Hasta La Gadget!

For TueNight.com by Jennifer Bensko Ha

Growing up in Florida in the ’70s, everywhere I looked, I saw boobs and bikinis. As my family was always at the pool or the beach, I just thought that bikinis were what most women wore, all the time. Laugh-In was on television, and seeing Goldie Hawn smiling and giggling in a red two-piece reinforced this. I was a tomboy and could have cared less what I wore. I did notice that boys, however, got away with wearing swim trunks (for reasons which eluded me). It all seemed so unfair. Of course karmically, that meant that I would be blessed with that which I did not want: big boobs.

My First

I started to develop on the early side and resisted bras for as long as I could. Finally, when I was about 10 years old, my mom trundled me off in the car to J.C. Penney in pursuit of the dreaded “training bra.” Mom took me first to Ladies’ Intimates to ask where to find bras for girls. A brassy-looking saleslady arranging merchandise in the corner yelled out for all to hear: “They keep the training bras upstairs!” The store was crowded, and no less than 10 sets of evaluating eyes settled on my Mom, then me, and next, my chest. I shrank behind my Mom, mortified. Back then, bras were of a serviceable and durable white fabric, rigid and uncomfortable. I was in the fourth grade and was the first girl to need a bra and to wear one — a point that did not go unnoticed by the boys. On the playground, they’d chase me and snap my bra from behind. I’d chase them back.

The “Girls” Meet the Boys

I kept up an advanced pace of development, and by 8th grade, I was wearing underwires. I’d sit in algebra class and my bra would unhook on its own. I’d try to skulk off to the girls’ room to right myself before anyone noticed, Trapper Keeper hugged to my chest. Boys noticed my development too, but thankfully, we were all barely past the hitting each other and running away stage. But in high school, that all changed.

Occasionally, a boy would “accidentally” nudge against me, or another would stare. Luckily, the boys I went to school with were, for the most part, respectful. I never got any comments about my chest except once in a junior trigonometry class (I was a sophomore.) As was my studious habit, I’d get to class early and as I sat there waiting for the bell to ring, I had the feeling that people were looking at me. Once I looked up, they’d quickly turned away. After class, I asked a friend what the story was, and he explained that someone had been arguing that girls with large breasts were not usually intelligent. However, someone else countered that I had big boobs and was smart. “He’s just a jerk, anyway,” my friend said. I certainly had been intelligent enough to gather that.

Not For Teacher

Sadly, some of teachers were not as respectful. One creepy freshman science teacher kept me after school to prey on me. I was the only one kept back, and he pretended he had extra work for me to do. But when he started talking about how pretty I was and circled behind me like a predator, I got the hell out of the class. After school I went to my Mom and told her to get me out, and I didn’t care how. They moved me to the sophomore science class, but did not remove the teacher. Things were much different then. That kind of behavior, though not condoned, rarely resulted in disciplinary action.

Breaking the Law

When I was 15 and my older sister was home on break from college, we would hit the Ft. Lauderdale bars. I never got carded, and my theory is that my boobs made me look at least five years older. I started to care less and less about being large-chested, and the self-consciousness began to fade. I wore two-pieces happily, like everyone else in South Florida. Days at the beach or pool were about hanging out with friends and getting the perfect tan. A friend and I were once walking on the sidewalk by Ft. Lauderdale beach — in bikinis — when a cop looked at me over and said, “Now that ought to be illegal.” Pretty funny coming from a cop, because at 16, I was illegal.

Buying Clothes

While some friends were padding their bras, I was struggling in other ways. Button-down shirts never worked; they’d always pop open. Tops and dresses would routinely need safety pins. Bikini makers weren’t designing tops in bra sizes back then, so it was a pain finding a top that would fit. And if they did fit, the closures weren’t strong enough to hold up to the stress of the weight and would either snap open or break. At one point I fashioned a key ring through the back pieces to make them stay. I became the McGuyver of bikini repair. After college when I started to work, it mattered less and less, because I was covered up, and in general I dressed pretty conservatively. I’d made my peace with my assets and had realized that despite some unwanted attention at times, it was my body and I’d make the best of it. Large bras back then were ugly affairs, bright whites and dull tans. But now, perhaps thanks in part to the fake boob industry, manufacturers are definitely producing more and more variety for the big breasted demo.

A Life of Ogle

Tits can make men stupid, and since you can’t hide them, you get to witness a lot of stupidity. Boobs stick out, and there’s just nothing you can do about that. And the more they stick out, the more they get noticed. Just like with pregnant women, complete strangers often seem to feel that because my boobs stick out, it’s their right to comment freely on them. “You’ve got big tits!” and “Nice rack!” are comments obviously meant to be instructive, helpful and revelatory, right?

Of course the type of man who would yell something like that at a woman isn’t worth a response, but they often seem to be dismayed when you ignore them and their rude behavior. Amazingly, they think any attention is positive. Besides the overt comments, there are also discreet oglers, and thankfully, there are the men who, if they are attracted to breasts, you would never know it. I’m now past the age where I get ogled on the street and have found middle age delightful — almost like an invisibility cloak. Physical attractiveness in an older woman becomes less and less the focal point of younger male notice, and so I’m now free of ugly comments.

