It's all in the family

Matt Damon's uncle, George Brunstad, became the oldest person to swim the English channel in an attempt to raise money for children in Haiti. The 70-year-old former airline pilot made the crossing in just under 16 hours.

Bush-supporting Baldwin

One of these Baldwins is not like the others...

Alec Baldwin's younger brother actor Stephen Baldwin is throwing his support behind President George W Bush in the forthcoming Presidential election - because his country's leader is "being led by God".

The former liberal and now born-again Christian is attending the Republican National Convention in New York to cheer on the current premier, who he deems has more faith than Democrat Presidential candidate John Kerry. Baldwin tells gossip site Pagesix.Com, "I'm there to support the man I believe has the most faith. That's who I'm voting for. I believe the next president should be a guy who is being led by God. I believe there is one guy, and that's the guy I want to vote for."

As for any disharmony between him and his Democratic-supporting siblings Alec and William, Baldwin comments, "I don't have a perception about that."

Blogiversary

I noticed that yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of my blog, and I missed it!

So, Happy Blogiversary to me, 1 day late!

It's been an awesome time! I'd like to thank the Academy, er, my early blog inspirations:

Professor Cooper
Jay Solo
Josh Claybourn
Lori
Ith
Geoffrey
Rachel

And anyone and everyone else who has helped me along the way.

If anyone has any suggestions or complaints, let me know. We'll make year 2 even better than the first!

The Passion of the "Clerks"

Kevin Smith, the writer-director of "Dogma," "Chasing Amy" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" told the Associated Press on Friday that he has begun work on a sequel to "Clerks," his homemade indie classic from 1994.

The sequel picks up 10 years later.

The sequel -- titled "The Passion of the Clerks" -- is set to begin shooting in January. Miramax Films, which turned the original into a cult-hit after buying it at the Sundance Film Festival, plans to distribute the follow-up.

--SWEET! I can't wait for this to be released! :)

Laura Branigan Dies

I was shocked when I heard that Laura Branigan died in her sleep at the age of 47.

I just love her music. In fact, "Gloria" and "Self Control" are both on the workout mix I listen to every day.

Many people don't know that most recently, she played the singing version of Janis Joplin in the off-Broadway musical Love, Janis in 2002.

Sweet News

Scientists have found that eating dark chocolate appears to improve the function of important cells lining the wall of blood vessels for at least three hours.

The study, involving 17 healthy young volunteers who agreed to eat a bar of dark chocolate and then get an ultrasound, found that eating dark chocolate seemed to make the blood vessels more flexible, which helps prevent the hardening of the arteries that leads to heart attacks.

--Awww yeah! I've always liked dark chocolate best anyway! :)

Dad

My dad is having his hip replaced today. Here's to a flawless surgery and speedy recovery, Dad!

Go Clint!

Big congrats going out to a buddy of mine from high school!

Clint Barmes, playing for the Colorado Rockies, hit his first career home run, a three-run shot that accounted for all of the Rockies' runs in a 4-3 loss in Miami Saturday to the Marlins.

Whoo hoo! We always knew you could do it, Clint.

Beckham Baby

It's baby #3 for Posh and Becks:

Pals of former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and her soccer star husband David Beckham have confirmed reports the celebrity couple are expecting another baby are true. The glamorous couple are desperate for a little sister for their two sons, Brooklyn, five, and Romeo, one.

Drivers Wanted

Here's a report that ranks the deadliest states for driving. The worst states?

Wyoming
Mississippi
Montana
South Dakota
New Mexico

Indiana comes in at #32.

Almost Famous

You want the designer look without the designer price? This week's People magazine featured a knock-off website that is supposed to be pretty good.

I personally think the bags scream "FAKE," but I may have to order a pair of sunglasses.

You Go, Girl!

Hollywood beauty Halle Berry has reportedly donated her estranged husband Eric Benet's clothes to homeless Los Angeles residents.

The Monster's Ball star's soul singer spouse Benet moved out of their Hollywood home in October following their split after two and a half years of marriage. According to British newspaper The Sun, Berry has repeatedly asked the hitmaker to pick up his belongings from the house, but finally lost her patience and brought the garments to a charity collection point.

A friend says, "Halle was boiling mad. She found it hurtful having his stuff around. There will be nicely dressed tramps around."

--That's great. You go, Halle.

Back to School?

A new reality show will follow rocker Tommy Lee from the classroom to the frat house.

The former Motley Crue drummer has signed on with NBC for an untitled reality show that has him enrolling in an undisclosed college. Lee has reportedly been interested in doing a reality show for awhile, but has been waiting for the right project to interest him.

NBC hasn't announced when the series will begin, but in the meantime, Lee is getting ready for the October release of his autobiography, Tommyland.

