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200 Words by Paul Dini - Janice Syndrome

Paul Dini just nailed it.

At lunch the other day my friend TR brought up the case of an attractive well-known actress, who had opted to undergo rather severe plastic surgery in an effort to look younger. As he described the woman’s now-permanently half-lidded eyes, outrageously enhanced collagen lips, and radically diminished nose, I recognized all the telltale signs of another tragic victim of Janice Syndrome. That’s what I call the questionable decision by aging actresses to remake their faces into what amounts to an almost perfect likeness of the hippy chick guitarist from the Muppet’s Electric Mayhem band. The resemblance is so striking I suspect desperate women who grew up watching the Muppet Show are bringing Janice dolls to their plastic surgeon and demanding: “Make me look like her!”

I wonder what another famous puppet, Pinocchio, might have thought about this trend. Desperate as he was to become a real boy, I can see Pinoke shaking his woodenhead in dismay at the paradox of people trying to become puppets, or at least look like them. Then again, puppets don’t age, and in today’s narcissistic society, only a dummy would not jump at the chance for eternal youth. As Janice herself might say: “Fer sure!”

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Operation Betancourt - animo responds to the Belgian crisis

You can express your displeasure about the current political crisis with throwing puddles of mud like small children in the sandbox. Eventually everyone gets sand in the eyes and nobody sees clear. animo refuses to fall to this flat populist trap.

People have no use for empty accusations such as 'French-speakers have done it. " Accusations as such do not help the negotiation, but only strengthen the controversy in the country. It shows political courage not to join these positions for electoral gain and work towards compromises that are utmost realistic and in service of the country. An ode to the failure of Leterme is in this matter not an helpful act. If there's one thing on which everyone could agree it is that the past year has produced no winners.

The economy is stretched under the burdeons of this political inefficiency. The man and woman in the street see after months of aimless and goalless policy a decline in consumentary power and rising energy prices. These negotiations aren't in their best interest. The government waves one promise after the other, turns the other cheek and does nothing once more.

Elections will not change this substantially. The real problems are put on hold, unrealistic and futile promises are renewed. animo considers a fundamental debate necessary. A debate about the perverse effects of the ongoing election fever which led to endless electoral auction. Therefor animo first of all makes a plea for coinciding elections. Secondly for a reflection on the necessity of maintaining certain structures such as the provincial council and Senate. Thirdly, our electoral system should be complemented with a federal electoral district in order to advance the representativeness and the negation of 'the other citizens' in our country.

To animo it is not so much the model but the people in charge within the current political system, who have failed. Moreover, the dictatorship of the minority, and animo does not only refer to the south, has created an immense apathy in a majority of the electorate. Cartels have an overwhelming responsability to this crisis. Parties that merely represent 6% of the voters paralyze an entire country. animo makes a plea for an operation Betancourt to set the CD&V and others free of their hostage takers. Only if this condition is fulfilled there can be a possibilty for reasonable and mature talks about state reform.


A first step in the de-radicalisation of the country should be in function of our capital. There needs to be conversation about Brussels in a pragmatic manner, free of demagoguery and lingual fetishism. Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde needs to be split on short term. This division can operate in the framework of an expansion of the Brussels Region. Which can only go ahead if in the Region firstly sorting out is made of among others the reduction of the powers of the municipalities and the guaranteed bilingualism.


animo does not shy away from the debate on a further going state reform. A state reform can contribute to a better functioning of the state .. However, the idea of solidarity needs to remains central. Solidarity together with efficiency are the two terms by which a social state reform should be formed. An efficiency not simply used as an excuse for the separation of the country, but an efficiency seeking a state that provides the best possible social services for everyone and ensures that the economic engine keeps running.

Female Orgasm..I care!

The 'Female orgasm...I care!' buttons are spotted all over Belgium. On people's t-shirt's, trousers and caps. But what does this slogan mean exactly, besides raising people's attention?
The 'Female orgasm...I care!' campaign is the latest campaign on youth and sexuality brought to you by animo, young Belgian socialists. They have a long tradition on campaigning on the theme of sexuality, from safe sex actions to 'cut VAT on condoms' revendications. With the 'Female orgasm...I care!' campaign they raise attention on sexual pleasure among young people and provokes a positive discussion on sex. This campaign focuses on the female sexuality and the female orgasm in particular. Because it's still very neccesary today.
Recent research shows that more than fifty percent of young women often fake orgasms. The media shows them how to be tempting and willing, not how to stand up for their own sexual pleasure. Furthermore the female orgasm is surrounded by harsh clichés and myths such as 'women perceive their pleasure as less important' or 'the female orgasm is so hard to achieve'. Complete nonsens says animo, these sterotypes need to be tackled. Women too often lower their expectations due to this stereotypical thinking on women's sexuality. And they absolutely shouldn't.
With this campaign, animo seeks some debate among young people on sex and sexuale pleasure of both men and women. The female orgasm is the teaser to do so. animo calls upon young women to dare enjoy their pleasure, young men to care for it. Let's face it, everyone is fan of the female orgasm. Female orgasm...I dare! Female orgasm...I care!
So if you haven't got the catchy button yet, ask the Belgian comrades to join the campaign, they will provide it with pleasure, same as for all extra information. Let's take this campaign to an European level through Ecosy-Young European Socialists!
www.animoweb.be
Join us at the facebook community group www.facebook.com > Female orgasm...I care!