Pop Culture

A Stalker Who Doesn't Dare To Dream Bigger

2007-03-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

I saw a report that a judge granted Jeff Goldblum a restraining order against a woman who the actor claims has been stalking him for years -- he says she visited his house over 50 times in the past few months, sometimes blocking his driveway with her car.

OK, let me make it perfectly clear that in no way do I condone stalking, but come on, IF you're going to be a stalker, why in the world would you pick Jeff Goldblum? Nothing against the guy. He's a fine actor, in that unique Jeff Goldblum sorta way, it's just that I can't imagine him being stalking material.

Rethinking What To Post on the Internet

2007-03-01T11:46:00.000-05:00

ABCNews has an article with advice that seems much needed but frankly, I doubt it will have much impact:

Before going online to post those pictures of you and your friends dancing atop a table at Senor Frog's, know that your debauchery will probably pop up on many more screens than you intended. Potential employers, school administrators and admissions officers, and vindictive exes can see them too, and decades from now, when college is a mere memory, those photos will still live on the Web.

A generation of young people has grown up using the Internet as a personal diary. But faced with the reality that photos and information floating in cyberspace could come back to haunt them, many 20-somethings are thinking twice about what they post on the Internet.

People in the public eye have long been bitten by their Internet alter egos. Last week, 20-year-old "American Idol" contestant Antonella Barba came under fire after alleged topless photos of her surfaced on the Web. In November, Miss Nevada USA lost her crown after pageant officials found half-nude pictures of her on the Internet.

Most 20-somethings don't have a record deal or jeweled tiara at stake, but they do have burgeoning careers, and their Internet personas can come back to burn them in professional situations.

BitTorrent going legit

2007-02-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

This is good news:

BitTorrent Inc., makers of a technology often used to trade pirated copies of Hollywood movies, is launching a Web site that will sell downloads of films and TV shows licensed from the studios... The service is squarely aimed at young men and boys who regularly use BitTorrent to trade pirated versions of the same films and who more often watch such files on their computer instead of on a big screen TV in the living room... To help wean users to paying for content, BitTorrent is featuring content and pricing that appeals to its target demographic - males between the ages of 15 and 35. TV episodes are $1.99 to download to own, which is typical for competitor sites such as Apple Inc. iTunes. The new site will rent movies for a 24-hour viewing period for $3.99 for new titles and $2.99 for older films, but the site has decided not to sell films for now because the prices demanded by the studios were too high.

I'm sure they are going to try to control people from keeping versions of the software they rent, but good luck with that -- someone will find a way to break it. But, hey guys, you know what this means, don't you? That BitTorrent is not just for stealing music and downloading porn anymore.

Forget the Oscars; Bring on the Razzies

2007-02-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

OK, enough of the Oscar's. Let's take a look at the Razzies, awards for the worst in movies:

"Basic Instinct 2" won four Razzies on Saturday, including worst picture and worst actress for [Sharon] Stone.

The Wayans brothers comedy "Little Man" placed second with three Razzies, including shared prizes by Shawn and Marlon Wayans for worst actor and worst screen couple.

Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, a Hollywood darling a few years ago with such
blockbusters as "The Sixth Sense" and "Signs," was named worst director and worst supporting actor for his fantasy flop, "Lady in the Water."

Carmen Electra won for worst supporting actress for "Date Movie" and "Scary Movie 4,"

Robin Williams' road-trip comedy "RV" was chosen as worst excuse for family
entertainment.

Either I was lucky or had good intuition, but the only movie I saw from this list was Lady in the Water. I don't know about the worst director, but Shyamalan's acting was terrible. I hope he learned his lesson. I still think he's very talented and am counting on him coming back.

No Borat at the Oscar's

2007-02-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

Why wasn't Borat on the Oscar's show?

