Tag Archives: Pop Culture

What Do the Simple Folk Do?

At the risk of sounding elitist-which bothers me not at all- I was thinking of this song from Camelot tonight….

Whenever I think about the national addiction to Reality TV- which I think about rarely- either national addictions or TV….

I think of this song from Camelot…

I guess there has always been a place for Kartrashians, Jersey Shores and Real Housewives of Whatever-the-hell….

Just not for me…..

I gave up on popular culture when it became evident the terms were mutually exclusive….

Of course, at least we haven’t yet sunk to feeding people to the lions in the Coliseum…

Oh, wait….NASCAR….

And the Republican House of Representatives….

Whatever….

At least it is apparently an age old problem….

Leave a comment

Filed under Pop Culture

Don Grady Dead: Composer, Star Of ‘My Three Sons’ Dies At 68

This is sad news…

Robbie Douglas, aka Don Grady, has passed away…

I loved watching this show when I was a child and Robbie was my favorite…

I’m not going to analyze it any deeper than that….

From The Huffington Post:

Don Grady, who was one of television’s most beloved big brothers as Robbie Douglas on the long-running 1960s hit “My Three Sons,” died Wednesday. He was 68.

His “My Three Sons” co-star Barry Livingston, who played youngest brother Ernie, confirmed Grady’s death to The Associated Press. Livingston said Grady had been suffering from cancer and receiving hospice care at his home in Thousand Oaks, Calif. But the exact cause and place of death were not immediately clear.

“It’s the oldest cliche in the world when TV brothers start referring to each other like biological brothers, but he was the oldest, and somebody I looked up to and learned from a great deal about life,” Livingston said.

More:   Don Grady Dead: Composer, Star Of ‘My Three Sons’ Dies At 68.

Leave a comment

Filed under Television

Why Gay Men Dont Get Fat

Well, this is news to me and most of my friends….

Sounds like another stereotypical book from the Circuit Party set for the Circuit Party set and the wannabes- but I’ll hold my fire until I read more about it…

I think it’s part of the proof of how much we’ve assimilated into society that we now get just as fat as straight men- at least outside of the NY-LA Gay Ghettos….

 

“Gay Men Don’t Get Fat” is the title of an as-of-yet published book by Barneys New York creative ambassador Simon Doonan. The author calls it “a stylishly slimming discourse that proves gay men really ARE French women: prone to disdain, favoring cheeky underwear, convinced of their own artistic brilliance, and of course calorie-obsessed.

”The French women reference, and title of his book, are both presumably a reference to the popular diet book “French Women Don’t Get Fat,” which espoused emulating French culinary culture to slim down.

Before we go any further, if Doonan wasn’t himself gay, I think he’d be treading on thin ice, you know, with the whole stereotyping thing. Gays and lesbians, like everyone else in the world, come in all shapes and sizes.

While I’ve had gay friends over the years, it’s difficult for me to speak with any authority about whether or not they are on average less fat than everyone else.

However, there is an undeniable sub-culture in the gay community that obsesses over their physique, which is the focus in “Gay Men Don’t Get Fat.”

What ultimately matters is have there been any scientific studies to back the idea of gay men being thinner than their hetero counterparts?

Last year, a study led by Kerith Conron, an associate research scientist at Northeastern University and a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health, came to the conclusion that, in fact, gay men are slimmer than heterosexual men. The same held true, flipped, for lesbians. That is, lesbians are on average heavier than their heterosexual counterparts. The researchers determined that gay men are 50 percent less likely to be obese.

via Why Gay Men Dont Get Fat.

Leave a comment

Filed under Gay

My Grown Up Christmas List

People tell me I am impossible to buy for at Christmas time, so I thought I would make it easier for them this year.

Here is my Grown Up Christmas List.  I don’t mean that smaltzy song about no more wars, no more people torn apart, etc.  I’m not that optimistic, so I’ll set my sights a little lower…

I have more than enough “stuff”, so here is what I really want….

If you can’t get it all now, I’m patient.

