How To Train Your Dragon, okay). 

Apart from the many, many celebrities you can spot here - from Mindy Kaling to a really unexpected Michael Cera - you shouldn't forget what this is all about. Apocalypse means demons, possessions and huge chasms in the ground. Not cool at all, isn't it? Just don't worry. This Is The End provides some really good tips everyone facing a supernatural catastrophe should bear in mind.

1. Have Fun

It can be the zombie invasion or Judgement Day. Whatever it is, there's a 99% chance you can do very little about it, so why don't you try to have fun in the meantime? Ok, I know not all of us are Hollywood stars and live in the same cool, crazy house as James Franco in the movie. However, I'm pretty sure we can find our own ways to crack up once we have dealt with the "we're all gonna die" thing.

Well, I would.

2. Try Not to Spend Your Last Days on Earth with Someone You Wouldn't Invite to a Party ...

... but if you do, be sure not to kick him or her out of the house unless you want your face to be eaten at any time later. And always check the bathtub.

3. Never Mess with a Girl Carrying an Axe

Emma Watson proves to be a badass and manages to survive, no magic involved this time. She shows up at Franco's to get some rest, but a misunderstanding with the guys upsets her so much she ends up threatening them with her axe. Come on, who wouldn't act like her in the same situation? She could've asked for an explanation, maybe. I was a bit surprised myself she didn't go for a "Errr, I'm afraid I might have overheard your conversation, could you possibly tell me what's happening here, please?", but this is the freaking apocalypse, mate. There's no time to be polite.

4. Hide Away Your Milky Way

Setting up a ration system for food and water supplies is a very democratic solution, but you might want to be a litte selfish and treat yourself. Let other people have the beef jerky and don't let them know there's one Milky Way left. Everyone's got their favorite treat for rainy days (mine are cinnamon rolls, in case you were wondering) and, seriously, is there a better time to yield to a delicious temptation than during a global catastrophe? This could be your last Milky Way EVER, just think about it.

5. Be Honest with Your Friends

Remember to be honest with your besties and don't keep secrets that may ruin your friendship (hiding your Milky Way is one little exception and is totally fine). In particular, if anyone knows one of your secrets in times of trouble, you can bet he or she will spill it as soon as possible to get rid of some survivalist pressure. And it could be really awkward. Telling the truth is something you should do all the time, but it's even more important in case of apocalypse. Your sins will find you one way or another, huh? I guess the end of the world isn't really a good time to prove this saying wrong.

A Funeral Eulogy For Ygritte

Ygritte, the wildling who knew everything

No matter how many characters George R.R. Martin has already killed so far, you will never ever get used to death in Game Of Thrones. I was just recovering from Oberyn's defeat (and I'm not ashamed to admit I turned away while watching the final moments of the combat) when another amount of dead bodies was put on screen to remind you life is fleeting, especially if you live in Westeros.

Let me say that when one of those corpses belongs to your favorite character it is just heartbreaking. You only want to sit on the couch eating cookies and ice-cream forever and pretend there will be no more episodes without him or her. That's exactly what happened to me with Ygritte. The Wildling portrayed by Rose Leslie had me at the very first "You know nothing, Jon Snow", this one I guess

I found her and Jon beyond cute together. They were my OTP or whatever you young people call this romantic shit. Despite my naivety and my romantic expectations (which I usually set very high, at least when it comes to TV shows) I've always been well aware of the fact that they weren't going anywhere. Ygritte and Jon didn't share the same cause to fight for. The first proud not to belong to anybody and ready to die to stay free, the latter a Crow, bearing a heavy burden of honor and responsibilities. Yet they loved each other, against all the differences, the hostility of other Wildlings and the Night's Watch Oath.

Now we all know Martin's got a thing with separating couples in the most horrible ways, so I was ready to cry my heart out like I did at the Red Wedding. And the big guy didn't disappoint me.

