He's in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where the flooding is just crazy. Pictures like this of people saving their pets always makes me a little misty because the animals are always so scared and grateful at the same time, and always look more pitiful when they're all wet like this (especially cats). Tugs on my heart strings for real.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
This man is my hero...
He's in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where the flooding is just crazy. Pictures like this of people saving their pets always makes me a little misty because the animals are always so scared and grateful at the same time, and always look more pitiful when they're all wet like this (especially cats). Tugs on my heart strings for real.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Oh, this is not going to help...
Has the whole world gone whore? First the Pussycat Dolls, now they're dragging cartoons into this mess? This needs to stop. The 80s are a thing of the past, I get it. But really, some things should just be left to what they were. I don't think this is a good change:
I actually think it's really sad. Strawberry Shortcake was adorable! Now she looks like every other cartoon girl out there: super-skinny, lipstick, long flowing hair...pretty much "that girl" in school that all the girls were jealous of because they thought she was soooooo perfect. Old school Shortcake's just kickin it with her cat, having a good time being who she is, wearing that giant hat and those bloomers like it's her job. But if you just look at new Shortcake's expression, it pretty much screams "I can't help it I'm so beautiful." By the way, they replaced her cat with a cell phone. Crime against humanity.
But don't think these geniuses are stopping with Shortcake. Oh no. Not by a long shot. Guess who's next on the list. Go ahead, guess. You'll never get it...
It's the Care Bears! You know what they're having done? Liposuction! Yeah. They're freaking bears! They don't need to lose weight!! They're supposed to be fat! I've never heard a little kid complain that their bear was too big. That's just ridiculous.
Also getting a face-lift (just as ridiculous but not as upsetting) is ToonTown in Disney World, the section of the park where Mickey Mouse lives. First of all, I thought ToonTown was a stupid idea in the first place and the worst section of the Disney Park (although that is where we met Cinderella which was awesome...that chick is hard to find). But, Mr. Robert Iger, Disney's chief executive, is looking to balance "heritage and innovation" by keeping the core of the characters the same while updating the world in which they live. How will they do this you ask? By adding an old-fashioned trolley to the area. Brilliant.
So going back to homegirl Shortcake for a moment, they're downplaying her sugar-loving side and promoting her fruit side. According to Jeffrey Conrad, American Greetings' head creative designer, "We’re downplaying characters that were part of Strawberry’s world but who didn’t immediately shout out fruit.”
Umm, speaking of shouting fruit... Can we please recall how bad it was when they tried to update Ken?
His name was Earring Magic Ken! Clearly only bad things happen when classics are updated. Let's try being creative again. Maybe that will work.
I actually think it's really sad. Strawberry Shortcake was adorable! Now she looks like every other cartoon girl out there: super-skinny, lipstick, long flowing hair...pretty much "that girl" in school that all the girls were jealous of because they thought she was soooooo perfect. Old school Shortcake's just kickin it with her cat, having a good time being who she is, wearing that giant hat and those bloomers like it's her job. But if you just look at new Shortcake's expression, it pretty much screams "I can't help it I'm so beautiful." By the way, they replaced her cat with a cell phone. Crime against humanity.But don't think these geniuses are stopping with Shortcake. Oh no. Not by a long shot. Guess who's next on the list. Go ahead, guess. You'll never get it...
It's the Care Bears! You know what they're having done? Liposuction! Yeah. They're freaking bears! They don't need to lose weight!! They're supposed to be fat! I've never heard a little kid complain that their bear was too big. That's just ridiculous.
Also getting a face-lift (just as ridiculous but not as upsetting) is ToonTown in Disney World, the section of the park where Mickey Mouse lives. First of all, I thought ToonTown was a stupid idea in the first place and the worst section of the Disney Park (although that is where we met Cinderella which was awesome...that chick is hard to find). But, Mr. Robert Iger, Disney's chief executive, is looking to balance "heritage and innovation" by keeping the core of the characters the same while updating the world in which they live. How will they do this you ask? By adding an old-fashioned trolley to the area. Brilliant.
So going back to homegirl Shortcake for a moment, they're downplaying her sugar-loving side and promoting her fruit side. According to Jeffrey Conrad, American Greetings' head creative designer, "We’re downplaying characters that were part of Strawberry’s world but who didn’t immediately shout out fruit.”
Umm, speaking of shouting fruit... Can we please recall how bad it was when they tried to update Ken?
His name was Earring Magic Ken! Clearly only bad things happen when classics are updated. Let's try being creative again. Maybe that will work.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
When I grow up...I'm going to be a whore!
Because, you know, that's every little girl's dream. And oh those Pussycat Dolls have kept hope alive for young girls everywhere. Did you happen to see their MTV Movie Awards performance? If you didn't (and I know you're just dying to see it), here it is for your viewing pleasure.
So, here's my question. What is up with the dancing? I mean, did you see YellowPants BoobScarf? (I don't know their names, so I will call them by their clothing). How is that girl's back not broken by her badass moves? Also, is it just me or can StripeShirt Boyshorts not dance? Maybe you didn't notice because she was almost never on screen. And RedPants Corset, I understand you have long hair and it's sexy or whatever, but really, you're allowed to acknowledge that it is in your face and move it. You have my permission. Then there's Wonder Woman...all I can say about you is nice job being backup dancer and not bringing unnecessary attention to yourself. Your secret identity is still safe. Finally, the lead singer GrannyPanties XenaBra. Actually, she never really dances. She really hardly even moves. While the other girls are working so hard walking down all those stairs, she just gets lowered down on a platform. Then for that weird part where they all randomly start ascending to the heavens, the stage picks her up while the others had to find their seat behind her. (There's some religious imagery in there, but I'm going to avoid it)
So all in all, I'm going to say that, while entertaining, this just wasn't good. I almost miss the days of the Spice Girls. Of course, they weren't great either, but at least only a couple of them took on the role of whore. They were 5 individuals with distinct identities created for them by a record company. And they were dressed as their names so you knew who each one was. So I guess what we learn from this is that maybe not all that much has changed. Members of girl pop bands are still dressing like their names, except now they all have the same name, Whore.