The producers behind Sunday's Oscars asked Sacha Baron Cohen to present an award as part of Sunday night's show, which might have added a refreshing bit of unpredictability to what is usually a staid evening -- his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes was one of the evening's highlights. But when Cohen said he wanted to appear as his character Borat Sagdiyev, reports the Los Angeles Times, the producers said no, and Cohen declined. (L.A. Times via Starpulse)

Fetish Cafes Cater to Geeks

2007-02-25T00:16:00.000-05:00

This puts Hooters to shame:

OL Shabu Shabu Shomuni is a Japanese hot-pot restaurant, but it serves more than just beef and vegetables... Shomuni features an all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink menu served by 15 costumed waitresses who start off dressed like receptionists and end up handcuffing patrons to their tables in sexy police uniforms. Shomuni is the latest addition to a growing number of fetish restaurants sprouting up around Tokyo... What's so special about Shomuni, then? "This is the only restaurant where you find servers that give raw strip teases to dining customers," says Yamazaki, the
manager of the restaurant.

"Loose" Women in College

2007-02-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

According to Laura Sessions Stepp, author of Unhooked: How Young Women Pursue Sex, Delay Love, and Lose at Both, sex on campuses for young women today is a series of joyless encounters engaged in without either short-term pleasure or long-term reward. This pointless hedonism, in Stepp's view, turns young women into jaded depressives unable to trust or love anyone, secretly wishing Mr. Right would show up on their doorstep with flowers and a fraternity pin.

Not the Valentine's Day She Expected

2007-02-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

I like how this guy broke-up with his cheating girlfriend:

A UNC student decided to break up with the girlfriend who recently cheated on him by getting a Facebook group together and inviting hundreds of people to witness it...
Links: YouTube video ... Student TV: cleaned up video... This one is closer but the sound is worse. You can see the girlfriend squirm more and how directly the main singer is projecting at her. The others are from different perspectives and the outskirts of the scene. This clip of the pre-show crowd gives a good idea of the scope of the event.

I don't know if the whole thing was for real or staged, but it's interesting anyway.

Ricky Martin goes Dixie Chick

2007-02-19T16:42:00.000-05:00

Did Ricky Martin grow some cojones?

During his performance in Puerto Rico, Ricky Martin stuck his middle finger out when he mentioned President Bush’s name. In the song Asignatura Pendiente, there is a line in the lyrics that goes: “A photo with Bush…” As he said this, Ricky gave him the F-you treatment and the crowd of 18,000 fans went crazy and cheered. The irony in all of this is that Ricky was one of the artists to sing for Bush during his inauguration as President.

Oscar and the Best Films of the Year

2007-02-17T05:49:00.000-05:00

The Queen – This is a fine movie, with excellent performances, but frankly, an Oscar nomination? This movie should not be on the list. It will not win. Period.

Letters from Iwo Jima – Shot in black and white and spoken in Japanese, this movie has some uneven acting, good war scenes, but boy, was I glad when it ended. It’s a movie that feels twice as long as it’s actual running time. And let’s face it; Clint Eastwood’s directing is boring, boring, boring.

The Departed – There are many good things about this movie but the few irritating things about it remove the film from contention. I know that Martin Scorsese enjoys strong support and for many of his fans this movie marked his return to greatness. I’m not one of those but there may be enough of them amongst Academy members to push this movie over the top.

Little Miss Sunshine – A gem! Comedies of this caliber are rare. The reason is simple: they are very difficult to make. It really is movie magic when we get a combination of such a wonderful script, clearly defined characters, fantastic acting from every single cast member, a perfect pace, and so many wonderful comedic moments mixed with the occasional touching situation. I don’t think it will win the Oscar, but if it does, I’ll be happy.

Babel – This is the Oscar winner. A truly excellent film with some of the most memorable and gripping moments, made even more so by the fantastic acting. But the real stars of this movie are the script writing and directing. This is movie making at its very best and a great movie-watching experience.

I only saw one of the nominated foreign films, so I can’t comment on its chances of winning, but Pan’s Labyrinth is one of the best movies I’m seen in many years, and together with Babel, the two best films of the year. This movie is nothing short of brilliant.