I'll never forget the look on Ygritte's face when Jon went away, heading to Castle Black and to his previous life as a Crow. Being abandoned should have sounded worse than death to a woman who's not afraid of being killed on the battlefield and yet got trust issues. She was definitely looking for revenge but she couldn't help being in love with Jon, so she didn't kill him when she had the chance.

Has Jon Snow been pretending all the time? I don't think so. Ygritte reminded him all he gave up when he joined the Night's Watch. I guess such a complete freedom scared him away, just like the possibility to be called a traitor by his fellows.

Did Jon Snow deserve Ygritte's arrows? Well, maybe a couple.

Don't you think such a moving yet a bit violent farewell between the two was enough? Well, Martin surely doesn't. I knew something really bad was on the way for the two of them especially since it seems that in GoT two lovers can be more or less happily back together after a separation only if they have the same family name. My fears turned into reality wandering on Tumblr, the most dangerous source of images you may not want to have a look at if you're an unconscious fan of an adapted-from-the-book TV show.

Ygritte and Jon last met during one of the most ferocious battles ever, the greatly anticipated fight between Wildlings and Crows at Castle Black. She was ready to kill him and finally prove to herself and her people she wasn't a weak woman in love with the enemy. She was almost there. And then Jon decided to smile at her. A smile which makes you wonder how in the Seven Kingdoms is possible to have such a perfect teeth bite when you've just got punched in your mouth by a crazy cannibal bald guy. Seriously.

I bet Ygritte was putting her bow down, I know that, but it was too late. That Olly kid who did nothing but shit his pants during the whole battle decided to kill her as his first target. Well done, Olly. Jon holding Ygritte for the very last time while all around them was fire and blood broke my heart.

Losing your favorite female character can be very distressing. I had found the perfect combination of humour, love and independence, all in one woman. Ygritte wasn't all about silk dresses, mean tricks and dictatorial attention-seeking decisions (sorry I'm not sorry, Daenerys). She was just honest and I will mourn her for long focusing all my hopes on Arya Stark, the two badass girls having in common a taste for revenge against injustice. Some may say I like female characters only if they act like men, but that's not the point. I root for girls who fight for what they believe in, no matter how they do it. Ygritte shot arrows and used the spear like a real warrior, yet her fighting skills have very little to do with the reasons why she's inspiring to me. Yes, she was with Jon Snow off and on-screen (which is definitely a bonus), but most of all she was (using the past tense here is killing me) passionate, self-aware and true. She lived as a free woman and that's something you shouldn't take for granted either in Westeros or elsewhere. And she died in a proper castle, not just a tower!

Ygritte, you will be missed.

You can mourn her (and many many others to come) here.

5 Reasons I Loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower (in the end)

The silverlinings of standing on the edge of life. I've always been curious about this book, especially when the movie was released. Since a few friends told me the novel is way better, I decided to read it before watching the film. Actually, I still have to watch it, but I do love Emma Watson. Despite my Hermione obsession, I wanted a book with no movie poster as a cover, which I usually don't like, exception made for Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox as the movie is by Wes Anderson and I adore him. However, I bought Stephen Chbosky's book in English, a British edition with a light blue paperboard cover.

I have to admit I kept my expectations very low because I thought I was about to read another sociopath teen novel about how everything can be rough and how love can save your life. And when I started reading, it was just like that. This guy, Charlie, well, he is kind of sociopath and awkward and strange and definitely an overthinker. The first half of the book gets you depressed to the core. You start getting annoyed by the incredible amount of different thoughts a 16 year-old guy can have about people and photographs of people and relationships with people. All you want to do is scream at this guy to get the girl and shut the fuck up because you're getting sad and you don't even know why. But if you were, you'd be missing the point. So no, I wouldn't say this is a Bathroom Book. It's more of a Train Book or an Airport Waiting Room Book.
The airport at night was just where I began to understand The Perks of Being a Wallflower and now I'm grateful to the people sleeping there and the silent people looking at those big screens and even to the people picking their noses thinking nobody saw them. Now I'm writing like Charlie does in his letters and I'm not sure this is good. So I'll cut it short. Here's the list of the 5 reasons I loved the book, at the very end.

