Chick Corea Back On Tour With Return To Forever!

Legendary musician, and Scientologist Chick Corea has reformed the band he founded in 1972, Return To Forever, and is back on the road with them after more than 25 years. Return To Forever are credited by many as being the first Jazz Fusion band, and for starting the whole genre! Fusion, as it's also called is a combo of jazz and rock, usually played by VERY skilled musicians. Every member of RTF absolutely shreds!

Along with Chick Corea, the RTF lineup includes music legends Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola and Lenny White. If you are a jazz fusion fan, then you know darn well that this lineup is a gift from heaven man! Not to be missed! They just finished touring Europe and are now back touring in the U.S..


For lots more info go to: http://www.return2forever.com/index.cfm


A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists. — Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard

Paparazzi Spawn Celebrity Baby Picture Industry

The sale of celebrity baby pictures is big business. Ever escalating, now topping out at $10 million to $15 million, the first look at Brangelina twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline is beginning to raise eyebrows. The newborns will make their public debut in a future issue of People with a second "exclusive" layout to follow in OK!.

Despite earmarking proceeds from the shoot to charity, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are under fire. Some question obscenely high amounts paid for celebrity baby pictures. Others call the arrangement exploitation.

Frivolous waste of resources equal to the GNP of Myanmar or shrewd use of public insatiability for celebrity photographs?

Parodoxically, the inexplicable desire for a glimpse into the lives of celebrities fuels distaste for the paparazzi. The streets of Hollywood and Manhattan are full of professional and amateur photographers attempting to earn a livelihood or turn a quick buck. It's gotten so bad, surfers attacked a TMZ crew off the coast of Malibu. Politicians contemplate new legislation. Even fans have taken up the cause.

I've posted before about paparazzi encounters of the third kind. Some of the following scenes are surreal.

Paparazzi crowd the car of Britney Spears as it enters a studio - Photo courtesy of kickinitwithkelsey






At some point, unless Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie intend to raise their children in a vaccum, they must venture outside the gates of their fortified compound. Not surprisingly, paparazzi have already staked out camera angles for their anticipated departure. Money talks. Those first photographs are worth a pretty penny no matter who takes them.

Better People and OK! magazines who will donate the proceeds to charity than money grubbing paparazzi who cavalierly disregard the consequences of ignoble intrusion.




Virtual Unknown Views Race for President

Channel 3 News covers 2008 presidential election

In what may be the biggest election upset of the year, a viral marketing campaign could sweep a virtual unknown into the White House. We just received notice this afternoon and are still scratching our heads trying to make sense of it.

Shocking. Completely shocked.




I saw Michelle Stafford


I saw Michelle Stafford in a local store! I think she looks better in real life than in any photo I've ever seen of her, but I've included a photo anyway just to make the men out there jealous :)

She came so close to winning that third Emmy. But not to worry, an actress as talented as she is will win it.

A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists. — Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard

Dueling McCain and Obama Ads Knock Out Media

The latest development on the campaign trail is too good to be true. Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain managed to take the meaning of the term "celebrity politics" to a whole new level.

Gentlemen, to your corners. Everybody ready? Okay, then. Let's get ready to rummmmm-bbbbble (are you ready for this).

... doo do da de de doo doo, doo do da de de do do ...

In this corner, weighing in at a svelte 170 pounds, America's favorite former POW, John Mc-Cain!



And in this corner, down to the slim trim fighting weight of 198 pounds," the biggest celebrity in the world," Ba-rack O-ba-ma!


Say hello to our panel of judges, everyone. A media so concerned with making talking points, they've turned on themselves. Talk about lack of substance in a campaign, don't be surprised if our judges go down for the count.

...and the colored girl goes, do dah do dah do dah do de oh, do dah do dah do dah do de oh. Hey girl, come and walk on the wild side
...

Not meaning any disrespect, but can't help myself. The McCain ad portraying Obama as a vapid celebutante is hilarious. Who ever thought a serious political candidate would use images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton in an attack? Are McCain's campaign advisors not aware of Britney's recent comeback makeover? I mean, the girl hasn't run over any paparazzi or crashed her car in months.

Sure hope they cleared the use of her image through proper channels. Ditto for Paris Hilton. I doubt either one would allow use of their images gratis.

FYI, Britney's temporary conservatorship is back in court today. She'd be crazy to cut ties with her father seeing how he's apparently turned her life around. But then Brit isn't known for her keen intellect.

Do you think McCain is trying to make that kind of comparison with Obama? Because if so, it's not going to fly. Harvard Law Review Editor, fellows. Only black man in the U.S. Senate. Best-selling book author. Co-sponsor of important transparency in government legislation. Come on, give the man his due. He's very intelligent. Has to be with that list of accomplishments.

Obama's summary dismissal of McCain's charges also made me chuckle. If his ad runs a month from now, no one will know what he's talking about. Then again, maybe his campaign intended a generic rebuttal. That way he can run the ad at any time to any charges levied against him and look like he's paying attention.

What I like about Obama's rebuttal is that it finally highlights his energy policies, a decisive factor for me in this campaign. Obama is shooting for the moon when it comes to energy. If he can successfully hit the target, it will be Camelot the sequel.

McCain's ad says nothing about the man McCain, nor what he intends to do as president. It's also somewhat deceptive. Obama's energy policies are not reliant upon an increase in foreign oil. At the very least, the McCain camp could get their facts straight.

Ooooo. And there he goes down for the count. The crowd goes wild. Can the war hero recover? I don't know, Sheilah, it looks like there's blood dripping down his chin. But then McCain comes from tougher stock than that, just take a look at the man's mother. There she is in the front row yelling at him to get off the floor. Wait. I see a muscle twitch. He's getting back up. Thank heavens -- ding ding ding -- saved by the bell.




Twitter Unveils Rival Search Engine

Oh wow. Have you seen the new Twitter Search?It's freak'n awesome!

Not just saying this because Moani populates the Twitterverse neither. We can now search tweets on any subject we please whenever and wherever we please. You don't have to Twitter to search. Go on. Give it a try.

If no one's tweeting your search, it ain't worth blogging.

Catchy tagline on the house, natch. No need for kudos.

Low Down Rotten Sexist Pigs Like Rush Limbaugh Don't Change

Rush Limbaugh's outdated sexist attitudes toward women spur an unlikely telephone conversation
Rush Limbaugh combines news, commentary, satire, music, and an eclectic sampling of listener opinion for a highly successful three hour daily radio broadcast. His program is syndicated throughout Northern America and via the Internet abroad, currently reaching Baltimoreans on Radio 680, WCBM.