--This could be the best reality show yet. Can you see Tommy in Calculus class? Or getting hazed?

Dave Matthews and His Dumpage

The state of Illinois sued the Dave Matthews Band on Tuesday for allegedly dumping up to 800 pounds of liquid human waste from a bus into the Chicago River, dousing a tour boat filled with passengers.

The lawsuit accuses the band and one of its bus drivers of violating state water pollution and public nuisance laws. It seeks $70,000 in civil penalties.

Rop Music

'American Idol' runner-up recording debut album on tour off-dates:

Like her own music collection, Diana DeGarmo's album will be quite diverse. "I love all genres of music," she said. "I think it helps you become a better performer if you know the different types of music. [On my album] you got the few Celine Dion kind of songs, big-money-note songs, but we also have songs that I want to put on the radio for people my age to listen to, something that if I were in the car, I'd be like, 'All right!' "

DeGarmo has come up with a name for that particular style — rop.

"I know this sounds completely nuts, but it's like pop with a little bit of R&B, it's R-O-P, rop," she said.

--Yeah, we get it, Diana. Very clever.

Great Web Tool

I stumbled upon a great website to find cheap air tickets.

It searches all of the major airlines, plus discount places like Cheaptickets and Orbitz. It takes care of having to check them all yourself.

Enjoy! And happy travels!

First seen at Dell's Diner.

Mandy Sets the Record Straight

Singer and actress Mandy Moore is furious at being "outed" as a secret Republican in the new issue of America's Details magazine.

The publication's upcoming September edition lists Adam Sandler, Freddie Prinze Jr., Jessica Simpson, Shannen Doherty and Moore as silent supporters of current US President George W. Bush who don't join the campaign trail and make their political views known, unlike loud and proud Democrats Ben Affleck and Barbra Streisand.

However, the A Walk To Remember beauty has angrily denied she supports Bush and his party. Her publicist tells American website Pagesix.Com, "Mandy is not, nor has she ever been, a Republican."

--Oh Mandy, chill out. There are worse things you could be called. :)

Geisha Movie

Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden's 1997 bestseller about a naïve Japanese girl turned big-city working girl, should have been a cineplex slam-dunk by now, but rotating directors and some Hollywood-sized grudges have kept the novel from making it to the big screen.

But finally, Columbia Pictures has just announced that production will begin next month in Los Angeles and Japan with Chicago's Rob Marshall at the helm and Steven Spielberg producing.

--I'm really pumped about this. I just adored this book. I smell some Oscars for this pic!

Hometown Hero

Congrats to Dan Beery on your gold medal!

Beery is a member of the United States elite eight Olympic rowing team, which Sunday won America's first gold medal in that event in 40 years.

He's not only from Indiana, but also from Knox County--where I grew up.

And a BIG good luck to the Iraqi soccer team. Beat Paraguay today!

Monday Diversion

Here's an interesting little game to keep you busy today.

Trendy Product Alert

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Wild Weekend

Sorry I was MIA from the blog this weekend. Had a mini-DePauw reunion with my friends from college.

5 girls came in town and stayed with me, and we partied with our guy friends from school. It was such a wonderful time, but I'm paying for it today!

Who's Sexy?

In Style magazine had its readers vote on who they find sexy.

Beyonce was voted the sexiest songbird.

Ben Affleck was named the sexiest leading man. Affleck and his brother Casey were voted the sexiest siblings.

Jennifer Aniston was named the sexiest leading lady - and part of the sexiest couple with Brad Pitt.

Elisha Cuthbert was tops in the categories of sexiest female in a TV drama and sexiest rising female star.

--Ok, those aren't bad choices. But I think they were smoking crack on their choice for sexiest male singer: Clay Aiken. Are you joking me? There is NOTHING sexy about him? He's the goofiest looking guy I've seen in ages.

Putting a voice with the face

The voice of Homer Simpson:

Class Act

Britney Spears left motormouth Popword presenter Simon Amstell speechless during a recent interview.

When he asked her what was the last thing she'd had in her mouth, she replied "a dildo".

Top 10 Business Movies

MSNBC.com has compiled a list of the top 10 business movies.

Which one of their top choices is your favorite?
"The Magnificent Ambersons"

"It's a Wonderful Life"

"The Solid Gold Cadillac"

"Desk Set"

"The Apartment"

"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

"The Godfather, Parts I and II"

"Working Girl"

"Glengarry Glen Ross"

"Office Space"

--Ooooh, that's a toughy for me. The acting in "Glengarry Glen Ross" is simply superb. "Working Girl" is a great cheer-for-the-underdog movie. "Office Space" wins high marks with me for humor and accuracy. And what's there to say about "The Godfather" that hasn't already been said. And as for "It's a Wonderful Life," I think I'm the only one on the planet that doesn't really care for that movie. I think I'm going to have to go with "Working Girl."