Colbert's Americone Dream

2007-02-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's about time Stephen Colbert gets his own ice cream flavor:

Stephen Colbert may have no taste for the truth, but he does have a sweet tooth. Ben & Jerry's has named a new ice cream in honor of the comedian: "Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream." It's vanilla ice cream with fudge-covered waffle cone pieces and caramel. Announcing the new flavor Wednesday, Ben & Jerry's called it: "The sweet taste of liberty in your mouth." The Vermont-based ice-cream maker is known for naming its flavors after people such as Jerry Garcia, Wavy Gravy and the band Phish — which Colbert sees as a political bias.

If you're asking "who's Stephen Colbert?", you're one sorry soul. I pity you.

Beware the ninja!

2007-01-11T23:03:00.000-05:00

It's bound to hit everyone at some point. It's totally unavoidable, but nobody wants to talk about it. Songs have been written about it, South Park pokes fun at it on a nearly episode by episode basis. That's right, I'm talking about the big D. Although I've heard it referred to in other ways. One friend calls it the ninja, because it sneaks up on you, and even when you think you have it beat, it comes back for one last kick in the pants.

The big D hit Orlando over the past week. I was not the only victim. It might have originated with my friend and her husband, who were put out of commission over the weekend. By now it's spread not only to me, but to several of my friends. The big D nearly put the kibosh on my personal fitness class on Wednesday, but come hell or high water I was bound and determined to work out and not look like a schlub on the first workout of the semester. Instead I had to run halfway through to the girl's locker room, praying for an empty place of solace. I gripped the sides of the stall and gritted my teeth. I kept thinking, this too shall pass.

The only thing worse than trying to find an empty public restroom during the big D is being stuck in traffic. I halfway wanted to drive down the median to the next exit and make a run for it, tires and undercarriage be damned. Winnie the Pooh used to talk about a rumbly in his tumbly, but he was talking hunger. My stomach's been talking to me for days now, but despite its hunger, it's not been very cooperative.

So on that pleasant note, I ask you. What do you call the big D? And why are we so ashamed of it?

Best Music Album of 2006

2006-12-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Washington Post's pick as the best album of the year:

1. Dixie Chicks, "Taking the Long Way"
Forget, for a moment, about the controversy that enveloped the Dixie Chicks after lead singer Natalie Maines popped off about President Bush in 2003. Forget the backlash, the evaporating airplay, the protests, Toby Keith, the death threats, the naked magazine cover, the politics -- all of it. Put down the baggage and pick up the Texas trio's latest album and revel in the rich melodies, the soaring harmonies, the sharp writing and gorgeous instrumentation and sense of soul. It's a tuneful tour de force, a triumph of pop songcraft that's a little bit country, a little bit more soft-rock-and-roll. Of course, it's impossible to forget about the back story, because the Chicks won't let you. While this isn't an album-length diatribe, the Chicks aren't biting their tongues, either: They're downright defiant in "Not Ready to Make Nice," one of the great singles of 2006. So they're not exactly contrite and conciliatory. Isn't being great good enough?

Click here to see the rest of their top 10.

Creating community, one stitch at a time

2006-12-23T12:14:00.000-05:00

Back in the day, women gathered to quilt, to sew, to knit, to crochet, primarily because these were things that needed to be done. It was part of being a good wife, a good woman, to be able to create clothing, blankets, warmth in general. Now we live in a time of convenience, but while it might be easy to purchase clothes and bedding, it's harder and harder to get together with our friends.

Over the better part of the last year I've spent one Wednesday a week at a friend's house. We started out just making patchwork quilts, because that's really all we knew to do. Then we bought some simple patterns and started making pajama pants as well. When a friend requested hats for Christmas, we took a class on how to use a knitting round and now we're knitting away, scarfs and hats for all our friends.

We've even invited other friends to join us for our crafting days. And while the end product is nice, and I love being able to give my friends and family handmade blankets and scarfs, I think the real reason we get together is simply to have community. We really want other girls to join us. We treasure the time we have together.

I think in terms of my friendship with this friend, that is has brought us closer than had we just gotten together for lunch, or to the movies. When we create, we go through everything together. The frustrations with our sewing machines, the confusion at how to put patterns together so all the fabric faces right, the thought we put into creating stuff that's been specially requested, all brings us closer.