Limbaugh hitched a bumpy ride to success. He often recounts early career struggles, various firings, and syndication drops, taking care to remind listeners if they want something badly enough they will have to work for it, as he did, with slings and arrows along the way. His show wasn't always popular. At one point he ventured into television, suffering a low ratings cancellation. Likewise, an incredibly short stint as an NFL commentator nearly ended his career. Limbaugh stood his ground. Loyalty from fans and people in high places saw him through. The man bounces back from rough patches like a rubber band.

Limbaugh is not afraid to speak his mind, a rare quality in today's political and entertainment circles. Love him or leave him, he is who is. He's also not afraid to take chances. Disagree if you will, but there's something admirable about the combination of these symbiotic traits. Periodically, they land him in hot water. Today's program may qualify as such a time.

We caught him playing a political parody with another unauthorized musical accompaniment. I say another because his theme song was once unauthorized. Musical artists opposing his politics, refusing to grant licensing rights despite his money being green like everyone else's and Chrissie Hynde was no exception. They eventually reached an amicable settlement, Limbaugh now supporting PETA's crusade to prevent cruelty to animals in exchange for a notable guitar riff.

There I was, LMFAO as Limbaugh slyly explained the licensing problems with this particular parody, airing it anyway because to paraphrase him, "No one bothers to listen for that kind of stuff any more." At that moment, the phone lines of a certain Hollywood agency lit up like a fireworks display with calls from frenemies monitoring his program, I'm sure. Still, the moment was total Rush-worthy and well worth the price of any fallout.

And that, in a nutshell, is the reason I remain a loyal fan.

As I've explained before, Limbaugh and I disagree on so many different political issues I wouldn't know where to begin. If I wanted to listen to someone with whom I generally agree, I'd tune into The Daily Show (I actually am a fan of The Daily Show but find nothing controversial to write about, hence these frequent diatribes against talk radio).

Limbaugh is not only informative, he's also thoroughly entertaining in large part because he is who he is. Deriving from his unique persona, his success cannot be duplicated, though many will admit they have tried. Change him and you lose the formula. This fundamental fact was completely lost on feisty Jennifer from Denver, Colorado, the "Caller of the Day."

Mind you, "Caller of the Day" is my own moniker as the show has no such designation.

At first I couldn't believe Jennifer had made it past Snerdly or whoever screened calls this afternoon. Maybe she lied about her topic or summarized it in a less offensive manner. Limbaugh rarely connects with people trying to chastise him on his own program, often ending such calls in an aggressive cursory manner before any real dialogue ensues.

Jennifer's call immediately caught me off guard. Clearly, she wanted to label Limbaugh a sexist pig and accuse his backwards politics of giving her high blood pressure. According to Jennifer, listening to the program had caused her to become ill and her doctor had suggested she stop. Nonetheless, as evidenced by the call, she could not stop herself from tuning in. Limbaugh asked if she secretly wanted to commit suicide. I am not making this up.

Oh brother, I can see it now. Death by Limbaugh becomes a new cause of action. Could Jennifer be contemplating a lawsuit?

No, Jennifer pitched her call with this intro thinking Limbaugh would try to plug his program. To his credit, he suggested the perfect antidote.

Tune out.

Duh.

Laughably, his response threw Jennifer for a loop. She completely lost her bearings, then clawed her way up off the mat for another round.

I wish I had a pipeline to Jennifer from Denver, Colorado. Who knows, maybe one day she will surf into this site and somehow read this very article. It could happen, right?

Don't start laying odds in Vegas.

Okay, it's ludicrous fantasy. But then so is Jennifer's misguided effort to change a man who can't help relating to women in a manner that went out of style in the 1950's. Limbaugh is indeed a sexist misanthrope who believes it's a man's world where women shouldn't tread. So what? Believe it or not, it's part of his charm.

Limbaugh is sexist but in a jovial way. Last week I heard him commending some Hardball "babe," a GOP Congresswoman standing toe to toe with Chris Mathews and some other "blowhard" on their assessment of George Dubya. It was amusing really, hearing him fawn over this woman's ability to silence detractors. If Congresswoman Whoever ran for president in Hillary's place, I think Limbaugh might help vote her in. At least it seemed that way on the surface. Hard to tell when listening in the car.

Back to Jennifer. Until a preponderance of women have control over men's traditional stomping grounds -- corporate board rooms, financial markets, media outlets, the Supreme Court, Congress, the White House, and the like -- until women successfully run these places, don't expect sexist attitudes like Limbaugh's to change any time soon.

Women like Jennifer probably don't understand that for such an unlikely event to happen, men must be willing to assume more responsibility as caretakers. I mean, who's going to raise our children? Subservient nannies? How will that ever level the playing field?

I'm sorry, but if there's anything I've learned from the feminist revolution it's that women cannot have it all. Often, the choice comes down to building a successful career or producing successful children. Sadly, too many women are adept at neither.

Take it from someone who knows, trying to change ingrained sexist beliefs is a waste of time. No matter what women say, no matter what they do, no matter how much they lighten up, in the eyes of sexists they will never be equal.

Rather than fight the misogynist Rush Limbaughs of the world, women should use their existing power to effect change. Women can wipe out sexism by channeling their power as caretakers. We can change the status quo by instilling proper feminist attitudes in our sons. And if we don't have sons, by influencing those who do.

Require boys to help with chores around the house. They can set the table, wash and dry the dishes, and do laundry just as well as girls, if not better. Teach them the importance of respect. Show them how to care for our infants. Bring them along when we care for our parents. Model appropriate give and take with our spouses and significant others. Stand strong and proud for our own rights in the face of discrimination. Whenever possible, emphasize evidence of women as different but equal.

One boy at a time, the world will change. It's starting to already.

Just not fast enough for dear Jennifer.


Update: The Limbaugh website posted a transcript of Jennifer's call, noting "links to outside content usually become inactive over time." For that reason, I am reprinting the transcript here, hopefully with the implicit approval of Mr. Limbaugh.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Colorado Springs, Jennifer. You're next on the EIB Network. Great to have you here.

CALLER: Well, Rush, you might change your mind about that. I'm kind of angry. All these accolades that you're receiving are literally making me sick. And, in fact, my doctor, believe it or not, actually may be tongue-in-cheek, but wrote me a prescription for lowering my blood pressure. And that is, is that I listen at your program as infrequently as possible because in reality you are the one who believes that you are The Messiah, not Obama, and what's more, you're very sexist, you're very sexist. You think that the Democrats are sexist and racist. You are absolutely the epitome of sexism. You want to know why I think that?

