What to Go See This Weekend at the Movies

This weekend brings one must-see movie, Funny People. The latest flick from Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up) takes a turn for the darker and dramatic. Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, and Leslie Mann star in the bittersweet dramedy about a famous comedian who is diagnosed with cancer. He's forced to reevaluate his world. He becomes the mentor to a young, amateur comedian, and, in turn, learns a lot about life.

Say chees-u!

It's been too long since anything has happened on this blog, sorry about that.
But the shop has been busy and when the shop is busy, so are we!
And we do have our own blogs to update as well... you understand, right?

Here are some pictures from last friday at the shop.
Like i said, it had been a busy week (not regular-shop busy i guess, but Conspiracy-busy, nonetheless) with a guest artist and lots of clients and visitors.
Friday we had cake and took some shop photos.
It was Eckels idea, and a good one too.
For some reason we never think of doing that ourselves.

It's important to stretch before taking a good group photo

And, if you're Allan, it's also important to make your already huge hair extra fluffy

From left to right: Allan, Eckel, Eric, Lucifer and me, and the photographer is Christel

This one is actually kind of good

Allan did this one on Eric

Eckel did this on Christel (picture is a little yellow, but i'll get a healed photo as soon as it's, uhm, healed)

And this on Marisa earlier in the day

Now, if you'll excuse me, i'm actually on vacation, so i shouldn't even be here!

Lisa Marie Presley speaks out about Michael Jackson

The ghoulish media coverage of Michael Jackson's death is gradually fading out. The once fresh news they could drool over is becoming stale and they are moving on to fresher and tastier fare.

His many fans were saddened by his death and I'm sure his friends and family were devastated. Many things have been said about Michael, both good and bad, but one of the most poignant and heartfelt that I've seen is a blog post by Lisa Marie Presley.

Whether you were a fan of Michael or not, I recommend you read what she has to say: Lisa Marie Presley on Michael Jackson: He Knew.


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

Elton John!

Elton John went from having no hair on the top of his head in his 20's to having lots of different types of hair throughout his adult life. You can tell when he has a wig most of the time because there isn't a clear part on his head. The hair just kind of sits there, using his head as a rest stop.








It was clear that his front hair was thin and receding fast. Yet about 40 years later here he is:






Some do argue that he has hair plugs too. I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case.

William Shatner's Toupee

William Shatner's toupee has been a fascination to me for a long time. Looks like I'm not the only one. There is an entire blog dedicated to Shatner's Toupee.


Click here to check it out


Perhaps the truth will finally be revealed. Here's a possible toupee-less Shatner. A very very rare occasion:

James Nesbitt

Irish actor James Nesbitt (Murphy's Law, Millions, Match Point) seems to also be a magician. Somehow he has made hair appear on the top of his head. The below pics were taken a few months apart:






source

How would Tom Cruise look bald?

Here is a photo from the set of Tropic Thunder, where Tom Cruise made a hilarious appearance as studio exec Les Grossman. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. And yes, Tom Cruise can actually be funny.

Blast from the Past: Robin Gibbs of Bee Gees

He had a great head of hair back in the day. Distracts from the rest of him. Here are some of his more recent hair pieces:










Whatever animal that hair piece is made of is definitely not Stayin' Alive. Here's what his hair line really looks like:

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe's Breakout Role

Anyone who regularly watched Prison Break the last two seasons might find it hard to believe that Jodi Lyn O’Keefe considers herself a mild-mannered pacifist.

“I’m really non-confrontational... I don’t even like to argue,” said O’Keefe, who played to perfection the ruthlessly homicidal operative Gretchen Morgan, aka Susan B. Anthony, on the nail-biting serial drama. The blue-eyed beauty regularly doled out punishment as if ice water coursed through her veins -- until Fox cancelled the series after four seasons of surprise and suspense.

It turns out, however, that Prison Break’s death sentence has gotten a very temporary stay of execution. Fans of Michael Scofield and his felonious cohorts will be treated to one last adventure in the form of a direct-to-DVD movie entitled Prison Break: The Final Break. And as fate would have it, the recently incarcerated Gretchen plays a major role in Scofield’s final caper, which, true to formula, involves yet another prison escape.

The movie, comprised of two additional unaired episodes and released as of July 21, will answer any lingering questions surrounding what happened to the characters in the four years between the demise of the insidious “Company” and Michael’s tragic death, which left many grieving viewers angry or in flat-out denial.