I can't wait to see what we make next year!

Girl Gamer Makes a Killing

2006-12-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

She's willing to kill you to help you:

Bonnie "Xena" Burton, a 15-year-old professional gamer, is... an early member of the PMS Clan, an all-girl gaming club of more than 250 members. Their motto: "We may have boobs, but that doesn't make us nØØbs"... When she's not competing, she moonlights as one of 14 elite gaming coaches at Gaming-Lessons.com. The business was started in 2005, and it already has celebrity clients like NBA players Luke Walton and Richard Jefferson and rappers Lil Dru and Moka Blast... For coaching, she earns $25 an hour, which meant the teenager could quit baby-sitting local kids. The higher hourly wage could free her to pursue hobbies like horseback riding and dance.

Paris Hilton versus Camaron Diaz

2006-12-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Paris Hilton said she hasn't had sex in “About six or seven months, I think. I don’t care,” reports the London Mirror. “I would rather just make out and kiss someone instead of sex.”

Cameron Diaz says her favorite way to relax is to have sex. “Sex is the most amazing stress reliever... I actually think it’s the best thing for everything! I think it should be 100 percent part of everyone’s life on a day-to-day basis. We’d all be a lot happier!”

Different folks, different strokes.

Pamela, Kid, and Borat

2006-12-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

Pamela Anderson talking about Kid Rock and her appearance in Borat:

Pamela Anderson showed up on Thursday's "Howard Stern" for a little chat, and confirmed that her cameo in "Borat" had actually been a pretty big deal to Kid Rock just before they both filed for divorce. "He was unhappy about that," she told Stern. "I don't know why -- you'd have to ask him -- but he really was very unhappy about that." When Stern asked her why she married Kid Rock in the first place -- after divorcing Tommy Lee, she once said she'd never get married again -- Anderson said, "It was a big mistake, but I was in St. Tropez, I would have married the fisherman on the corner!" (Us Online)

Paris Hilton: time to kiss the creepy dollie goodbye

2006-12-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

Extracted from an article by Rebecca Traister

We need to acknowledge that Hilton is not simply a tabloid diversion but a malevolent blight on the pop culture landscape.

For too many years we have sat, paralyzed in the tractor beam of her wall-eyed celebrity, watching mutely as bad things happened to her band of D-list compatriots. We have witnessed the declining personal fortunes and liver health of her rotating cast of skuzzball BFFs, boyfriends and frenemies -- Bijou Phillips, Nicole Richie, Kimberly Stewart, Lindsay Lohan, Brandon Davis, Stavros Niarchos, Tara Reid -- because, really, who the hell were those people, anyway?

But then, a couple of weeks ago, Hilton started messing with Britney Spears, weighing down Spears' Phoenix-flight from her crapola marriage to grody Kevin Federline by dressing her up in tutus, taking her partying till all hours, and encouraging her to flash her whiskerless nether regions to paparazzi...

It's time to admit that Paris Hilton, that creepy dollie, must be destroyed. Metaphorically, of course.

Frankly, the time could not be more ripe for a recognition of Hilton's "Bad Seed" villainy. Even before her tabloid molestation of Spears, eyes were beginning to spring wide with comprehension. Three weeks ago, former "Saturday Night Live" head writer Tina Fey told Howard Stern about her antipathy for Hilton, calling the heiress a selfish, untalented, brainless "piece of shit" "SNL" guest host who is "unbelievably dumb and so proud of how dumb she is," and left "nasty wads of Barbie hair" on the floor of the studio. Meanwhile, conservative Manhattan Institute writer Kay S. Hymowitz wrote a piece in City Journal about the pervasive loathing of Hilton, summing up quite neatly Hilton's role as a "synonym for American materialism, bad manners, greed ... parochialism, arrogance, promiscuity, antifeminism, exposed roots and navels, entitlement, cell-phone addiction, anorexia and bulimia, predilection for gas-guzzling private transportation, pornified womanhood, exhibitionism, [and] narcissism." Hymowitz argued that while she "may be a composite of contemporary American sins," the act of hating Hilton is "a sign of lingering cultural sanity."

