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01 May 2010 08:53

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Culture: Cup designer famous enough to get his own obit

  • The Cup’s history Leslie Buck, a Holocaust survivor from Czechoslovakia (now Ukraine), immigrated to the U.S. and eventually did marketing for Sherri Cup. He designed the “Anthora Cup,” named for its Greek-style border design, himself in the early 1960s. Buck died Monday at age 87.

    The cup’s popularity Somehow the cup became a staple of New York City life, selling 500 million in 1994 alone as it was used in Greek diners citywide. The cup was often seen in film and television, including “Law and Order.” In the wake of Starbucks, the cup’s popularity tapered off, but it can still be custom-ordered. It was a good cup that served its purpose well. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 4 Comments • Permalink

30 Apr 2010 14:47

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Culture: Project worthy of kick-starting: Nicolas Cage in comic book form

  • NOT THE BEES, NOT THE BEES! A good friend of ours, Todd Webb (he of musical project Seamonster and illustrating Apples in Stereo side projects for kids) has a dream. He wants to take some time off from a day job to create a killer new comic book about Nicolas Cage (who, beyond starring in good/awful movies, is a bizarre human being), and he needs your help. Hence, he’s started a Kickstarter project. Throw $25 bucks in, guys. We want to see “NICOLAS CAGE! THE COMIC BOOK EXPERIENCE” become a real thing. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

30 Apr 2010 09:45

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Culture: Roger Ebert’s official stance on 3-D movies: He hates them

  • 3-D is a waste of a perfectly good dimension. Hollywood’s current crazy stampede toward it is suicidal. It adds nothing essential to the moviegoing experience.
  • Film critic and all-around awesome person Roger Ebert • Talking about the craze towards three-dimensional films started by “Avatar” and continued with pretty much every major hit movie so far this year. His argument? It makes you sick, and you don’t really need it to tell a great story. “A great film completely engages our imaginations,” he writes. “What would ‘Fargo’ gain in 3-D? ‘Precious’? ‘Casablanca’?” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Apr 2010 12:25

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Culture: Jay Leno’s new “Tonight Show” looking like Conan’s in the ratings

Faint lines: First weeks of Conan vs. Letterman last year. Bold lines: First weeks of Leno vs. Letterman this year. Note that Conan and Leno are doing about the same. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Apr 2010 21:57

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Culture: Hugh Hefner helps save the “Hollywood” sign, ’cause he’s awesome

The Playboy publisher donated the last $900,000 needed to help conserve the Tinseltown landmark. He calls the sign “Hollywood’s Eiffel Tower.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Apr 2010 15:56

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Culture: Archie’s got a new friend, and he’s (*gasp* spoiler alert) gay

  • *GASP* What will Archie and the gang think? The most conservative of daily comics, Archie, is getting a bit of a shake-up later this year, when a new character, Kevin Keller, steps onto the scene is. Thing is, though, he’s gay. And that might throw the sensibilities of the entire comic out of whack. Or not. Either way, on the cultural scale, Archie is now officially twelve years behind the sitcom’s acceptance of gay characters in the form of “Will and Grace.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Apr 2010 12:29

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Culture: Elton John redefines heartfelt with open letter to Ryan White

  • Twenty years ago this month, you died of AIDS. I would gladly give my fame and fortune if only I could have one more conversation with you, the friend who changed my life as well as the lives of millions living with HIV. Instead, I have written you this letter.
  • Elton John • In an open letter to Ryan White, the child with AIDS he befriended in the ’80s. He died 20 years ago this month, at age 18. White’s life and death brought significant attention to the disease, in part because he was vilified for having it (he got it through an accidental blood transfusion). Much has changed since White died – many people with AIDS live productive lives with the disease thanks to improved medication. Medication which, in part, was paid for in his name. Four months after he died, the Ryan White Care Act, which set aside $2 billion yearly for AIDS medication, passed. His life helped take a stigma away from a disease which was initially loaded with one. It’s too bad he couldn’t live to see that. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink
 

23 Apr 2010 20:56

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Culture: A little more on Bret Michaels’ condition; it’s not good

  • The Poison singer has a subarachnoid hemorrhage. What’s that, you ask? Well, it’s bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover the brain (his is at the base of the brain stem). It starts out with a huge headache, usually, and is brought on by a number of risk factors. It can also be the result of injury, so the “Rock of Love” star’s fall at the Tonys is still on the table. Unfortunately, the risk of death in this case is very high, even after treatment. We feel bad for the guy and hope he pulls through. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Apr 2010 17:36

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Culture: Remember Bret Michaels at the Tonys? Not sayin’, just sayin’.

  • Look, we don’t know the full story yet. But the tumble that Michaels took here at the Tonys is exactly the kind of thing, if he fell the wrong way, that might cause something like a hemorrhage to the brain in the long term. He also had an emergency appendectomy just a week ago. And diabetes. And he’s a hair-metal rocker known for his hard-partying ways. In other words, dude has an insane medical history. We hope he’s OK. We’re pulling for you, man. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Apr 2010 17:19

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Culture: Bret Michaels in hospital with brain hemorrhage; Twitter worried



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