Girl Talk : Casual Cruelty

Recently, I've come across an interview of Lena Dunham (gotta love her truly-madly-deeply) where she was asked to name one thing that she really didn't like and she only said two words: Casual Cruelty. 

All of the sudden, that stroke a chord with me. You know in cartoons where a lightbulb goes of? It was something like that for me, I really thought "that's it" that's the root of all petty problems amongst women: we operate under this directive for far too long, we are "casually cruel" to each other every day: friends, co workers, best friends, mums, daughters, we are all victims of it and we keep doing that to each other.

See also: 8 things about the Portuguese Woman

This must stop. The need to put the other person (women) down because your hair doesn't look nice today, your dress doesn't quite fit, your heels are hurting or you really mess up with your boss this morning,  you don't get the right to be mean because you are insecure about something. 

Suck it up, we are all angry, yep I'm angry a lot, but don't be the bad bitch you feel the need to be. 

You can take it out on someone who is completely unwarned of whats going on an in that moment that sure is gratifying. but then what? You were a horrible person and that comment will sooner or latter cost you something because karma works around the clock and it ins't in a hurry. 

I'm not taking the moral high ground here, hey I've done it more times that I can remember but hey, you need to stop this. I'm not saying spread the peace and love among women lets all join hand in prays no! no bullshit, just cut it out mean spirited current comments such as this:

"hey, that skirt looks really good on you! it disguises your huge hips, honestly"

"Stop it! You need to grow up and stop being so whinny really, just being honest here"

"Oh common we both know you never be able to pull it off in that situation, to be honest"

Oh it's cool to be honest!But misguided anger it's not! And I'm not saying that you have to smile and be polite and happy all the goddam time. God, I'm not always happy, I'm not always smiling in fact I frown a lot, A LOT! and...I'm not fuking polite all the time. 

The message here is be better. Do not take down other girls on their looks, on their behavior, on their intelligence, just....be better than that.

And so on. Many of you will think that I'm just being sensitive, other will relate, and others...will turn away without acknowledging they have done it but they will know it, every women recognises the moment where she has taken it too far. 

Because, if you all have felt that sting you don't see coming...wouldn't we know that it really really hurts?

Your TopCrusher,
Alex

The Interview: threats, hackers, margaritas and a huge laugh

I watched The Interview this week and I have to tell you it was one of the best comedies I saw this year. As you might have heard, this movie caused quite a stir due to its polemic content. This is a comedy starring James Franco and Seth Rogen, a celebrity interviewer and his producer for the tabloid TV show "Skylark Tonight".

At some point, they discover that the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is a fan of their show and consequently they have the opportunity to interview him. When they are traveling to Pyongyang they are contacted by the CIA and convinced to "take him out"... Not to dinner and not on a date, if you know what I mean... 

This is a controversial movie, for obvious reasons and it was the target of some serious backlash from the North Korean government. According to the a Time's article the North Korean government has promised a “merciless” retaliation against the United States if The Interview was released, calling the film an “act of war.”

After the government threats, there were the hackers. According to The Guardian,  Sony Pictures has cancelled the Christmas release of the film at the centre of a hacking scandal after terrorist threats to cinemagoers and a decision by major movie theatre groups to cancel screenings in the US. The movie is now available online and on selected theaters.

I know that all of us have different opinions on what is good or bad humor, acceptable or unacceptable, and it's unquestionable that this movie is  risky, but it is so ridiculously funny that you have to look at it not as an affront to a country but as a stupid, yet interesting, way to stop taking ourselves so seriously. I would be the first one to laugh at our politics in Portugal if something like The Interview was done about them, I can guarantee.

Seth and James are close to perfect, I already thought they were two funny guys, but now I like them even more for being able to go ahead with such a risky movie. Finishing with my favourite movie quote: "They hate us, cuz' they ain't us!" *insert Katy Perry plastic bag song*

Honestly, thanks for the laugh, I recommend!

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

Aries Horoscope for 2015

Fate is on my hands
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I’m one of those people who just believes pretty much everything. Ghosts, spirits, astrology, numerology, you name it, I buy it. I’m not exactly a fanatic, but every New Year, I have this tendency to read my horoscope to see how my year is going to be and it’s kind of reassuring for some reason I can’t explain. It’s like we need something to tell us “it’s going to be OK, you will survive this shit”.

This year, I decided to play things differently. I was thinking, why don’t I tell myself how 2015 will be? I got power too, I’m a pretty magic girl, if you know what I mean! So, I decided to use my sparkle to define my year, without uncertainty or fear. Here it goes:

Aries - Horoscope for 2015

Health

You are super strong as always. Contrary to what’s been happening since you are old enough to run, this year, you’re going to the gym on a weekly basis. Because of this, something called “muscle” is going to magically appear on your body. When that happens, don’t worry, although it is completely unknown to you, it’s a great thing to have. *insert Rocky’s soundtrack here*

Work

Things at the office won’t be stressful as usual. You will have a lot to do because you like to feel occupied but not so much you’re going crazy. Your team is going to be nice and smooth and you won’t have to deal with any office drama in 2015. You’re going to keep feeling good about what you do and people around you will recognize that.

P.s. - If, for some reason, things don’t go as described previously, there’s no need to freak out, just play the lottery and everything is going to be fine.