Young Singers Spread Racist Hate

2006-12-09T17:09:00.000-05:00

Full story:

Thirteen-year-old twins Lamb and Lynx Gaede have one album out, another on the way, a music video, and lots of fans. They may remind you of another famous pair of singers, the Olsen Twins, and the girls say they like that. But unlike the Olsens, who built a media empire on their fun-loving, squeaky-clean image, Lamb and Lynx are cultivating a much darker personna. They are white nationalists and use their talents to preach a message of hate. Known as "Prussian Blue" — a nod to their German heritage and bright blue eyes — the girls from Bakersfield, Calif., have been performing songs about white nationalism before all-white crowds since they were nine.

I can only hope someone shoves some sense into these kids.

What would you wait 5 hours for?

2006-12-03T16:11:00.000-05:00

I was all hyped up! I hadn't seen DJ Sasha since he played The Church in Denver, CO, and he was coming to MIAMI. That's only a 6 hour drive, totally worth it, right? I talked my boyfriend into taking me. Mistake number one. Told him how awesome Sasha was live, and how much fun concerts were, and how it would make a great early birthday present to me.

The web site and the tickets said 10pm. Translation = midnight. Mistake number two. I was curious to see the opening DJ, so we got there sometime after 10 and hung out. They messed with the lights, adjusted the volume so loud that I could feel it in my chest (usually my reason for going clubbing, why go if you can't feel it). I had a few drinks figuring I'd sober up by the time 2am rolled around and be totally fine to drive home.

By midnight I'm feeling good. I've had a few, the crowd has filled out the club nicely, and people are excited. I'm dancing, and then sitting (because my new shoes were KILLING ME) and then dancing some more. Mistake number three. Why do I have to wear cute shoes to a concert or club when I'd much rather wear sneakers and be comfy?

1am and still no Sasha. I'm thinking though, he's going to show up at any time, right? 2am and still no Sasha? Is he sick? Battling Montezuma's Revenge? Miss a flight? Too high to DJ?

Mind you, at this point I've had a drink spilled down my back by some ditzy bitch who can't dance and drink at the same time. I've narrowly avoided getting second degree burns from people dancing and smoking at the same time. I've had a beer bottle or two dropped on my new 5 dollar shoes (which is fine, they were totally disposable club wear). Oh, and some pole-dancing fool, who was totally fucked up on drugs, was making one lucky pole his bitch while bumping into me occasionally and actually running into my boyfriend.

Almost 3am and they start playing some screen logo saying SASHA on all the monitors around the club. Some bald guy is up with the other DJ and I'm assuming he's just another tech or roadie. There've been upwards of 5 guys up in the DJ booth at one point or another. Anyways, this guy looked nothing like the Sasha I saw in 2003.

Finally, my boyfriend decides this must be Sasha, but he's not playing anything I'm used to hearing from him, and I have just about all his CDs. I'm used to his more ambient trancey stuff, and this was all hardcore bass beats crap. Around 4:30am I've had enough. My contacts are ready to pop out of my eyes, I feel like I've smoked a pack of cigarettes, and my nice new outfit is soaked in alcohol. In the car my boyfriend turns to me and says, "I want to say this, but I don't want to say it."

I, thinking he's going to say something to the effect of he was right, blah blah blah, DJs really do suck when they get old, etc., reply, "I know, you're right."

"Oh no, that's not what I meant. I just think I'm getting too damn old for this shit." Well damn, so am I.

Movie Review: The Fountain

2006-11-24T10:59:00.000-05:00

I had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of The Fountain. And although I was disappointed when so many of the reviews were lukewarm, I was determined to see the movie anyway. And I’m glad I did. I loved every minute of it. But I will admit, this is not a movie for everyone. This is a movie for people who love movies and the art of moviemaking.