Dr. Bond?

Nip/Tuck hunk Julian McMahon is the latest big name to be linked to the role of James Bond.

The Australian actor - who was once married to Kylie Minogue's sister Dannii - joins established British stars Orlando Bloom, Jude Law and Clive Owen on the list of contenders for the part.

It was previously thought that one of McMahon's countrymen, Hugh Jackman or Eric Bana, would take over from Pierce Brosnan, but both sets of rumors have proved to be false. Insiders are not ruling out the prospect of Brosnan making one final outing as the world's favorite superspy in Bond 21, slated for Autumn 2005 release.

--He'd be one of my top choices. I just don't see Orlando Bloom in that role.

Goodbye, Charlotte

I called home yesterday during the day to find out how my cat Charlotte was doing--she had been very sick with a thyroid condition. My parents had planned to hold off until I got home from work, but reluctantly told me that they had just taken her to be put to sleep.

She was the sweetest cat in the whole world. Some people say cats don't love you like dogs do--Charlotte was totally different.

I can't remember exactly when we obtained her. I think I was in 8th grade or so. She was actually originally the neighbor's cat. But they didn't feed her enough and let her water freeze, so she started coming our way. I begged and finally my parents let me start feeding her. We called and asked the neighbors if we could have her, and they said yes.

RIP, Char. I'll miss you.

Come home, Tinkerbell

Paris Hilton, star of the Fox reality show "The Simple Life 2: Road Trip," is offering a $5,000 reward for her dog, missing since last Wednesday, Hilton's spokeswoman, Tracy Shaffer, confirmed Tuesday.

--Sure hope Paris finds her pooch. Maybe Tink's therapy sessions weren't helping her stress and she just had to get away.

UPDATE: Tink found safely. God, I'm glad. I would have lost serious sleep tonight.

Caskco?

Why pay too much for a casket? Get yours at Costco!

You can buy baby food, groceries, computers, furniture and a whole host of things at Costco — now you can even find caskets at some of its stores.

The world's largest warehouse club operator said Tuesday it began a test program that offers caskets at two of its Chicago area stores.

Bye Bye Silly String

"Silly string," a colorful aerosol foam that children spray on each other, is not so silly after all, at least not in Los Angeles.

The city council voted Tuesday to ban the use of the string-like plastic derivative in Hollywood on Halloween because of environmental and security concerns.

--How sad! I used to LOVE that stuff!

Miranda goes back to blonde

Sex And The City actress Cynthia Nixon is planning to return to her natural blonde hair color - six years after dying her mane red for the show.

Nixon, who played cynical lawyer Miranda Hobbes in the defunct TV comedy, is happy to be going back to her roots, because her seven-year-old daughter is blonde and wants to share the same hair color as her mother.

Porn to be wild

Don McFadden was channel surfing for the Red Sox game, but the Salem senior nearly fell off his chair when red hot sex popped up on his tube instead.

Now red-faced Comcast Cable officials are vowing to get to the bottom of the salacious snafu that sent several minutes of hard core porn to countless homes Saturday afternoon on Comcast's 24-hour news and entertainment network, CN8.

"I went by it and said, `Whoa what was that?,' '' McFadden said yesterday. "Itwasn't grainy, it was super quality film and production values.''

Communications giant Comcast issued a statement yesterday acknowledging the goof.

--Eh, sox, sex, minor detail. :)

First Day

My first day at the firm went well. I was busy all day, was presented with a beautiful Coach portfolio as a welcome/the bar is over gift, and my secretary decorated my office and made welcome signs.

It was a very wonderful first day!

Trucker Boy

Trucker Boy, a new line of car accessories and clothes puts a hilarious spin on the famous female-objectifying iconography that's riled many a Thelma and Louise.

The design features a trucker-hat-bedecked good ol' boy in the traditional provocative pose and can be had on T-shirts, undies, hats, aprons, travel mugs, and, of course, mud flaps. The latter are available in two sizes, so even those who drive regular sedans can get in on the action.

Check out their products, here.

Celeb Legal Document

Well, as we know, Nicky Hilton has tied the not. Here's her marriage license.

How Low Can you Go?

A man has been arrested in Pedro Sula, Honduras after he was caught begging dressed up as a pregnant woman.

Samuel Bonilla had been dressing up as pregnant woman and begging on the streets for two years.

Big Girl

I start my first non law student day at the firm. I can't do full-out lawyer stuff until I find out if I passed the bar, but I can write and do research for others, and start reading up on the cases they are going to be giving to me.

Fun fun!