RUSH: Not really, because you're wrong. I don't like to hear people tell me why they believe something when they're dead wrong. If you're really suffering high blood pressure, why are you even listening?

CALLER: Well, maybe I'm a masochist and I can't help myself, I don't know.

RUSH: I don't think that's what it is. I think you're constantly enraged and angry, and you need reasons to stay that way, and --

CALLER: I'll tell you why --

RUSH: -- I fill the bill.

CALLER: -- I'm constantly enraged, because every day it seems that you find a way by innuendo or any other means to put women down.

RUSH: It's not by innuendo, I do it directly. I put down liberals. If they happen to be women, I put 'em down. There's no innuendo about it.

CALLER: Can I give you an example of your direct comments?

RUSH: I'd love to hear.

CALLER: Do you recall your comment, I think it was about three months ago, you were talking about Hillary when she was running against Obama. You said that women are trying to move into a man's world. If you had said that about Obama or a black person, you'd be off the air now, you'd absolutely be off the air --

RUSH: Wait a second, why would I be off the air if I'd accused Obama of moving into a man's world?

CALLER: No, listen, if it were the same thing, if you accused Obama of moving into a white man's world, you would be off the air.

RUSH: Oh, oh. That would never even occur to me. There are black politicians all over the country, as there are female politicians, but the presidency up 'til now has been a man's world.

CALLER: Okay, you're not doing anything to change that.

RUSH: What's the big deal? Hillary puts her pants on one leg at a time like all the other guys do.

CALLER: Uh-huh.

RUSH: Why are you bothered by this?

CALLER: See, "like all the other guys do"?

RUSH: Yeah.

CALLER: This is something I've been wanting to ask you for a long time.

RUSH: Ask away.

CALLER: Why is it that you always call Hillary Clinton Mrs. Clinton, and you never give her the respect of calling her Senator Clinton? Are you trying to demean her?

RUSH: I do call her Senator Clinton sometimes.

CALLER: I listen to you practically every day, which is why I have high blood pressure, and I have never heard you --

RUSH: You know, you need to go take a test. There's something not right here about you, Jennifer.

CALLER: Well, what's not right about you is I think you're insecure --

RUSH: No, no, no -- Jennifer, I'm trying -- Jennifer, please, I'm trying to help you --

CALLER: How many women have rejected you, Rush?

RUSH: Women love me, Jennifer, you had better get used to this.

CALLER: -- and this is your way of leveling the playing field.

RUSH: I don't believe a playing field can be leveled, Jennifer, see, I am based in reality. But Jennifer, my concern for you is that you may die listening to this program from high blood pressure, and you can turn it off. You may be committing a slow form of suicide here on purpose. That's not right.

CALLER: Hm-hm. I know it. I know it. I don't always listen to my doctor, either, so, you know, I don't listen to you --

RUSH: You're a woman. You don't listen to men, period.

CALLER: Uh-huh. Well, men don't listen to women, so there's equality right there.

RUSH: I've listened to everything that you've said.

CALLER: Uh-huh. And you've had sexist reaction to it, too. I enjoy it. This is my first opportunity to talk to you. I'm really happy I got through. I really am.

RUSH: Well, I'm glad you did, too. But I'm worried.

CALLER: Could I say one more thing? I'm in the Colorado Springs area, but I listen to KOA radio in Denver, and you are a topic of conversation almost daily and women are calling in and talking about your sexism and the phenomenon of your Dittohead women calling in and treating you as if they love you, following your sexist remarks. It doesn't make sense.

RUSH: I'll tell you, the real sexism in this country was on display in the Democrat primaries, and it was aimed at Mrs. Clinton by Democrats. The real racism in this country was on display in the Democrat primaries aimed from the Clintons to Obama. I helped Hillary Clinton. Operation Chaos. I kept her in the race. If you listen to this program as often as you say, you would know that I did everything I could to help her, and did. Operation Chaos was so important it's now the subject of academic study. Jennifer, I appreciate the phone call. I'm glad you waited and you got through, too. But I am worried. You're the first caller ever who has admitted you're a masochist. This is unhealthy. I think you need to lighten up a little bit. What you think is sexism is simply me poking fun at liberals, which of course that has been taboo for a long time. But I must go because it's time for a windfall profit time-out. Be back right after this. Stay with us.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Jennifer, if you are still out there in Colorado Springs listening on KOA, you might be interested in this story today. It looks like it's from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Hillary Clinton's newest tactic to pay off her remaining campaign debt involves 'dinner under the stars.' Clinton's campaign launched a contest -- contributors are automatically entered -- and the grand prize is a dinner for you and a guest with Clinton herself. 'This is my first chance to sit down and spend some real one-on-one time with you. If you enter today, we could be having dinner together soon!'" she said in an e-mail. There is a second prize, and that is you get to have two dates with Hillary. Just kidding.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

Update II: The virtual Limbaugh Museum is up and running. Entry hall plays Limbaugh's guitar riff theme song. Worth the price of admission.



DCCT, Elephant Paintings and Standing up for Cancer Research

DCCT and Elephant Paintings

Have you ever seen the elephants who paint (better than most of us!)? If not, check this video out. Well, the talented animals helped to raise about $6000 for an organization DCCT.

DCCT stands for Dreams Can Come True and was founded by Jemma Jacques. The organization recently held this charity fundraiser to sell the elephant drawings and use the money to help build orphanages in Thailand. Actress Nia Peeples spoke at the event.

I'm interested in seeing this organization grow and learning more about them in the future.


Stand Up for Cancer Research

I lost my husband to cancer and so did Katie Couric. There are millions of others who have been touched by this terrible disease (I actually fought thyroid cancer too and thankfully am clean now). So whatever can be done to raise money to fight cancer works for me. Read here to find out what the television stations are doing next month to raise money and awareness.

Nolan's 'Dark Knight' is a Cinematical Experience



The hype surrounding this movie is so huge that more than two weeks after its premiere, we still had to wait in line for a 7:30 p.m. showing on a Tuesday night. Bought tickets the day before. If we hadn't arrived 45 minutes early, there would have been slim picking for seats. The movie was showing at staggered intervals in three different mini theaters. By 2:00 p.m., all three were entirely sold out.

Nothing like getting a taste of the true Dark Knight phenomenon.

Generally, I avoid first run theater showings. Don't like crowds, the annoying munching of popcorn, or the guy behind me kicking my seat at odd intervals. Heck, I don't even like comic book super heroes. They're so ... well ... cartoony.