My Birthday is in October…

  1. That I win the Powerball lottery.  I’m not greedy, but it would be nice if the Jackpot was more than$50MM.
  2. For there to be a retro revival among today’s youth making Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Katharine Hepburn, Lena Horne, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen Role Models again.
  3. For all religious Colleges and Universities to go out of business so their “students” would have to deal with the real world and a diversity of opinions and backgrounds while getting a real education.
  4. A return to the concepts of personal honor, responsibility and dignity.
  5. Manners.  Good manners…..
  6. The understanding that it is preferable to look and act like Ladies and Gentlemen rather than Goths, Pimps, Bigots, Braggards, Thugs, Slackards, Bikers and ‘Ho’s…
  7. That Occupy Wall Street comes roaring back to life in the Spring and is the major force in the 2012 elections.
  8. The abolition of all MBA programs and a renewed focus on Liberal Arts Educations that teach people to think, not manipulate numbers for personal gain.
  9. A decent nation-wide passenger train service so we can avoid our horrible airlines.
  10. That Virgin Atlantic airways takes over the entire US Airline industry and shows them how to do it right.
  11. The understanding that some countries do some things better than we do and that it’s okay to learn from that…
  12. The return of the Preppie Look that was so popular in my youth. We really did look cute….
  13. Laws mandating technology that Telephones and mobile devices will shut down while a motor vehicle engine is running or the person is in a Theatre or Concert Hall.
  14. For people to finally realize and accept that Marriage is, in actuality, only a legal contract between two people, regardless of their sex, that conveys certain public and private protections and obligations and that has nothing to do with religion.  Therefore, it’s not any one else’s goddamn business but those two people so contracted.
  15. If we can’t legalize Gay Marriage, let’s criminalize Straight Divorce.  I’m not above revenge….
  16. That people realize there is no longer any such thing as a Country Club, fiscally responsible, socially liberal Republican.
  17. That someone can logically explain to me why people who think they are such good Christians and moral arbitrators will vote for a  man who abandoned his first wife in the hospital for his mistress, then had an affair on wife number 2, said mistress,  with the latest Mrs Gingrich, but still claims to support a “no adultery” pledge.
  18. Someone to prove to me that Mitt Romney is real and isn’t just a big robotic Ken Doll- made in China, of course.
  19. For all the Crocs factories to go out of business and all existing crocs to spontaneously combust.
  20. Public funding of all US Elections and the abolition of private and corporate donations to political candidates.
  21. A Constitutional amendment that Corporations are not People and that Money is not Free Speech.
  22. The instant revocation of the tax exempt status of any religious institution of any kind that dabbles in politics by telling people how to vote.
  23. For people to realize, once and for all that it was deregulation and primarily the policies of the George W Bush Administration that ruined our economy and caused the deficit.
  24. That some of the Wall Street “leaders” who helped cause the economic crash actually be held accountable and go to jail.
  25. That people realize we have to invest in the future to grow out of the deficit.
  26. While we are at it, that people finally realize George W Bush and Dick Cheney are War Criminals and they are prosecuted as such.
  27. Fox News goes bankrupt and shuts down.
  28. Legislation that states “opinion” journalism must be so identified on TV with a border of flashing red lights and tap dancing pigs so people will know the difference between reporting and propaganda.
  29. Legislation that all company profits, over a certain percent,  must be reinvested in growing the company and creating jobs, not just sat upon or used for Executive Salaries.
  30. All Corporate lobbying expenditures must be matched equally with taxes -paid dollar to dollar, no loopholes.
  31. Legislation that no company employee may make  salary more than X percentage more than the lowest paid employee.
  32. Permanent incarceration, in solitary confinement, of anyone named Khardashian.
  33. The Cancellation of “Jersey Shore”.
  34. A committee, headed by and with veto power held by me, to be created to determine who is an actual “Star” and who is just trash after some cash.
  35. If the GOP wants people to pee in a cup for a check, then all politicians should do the same.
  36. An IQ test and threshold to run for Public Office.
  37. That all my friends from the past years, who meant so much to me, would join Facebook so I could find them and be in touch again.
  38. That people would exercise some control over how many silly pet pictures with captions they post on Facebook.  An occasional one is  cute, but too many, especially as we grow older,  makes one fear they are becoming pet hoarders or otherwise demented.
  39. That everyone had a full length mirror in their home and looked at it long, hard and critically before going out in public.
  40. Effective Mass transportation in all cities with more than 50,000 people.
  41. Renewed focus on planning, creating, saving and building for the future instead of shopping for useless crap to own now.
  42. Renewed focus on the concept of Quality over Quantity.
  43. Legislation prohibiting any more Broadway Musicals based on relatively recent movies.
  44. That television shows must be at least as long as the total air time of their commercials.
  45. Regular, heavily discounted airline fares between all US  airports and London and Paris.
  46. Requirements that all school districts fund Senior and Junior High School Cultural Exchange Learning trips abroad for all students.  You may raise my taxes for this….
  47. For people in the South to realize the Republican Party is using you and not working for your interests….
  48. For the Tea Party People to finally admit they are just bigots who hate President Obama because he is Black….
  49. That 2012 brings us an election resulting in a Democratic President, Senate and House.  At least, something positive might get done…
  50. That the Tea Party is dead and gone.
  51. For people not to argue about the “War on Christmas” or what holidays and traditions should be recognized, but to just shut up and enjoy a season of good will and sharing time-and cocktails- with friends.
  52. Respect that we share many Holidays and Traditions in December- and at other times-with many people who may not believe as we do- and that’s okay.