Hilton Sis Marries

Hotel heiress Nicky Hilton married a New York money manager before dawn Sunday in an impromptu ceremony, according to court filings obtained by The Associated Press.

Hilton, 20, married Todd Andrew Meister, 33, at the Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, according a Clark County marriage license. A woman who answered the phone at the chapel declined comment.

--Sure hope she got a prenup.

Jenna Tells All

Porn queen Jenna Jameson tattles on all the horny celebrities she claims have hit on her in her new book — including Cindy Crawford.

In "How to Make Love Like a Porn Star," Jameson recounts her encounter with the supermodel, whom she met while Jameson was doing a guest-hosting stint on the E! channel. "I kept getting a weird vibe from her," writes Jameson, an avowed bisexual who's had sex with hundreds of women. "I knew what it meant, because I'd experienced it so many times before, but I kept dismissing it. It couldn't be true: she was Cindy Crawford, after all."

The X-rated icon continues: "When I turned my back . . . Cindy reached over and rubbed the back of my neck. 'Ooh,' she cooed. 'Look at your beautiful tattoo!'

"She touched my neck so softly and sensually . . . It was too much. She was so larger than life that I couldn't even imagine running my tongue along that trademark mole of hers. So I excused myself to get a drink."

Elsewhere in the book, co-written by former Times music critic Neil Strauss, Jameson recounts her sex sessions with the "massively endowed" Marilyn Manson and her encounters with Nicolas Cage who smelled like "the distilled sweat of homeless people."

Mr. Roboto

Another new fashion craze that I simply do NOT understand: The new Prada tote with robot appliqués.

Give me an "N"...

University of Florida's cheerleading coach is being fired after giving the squad permission to wear sexually explicit T-shirts at a cheerleading camp.

Gene Moore says he was unfairly terminated for allowing squad members to wear the shirt that listed ``Ten Reasons to Cheer Naked.'' He was fired after the University Athletic Association received complaints.

--Oh come on! They fired him over a T-shirt? That's ridiculous!

Quiz Fun

What do you remember from school? Take this quiz and find out.

Whoo hoo...I was 10/10.

Ugsville

How many of us have been in a wedding and had to wear a hideous dress that we'll never wear again? I sure have. Well if you have too, this site is for you!

It totally cracked me up!

Baggage Theft

Three screening agents for the Transportation Security Administration were arrested yesterday at La Guardia, and one was arrested on Friday at Kennedy, on charges that they stole items from luggage set up by investigators conducting a sting operation.

After many passengers - including Chevy Chase, Joan Rivers and Susan Lucci - complained of missing items over the past six months, investigators set up the sting, a law enforcement official said yesterday.

--I've had pretty good luck with that. I've had a bottle of perfume stolen, but that's it.

Luck on the Ladies

How happy am I that the ladies and I were in Florida and Key West LAST week? YIKES!

Some highlights of the trip:

--Drag show mentioned in previous post--met the oldest drag queen in Key West
--Stayed at a very cute bed and breakfast in Key West that had a continental breakfast and poolside happy hour every night
--Great seafood
--Got to see Jaime's awesome new house in Atlanta (and got to see her, too)
--A hilarious game of drunken charades played on a rainy afternoon
--Walks on the beach
--Various bar exam bitching
--Outlet mall shopathon for work clothes
--Had my first taste of port wine
--Caught up on trashy magazines and bad TV
--Had a bird poop on me while in the pool (at least I could rinse it off easily)

It was a GREAT time! :)

I'm BAAAAAACK!

Greetings everyone! I'm back from my much-needed vacation. I'm now well-rested, well-fed, and well tanned.

Thanks to EVERYONE who guest blogged while I was away. You did an absolutely FANTASTIC job. I owe you BIG time!

I'm still trying to emerge from the unpacking, etc. More entertaining posts to follow.

I did manage to see a fabulous drag show while I was in Key West. Would HIGHLY recommend attending one if you haven't been to one.

Dicey Proposition

Andrew Dice Clay Reality Show?

Loudmouth comic Andrew Dice Clay is getting ready to shop around a reality show that could star him, his wife and ... his girlfriend.

"I'm not the greatest husband - I've got a girlfriend," he told us. "It doesn't really please my wife, but then if I was looking to please her I wouldn't have a girlfriend."

Won't his wife be shocked?

"I mean she knows about it, and I guess she's okay with it. Plus my kids like both of them," he said.

Clay (who's performing at the Laugh Factory on Saturday) says he wants to give viewers something they can "really hook into, with characters they can care about for a long time." He hasn't found a taker yet but plans to approach the cable stations within the next year. We're thinking the Family Channel might pass.