But something about this movie was different. Couldn't wait for the DVD debut. Like a beckoning Svengali, it infiltrated my psyche and wouldn't leave. I was completely enthralled, like putty in its hands. The psychological desire to be part of a mass experience became irresistible. Seeing it at home for the first time wouldn't do.

I hate spoilers more than plopping down eight bucks for a movie, so I'm not going to go into any detail about the plot. Yes, through jam packed action and wowzer special effects, the plot shines like a beloved two headed coin. Anything less would have been a true downer.

Acting and direction also shined, making the movie well worth the price of admission. If Heath Ledger doesn't win a posthumous Oscar, it will only be because a living contender came darn near close to his flawless performance. Ledger, R.I.P., is the embodiment of insanity. At one point in the film, I forgot he was acting. Unpredictable and psychopathic as any evil villain could possibly be, he had me transfixed by his kooky mannerisms, terrified of the next plot twist, honestly not knowing who or what would crumble under the weight of his lunacy.

Believe all the hype, the movie's great.

Two minor criticisms. The film is too long. It could have easily ended about two hours in, saving the remainder for the sequel. The old adage "sell 'em less but give 'em more" sometimes doesn't work when it comes to the movies. This was one time I wanted less, probably because I eventually became uncomfortable. At home I have the luxury of changing positions, stretching out, or hitting the pause button for a trip to the bathroom. Not so when joining the masses.

I also have a pet peeve about manipulative sound effects and background music. The movie went overboard on the former. No, I do not enjoy jumping in my seat due to booming effects. I suppose these have somehow become mandatory date movie material, in which case definitely bring along your hot significant other for gratuitous nooky.

Other than these trifling complaints, I've got nothing bad to say. Sheer entertainment approaching masterpiece. But make sure to buy tickets ahead of time and go early for choice seats.

Ours were midway center.

Don't you hate people who gloat?




Gordon Brown is Upside Down and Other Celebolitic Shorts

Mutant spawn at The Spewker where celebrities and politics meet and mingle
This site isn't the only one mixing up politics and celebrities. A sampling of mutant celebolitic spawn to tickle your funny bone.

The UK's Prime Minister isn't scoring brownie points for his "Government of All the Talents." This is the second time we've observed the media taking Gordon Brown to task for hobnobbing with the stars. Sour grapes from the trade unions perhaps, although what politician in their right mind would eschew glitterati in favor of commoners?

Tennis champs Venus and Serena Williams are two celebrities who won't be endorsing a presidential candidate, though both seem excited by Barack Obama's candidacy. The pairs' Jehovah's Witness beliefs discourage voting and prohibit involvement in political affairs. Oh, those crazy mixed-up Witnesses, don't they care who throws out the first ball at the U.S. Open?

Here's a blogger who supports celebrity political involvement, reasoning celebrities pique teen curiosity in political causes. Maybe. But wouldn't they be just as likely to watch MTV? Activism comes from more than just celebrity fanaticism. On the other hand, following a politically active celebrity exposes teens to news they might not otherwise stumble upon. That's a step in the right direction even if the teen in question eventually becomes a moral degenerate drinking beer all night in their parents' living room.

When John Mayer isn't busy cheating on Jen in a fantasy dream, he's busy playing cat and mouse with the paparazzi. Mayer must fancy himself the "Jerry" in this developing sideline but with one notable exception. The mouse in Tom and Jerry didn't hang with an uber-famous girlfriend. And Mayer has a notable reputation as a "Tom."

Glory be, someone has written an entire book on this topic! And I thought we were the ones who invented it. Looks like our fledgling book project was all for naught. Oh well. Back to the drawing board.



Quote Of The Day

"We would drink together and smoke together . . . and it's just a bad deal. It's not something that is conducive to being a role model—no iconic actors that I know of have problems like that. And I don't know how to do it like a gentleman. I don't know how to have one drink." - Shia LaBeouf in the September 2008 issue of Details mag, coming out just after his recent arrest for drunk driving.

- Erin Dustin

Two Is The New One

Rebecca Romijn has joined the list of baby mama's to-be as she and hubby Jerry O'Connell are expecting twins! The baby(ies) craze continues!

Congrats!

Photo Credit: WireImage

- Erin Dustin

Blast From The Past


Have any idea what happened eight years ago today?

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston got married!

Today, Brad is no longer with Jen, instead with Angie, and the father to six kids, who would have thunk it?

Photo Credit: WireImage

- Erin Dustin

Fox News Bill O'Reilly Battles Big Nas Attack: "Racist Smears Must Stop"

Rapper Nas calls on Fox News to stop racist smears against the Obama family and black America - Photo courtesy of Pizon Channel
Racial and political polarization grows ever wider in the good old U.S.of A. Why recreate the turbulent 1960's when real political storm clouds gather strength in our midsts?

The latest fracas occurred last Wednesday, July 23, 2008 when popular rapper Nas, MoveOn.org, ColorOfChange.org and a large heterogeneous crowd of people demonstrated with more than 600,000 petition signatures in front of Fox NYC headquarters. Nas called Fox News a "propaganda machine," skewering the network for its "racist attacks on the Obama family and Black America."

Fox News host Bill O'Reilly quickly shot back, insinuating no one reported the demonstration because "the vile rapper" Nas doesn't carry much clout. O'Reilly cited declining album sales and "vulgar lyrics peddled to children" as proof, challenging anyone to characterize his comments as racist. He also bashed MoveOn.org as the "new media Klan," a reference to the KKK and insidious behavior.


Media wars, don't you love it? Rather than clash on the streets with police and billy clubs poised to strike, celebrities battle one another on the air waves where anyone with a video camera can join the fray.

Let's try to ratchet the hatred down a notch, shall we? In the words of our own Moan Quivers, "All we are saying is give peas a chance."

Comparison of Nas album sales proves nothing. Only a week ago, the rapper's new album Untitled soundly trounced the competition, debuting in the #1 Billboard album slot with sales of 186,600. Notable lower ranked competition included the Mamma Mia! soundtrack, Kid Rock's Rock N Roll Jesus and O.A.R.'s All Sides. Lower album numbers are likely a reflection of Dubya's failing economic policies than a decline in Nas' fan base.

On to Fox. O'Reilly did not say a lynching party for Michelle Obama might be "legit" if she has the wrong political opinion. During a "No Spin Zone" back in February, O'Reilly stopped a caller from trashing the potential First Lady without a thorough investigation. The segment showcases O'Reilly using nothing more than a poor choice of words later taken out of context.

Heaping fuel on a concrete brick does not a racist fire make.