Love

There is really no better way to describe this more perfectly: you are going to be deeply and utterly in love with yourself. You are going to look in the mirror and see everything you achieved, all the obstacles you overcame, and you are going to be proud of yourself. You heart is going to be full of joy, and when you look around in times of need, the people who already love you, will always be there for you. 2015 is going to be awesome.

*magic horoscope mode out*

This is how it is going to be, I’m so certain I could bet all my money on it, my fate is on my hands. I discovered my sparkle and I have a good feeling about it!

Just let me know if you want me to work my magic for you too! *I do it for free*

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

The fall of Jamie Dornan

Jamie and Gillian
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Talk about 50 shades of crazy! Jamie Dornan is showing his true colours way before the blockbuster 50 shades of Grey hits the theatres and The Fall is my new favourite obsession! 

By the way, I deeply believe that if I was a super hero my power would be finding excellent TV shows with more than one season to watch precisely when I have to study for my finals. Yup, that would be it!

Boring stuff apart, The Fall is a BBC crime drama set in Northern Ireland and our beloved Jamie Dornan plays the serial killer with a job, a wife, two lovely kids, and a very twisted mind. 

Gillian Anderson is actually pretty cool as well! She plays a kick ass detective who is afraid of nothing, not even of making out with the hottest Irish detective on the team. Go Gillian!

Nevertheless, Jamie steals the spotlight with his dark, shadowy soul, and monstrous actions. Anyway, if I have to be completely honest, I seriously hope he gets away with it. 

Oh-em-gee, just look at him,  he's such a perfect psycho!

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela

Still I Rise

My favourite poem, by Maya Angelou:

Maya
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You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame, I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain, I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear, I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise, I rise, I rise.

Maya Angelou

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

New year, new parties

Some inspiration for the first party of 2015, we think you should

shine bright like a diamond!

Glitter
Credits

Glitter:

1. A sparkling or glistening light.
2. Brilliant or showy, often superficial attractiveness.

Let's do this! 

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela

Girls will be girls

Girls
Credits

I started watching HBO’s Girls more than a year ago and for some reason I just didn't like it at first, I watched the pilot and decided that it wasn't my kind of show. Recently, I’m not sure why, I decided to give it another try, and I realized that I really misjudged Lena Dunham’s show.

I watched the first two seasons in a week (I have a permanent job and I study, ok guys? So this is a lot for me!) and I am currently watching the third season and still loving it. I think the reason why I enjoy watching Girls so much is because, for the first time since Sex and the City, I see something interesting about women on TV and I’m not talking about sex. 

Although I can’t relate with Hannah at all, who is the main character, I appreciate that Lena Dunham has the guts to play a different and unique character that annoys me deeply and more than I can explain, but that’s her. I like to see that Marnie is fucked up and lost and doesn't know what to do with herself but still tries. It amuses me that Shosh is such a neurotic and self-absorbed person and that nobody really cares and they love her anyway. And Jessa… who doesn't love Jessa? She’s so beautiful and glamorous and free, all women want to be her at some point. 

I also like the fact that their friendship isn't perfect, that sometimes they want to kill each other and act like complete psychos, but isn't that even a little truth in all female relationships? Yup, it is. 

Anyway, it’s my TV suggestion of the week. If you haven’t tried, go ahead! If you have, you probably know what I am talking about. 

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

40 Life Lessons by Leonardo Dicaprio

Go ahead call me a basic bitch but I had two great loves throughout my adolescence, one it was the backstreet boy Nick Carter and the other was the unsinkable star of Titanic...Mr Leonardo Dicaprio.

Time move us on like it always does but the love we once had remains ageless.
The week that Dicaprio turns into a lovable bachelor of 40 years old I gather for you the 40 most incredible Leo's gifs of all time.

See also: 27 movies, 27 years


They all contain wisdom that you'll need to keep in mind.
Always a trooper this Dicaprio, he can act, be goofy and deliver life lesson in gifs *sighs*
Enjoy.

'Cause you know, I'm Fabulous.

 Don't ever sugarcoat it, Leo.

Always.

*squeals*

 Actually, you can't but damn it you're gonna do it!

 Don't, Just don't.

Dicaprio showing an expression that about resumes 90 % of your life. *applause*

 To the haters.

You. Every goddamn time you set foot out the door.

 You got to dance to the rythym of life.

 Use this line WHENEVER YOU CAN.

Can you ass handle mine? Sorry got a bit off topic there. *sighs*

 *insert deep moment here*

 'Cause sometimes in life you just gotta know.

Case in point: Mondays.

Googly eyes at a goddamn french girl. *hmpf*

*syncope*

This line.

Say it like it is D.

Uh! Burn!

Always know exactly what you want.

Please, tell us more.

Prepare for panties dropping in T minus : 3, 2...

Quoting level: over 9000.

Who never?

How high?

No drama.

Because there is always a party round the corner.

Never skip leg day or ab day or the gym...or prison. 

Just own it girl.

Diva.

Always say what you are thinking.

Ain't nobody got time for that.

Pray that you never get scorn by Leo.

Forever ever Leo.

So ready for my close up.

Cheers Dicaprio. 

To another one heel of 40 years together.

your topcruher, 

Alex