If you do celebrate Christmas, I ask you to take this time to think  not just about Jesus’s birth but about his life and what he stood for- helping the poor, feeding the hungry, loving your neighbor- and see how you can emulate these Christian behaviors throughout the coming year.

Let’s try to keep this in mind instead of judging and trying to force your beliefs on others throughout the year….

That’s my job.

5 Comments

Filed under Holidays, Scott's Commentary, Uncategorized

Daniel Craig Calls Kardashians ‘F*cking Idiots,’

Another reason to love Daniel Craig….

I’m really offended that I even had to find out who the Kardashians are….And I never watch TV!

They are so omnipresent in the media, you can’t avoid the skanky creatures…..

Daniel puts it in perspective….

Daniel Craig is a very private man, on screen and off. On film, he plays a journalist doing important investigative work, as well as the world’s most famous spy; in real life, he does things like get married in super secret ceremonies. And as he tells British GQ, he’s got good reason for all the secrecy; once you go Kardashian, you never go back.

“I think there’s a lot to be said for keeping your own counsel,” Craig tells the magazine. “You can’t buy it back. You can’t buy your privacy back. ‘Ooh, I want to be alone. ‘F*ck you. We’ve been in your living room. We were at your birth. You filmed it for us and showed us the placenta, and now you want some privacy?'”

In case he wasn’t clear enough that he was talking about the Kardashians — hey, reality shows blend together — he then emphasized his target.

“It’s a career. What can I tell you?” he continues. “It is a career; I’m not being cynical. And why wouldn’t you? Look at the Kardashians, they’re worth millions. Millions! I don’t think they were that badly off to begin with, but now look at them. You see that and you think, ‘What, you mean all I have to do is behave like a f*cking idiot on television and then you’ll pay me millions?'”

In fact, Craig’s comments are quite salient on a day when Kourtney Kardashian announced that she is pregnant… on the cover of Us Weekly.

via Daniel Craig Calls Kardashians ‘F*cking Idiots,’ Talks ‘Dragon Tattoo’ And Reality TV In British GQ.

1 Comment

Filed under Entertainment, Movies, Pop Culture, Television

Justin Bieber’s Alleged Baby Mama Dismisses Paternity Lawsuit

I knew I was right!!!

I’m convinced Justin Bieber really is a 24 year old lesbian being packaged by the media conglomerates to make money.

Therefore,  this simply was not physically  possible.

Now I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop and that fact to come out….

Remember Milli Vanilli!

From TMZ:

 

Justin Bieber’s baby mama has dismissed her paternity lawsuit against the singer … TMZ has learned.

The suit was quietly dismissed late last week.  What’s more, Mariah Yeater’s lawyers, Lance Rogers and Matt Pare, have quit her … withdrawn from the case.

As we first reported, Justin not only planned to take a DNA test when he returned to the U.S., he was going to sue Yeater and her lawyers for making a bogus claim.  And, as we reported, Justin’s lawyer, Howard Weitzman, called the attorneys and informed them a suit was looming.

Apparently, they got the message.

via Justin Bieber’s Alleged Baby Mama Dismisses Paternity Lawsuit | TMZ.com.

Leave a comment

Filed under Music, Pop Culture

867-5309 – Save big with Jenny’s Number

My friend Kirk strikes again….

He sent this to me earlier today and I wanted to share it- especially after we discussed this on Facebook recently…

I never would have thought of this….

From Yahoo! News:

If the phone number 867-5309 sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Tommy Tutone’s 1982 hit single “8675309/Jenny” emblazoned the iconic phone number in our minds (and in our ears, thanks to its catchy chorus), and as it turns out, the number can save you some money.

Increasingly, large retailers are offering loyalty programs that are tied into your phone number: just key it in and get a discount on certain items. But if you don’t want to sign up for a new card or loyalty program and don’t want to give up your real number, just give the cashier Jenny’s number: Your local area code + 867-5309.

Why Does it work?

Many people are hesitant to give their real phone number to marketers when they sign up for an account, so they use a fake number. What fake phone number comes to mind first? You got it: good-old Jenny! Since the 80s Billboard chart topper had such a contagious hook, odds are someone else has already used it to sign up for an account — and that means you can borrow their discount.

As mentioned in the video, Becky tested this trick from New York to Hawaii, and it worked like a charm every time. Of course, we wouldn’t recommend redeeming someone else’s hard-earned membership points or freebies, but using 867-5309 for a “member’s only” break on your receipt will save you time — and money, of course.

Beyond Discounts: Serious reasons to protect your phone number

Giving your phone number out freely can be annoying down the road, but it can also be dangerous. All personal information is vulnerable to potential hackers and identity thieves — even those innocuous 10 digits we so readily hand out to friends and family.