So let us leave with a remembrance of a simpler time, before girls were whores or "mother" became a descriptor for any of the spices.
Girl Power!
So, here's my question. What is up with the dancing? I mean, did you see YellowPants BoobScarf? (I don't know their names, so I will call them by their clothing). How is that girl's back not broken by her badass moves? Also, is it just me or can StripeShirt Boyshorts not dance? Maybe you didn't notice because she was almost never on screen. And RedPants Corset, I understand you have long hair and it's sexy or whatever, but really, you're allowed to acknowledge that it is in your face and move it. You have my permission. Then there's Wonder Woman...all I can say about you is nice job being backup dancer and not bringing unnecessary attention to yourself. Your secret identity is still safe. Finally, the lead singer GrannyPanties XenaBra. Actually, she never really dances. She really hardly even moves. While the other girls are working so hard walking down all those stairs, she just gets lowered down on a platform. Then for that weird part where they all randomly start ascending to the heavens, the stage picks her up while the others had to find their seat behind her. (There's some religious imagery in there, but I'm going to avoid it)
So all in all, I'm going to say that, while entertaining, this just wasn't good. I almost miss the days of the Spice Girls. Of course, they weren't great either, but at least only a couple of them took on the role of whore. They were 5 individuals with distinct identities created for them by a record company. And they were dressed as their names so you knew who each one was. So I guess what we learn from this is that maybe not all that much has changed. Members of girl pop bands are still dressing like their names, except now they all have the same name, Whore.
So let us leave with a remembrance of a simpler time, before girls were whores or "mother" became a descriptor for any of the spices.
Girl Power!Thursday, June 5, 2008
We'll be back right after this invasive message...
I found this video at TV Squad, and the article told me to spread the word about this monstrosity, so here I am, doing just that. Maybe that means I'm a lemming for doing what I'm told, but this really is outrageous and I'll fall off the cliff with everyone else for it (If you've never played lemmings, you may not get the reference, but trust me, it's good). Check this out:
Yes, that is an ad pausing a show to advertise. I HATE when those ads pop up on TBS. It's one thing to have the names of shows in semi-transparent lettering inconspicuously in the corner of the screen, but it's a far different thing to have the ad take up a quarter of the screen, which is what most of them do. Or worse, when they somehow work the graphics of the ad into the show. I was watching Pirates of the Caribbean the other day (yes, for about the millionth time. I don't care. I love that movie) and they had something fly from behind one of the characters that turned into a huge obnoxious ad blocking my movie. I was half-expecting someone to whip out their sword and take it down. Yes, I could have put in the DVD to watch commercial free, but that's not the point.
TBS, you're going too far. Commercials don't belong in programming. That's what commercial breaks are for. Unless it's product placement. Then that's something different. Having the Griffins watch the Bill Engvall show, that may have been clever (but only once). Annoying, but not as obnoxious. If I wanted to see full-on commercials during my programming, I'd be watching the Home Shopping Network. Seeing as how I'm not a 70 year-old woman and it wasn't 3AM on a sleepless night, I just can't deal with that. Back off TBS.
Yes, that is an ad pausing a show to advertise. I HATE when those ads pop up on TBS. It's one thing to have the names of shows in semi-transparent lettering inconspicuously in the corner of the screen, but it's a far different thing to have the ad take up a quarter of the screen, which is what most of them do. Or worse, when they somehow work the graphics of the ad into the show. I was watching Pirates of the Caribbean the other day (yes, for about the millionth time. I don't care. I love that movie) and they had something fly from behind one of the characters that turned into a huge obnoxious ad blocking my movie. I was half-expecting someone to whip out their sword and take it down. Yes, I could have put in the DVD to watch commercial free, but that's not the point.
TBS, you're going too far. Commercials don't belong in programming. That's what commercial breaks are for. Unless it's product placement. Then that's something different. Having the Griffins watch the Bill Engvall show, that may have been clever (but only once). Annoying, but not as obnoxious. If I wanted to see full-on commercials during my programming, I'd be watching the Home Shopping Network. Seeing as how I'm not a 70 year-old woman and it wasn't 3AM on a sleepless night, I just can't deal with that. Back off TBS.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Kong...angry! And sad!
This was the same face I made when I heard about the fire at Universal Studios that destroyed the King Kong ride, the New York Street set, a bunch of stuff in the archive (luckily they have copies so nothing was completely lost), and the iconic courthouse from Back to the Future, and damaged the courthouse clock tower and the set of Ghost Whisperer. I've been on the California Universal Studios backlot tour a couple times. This is actually from the last time I was there in 2005 where I totally lucked into this great picture of the great ape. The backlot tour is really one of the best attractions I've been on, partly just because it's awesome, but also because I love the magic of the movies and can't get enough of seeing behind-the-scenes stuff. That's why I was so sad when I heard of the fire and saw this picture of it.
I'm sure Universal won't have a problem funding the rebuilding and repairs, and hopefully they can find a silver lining and make sets that are even better than what was there before. But it still does not erase the fact that parts of movie history were lost. The courthouse could be rebuilt, but it could really never be the same. But Kong, you'll always live on in my picture.
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