1. Charlie is a positive guy. I'm truly sorry I misunderstood him in the first place. He always sees the best in others, even in people who don't deserve that. I'm kind of like that myself more than I used to be as a teen. I'm not saying people are all good and nobody will ever hurt you. I know it isn't an easy thing to do, but I try to understand others' behaviour and empathize with their reasons, even if they could be wrong. Understanding someone who's acting right is definitely easy, as easy as jabbing at them when they do very stupid things and I'm quite sure easy doesn't always mean fair.

2. Charlie loves his parents and does his best to let them know. I'm not a family person and I show very little affection to my parents. I guess this is normal when you argue all the time about silly and big things and there's a huge lack of communication. Anyway, I should be more understanding to my parents just as I try to be to people I don't know, as I said in the above point. I find myself thinking about death every now and then. I know this is pretty stupid now, but one day they'll be gone and when I think of that I feel really bad for all the times I made them feel sorry or sad or angry, especially for those times I could've tried to be nicer and I didn't.

3. Charlie loves his siblings. I'm an only child and I used to love it when I was a 4 year-old little bitch and I could have all the toys for me without sharing any, but now I don't. Plus, my family is quite small and we don't see each other very often, not even on national holidays. I'm scared of loneliness most of all yet I know one day I'll be my own family and I have to learn how to get by alone. That's something you will never worry about when you have a brother or a sister. Some time ago, a close friend of mine told me if she ever happens to be in trouble, she'll end up at her brother's. She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world and I felt a bit sorry for myself because I'll never know what this really means. I guess friends are kind of a family to us, poor only children, so I do hope one or two of them will save a spare room above the garage for me, like Chandler and Monica did with Joey in Friends. You know, just in case.

4. Charlie is special, but he doesn't know he is until Bill tells him. The novel is all about the everyone-is-special-in-their-own-way thing. I guess this could be true, except for some people who could be erased from the world and make it a better place to live in. Well, I don't hate anyone that much, actually, because hate takes too much energy and I don't have such a big supply. Back to the point, I'm pretty sure nobody knows they're special until someone says they are and makes them aware of that. Being special is something you cannot be by yourself. You need another person to let you know you're better than the ordinary crap surrounding you and when it happens, it is just great.

5. Charlie lives in the 90s. The novel is set between 1991 and 1992. Chbosky's 90s smell like sweaty band tees, cheap alcohol and burnt tyres. I have to say I loved reading of those times when people made mixed tapes, only used home phones and desperation was handwritten. I tried to picture what being a wallflower would be in the 2010s and the scenario is kind of pathetic rather than poetic. Charlie would have spent his days on Sam's Facebook and Instagram. There wouldn't have been any of those dramatic waits for a phone call from one of his friends because he could have used Whatsapp straight away. I bet he wouldn't have read all those books Bill gave him because he would have been too busy tweeting his feelings out and it's a shame, because that way Bill wouldn't have found out Charlie was special and neither would have Charlie himself. So, best time setting, cultural and musical references ever.

My HIMYM Finale

I need to write something about it.

I waited for hours for the finale of all finales to start yesterday. As I don't live in the US, it wasn't that easy to watch it with the rest of the world. I had an eye on Jeopardy! in the meantime and thanks to a countless number of ads I know exactly who's the democratic candidate you should vote for in Pennsylvania, go Tom!

It's 2 am finally and HIMYM starts, for the very last time.

The video quality is shitty and it lags every 2 minutes, which causes me something very close to a nervous breakdown. I am well aware I'm in the middle of the night, so I keep calm and try to focus on what Carter & Craig had prepared for all the fans.

