The Bachelorette returned last night with a two-hour premiere.

Our bachleorette is 26-year-old Real-estate agent, and (as host Chris Harrison reminds us) America’s sweetheart DeAnna Pappas. After she was left heartbroken by former Season 11 Bachelor Brad Womack, Deanna is optimistic about finding her true love among a mansion full of suitors.

Tonight the Bachelorette had the difficult but enviable task of getting to know 25 attractive men. The guys had different strategies and some proved more successful than others in winning this Southern Belle’s heart. Some did their homework, others tried seducing DeAnna with their chiseled physiques and spiky hair, some did outlandish things (really Paul? Jumping in a chilly pool?) while others were shy and quiet, so quiet they were introduced and we never heard from them again.

After some soul searching and pensive gazes into the camera, DeAnna emerged with her final 15 suitors. Here are my standouts.

Richard: He gave her a Herkimer diamond, and he seems sincere. Plus he’s a teacher, so I’m hoping he’ll keep it classy and not get into too much drama with the other contestants since his students will inevitably be tuning in.

Graham: DeAnna said his looks are just her type, plus they were both bartenders. What’s pushing Graham over the top? He is starting a non-profit organization. Swoon! Read More »

The man in this picture is a piece of shit rapist.

And now, the whole world knows it.

When Morgan Shaw-Fox forced oral sex on fellow Lewis & Clark University student Helen Hunter, she had the option of staying silent. After all, he was a popular and well-regarded student. They were alone when he did it. And criminal rape cases - especially cases of date rape, or cases where the victim consented to a certain degree of sexual activity before saying the word “no” - are notoriously brutal and hard to win.

The burden of proof is always on the accuser, who is frequently subjected to vicious assaults on her character by defense attorneys and the media. Prosecuting a rapist can be nearly as traumatic as the experience of sexual assault.

So, yeah. For understandable reasons, many, if not most survivors don’t report being assaulted. Many, if not most rapists are never brought to justice.

But Helen Hunter did not choose silence.
Read More »