If a man is married and has a girlfriend - - it doesn't please the wife, but she accepts it - - how many men do you think would have and keep the girlfriend?

This guy has his cake and is eating it too.

Posted by Uptown Girl

Disorderly Conduct

86-year-old Mike Wallace Arrested Tuesday for Disorderly Conduct

Wallace was getting carry-out on Manhattan's Upper East Side Tuesday evening. His driver had the car double parked outside the bar and grill where Wallace is a regular, and 2 taxi inspectors began questioning the driver. As Wallace exited the bar and grill, he allegedly approached the 2 inspectors in "an overtly assertive and disrespectful manner."

After being asked 3 times to step aside, Wallace reportedly lunged at one of the inspectors. He was then handcuffed and taken to a police station where he was issued a summons for disorderly conduct.

Can't you just see Wallace lunging at one of these guys? Those crazy 86-year-olds think they can do whatever they want. Wallace later called the owner of the bar and grill to let him know he was safely at home eating his meatloaf. No word yet on whether 60 Minutes will be doing an in depth investigation of the incident.

Posted by Kelly

It's A Nurse-In

Breastfeeding Moms Hold 'Nurse-In' at Starbucks

More than two dozen mothers staged a breastfeeding "nurse-in" at a Starbucks Corp. store in Maryland over the weekend in an effort to get the world's largest coffee shop chain to adopt a policy allowing breastfeeding in all its U.S. stores.

Lorig Charkoudian, who organized the event, said on Tuesday that she began her quest a month ago when she was nursing her 15-month-old daughter at the store in Silver Spring, Maryland, and was asked by a Starbucks employee to cover up with a blanket or breastfeed in the bathroom.

She protested and, after eventually reaching the regional vice president, got Seattle-based Starbucks to recognize a Maryland law that allows mothers to breastfeed their children in public.

Starbucks spokeswoman Audrey Lincoff said in a statement that the coffee chain "quickly apologized for her negative experience" and reminded employees at its Maryland stores to comply with the law.

Charkoudian argues that Starbucks should have gone a step further and allow breastfeeding at all its 5,882 coffee shops in the United States.

Her child is 15 months old? How long is a child breast-fed?

I remember seeing a television a while back and a woman was breastfeeding her toddler and someone who was looking on said, "If the kid can chew steak it's time to stop breastfeeding".

I digress.

I don't think there is anything wrong with a mother breastfeeding her child in public - - However, call me a prude, I think it is appropriate to have a bit of tact about it.

Posted by Uptown Girl

Photos Into Stamps

New Service Turns Photos Into Postage Stamps

You don't have to be a dead president to make it onto a U.S. postage stamp. Your picture or even your dog can now be on an official U.S. postage stamp.

A new service from Postage.com allows users to create stamps with their own photos. Postage.com CEO Ken McBride said you can use a picture of just about anything or anyone -- within reason.

McBride anticipates the Photostamp service will be popular for holiday cards and invitations. A sheet of first class photo stamps costs about $17 -- or about twice the usual 37-cent stamp.

It's a cute idea - - but I think I spend too much on postage at .37 cents a stamp - - let alone double that. It could be fun to do though for special occasions.

Do you wanna be a stamp?

Posted by Uptown Girl

The Donald

Trump in Casino Debt Deal

Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc. said key bond holders had agreed to take the company into voluntary bankruptcy and restructure its $1.8 billion in debt to get a $400 million capital infusion.

CSFB's DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III will co-invest $400 million with Trump and take a majority stake.

Trump will remain chairman of the company, which owns four casinos, including the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, and has been seeking for months to restructure its debt.

Trump himself will invest $55 million in the new company with CSFB and $15.9 million in notes. He would also receive land in Atlantic City and his real estate firm would get the right of first offer to serve as contractor for new development.

The restructuring will cut the company's annual cash interest expense by about $110.2 million.

I remember reading about this and must say I'm impressed that he pulled this deal off - - but then "The Donald" knows the "art of the deal".

Posted by Uptown Girl

Fay Wray

Fay Wray, Beauty to Kong's Beast, Dies at 96

Fay Wray, an actress who appeared in about 100 movies but whose fame is inextricably linked with the hours she spent struggling helplessly and screaming in the eight-foot-hand of King Kong, died on Sunday night at her apartment on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. She was 96.

I think I'm going to have to rent the movie - - because I don't really remember it that well except for the clips in other films of KK with Fay in his hand.

What a long life she lived - - we should all be so fortunate.

Posted by Uptown Girl

Security - - Anyone?

Paris and Nicky Hilton's Home Burglarized

Police confirmed Friday they were investigating a burglary at the Hollywood Hills home of Paris and Nicky Hilton.

Us Weekly magazine quoted an unnamed Hilton family member who said the burglar took off with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, jewelry and personal items.