I even miss a bit of the first part, but then it is quite okay. And it is just beautiful.

I've read a lot of negative comments today on the Internet and I have to say I don't know exactly how I feel about the finale. The only thing I know is that it didn't disappoint me. And here the spoiler part comes, so if you haven't seen the finale yet, you may not want to read this. Really, you don't want to. Go make (or smoke?) a sandwich someplace else.

I've hoped for Robin and Ted to be together since the show started. I had temperature, I was in high school and I didn't know anything about life (more or less like today), yet I did want them to be a couple. Truth is I felt immediately really close to Robin in the way she is and in the way she commits to achieving her job dream. Casually, her final goal is mine too, as I've always wanted to become a journalist and travel the world. Ted is way more concerned about settling down and starting a family. All the blue French horns in the world are of little use for two people who want such different things in life and they eventually break up.

And that's when I started hoping.

You may think I'm a bit of a dreamer (read idiot) to think that the girl who's introduced to us like "Aunt Robin" would become the other half of the Mosby universe in the end, but I wanted to believe, like Marshall did with Nessie.

So, yes, I liked the finale. I even cried a bit while watching. I was glad, despite the fact it was a bit unfair and melancholic. So is life, but that doesn't mean sadness should prevent you to enjoy the ride. I don't agree with some of the disappointed fans who think that the show should have ended at season 2, if the writers wanted Robin and Ted to be together. The timing between them wasn't just right. Robin is the one who said "Timing's a bitch" and it really was that way for her and Ted.

I love the way they stay friends anyway, yet we all know it is way more than that. Especially for Ted. He doesn't hide he is around the corner waiting for her to be ready, yet I think their friendship is real. He's always been there for her, like no one else has. And then, when she has doubts on her wedding day with Barney and confesses Ted maybe she should be with him, Ted pushes her away. She deserves that a bit, honestly. I'd say it is kind of Aldrin justice.

And she does deserve to see Ted's happiness with The Mother. At this point, he is ready for someone else, for a new perspective in life. Ted isn't the same person anymore, but neither is Robin. While he's enjoying his happy years with Tracy (now we finally know her name!), Robin and Barney split up and she gets away from the gang, leaving a brokenhearted Lily and becoming a very famous reporter. She and Ted both have experiences meanwhile, they both find new places, new people, they both just live, like the rest of the group. And I wouldn't call that "pointless".

I'm a HIMYM lover, but I'm not blind. The show quality got worse in the last two seasons. I guess Carter Bays and Craig Thomas had some troubles in carrying on a TV show they wrote taking inspiration from their own lives while they were just playing for The Solids and not knowing it would get that successful. The show is undeniably long, but it is funny all the time. Focusing on Barney and Robin's wedding for a whole season was maybe a tricky choice for such a brief relationship. I guess it was just another way of throwing us off about the finale and it did work out.

I didn't like the fact we've seen so little of The Mother during season 9. We should probably have seen more of her with Ted. The Mother is the most perfect girl on this Earth to become Mrs Mosby. Tracy and Ted have so many things in common and I believe the love they share is damn real. I don't think Ted doesn't love her because of Robin. I think he loves The Girl With The Yellow Umbrella just for that.

After all the heartbreaks in his life he needs someone to be the other half of a perfect pair. That's why I think her death is the only possible way for such a big love to end. And that's why I think getting divorced is the right way for Barney and Robin to break up, instead. They were in love yet not so compatible like Ted and The Mother and they realize that before you can say "Legendary".

There are different kinds of love in life, let's face that. None of them is unique, none of them lasts forever. Robin and Ted's isn't perfect and easy. It's just a kind of love which takes time to get right. It's mature and I guess it'll be long-lasting because of all the years it took to become real. In 2030, when Ted begins to tell the whole story to his kids, he and Robin are 50 something (and still no wrinkles, wow!). It's high time for these two old guys to enjoy their right timing for once. They have my blessing.