 Fox News tag line running under E.D. Hill segment calling Barack Obama's wife Michelle his Baby Momma - Photo courtesy of L.A. TimesBut whoever supervises pundit E.D. Hill may want to order some sensitivity training. Despite the whitewash from Baltimore's own Michelle Malkin, racist smears have materialized on Hill's watch.

Obama's baby momma? Woman, puh-leeze! Surely, Hill has the final say over her news story captions. The message of that piece -- unfair censorship of criticism directed at Michelle Obama -- was completely lost because someone in Hill's entourage likened the "baby momma" reference to entertainment.

OMG! Granted, a new term recently entered "white people" vernacular, but making light of this development demonstrates a disconcerting level of ignorance.

For more than a century, African-Americans have had to deal with slavery fallout, including disintegration of family values at the hands of task masters. Slaves were treated as chattel, often with husbands and wives literally ripped apart never to see one another again. Today, a large holdover of African-Americans perpetuate this distorted model of family not because it's necessarily desirable, but because it eventually became acceptable. In any event, the model offered black families something white people usually didn't: survival.

I'm not judging whites and blacks. My sincere hope is that all Americans will unite to change this perversion of family values. All Americans need to understand and appreciate how a two-parent family helps children thrive.

In the meantime, news elite need to sensitize themselves to a pervasive cultural model giving rise to a name for never married mothers of children. The term "baby momma" is an insult to women like Michelle Obama, women who actually marry their children's father before conception in an effort to provide stable homes and model traditional family values.

More so, questioning the Obama victory bump as a terrorist hand gesture is so far over the line of acceptable discourse, even I don't want to go there. Every day I get emails about Barack the Muslim terrorist sympathizer, Barack the politician with anti-Semite political advisors, Barack the socialist who will naively allow the destruction of America. I wish Obama detractors would focus on something other than their worst nightmares. For all the war mongering and economic policies emanating from the Dubya Administration, this country isn't exactly positioned for an era of peace and prosperity.

The proof is in the pudding. 'Nuff said.

I'm going to let Keith Olberman have the last word on perceived racism at Fox. Personally, I can't stand network news left or right, nor political pundits telling me what to think. I digest all of the news with a grain of salt, carefully scrutinizing the source and their respective agendas in an attempt, however misguided, to formulate my own conclusions.

However, if Olberman's charges are accurate -- and many say they are -- something is seriously wrong with this picture. Under our next President, Fox News could very well have a Congressional inquiry breathing down its back.

As good a reason as any to clean up its sorry excuse for journalism as swiftly as possible.



[Source]

Update: The O'Reilly Factor video has disappeared from the Internet for purported copyright violation so many times, we're afraid it may never reappear. In the event the embedded video becomes inoperable, we have taken the time to provide a transcript. Note that we are not employees nor associated with Fox News. However, we have run the embedded video three times and will vouch for the accuracy of our transcript.

Bill O'Reilly appears on screen with the words "Reality Check" under a picture of Nas

O'Reilly: Check number two concerns the vile rapper, Nas. As you may have heard, that guy is accusing Fox News of being a racist organization. This from a person who makes a living peddling the “N” word and violent lyrics to his target audience of children and young adults. He is a real champ. The good news is only a very few media have given him any attention and those who did do not deserve your attention. They are corrupt. That’s because Nas had an obvious agenda in this case. His new album is a bomb, a disaster, a catastrophe, and he desperately wants attention. Two years ago, his last album sold three hundred and fifty-five thousand copies in his first week. This one has sold a hundred and eighty-seven thousand copies. Not good. I hope I’m not a racist for pointing that out. Check number three…




Spewker Shines Spotlight on "Making The Movie"

T'was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. No fires raging near Big Sur. In the shadow of a recently ended writers strike, a subtle but festive mood uplifted the Hollywood elite. All of Tinseltown prepared for a memorable afternoon culminating in the Dorothy Chandlier Pavillion ... or was it the Kodak Theater?

Quite difficult to remember now that so much time has flown by.

Oh, what does it matter? It was the 80th Annual Academy Awards with a cast full of sparkling characters to light up the sky.



Oh, alright then, it was the Kodak Theater.

Whatever happened to the Dorothy Chandlier Pavillion? I wonder how the Chandlier family feels about being supplanted by an instant camera.

Yes, as I was saying, The Spewker was poised for one of its first live blogs. I had no idea what we were doing. In fact, I was so spanking brand new to the entire concept that I turned over the reins to our virtual Hollywood correspondent, Moan Quivers. Moani held the live blog on Twitter which explains the non-existence of her witty reparte. None of the posts survived.

For those who know absolutely nothing about Twitter, let's just say that your posts disappear after three or so pages of tweets. Someone has since developed an application to capture archives, but at the time, Twitter messages faded about as quickly as they spammed.

Too bad because Moan was on such a roll it bordered on sheer genius.

Somehow, some way, Making The Movie got wind of our ambitious effort and linked to our live blog announcement. I'm not sure how many people tuned in as a result, but I do remember Moani jumping around the room ecstatically after seeing our link in the midst of a prestigious list of live bloggers.

I'm glad to re-visit Making The Movie and see it robustly alive and kicking. So many blogs pop up and seem to disappear overnight. This is one tenaciously digging in its heels for the long run.

Good sticky content and well-written articles too. The site provides filmmaking tips, resources, reviews, news and links. A film maker's library with information written in plain English.

How many blogs can make that kind of claim?

Congratulations, Mr. Ott and Making The Movie. For your magnaminous gesture of linking to and referencing this then relatively unknown blog, you are the winners of a coveted Spewker Spotlight award. Target, save, and upload the award to your site or email me at the address on the bottom for detailed coding information.

Want to know how you can be our next featured spotlight winner? Simply mention this blog with a link to our site in any of your articles or embed in a page of your website. If we like what we see, you may be the next winner of our coveted award.

Spewker Spotlight Award shines on Making The Movie





Beckham Unknowingly Pitches Safe Sex

David Beckham is the unauthorized face of biggest selling condoms in China
"Score in the bedroom like Becks does on the pitch."

David Beckham promotes the biggest selling condoms in China. Problem is, he doesn't earn him a dime from his celebrity endorsement. The condoms are manufactured without his knowledge or permission, causing an uproar among fans who want to ban further sales.

Talk about infringement of intellectual property rights. A few bad apple Chinese manufacturers and the whole nation gets cloaked with a layer of deception.

There are more unsavory fates than acting as the unauthorized pitchman for safe sex or seeing your unauthorized likeness tossed about in some porno movie. Becks can take away some measure of comfort knowing he isn't the face of some other sleazy best selling product, like Kim Kardashian's behind.

