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Friday, March 4, 2011

How Did She Get to Age 55 before Realizing She's A Lesbian?

I just found out from Oprah what people have known since 2009: the mom from the 80s TV show Family Ties is gay. Meredith Baxter is an out lesbian.

She says in an interview, about the moment she knew she was gay, at age 55, that she though to herself:

"Oh, I understand why I had the issues I had early in my life."

"I had a great deal of difficulty connecting with men in relationships."

"I assumed I was a bad picker, which I was indeed, but I was involved with people who made me think they were the problem, and there were problems. So it never occurred to me to think, oh I'm gay."

Here is the video where she outs herself on TV.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Charm and Duplicity, Like a Talking Snake

I was in a meeting with a man. He said that he trades in charm and duplicity. He said this allows him to recognize it when others do it. Actually, he said that all of us in the arts work in charm and duplicity. Really? I'm not so sure.
I've got my eyes on you, mister.
Do not fuck with me.

I would like to interrogate the origins of that phrase, but the internet is not yielding.

Thesaurus.com says
Charm: enchantment, allure, talisman 
Duplicity: deception, cunning, exhibition of disloyalty

The Online Etymology Dictionary says:  
Charm (verb): c.1300, "to recite or cast a magic spell," Related: Charmed; charming. 

Duplicity: early 15c., being "double" in one's conduct (Gk. diploos "treacherous, double-minded," lit. "twofold, double.")