My Son

But being a mother — and having a boy — does make me wonder how ingrained men’s love for boobs really is. The answer? Pretty damn ingrained. Everyone expects babies to be attracted and obsessed with their food source. But that doesn’t end once a baby is weaned. While my kids both sought the comfort of a hug and snuggle from Mom, one of the biggest surprises came from my son’s single-minded attention to my breasts when he was really little. Well past the bottle stage, if he’d get stressed or upset, down his little hand traveled into my shirt for comfort. Did it all really go back to that? Comfort? Maybe it did. I laughed at the cliché. I haven’t had much chance to compare notes with other moms about boys and boobs, but for my son, they represented coziness and safety. How powerful is that? As powerful as it gets.

Read more of Jennifer Ha’s posts on TueNight. You can find her on Twitter @dupkaspike.

About TueNight:
TueNight is a weekly online publication for women to share where they’ve been and explore where they want to go next. We are you, part two. www.tuenight.com

In a region fraught with crises that challenge the United States politically and militarily, America turns to its allies for strength and support. In the Eastern Mediterranean it wasn’t too long ago that Americans worried about the strength and durability of one of their oldest and most trusted allies, Greece.

The worries have turned to wonder as the people of Greece have restored their country to its historical place as a beacon of stability, a crucible of economic opportunity and an inviting destination of millions from around the globe drawn to the mesmerizing beauty of the Mediterranean.

Greece is rich in history and culture, recognized as the cradle of democracy, science, philosophy and medicine. And in 2014, despite six years of economic adversity, Greece is delivering new, modern and innovative opportunities that are benefitting its own people and its stalwart American ally.

Change and recovery from deep recession are well underway. Greece’s promised path to economic good health — a long and strenuous route of reform — has given rise to a growing entrepreneurial environment, increasing innovation, technological transformation and expanding tourism. The dividends are increasingly palpable and are helping tackle our biggest challenge – unemployment.

One of the cornerstones of economic revival is energy. The regional economy is being buoyed by the emergence of Greece as a critical energy hub. We are a major player in the Southern Gas Corridor project to transport natural gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe, through the Trans Adriatic pipeline (TAP), linking Greece to Albania and Italy, and in plans for other interconnecting pipelines in southern Europe. Greek government and business leaders are exploring the potential with Cyprus and Israel for transporting natural gas from their newly discovered, massive off-shore reserves to Europe, while at the same time expanding the existing LNG terminal in Revythoussa, near Athens, to serve as the logical entryway.

Three gas and hydrocarbon exploration projects are being launched in the western regions of Ioannina, Gulf of Patras and Katakolo. And we remain committed to developing the enormous potential of our renewable energy sources, with solar enterprises leading the way. Greece will help ensure energy self-sufficiency and security throughout Europe.

Indeed, decisions critical to the continent’s development in numerous sectors were made under Greek leadership in the first half of this year. During its Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the fifth time, Greece steered the completion of the Banking Union on the road to consolidating the European Monetary Union — just one of many successful initiatives.

Modern Greece’s great strides in technology and innovation and a new, energized business climate are possible thanks in large part to its talented younger generation. Under their creative aegis, a significant number of business start-ups have emerged, particularly in the IT sector. The rapid upsurge was evident in the participation of 16 Greek high-tech enterprises in the 2014 “Startup Village” at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas. What’s more, Greek startups are being acquired or funded by American companies. The high-growth potential of many of these companies signal emerging job creation.

The Greek government and the US Department of Commerce, under the stewardship of Secretary Penny Pritzker, have been working for the past six months on a joint Commercial Action Plan. The result: significant market opportunities have emerged in pharmaceuticals and ICT in Greece, and US companies such as IBM, Microsoft, Coca-Cola and Onex Technologies are engaging in employment-boosting projects. Additional enterprises are expected following a recent visit to Greece by top American entrepreneurs and investors in the technology, finance, marketing, real estate and gourmet food industries, organized by the U.S. Department of State Global Entrepreneurship Program (GEP).

This new, modern Greece and its enterprising people are attracting record number of tourists, 20 percent more than last year. They visit our historical sites and modern cities, the pristine waters of the sea and the sun-kissed landscapes of the countryside and our beautiful islands.

The great 21st century transformation of Greece is a tribute to its people and their heritage of world leadership and democratic rule. They have stood another test of time. They have renewed their partnership with the American people who share a similar heritage and they have demonstrated what future contributions they can and will make to the stability of the region and the dependability of the European Union.

A small South Dakota town is up for sale to anyone willing to dish out $400,000.

Swett, South Dakota, has been up for grabs since June 17. Located about two hours southeast of Rapid City, Swett isn’t much more than a hamlet along Highway 18, but the sellers believe there’s more to the town than meets the eye.

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The purchase includes ownership of 6.16 acres of land, an automotive repair shop, three trailers and a 1990 Dodge semi that can haul the trailers.

But Coldwell Banker real-estate broker Stacie Montgomery, who is in charge of the listing, told The Huffington Post the Swett Tavern is the real draw. The tavern is the only bar in a 10-mile radius, and it’s home to a devoted group of locals.