Another unnamed source told the magazine that a laptop computer, several designer purses, video tapes and photographs of Paris Hilton with ex-boyfriend Nick Carter were also taken.

Burglars appear to have cut a window screen and entered the modest Hollywood Boulevard home. Hilton said she was renting the home and planned to move into one she had purchased next month that will have more security.

Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't leave hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry in a house that doesn't have a great security system. OK, I wouldn't leave it in a house without a huge safe, lots of security and a more.

I'm sure they are heavily insured.

Posted by Uptown Girl

The Duke Gets Stamp

Stamp to Honor Movie Hero John Wayne

He crossed "Rio Bravo" and "Red River." He fought at "Fort Apache" and on "The Sands of Iwo Jima." He was "The Quiet Man" and won an Oscar as Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit," but everyone knew him as the Duke. Next month, movie hero John Wayne will get his own postage stamp.

On Sept. 9, the U.S. Postal Service will release the 37-cent stamp, the latest in the Legends of Hollywood series. The first day of issue ceremony will be at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, and the stamps will go on sale nationwide the next day.

I can't say I've ever watched many John Wayne movies - - but I think this is kind of cool to be on a postage stamp.

Posted by Uptown Girl

Kester the Jester

England gets first jester for 350 years

Nigel Roder has beaten six rivals by public acclaim to become England's first official jester for more than 350 years, succeeding Muckle John who lost his job when King Charles 1 was beheaded in 1649.

"This is a real job. He will have to amuse and provoke -- although failure to do so will no longer risk beheading," Tracy Borman, events director of English Heritage.

Unlike court jesters of old, Roder will be able to negotiate his salary, and his initial contract with English Heritage -- to divert the public from the tedious daily grind -- will run from March to October 2005.

What a job!

Posted by Uptown Girl

Rick James

"Super Freak" musician Rick James Dies

Flamboyant funk music pioneer Rick James, a dynamic performer whose sensuous 1981 dance hit "Super Freak" came to embody the ruinous excesses of his colourful life, has died in his sleep of natural causes. He was 56.

James died at 9:20 a.m. on Friday in his home near Hollywood, a record label spokeswoman said.

He was one of my all time favorite funk musicians.

Posted by Uptown Girl

Mayor in Stilettos?

Former Porn Star Ilona Staller Runs For Mayor

The star of 40 porn films and one-time Italian lawmaker said Friday that she plans to run for mayor of Milan.

Ilona Staller, widely known by her stage name, "Cicciolina," told The Associated Press she hopes to make Milan "an exciting place."

"Exciting is an ambiguous word, I know, that is why people like it," said the 52-year-old, who has been known to bare her breasts at news conferences.

Staller told reporters Wednesday that she is trying to collect 1,000 signatures needed to get on the ballot. If she makes it, Staller said she will run as an independent and use her "smiling, beautiful face" as a symbol.

If all of this weren't enough this is the same lady who offered to have sex with Saddam Hussein (many years back) if he would free foreign hostages.

We all know how well that worked out for her on "foreign affairs".

Who did her make-up? Tammy Faye?

Posted by Uptown Girl

Nair Emergency

Guinness Book's Hairiest Man Has Ear Hair Removed to Hear

The world's hairiest man, Chinese rock singer Yu Zhenhuan, underwent ear surgery in Shanghai on Friday to remove hair that was impairing his hearing.

Doctors said Yu had complained of constant earaches and nausea and had lost one-third of his hearing.

Yu's body, save the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet, is covered with an average of 41 hairs per 1 sq cm (0.16 sq inch), a condition doctors term "atavism".

Before I sound completely shallow and without emotion I want to say that - Yes, I know this is a medical condition.

However - - (didn't you see that coming)?

However, are there not numerous hair removal products and procedures to get this under control?

Maybe it's just me - but I can't even stand when a man has hair on his back. I just think it needs to be dealt with.

Posted by Uptown Girl

Man Pillow

This is kind of a cool yet silly idea:

SINGLE women in Japan have been offered the ultimate bedtime mate: he won't stay out late, he doesn't snore and he won't hog the doona.

Women of all ages have reportedly been rushing to buy their very own Boyfriend Arm Pillow - a snuggly alternative to the real thing.

And in the "they deserve each other" category today we have:

The Kerry girls and Ben Affleck hold a mutual admiration society.

Annika's right. He's not that hot. And neither are they.

Brought to you by Deb.

Don't scratch it...

Jack would have continued. Jack wouldn't have let a little case of chicken pox stop the show. Jack would have said "f**k it" and risked the health of all the others in the cast, but that's right, no matter how much you would like to be compared to Jack, you're no Jack. Taking on a role that Jack made famous won't help you either. Be your own man, hell be a man period.