[Source]




Amor, Dios, Familia

A couple of days ago I received this photo link in Flickr from Sara in Canada.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/24732264@N07/2619349327/

Its caption in Spanish said:

Amor, Dios, Familia
Traduccion literal
Ama a Dios cmo a tu Familia

Which means,

Love, God, Family
Literal translation
Love your God & family
Love God the way you love your family

Nice sentiment, however there probably will not be much love for the tattooist. Love & Family are mirrored.

Jamie Lynn Chews Out Paparazzi

Jamie Lynn reportedly kicked out her baby daddy and had choice words for the paps.



So what if this parody is the closest we'll ever get to a Jamie Lynn Spears interview? The stress of raising a baby without a wedding ring must be getting to the poor dear. How else to explain throwing fiance Casey out of the house after snooping around for (and finding) contact information for other women on his cell phone and computer?

Jamie Lynn and Casey are back together ... for now. But I wouldn't be surprised if their OK Magazine spread had anything to do with it. A clause in their contract probably requires the diaper duty duo to look blissfully happy ... at least until the issue clears newsstands.



Shia Busted Again for DUI and Mo' Gossip

Moan Quivers is the voice of virtual Vogue
Hello, world. IT'S MOAN QUIVERS! Reporting to you live from the red carpet in virtual Hollywood. Even though no one seemed to enjoy last week's titillating round of gossip, I'm getting a second shot at this gig.

So, without further ado, here are my sizzling gossip picks for our Monday morning "Weekend Wrap."


Keira Knightly won't buckle under pressure to permit digital enhancement of her upper torso in movie promotions. Only in Hollywood, folks. You go, girlfriend... er tomboygirl ... erm, whatever. [NY Daily News]

More disturbingly intimate photos of Miley Cyrus have hit the fan. Yech. Ptooey. Somebody better teach the Disney diva about the better part of valor before her fan base hits the fan and moves on. [Ocean Up]

The supermodel and the quarterback put their respective bachelor pads on the market. Do I hear wedding bells for Tom and Gisele? When can we start calling them Gisom? [People]

I know who I'm hitting up for a night on the town. Forbes ranked top paid female celebs and you'll never believe who hit #1! Hint: It wasn't Reese. [Hollyscoop]

Once again, Shia LaBeouf has been busted for DUI. Lately, the Disturbia star is showing disturbing signs of serious trouble. LaBeouf crashed his truck around 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning and underwent surgery for injuries to his left hand. Police are using blood drawn at the hospital to confirm alcohol levels. Woo boy. [TMZ]

Richard Simmons intends to wipe out childhood obesity one chunky chubby at a time. The exercise guru discusses plans to march on Washington in support of new legislation. [Extra]

Bobby Kennedy, Jr. and wife Mary have turned construction of their new environmentally friendly green home into a 13-part reality series. "This Old House" star Bob Vila will supervise the project. [Rush and Molloy]

Now here's something truly wacky. Some wild and crazy Iowans tried to take Congressional matters in their own hands by making a citizens arrest on Dubya's old pal, Karl Rove. Too bad these crazy mixed-up kids were then arrested themselves. But ya gotta admire all that spunk and determination. [CBS]

She supposedly busts up a perfectly good marriage and now she's suing the photographers who caught her trysting nakedly with a married man. Homewrecker! Hussy! Ho! Blaming the paps for your sinful ways is lower than dogmeat. [Hollywood Newsroom]

Talk about being a wanger. Andy wangerhead to be precise. Yes, Andy Dick goes out of his way to prove he actually can get arrested even though hardly anyone in Hollywood will touch him with a ten foot pole. [Uberazzi]

That's a wrap. Tune in again next Monday morning for another live Moan Quiver's report. Ta.




Zachery Ty Bryan

Zachery Ty Bryan is a former child star best known for his role as "Brad Taylor" for his role on the hit 1990s sitcom, Home Improvement.Bryan was born on October 9, 1981 in Aurora, Colorado. He began his entertainment career appearing in print and television advertising. He later moved to California and was cast in 1991 in his break-through role as Brad Taylor on Home Improvement. Bryan was

Edgar Winter On Tour With Ringo Starr!


Scientologist Edgar Winter returns to Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band for the All-Starr Band's 10th tour!

Edgar Winter had such classic rock hits as "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride", that still play on classic rock radio stations all the time.

Edgar seems to always be touring. One of the last times I saw him was at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas playing with David Lee Roth.

This year's All-Starr Band also includes Colin Hay (from Men At Work), and one of my all-time favorites Billy Squier. They will be playing LA's Greek Theater on August 2nd. It's a really fun show. I've seen Ringo's All-Starr Band play before when an acquaintance of mine, Timothy B. Schmidt from the Eagles was playing bass with them. They do all the Beatles hits that Ringo sang on plus the hits of the other band members. It's definitely a night of hits!
Ringo has always been my favorite Beatle, probably because of his good sense of humor. He's also the one that inspired me to start playing drums.


A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists. — Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard

50 Cent Files Lawsuit Tellling Taco Bell Why It Should Pay More

Rapper 50 Cent is suing Taco Bell
50 Cent is well on his way to setting a new world record.

Not for the number of lawsuits filed by the same sorry you-know-what rapper claiming infringement of intellectual property rights. Naw, Fiddy is about to grab the brass ring for all-time record number of news organizations running the same sorry you-know-what AP story describing his lame lawsuit against Taco Bell.

Just goes to show no one really wants to spend any time doing an in-depth piece on this poo.

In fact, his lawsuit against Yum Brands, Inc. (YUM), owner of the popular Taco Bell chain, may go down in history as one of the most sorry you-know-what meritless pieces of groundless drivel ever filed in a U.S. District Court. Can't wait to see the fallout from this one and just hoping those Yummy suits know how to file a super-sized counterclaim for utterly baseless blather.

I mean, how many times am I supposed to read,

50 Cent has sued Taco Bell, claiming the fast-food restaurant chain is using his name without permission in advertising that asks him to call himself 99 Cent.

The rapper says in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday that the Mexican-themed chain features him in a print ad asking him to change his name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent. His real name is Curtis Jackson.

The rapper's court papers claim the ad is part of Taco Bell's "Why Pay More?" campaign, which promotes items for under a dollar, including Cinnamon Twists for 79 cents, Crunchy Tacos for 89 cents and Bean Burritos for 99 cents. The papers say the Irvine, Calif.-based company sent a bogus letter requesting the name change to the news media but not to the rapper.
without going lollipop bonkers?