According to security researchers and “white hat hackers” Nick DePetrillo and Don Bailey, that simple, harmless seeming string of digits can unlock a world of your personal data. With your 10 digits in tow, a hacker could use software to ferret out your full name and even track your location via GPS over a mobile network — more than enough information for a deft identity thief to wreak havoc on your accounts.

via Upgrade Your Life: Save big with Jenny’s number | Upgrade Your Life – Yahoo! News.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Justin Bieber’s Vanity Fair Lowest Selling Issue in 12 Years

Duh…

As some of you may recall, I questioned this when I got my copy of “Vanity Fair” in the mail.  Justin Bieber is not exactly the type of celebrity that appeals to the “Vanity Fair” audience.

He’s more like “Tiger Beat”.  But apparently even his “Teen Vogue ” cover also tanked…

I guess the ‘tweens and teens are more digital.  Another “Duh…”

I only took one Marketing course in College, but even I remember the concept of “target marketing”.  Justin Bieber just doesn’t appeal to “Vanity Fair’s” target market – or to most educated, discriminating upscale music buyers and listeners.

Massive marketing failure….

Justin Bieber may have more than 10 million Twitter followers, and a hit with his documentary Never Say Never — but that doesn’t translate into newsstand sales for the magazine covers he graces.

The February Vanity Fair that featured the 17-year-old covered in lipstick kisses is on track to become the worst selling issue in 12 years, Women’s Wear Daily reports. It may also become one of the three worst sellers for the magazine since Graydon Carter was named editor in chief in 1992.

“Who knew 12-year-olds didn’t buy magazines?” said a Vanity Fair spokeswoman.

It’s sold 246,000 copies, according to Audit Bureau of Circulation’s’ Rapid Report — which is not yet audited, so numbers could change slightly.

AND

Bieber didn’t only lower numbers for Vanity Fair. His October 2010 Teen Vogue cover sold 121,054 copies, which is about 12 percent below the magazine’s 2010 average, WWD points out.

People’s April 2010 Bieber cover sold 961,762 copies, which was down 25 percent from its annual sales in 2010, and became the third worst seller of the weekly that year.

via Justin Bieber’s Vanity Fair Lowest Selling Issue in 12 Years – The Hollywood Reporter.

1 Comment

Filed under Entertainment, Music, Uncategorized

King James Bible Beats Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga

Interesting article…

Evangelical Christians always seem to think they are being victimized by popular culture.

Well, FaceBook is popular culture and this seems to indicate Christianity is doing just fine…

The Bible beat out Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga for the second week in a row to remain the most-visited page on Facebook. Pretty impressive for a book that is often maligned as a stodgy, outdated rulebook.

Facebook users are flocking to Facebook.com/TheBible to show their love of Scripture, posting messages like “we know stars like Bieber and Gaga…but talk about someone who created the solar system…GOD.”

The timing for the popularity of the Bible’s Facebook page is particularly appropriate. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the most-published book in history, the King James Bible. While usage of the King James Bible has certainly waxed and waned during the past 400 years, its influence has reverberated across the English-speaking world and has permeated nearly every corner of culture. From literature to law, praise to politics, the King James Bible has shaped the way the world speaks and writes.

via Bible Beats Bieber 42911.

Leave a comment

Filed under Religion, Uncategorized

Whitney Houston In Rehab: It’s Crack Again

It’s truly scary when Bobby Brown is coming off as the sane, responsible one….

This is really tragic.

Whitney could have been the biggest thing in show business.

Beautiful, an amazing singer, on her way to becoming a very good actress…

Then Crack…

And she’s turning out to be more Judy Garland than Barbra Streisand…

So sad to think of what might have been….

Singer Whitney Houston was using crack again when she went back to rehab, RadarOnline had learned, and her use of the highly-addictive drug terrified even ex-husband Bobby Brown!

A source close to R&B star Brown said he is so worried about his ex-wife that he fears “she might not pull through.”

“Whitney is doing crack again,” the source said about the 47-year-old Houston, the singer of top 1990s hits like I’ll Always Love You. “It’s the worst it’s ever been. Whitney went on tour again, and that’s when the relapse occurred.”

Brown, 42, has also told friends that Houston, 47, has increasingly isolated herself.

“Whitney’s shutting a lot of people out of her life,” the source said. “It is a dire situation.”

Bobby and Whitney were married for 14 years and were officially divorced in 2007. Both have a history of substance abuse. Their 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, was recently caught on camera snorting lines of cocaine.

via Whitney In Rehab: It’s Crack Again, And Even Bobby Brown’s Freaked Out! | Radar Online.

Leave a comment

Filed under Entertainment, Music, Uncategorized