Upon learning Michael’s fate, “I kinda had the same reaction as everybody else,” said O’Keefe. “So we think he’s dead, but he’s not really dead and now they’re going to explain how he’s not really dead.” Since the series finale aired this past May, fans have been peppering her with theories on the show’s controversial ending, even proposing that perhaps Michael faked his death for reasons yet to be explained.

While she wouldn’t reveal any plot secrets, O’Keefe understands why some people are inclined to believe that the finale was a fake-out. After all, she recalled, “I cut off Sara’s head and put in a box -- and all of a sudden, I didn’t,” referring to how Gretchen decapitated Michael’s love interest in season three, only to reveal in season four that it was all a ruse and she was very much alive.

Speaking of severed body parts, was there ever a better pairing of TV villains than when Gretchen reluctantly partnered up with vile, one-armed sex offender Theodore “T-Bag” Bagwell? Together, these two baddies could do no right.
“He’s so good at being so bad,” said O’Keefe of Robert Knepper, who returns as T-Bag in the movie. “I was actually nervous for the first couple of scenes we worked together. I was thinking to myself, ‘Can I live up to how creepy he is?’”

Previously best known for playing Chuck Norris’ daughter on Nash Bridges, O’Keefe not only delivered more than her fair share of malevolence, but she also discovered that she was a lot tougher than she thought.

As it turns out, “I’m pretty good at fighting. I did a lot of the stunt work myself,” said O’Keefe, who once allowed herself to be waterboarded in a torture scene because she thought it would look less genuine if her stunt double stepped in. “Then I’m thinking, ‘This is not such a good idea,’ as they put the plastic wrap on my face,” she admitted. “That gave me nightmares for I can’t tell you how long.”

Despite the occasional nightmare, O’Keefe has been living a dream for the last two years. “The most memorable thing about this whole experience is learning that I can actually do this,” she said. “Because I had my doubts in the beginning.”

--Brad Barth

Jamie Kennedy!

Thanks to reader Blue Gold for bringing this to my attention.




Jennifer Love Hewitt's hue-less fiance Jamie Kennedy is thinner than J Love in more than one way. Check out this recent tmz.com clip of the two love birds for a nice look at what is left of his hair line.

Blast from the Past: Paul Reubens!

Paul Reubens is better known as the guy who paid Pee Wee Herman. After his November 2002 arrest for misdemeanor possession of kiddie porn, we don't have to ask how he came up with the name Pee Wee. But in the last few years, pee wee refers to his hair line.

40th Anniversary of Celebtrity Center International

Reading a wonderful speech of David Miscavige - about Celebrity Center International - it struck me that this Church of Scientology has its 40th anniversary this year!

But what is a Celebrity Center, or "CC"?

The CC International website provides the answer:

Scientology exists to provide help — help for all people — at every strata of life, of every disability or ability and across all ethnic and religious boundaries.

Borne out of this desire to help are the many social betterment activities Scientology supports. From our education programs, providing real answers to declining literacy levels, to our solutions for criminal reform and drug-rehabilitation — everything we do in Scientology is in the name of help.

Thus, while we continue our work to bring real solutions to those areas of society most in need, we also realize that we must not forget those individuals upon whom society depends the most.

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard once said, “The world is carried on the backs of a desperate few.” Unfortunately, it is these desperate few who are often the most neglected.

It is for this reason that L. Ron Hubbard saw to the formation of a special Church of Scientology which would cater to these individuals — the artists, politicians, leaders of industry, sports figures and anyone with the power and vision to create a better world. That Church is Celebrity Centre International.

Now one might argue that these individuals already have benefits that many will never have. But, ask any one of them — ask yourself — it can become a lonely world. Subject to the unusual pressures that come with prominence and responsibility, being looked upon under a microscope for good or bad — these are burdens others can’t imagine. Not to mention the counter-attack such individuals are subjected to by those less-ambitious who would rather fight to maintain a “status quo” than allow another to attempt a change or improvement.

You see, there’s no shame in helping the artist. In fact, in the larger scope of societal help, we had better help the artist if we wish to advance the society at all.

For as L. Ron Hubbard states, “The artist has an enormous role in the enhancement of today’s and the creation of tomorrow’s reality. He operates in a rank in advance of science as to the necessities and requirements of man. The elevation of a culture can be measured directly by the numbers of its people working in the field of aesthetics.”

Through our delivery of Scientology services, Celebrity Centers provide one with a practical technology for improving one’s happiness and creativity.

What is unique about Scientology technology is described in one word: RESULTS. It works.

Whether applied to marital or personal relationships, to one’s family or career or simply one’s personal peace of mind — Scientology changes conditions for the better.