M@

The Quiet Founder

As someone with a deep interest in the history of the Constitution's drafting and ratification, I've always been puzzled by the lack of respect, or indeed attention, popular history has given to James Madison. The recent hubbub about the possibility of putting Ronald Reagan on the ten-dollar bill, or the dime, brought the point home again: Jefferson has his nickel (and the two-dollar bill), Hamilton has the ten-spot, Ben Franklin is on the hundred, and Washington is ubiquitous on the dollar bill and the quarter. But Madison is nowhere to be found (okay, he was on the five-thousand dollar bill, but you don't see those in your wallet every day). Was it because his presidency saw the British torch the White House? Was it because he (like John Adams, another frequently overlooked founder) was short?

Anyway, a commentary on Morning Edition yesterday put it in perspective. James Madison, you see, was George Harrison, "overshadowed by stronger personalities, yet ... essential to the mix.... The famous tract we call The Federalist No. 10 was the 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' of the eighteenth century." Yes. It all makes sense now.

Ben Franklin, in case you're wondering, was Ringo.

Posted by Jeff Cooper

Gotti Trois

Ordering More Gotti

A&E has ordered five more episodes of reality series "Growing Up Gotti" after its Monday episode delivered the strongest series premiere ever -- 3.2 million viewers -- on the cable network.

A&E already has ordered 20 half-hours of the series, which follows the daughter and grandsons of late mob kingpin John Gotti.

How can they base anything on the first episode? I am sure people were tuning in out of sheer morbid curiosity - - sort of like watching a train wreck. You want to look away, but you can't.

I'd say don't order more until after episode three or even five. Those will be real numbers.

Are you looking forward to the extra episodes?

Posted by Uptown Girl

Kaboom!

Georgia Man's Pants Explode

According to newspaper reports, three Walker County, Georgia social workers were visiting Daniel Gabriel Doyle. As he sat in their car filling out paperwork, his pants exploded.

"He kept fiddling with his front right pants pocket," Patrick Stanfield, commander of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, told the Walker County Messenger. "All of a sudden, a loud bang happened, and fire shot from his pocket. It damaged the inside of the state vehicle and burned clothing on the case workers."

Apparently, Doyle had combined red phosphorus and iodine, two chemicals used to make methamphetamine, in a film canister. He then stuck the canister in his pocket when the social workers showed up.

The case workers were treated for minor injuries in LaFayette. Doyle was taken to Erlanger Medical Center in nearby Chattanooga, Tenn., with second- and third-degree burns to his testicles and leg.

Moral of this story: Crime doesn't pay. Apparently it burns balls - -but it doesn't pay.

Posted by Uptown Girl

Gotti, Part Deux...

...or Duh, if you happened to watch the premiere of "Growing Up Gotti" on A&E last night. A few posts earlier, Uptown Girl discussed the new reality show about Victoria Gotti and her three teenage sons. Verdict? Let's just say: That was fifteen minutes I will never get back. Yes, fifteen minutes, dear readers, because I couldn't sit through the rest. Fifteen minutes of Victoria's sons playing up their badass (and pain-in-the-ass) images, the real estate agent who looked like she had just spent time on another reality show, Extreme Makeover (or The Swan, take your pick), Victoria's bulbous breasts, and the day-in-the-life shots of a tabloid "reporter." Oh yes, Vicky is a workin' girl...The assignment given to her by the Star's editor-in-chief??? Go out with.....i know, the suspense is killing you.......A BALD GUY! *gasp* Of all things!!!!!!!!!!

The best part of those fifteen minutes??? The commercial for "Bail Bondsman" - the next new reality show!!! Oh yes, a show all about a scary man who kicks butt, tackles people who are eating sandwiches, takes names, and then goes home to be just an ordinary dad. *sigh* Now THAT's good TV....Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Posted by Kelly P.

Team America

This movie looks like it will be hysterically funny. Indeed, if it's anything like South Park...

Posted by Jay

Take That!!!

The Statue of Liberty opens to visitors and tourists today for the first time since September 11th 2001. There will be new security measures in place, but even the current terrorism warnings will not stop the re-opening of this national monument.

Posted by Kelly

In The News -

Drug Sniffer Dog Dies of Overdose - A police sniffer dog died of a suspected overdose while out hunting for drugs, British police said on Monday. Todd, a 7-year-old Springer spaniel, had been looking for drugs in a field and car in Preston, northern England, when his handler noticed he was looking unwell. He died shortly afterwards.

This is sad.

Driving Teacher Without License for 43 Years - A Berlin driving instructor who taught more than 1,000 motorists how to drive says he never got a driver's license because he was too nervous to retake the test after he failed the first time -- 43 years ago.

