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23 May 2009 12:07

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Culture, World: M.I.A. calls out clothing companies with Sri Lankan ties

  • Since the end of the war in Sri Lanka (and heck, even during it), M.I.A. has been outspoken against human rights abuses happening there – and has strongly supported the Tamil rebels who lost. source
  • The pop star took to her Twitter feed to inform her 30,000+ readers of clothing companies who produce clothes in Sri Lanka – and many of them are brands you wear, like Nike and Ralph Lauren. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 May 2009 11:28

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Culture: The decline of American Idol, ratings powerhouse

  • Just 28.8 million watched Kris Allen wipe the snot out of Adam Lambert – a major upset. And those ratings are down significantly from last year, when 32 million watched the finale. source
  • All of the main stars in the judging booth, particularly force of nature Simon Cowell, who commutes between the U.S. and the U.K. weekly for his TV hosting jobs, could leave in the next year. source
  • And worse, this season’s big judging experiment – the addition of Kara DioGuardi, who’s proven to be unpopular – appears to have damaged the chemistry between judges. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

22 May 2009 12:56

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Culture: Will Ferrell’s coulda-been performance on the “Idol” finale

  • You know when I first read this song I asked ‘Did Dylan, Taupin and Angelou really write this.’ And they said sort of. And I said what does that mean? And then they ran away. But after five bottles of wine I knew who the real writer of this song was….. the big man himself, God Almighty.
  • The spoken part from a rejected draft of a song Will Ferrell would’ve sung at the “Idol” finale • The song would have been suitably epic, and producers initally agreed to do it, but then they apparently read what Ferrell wanted to do with the song. Our favorite chestnut: “THIS SONG COST NINE POINT EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS/BUT WE COULD NOT FIND A WORD THAT/RYHMES WITH MOUTH” • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 May 2009 11:43

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Culture, Politics: Clay Aiken gets the gloves out in “American Idol” criticism

  • The show was different then, and folks made it in seasons 1-3 because they were ‘real’ people who happened to sing/entertain well. But, somewhere along the way, AI stopped being about real people.
  • “American Idol” Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken • On the slow decline, in his opinion, of the show. Aiken suggests that Kris Allen’s surprise victory wasn’t all that surprising, because Adam Lambert (who he called “contrived”) seemed to already know it all and fans are looking for “real” people to win. More damning for the show: Aiken, one of the shows earliest breakout stars, only watches once a season now, and then just to see how the sets have changed. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 May 2009 23:59

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Culture: Go for the BBQ, stay for the foot massages. LOL.

  • If Jones’ Good Ass BBQ & Foot Massage were a real business, we’d go every week. Did someone say fried Snickers and pedicure?source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 May 2009 23:01

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Culture: Everyone’s on board for a third Ghostbusters movie. Even Bill Murray.

  • Will the franchise stay puft after all these years? Dan Aykroyd revealed recently that the entire main cast has signed on for a third movie, including Bill Murray, who’s famously been very reluctant to do a third film and who’s spent so long going after Oscar bait that it’s going to be weird to see him back in this mode. Aykroyd doesn’t blame him: “I don’t put not making the third movie on Billy. We can’t do that.” Anyway, the film itself will focus on passing the torch to a younger generation of comic actors. As long as they don’t hand that torch to Dane Cook and Carlos Mencia, we’re OK with this. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 May 2009 22:51

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Culture: This guy who just died ran a real Mickey Mouse operation

  • Mickey’s the real star. You know you just have to love the little guy while you have him, because he won’t be yours forever.
  • Wayne Allwine • Who somehow drew up the pitch of his voice to allow him to speak like Mickey Mouse for over 30 years. He was the third man to voice the mouse – the first one was Walt Disney himself. Allwine died on Monday at age 62 of complications from diabetes. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

21 May 2009 08:36

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Culture: “Terminator Salvation” director McG really hates his clever name

  • Believe me, I know, people hear the name and they just think, ‘That guy must be a jerk.’ And having it hasn’t helped me, that’s for sure. But it’s what everybody has called me forever.
  • Director McG • Who has gotten a lot of mileage out of a career that started with co-writing songs for Sugar Ray, but says his name has become a huge impediment as a major action movie director. Along with his fear of flying – his inability to get on a plane a few years back cost him the chance to direct the last “Superman” movie. He’s better now, but it sounds like he has some issues. Like his name – which he’s been called since he was a kid. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 May 2009 22:11

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Culture: OMG OMG DID YOU HEAR WHO WON “IDOL”?!!?!?

  • KRIS! well that’s a major shocker, guys source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 May 2009 20:59

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Culture, World: It’s “Springtime For Hitler” in Germany, and it’s going over well

We’re guessing when Mel Brooks first made “The Producers,” he didn’t think it would play in Berlin. But here it is, playing in Berlin. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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