Thank heaven for a slight amount of originality.

If anyone in the world has actually seen the offending advertisement, they're doing an amazing job of keeping it off the Internet. I can't say for certain, but I'm willing to lay odds it's in the style of other publicized open letters, none of which could easily be characterized as an unauthorized advertisment. As long as the ad didn't contain Fiddy's likeness or copyrighted material, Yummy is in the clear.

As for providing a copy of the open letter to news outlets before sending it off to Fiddy, what's the harm? Does he really think that's going to prove Taco Bell didn't intend to make good on its offer? That they were staging a sly publicity stunt?

Uh, yeah, good luck with that argument. Sorry, but it isn't going to fly. I wouldn't be surprised if the judge laughed Fiddy's sorry you-know-what straight out of court.

Oooo. Four million dollars claimed, shakedown for one. He must be down to his last "fiddy" cents if he's going down this lane. And the ridicule he claims is everywhere on the Internet? Let's just say it's less about Taco Bell using his image without permission and more about his sorry you-know-what performances at rich kids' Bar Mitzvahs and sorry you-know-what albums with the same tired you-know-what lyrics. Fiddy has milked getting shot so many times even his fans are sick of listening to him. In other words, his fans were calling him a sellout long before Taco Bell came along.

Loss of his fan base, disappointing album sales, a suspicious fire, massive legal bills connected to the controversy with his baby momma. A culmination of problems like this could easily take its toll.

Fiddy should have made good on his vow to leave the recording business rather than become fodder for the 'bloids. I almost feel sorry for him, then get angry thinking about his lawsuit clogging up the court system.

Fiddy's odds of winning this lawsuit are so astronimically low as to make me question the motives of his legal team. Lawsuits like this give lawyers a bad name. Principled lawyers would have talked their client out of such nonsense, but then nothing surprises me when it comes to celebrities.

I'm not into fast food so it took a short while to get up to speed, but from what I can see, a fast food rap video caught wildfire a couple years back. Since then, hordes of aspiring rappers have taken their lyrics to the street, pulling into drive-through lines and rapping away. Taco Bell capitalized on the craze by crafting a "Why Pay More" ad campaign and reducing the cost of certain menu items to under a dollar.

Smart marketing or foreshadowing SNAFU?

Some suit whose job is probably now on the line ratcheted up the ad campaign to create more buzz. An open letter to down and out Fiddy was a win-win idea with virtually no downside. Fiddy's career would have benefited. On the other hand, waves of negativity had already rippled through the blogosphere, charging the ad campaign with racial insensitivity. At that point, leaving well enough alone might have been a good idea, but corporate is not the type to sit on its laurels.

The First Amendment protects a published open letter that doesn't otherwise infringe on intellectual property rights. Even then Fiddy's claims might be difficult to prove, especially alleged damages of four million dollars. If for some crazy reason this lawsuit moves forward, 50 Cent can expect to lose a lot more in lawyer fees than he could ever expect to gain.

To illustrate the lawsuit's frivolity, I'll leave you with a slew of videos mimicking the popular spoof that likely started it all. If Fiddy thinks Taco Bell's "Why Pay More" campaign was somehow modeled after him or his rap music, maybe it's because his sorry you-know-what lawyers couldn't tell him apart from the guy in this Burger King video.

You know how them gangsta rappers all look 'like.

ORIGINAL EBAUMS WORLD SPOOF


TACO BELL


WENDY'S


KFC


WHITE CASTLE


McDONALDS


ARBY'S


Update: It boggles my mind how many news organizations are still reporting this lawsuit using the same boring AP story. One blogger at last provided useful links to the actual lawsuit and trademark information. Kudos to Corpreform, a nice play on words.

Trademark infringement is a specialized area of law. Nuances are many. Still, I have not changed my opinion. This lawsuit is likely a thinly disguised ploy for publicity, an infuriatingly unnecessary clog in the court system. Trademark does not necessarily require prior permission to publicize words in an issued mark. The manner in which the words are used is key. That is where 50 Cent's legal team went down the mistaken path.

Yes, Fiddy has the rights to a mark that includes the words "50" and "Cent," but that does not preclude people from using the printed words "50 Cent" in a normal manner. Only the mark itself is protected, and believe me, there is a difference. Otherwise, every person in the world would trademark their name or stage name, requiring prior permission from anyone wanting to use said name in a third party manner. See how ridiculous?

To date, I have not seen a reprint of the original print advertisement, but would guess we're still referring only to the letter reviewed by reporters. In that case the lawsuit is frivolous as panned and the sooner kicked out of court the better.




Katie Holmes (and her hands) on Eli Stone set

Katie Holmes is doing a guest spot on the show Eli Stone, which is produced by an old friend of hers.  Read the article here: 'Eli Stone' recruits Katie Holmes for guest spot   Here is a shot of her on the set (they don't let you link): Katie Holmes.

Contrary to the insane rantings of some Internet weirdos, her hands look quite normal.

A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists. — Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard

Kassie DePaiva




Twelve years ago, actress Kassie DePaiva, best known as “Blair” on the ABC soap opera One Live to Live, never would have guessed that a storyline from her own show would later help her take care of her own real-life medical drama.
It’s 1997 and Kassie’s son James Quentin, or J.Q. for short, is born with profound hearing loss that would be diagnosed when he is about a year old. An otherwise healthy boy, Kassie began to notice something wasn’t quite right when she would see her friend’s twins, months younger than J.Q., watching conversations and babbling, but J.Q. wasn’t.
“I had no indication of his hearing loss when he was born -- at the time only 11 states mandated newborn screening, but since then, it’s up to about 39 states,” says DePaiva. “When J.Q. wasn’t doing what the twins were doing, we just dreaded the possibility this could be the case.”
After an audiologist test confirmed her worst suspicions, Kassie and her husband, OLTL actor James DePaiva, were crushed.
“They put high-powered hearing aids and sound on him and he was not responding. I could hear it through the headphones and my heart was breaking,” says DePaiva.
Like many parents going through a crisis, Kassie says she had anxiety and fear, but just didn’t want to deal with it at the time.
“In hindsight I can talk about it, but going through it I didn’t want to deal with it because you just want your child’s ears checked and hope the doctor is going to say there’s wax buildup and it’ll be fine,” says DePaiva. “But once you know there is a possibility, you have to allow yourself to think the worst and then when it comes to fruition, you’re just disappointed and you have to mourn that loss and feel those feelings and then move forward and do what’s best for him.”
Enter the storyline on One Live to Life. Two years before her son’s diagnosis, Kassie’s husband Jimmy’s character Max, and Luna, had twins and one was deaf. The DePaivas became friendly with a teacher for the deaf on the set.
“When we realized that J.Q. might have issues, we contacted her at the Lexington School of the Deaf and she led us to the League for the Hard of Hearing where we received a wealth of information.”
The League, according to their website (www.lhh.org) is the premier hearing rehabilitation and human services agency in the world for infants, children and adults who are hard of hearing, deaf and deaf-blind, and their families.
J.Q. is now 10 and has had two cochlear implants. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, a cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin.
Even with the right resources and the implants, DePaiva knows that coping with J.Q.’s hearing loss is an ongoing adjustment.
“It’s not exactly what you want to hear and there’s definitely obstacles when you find out your child has any type of disability, but you take what you’re handed and make the most of it,” she says. “It was difficult, and it continues to be difficult, but I think when we meet challenges in life, it makes us better people, depending on our choice in how we deal with it.
“For example, (the night before this interview) J.Q. was in a cranky mood and got a little angry at me, asking, ‘why did you make me have the second cochlear implant? I don’t like it as much as my first one.’ This gave me an opportunity to be a better parent, to talk to him about that in a way that was loving and understanding,” she says.
“I don’t pray every night that J.Q.’s hearing is going to be restored; I just pray that we all learn to be tolerant and helpful and understanding. I hope that I can do the best that I can with my son and that he grows up to be a loving, caring individual that can also have compassion for someone else with hearing loss.”
While many parents of special needs children suffer from strained relationships, the DePaivas have not had those kinds of challenges.
“Our marriage was never challenged because of J.Q.’s hearing loss, it’s challenged over the regular things that people get upset about like ‘could you empty the dishwasher, or can you fold the clothes,’ but if anything, (J.Q.’s hearing loss) brought our marriage closer because we both had the same goal -- to make sure J.Q. had the best opportunities available to him.”
To help support their son, the couple met with deaf adults and attended group therapy sessions for parents of children who needed speech therapy.
“We had an opportunity to talk about what works for us, what works for them, what are your obstacles, what are you overcoming.” Later, the couple discussed cochlear implants with various recipients of the technology while making their decision.
Today, she gladly shares advice for those who are just receiving this news for the first time.
“If a young couple finds out that they have a child with a hearing loss, look at each other and realize that God chose them and that is their responsibility, and this will bring them even closer.”
In addition to her acting role, DePaiva is also hard at work increasing awareness of the League for the Hard of Hearing, and making Happy Hats – hundreds of Happy Hats. These fun creations are handmade by the soap opera veteran, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the League for the Hard of Hearing.
She also finds the time to record her music, including her latest album, I Want to Love You.
“Music warms my heart and doing things for other people warms my heart,” she says. “Acting is a lot of fun for me, but that is not all that I am. And I really like to do creative things and the whole reason behind making the happy hats was a creative outlet for me, but at the same time, I turned it into something that could help the League for the Hard of Hearing, which was a really positive place in our lives where we took J.Q. So, if we can help them out and I can crochet hats and give a little back in return, its fun.”
For more information on Kassie and her hats, visit http://www.kassiedepaiva.com/.

Jennifer Garner Is SO Preggers!

Exhibit A: The use of daughter Violet and other everyday objects


Exhibit B: Baggy clothes


Exhibit C: No description necessary


Congrats!

- Erin Dustin

First Photos Surface of Pregnant Man's New Baby

Celebrity baby Susan Juliette weighed 9 lbs 5 oz - Photo courtesy of GMA and ABC News
The world welcomed celebrity baby Susan Juliette on June 29, 2008. First photographs have finally surfaced.

When I mentioned the news to my friends, hardly anyone knew who I was talking about. Of course my friends regard celebrity gossip and culture as utter foolishness and a waste of time, but that's a whole other matter.

Get a load of the full shock of dark hair. A Suri Cruise doppelganger in the right light. Cute delicate facial features too. This baby's a keeper.

Three cheers for the simple and elegant. No Sunday Rose, Nahla Ariela, or Knox Leon for this baby. For once, a simple run of the mill pretty name from the far reaches of "celebrityness." Then again, when was the last time anyone chose Susan as a first name for their newborn? Very popular in my day. Not so much any more.

Why should it matter that the person who gave birth to her is legally a man? Despite reports to the contrary, little Susan did not enter the world via C-Section. Glad to help put that burning question to rest. Must be nice to pick and choose reproductive organs like menu items a la carte. Male for a legally issued marriage certificate, female to give birth.

But seriously, I'm on the side of little Susan's parents. Doesn't matter who's craddling her in the middle of the night, changing her diapers, or feeding her breast milk. Two loving parents in a stable nurturing relationship is all any kid needs for a leg up in this life. That and a house full of moolah.

Okay, nix the moolah. Material stuff is ethereal fluff. Here today, gone tomorrow. As any Michael Landon, Jr. movie pounds one over the head with a sledge hammer to insinuate, life is not about stuff. Connections, relationships, good health, serenity, comfort, stability, these are the things that truly matter in life.

Baby Susan Juliette has just as much shot at those things as anyone else, perhaps more so if you take into account her beginnings. This baby's parents wanted her so badly they were willing to endure public humiliation to give birth. And sell the story rights.

No, really, from all appearances the Beaties seem to be a happy couple on good terms with extended family members. That's more than I can say about most other blended families.

And from what I understand, the couple has made a pretty penny from exclusive photo shoots, news coverage, and a tell-all memoir.

Now everybody let 'em be.


Meet Levi


Photo Credit: OK!, August 4, 2008

- Erin Dustin

Catch A Peek

The Hills season 4 trailer! Aug. 18 is just around the corner, bring on the dramz!

- Erin Dustin

It's All Sunny For The Dark Knight (With The Exception Of Christian Bale)

I know I'm not the only one out there who waited in HUGE lines this past weekend to catch the premiere of the amazingly clever and the darker than ever batman movie, The Dark Knight. Obviously not, because the latest in the series broke records in the U.S. with an opening weekend of $155.3 million. And I have a feeling that the number will keep on rising in the weeks to come.

As for batman, now that's a different story. Christian Bale appears to be going through a slightly darker time. The actor is denying allegations, after being arrested, that he assaulted both his mother and sister. Calling the matter "deeply personal," the actor is denying all allegations, cooperating and asking the media to respect his privacy. Bale made his first appearance since the claims were outed with wife Sibi at the movie's premiere in Barcelona.

Photo Credit: Google, WireImage

- Erin Dustin