Since he had failed his test and was afraid to retake it for over forty-three years - - do you suppose he passed a lot of drivers who should have failed because he didn't want them to feel bad?

Roger Clemens Ejected From Son's Game - Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens was asked to leave a youth baseball game over the weekend for arguing a close call that went against his son's team. He spit sunflower seeds at an umpire's leg and was asked to leave, said Jim Carpenter, a field supervisor with Triple Crown.

Hmmm Roger, it's not the World Series.

Kerry Edwards Web Site Name Is for Sale - A Web site with the same name as the Democratic presidential ticket failed to attract the $150,000 minimum bid its owner wanted at an online auction. Kerry Edwards, 34, of Indianapolis, registered his kerryedwards.com Web address in March 2002 to post family photographs online. Kerry Edwards previously said the Kerry campaign had asked him to donate the Web address.

I wouldn't pay that for a Kerry / Edwards web address. I wouldn't even pay that for a George W. Bush address. But I'm not surprised that Kamp Kerry would ask for it to be donated instead of offering to purchase it.

Passenger Arrested for English Exercise - A Japanese man flying to Ohio was arrested after he was seen writing down the words "suicide bomb," but he was released without charge after explaining that it was an impromptu English exercise. The 60-year-old man told investigators he came across the words in a newspaper and wanted to look up their meaning, police spokeswoman Alice Casanova said. "He teaches himself English by reading newspapers," she said. "It was all just a miscommunication."

Good thing his lesson wasn't to look up the words, "I am a terrorist".

Posted by Uptown Girl

Oops, busted...

Not that it is surprising, but it looks like Mr. Moore may have doctored his information just a tad bit. If this turns out to be true, which I think it will, how stupid do you have to be? If you "edit" the headline on the front page of a newspaper someone is going to notice it. They ought to be suing for more than a $1.

M@

Hey Laaa-dies!

I hope Lawren is having a wonderful, much-needed vacation. I was honored and pleased when she asked me to be one of her guest bloggers during her absence.

I'm guessing Lawren was hoping for a wide variety of perspectives from her guest bloggers. But this morning I'm turning the tables; I'm going to take advantage of you, Lawren's classy, witty, knowledgeable, and relatively large audience. I need advice.

First of all, I've been tring to lose weight for quite a while. I have actually, for probably the first time in my life, made a rather sustained effort at exercise and eating less for several months. My 'biggest' problem area? Lower abs. Ladies, how can I get rid of my gut? I do crunches, but they don't touch that lower ab area. What lower ab exercises or even equipment do you recommend?

Second, I worry about wrinkles. I'm not a young woman anymore, and though I don't see many wrinkles, I wonder if this is the time to start taking some preventative measures. Anyone have a favorite wrinkle cream or beauty tip that *really works*?

Thanks ladies!!!

Posted by Kelly

Added Words

Webster Adds 'MP3,' 'Pleather' and Others

"Pleather," "body wrap," "MP3," and "information technology" are among the words and phrases that have gotten the nod from the editors at Merriam-Webster in the annual update of their Collegiate Dictionary.

When a word or new usage becomes used with some frequency by the popular press that it becomes a candidate for the dictionary.

It typically takes 20 years of use for a word to become prominent enough to merit a place in an abridged dictionary, such as the Collegiate, he said.

"Pleather" — a plastic fabric made to look like leather — first appeared in 1982 and "body wrap," referring to a beauty treatment, appeared in 1974.

But the Internet has speeded that up. And some of this year's new words had to wait a fraction of that time.

Darmstadtium was officially approved as the name for element No. 110 in 2003 and MP3 — as the name for a computer file or the audio file format — first appeared in 1996.

Goggles have been part of the English language and used as eye protection since 1715. But it is only recently that the noun has been added.

Do you have a word that should be in the Dictionary?

Is there a word you don't think belongs in the Dictionary?

What are they and why?

If a word as common as "goggles" takes a couple of centuries what hope do I have for the addition of the word "choo" and / or "Choo". What might a choo be? It is a shoe / pair of shoes designed by Jimmy Choo - - no one says they are wearing Choo shoes - - they are simply referred to as Choo and / or Chooes. I like the word and think it's a good one- - maybe not to you, but then I also bet you aren't in a twelve step shoe program. :)

As for words that shouldn't be in the Dictionary - - I don't think the word F&@K or any of its counter-parts belong in the dictionary. I have a Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary here on my desk and when I was thinking what word shouldn't be in the dictionary I decided on this one because if someone doesn't know what this word means by the time they'd be using a dictionary of this type then I think the correct definition, spelling and usage of the word is the least of their problems.

Posted by Uptown Girl