The Fountain can best be compared to a foreign art film. Its love story, at the root level, is simple (I will not say what it is; it’s best to discover it as you go along), but many of the concepts used for telling the story are not for everyone. I’m talking about time sequences that are non-linear, story within story, spiritual thoughts represented physically, and seemingly insignificant references to objects and events that eventually later on we find are part of the story. Most of the movie is shot with dark and muted colors with occasional bursts of light, which properly reflects the mood of the two main characters.

If you like being entertained for 100 minutes and not have to think about it further, skip this movie. If, on the other hand, you trust a terrific scriptwriter and director to lead you in many different directions over a confusing but creative pathway, sure that he will not lead you ashtray and will make all the pieces fit in the end, and turns every scene into a painting and every close up into a portrait, see this movie. The main cast players -- Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, and Ellen Burstyn -- are terrific and the sound track is simply remarkable.

Movie Review: Casino Royale

2006-11-18T00:46:00.000-05:00

Put simple: This is the best James Bond movie ever! Oh I know, some of you will think this heresy. That no one compares to almighty Sean Connery and some of the early movies. I don’t care. I’ve seen them all and I say without hesitation: this is the best Bond movie ever made.

The action sequences are fantastic, the poker scenes are great, the villains are excellent, the plot is nice and richer than most, the music sets the mood just right, the scenery is great, the cars stand out as usual, the women are fine, and Daniel Craig is excellent as James Bond.

After a long period of a watered down, sugary Bonds, we’re back to what these movies should be all about: we’re talking a double O, a spy with a license to kill. Killing humans is not fun; it’s gritty, it’s dark, and it’s serious. Also, Bond should never have been intimidated by the feminism movement, and in this version, Bond is back to being a user of people, including women, to complete his mission. He’s also a man, so he’s not above misjudgments. Even the one-liners in this movie are excellent, not corny.

All and all, this is not just the best James Bond movie ever; this is an all around excellent action/adventure film. If you like intense action, great stunts, measured humor, intrigue, fancy cars, sexy women, great scenery, luxurious settings, a great villain, a pounding sound track, and acting that’s sharp, all well stirred together, without the fruit, this is the movie to see!

T-Shirt Turns Air Guitar Into Music

2006-11-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

CANBERRA, Australia -- Scientists announced Monday that they have developed a high-tech T-shirt that turns the strumming of an air guitar into music. The T-shirt has motion sensors built into its elbows that pick up the wearer's arm motions and relay them wirelessly to a computer which interprets them as guitar rifts... One arm is interpreted as picking chords while the other strums. The "wearable instrument shirt" is adaptable to both right and left-handed would-be rock stars... "It allows you to jump around and the sound generated is just like an original MP3." (Full story here)

The Zunes are coming! The Zunes are coming!

2006-11-13T00:16:00.000-05:00

What looks like an iPod, acts like an iPod, plays music, videos and photos like an iPod but isn't an iPod? If Microsoft has anything to say about it, the answer is Zune.

The 30-gigabyte Zune, a portable media player created to unseat the reigning king of digital media players, Apple's iPod, arrives in stores Nov. 14.

Priced at around $250 to compete with Apple's 30 gig iPod, Microsoft will launch a digital download store à la iTunes, where Zune owners can buy songs for about $1 each and albums at prices comparable to iTunes'. (Full story here)

Movie Review: Borat

2006-11-07T10:10:00.000-05:00

Borat has arrived! And boy, does he bring the goodies. What a fabulous comedy. I can say it’s the first time ever I remember laughing so hard I was in tears. The wrestling scene is an instant classic and the funniest thing I can recall in movies. The mix between unscripted and scripted scenes works very well and keeps the pace of the movie going.

After a few scenes, I started anticipating what might happen in the next scene and started squirming and laughing even before the scene got going. When Borat walks to the center of the rodeo arena to sing the national anthem, even before he opened his mouth, I could hear people around me saying “oh no” and the nervous laughing started.

It does help if you’re not a super sensitive person and don’t mind some vulgarities. This is all that needs to be said. Go see it, hopefully with a full theater. You’ll like!