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The Swett Tavern is available as part of the town’s $400,000 purchase.

The Rapid City Journal notes Swett used to be a town of about 40 people back in the 1940s. Over time, however, residents moved to more urban surrounding areas. Today Swett has a population of just two: Lance Benson, the current owner, and his wife. (If you count the couple’s dog, Daisy, the population is three.)

Benson told the Journal that he is reluctantly selling in order to focus on his primary job of running a traveling concession business.

“Like I say, I hate to get rid of it,” he said. “If I don’t sell it, if I don’t sell it this first year, I would probably keep it.”

According to Montgomery, the listing’s biggest appeal may just be the prestige that comes with the purchase.

“I really think people just have a dream of owning their own town,” she said.

Have an extra $400,000 to put down on your very own slice of the United States? Contact Stacie Montgomery at (605) 343-2700.

Leave it to Kim Kardashian to heat up the Hamptons.

The 33-year-old’s sisters have set up shop for the summer as they film “Kourtney and Khloe Take the Hamptons,” but all eyes were on Kim as she stepped out for lunch on Main Street in a rather revealing outfit.

Naturally, wherever Kardashian goes, the paparazzi are sure to follow, and they didn’t miss the opportunity to snap a couple of photos of Kim in a long, billowing skirt and skintight black tank top, which she wore with no bra.

Thank goodness the graduation season is finally over. I witnessed pomp and circumstance at prep schools from Orlando to the Napa Valley and at colleges from Los Angeles to the Ivy League. The surprising topic at all of these cap-and-gown fests? Endowments divesting their holdings in fossil fuel companies.

Responding to growing demands by students, the president of Pitzer College proudly announced that her institution had voted to divest. Cheers erupted. Ditto at Stanford. And in the UK, 15,000 students signed a petition for the likes of Oxford and Imperial College in London to divest too.

Given the mounting evidence of climate change and its cost on food production, public health, and from storm damage, it’s not surprising that advocates would try to use the kind of tactics that brought attention to the tobacco industry and South Africa during apartheid. But are these unquestionably good intentions actually misguided?

One investment professional told me that the rush to dump tobacco stocks in the 1990s resulted in temporarily lower share prices, which allowed the companies to buy back their stocks at a bargain, while the businesses thrived and share prices rose again over time. And just what constitutes a “fossil fueled” stock? Exxon/Mobil and Peabody Coal for sure, but what about FedEx or Southwest Airlines that use prodigious quantities of petroleum products? What about GE or Bechtel that supply equipment and services to develop fossil fuels and convert them to energy we can use?

More to the point, beyond trying to punish these companies, what are we doing to replace the fossil fuels they profit from? Divesting tobacco stocks made sense, because no one is forced to smoke and the overall campaign got many people to quit. There are alternatives to coal, indeed clean energy like solar and wind are now cost-comparable to coal, especially as a price for carbon, mercury pollution, and toxic ash disposal is factored in, but how soon can we expect large scale alternatives to oil? And we’ll need alternatives in more than the transportation sector. What about making plastics, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics? Or making artificial rubber, something that other environmental advocates applaud as they try to end the deforestation caused by rubber tree plantations?

Finally, this kind of divestiture campaigning creates the classic “slippery slope”. If endowments respond to these campaigns, how about other worthy causes, such as the companies that arguably spawned the recent recession by creating and selling questionable mortgage-backed securities (and even profited by betting against their success) like Goldman Sachs or Bank of America? Shouldn’t we be equally concerned about the “S” and “G” in corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices?

Make no mistake, I’m thrilled to see these issues gaining attention from students, the press, and investment professionals, but the cheers heard at commencement speeches suggest a victory, when this is little more than a feel-good declaration of war. A more effective and comprehensive approach might be to campaign for investment criteria that cover all ESG “best practices” and clarify what we can be FOR instead of simply what we wish we could be against. Yes, I say “wish” we could be against, because I saw very few students, faculty, or parents at these graduations who had not arrived using those same fossil fuels for transportation and who watched students marching under floodlights powered by still more burning of carbon.

Instead of the blunt instrument of divesting, what about civilizing these companies and our own consumer choices while we’re at it? For investing, perhaps a page from the playbook of non-profits like CERES and its Blueprint for Sustainable Investing; or the ESG guidelines from Commonfund.org; or setting minimum standards for companies in a portfolio, prioritizing industry leaders in each sector and divesting the laggards, for things like carbon emissions as reported by the Carbon Disclosure Project. Or follow the example of many of the Rockefeller heirs who used shareholder resolutions to push oil companies towards more sustainable practices and development of alternatives, which will ultimately decide if fossil fuel companies will still be in business 50 or 100 years from now. After all, can you name any buggy whip makers?

Passionate support of good causes gets serious dialogue and solutions started. If the student divestiture movement does that, we will thank them one day for helping us transition to more sustainable energy and a healthier planet. But if all it accomplishes is the sale of a few shares of stock, very little will change and our fossil fuel addiction — and the pain that comes with it — will continue for generations to come.