Scientology gives one the tools one needs to handle any situation in life. In this sense, Scientology helps the able to become more able. It is a road to greater spiritual freedom.

As one who would work to build a better world, the artist is deserving of that freedom. The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International stands ready to deliver it.

---

"Scientology does have answers. Real answers. Answers that work. Bold statements? Yes. But, what millions of people — from over 150 nations — will tell you themselves." David Miscavige

from: Kama
to: tiangotlost@gmail.com
date: Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 12:51 AM
subject: tattoo request

HanziSmatter site is amazing, great idea :) I love reading it. Chinese and Japanese characters looks great, but I still don't understand why people are tattooing their names in those languages, when they come from German, England or Poland, like me.

I guess they want to look cool, like my friend, who is 100% sure that he has "Julia" tattoo on his left hand.

Is he? Please, help me to translate it right (if it's not ok) because he is playing so smart, that would be a pleasure to prove him wrong ;)

Greetings from Poland,

Kama



珠丽娅 is an acceptable phonetic Chinese translation for Julia, however all characters were done mirrored.

from: Johan
to: tiangotlost@gmail.com
date: Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 9:41 PM
subject: Look at this Arrivals sign from Sweden

This is from Arlanda, Stockholm's international airport. They have a lot of these signs.

In Sweden, we pride ourselves on being way better than everybody else, by the way.

Johan, Sweden



It appears manufacturer of the sign did not have correct language and fonts pack installed. Instead of displaying 到達 (arrivals), the second character showed up as a rectangular box.

Don't touch Ne-yo's hats! Don't even think about it!

Thanks to reader BlueGold for passing along this awesome link. Thefablife.com reports:

Do not touch Ne-Yo’s hat. We repeat, do NOT touch the hat. The star took things very seriously when out clubbing in London on Tuesday night, and got two fools who tried to take his trademark headgear thrown out of the West End spot.

“Two guys thought it would be hilarious to try to get Ne-Yo’s hat. But when they tried, security stepped in and they were quickly dispatched from the club,” says an onlooker.

Thankfully, the drama calmed down and Ne-Yo was able to continue partying with his coterie of former Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams — currently appearing in Chicago in the West End — and David Hasselhoff. The Hoff was in good form, spending the second night in a row at the club (obviously only drinking fizzy pop) and on the arm of a very young-looking brunette.


Guess he's more touchy about his hair line than we thought! Here's a pic of him without the hat:

R.I.P. Walter Cronkite

From msn.com:

Walter Cronkite, the premier TV anchorman of the U.S. networks’ golden age who reported a tumultuous time with reassuring authority and came to be called “the most trusted man in America,” died Friday. He was 92.

Cronkite’s longtime chief of staff, Marlene Adler, said Cronkite died at 7:42 p.m. at his Manhattan home surrounded by family. She said the cause of death was cerebral vascular disease.

Adler said, “I have to go now” before breaking down into what sounded like a sob. She said she had no further comment.

Dane 'The Douchebag' Cook

I wonder how someone who isn't funny becomes so famous for being a comedian? Funnyordie.com calls him the Bret Michaels of comedians. Another website called him the Gallagher of our generation. I have to agree with both comparisons. He is talentless, and more importantly, he annoys me. He steals jokes from other comedians. Constantly. He even steals jokes from drunk people I went to college with. Oh and don't get me started on his movies. Well he's gonna start needing to find hair pieces or hats to steal pretty soon...


Here he is in May 2009:






and on June 27, 2009:










We'll definitely be doing a follow-up report on this hair line.

Super Sanna

Allan started a backpiece today.
He doesn't do those often, mostly because people seem to like starting them, but finishing...? Not so much!
But this time we have high hopes, cause Sanna has a shit ton of appointments and a high tolerance for pain.
What up!

The sketch (without background)

Todays session, next time more lines and possibly some background

More backpiece goodness in August!

August guest artist: Lewis Hess

Our good buddy Lewis Hess from Atlas Tattoo in Portland, Oregon is coming to visit us in August and while he's here he might as well do some tattoos, right?
Isn't it lucky we happen to have a tattoo shop then?!

We're not completely sure about the dates yet, but it'll probably look something like this:
August 20th, 21st and August 31st.

That means he has time for just a few tattoos while he's here, so contact us right now if you want in!
He will also be working a bit at Infamous in Stockholm, so if you're closer to the Sthlm than the Cph, contact Infamous or Lewis to book there.

Lewis and his trusty sidekick?

Some of his awesome work: