VH1 I Love Toys (Continued)

Okay, I watched all five episodes of "I Love Toys" on VH1. Hysterical.

And the #1 Toy of all time???

The Hula Hoop



I am always amazed how things that are so, so, soooo simple turn out to be huge successes. Think about it - post it notes (paper squares with glue), hula hoops (a plastic ring), paper clips (a twisted length of wire); Countless more.

Sometimes I think we all think way too hard. It's the simple stuff that lasts.

Why This World Is Coming To An End

Some "artist" decided to make a statue of a naked Britney Spears giving birth to her son.

Why?

Again. Why?

Link (at your own risk. You've been warned.)

Also, some guy tried to live a week at a Wal-Mart. He only lasted 41 hours. Hahahaha. I know some people that could easily live a week at Wal-Mart.

You Wanna Screw Up Your Vision?

Paint a Panda Bear on a human hair.

Link (via BoingBoing)

It's A Gas, Gas, Gas

Gas prices here are predicted to go over $3 a gallon for regular unleaded.

No matter how look at it, that's just sick.

The Library - My Favorite Video Store

I've found a great resource for getting movies to watch -- the local library.

Sure, they may not have all the latest, greatest titles, but one of the libraries down the street has a pretty generous selection of movies all for the low, low price of nothing. I get to keep each movie at two days, which is more than enough time.

Right now, I've been on a Criterion Collection kick -- catching up on some foreign films that have been around for a while. To date I've borrowed Ikiru (a wonderful Kurosawa film about a dying man who had been a company slave most of his life trying to make make a difference in his neighborhood at the end), Eyes Without A Face (a French horror film about a scientist trying to give his disfigured daughter a new face. Surprisingly gruesome for a film from the late 50s), and Knife in the Water (Roman Polanski's first movie about a couple who go boating with a hitchhiker they pick up -- a good psychological thriller).

Tomorrow, it's off to the library again -- I think more Kurosawa is on tap.

Music Ho Time

Okay, 'nuff with rude people.

Some of the latest stuff to expand the Music Ho's musical horizon:

Janis Joplin - "Pearl" (Legacy Edition)



A classic. Joplin was one of those singers that was possessed by the music. She didn't just sing. She owned the song. The closest I've ever come to seeing that in real life was watching Melissa Etheridge on the 2005 Grammy's covering a... Janis Joplin tune! The second disc is full of tracks from her performances on the Festival Express which choogled through Canada in the early 70s.

Santana - "III" (Legacy Edition)



Another classic. The final album in a triad of classic latin-funk-rock gems from Santana (the other two being "Santana" and "Abraxas"). Again, the latin rhythm rock fusion is near-flawless. Santana's playing is incredible. I wish Santana would attempt to go back to an album like this instead of continuing with his Santana plus Special Guests style albums which have become his norm. He really needs to form a new band of trusted musicians really tear up some of the classic sound he's known for.

Arctic Monkeys - "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I Am Not"



The single most hyped band going at the moment. Not really deserving of the almost rabid praise they've been getting, but the album's pretty darned good. Best comparison for U.S. ears is that they sound a lot like Franz Ferdinand, but must punkier. Whereas Franz F. veers more towards a disco-esque sound, the A. Monkeys go all angular and jagged, but still manage to still pull off some cool grooves and rhythms.

Boy Least Likely To - "The Best Party Ever"



Fun. Period. Very innocent, almost childlike songs full of bouncy rhythms, xylophones, etc. The opening track is a joy. Only available as an import from the U.K. but worth seeking out. Between them and The Go Team, there's some awfully fun music coming out of the U.K. the past year.

Donald Fagen - "Morph The Cat"



More incredible jazz-rock-funk from 1/2 of Steely Dan. Much more upbeat and jazzy/playful than his first two solo discs. Sounds a lot more like a logical continuation of Steely Dan's two most recent albums. If you liked those, you'll like this one. I liked those (I personally think "Everything Must Go" is one of Steely Dan's best albums), and I like this one.

Rudeness: A Warning To Parents

Okay, let's get serious for a second.

Sorry, kiddies, but there's no excuse for being rude. Mommy and Daddy, there's no excuse for your kids being rude either. And there's no excuse for DEFENDING your child's rudeness.

So, we're in the grocery store and these two prepubescent girls are staring at my wife and my brother-in-law. So, we call them out for staring (tell me... at what point in time did staring become acceptable?). We move on to another aisle. Yet another couple of young girls. One of them silently makes a motion about my brother-in-law's weight. We almost let that one slide until one of the adult women with the group comments that my brother-in-law was crazy and justified the girl's motion.

Well, that was enough of that -- first my wife and then I tore in the adult telling her that what the girl did was rude. And yet the adult attempted to defend the girl's actions.

How the hell can you defend rudeness? I can understand a young girl making a rude remark if they've not been taught the difference between right and wrong. But defending it? That's unforgiveable. The adult should have told the young girl that what she did was wrong. She didn't need to scold the girl or hit her or enforce right and wrong though a negative method. But she DID need to let the girl know that what she did was not nice. But instead she defended the girl and even went so far as to reinforce the girl's rudeness by being rude also.

If you as a "responsible" adult cannot take the time to help a child learn the difference between right and wrong, then you should not have children yourself and you should not be allowed to be around children. In my opinion, that's child abuse. You're setting that child up to believe that what they did was right and that's going to set the child up for a huge fall later in life when that action explodes in their face.

People, it's time to get back to the basics of what's right and what's wrong. I don't care HOW busy your life is or HOW stressed your life is or HOW bad your life is -- there's no excuse for being rude. Living by what's right and what's wrong should be ingrained in your very soul. It's not something you think about. And if you're the one of the receiving end of rudeness, don't be afraid to stand up for what's right and what's wrong and the let the person know that what they did was unacceptable. The only exception is if the person being rude is obvious unbalanced or potentially violent.

TV Remakes That Make You Go "HUH?"

From RollingStone.com:

"Veteran rapper turned actor ICE CUBE is set to star in and produce a big-screen adaptation of the classic Seventies TV series, "Welcome Back, Cotter." Cube will play Mr. Cotter, a teacher who returns to his inner-city neighborhood to face a group of underprivileged troublemakers reminiscent of his younger self. Final negotiations are underway with TOM BRADY ("The Hot Chick") to direct and pen the script. Production is expected to begin this fall."

I can't wait to see who gets cast as the Sweathogs.

Google Mars!

Forget earth.

Now you can use the Google Maps interface to have a nice look-see at Mars.

At this time, you can't do driving directions on Mars, but I'm sure they're working on it.

Google Mars

VH1 I Love The...

Quick post as I should be sleeping.

I'm a friggin' addict for those VH1 I Love the [] shows. This week, they've been airing a new series - I Love Toys. Absolutely hilarious. If you're part of the 35 - 45 year old bracket, watch this show as you'll remember all those toys.

Save "Starting Over"

I'm tacking on a petition link and an article to save the show "Starting Over", which may be facing cancellation. "Starting Over" is a show where six women facing various difficulties in their lives live together and, with the help of three life coaches, come to face their painful pasts and start building their lives into ones of happiness and hope.

On the surface, you may think "Why would I want to watch a show about women crying and bitching about their pasts?". However the show is very positive and not only do you see these women truly turn their lives around, but the show is structured in a way that you, the viewer, also come away with very positive life lessons and tools to regain your own happiness. I've found it's very easy to identify with some of these women's stories... and I'm a guy!!

Because this show is such a positive force for good and happiness, it's truly deserving of the same "excempt cancellation" priviledges that a show like "America's Most Wanted" has.

Here's the article and link:


Ardent Fans Petition to Keep Show on Air

Orlando, FL 2/6/06-- Sometimes TV is for entertainment. Sometimes it feels like it's saving your life.

That's how the many fans of NBC's daytime reality drama, Starting Over, view the show which chronicles the daily lives of the women in the Starting Over house. Each of the house guests has a life issue--varying from addictions to depression to childhood traumas-- and works with nationally renowned Life Coaches Rhonda Britten (Founder of the Fearless Living Institute) and Iyanla Vanzant (author of "Yesterday I Cried" and "Acts of Faith") to not only resolve their issues but to reaffirm and re-establish new lives. Dr Stan Katz, consulting psychologist, brings a male perspective to the mix.

The show, called one of "6 TV Shows Not to Overlook" by the November 7, 2005 issue of Time magazine, has an amazing effect on its loyal fan base. A dynamic internet community of fans of the show have created various websites and online message boards in support of not only the reality series, but in support of each other in achieving goals and garnering support from other women.

Womencomfortwomen.com, an interactive website with message boards, daily chats and a
rapidly growing membership, is one of the more popular websites for the fans of the show.

Upon reading that NBC and Bunim/Murray, producers, are considering cancelling the show, WomenComforWomen site owner Debbie Cochran began an online petition to save the show. "Starting Over gives many of our members insight into empowering their lives and strengthening their families," says Cochran, herself mother of her first child. "Our members discuss the show on the message boards and in the chat room, and find that they have much in common with the women on the show. In many ways, this show provides a healthy new outlook on the problems in their lives."

"We're hoping to gain more signatures for the petition to present to NBC and Bunim/Murray," Cochran continues, "Women consumers are big fans of the show, and if the emotional appeal doesn't work, then our next stop is the advertisers."

"This show is a part of our lives and we want to keep it on the air."

To sign the petition, go to: http://new.PetitionOnline.com/DC0531/petition.html

Cochran's website: http://www.womencomfortwomen.com

Kind Of A Cool Hollywood Thought

This Sunday is the Oscars. This show will be watched by millions of people around the world.

This Sunday I need to take my brother-in-law to work at an Oscar party.

I have to make sure I don't go my usual way because I will drive smack into the traffic caused by the Oscars at the Kodak Theatre.

I just it's kinda cool that I have to worry about traffic being caused by something that will be watched by millions of people around the world.

Okay. Back to thinking useful thoughts.